31 Days of Christmas, Oh Yah!...Part 3

Day 11
     Once again the day dawned sunny and very chilly!  I take that on faith since I am never up to actually witness this.  However, so much sunshine, and chilly, are not common here this time of year. A lady from church, who lived in the Midwest years ago, said it reminded her of Minnesota.....sunny and cold.  To me the difference is the term, "cold", like -20 to -30 F degrees; "chilly" is 25 to 35 F degrees.  
 (GramG Photo...winter in central Wisconsin)

Today, Monday, Dec. 11, was a good day to give my main rooms a

cleaning before hoarder instincts take over.  Somehow counters clutter up with papers and stuff until there is no more space.  It was also time to take down autumn decorations in prep for Christmas ambiance. Grandson Jake stopped by to haul in my tree and decorations.


Dinner was a ham casserole from an old Auntie Em recipe...like 60 years ago.  I browned the ham and added all the veggies in a large iron skillet that I've had for years.  Rather than dump it all into a
 casserole bowl I decided simply to bake it in the skillet.  Baked just fine and one less dish to wash.  Yummy "comfort food"!!




Reflections of Christmas Past....
      While I was teaching piano in Wisconsin and it was time for them to learn Rudolf, the Red Nosed Reindeer I had to tell them my Rudolf misconception.  When I was probably 7 or 8 years old and would sing about Rudolf and the great things he did and then end the song with, "You'll go down in history" I couldn't figure out why they would treat him that way.  Why should his grade go down in history class? 
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Day 12
    Tuesday, Dec. 12, once again I was greeted by sunshine when I got up.  The temperature was quite chilly, 30F, and lower overnight.
But with the promise of a warmer afternoon.  
    A lot of Christmas decorations are scattered, unorganized in the living room. There are several more stashed in  closet.  Jake is coming over tomorrow to dig those out.  There is a particular set of lights I am looking for.
   A few days ago I didn't know if I wanted to decorate, but now I want to Christmas everything....

"I'm shooting down any UFO's .....one and all."

The weather turned mild by noon.  There is a hint of rain in the forecast so I got outside to clean up leaves before they morph into a slimy mess.  They are scattered in the front and back gardens and the side.  
This is the time of year I recite my thankful litany while I clean up neighbors' leaves.
Thank you that the leaves get me outside to enjoy exercise and fresh air while I clean up neighbors'  leaves.
Thank you that the weather is nice enough to get outside to clean up the neighbors' leaves.
                                    Thank you that I am well enough and strong enough to enjoy getting outside to clean up the neighbors' leaves.
                                     Thank you that I am able to live out here in the PNW so I can get outside to enjoy cleaning up the neighbors' leaves. 
                                     Thank you that I have a home surrounded by trees so that I can get outside to enjoy exercise, fresh air and my yard while cleaning up the neighbors' leaves.... 
      I did end up outside for almost 3 hours.  It actually was enjoyable.  
      We all need to be like this hardy purple December blooming petunia.  Defy the odds  whatever they be!!  




 I even got blue and white star lights hung on the deck just in time for the start of Hanukkah.  
    
  I've been practicing piano a bit this week to play at the club house while folks are waiting for   our park Christmas dinner to be served on Thursday.  I haven't been playing much lately and need to get back to that.






Reflections of Christmas Past...
        As a child when living with my Aunt Emma all of December was cookie baking season.  We baked so many cookies and so many kinds that they were stored in every available container and freezer filled wit them.  I think she gave most of them away.  I still have many of her recipes.  When my children were at home we baked lots of cookies also.  
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Day 13
     Time for a luncheon out with the ladies.

 Christmas tea at Myrtle's Tea House....

See the little stack of quarters?  It was MY turn to win them by the waitress picking my number, 9! I won 10, not counting my own. We all put in a quarter and then have the waitress pick a number, except #7. Guess that number is too easy to pick...

Cheesy, veggie soup and assortment of finger sandwiches. 
Dainty desserts and 

7 tea pots of various flavored teas....filled several times.

Back home it was time to write out 19 grandkid Christmas cards. 

There was a 4. earthquake not far from here, but no damage and we didn't feel anything here in VC.

Then finish off the day watching the Muppets, Most Wanted while doing some stretches.

Reflections of Christmas Past....
Because some Christmas occasions are bitter sweet.  Burt had signed up for the National Guard and was to be finished with basic training around Thanksgiving.  He was, but also was called up to be part of Desert Storm in 1991.  I think he was home shortly after Thanksgiving.   I don't remember if we had an early Christmas that year, but he had to report back to base a couple days after Christmas.  We were sad and concerned, but the time together was peaceful. 
He did return home several months later without having been injured.  (The rest of the story: Debbie talked Burt into joining the Guards.  She said to Burt, "Nothing ever happens and you get school money".  She also got a bonus for getting someone to enlist. They were in the same unit.  When Desert Storm happened she was pregnant and didn't have to go, but Burt did.)
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Day 14
     Today, Thursday, Dec 14, we held our Christmas dinner here in the park.  I had fun playing songs for awhile before the meal was ready.
I took a plate of deviled eggs.... 

But I had a dinner to delight any elf....
just kidding, that was dessert.....

I had enjoyable visits with a few ladies I haven't seen for a bit.

Reflections of Christmas Past...

    Last New Year's weekend some of my grandkids had  an Elf dinner of the 4 main food groups....
candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup.....on spaghetti...




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Day 15....

  A falalala folly.....

Friday morning I hurried to write out a few cards to friends so I could get them in the mail.  I had a chiropractor appointment at 11:30.  I was alarmed how nervous it made me to be under a bit of pressure.....just to write out some cards...hmmm....
    That all went well.  Next was a trip to Fred Myers for various items.  I noticed a sign stating 50% off of sale prices on all things Christmas, including candy!  Yay!  Good, caloric fortune!!  I loaded up my cart and had it all planned how to save another $13.  At the check-out I watched the register to make sure 1/2 price was showing up.  It wasn't!  I tried to explain to the clerk and she tried to explain back to me, but nothing was helping.  I then hurried to check the gray signs hanging all over.  And,  well,  it stated, "with digital coupon".  Drats...so much for not reading completely.  The clerk was quite patient as I unloaded a half of cart of stuff.  There went the additional $13 off of what I did buy.  It was back home to download the craved digital coupon, good for 2 more days.  Good luck tomorrow!!  Will she or won't she go back to reload her cart??  The End....

     Angie and little dog, Gracie, came over later in the day to help me decorate my tree and to have a sleep over. 

I have a tree topper that's been in the family for years.  She has a porcelain head and a flowing white dress and wings.  She used to smoke, but is better behaved these later years.  She used to light up from an undergarment of plastic and a ring of small lights.  She goes without now.  The plastic slip is brittle, stained with burn marks from the lights.  She also used to hold a light in her left hand, very close to her mouth.  She probably took a few puffs of her cigarette  throughout the night when no one was watching.


Now she watches over us, stately, without being lit up....

Gracie has claimed the setting as her own personal holiday retreat.....

Angie and I finished off the evening with juicy burgers at Red Robin.

And watching Wonder Woman. After making a stop at Red Box and a candy run.....

Reflections of Christmas Past....
   My brother, Nick, who is one year younger than me, and passed away two years ago would bring us a 3 lb box of chocolates and a huge length of summer sausage every Christmas Eve.  I never made the connection with his name until right now.


This has been a good 5 Christmas days in the life of Grandma G.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful  Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end."
(Isaiah 9:6 & 7)

31 Days of Christmas, Oh Yah! Part 2

Day 6


 Wednesday, Dec 6, dawned bright with sunshine. (I think, because I wasn't awake yet.) 




 It did come with gusty blasts of wind that

continued throughout the day.  It was difficult to watch the blue sky from inside the house, but I didn't want to risk going outside and getting cold air on my face.
       I am feeling better, though still not completely well.  With the relief of steaming sessions my breathing is easier, and a few stretches felt really good.
       I sent out out Mom's Christmas list to my kids.  It is quite short this year.   




Reflections of Christmas Past...
      One of my favorite gifts about age ten from my Aunt Emma and Uncle Jack was a pair of white, leather, figure ice skates with shining silver blades!  The local rink was only a few blocks away.  The warming house was an old cabin-like structure with wooden floors emptying out onto the rink.  There I spent many hours over the years.
     The skates were a treasured possession well into my married years.  
      They also turned me into a school truant in 6th grade.  I had returned to Indianapolis for the second half of school.  It didn't freeze much there.  One school day we woke up to the back alley froze over from puddles that had formed the day before.   There was no adult supervision, SO... I decided the allure of ice, even bumpy, was more appealing than school.  I remember great fun and satisfaction for a few hours before the ice got slushy.  I don't recall any "correctional" consequences from missing school. 
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  Day 7     
       
 Today, Thursday, we had our Red Hat's Christmas lunch at the skill center.
The skill center is part of the high school program which students attend along with regular classes to learn culinary, cosmetic and pre law skills. 

The students prepare and serve the meal. We had salad, turkey with all the fixings and a cream puff swan.  Yummy.  (They were a bit skimpy on gravy.) 

    

Good looking Red Hat Mamas!!     Gram G did alright with a gift of chocolates!!
       Today was another beautiful, mild sunny day.  I was out a bit, though still not fully well. 

Reflections of Christmas Past...
     Santa would come on Christmas Eve.  After we opened our gifts everyone would check them out and then we would play the newest game of the season.  The kids could stay up as long as they wanted.  Lou and I would be asleep long before they were even thinking about sleep.  
    I recall only one Christmas when Santa came in the morning.  It was a time of very severe below zero weather.  Lou manned the local power plant.  He was called into to observe the machines the night of Christmas Eve.  We had to wait for dad to be around before Santa could come.  I'm sure we were all home wrapped in heavy quilts since our house was drafty old and we heated with wood.
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Day 8

Friday, Dec. 8, was another sunny, though chilly day. Late morning, I drove over to the Miller family, a 20 minute ride from me.   There is a stretch of road that is one of my favorite reasons why I love living in the Pacific Northwest. 




Great granddaughter, Rosie, and her dad were there for a couple days.  She likes to experience all life has to offer...even Bentley's cozy bed!







Reflections of Christmas Past...
    One year Debbie, (who now lives out here) wanted a hamster from Santa.  She was probably around 10.  Santa's helpers bought one from the pet store across the street.  Lou's sheet metal shop right in our yard was a great place to hide it.  It happened somehow that it got our of the cage. The shop was heated by wood and there was a large supply in a corner.  We knew it was in there somewhere.  Lou did catch it.  Next day he was on the phone with a co-worker from the power plant, telling him how this hamper got loose in the shop.  All the while he was telling the tale of the hamper he felt like something was amiss.  His co-worker finally questioned how a hamper got loose in the shop.  Then he realized it was a HAMSTER, not a hamper.  
     I wish this story had a happy ever after ending, but it did not.  A short time after Deb got the hamster she decided it needed a bath.  The little thing looked even more tiny all wet.  It went to hamster heaven by the next day.  Guess hamsters are not meant for the hamper.  
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Day 9...   
    Saturday, Dec. 9, was sunny, but very chilly for out here...even had some frost on the windshield.
      Today was our senior Encore Christmas brunch and "white elephant" gift exchange at church.  

The group leaders had cotton snowballs to throw around.  A few were yellow.  Shouldn't eat those.
I was blessed with getting a gift of a new Fire 7 tablet.  Now I need to learn all about it! 

My exchange gift was a Civil War memory game donated by the Millers.  We thought it was appropriate for a senior gathering.  The husky fellow who got it, along with a tea set for his wife, was gracious, declaring he likes history!!

  


Reflections of Christmas Past...
Because not all Christmas experiences are happy....
My mom passed away on Christmas Eve several years ago.  I was in northern Wisconsin and she in Indianapolis.  Arrangements were quickly made for me to travel with the town parish priest who was driving through Indianapolis.  The day after Christmas, the 26th, (also my dad's Birthday) my son, Burt who was a sophomore, and I were on our way there.  It really wasn't completely sad since Mom had laid in a nursing facility for many years, unable to communicate because of a stroke.  It actually was a Christmas gift that she was released and able to spend Christmas in heaven, healthy and young!  
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Day 10
  Sunday, Dec. 10 was again sunny, yet frosty.  I attended church service. On the drive home I got a Kentucky Fried chicken dinner from our newly remodeled restaurant close to my home. Yummy!
  Part of the afternoon was spent watching TV, blogging and deciding what to do next.  I took down the fall decorations on the porch since the weather was almost mild. (I am still cautious about being out in the cold since I just finished the antibiotic and not sure how robust I am.)
  However, here is part two of Saturday's Christmas adventures. 

   Frank and Carole,(fellow "in-laws) picked me up for the Singing Christmas Tree at one of the local churches.  I had never been to one.  It was a traditional evening with hot cider and cookies, carolers, a never melting Frosty, bell melodies, many songs, the Christmas story acted out....

And a large "tree" enveloping several singers!!

It was a satisfying evening of familiar traditions.









Reflections of Christmas Past....
    Probably about 8 years ago I enjoyed Christmas in San Diego with my son Gerry and his family.  They took me up near Los Angeles to a living Nativity scene with live animals. The evening was foggy and a bit chilly,  It was fun to walk through the full sized stable and view sheep and exotic, eastern animals.  

This has been a good 5 days of Christmas in the life of Grandma G.

"But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and be called the Son of the Most High'."  (Luke 1: 30-32)

31 Days of Christmas!! Oh, Yah!! Part 1

DAY 1
   Time to start the Christmas CDs.  With the arrival of Dec.1, the Christmas season officially begins for me.  Sugar plum dreams of decorating, baking, concert and party going,  church services, gift buying, wrapping, and celebrating with family flutter through my imagination.  I'm excited to see what reality brings this month!!  Unfortunately, a nasty sinus infection is interfering with health and energy.  
    But I set off to the bank to get 20 $10 bills for grandkid gifts. Then it was off to Fred Meyers for the afternoon to look over the merchandise!! (And to restock groceries after being gone for awhile.) I was amazed it was dark by the time I left the store at 5.
      At Deb's recommendation I watched the movie Lion in the evening. It is a powerful, true  story and a tear jerker for me.  I don't cry easily.

"Am I a sugar plum?"    


Reflections of Christmas Past.....
     One year when I was away at boarding high school in mid-Wisconsin my dad in Indiana sent me a 3lb. blue hexagon shaped box of large sized cashews!  Yum!
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Day 2
    It's a rainy Saturday here, though there's promise of a sunny, though chilly week coming!  With feeling miserable I don't go to water aerobics, but venture out to the doctor to get an antibiotic.  Then

continued on to some shopping, buying an economical box of cards for the grand kids' gifts.  
Upon returning home I slept 2 and half hours, then watched 
United Kingdom. It is a powerful, true political/love  story out of England and Africa.   The evening wasn't done until a dose of The Grinch.


Reflections of Christmas Past.....
     When our kids were young, on Christmas Eve we would pack them up and go out in -20C degree weather to go to the local nursing home where I would play piano for the Mass.  
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Day 3
     I was well enough to go to Sunday church service.  I was disappointed driving home since it was raining and the forecast promised sunshine.  When I got home I watched United Kingdom again since I had difficulty understanding some of it.  Deb and Carole invited me to the Millers for taco dinner with extended family. Over I went, stuffy nose and all.  By time to return home, the super moon was showing super sweet! At some places the night was bright enough I wouldn't have needed lights to drive. Only wished I had taken a moonlight walk once I was home.   

     BBC America showed the movie Titanic for its 20th anniversary.  Having recorded it, I watched half of it that evening.  I forgot a lot of the story.  




Reflections of Christmas Past....
     After the Mass Louie would take the kids for a ride around our small town to look for Santa.  The local airport gave off a search light beam that closely resembled light from Santa's sleigh.  Sure enough, he had come to our house while they were out searching!
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Day 4
     Having started an antibiotic I try to relax on Monday while getting well.  
       I washed the huge stack of dishes that piled up since getting home Wed. night.  The dishwasher has been unusable.  I bought a new through Black Friday sales but discovered the house lacked the required metal hook ups.  For now the appliance sits in the "should be studio" room. But that is for a later post.
      Chicken soup is good medicine for a cold.  Homemade is the best, they say. Even better if someone makes it for you.  But.....if that someone is not around, one must make it for oneself.  Fortunately cooking is comforting to me.  AHH....to slurp homemade chicken soup and be on the way to recovery while watching the rest of Titanic. 
This is a good time to read a novel.  I met the author at a writer's conference last August.  Out of regard for her I chose to buy and read it.  This story is full of Pacific Northwest mountain adventures!



Reflections of Christmas Past...
      Because not all Christmas experiences are happy:  I recall, at age 9, the first year when I started living with my Aunt Emma and Uncle Jack in northern Wisconsin.  We opened presents on Christmas Eve.  I received a goodly supply.  But then they went out while I was left alone at home.  I remember kneeling by the crib scene and crying cause I was so lonely.  What good were all the gifts if there was no one to play games with?  Maybe that is why God gave me 7 children, 19 grandchildren and the first of many to come great grandchildren!
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Day 5
     It's day 4 of taking the antibiotic.  I am feeling better, but not completely.  I resolve to accomplish a few things, even if not Christmasie. 
     Before steaming with Vick's water I went out to bring in the garbage bin from Monday morning.  The day was so beautiful I had to walk the length of our street.  I sure wish I could be out totally enjoying this upper 40's, blue sky SUNNY day.
     With Christmas CD's playing in the background I finished

the first novel I have read in several years.  
If We Make It Home.  Ladies will enjoy the challenges and life discoveries that are the heart of this story. 

Gram G with the author, Christina Nelson.


Reflections of Christmas Past....
     Some Christmas stories probably should not be told, but this is a personal chuckle.  When our children were growing up we always had a large meal of ham and scallop potatoes on the Eve.  Because Dec 24 is always cold in Wisconsin I would often use our open porch as an extra refrigerator/freezer.  One year I put a large pan of left over ham out on the ledge.  At some point in the evening I heard a loud thud and muffled paw patters.  I went out to catch the neighbor's overly friendly and hungry black lab feasting on our ham.  I chased him away.  Now what??  I couldn't afford to waste all that chewed on hunk of meat.  Unobserved by the rest of the family, busy with their presents, I brought it in, cut off the jagged edges, washed it off a bit and no one noticed anything unusual about their late night ham sandwiches. Some of us bark now and then, but otherwise no harm has been done.

This has been a good 5 Christmas days in the life of Grandma G.

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel --which means, 'God with us'."  (Matthew 1:23)