If You Really Have to Know... October 26, 2009 (and today)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:55 am  (5:10 am. Yesterday it was 6:34 and I was already 4 minutes late for work.)

2. How do you like your steak? Medium rare (medium rare)

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Um, I think it was Marley and Me (The one about CS Lewis, "The Most Reluctant Convert")

4. What is your favorite TV show? I don't watch it (I don't know what's on TV anymore.)

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I haven't a clue! (New Hampshire, or maybe Vermont)

6. What did you have for breakfast? Pumpkin pie (raisin bran and almond milk)

7. What is your favorite cuisine? I really do like Mexican (Mexican)

8. What foods do you dislike? Anything yucky ;) (Must think on this...)

9. Favorite Place to Eat? My blue chair (I hope you didn't mean a restaurant… okay, I really enjoy going to the Rheinblick in Canandaigua)  (Someplace with friends)

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch or Italian (probably ranch)

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Ford Windstar (Subaru Forester)

12. What are your favorite clothes? Blue jeans and a sweatshirt (blue jeans and a sleeveless top)

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Not sure… (The Dolomites)

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Oh, come on! Just fill it up all the way! (1/2 full, please!)

15. Where would you want to retire? At this rate I don't think I'll ever get the chance (the mountains)

16. Favorite time of day? A little morning, a little night (early morning, if I can drag myself out of bed)

17. Where were you born? Genesee Hospital, Rochester, NY (some things don't change)

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Can't I just do something else? (figure skating)

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? I don't think anyone will (We're not playing tag.)

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? nobody (What kind of tag is this?)

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? I haven't even finished, why would I have tagged anyone? (Go ahead and play the game if you like.)

22. Bird watcher? sometimes (If I can spot them, I take their picture.)

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Both, or is it neither? (It depends on when you make the coffee.)

24. Do you have any pets? 1 ½ dogs, 3 cats (One cat and a couple of grandchildren)

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Other than Leta expecting? nope (I'm going to Florida in December.)

26. What did you want to be when you were little? (a mom)

27. What is your best childhood memory? At the moment anything having to do with my dad. (Playing in the woods.)

28. Are you a cat or dog person? cat (cat... I guess.)

29. Are you married? yes (Not anymore)

30. Always wear your seat belt? Yes, until I take it off  (yes)

31. Been in a car accident? No (no)

32. Any pet peeves? (Anything having to do with marriage. I'm working on it though... the attitude, that is, not the marriage.)

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Pepperoni, cheese and black olives (same, with banana peppers)

34. Favorite Flower? Sweet peas and daisies (always sweet peas and daisies, and zinnias too)

35. Favorite ice cream? vanilla  (soft serve twist)

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? taco bell (the sub shop at Wegmans)

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? 0 (none)

38. From whom did you get your last email? Facebook (Who knows? It's mostly junk mail.)

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Would I still have to pay the bill? (Hm... probably either Lowes or the furniture store)

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? (I went to the Flower City Pottery Invitational, and bought some pricey pottery)

41. Like your job? Most of the time (I do, but it's become increasingly stressful.)

42. Broccoli? Yes, with cheese sauce, please  (roasted, steamed, and raw)

43. What was your favorite vacation? New Mexico in 1992 and then Colorado in 2002 (Jackson, NH 2021)

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? James, and after 30 years, we decided we don't like Maria's Mexican Restaurant anymore. (my friend Chris Nagel at Mama Lor's)

45. What are you listening to right now? My dad singing (the fan)

46. What is your favorite color? blue (exciting)  (still blue, dark blue)

47. How many tattoos do you have? I'll let you guess… (I have one in my mind...)

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? Not sure, at least Barb (none)

49. What time did you finish this? 5 pm on the dot (9:12 pm)

50. Coffee Drinker? With some French vanilla (every morning, with some yummy creamer)

 

Some Christmas Thoughts for Next Year

The holidays are not quite wound down, but while thoughts of the actual day are still fresh, I'd like to make  myself some suggestions for next year. Something like the list I posted five years ago, but with some tweaking. Five years ago we had three very small grandsons and Christmas was still fairly controllable, but our grandchildren are bigger now and they've multiplied, adding a new dimension to an already often chaotic time of year. So... here are my new thoughts.

1. Once again, lasagna (or a one dish main course) makes a great Christmas meal. Keep it simple and let the others bring sides and appetizers.

2. Don't neglect a Christmas Eve service somewhere!!! Find one and go. In fact, go to several special services. Just do it.

3. Find out what the kids would like. Ask them, ask their parents, have them write a letter to "Santa Claus," but find out, buy whatever it is, wrap it, and leave it at their house to open ahead of the family Christmas gathering. Stay and watch if you must, but have it done before it gets dark on Christmas night.

4. Buy or make something for your honey. It doesn't have to be grand or glorious, but there should be something under the tree that says, "Hey, I love you and you matter to me." (Please forgive me, my Barefoot Lumberjack, for I have failed.)

5. Listen to Christmas Carols, the old fashioned babe in the manger kind and remember who and what we're supposed to be celebrating.

6. Watch Christmas movies, drink hot chocolate, and eat popcorn.

7. Remember the less fortunate; the homeless, Samaritan's Purse (Operation Christmas Child), Compassion International,... Give to someone who can't give back. Don't forget the Red Kettle.

8. Take a ride. Go look at lights. Visit Seneca Falls (think "It's a Wonderful Life.") Drive to Schenectady (think "A Christmas Carol.") . Find something or someplace to fill your heart with childlike wonder.

9. Host a graham cracker/gingerbread house building party for the kids.

10. Make and decorate cookies. (You might not want to wait until Christmas Eve, especially if trying new recipes for the first time...)

11. Plan a fancy "adults only" dinner complete with Grandma's fancy china and a gift exchange.

12. Take an annual "Grandkid" photo (If you can get them all in one place at the same time during the year.)

13. Enjoy the crowds and chaos while shopping. It's part of the fun. Say "Merry Christmas" often, smile much, give random gifts, and relax.


PS. While I'm at it... You may as well take advantage of those sales and not feel guilty making purchases for yourself while the prices are right, things are on sale, and you're out wandering the aisles. If you don't buy it, chances are nobody else will either. :0)

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen random bits of information...

1. I'm waiting to hear... Waiting, waiting. (Come on, Baby!)

2. The space cadets are here again. I feel like one anyway. Not sure exactly why but that's how it goes some days.

3. Going out to look for wedding decorations this afternoon.

4. Going into ketosis. Maybe that's why I feel spacey. Maybe I can lose a few pounds before the wedding.

5. Fell out of bed last night. Ha ha! The dangers of having a memory foam mattress. Turns into a slide if you get too close to the edge before sitting up. Now I know.

6. I should be washing dishes or folding laundry. But I'm not.

7. We're out of bottled water
and the stuff from the tap tastes like chlorine. Blech.

8. I keep thinking about soft serve ice cream. Maybe I'll reward myself at the end of the month as a send off to summer.

9. Gramanita's coming. Can't wait. Wish she could stay longer.

10. Gave the dog a haircut. Cut all those terrible matts off her legs and feet and gave her a flea treatment. She looks funny.

11. I am out of practice when it comes to Thursday Thirteen.

12. Now that it's September I can think about fall, long sleeves, and bonfires. But first I have other things to attend to.

13. Today you get some old pictures mixed in with the new because I am on the desktop computer instead of my laptop.

Little Bits of Nothing

1. I did not succeed in changing my grocery shopping day. I did try, but weekday life interrupted my plan. Instead I determined to leave the house earlier than usual on Saturday morning and hope to beat the holiday madness. I consider the effort a success.

2. Pumpkin Pie should not be a soda flavor. It is just wrong. Pumpkin is intended to flavor yummy desserts and fall soups. It does not belong in a bottle of fizz. If you want to be different, stick to something like sarsaparilla.

3. Churches and other "public" places should not have lids on their restroom commodes. No one entering a stall in a public facility is prepared to lift the lid, and sitting down on a toilet lid is just plain disturbing.


4. Wegmans carries all kinds of goodies one might otherwise have to travel in order to acquire. Although the convenience is appreciated, driving across the boarder into Canada would make the acquisition more of an adventure. In spite of the lack of excitement in the location I did find the reward satisfying.

5. Sometimes mice will clean your kitchen while you are away at church on Sunday morning. All my dishes were washed and stacked neatly in the dish drainer when I came home today. (Thanks, Ben,)

The Very Rainy Day

It was the perfect day for living in an ark. The rain came down in buckets, streets were flooded, and creeks (and the Erie Canal as well) either overflowed their banks or threatened to. Since babies, especially crawling ones, don't do so great with mud and puddles, we stayed inside on this perfectly rainy day, but when the next one comes along, if we don't have babies in the house, I'm going for a Rain-walk.

Because it's Thursday, I give you Thirteen Fun Rainy Day Activities...

1. Walk in puddles- Put on some waterproof shoes, or take them off altogether and get your feet wet! If you need an excuse, find a kid to stomp with.

2. Use an umbrella- Remember how much fun umbrellas were when you were a kid? Find yourself a fun/pretty umbrella and go for a walk.

3. How about a bicycle ride?- Yes, biking in the rain is a little more dangerous, but some of my best summer memories are getting caught in a downpour while out on our bikes. (You might have to remove your helmet for the full effect...)

4. Dance in the rain- Oh, come on! Just try it.

5. Watch it- Watch the rain and relax. Let it wash away the tension as it falls.

6. Listen- I love listening to the rain. Find a tent/canopy or tin roof to sit under and listen to the rain. Cool, huh?

7. Drive through the puddles- I would suggest the puddles not be deeper than the car's engine... and one should probably not drive through too fast, but it is fun to watch the water fly. "Drive through the puddles, Mom!"

Okay, some inside activities...

8. Bake- Rainy days are baking days. They just go together.

9. Read a book- Curl up with a cup of something hot, like coffee, a cozy blanket, a good book and read until your eyes can't stay open.. (Listen to me. Did I curl up and read a book today? Nope. I took a nap.)

10. Movies!- Movies don't necessarily mean taking full enjoyment of the rain, but they do make taking it easy easier. :)

11.Finish a project- If you're anything like me you've got some kind of unfinished project laying around. A rainy day is the perfect time to work on one of them. You know they're fun once you get into them. Admit it!

12.Feed the ducks- Oh wait, that's another outdoor activity, isn't it?

13. Take a nap- You don't have to feel guilty for sleeping on a dark and rainy day, well, unless you're supposed to be working....

What do you do when it rains all day?

And that is my Thursday Thirteen for today. For more of them, click here.

T is for Thursday Thirteen

T is for Thursday Thirteen, and so I am linking my ABC Wednesday to it.

My Darling and I went out for a ride on Sunday afternoon. I had my camera along and was on the lookout for something that started with the letter T. I saw three tractors sitting in a row, each one a different model and a different color, but we drove by too fast for a photo. I saw trucks, big trucks, and trailers. Behind one house was a tower of tires. We crossed the railroad tracks and spotted a train. In Canandaigua, we stopped for a taco.

We traveled south to Keuka Lake where we trekked up a creek which was nothing more than a trickle. By the time we reached the falls I discovered a desperate need for a toilet.  In my hurry to reach the bottom again, I got my toes in the water. (It felt kind of nice.)

The only photo I have for T is the trickle through the trees. Did I tell you it said "No Trespassing"?


For more ABC Wednesday posts, click here.
For Thursday Thirteen, click here.

Summer Plans

My son says my list of summer plans shouldn't be called a "Bucket List". I guess that's because a true bucket list, when complete, gives you permission to die, and that is not part of my plan, at least not yet. Perhaps one of you has a fancy shmancy name for the kind of list I'm making, something more fun than "check list".


So anyway, here is my preliminary list of "Things to Do This Summer". We'll make it thirteen things cause it's more cool that way, and besides, that make this post a Thursday Thirteen and you can play the game too. :)

Things to Do This Summer

1. Go to a ball game
2. Hit the beach
3. Camp out over night
4. Go fishing
5. Take a boat ride
6. Visit a waterfall
7.  Have a picnic
8. Go horseback riding
9. Meet a friend for breakfast
10. Buy an ice cream cone
11. Go for a bike ride
12. Play miniature golf
13. Take a hike or two... or three

Some of my ideas are simple, some sound more simple than they really are, and some are simple but haven't happened in years, like the boat ride and ball game. Others might have already happened, but I plan on doing again, like buying an ice cream cone. Anyone want to come along?

This Week So Far

The week isn't over yet, but it has been both full and exhausting. I skipped my ABC Wednesday post this week. I just didn't have the train of thought to write, even though "infant" and "infection" both start with the letter I. Perhaps I will catch up next week and post double letters. It's happened before.

Seeing as it's Thursday and my brain is more into thinking snippets than complete thoughts, a Thursday Thirteen for you all...

Thirteen Things I May Have Accomplished This Week

1. I went to see a movie with My Darling on Sunday afternoon, "The Odd Life of Timothy Green". It made me cry and I thought it was a cute movie with some good lessons.

2. Hannah and I babysat 3 small children on Monday. They were all very active and determined, and kept us on our toes. The best part of it was Vinnie asking me to pick him up and then wrapping his little arms around my neck and giving me a snuggle; cheek on mine or head on my shoulder. I soaked it up and it was wonderful!

3. I went to the nursing home with James for the first time in months and months. I couldn't help but be blessed when they sang "The Old Rugged Cross". It has become the group theme song. You should see the smiling faces when they sing it! Sadly we are now without a guitar player on Monday evenings. I don't know what we'll do.

4. Ladies' Prayer and Bible Study. It gets me through the week and I do my best to be there. I love how God has been answering prayers in some of the most unexpected ways.

5. James and I went to see Bethany and the baby in the hospital up in Rochester. I somehow misplaced my purse between leaving Rachel's house and my time in Bethany's room. I knew I had it on the way to the city, but it wasn't anywhere we looked. We double checked the van, the Special Care Nursery, and then went back to Beth's room where James discovered it hidden underneath a sheet and bedspread tucked in the corner of a chair.

6. I called my son Tuesday evening to let him know about his nephew's infection, and he called back a little while later to see if we could watch the kids so he and Leta could visit Beth. We spent the evening on the living room floor playing cars, Duplos, play food and dishes... Needless to say we all went to bed exhausted.

7. I tried to clean and succeeded in some areas. Too bad houses don't stay dusted and vacuumed, dishes don't stay done, and laundry doesn't fold itself.

8. I cleaned the goldfish bowl. This is a major accomplishment. If you had seen how gross it was, you would know what I mean.

9. Last night we visited Beth and the baby at another Rochester hospital where they were transferred early Wednesday morning. It was my first time in the N.I.C.U. at Strong. The baby looked comfortable which was a big change from Tuesday afternoon.

10. I have answered many questions and sent several emails to those asking about Beth and the baby. Today most inquiries were answered with my blog address. I hope that's okay.

11. Rocky has been here with us each day. We still give her plenty of love, feed her lunch, and listen to her two year old stories. She helps keep me on a schedule.

12. I have answered several phone inquiries from people looking for a before and after school sitter. (My neighbor is retiring.) I think I can handle putting a few kids on and off the school bus as long as I have the rest of the day free most of the time.

13. Naps. I think I got one yesterday, and I think I might be sleeping better at night, although this is a hard week to tell. I am drinking decaf in the morning now in the hope that I might actually sleep at night. I suppose the next thing to try might be staying off the computer after 9:30 or 10 pm. Or perhaps I should try Melatonin instead. :)

Jim and Michele will be here tomorrow afternoon, so somewhere in the midst of all this I need to make up two beds and find my vacuum cleaner. A couple apple pies might be nice too.

A Busy Kind of Week

What's the best way to recap a busy week? A list? Okay, we'll pretend it's Thursday. Thursday Thirteen.

Thirteen Happenings from this past week.

1. Horse- back riding with Hannah, followed by a trip to Wendy's on the way home. We took Emma along. This was Monday

2. Out to Ladies' Prayer and Bible Study on Tuesday morning. Three small girls went with us.

3. On Tuesday night, answered prayer. The phone rang and it was my dear, sweet daughter in law on the other end. She had been called to help a friend clean in the morning, and Dave suggested she see if I could watch the kids. A weight was lifted from my heart.

4. Tuesday evening brought the faucet fiasco and mom's subsequent second shower of the night. (Scroll down if you missed it.)

5. On Wednes- day, a full vase of flowers! Even without Emma, we had six beautiful children playing in the yard. Bethany came with Josh and I had all my grandchildren in one place for three hours! (I also found out if someone pulls down on the back of my rocking chair swing, it will tip backward and deposit it's contents directly onto the ground. This time it was Lucas. He was a bit shook up, but no one was hurt..)

6. My Wednesday evening brought a tumble down the back step and resulting coffee bath. I found myself thankful my full cup of Joe was not piping hot.

7. On Thursday we spontan- eously piled three girls into the van and went to Beechwood State Park. Finding ourselves on the beach was the highlight of the walk.

8. In spite of being tired from my walk at Beechwood, I also took an evening orchard walk with My Darling. It was nice.

9. Late Friday morning found us out running a few quick, normally-saved-for-Saturday errands.

10. After our errands I took the girls and Hannah to visit my friend Judy at her parents' house. The girls had a picnic in the yard and Hannah, Judy, and I talked for a couple hours before we packed up and headed back home. (I didn't take pictures, so today you get Judy and her husband Danny instead. I took this one last fall in the Bronx.)

11. While the little girls used the bathroom at Judy's, Judy showed Hannah her father's piano. When Judy asked if Hannah had any songs she could play by memory, Hannah smiled and willingly played a tune. :) I doubt she would have been so accommodating had I asked.

12. Hannah popped her head in my bedroom this morning to tell me it was 8 o'clock. She was dressed in her soccer uniform, reminding me of early morning soccer practice that I had totally forgotten.

13. While Hannah was at the park doing soccer practice, I did a little grocery shopping at the Super Walmart and met up with Beth and Adam. I returned to the soccer fields with Josh in tow so my darling daughter and her handsome husband can have a short getaway before the arrival of Little Brother. Yes, it was a planned acquisition.

14. On our way home from soccer, Hannah and I witnessed an accident involving a police car, on his way to a call (we knew by the ambulance he was following), emergency lights flashing, and another vehicle. They both ended up off the road, one of them upside down. This afternoon we spent a little bit of time talking to a sheriff's deputy about what we saw (and couldn't see because of hills and the vehicle we were following). We are praying those involved will heal quickly from their injuries.

Tomorrow is my mom's 78th birthday. To celebrate the occasion, there will be a family picnic here in the yard. I still need to help Mom take a shower tonight and then find something to make for dessert...

*sigh*

Along Comes May

May promises to be wildly busy, and so I shall endeavor to savor the last few days of April.

May will bring...
1. A possible visit from an old friend. We're planning to make blueberry pie. :)
2. Physical therapy appointments for Mom. Twice a week for the next five weeks, at least that's the plan.
3. Gardening, the kind with green plants, not the "other" kind.
4. "Gardening," the kind with small life forms that are not green. :)
5. Wedding plans. We're kind of out of the loop being parents of the groom, but I'm sure there will be some planning on this end too... maybe.
6. A bridal shower to plan and help host. (Bethany is the real planner.)
7. A bridal shower to attend. (One planned by the bride's sister.)
8. Shopping for bridal shower gifts
9. The Ladies Banquet at church.
10. Mother's Day
11. A new baby sister for Alex and I still need to buy a baby gift.
12. A 50th Wedding anniversary party.
13. The Williamson Apple Blossom Festival? We've at least go to see the parade.

Hopefully, May will bring lots of sunshine and warm temperatures too. Days to play out in the yard with my little friends would be nice, along with visits from my grandkids, and maybe a cookout or two. Perhaps it will bring reconciliation. I can always hope.

Thursday Thirteen and ABC Wednesday

Can I combine these two great memes into one? I can, if I come up with 13 words that start with the letter G.

1. great (This is a great list. I can tell already.)
2. Grandma (She's my mom and she broke her wrist on Sunday. I think she's finally starting to feel just a little bit better.)
3. green (I'm looking forward to the grass turning green again.)
4. grass (Can't waste a word now, can we?)
5. gargantuan (I like the sound of that one.)
6. giant ( Kind of like gargantuan, but not so dramatic.)
7. grapes (I like the seedless kind.)
8. geese (There's a whole gaggle out there!)
9. gaggle
10. giraffe ( A very cool animal)
11. gnome ( a word that doesn't sound like G.)
12. guacamole (My Darling just made some. It would have made a very nice ABC Wednesday all on its own.)
13. giggle (that one makes me smile.)

To see the other participants in the new round of 
ABC Wednesday, click here!

And for Thursday Thirteen, click here.

Thoughts for Thursday

1. Feeding Mom regular meals may prove challenging, but sneaking butter into sandwiches and scrambled eggs is pretty simple.

2. After listening to one of the women at Ladies' Prayer on Tuesday, I decided that for all Mom's paraphernalia (glasses, hearing aides, hospital bed, and oxygen concentrator), I can be thankful she doesn't wear dentures.

3. Alex thinks Grandma makes a good playmate, especially if she will help him put his boots on or read him a story.

4. I am still in love with the morning sunshine that floods my living room around 7:30 am, even if I am fighting to keep my eyes open.


5. A morning shower is preferred over an evening shower.

 6. Little things like flowery, old tea cups can bring a smile to my face.

7. It has been a amazingly mild winter, and I am thankful for little to no snow to shovel or traipse through on my way to and from the car. There haven't been too many snowmen hanging around, but that's okay. Maybe we'll find them next year. (Or paint some more fence pieces.)

8. Some- times the picture I take totally by accident turns out to be one of my favorites. (How about those spider webs?)

9. I still love that framed print at the antique store. I still didn't buy it, (I'm not sure where I'd hang it...) but it still makes me happy when I see the photograph. Something about young love, I guess.

10. I am totally thrilled with the long sleeved knit nightgown I got from Land's End this past week. It's a little bigger than I'd anticipated, but oh, so comfy! Being cotton, it did shrink a little when I washed it, so it doesn't feel quite so huge now. Either that or I put on a few pounds overnight.

11. Thirteen thoughts would be nice, but I'm running out of ideas...

12. We ate leftovers from our freezer tonight; spicy green chile stew that Grandmanita made. It sure was good, and it made me miss her all over again.

13. Tomorrow Leta is bringing the kids over for a visit, the first since Christmas. I am so looking forward to wrapping my arms around their little selves, kissing their soft cheeks, and listening to them play. I need to whip up a batch of cookies, I think.

Resolving...

1. I stole a photo of Josh and his hot chocolate. He was just so pleased with those Sponge Bob mugs! (This next year, I resolve not to steal...?)

2. Patience... I resolve to continue working on that one.

3. I promise to water the "flowers" and treat them well.

4. I do not promise to have a cleaner, neater house, since I have come to believe the quest is certain to leave me only bitter and frustrated. Instead I resolve to continue seeing toys strewn across the floor as jewels.

5. I hope to one day this coming year purchase a camera of a little higher quality than my present one. But, I'm not making any promises.

6. I shall endeavor, once again, to lose the extra pounds I have put on since Hannah was born. Every time I lose a few they find me again and bring along a friend or two. Well, there's no more room in the house!

7. I will do my utmost to actually finish those books I got out of the church libraries (two different churches...), "Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver, "Our Values: Stories and Wisdom" by Dale Evans, and "Tramp for the Lord" by Corrie ten Boom. This may require a little less time on Facebook...

8. I shall continue in my endeavor to meet my bloggie friends face to face. (How will I ever get to the Pacific North West if I can't even make it halfway to Syracuse?)

9. I shall sing more, grumble less... and buy my family earplugs. :0)

10. I shall pray for wisdom in how to bring a bit of joy and purpose back into my mother's life. Jigsaw puzzles, the daily newspaper, crosswords, and my blue chair just aren't doing it for her.

11. I must eat more fruits and vegetables, drink more water, and take a walk each and every day... or at least think about it.

12. Deep inside I want to be like my father, who had the wonderful way of making everyone feel special. I want to have a world full of favorites, or at least people who think they are!

13. I shall purpose to sit on the couch more with my family (after exercising, of course) , play more games, and be a little more involved in what they love.

And that is it for today. Maybe I will stay up until midnight, maybe I will watch a movie with my family, maybe I will eat popcorn shrimp... and maybe I'll decide to hit the sack early, although that's doubtful.

Maybe Next Year...

The stockings were stuffed...

Thirteen ideas for next year. (Would somebody please remind to to look at this come August?)

1. Keep up with the lasagna and salad dinners for Christmas. It's perfect!
2. Never neglect the Christmas Eve service no matter how many things need to get accomplished before morning arrives.
3. Try wrapping those gifts before midnight Christmas Eve. It would be nice to see them under the tree for at least a day or two. Besides who needs the added pressure of having to wrap everything last minute?
4. Color coded storage boxes. I know the red and green plastic totes are probably gone from the stores by now, but they sure would make finding the Christmas stuff 100% easier.
5. If you plan to mail cards, stock up on stamps ahead of time, print a family photo from July, and get those babies going on one of those down days right after Thanksgiving.
6. Banker's boxes... This is a new idea for me and I'm not sure if I'll pull it off or not. I have a rather large and growing family which makes buying for Christmas a bit of a challenge. A bundle of bankers boxes, each with an individual name, could be a great place to collect random gifts throughout the year. Now where to store them?
7. Make cutout cookies a couple of times through the month of December and send them home with small friends who are more than willing to help eat and decorate.
8. Take some time away from work and the computer to watch a few of those holiday classics; "It's a Wonderful Life," "The Bishop's Wife," "A Muppet Christmas Carol,"...
9. Homemade mittens make great gifts. (Thanks, Andrea!)
10. Keep plenty of ones and spare change on hand so you can put something in the Red Kettle every time.
11. Get the tree early and decorate it with all the glee and excitement of a five year old.
12. Hang lights outside!
13. Make time to be in or attend a Christmas pageant or two and be sure to let it be known which holiday you wish your friends and neighbors to enjoy! "Merry Christmas!"

PS. Don't forget the family white elephant gift exchange. It's so much fun.

Countdown to Christmas

It's been a busy day! Good thing I went grocery shopping and did laundry yesterday. What happened today? Well, let's see...

1. Got up about 7 am and took my shower (but I didn't make my bed).
2. Made coffee for James and me.
3. Cooked scrambled eggs for Mom, Hannah, and me.
4. Looked at the computer...
5. Made frosting and decorated more cookies.
6. Washed the dishes.
7. Went to my brother Tim's Christmas Tea with my mom and sisters.
8. Stopped at the bank on our way to Newark. (This is a small upstate NY city nowhere near that international airport called "JFK.")
9. Stopped at the Dollar General on the way home and waited in line much too long to buy just aluminum foil.
10. Picked up a hitch hiker on the way home. It was Jasmine and she sporting a new bandanna from her friend Martin who she went to visit this morning.
11. Fixed up a plate of cookies and a Christmas card for Jasmine's friend.
12. Made a cookie plate delivery just down the road and over the hill.
13. Picked up a "forgotten" pumpkin pie for my friend Sally. (I was supposed to pick it up on my way home from my brother's place.)
14. Finally made it to church for an evening of gingerbread house decorating.

Needless to say, I did not clean my house today...

A Full Plate

I'm pretty sure my plate is full. Though keeping up with everything is a challenge, I'm fairly certain there is a way even if I haven't quite discovered it yet. I suppose the best way to eat the elephant is one bite at a time. (I learned that from Priscilla...)

It's not Thursday yet, but I think it's close enough. Want to know what's on my plate? Probably not but maybe it will make me feel better anyway.

1. Tending my "flowers." (Emma is here this week.)
2. My mom and all that is involved in taking care of her (This is filling up a good portion of my plate.)
3. homeschooling (Yup, we still do that. I must send in Hannah's year end papers...)
4. My grandkids (Can't leave them out, they're yummy! And, it's important for Grammies to have some time set aside to love their little people.)
5. The yard and gardens (They are quickly getting out of control. I did some weeding Tuesday and cut some grass this afternoon.)
6. Blueberries (It's that time again. I did a little picking but I'm considering letting the birds have most of them this year.)
7. Sofie (She needs to be fed, pottied, bathed, and groomed.)
8. Groceries (We have to eat, even if it's just cereal.)
9. My house (Do you know houses do NOT clean themselves?)
10. Going places like church, Ladies' Prayer, and the nursing home (I need these things to help keep me going. It's like pouring more fuel in the gas tank.)
11. Having my dad's ashes buried (Until that is done, it still on my plate. Soon it will be accomplished.)
12. My kids (Yes, they are growing up, but they still require some love, help, and attention here and there.)
13. My husband (Sometimes he must think he's last on the list, but that really isn't so. I love having time to spend with him. I just wish there was more of it. Maybe one day soon we can escape together.)

So, today my darling daughter in law cleaned my van for me! That was her way of saying "thank you" and giving back a little bit because I babysit for her. She sure is sweet. :)

Thirteen Things I Did Today

I already posted today, but it is Thursday... It was a productive day, I think. I bet I can come up with thirteen things to prove it.

1. I took a shower.
2. I made my bed. (These two things are important as once in a great while I actually don't get them done.)
3. I washed laundry and hung it out to dry. (I'm doing my part to save energy during this heat wave. Who knows, maybe we all still have power because I didn't run my dryer. I know that's why we now have crunchy socks and underwear.)
4. I made coffee, decaf of course. I drank the morning cup in my snowman mug and the afternoon cup with ice cubes.
5. I posted a blog this morning. This is also important. It helps me keep track of and sort out the things in my life.
6. I took the paperwork for my kid's health insurance to the post office and mailed it off. I also bought stamps while I was there, regular and Forever stamps. I'm stocking up.
7. I made an appointment to get my oil changed and brakes checked. It's been three months since my oil was changed and since I can't read my odometer, it's time. My brakes feel like they're grinding...
8. I stopped at the library for some books and found a few to read to Emma while she's here next week.
9. I visited with my sister, Priscilla, when she came over. I shared some ice cream sandwiches with her and Alicia and offered them iced tea. We also played a game of Chinese checkers together. I won. :)
10. I returned to the library this afternoon to pick up a movie I ordered. It's called "Haven" and is supposed to be about the refugee camp that used to be in Oswego, NY during WWII.
11. I sewed myself a new clothespin bag and found out I have forgotten most of the little that I ever knew about sewing. Oh well, it's functional and who's checking anyway? Hopefully no one.
12. Oh! I almost forgot! I gave the dog a bath this morning. She hates baths and usually runs when she knows one is coming. With some encouragement from Priscilla, I also cut the hair on her face. Now she can see again!
13. This is pushing it but, if I have my way, I will get that photo album together tonight so I can give it to my uncle tomorrow afternoon. I made a date to go visit him.

The day isn't over yet, maybe I'll even make supper!

Thirteen Questions for Thursday Thirteen

There are times when life seems overwhelming. If it's not one thing keeping me awake at night, it's my mother. I had a call from the dermatologist's office this morning. My mother's claim for services is being denied. It is no surprise to us, only a frustration, the result of those who prey on widow's houses. Not the doctor's office, the insurance company. The kind woman on the other end of the line took the time to talk and listen to my woes. She suggested I call Jane which I did. Maybe one day all of this will be settled. For now I have a load of questions running through my brain. Here's a sampling... (and a photo of "the Stalker.")

1. Why can't I just work through these issues one at a time and set them aside as finished? (My brain is tired.)
2. Will they ever BE finished? No sooner do we wrap up one thing than another pops up.
3. Who will help us sort through everything? Maybe Jane will...
4. What kind of care does Mom really need?
5. Will her short term memory ever improve?
6. Can she really manage her own oxygen?
7. How do we fix her health insurance?
8. How do we catch up and keep up with all the different aspects of her finances? It can make my head spin!
9. Will she ever agree to moving out of her home? She can't stay there alone.
10. Where will she move to?
11. What will we do with the house?
12. Will I ever learn how to manage in this "foreign country"?
13. Where is the brake lever?

As I drove about running errands the other day I wished for a brake lever on life. Wouldn't it be nice to bring things to a screeching halt just for a moment or two?

PS. The kind woman on the other end of the phone is a childhood friend. Her call today may have been an answer to the prayers lifted last evening. I am grateful.

Thursday Thirteen

It's Thursday again and it's been a while since I did a Thursday Thirteen list. I decided I needed some inspiration since I am am the only one I know who plays this little game. I googled Thursday Thirteen, came up with an official looking site, and visited a few new blogs like this one.

Anyway, I don't have any big plans for this summer, but I do have a few things I'd like to do...

1. First on my list is to finish the photo album I have started for my Uncle Chuck. Every July 4th he has a family picnic in the park and I thought it would be fun to thank him with an album of memories.

2. I ordered a windmill cookie mold and a sunflower cookie stamp too. I want to try making some fancy cookies. I'm looking forward to their arrival.

3. My flower gardens need some work...

4. I'm hoping to finally catch up with a couple of blog friends. Maybe we'll find each other at the beach this year.

5. There are some big decisions to be made concerning my mom and her living situation.

6. I want to spend some time just relaxing and visiting with my sisters.

7. I plan to have coffee with a friend. (I'm thinking of you, Pam.)

8. We need to find some wonderful places to take a summer hike. The Finger Lakes region is full of great places like Taughannock Falls.

9. Maybe I'll go antiquing.

10. I have plans to help out at Vacation Bible School, and take Emma along, but I don't know exactly what I'll be doing.

11. Hang laundry outside.

12. Buy some sand for my sandbox and then invite Josh over to play in it.

13. And maybe, just maybe, I'll have a yard sale and get rid of the extra stuff that has been hanging out in my dining room since we cleaned out the bedrooms in February. If not, there's always Goodwill.

Is it Thursday Yet?

Thirteen Thoughts on Christmas...













1. Christmas is really about remembering Christ's birth; that God actually clothed himself in human flesh and came into this world to offer us hope.
2. Jesus tends to get forgotten in the commercialization of the holidays.
3. There is a child-like wonder in hearing the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem during a candle light Christmas eve service.
4. I miss having nativity pageants, plays, concerts, and contadas at church.
5. I love old Christmas carols, the ones we used to sing in church, and "Away in the Manger" is still my favorite.
6. Giving and receiving gifts is fun, but I'm beginning to think it needs to be done in increments.
7. Shopping on the day after Christmas is more fun than shopping before.
8. Maybe we should exchange gifts on New Years...
9. I want to give more to those who can't give back.
10. Cutout cookies should be made early in the month and enjoyed by children each day after lunch.
11. A family Christmas party sounds like a good idea; a Bible reading, some music, white elephant gifts, and a few snacks and games.
12. Real trees smell better than fake ones.
13. I miss my Dad.