2020 Deals Us One Final Blow

Before I get to the "final blow of 2020," let me introduce you to little Peppermint, Joseph's new puppy, our Christmas gift to Joseph this year. Joseph wanted us to come see her in person before we saw her picture. She is a cute little thing...about 7 weeks old...a lab/bulldog mix. Joseph seems very happy. And, it is obvious by his photos that he didn't get his two front teeth for Christmas! On to our final blow...and I'm not referring to wind blowing, though we may get that on into the early morning hours...but that will be 2021's welcome! 2020's final blow for us came this afternoon when Woody received a phone call from his dermatologist, who removed the mole on his arm two weeks ago. The report was back...and...it was not what she thought it was (not the first time that we have been told that they were sure that it wasn't melanoma, but they would send it off just to be sure...I should be clued in to this and not believe them by this time!). It did test melanoma. She told Woody that she was going to call Dr. Wyman, Woody's melanoma doctor at Vanderbilt, to see what he wanted the next step to be. A little after five she called back to say that Dr. Wyman wanted it excised more and perhaps test a/some lymph node/s. She will call back on Tuesday after she has set things up with a surgeon and we will once again be back in the melanoma cycle...been there...done that...several times now. Deja vu...all over again. On that note, I will see you next year! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! And, for one last time this year...'tis the season!

The End is Nearer!

Well, tomorrow is the end of the year...does that seem possible...in some ways this year has gone by quickly and in others it has seemed verrrrrry long! I can't believe how many months that we have sheltered at home...most of the year. Definitely the activities of this year have been LOTS less than other years. I have read more, done more things around the house, found more ways to keep from going to stores, etc. I have been avoiding Walmart these days. I have several over-the-counter meds that I get at WalMart. Woody had a prescription to pick up at our locally owned pharmacy so I decided that I would get my over-the-counter meds there...a bit more expensive, but a lot less exposure to people there...there were only two people other than the folk who work there...again, LOTS less than would have been in WalMart! I was in and out very quickly even with picking out a sympathy card. So my one outing today was to the pharmacy. Today was also the day to place Woody's next order for dialysis supplies. I got that done even though when I called they had a recording saying that due to high volume it would be better to call back another day. But our assigned day was today so I decided to stick it out on hold. It didn't take any time at all for my call to be answered and not very long to get our next order placed. Fresenius Kidney Care is definitely a well-oiled machine! Woody's job of the day was to take the stitches out of his incision where the dermatologist removed the mole. That I didn't volunteer to help with...not my cup of tea...felt all weak in the knees just thinking about it. I did get him some tweezers and a little pair of scissors. He siad that he "thought" that he had gotten it out but wasn't sure since he couldn't see it very well. Again...I didn't look! Woody also made the trek outside to move the car into the garage. There is a possibility of some high winds along with lots of rain tomorrow night. I cooked a pork roast this afternoon. That had the house smelling really good. We had roast and roasted potatoes for supper. I chose not to put foil on the bottom of the pan which was a mistake. I will be checking on the pan that has been soaking for quite a while after I publish this...other than that pan the kitchen is all cleaned up for the night. I know that it is Wednesday as I had my "library" chat with Donna this afternoon. We are thinking about doing a little work in the actual library in a couple of weeks. It has been neglected for months due to the church pretty much being closed to traffic. The church is opening back up slowly but surely so I guess it is time for us to go in and see what needs to be done. Donna stopped in a few weeks ago and said that quite a lot of books have been returned so we need to check them in and shelve them. Perhaps it is time to consider making an order for some new books. I don't think that we made any orders last year...I can't think of a year since I have worked in the library (over 40 years) that no new books were added! We will be behind in our book series! Everything is going smoothly for Woody's dialysis today. He is in the 4th of today's 4 cycles and will be finished in a couple of hours. We have an inventation to go to "the farm" (Nathan & Kathy and crew's). The invitation was issued by Joseph. He has a new little wiggly, squirmy puppy that he wants to introduce to us. Woody is still deciding if he is up to that trek or not. We don't have much of a window to go...just a few hours in the morning. I guess he will decide in the morning. He says that he is "still thinking." In case anyone is wondering...the quarantine is over for their family. And, to their knowledge no one else got Covid. So if we go I am sure that a photo of Joseph's Christmas present from us will be the blog photo tomorrow night...that is, if the puppy stands still long enough! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! And, for a couple more days...'Tis the season!

Last Tuesday of 2020

I think that it is sort of appropriate to have a count down of days till 2021! I have heard that 2020 may be going out with fireworks...the lightning and thunder type. I guess thunderstorms are very appropriate to see the last day of 2020 out! What a year! It only makes me wonder what 2021 could possibly have in store for us! This has been one of those days during the Christmas/New Year holidays weeks that I am trying to get back into a routine. Today was pancake, of the high protein variety, cooking day...in other words Woody was out of his breakfast choices awaiting him in the refrigerator. I got those done. He ate a couple and I cleaned up that mess...as I mentioned to him, these pancakes are heavy on ingredients...seems that everything but the kitchen sink is on the counter (and the kitchen sink is part of the counter...so...). I went back to technology for a while and I think managed to get my new iPad and the printer communicating with each other. I did manage to print a photo, but haven't tried a document yet. Once I got Woody connected for today's dialysis, I got busy on taking out items for tomorrow's trash/recycle pickup. We fill several more tall kitchen trash bags each week due to his dialysis. I wrangled both a bag from his dialysis tall wastebasket and then the one from the kitchen, which I had filled with various and sundry small wastebaskets around the house, both out to the trash can and rolled it to the end of our driveway. Then it was time to work on the recycle. The hardest part of that is ALL the boxes that accumulate over the week from the last trash pick up. I had most of the boxes that we had used this week already collapsed, but had emptied three more today so had to flatten them. By the time that I get all this out to the curb I feel like I have had quite a workout! Before he got connected to his dialysis cycler machine, he went outside. Woody had been needing what he calls the "yard bucket," a four wheeled wheelbarrow. Nathan told him where they had put it and he went out and did a little in the yard while I was getting his dialysis set up. So he had a little sunlight and fresh air prior to dialysis today. I made potato soup this afternoon...one of my favorite "comfort soups." The dishes are washing in the dishwasher and I have a little more clean up to do and then the kitchen will be closed for the day! Woody's well into his treatment for the day..."only" a couple more hours to go! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! And, for a few more days it is still 'tis the season!

A Technolgy-Challenging Day

Nathan showed up on our doorstep around 7:30 this morning bearing a box with a new TV (I think I mentioned Saturday that our TV went out on Christmas Eve.) Nathan attempted to fix it yesterday morning, but to no avail. One of the challenges to buy a new one: due to the explosion in Nashville, Walmart was having to do "cash only" purchases. We "might" have been able to scrape together enough cash, but we had dispersed most of ours between grandchildren for Christmas gifts. We are probably among the few who continue to deal with cash, but in this instance it wasn't going to happen. Anyway, Nathan checked online and we could make purchases that way. There weren't many TV's to choose from due to holiday buying and due to the size that we wanted. We chose between the two that fit our bill and they could take a card online so I paid for it that way. Nathan arranged to pick it up between 7 and 8 am and he said that it was a very easy pick-up. The TV wasn't too much of a problem to get up and going...though we are going to have to learn a new "system" and the remote has very few buttons on it...probably a good thing...and so far Woody seems to be getting to the channels he wants without much problem. Besides making purchases with cash in stores, we still hold out on cable, etc. We use an antenna...which this TV accepts...but it also runs some programming through our internet. I can even get some of the programming on my new iPad. The next thing that I needed Nathan to do technology wise was get our Alexa echo dots running through my iPad. I had set up the one in my room, but Woody was a bit hesitant for me to work on the his downstairs because "she" is also connected to one of our lamps and he needs that to turn the lamp on and off after he gets into bed and also to turn it on in the middle of the night if needed. After seeing Nathan's struggles with getting the lamp set back up I am glad that I didn't attempt it last night. The only thing that we lacked last night was the "intercom" capability of Alexa. I heard Woody trying to convince Alexa to "drop in on me" last night so knew that it was time to go downstairs and disconnect him! So we managed to communicate without Alexa's help! Nathan finally did convince Woody's Alexa to "turn on the lamp" and all was well. Nathan also attempted to attach a device to a little old TV that I have in the sewing room that I run DVDs on...that still hasn't cooperated with me...but I haven't been in here trying to watch anything so it isn't a problem...and, I "think" I can recommect the DVD player "if" I don't get this up and running. Oh, and the other thing that Nathan got working was getting my new iPad "talking" with my stove (imagine!) so I can tell it to turn the ovens on and off and change temperatures, etc. from upstairs...or I can just talk to Alexa when I am in the kitchen and perhaps my hands are dirty and tell her to start the oven and set the temperature. Interesting technology! And, Woody once again has something to entertain him while he sits connected to the dialysis machine for hours and hours! All is well here. I think that we are coming down from our holiday activities. Even though ours were very low-key they still change routine. I guess we are gradually moving back into routine, though with dialysis we can't move from routine very much...holiday or not! We have had more sad Covid news. A young man (54 he is young to us as he is just a little older than Melany)woke up feeling sick on Christmas morning with Covid symptoms and less than 48 hours later he died. And, he was healthy as far as anyone knew prior to getting Covid. Covid is not to be taken lightly! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! And, for a tad bit longer 'tis the season!

A Recounting of Christmas Day!

Our day started out exchanging gifts with Nathan and Kathy and family--via Facebook messenger. You can see me taking the picture of the screen and Woody off to the side in the right-hand corner. The smiling blur in the bigger part of the screen is Joseph after he opened his gift from us--the promise of a new puppy of his choice (within reason!). He is a pretty happy boy. He opened his gift first of the grandchildren and after that they all guessed what they would be given...a cow, a pig, etc! Those guesses were off! But I think that everyone was pleased with their gifts. That's Elijah with his bat..at least I think that I got his picture in...the two pictures of the boys were taken by Kathy. I "stole" them from her Facebook page. When I post pictures they go in only with "code" and I can't see order so not exactly sure what got posted! It was a sweet (candy) and technological Christmas to us from them. Woody got a Roku for the TV (which stopped working on Christmas Eve...another reason that it was a quiet Christmas Eve!). Nathan is going to come over tomorrow and see if we have just pushed a wrong button on the remote or if the TV is no longer with us! The TV is not all that old, but I keep being reminded that things don't last the way they used to! My main gift from them was a new iPad! I definitely wasn't expecting that! I have been diligently working with plugging in information that I want the new one to have that the old one has...not all passwords that I have written down seem to be working...slowly but surely I am getting it set up...probably have had waaaaaaay too much screen time! But finally I am not constantly getting the message that I can't do some task on the iPad because mine is too old! I'm back to being able to watch episodes of food network and Home and Garden, etc. Woody thankfully got another word puzzle book so that has occupied his time while he has been minus a TV! After opening gifts "with" the 9 Dorrells we tuned out and let them have the rest of their Christmas and we settled in for a quite rest of the day. Not expecting an adventure of any sort other than one that was in a book! Well, on into the afternoon, I was talking to Melany on the cell phone and Nathan called in. I told Melany that I would call back and managed to answer his call. It was an S.O.S. call. He and the whole family were stuck in the mud at our pastor's house. They had gone there to pick up chickens that our pastor had offered to them. The pastor and his family were away visiting with family for Christmas. Nathan managed to drive the white van you see in one of the above photos down a hill (Graham said that he told his dad not to drive it down there!) and into some very boggy muddy ground...oops! Stuck!!!!! The S.O.S. call was for me to come and pick up Graham and take him to their house so he could get his 4-wheel drive and a chain to get them out. The adventure for me was that I had no idea where the pastor lives...just knew that he lived out in the country a little out of Tullahoma. I found it with ease and ended up taking Graham and Abigail to their house as it was decided that she would drive their other vehicle back too in case they couldn't get the van out! On top of the agrivation of having gotten stuck, it was also a very cold day...only in the low to mid 20s for a high. But luckily they were able to take shelter in the guest house. I wish that I could post the video of them trying to capture the rooster (the pastor claims that the rooster is the spawn of the devil!). Aren't they lucky to get this particular rooster?! I guess time will tell. Isaac as requested him for his birthday supper in a couple of weeks! Anyway, I got Graham and Abigail home to their house. They got back and Graham was able to pull them out before it got dark...and all is well! And, the chickens have taken up residence at the Dorrell's farm and our pastor thinks that they look a lot better there than at his place! So that is the saga of our Christmas Day! Today we have taken it easy. I have continued to work on making the iPad mine. I even made it a little fabric weighted stand that I can sit on my lap or on the arm of the chair and it will let the ipad be propped up. Woody has continued to work on his puzzles since he is TVless. We had a Hasty proch dropoff today with them getting to pick up a little something. I think that we fared the best as ours are to eat and read. I will shortly be able to show what I have been having folk pick up from our porch...but there are still a few recipients so I best not spoil the surprise...though they may have gotten a hint from Facebook on Christmas Day. I should make note of the tragic explosion in Nashville that is affecting folk near and far from Nashville. I found out about when I first got my iPad to open up and that was the news of the day facing me. I found out last night that it has affected us but not to a point of being a problem. Connie tried to call me on our landline from Alabama last night. She found that our line was dead. She called me on my cell phone to let me know. Our phone isn't dead as I can make calls here in Tullahoma, but I am guessing that the long distance service is affected. I am thankful for cell phones...but even thoughs are affected for many. Melany and Wade's internet is affected...they are closer to Nashville, plus they have AT&T. I'm guessing that our provider uses AT&T for long distnace. One of the internet companies that supplies Tullahoma exclusively has about a third of their costomers without internet as they use AT&T. Since we don't have TV at the moment we don't know a lot about what is being found out about the explosion, but just that it affected a lot of downtown buildings...Woody said 41 buildings which he learned when he came upstairs and did some computer searching this morning. Quite a few states are affected with their internet and phone service...not going to be an easy fix as I understand. Not the news story that one wants to read about on Christmas morning...or any morning. What a year... On that note I will say: Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! for 'tis still the season...for a little longer!

"Come Let Us Adore Him!" Woody and Lois wish you a blessed Christmas 2020!

Christmas Eve 2020 Definitely Different

A very quiet day in comparison to our usual Christmas Eve celebrations in years past. Usually I would be saying Merry Christmas from the Dorrell households and Proctors and our Christmas family celebration would be over. But this year just Merry Christmas Eve from Woody and me. No big family celebrations...this year. Melany texted with me this morning and my sister and I have talked this evening. But very quiet in comparison to our family gatherings on Christmas Eve Day with 15+ people. Oh, well, such is a Covid lifestyle. The only "normal" thing about today was our church's Christmas Eve service...and, really that wasn't normal as it was a livestream...a livestream that had been taped. It was a good reminder of the meaning of Christmas. Missed the candles at the end, though! I spent a good part of the morning making lasagna. We had it for our Christmas Eve meal. I also put out snack items on the rolling cart...a tradition with me back to childhood. So traditions continue even in these unusal conditions. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Definitely...'tis the season! Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas Pleasures: Christmas Goodies

Before the goody making came some hard work by Woody. He decided to go outside and work in one of the front flower gardens. He clipped away dead stalks, etc. He was outside a long time and when he came in he was ready for his recliner to be reclined! While he was in the garden I started making one of the treats that I was wanting to have over these days of holidays...a cheese spread and some fudge. Both recipes date waaaaaaay back to our early marriage years. The fudge is the easy Fantasy Fudge that is on the label of marshmallow creme...but it has changed over the years...I made our fudge from what was the original recipe for me fifty or so years ago. The cheese spread is a recipe that I got out of either Woman's Day or Family Circle Magazine...again, many years ago. It is really meant to be a cheese ring or a cheese ball, but I chose to make it and not shape it...just put it in a crock and use it as a spread. This recipe suggests spreading the cheese on a cracker and then spreading some strawberry jam on that...very good! Melany and family gave us an advent callendar of little jars of jams and jellies. I have been enjoying them on my sourdough English muffins, but decided that I would also like them with this cheese spread. I have sampled a little of the cheese and it is good, but will be even better once the flavors meld together. I haven't cut the fudge yet so haven't had a piece of that yet...but I will admit to scraping the pan...and that pretty much satisfied my craving for Christmas fudge! The day continued to be a time of connecting with friends...some stopped by and others I talked with on the phone. I had my weekly "library " chat with Donna. We missed our chat last week, though we did message back and forth with each other, because of Woody's unexpected trip to the dermatologist. We are both going to celebrate Christmas sheltered at home as couples and won't be getting together with our children or grandchildren. Ruth stopped by this morning and we visited for a few minutes outside. Marie stopped by this evening and we visited for a short time in the living room. Both visits were masked visits. My other "job" of the day beside goody making was catching up on laundry. My third load is in the drier...and I'm tired. Thankfully I got the kitchen cleaned up before coming up to blog...so my "work" is done for tonight. I will go down and stop my drier and see if everything is dry...maybe I'll get this last load out and maybe I won't...not sure that I am up to putting another load away! My only other "have-to" for tonight is getting Woody disconnected around 10pm. My recliner is calling my name along with my needlepoint. I will do that and rest till it is time for Woody's dialysis to be over. Merry Christmas Eve Eve! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season! By the way...another friend we know very well tested positive for Covid 19. His initial symptoms were thought to be heart problems so he got to the ER quickly...found out he was covid positive and heart doctor checked him and found it was not his heart. He was given one of the antibodies to keep symptoms at a minimum and sent home...he is doing well last we heard. Woody is waiting for him to call him back as Woody called today and had to leave a message. Woody is this friend's deacon. That's two out of Woody's deacon family care group who have had it...one doing well and one didn't make it...not the best of percentages! Wade's mother continues to be doing well also with only slight symptoms. Wade and Melany get updates both from her and from the assissted living nurse.

Christmas Pleasures: Being Surprised by Kindnesses

This morning I opened the front door to go out to get yesterday's mail as I quit checking if it had come around 5:30 last night. And, what met me on the front porch...three packages...must be Christmas. Two of them happened to be generated by his kidney care group...a prescription and some more of the renal protein drink supplements that I use to make his strawberry shakes. Not too exciting upon discovering what was inside. BUT the third was from a young lady who grew up in our church. She once upon a time babysat for Melany and Nathan and one year when Melany went to camp we found her there in Melany's cabin quad as one of the counselors. The other counselors were so excited when they found out that Melany was from Tullahoma that they started calling for Linette to come meet us...well, none of us needed introductions! It was a fun surprise for Melany's camp experience. When Linette and Stan married I cross stitched them some oraments to hang on their future Christmas trees...and they were hung again this year. Linette thanks me so sweetly each year for them. We have stayed in touch through Facebook and Facebook Messenger. She is a registered nurse and has followed Woody and his treatments over the years. One time she commented when I had posted a barn photo that she likes to take pictures of water towers. Since learning that, I try to snap a picture or two of water towers when we are on our barn trips and then post them to her via social media. We had recently "talked" and she knew about Woody starting on dialysis and I had shared things that were going on in our lives. She always has wise advice for me and shows interest in what is going on health-wise with Woody. Today's unexpected gift in the mail definitely lifted my spirits. Note that it fits right in with the barn theme in our kitchen. I made it a part of a grouping on my rolling cart...Linette's barn platter, Rachel's living pine that she sent last week, and Melany's paper lantern that she made when the kitchen was finished last year. Three happies! Today was sourdough roll making day. I started them late morning and they were through the first rising before it was time for me to connect Woody for his morning dialysis. I got them shaped while I was waiting for his dialysis solution to warm and then connected Woody a bit early today as I had a haircut appointment. Before he got connected he spent a little time sitting on the front porch...this may be the last day for a while that it will be nice enough to sit outside like that. On my way home from my haircut, I stopped at the pharmacy to pick up some of my prescriptions. I got a surprise that they were a lot less expensive than I expected...a nice surprise...these days! I was glad that they ran out when they did so I could fill them before the new year begins and the insurance deductable starts all over again. The rolls had really risen a lot by the time I got home. I popped them in the oven and started getting the kitchen mess cleaned up. When they were out of the oven I texted Nathan and Kathy and told them that if they were out and about that I had some rolls that they might like to add to a holiday meal this week. I didn't have to beg them very hard to have them come pick them up...another porch pick up! If they hadn't responded quickly I was going to tell them that if they didn't come pretty soon that there might not be two dozen when they did get them! I have trouble resisting rolls right out of the oven...but this time I managed and they picked them up soon enough that I didn't get too tempted! Woody is well into his dialysis treatment...on the 4th cycle by now. The least amount of time that the daily treatments can take is 8 hours...but not all the parts of the cycle are on a timer and some can take a longer or shorter time each treatment...each cycle really. The last couple of nights the treatments have been shorter...lest night's was under 8-and-a-half hours...can't get much shorter than that. Still a long time when you think about it! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

Christmas Pleasures: Downtime

It is wonderful when I find that I have downtime in the days just drawing near to Christmas. And, definitely this year we have lots of downtime! I have had more time to read, to do some Christmas stitching that isn't designated for a gift, and even extra time to clean. Today cleaning in the kitchen filled a lot of my downtime. I leisurely cleaned surfaces, as well as filters in the hood and in the dishwasher, wiped off the outside of appliances and the inside of the microwave. It was nice to do it and not have to move on to something else to do for some festivity or another. Nathan dropped off on the front porch our Christmas gifts and I sent a couple off to their house. I have put them under the tree. Some of their yummy baking was included...nice to have some Christmas nibbles. I got a call from my friend Jo that she was in the area and she dropped off something (more Christmas treats!) and she picked up something from me. Lots of "give and take" today! She and I did sit at opposite ends of the porch and talk for a few minutes...nice to get to catch up and also to get some fresh air! It was great that it was pleasant enough for us to visit outside...masked and socially distanced! Covid is still high on everyone's minds here and around the world. Yesterday I woke up to two texts on my phone...both telling me about Covid patients. Melany texted me that Wade's mother has tested positive with Covid. She lives in an assissted living. At that point she did not have any symptoms, they had tested her because someone on her hall has it.They test often in their facility so probably caught hers early. Today she was running a low fever and she was a little hoarse. We hated hearing about her being positive and that a former church nursery worker was now on a ventilator, but the sadest news came later in the afternoon when we learned that a friend who was in Woody's Deacon family had passed away due to complications from Covid. We have heard of many deaths during this pandemic and some of the deaths happened in people we know families...but this is the first time that we personally know the person who died. It just keeps getting closer and closer. We also got news of some we know who with Covid are recovering and got to come out of the hospital over the weekend...so the news isn't all bad but still pretty devistating. The TN governor has said no gatherings over ten except for churches...that's pretty limiting and I think that the ruling should have been made earlier in December as people have already made plans for their Christmas gatherings...some already traveling. I keep thinking that if we give up some family time this year that hopefully next year we will be able to gather as families once again. I guess time will tell! Woody has had a usual quiet day...reading, crossword and other word puzzle solving, watching TV and his daily dialysis. Woody is enjoying the soup that I made yesterday that he hadn't had for a couple of years due to it having tomatoes in it and he also enjoyed the treats that were left today...again most of what he couldn't have last year at this time. As I mentioned, I really cleaned up the kitchen this morning and then...I made Woody's breakfast sausage...ummmmm not the smartest to have cleaned the surface next to the stove top this morning...now I have to go clean it and the stove top once again...but he has a good supply of breakfast sausage for a while! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

Fourth/Last Sunday of Advent

Christmas Pleasures: Peppermint Ice Cream

Today was the first time, this Christmas season, to indulge in one of our favorite Christmas treats: Peppermint Ice Cream. The first taste always transports me back to my childhood...a taste that provides me of memories of the past...both in our household here in Tennessee and when I was growing up in Arizona. And, it tasted just as good today as it did all those many years back! Today was a busy day for me...grocery shopping day. It always takes me two hours from when I leave to when I pull back into the driveway...two hours of decision making! Today, when I got home, I only put away the things that had to be put into the refrigerator/freezer because it was time to set up Woody's dialysis. While the dialysis solution was warming on top of the cycler machine, I put away a few more items. Woody decided that he wanted a banana high protein shake for lunch so I made that for him after I got his dialysis going for today's treatment. After I gave him his shake it was time to put away the rest of the groceries. By the time that I got those put away, I was hardly interested in me eating lunch. I did eat a little something and then sat down and rested for a while. At some point I took a pretty good nap...grocery shopping wears me out! I have done some more organizing in the kitchen and am ready to make a pot of soup tomorrow. I usually don't have enough energy to cook on grocery shopping day. I am always happy that we still have some leftovers in the fridge to tide us over till I have built up enough energy to cook again. I'm planning on making one of our favorite soup recipes...I don't think that Woody has eaten it in 2-1/2 years. I maybe have made it for me once in that time. Woody said that it sounded good so we will give it a try. I woke up early this morning and ended up reading for a while...finished another book. I think that it was my 106th book to finish this year. I started another Christmas novel that takes place on Nantucket Island. I visited Nantucket Island when I was a teenager so I am always intrigued to read books that take place there. Woody has done his usual. He has read, watched TV, worked his daily crossword puzzles and also worked on a puzzle book that the farmers (Nathan, Kathy and family) gave him for his birthday. He helped me out by having the dislysis solution bags brought in from the living room for today's treatment...one less thing that I had to do upon my return from groceries. Once again I have heard of another friend who has Covid and is in the hospital. I have been made aware that CNN featured our county and perhaps Tullahoma itself due to the rapid rise in the outbreak of Covid here. But they call us a metropolatin area?????? I believe that they included a lot of rural area surrounding us. But it is still bad just about everywhere so...Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

Christmas Pleasures: A Week-Before-Christmas Birthday

We woke up this morning...a week before Christmas and lo and behold it was Woody's birthday! I gave him my present--a draft dodger that attaches to the bottom of the door. The door next to his recliner in the family room was cut off a bit too much when we had new carpet installed...this isn't an outside door but the one that opens onto the sun porch/laundry room at the back of our house...never the warmest of rooms. So when the heat pump is running there is a breeze caused by the air ducts in that area...and due to it being a heat pump...that breeze is quite cool. I questioned my gift when I realized that I had to install it! But between info on YouTube and verbal instructions from Woody, the task was accomplished and indeed it does stop that breeze. Mid morning an elf left the angel food cake that Woody had requested along with several other gifts. Cake and presents were much appreciated! I guess he has had a pretty good birthday even though he has been connected to his dialysis machine for a good portion of it...but such is his life these days! I also got a surprise gift left on the front porch later in the day...this time the elf was wearing brown and drove a brown truck. Here's what he left me:

It's alive! It may go on my front porch when there isn't a possibility of freezing temperatures...but for the time being I will enjoy it in my kitchen. I remembered midafternoon that I am supposed to write thoughts on our Sunday School lesson this week for our Class. Marie is having her family Christmas this weekend. I got that done and just before coming in to blog sent it out in an email. Marie or I send a short lesson each week to the members of our Sunday School class since we can't meet in person yet. When we started this, we never dreamed that we would be doing it for so many months! Covid has definitely dragged on and on and...I'm ready for it to be behind us! How about you?!? And, when I hit the publish button, I will head downstairs and empty the dishwasher so I can put some more dirty dishes in and also see if Woody is ready for another piece of birthday cake. The cake arrived a bit before it was time for lunch so Woody had cake first...sounds like a good birthday choice! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Because it is 'tis the season!

Christmas Pleasures: Christmas Cards

One of Woody's favorite times of the day is getting the mail...that used to be his job and he didn't want anyone else to get it but him. Now he has delegated the going to get it to me, but he still looks forward to what might be in the mailbox each day. These days there is less and less communication by mail so lots of times it is just ads...except...for Christmas time...both of us look forward to hearing from friends far and near. I have a special basket on the stairs in which I place our cards. One of my blog readers needs to note which card is on the top today...it finally made it..."just" took ten days to get from AL to TN! Woody wanted to make sure that you knew that mail from Alabama comes by mule...but it finally did get here! I talked to Connie last night and she was wondering if her card had arrived because so far no one had gotten her cards that she had talked to. The other ironic thing is that yesterday the card we sent to her was returned to us stating that it was undeliverable and couldn't be forwarded...and, we checked and everything on the envelope was legible and it was the correct address! The Post Office neglected to cancel the stamp so today I put it back in the mailbox for the mailman to pick up tomorrow...maybe it will eventually get there! We had a busy morning. I got up and made Woody some of his protein packed pancakes (say that ten times fast!). Then we got ready to head out the door around 9:30 for his 9:45 appointment. The parking lot was full so we had to park some distance away...but eventually did get to park closer as folk left. We sat in the car for more than a half hour...brrrr! Every so often Woody would turn the car on and the best thing was that it turned the heated seats back on and that kept us warm for a bit till he turned the car on again. Finally we got called in. Today the doctor wasn't in the building Woody had a virtual visit with him, but saw the rest of his team...social worker, nutritionist and one of his nurses. Everyone was pleased with his progress. Finally his hemoglobin level was in the range that they want it...so I guess eating the extra protein and the iron and the anemia shots must be working. We'll take it. It looks like everything is going along very well...all we talked to seemed pleased. We were home in time for me to set up today's dialysis! He has been connected since 1pm and once again everything is going smoothly. I was tired so put aside my cooking plans till I rested for a while. About the time I was ready to head downstairs I got a couple of phone calls...'tis the season calls from Melany and Cheryl. I talked to each of them for a while and then headed downstairs to start making meatballs for spaghetti. We ate a little bit later than usual. I have started getting the mess cleaned up...dish washer is at least running and some dishes are soaking waiting for me to get back down and clean them up. I guess clean up is worth the product...sometimes I'm not sure! I'm tired today after two doctor visits in a row! Woody unbandaged his arm today after he had the mole removed yesterday...quite a cut. He said that it hurts some, but that it felt better after he removed the tight bandage. Well, I guess it is time to head back to the kitchen. We do thank those of you who are on our Christmas card list. We really do enjoy receiving them from you and thinking about each of you!'Tis the season! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious. We heard on the news today that Tennessee has the highest rate of new Corona virus cases. Don't like to hear that...but it is obvious as each day we hear of someone else that we know who has the virus.

Christmas Pleasures: Visits with Friends

This year the visits with friends are usually on the phone. Today I talked with a friend here in town who I hadn't visited with in a long time. We have known each other for over 50 years...she was in my original Sunday School class at First Baptist, Tullahoma. Not long after her call, a friend texted that she was going to drop something off on our porch. I had something for her so I set her package out on the porch for her to get. I did open the door and talked to her for a couple of minutes...social distanced...me inside the house with door open and she on the front porch. Later in the day I called a friend in Alabama. So a visiting kind of day. Between visiting with my friend on the front porch and my phone call this afternoon we had a rather busy time...not planned. Woody happened to check out a mole that had been bothering him and it had changed a LOT. So he made an immediate call to his dermatologist in Murfreesboro. He called a little before noon and they gave him a 1pm appointment. Yikes...we are at least an hour away. We managed to get out the driveway a little after twelve. He was only a little late for the appointment. They called him in very quickly and we were back in the car by 2:10. She did remove the mole. She said that she is sure that it is not melanoma, but due to his history she is sending it off to be checked. She is sure that it is a Pyogenic Granuloma. She is sure that she got it all. We won't know for sure for a couple of weeks when lab reports get back. But at this point have heaved a big sigh of relief. As soon as we got home, I got his dialysis treatment set up...but it got started three hours late...guess we will have a late night this evening...maybe it will be finished before midnight? That about sums up our day! Tomorrow he has his appointment with his doctor and the dialysis team at the Fresenius Kidney Care Clinic...so another day to get out and go for an appointment. Will report back tomorrow night as to how that goes. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Because 'tis the season and we all want to be well to enjoy it!

Christmas Pleasures: Christmas Books

I love to sit in this chair and pull one of the many Christmas books off the shelf at the bottom of the little side table. The Pearl Buck book has many short stories in it. There a few favorites in it that I have read many times and then there are some that I have never read so I might choose a new or old favorite to read. The Christmas In America book has the most beautiful Christmas photos in it...some reading, but mainly a good book to look at! I also have downloaded from the our public library cyber library a couple of Christmas novels...just light reading that usually warms my heart. Today I sat in this chair but not to read. I had my needlepoint piece and did some stitching on it while I waited for the dialysis supplies delivery. The delivery was scheduled for between 7 and 11 am in the morning, but as he has done every time, he came a day early as he finished up his other deliveries of the day in our area. I was so glad for them to arrive at 4pm rather than 7am! I have started sleeping in a bit later since our days can be lazy and start whenever we like! If I already have Woody's breakfast items prepared ahead of time, I don't really need to be up and around early. Kathy and the Nathan and the rest of their crew continue to feel well. Woody and I seem fine too. Our days of quarantining are about to draw to a close...just at the perfect time...in time for Woody to go to the kidney center for his monthly visit with Dr. O and some of the others on "our team." That appointment is Thursday. We continue to hear of friends who have Covid...some hardly feel sick and others are in serious condition. So...Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! For...'tis the season!

Christmas Pleasures: Decorations

This year I have enjoyed our Christmas decorations even more than other years...more time...less hustle and bustle! This year I did a lot less decorating, but I am very pleased with what I have done and am enjoying it to the utmost...perhaps "less is really more!" I will say that I miss our big Christmas tree and all the memories that it brings, but am quite satisfied this year with the smaller corner tree and all the handmade ornaments...lots of memories in those, too. I almost didn't do any decorating this year, but am so glad that I did get out some things. Seeing them as I walk through the rooms gives me a "warm feeling." Today has been a usual day...a few tasks and chores around the house, reading, stitching, dozing, and talking on the phone with Cheryl and a dear friend for me...and for Woody...reading, crossword puzzles, solitaire, TV, and dialysis! I still have clothes to get out of the dryer and need to run the dishwasher and then I am going to go back to stitching on my Christmas needlepoint pillow top till it is time to disconnect Woody from today's dialysis treatment. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

Third Sunday in Advent

Christmas Pleasures: Aroma of Baking

There is something soothing about smelling baking aromas throughout the house...especially at Christmas. And, this year there is an added plus to smelling these aromas = figure you don't have Covid if you can smell!!!!! I opened the microwave after heating Woody's soup for his lunch. I commented on the fact of how good it smelled and Woody said that in this instance that is a very good thing to be able to smell food! Kathy continues to feel okay as do the rest of their family and as do Woody and I. Being quarantined has a different feeling than the sheltering at home that we have been doing since March. The English muffins that I made today didn't come out quite as good as the ones that I made a few weeks back...but still good. This time I decided to add some different flavors to them like some of the catalogs that offer baked goods. Today's attempt was to make Apple Cinnamon English muffins. The flavor isn't very strong...but the aroma while cooking said that they were apple cinnamon. Maybe the flavor will develop more as they sit over night. I will try one again in the morning to see if the flavor is stronger. We have had supper and the kitchen is cleaned up from both the baking and supper. I plan to do a little sewing and stitching this evening. Woody's dialysis treatment is in full swing...on the downward swing now as there are just a couple of hours left for today's treatment. We have both felt quite sleepy this afternoon. It has been a rainy day so perhaps that is why our eyes keep trying to close! It continues to be mild today but according to the weathermen that trend is supposed to swing downward and we will be seeing much cooler temperatures this coming week. I guess it is only fitting for it to get colder so it will "feel more like Christmas!" 'Tis the season! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Let It Snow

This year, I haven't done much decorating in the family room/Woody's room because surfaces are taken up with dialysis supplies. I decided to just put up three things on the mantel..."hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil" snowmen, a tree that has melting snowmen at its base and snowman heads (bells) in each of the circles on the tree. The wreath Melany made and gave us last year so this is the first year that I have used it in the decorations. I think that it works well sitting on the mantel. At least a little something Christmasy/wintry in the room where Woody spends most of his time these days. Today has been a pretty slow-going day. I have done quite a bit of stitching on my needlepoint piece (easy to lose track of time when stitching). Woody has read, worked crossword puzzles, watched TV and wrapped presents (a big help!). He had one really long and skinny package to wrap for Elijah and he was having trouble finding gift wrap that was big enough for it...we had used up most of our Christmas wrap last year and now that we have self quarantined...well, needed to come up with a way to wrap it and not have to go out and buy any. I opened the door to go check the mail and a gift literally fell in the door...a Christmasy bucket with everything needed to wrap some presents (3 rolls of paper, gift tags, and tape) plus some Christmas goodies. The tag read "Something to help you wrap up 2020!" How nice...definitely a serendipity that came at just the right moment. Woody went right to work and wrapped up the rest of our gifts while he was at it! Good job done! Closer to being ready for Christmas...whenever it happens! I have texted with Kathy today and she says that she feels great as do the rest of the family...hope that they all stay feeling great! We have learned today of more friends who have come down with Covid here in town. One person had no idea she had it. Her place of work had all their employees test for Covid since so many in Tullahoma have it. She tested positive and thus is quarantined...just two doors down from us. We found out that a lady in one of Woody's deacon families has Covid and is in the hospital and not doing well (she has many underlying health issues). Tullahoma seems to be dropping one by one and we are hoping not to be a part of the statistics! I got a reminder call for my six-month check-in with my personal care physician which was scheduled for Monday. I told them that I thought that they probably didn't want me to come in since I had possibly been exposed. They wanted to know if I was quarantining and when I had been exposed. After I told them that I was self-quarantining and when, they said that they would cancel my appointment and for me to call back when it was okay for me to come in. I think/know that that time will be after the new year. I wasn't all that thrilled to have to be up and out of here really early on Monday to travel 45 miles for an 8am appointment. We are supposed to have another drop in temperatures Sunday and maybe even flurries on Monday. We will be glad to stay home all snug in our warm house and not go out! Woody's dialysis treatments continue to go well. He is well into today's treatment with probably 2-2-1/2 hours remaining. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

In the Air There is a Feeling of Christmas!

The last carolers have gathered on the street corners and enjoying the Christmas feel in the air! Today has been an interesting day...I have been watching the cases of Covid grow here in Tullahoma. I have had the feeling that eventually we would all know really well and/or be related to someone who gets Covid before this is all over with. I got a text that I wasn't expecting this morning...a text from Nathan saying that Kathy had tested positive with Covid...not a text that I wanted to get or expected to get. She got tested because her niece was going to visit next week and asked her to be tested since Kathy had a bit of a stuffy head. She got her test earlier in the week and today received word that she was positive. They have been staying away pretty much from us...except I asked Nathan to fix one of our toilets...and he and Kathy came here Sunday for a bit to fix it and then did visit with us for a few minutes. We did wear masks...so hopefully the masks did what they should do...time will tell! At this point Kathy isn't feeling very bad...mainly a bit of a stuffy head and she can't smell food. Praying that her case stays mild AND that the rest can avoid it...will that be possible in a household of 9!?! Other than this unexpected news we have had a fairly usual day. I did a little cooking (a pork roast) and Woody, of course, is "doing" his dialysis...just the usual! Be safe! Be WELL! Be cautious (because even when you feel you are being cautious, you might not be...take extra precautions especially at this time...Covid seems to be spreading like wild fire)!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Tonight's carolers have wandered a bit away from the town and are walking in a winter wonderland! Today has been a time for me to work on Christmas. I got the assembly line sewing done last night. And, today I have gotten a couple of others that aren't assembly line work ready for the next step for finishing. I also worked a little on the Christmas needlepoint piece. I know that it is Wednesday, as Donna and I talked this afternoon. We actually did talk a bit of library today and then caught up on what is happening with each other and our families. It was nice to stay home and not have any appointments that would make us leave. We continue to hear of Covid cases among our friends. I'm almost afraid to breathe!! I'm glad that we have continued to pretty much shelter at home...no sense taking chances. I'm sure that Woody was glad to not have to head out today. He has spent time in the sewing room (ha! ha!)...using the laptop to print his crossword puzzles and to check on the things that he checks on the internet. He has done most of our Christmas shopping online this year and almost daily we have had some delivery person leave something on our front porch...I find a box when I head out to check the mail. I think that most have arrived now. At this point we have not noticed a lag in arrival of items ordered...in fact, some have come faster than normal. It looks like all the delivery services are trying their hardest. We even had a package delivered on Sunday and we haven't asked for anything except normal delivery on packages. Once again, Woody's dialysis treatment seems to be going smoothly...so glad to be able to report that instead of 100 alarms a night and it taking hours longer than it is supposed to! I am working on taking photos of our Christmas decorations as it is probably obvious since I have been sharing them each night the last few days. Oh, and I missed announcing that I had done 4000 blog posts...so I will announce that tonight's is the 4005th blog post. I don't think that I ever thought that I would still be blogging this many years after I wrote my first blog! The first week in January will mark the end of 12 years of Dorrell Delineations and the start of the 13th year. In some ways it seems like a million years ago that I started and in others just yesterday. But a lot of water has passed under the bridge since I typed my first words! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

O Christmas Tree

The carolers have had a busy day our and about shopping. Before they head home they gather around the Christmas tree in the town square and sing a few carols. We have had a busy day today, too! Woody headed out before 9am again this morning for a dentist appointment. He had a tooth that had a problem with a filling...or so he thought. In the end the dentist told him that there was a hole drilled in his crown. Woody couldn't remember if or when that could have happened. I was quick to remind him when he came home with the tale. His appointment was a quick one...the dentist filled the drilled hole and off Woody went. He was home in less than an hour. Now for what I reminded him about: back in July of 2010, Woody was "playing" guinea pig for The National Institutes of Health. This was the time for his three week stay when they "killed" his immune system and then put in the cells that they had grown from his own cells that had been fighting his melanoma. There was a tight time frame to get all done in a certain order and a certain time. Just as "things" were supposed to begin, Woody developed a fever and a toothache. The dental part of The NIH were called in to take care of the tooth problem and were given an order that it had to be under in control in a matter of about a day and a half. He had lots of folk checking on him and he had antibiotics prescribed. The following morning, he was seen by two dentists in their NIH domain...one fairly old German dentist and a wet-behind the ears dentist. They had quite the "discussion" out in the hall as to what was best. The German dentist won...he was determined that it was the tooth that had the crown and the young dentist did not...the older dentist wanted to drill through the crown and remove the infected part. And, we guess that his decission was correct as the infection cleared up and Woody's procedures were able to begin the next day. But Woody has no recollection of all this. Woody always says that he puts all the "stuff" that goes on with/to him out of his mind. I am going to take the iPad down after I am through here so he can read my blogs for those two "dental days" at The HIH in Bethesda, Maryland ten years ago! While Woody was at the dentist, I attempted to clean Woody's room as it is hard to clean when he is in it and also I don't want to clean when he is hooked up to his dialysis cycler machine. So I got it vacuumed and picked up some things. I gathered the wastebaskets and got them emptied as it is trash day tomorrow. I also gathered all the recycle items. The main recycle items these days are the boxes that his dialysis supplies come in. We empty at least 7 boxes of solution a week along with various other boxes. I had quite a few to knock down today so they can be picked up tomorrow. By this time Woody was home and it was time to start thinking about getting his treatment set up and then have lunch. I had promised him yesterday that I would make a meatloaf today so I spent time after his dialysis was running getting that put together and into the oven. It just seemed like there was never a time to really sit down today. After cooking then there was a kitchen mess to clean up, etc., etc! I am hoping to get to do some more sewing after I publish tonight's blog. I did get quite a bit of assembly line sewing done last night...but still some more to be done along with some handwork. 'Tis the season! We are hearing about more and more friends who have tested positive for Covid 19...looks like Tullahoma is not going to be spared! And, because 'tis the season...be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, and if you would like to read about the tooth adventure at NIH back in 2010...it happened on July 21 and 22, 2010.

Here We Come a Caroling

My Williamsburg carolers are out in full force! The photo on the wall behind them is one I took on our last trip to Williamsburg. That trip we stayed in one of the historical homes and we spent the time strolling the streets of Colonial Williamsburg with me snapping lots of photos. I focused on architectural details...rooflines being part of that and this was my favorite photo of quite a few rooflines in one area. I can easily picture Williamsburg at Christmas, as one time quite a few years ago, the owner of Montessori and I took a trip to Williamsburg for The Grand Illumination. At the time one of her daughters was a student at William and Mary. From the time her daughter enrolled there, Pat and I said that we needed to make a trip before she graduated...and we did! I have lots of very fond memories of quite a few trips to Williamsburg...just about my favorite historical place to visit. Today has been a pretty busy day. Woody had a 9am appointment at Fresenius Kidney Center this morning. It is the appointment that is scheduled for a week prior to seeing Dr. O. Today was pretty routine. He did have one new experience...an iron shot...more like an infusion given with a syringe through a little tube...it didn't take very long but it did take longer than just a shot. Neither of us remember him getting this particular "shot" before. After we left the kidney center we did a little errand running since we were out and about. One stop was at the Post Office to get Christmas stamps for our Christmas cards. Woody usually does our Christmas cards and he did them once again this year. My only part in it was going into the Post Office to get the stamps (not an easy place to social distance...the lady behind me kept moving off her "mark" which made me want to move on forward more quickly. It was a busy time at the Post Office...probably these last days prior to Christmas will all be busy. My other job was to put the cards in the mail box after Woody got the stamps on them. My sewing workshop is going full swing. When I am sewing I lose track of time...was just a bit late getting Woody's dislysis going today as I didn't realize how late it was...the morning got thrown off due to having to get up and leave. My machine has run most of the afternoon. This year I have both my sewing machines going...my main machine is set up for machine embroidery and my other machine is set up for sewing. So I am embroidering on one machine and then taking the items into the sewing machine to do the next step...the last step is a bit of hand work. I am in mass production...so working assembly line fashion! Woody didn't get his crossword puzzles till this afternoon as going to the doctor got in the way of him coming upstairs to print them off. I printed them off...a trial of patience! He must really want to work these puzzles to go through all the hoops on the internet to get them to finally print (just saying!). We are hearing of more and more who have tested positive for Covid. Please...be safe! Pleasd...be well! Please...be cautious! 'Tis the season!

Second Advent Sunday

Reality Check

I said last night that I would take a photo showing what the living room looks like when sitting in the glider loveseat. Last night showed what it looks like when looking the oposite side of the room...from that side the reality of dialysis can be put out of mind for a short time at least. From tonight's photo's viewpoint, it is quite obvious that dialysis is definitely a reality! We go through seven of those boxes in a week...and there are other boxes that we get supplies from in the family room. Isaac told me a while back that it looked like we were moving with all the boxes stacked up. I have had a quiet day...didn't do a lot for most of the day. I did get up enough energy to put all the Christmas decoration boxes back in the Christmas closet. I still have to put the wrapping back in and then all the mess of decorating will be out of sight and I can then just enjoy the decorations that I used. Woody spent quite a bit of time here at the laptop this morning. The afternoon and evening, of course, he has spent downstairs in his chair watching football and reading. I have been enjoying my needlework...I have a small cross stitch project going and picked up an old needlepoint piece that I had completed some time ago that is just waiting to be made into a pillow. Last night I decided that I wanted to add some more needlepoint stitches around what I had completed...to add a border...then maybe I will find the time to make it into a Christmas pillow. Today I have worked a little on each of my projects. Woody is well into today's dialysis treatment and at this point all is going smoothly...which thankfully smoothly is the way it goes most days lately. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

Christmas Invite

Come on into our Christmas surroundings! I can sit in the striped wing-back chair and feel surrounded by Christmas. It makes me feel all warm and cozy...like all is right with the world! Reality sets back in if I sit on the glider loveseat on the other side of the room. I will show you another evening as the picture that I took earlier is blurry. I'll have another try at getting one tomorrow. Let's just say that I can't see any dialysis boxes when facing the way I took the picture tonight. That may change when the next deliver comes next week. I hope that all will fit where they are now, but if not the corner behind the loveseat will once again have boxes. At one time the corner where the corner tree is had dialysis boxes as did the corner behind the loveseat as well as the wall that you can't see in this photo. I miss our big tree but am very happy with the way things are this year...different is good...sometimes! I wasn't sure if I would have all the decorating done or not before I blogged tonight. I spent the morning in the kitchen...Woody has high protein French toast for a couple of days. And, it was time for me to make the next "batch" of breakfast sausage. That is all made, flash frozen, and in a bag to be able to get out sausage when he wants it for breakfast. Clean up took a while. By the time I got it cleaned up it was time for Woody to have lunch and for me to get his dialysis treatment set up. I have to do the set up an hour to forty-five minutes before we want to connect him as the solution has to warm up and it takes a while to get to the point in the set up for the heating unit on top of the cycler machine to start heating the solution. We have come to the conclusion that it takes about an hour to get him connected and about fifteen minutes to disconnect him at the end of the treatment. Woody started out the day upstairs printing off his crossword puzzles and other things on the computer. He came down when I had his breakfast ready. He has done quite a bit of reading today along with some TV watching. After I got him connected, I had lunch and then I got back to working on more cleaning and the rest of the decorating. I finished the cleaning in the living room (tonight's photo) and then moved on into the dining room. I dusted and polished the hutch/china cabinet and then got out the Precious Moments Nativity. AND that completed my decorating for this year. Of course, now comes the part of fitting all the boxes back in the Christmas closet...a real puzzle...that can be done another day...or over several days. All the boxes are in the upstairs hall and in the office and probably a few in the guest bedroom! It will take a while. At least they are not all out this year. I forgot to give the big news of the day for yesterday...the leaf truck came and all the leaves that were in our yard by the curb were all vacuumed up and taken away. Our "yard crew" definitely came on the right day when they came Wednesday!

Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!!!

A Christmas Farm?

Tonight's barn I am showing from the front and the back. We first came across this barn and could only see it through the brambles. Marie took another turn in the road and we came upon the back...not only was it green but it had a quilt block on the back of the barn and another bonus...a red side building...definitely a Christmas farm! Today has been a busy day. Woody mentioned that he needed a prescription picked up and wanted to know if I wanted him to pick it up or me. I chose me as I needed a couple of other things at the pharmacy. I found all four items that I needed and was in and out very quickly. Then I returned the books to the library that Woody was finished with. By the time that I got back it was time to get Woody's dialysis treatment set up. Woody spent a lot of time upstairs once again today. He was Christmas shopping for the grandchildren on the computer. After Woody ate lunch, he started in on signing and addressing our Christmas cards (one of the things that I found at the pharmacy). He continued with that task for the first part of his treatment. I have talked to Melany and Cheryl on the phone today. Melany called with the news that the student teacher who is teaching with the other art teacher at Melany's school has Covid. So Melany's fellow art teacher and the student teacher are quarantined. Melany is a bit concerned as she figures that this is possibly the closest that she has been to someone who has Covid. Melany has been masked when she has been around her...mostly...except for at lunch. But the amount of time that she has been with her doesn't make her be in quarantine according to the school policy. Melany and the art teacher covered for the other art teacher's classes today. Now the big question is whether they can get a substitute for her...substitutes are scarce as I am sure they are most places. I would NOT want to be a substitute teacher this school year! Cheryl supplied with the spelling of a last name that we needed for our cards and I supplied her with an address that she needed. I made a pot of soup that Woody had been wanting...Spicy Vegetable Beef soup. Pretty good...but what I made to go with the soup has my bigger approval...Cheddar Chive Sourdough Biscuits. It was time to make something with the sourdough starter or throw some of it away so I decided to make something. Kathy and Nathan had stopped by the other day with some extras from some groceries that they had been given and the offering contained some chives...perfect for this recipe. I liked them. Woody chose to fill up on the more high protein item on the menu...the soup! I have only had time to do a minimal on my decorating today...polished a little more furniture. Last night I did get the corner tree decorated. I decided to use just hand or machine stitched ornaments...I had the perfect amount to decorate this tree. I will start posting pictures of the decorations once I am finished...hoping to finish tomorrow...of course, I had hoped to finish today! Oh, well, we don't have much else but time on our hands...so I will use it one way today and another way tomorrow! 'Tis the season! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Early December Wednesday

I, once again, spent most of the day decorating. The living room is close to finished. I have dusted and polished and also vacuumed...trying to get everything ready for all the decorations...things are gleaming...at least for the moment! Woody spent a good part of the morning upstairs at the computer. I think that he did a little present ordering and also made the first draft of our Christmas letter. After lunch and getting Woody connected for his dialysis, I made my Wednesday "library" call to Donna. We had a nice chat, as always. She filled me in on how things went with our church service, as Sunday was the first time that we met back in the sanctuary since back in March. Woody and I "attended" but virtually as we continue to shelter at home as much as possible. So we knew that the service as such went well, but didn't know how it went for the congragants sitting in the pews. Our church has been having "drive-in" church since late March. That went very well. Now praying that all goes well and all keep healthy while going back inside to worship. AFter I talked with Donna, I went back to my decorating. Not too long after I got downstairs, I saw a head go by our window on our driveway and not long after that a couple of heads popped inside. Kathy, Joy, Esther, Elijah, and Joseph worked outside on the leaves and Abigail and Isaac came in to see me and help me out. I decided that it was a good time to get some help with the corner tree. I had unearthed the box last night so it was easy to get to. I went upstairs and opened the box and handed branches, poles, tree stand, etc. to Abigail and Isaac and they marched them downstairs. Once they were all stacked in the living room, they sorted them and then proceded on to put the tree together. We all three "fluffed" branches! I can once again say that I have never put this tree together, but this time I can say that someone other than Graham did it. Once I got all the rest of the living room decorations out, I started to decorate it. I still need to locate the ornament box that has the ornament hangers in it. So far I have only hung the ones that have their own hangers. I talked to my sister and she said to just go buy some new hangers, but I continue to try to limit my trips to WalMart or anywhere in town so will look a little farther to see if I can't unearth the ones that I have. I know that they are all at the top of one of the boxes that contain Christmas tree ornaments. Woody is a good way through with today's dialysis. He has been reading and watching TV and perhaps doing a little resting of his eyes. I ended up resting my eyes a bit when I sat down after supper...they just wouldn't stay open. Once I publish tonight's blog, I will head back down and hang a few ornaments and tidy up the kitchen and run the dishwasher. Then I plan to finish a book that is going to be whisked back into cyberspace tomorrow or the next day so I want to get it finished. I haven't been reading as much lately. I have been cross stitching in the evenings and watching what is called "FlossTube" on YouTube on my iPad. Various cross stitchers sit and talk about stitching...some about techniques and others just about ALL the projects that they are stitching on. I marvel at how many things that they have started and may or may not finish. And, I thought that I had a lot of cross stitch books and leaflets...not so much according to what I am seeing. I am enjoying getting back to handwork. I also have plans for getting back to my machine, too. I need to do that pretty soon as I have plans to do a couple of things before Christmas...better get busy...but first I want to finish my decorating! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!