So Many Blessings in 2012!

And, tonight's picture shows the newest blessing to join our family in 2012! What a gift! Such a happy boy is our little Isaac. It doesn't seem possible that he is just days from being one. I have been sorting pictures today...determined that I will be up to date before the New Year arrives! Just a few more days in December to sort...so maybe I'll meet my goal! I updated recipes in my iPad recipe app this morning...adding the new ones that we had for our Christmas dinner. Woody did take a walk today...rather a nippy day. I haven't left the house today...attempting to stay warm. My day got off to a very early start...woke up hurting so badly that I had to get out of bed (though it took me quite a few minutes before I could manage to get out from under the covers and in a sitting position!). That was about 4:30am. Getting up I felt much better so just headed into the sewing room and worked on the laptop and iPad for a while. I was going to sew but never got my chair turned that way! Three of the neighbor grandchildren came over to play for a while this afternoon. It was so cute listening to them. They were in the school room doing some sort of art project and talking about how excited that they were because they are going to get to stay up till midnight tonight! Wonder if all will make to see the New Year in!?! Their mommy doesn't think that she will make it...as she says...Isaac won't sleep in late so it sort of hard for her to stay up late! Woody has been watching library DVD movies and reading and doing crossword puzzles and nibbling on the goodies that we have around here. Sorting pictures makes me think back on all the blessings that God has bestowed on us this year...and I'm so thankful for each and every one of them! Looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2013! Wishing each and every one of you our faithful blog readers a Blessed 2013!

Looking Back!

And, judging by this picture, I'm looking waaaaaaaaaaaay back. I have this picture posted on Facebook, but I don't think that I have ever posted it on the blog. This picture makes me realize that I was brought up in "Leave It To Beaver" times! Daddy took this picture in 1957. I'm in the dachshund (rather than poodle) skirt (my aunt made it for my cousin and it had been passed down to me). Here we are decorating...never dreaming what would happen on a fateful Christmas Eve that year. My mother and father were in a very bad head-on collision...before seat belts, cushioned dash boards, etc. The steering wheel saved Daddy from getting hurt very badly ("just" broken ribs). We don't know what Mother hit with her head...dashboard, rear view mirror or what...but she had very bad head injuries and spent many days in the hospital and had to have several surgeries. It really was a miracle that she survived and that she didn't have brain damage. I remember waking up with a doll in my bed that Mother had said she would take out of my bed when she went to bed that night. I can remember sitting on my father's lap in the rocking chair in their bedroom and him telling me that they had been in a car accident and that Mother was in the hospital. This pretty much turned our world upside down for some time. I was almost 10 and my sister was almost 3. But definitely not the way we had planned to spend Christmas! Isn't that the way with so many Christmases...they just don't happen the way we plan! But all ended well and the right doctors were there for my Mother and she had many more Christmases after that one to celebrate. That was 55 Christmases ago! Wow! Time does fly when you are having fun and even when you're not! Our day started out a bit differently as our church only had Sunday School and the 11am service. So we didn't start our day out quite as early as usual. We both taught our Sunday School classes and then went to church. We came home and I have had a very lazy afternoon and evening. Woody did walk this afternoon and then he proceeded to get the beans for our French Market Soup simmering (a source of black-eyed peas for the New Year!) and also made our Mississippi Caviar (another black-eyed pea source). So we are set to see out the Old Year and in the New Year with black eyed peas--just a New Year's tradition--we aren't superstitious--just keeping with tradition! I did come around enough a little while ago and added the other ingredients to the soup after the beans finished simmering. I finished a book and talked to my sister on the phone for a while this afternoon...my accomplishments for the day! I can't believe that tomorrow ends another year. We are seeing 2012 out with quite cold temps. This morning it got down in the lower 20's and it never got out of the 30's. Brrrrrrrrrrrr! We didn't get any more snow/sleet in the night...at least not that we could tell this morning when we got up. Woody had quite a time scraping the car and getting doors opened on the car as all four were frozen shut. Winter has definitely decided to settle in here in Middle TN!

"They" Were Right!

As was predicted yesterday, we did get some of the white stuff today...in the form of sleet and some snow flurries--not much but enough so the neighbor grandchildren got pretty excited! When I got on the computer just now, WeatherBug was flashing a severe warning--saying that we are under a winter weather advisory till early in the morning. I guess time will tell if "they" are right again! We have had a pretty quiet Saturday. Woody did our weekly grocery shopping early this morning and only went to one store so it didn't take him as long as it usually does. Mid morning he walked to the library. I sewed on two doll nightgowns and completed preparation for tomorrow's Sunday School lesson for my class and have done a bit of reading. Woody has watched a DVD or two and some basketball. This evening Abigail and Joy came over for a little while, when the rest of the family went to see the model train village again. Elijah wore his train engineer outfit that we gave him for Christmas.

Plans Underway...Again!

Today we got correspondence from The National Institutes of Health (NIH) about Woody's next appointment...four months goes all too fast! The first week in January marks three months since our last visit and appointments have now been made for early February. Woody went for a walk this morning, but the sleet/rain started in while he was out and he only walked about two miles. I know that I started hearing sleet hitting the windows not long after he headed out the door. Joy came over with a mail delivery from her family...such nice thank-you notes! Joy made a quick trip back home and got her doll so she could have a fitting. The nightgown fit fine so I added velcro and her doll now has something to wear to sleep in. While she was over here, I cut out two more nightgowns, but haven't had a chance to sew on them today. Woody ran an errand to the Credit Union. It has rained off and on today..."they" say that we may have some snow flurries tomorrow. I did try out our newly fixed drier...washed and dried all our Christmas table linens which are all now folded and put away...so the drier did once again heat...it "just" needed a new thermostat. This afternoon Graham came over for a while and Joy and Esther joined him. They ended up making a craft that Auntie Cheryl had sent them. They did it all by themselves...cute little reindeer ornaments. After supper, I came upstairs to relax in the recliner and read and do a couple of things on the iPad. My eyes didn't stay open very long and when I woke up it was past time to blog...then it took me a while to "make myself" get up and come in here. Guess that is the end to my rather lazy last Friday in December! Tonight's photo shows Joy reading to her class while she played school yesterday. Her new doll, Ellie, is the doll sitting near her (guess she is teacher's pet...or the one who was acting up in class and had to sit near the teacher!).

Waiting Game!

I often wonder if repairmen get a feeling of power making you wait for them! We were told that the repairman to fix our drier would be here between 8am and 5pm. Well...about 4:30pm I got a call that he was in a nearby town and would be here shortly. I will say that once he got here that it took him just a very short time to get it fixed. So after a week of not having a drier, we now have one once again. Having the neighbors next door helped me know that if I REALLY needed a drier that there was one there to be used. We did use theirs when I discovered that ours was no longer heating, after I had done a large load. I will now be able to catch up and wash linens from our Christmas dinner, etc. Things that didn't have to be washed by any certain time...but it will be good to get them washed and put away till the next time they are needed. Woody loaded up the car with aluminum cans this morning and he and Abigail and Esther took them to the "can man" to get money to be turned in for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Before lunch, Elijah came over and played for a short time. Abigail called up to see if she could go with Goosey (Woody) when he went on his walk. Mid afternoon, they walked to the library. She took her library card with her and a bag so she could check out some books. Woody found another book in a series that I enjoy reading. So at the moment I have several books waiting in line to be read. This afternoon, Joy came over. She played school with her doll and the dolls that reside at our house. She read her pupils stories. I cut out a nightgown for her new doll, Ellie, while she played. She got bunny slippers for her doll from Aunt Melany so I decided that she needed a nightgown. This will be a trial to see how the nightgown fits her doll and if it does fit then I will make two more nightgowns. The plan is for Abigail to start making some clothes for her doll, Abbie, when she gets back to having sewing lessons with me. Esther's doll's name is Noel. I told them that they needed to name them "real" names...so immediately upon opening their dolls they decided on names. I was sewing on Ellie's nightgown when I realized that it was time to blog. Time seems to get away from me when I am sewing. I'm glad that my drier is fixed...guess it was worth the all-day wait!?! Tonight's photo shows the children blowing out the candle on Jesus' birthday cake.

'Twas the Day After Christmas

Today's the day after Christmas, but tonight's photos are from the day before Christmas! The top photo shows the "pickle hunt" and the bottom photo shows our traditional photo of all the grandchildren in front of the Christmas tree...Erin (19), Alex (15), Graham (almost 11), Abigail (9), Joy (7), Esther (5), Elijah (3), and Isaac (almost 1). We spent Christmas day in a relaxed mode with the neighbors (Nathan and family) coming in and out periodically. They came over to show us what they had gotten in their stockings and then spent time over here with their mommy while their daddy went hunting. They had leftovers for lunch at our house and then Woody and I had supper at their house. Woody walked 12 miles yesterday morning. Today he walked around four miles. He walked into town to pay our taxes. We have had another relaxing day. I spent a good portion of it sewing. I managed to finish Isaac's outfit (his Christmas present from us--better late than never!). The children have played over here some today too. This evening Nathan came over with the DVD that he put together today that summed up their family's activities of 2012. Woody, Nathan and I just finished watching it. We had a lot of rain between yesterday and this morning. Later in the day it spit snow a bit and it sleeted some too. Nothing that amounted to anything...just made me feel cold all day!

Merry Christmas from Woody & Lois!

Let Your Light Shine!

We have had a great day celebrating Jesus' birth with the family. Melany, Wade, Erin, and Alex drove up and the neighbor grandchildren were over in a flash...and the festivities began! First came searching for the pickle on the tree. Graham found it again this year. He got to open the "pickle present" with the help of a lot of siblings. They played for a bit with what was in the pickle present and then we got down to serious business! Kathy and Isaac missed out on some of the opening of presents as both of Isaac's ears are infected and he and his mommy had to make a quick trip to the doctor on this Christmas Eve Day. They got home and we completed opening presents. Then came lunch which ended with a birthday cake for Jesus. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and then everyone sank their forks into Melany's delicious cakes. The rest of the afternoon was taken up visiting and playing with one item or another...we did everything from dressing dolls to playing games to building with Legos. Shortly after Melany and family left, Woody announced that it was time to go to church for the candlelight Christmas Eve service...hardly had time to catch my breath!!! But we made it (and, I didn't fall asleep the moment that I sat down!). I sat in the balcony and took a few pictures. Now we are home. My recliner is looking very good to me at the moment! 'Tis the Season and today we celebrated the birthday for the "reason for the season!" Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday, Jesus!

'Twas The Night Before Our Family Christmas!

And, all through the house...it is a mess!!!!!! I decided that food would be appreciated more than a clean house...so cooked first and now for a bit of straightening up and a bit of cleaning! Woody is off being a greeter at A Night in Bethlehem: A Living Nativity. I stayed home tonight since tomorrow is such a big day here. Once Melany, Wade, Erin, and Alex arrive, let the celebrating begin! We went to the early service and then to Sunday School this morning. After that I came home and got to preparing tomorrow's meal. Woody did take a short walk (about two miles) this afternoon to get a paper. He has been helping me keep the kitchen from getting too overwhelming. I can say that all our food is prepared except for one thing that I will assemble in the morning (hopefully before everyone arrives...that's the plan any way!). On Christmas I try to not have to be in the kitchen any more than I have to so it will pretty much just be the oven working tomorrow...and me trying to time everything to get in and out at the proper times! Well, off to do the next thing on my list of "to-dos." 'Tis the Season!

It's a Wrap!

All I can say about today is that I have gotten all the present wrapping done! And, I have managed to make one of the dishes for our family Christmas dinner. Woody did our weekly shopping (really this time shopping for our Christmas dinner). He went to the library and also ran an errand. He reported that he had finished a book today. Tonight's photo shows the children taking a bow after their part in the program. Woody and I will be off in a few minutes for the second Night In Bethlehem: A Living Nativity. The wind has died down today so perhaps I will venture out tonight. Woody is a greeter and spends the whole time outside. I stayed in last night and took pictures...this time I stayed downstairs on the front row as if I had been in the balcony I would have been able to see too much of Nathan's hidden prop table. I wish that everyone could hear Nathan tell the story of Christmas from the beginning! 'Tis the Season!

Day of Firsts

Today is the first day of winter and also the first day of FBC, Tullahoma's A Night In Bethlehem: A Living Nativity. I'm posting a photo from the first night last year. The winds have died down quite a bit compared to last night, but there is still a breeze and that makes our chilly temperatures even that much chillier. Woody and I will be heading down to the church in a few minutes...he to greet...me to photograph. I will probably spend most of my time inside...up in the balcony...capturing different aspects of The Dazzling Dorrell's newest program. I have sewn most of the day...ornaments are finished (ending count is 30!)and I got two gifts finished today. I have Isaac's romper cut out. Whether it gets farther than that, time will tell! But I know that he won't hold it against his grammy if I finish his outfit after Christmas. Woody babysat Isaac during his morning nap so the rest of the family could go and put final touches on their program. Woody walked after he had lunch. I noticed that he didn't stay out quite as long as he sometimes does...pretty chilly...wind made it downright cold! This evening I fixed us Surf and Turf...something that we don't have often. I found the lobster tails and steak in the freezer when I was checking to see if we had certain items for our family Christmas dinner. Sounded like a good dinner to have between yesterday and Monday so I took them out of the freezer. They were ready for cooking today so we had an early dinner so we would be ready to head out. Happy first day of winter! 'Tis the Season!

"Who Has Seen The Wind?"

Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you But when the leaves hang trembling, The wind is passing through. Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I But when the trees bow down their heads, The wind is passing by. by Christina Rossetti

Well, we have known that the wind was passing through today...leaves trembled and trees bowed their heads! I'm not hearing it at the moment...perhaps it has gone on by! Woody babysat for Isaac this morning while his parents and siblings went to the church to work through their new program that they will begin presenting tomorrow night at First Baptist Church, Tullahoma's Night In Bethlehem: A Living Nativity. They will perform three programs (same program at each time) each night...6:45, 7:30, 8:15 on Friday, December 21, Saturday, December,22, and Sunday, December 23. They will perform in the sanctuary. There's lots to see as you wander through the Bethlehem Market Place and the shepherd's pasture and of course making a stop at the stable to see the wisemen (camels, too) presenting their gifts to Jesus. Woody walked after he had lunch. I have been attempting to get more sewing finished. One more ornament is complete and I just finished the embroidery on a gift that I still have to make! I'm not sure what the reason...but there seems to be a condition that most folk who sew have at Christmas time..."last minuteitus!" I can't explain it, but it happens most holiday season when I decide to make gifts. Some years I start earlier...but this year I didn't...so...or that should be "sew!" I did break away for a while this afternoon and completed my Christmas shopping (see some things I am finished with!). Now to wrap them...Woody has started doing some of that. He also made our supper tonight...Vegetable Burritos. Tonight's photos show the ornament that I purchased when we visited Montpelier in October.

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season to be busy! Today I got up super early and got to work in my sewing room and made another Christmas present. Then I took the rest of the day off from the sewing machine and headed out the door to first run errands and then to enjoy Christmas fellowship with friends. We enjoyed sharing and catching up with one another. It was a nice breather in the midst of such hustle and bustle. So far I am striking out in Tullahoma for the one elusive present that I was so sure that I could find here in town. After the time with friends, I headed to the church to work in the library for several hours. On the way home I stopped at the shoe store to pick up my shoes that had been reordered. Then on home to an empty house--Woody was out walking. He walked five miles today which included a jaunt to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions for the two of us. He was accompanied on that walk/errand by Abigail, Joy, Esther and Elijah. He has also made corn bread and lemon banana bread (so far we have resisted cutting into it). And, I understand that he made lemonaide with the children. After supper, I came upstairs and sat down in the recliner to email prayer requests to my Sunday School class and the next thing I knew I was waking up with the iPad in my lap with the email still unsent...guess my busy day caught up with me! 'Tis the Season!

Hey! Wait a Minute!

What's with the number on the cake?!? It's Woody's birthday and that is not the right number. Okay...here's the explanation...Nathan asked each of the children how old they thought Goosey was and then Nathan averaged the numbers the children guessed! The extremes...Elijah guessed 19 and Abigail guessed 75 and the rest in between with Joy guessing exactly right (66). Now, Elijah got a big laugh when Goosey asked him how old he thought Grammy was...Elijah guessed 100...oh, well, sometimes I do feel that old! We had a great time with the birthday bash over at their house. We went over after lunch for strawberry shortcake and vanilla ice cream. Yummy! Then we had presents and then entertainment! Joy balanced on a big ball and did her hula hoop, Graham had his robot dance for Goosey, Abigail juggled three bean bags while hula hooping, Isaac walked across the floor with his walker lion toy, Esther did a ballet dance, and I'm not sure what Elijah did...but I know something...kept us laughing if nothing else (just checked pictures and Elijah played the xylophone (as did Isaac))!!!! Quite an entertaining family! Woody got up and walked eight miles early this morning. The children have finished their school work for this semester. Abigail came over and read a Christmas story to me and then I read a couple to her and then we went upstairs and got out an "antique" Fisher Price record player and she listened to a couple of stories on records. Then Graham came over and he spent his time listening to stories on records, and then Joy came over and I read a book that Goosey and I gave her last Christmas. I spent the afternoon and evening sewing...more Christmas ornaments. Woody has just returned from walking to the church for his prayer room time. Happy Birthday, Woody! 'Tis the Season!

Only A Week Away!

Here are our "stars" of the children's musical last night. Graham was Yule Loggins and in the choir, Abigail was part of the school group that toured the tree farm and in the choir, and Joy was in the choir. My camera didn't know which way to point! I took several movies with my little point-and-shoot camera and then captured still pictures from those. Abigail was situated right behind a microphone so the only way that I could get her away from behind it was when they did their "moves." She had such a happy smile in this picture that I captured it despite the mic. Joy was rather solemn! And, Graham was all over the stage doing his part. I just happened to capture him all alone at the back of the stage in front of the props during one of the scenes. I got up and headed almost immediately into the sewing room this morning. More Christmas ornaments are completed and I also got started on the little coverall for Isaac. This afternoon I made soup (funny how food disappears and one has to cook periodically!). Woody headed out before 8am to pack food boxes and then delivered eight boxes. I didn't have school this morning as the neighbors were packing and delivering boxes too. Elijah did come over after they got home and did a little school and then played for a little while. Late this afternoon Woody walked to the Post Office to mail Christmas cards. I headed off on a mission to purchase a birthday present and in the process try to find a Christmas present. I struck out on finding the item that I wanted for the Christmas present. I have decided that it is best if one doesn't have a specific item in mind...especially if one lives in a small town like we do! I do much better shopping on the internet. Oh, the pickle presents arrived in the mail today...so we are good to go! I will attempt to locate the item I want at another store, but tonight a storm blew in while I was shopping and I just wanted to head home. At least there are still several shopping days left. Though, our family Christmas will be over a week from tonight. We celebrate with the family on Christmas Eve day. 'Tis the Season!

"The Christmas Shoe Tree"

Kudos to the cast of The Christmas Shoe Tree! We have just gotten home from the children's Christmas musical at our church. And, they all did a GREAT job! Graham, Abigail, and Joy were in it. Graham had a speaking part...a BIG speaking part...lots of lines to learn...and, learn them and deliver them he did! After the musical we had the ingathering of food items for our annual White Christmas. Tomorrow around 150 boxes of food will be packed and delivered to folk in need in and around our community. This year some of the boxes will have hand-knit toboggans. Around 300 hats have been made by ladies in our church and others in the community. Kathy is in the knitting group. What a nice addition to the food boxes! Woody and I went to the early service and then to Sunday School. We came home and I got my sewing machine set up in embroidery mode and got it busy making Christmas ornaments. Woody wrote our Christmas letter. And, then we went back to church for the musical...that about sums up our day. 'Tis the season!

Despite a slow start...

This morning got off to a very slow start for me, as I had my periodic eye problem upon awakening...the eyelid seems to stick to my eyeball and when I open my eye...OUCH!!!!! It took almost three hours before I could actually open my eye without severe pain. It remains blurry...but at least I have one that I can see out of clearly. I was finally able to start sewing on Isaac's Christmas present this afternoon and just moments ago I put in the last buttonhole...so just have to cut the buttonholes open and then sew on buttons and that part of his outfit is finished...then on to some little coveralls. Perhaps he will have more than fabric for his Christmas present! Woody included the library and several errands in his eight-mile walk today. This afternoon while I was sewing I heard several of the neighbors go in and out. In a little while, Woody came up and asked if I had heard what they had come to tell him. I hadn't, so he filled me in...Nathan had taken Esther and Elijah with him for a short hunting jaunt. And, "miracles" will never cease...they got a deer! Nathan said that the deer showed up about a minute after they got settled in and he kept telling the kids to be quiet (ha! ha!)...but despite their chatter...the deer stayed in one spot long enough for Nathan to get a shot off. I still scratch my head over how Nathan became a hunter...he didn't get that gene from his daddy...plus Nathan has always been so squeamish that I don't know how he manages to handle what comes after the kill! But somehow he seems to enjoy it. Abigail came in all excited asking me to get my camera and come take a picture...that was one picture that I passed on taking!!!!! I reminded her that she has a camera and she happily headed off to get hers and take a couple of shots of her own! This grammy stayed in her house and contentedly continued to do Christmas sewing. Now it is time to go rest my back and read for a while. Oh, and, we got an email yesterday saying that Alex's present has been shipped and should get here next week...so he should have a present under the tree, too! 'Tis the season!

Friday

My day has been spent doing various sewing tasks. I actually got the pattern traced to make Isaac a flannel shirt and got it cut out. I have also made some more Christmas ornaments for gifts. Christmas sewing is definitely underway. Woody did our weekly grocery shopping this morning. While he was doing that, Graham came over to show me his latest robot creation and also to go over his lines for the musical that he and two of his sisters are in on Sunday evening. Woody went for a four-mile walk after lunch and also blew leaves out of the front yard...once again. He just told me that the city leaf truck got the leaves that he and Nathan and Graham have been dragging out to the road over the last weeks...LOTS of leaves. Last night Kathy called saying that she and Graham were outside looking at the sky...looking for meteor showers. She was calling to ask me to use the new app, Star Walk, on my iPad (an early Christmas present to me from Woody). It lets you see what star formations are overhead when you are standing right in your own yard. Last night Kathy and Graham were able to find out exactly where the meteor showers should be and they did see some and then when I went outside, Kathy and I saw a really bright meteor. Fun! Now we can study the stars, constellations and planets, etc. Just before blogging I finished mending one of Elijah's favorite t-shirts. Well, now back to Christmas sewing for little Isaac. 'Tis the season!

Way to go, Abigail!

Abigail was so excited today when we put that last stitch into the apron and she was able to slip it over her head and tie it behind her! When I saw her last, she hadn't taken it off! She did a very good job and learned a lot of patience as it took quite a while since we sew not much more than two hours a week. I had school with Elijah, Esther, Joy and Abigail. Then I spent a good part of the afternoon trying to order something for Alex for Christmas. I found the item at a very good price and attempted to purchase it and found out that we would have to go to the store to pick it up rather than have it shipped to us...which was okay...EXCEPT...when I looked at possible stores they all said that the item was unavailable. So I found it elsewhere and it gave a date when it would be delivered...in time for Christmas...sounded good! So I placed that order and when I got the receipt, it said that it would be mailed when it was available. Hmmmmmmmmmmm this may turn into a "Promise" in the end. Oh, well...we have tried and he is 15 so he will understand (I hope!)! Woody walked four miles today. He ended up cooking our supper as I got a call from Janie's Sewing Center that my machine was ready to be picked up. So I left Woody with the Red Clam Sauce and hopped in the car to retrieve it! Now, to say something about sewing machines these days...last week when it started having a problem, I just stopped the machine and removed the hoop and shut down the machine in the middle of an embroidery design. I took the hoop off and set it aside. When I brought it home tonight, I turned on the machine and opened up the embroidery part of the machine. It went right back to the design that I had been stitching...right back to the place where I had to stop the machine...and I put the hoop back on and finished up the design that I had been doing! It still held onto that info in its computer "brain" and was able to finish that design. So...another Christmas ornament stitched! 'Tis the Season!

12-12-12

Once again, it has been a busy day...guessing that most will be busy right up to and through December 24 (our family Christmas). Today I had school with Elijah, Esther, Joy and Abigail. Agigail got to take Graham's time slot today as he was off hunting with his daddy. Abigail is just two steps away from finishing her apron...tomorrow if all goes as planned she will complete it. Today my usual Wednesday afternoon veered off a little as I didn't go to church to work in the library...instead headed off to the eye doctor for a check-up. My eyes are still a bit dilated and just feel tired after all the bright lights, etc. that came along with the check-up. Woody headed off to walk four miles just before I headed out the door to go to the eye doctor. That about sums up our day. 'Tis the Season!

Look Who's 11 Months!

Little Isaac is trying to grow up on us! He will be one next month...doesn't seem possible. He has the sweetest disposition and still loves to cuddle into you! I got some sweet loves this afternoon when I went over to take his picture. He can make a kissing noise now. Just too cute! I am really a day late as he turned 11 months yesterday...but close enough to count for an eleven month photo! I had school with five today...in and out...in and out on this very chilly (read that cold) day. On Tuesdays Elijah and Esther come after lunch. When Esther was finished, I took pictures of Isaac and then headed downtown to the shoe store. I had a problem with the pair that they had ordered for me...problem will be taken care of, as I knew it would be. The owner wasn't there this afternoon, but her sweet daughter helped me. That sweet daughter was one of my Montessori students many years ago. She is now a mommy of two! Woody has walked to and from the church twice today. Once after lunch to take a form to them and then again this evening to go to the prayer room. I sort of settled in to rest and relax this afternoon and evening. I have been reading and dozing and doing a bit on my iPad. I was so settled in and warm under a fleece throw that it was hard to get up to come in here to blog...just lazy, I guess! 'Tis the season!

Party's Over!

It was a rainy, dreary day outside, but that didn't stop us from enjoying friendships that have lasted over many a year. And, since the cat is out of the bag, I can share today's menu: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, cornbread, and peppermint ice cream. By the way, they did read the blog last night and were curious as to what we were going to have. We enjoyed the lunch and catching up with each other. Woody didn't walk today as it was raining when he got up and continued to rain for most of the day. Last night I managed to get the gifts wrapped for AZ and this morning Woody got them into a box and to the Post Office. So they're off! A step closer to it being Christmas! And, the rain did bring much colder temperatures. Brrrrrrrrrr after all the balmy temps! 'Tis the season!

Balmy December Sunday

We had a very mild day once again. Those balmy temperatures are supposed to be a thing of the past in a day or two. There's a front on its way. We are enjoying the warm temps while we can. Woody got up and walked seven miles early this morning. We went to the early service at church and then went to our respective Sunday School classes...he to teach and me to be taught! Instead of going straight home after church we headed out to attempt to find the addresses that Woody had been unable to find yesterday. He used some further directions that he had gotten both on the internet and also from a couple of people at church. We did manage to find the two houses and also found people at home. He left a letter with our phone number at another home and he has received a call back from her. So his visiting responsibilities are about over for our White Christmas food boxes. We came home and had a bite to eat and then I rested for a bit and then got started on what I am making for tomorrow's lunch. We are having friends over for lunch. Since they read the blog, I won't spoil their surprise as to what we are having by telling tonight...will report tomorrow. All I can say is that this is one of those recipes that makes me so hungry for it when I am making it...looking forward to getting to eat it tomorrow! Woody has just gotten home from the evening service at church. I was taking a rest before I attempt to get presents wrapped for AZ. They need to get in the mail. I did finalize my decisions about this year's Pickle Present. It is hard since our grandchildren range from 19 down to almost one. The older ones know that the present is now pretty much for the younger kids...especially since said younger kids live right next door, but I still try to find something that will interest the older two...at least enough to help the younger ones with the gifts that will be found in the gift bag. These gifts stay at Grammy and Goosey's...they find their way into the toy closet or the game closet or the school room. I like to choose at least one thing that will add to our school activities...but still a fun thing...one year it was a geography game and others I have added shape puzzles for different age levels...we now have three of those ranging from easy for the younger children to pretty hard even for the older (well, probably not hard for the 15 and 19 year old...but the six ranging from 1 to almost 11). It is a fun tradition that I started when Erin and Alex were quite small...I think maybe that I started the year before Alex was born...I know that the first pickle present was the Fisher Price Pirate Ship...that has provided hours of fun for all of them...well, not Isaac (yet!). It is fun when they are playing with something to tell them that it was a pickle present. I wonder who will find the pickle this year! That person opens the pickle present and then all dive in to check out and play with what the gifts are for that year. The pickle hunt starts almost the moment that Melany, Wade, Erin and Alex arrive. Nathan and Kathy's crew will be watching for them and be here just about instantly when they pull up on Christmas Eve morning. Then the fun begins! Tonight's ornament was given to me years and years ago by Melany and Nathan. This is a Hallmark ornament...I always loved the little Hallmark ornaments and these were ones that a child could afford to purchase as a gift...not many of those among present day Hallmark ornaments. 'Tis the season!

Sundry Saturday

I have done a little of this and a little of that today...so not much of anything done! I had big plans, but...Now, Woody on the other hand has done a lot of a lot of things...he worked the whole morning blowing and raking leaves (can you tell that we have a lot of leaves?!), he went to the library, ran errands, visited people who are to get a box of food from our church's White Christmas ingathering of food (someone visits each person/family to make sure that addresses are correct, find out numbers in family, dietary restrictions, make sure that someone will be home to receive the box on the day they are delivered, etc.), stopped at the grocery store on one of his times out and about. And, our neighbors were very busy doing their Christmas baking...mmmmmmmmmmmmm! I got to sample some of it. Good cooks! Then for lunch I went next door and ate pizza with them. Woody missed out as he had already had lunch and had gone on errands. He has enjoyed sampling some of the goodies this evening as Kathy brought us a plate. The children were in and out today...some just coming over to borrow things like cookie cooling racks and others to play for a while. I experimented with some settings on my camera for a while this morning taking some of our decorations. I even got out the tripod so I could take longer exposures. Tonight's photo is one that I took of ornaments on our tree. I have also spent time trying to find just the perfect items for our pickle present this year...I think that I have made my decisions...but not absolutely sure about one of the items. I've got to get those ordered so they will get there in time. I also did some preparation work for a recipe that I will make tomorrow...easier to put together when the chopping is done ahead of time. The one thing that I had planned to do today was wrap presents to send off to family in AZ. Got to get those off or they won't have their gifts in time. Seems like I'm lagging this year! 'Tis the season

Night Out On The Town!

A bit late blogging...due to the annual Tullahoma Christmas Parade! I haven't been probably in 30 years...usually don't want to go due to cold weather...but tonight was so mild that when I was invited to go with the neighbors (Kathy, Nathan and family), I decided that I would go and try photographing a night parade. Three of our six neighbor grandchildren were on the float that is pictured. Abigail and Joy are on the side of the float that you can see. Graham is on the other side. We had fun and it was so nice to not freeze. Years ago when Melany and Nathan were young we realized that the main reason that they wanted to go to the parade was to get the candy that the clowns threw into the crowd. Woody told them that if they would stay home from the parade (in other words...not make Mommy and Daddy go), that he would buy them a bag of any candy they wanted! The went for the bag of candy! And, we haven't gone since...till I went tonight. Woody has raked, dragged, blown, and plucked leaves a good part of the day today. The plucking takes place when they are stuck in bushes, ground cover, etc. I went to WalMart with Kathy today and bought Graham a Christmas present. She and Nathan had spotted what we were thinking about getting Graham so I went to check it out...so grandchildren shopping is finished. EXCEPT for the pickle present...a big exception and I haven't figured out what to do this year. Oh, and, I guess we haven't gotten Alex anything yet...oops! I managed to find fabric for Isaac's one-year outfit today (that will be his Christmas present...hopefully I will get it made, but if I don't, I think that he will forgive me if he just gets a box or bag full of fabric...it's nice soft fabric...he'll probably cuddle right up to it!). Woody got up and walked seven miles early this morning. We've had a pretty busy day! 'Tis the season!

Christmas Aromas!

Can you smell it? Our house smelled wonderful today as Woody and Elijah made Chex Mix. Yum! It's hard to resist! I had school this morning with Elijah, Esther, Joy, and Abigail. After Elijah finished with school, he became Goosey's (Woody's) special Chex Mix helper. He was great at breaking pretzels and pouring measuring cups of cereal into the roasting pan. Esther has started sewing lessons...she is learning how to sew on buttons. She is very excited and doing a great job. Yesterday she sewed on a two-hole button and today tried her hand at a four-hole button. Joy finished a Christmas present that she has been working on and we even found a gift bag and wrapped it. Abigail sewed some more on her apron. I have worked on Christmas ornaments again today...but finally had to give in and take the machine in to be cleaned and perhaps tweaked...something just isn't right. It never seems to fail that when you really need something to work, it doesn't! Guess that is Murphy's Law! I came home and have been watching White Christmas and putting away the spools of thread that I had out for the ornaments that I have managed to make. Woody walked to the library this afternoon and then on to a nearby grocery store for some apples. Then this evening the naval oranges were delivered that we had ordered from the Tullahoma High School Band. So we are well supplied with fruit at the moment. Fruit...chex mix...what more could one ask for at this time of the year?!? 'Tis the Season!

Wednesday! Wednesday!

Busy, busy day. Woody walked four miles. He also went to the Credit Union, grocery store, WalMart and the drugstore with Elijah. He says that it is a lot more fun to go to the store with Elijah than to go alone! He says that Elijah keeps you smiling/laughing! When they left for the store, I told Elijah to buy something good for me. He said, "Okay! We'll buy you your favorite candy...Kisses!" So sweet! I had school with Elijah before he slipped off for the morning excursion with Goosey (Woody). Then I had school with Esther, Joy, and Graham. Then I grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed off to the church to work in the library. Donna and I kept busy. She entered new books into the computer and I checked in books and shelved them. Then I came home and crashed for a while...I was tired. We have had supper and I am now in the sewing room making Christmas ornaments and blogging. 'Tis the season!

What a Tuesday!

This was a day for five little grandchildren to come over to our house and spend the day so their parents and their baby brother could go Christmas shopping. We have had quite a day...picnic, whittling, climbing trees, practice kicking a soccer ball, cooking, building with spools (over the years I have saved all empty thread spools and we have quite a large collection...enough to build a pretty good city!), playing with various and sundry of Grammy and Goosey's toys...ending with Christmas stories. Fun and games! We even managed to get a little school in...Graham did a lesson, Joy did a couple of lessons, and Abigail had her sewing lesson. I even managed to leave long enough to get my hair cut. Abigail was very helpful...she made brownies (with Elijah's help...cracking the egg...his special job when they cook..as a 3-year-old, he cracks an egg better than I can!) and all the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch...she even helped Goosey wash dishes after lunch. Their parents and baby brother got home just in time for supper. After they left, Woody headed off to the prayer room at church and I started our supper. Woody is back home and we have enjoyed the pasta dish that I made and now we are settling in for the evening. Oh, and the rain held off till after dark so we had plenty of time to spend outdoors. I took quite a few pictures while they sat on the front porch railing and while they played in the front yard...trying to capture some casual portraits. 'Tis the season!

Monday

Woody got up and went on his walk early today as it was fairly mild out. He walked 12 miles plus...as he told me. I got up and vacuumed through the house and mopped the floor in the kitchen...wanted to keep it clean after the party! Then I had school with Elijah, Esther, and Joy. This afternoon I got busy making more Christmas ornaments for gifts. The children were in and out...since Grammy is no longer getting ready for her party! At one point I had four in my sewing room...just sitting around doing various and sundry things, as my machine worked away making an ornament. I had to sit right next to the machine while it was sewing after the mess that happened last week. I am still not sure just exactly what all happened to the machine...I have bought one new part for it that I put in and it "seems" to be fixed...just not sure. Woody has spent a lot of time in the yard today...he pruned dead branches out of one of our rhododendron bushes...hope that it bushes back out. It has been absolutely beautiful up until this year and a lot of it seemed to die out...so we will see if pruning the dead out will help! He also blew, raked, and dragged leaves (an endless job around our house at this time of year). Well, back to the sewing machine! Tonight's photo is my newest Nativity. A friend gave it to me with the children in mind...it is totally child proof. So I let them put it on the shelf that has the Christmas things that they can "play" with and the children's Christmas books.

Blog Material Indeed!

They asked what I would do with the photo that I took this morning! I told them that it looked like "Blog Material" to me! We had a great time this morning and this is our "official" 2012 J.O.Y. (Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last) Class Christmas photo...minus several that couldn't be with us this year. A great time was had by all (I feel)...good fellowship/friendship, good food (we are great cooks)and good Bible study...a perfect combination for a morning get together! Each of these ladies are very special to me! You can hardly tell that a party has happened here. Dishes are all washed and put away, chairs are mostly back in their usual places, tables back to their smallest sizes, the drier is buzzing with tablecloth and napkins ready to be folded. Woody, as usual, went to our early church service and then taught his Sunday School class. This afternoon he went on a four mile walk. We have both worked on getting "things" back to non-party state. I did some winding-down...which included talking to my sister on the phone and a bit of a nap. Time now to head down to put away the table cloth till the next "event" and then fold lots of napkins. It has been a very enjoyable day...a VERY good start for this advent season. 'Tis the Season!

Ready or Not!

Ready or not December is here! Ready or not my Sunday School party will happen in the morning at 8am! The outside is ready...thanks to Woody, Graham and Nathan (and I worked a little on the front porch). It has been a busy day for me...marking off one thing after another on my "to-do" list. And, thankfully that "to-do" list is getting shorter...there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Woody walked to the library and also walked to do a couple of errands. So between his walking and leaf raking/blowing/pulling he has gotten quite a bit of exercise. Well, back to getting ready!

End of November

A day of yard and house work! Woody worked on the leaves in the yard and I worked on dust, etc. in the house. Elijah came over for a while and helped Goosey outside and then came in and helped me. I was wiping off the kitchen wastebasket and he decided that he could help...I gladly accepted a helping hand! I have just done a little of this and a little of that...but have managed to cross off quite a few things from my "to-do" list. This evening we were invited for a festive dinner at Nathan and Kathy's! Good company and good food...good start for our family Christmas celebrations! My energy level has worn a bit thin and I have sat for a while this evening and finished a book that I had almost finished yesterday. Then I read another short Christmas book that I had gotten as a free Kindle download...finished that too. Perhaps now that I have rested I have another energy reserve built back up...so perhaps I can do something else on my "to-do" list before calling it quits for the evening. Tomorrow we will be ushering December in! 'Tis the Season! (As my sister would say, "Fa La La La!")Tonight's photo shows that the Wisemen are weary also...resting in their tents under the watchful eyes of their camels...hoping that they will soon complete their long journey following the star as they seek the King of the Jews!

A Time to Celebrate!

First reason to celebrate today was Esther finishing her Dick and Jane book...it contained three of the original Dick and Jane books and was almost 200 pages long. Well done, Esther! After she finished the book we went to the laptop and I typed out a list of all the sight words that were in the book and then printed them on card stock and then made two strips of those words. I had been keeping up with each new word introduced that couldn't be sounded out. Definitely Dick and Jane books teach reading by repetition of words! She has had fun reading the stories and I have enjoyed the memories of me reading the same stories so very long ago starting in first grade. She has already chosen the next Dick and Jane that she wants to read to me...much shorter this time. If she reads three stories each day with this one she will be finished in two days. She will read some more of the books that we have here and at her house and then we will check out the ones that our church library has. Fun with Dick and Jane! Joy finished the cross stitch on her latest project. We will put it into finished form next week. She has plans for it to be a Christmas gift. Elijah was the first to have school this morning. He is getting quite good at tracing the sounds/letters in the salt. He gets so excited when he can do one all by himself without me either helping him or showing him first. While Joy was cross stitching I got my sewing machine going...making Christmas ornaments. After she left, I had a phone call and left the room while it was sewing along...well, a big mistake...looks like it is in need of the sewing machine doctor. Guess I will have to add that trip to my list for tomorrow's "to-dos" as I need to get it looked at and back home as I was hoping to get more sewing done this coming week...oh, well...best laid plans of mice and men! I have worked around the house just doing a little here and a little there. Mostly I worked upstairs today...not that anyone usually comes upstairs...but on principle...the upstairs usually gets neglected...so decided to start up first. Woody went for a walk after lunch and walked four miles. We have ended our day with our first Christmas festivity. We have just returned from the annual Deacon/Widow Christmas banquet. Good food and good fellowship (though my thoughts kept drifting back to all that needed to be done at home!). Tomorrow I will need to hit the floor running...only two days left to prepare for the party! 'Tis the season!

November's Last Wednesday

It has been a busy day here...as usual! The first thing that I did this morning was make a Christmas order (another step closer to being ready for Christmas!). Looks like part of the family will be getting some presents! Then it was time for school. Today Elijah, Esther, Joy and Graham came over for a time of Grammy school. Graham finished one of his subjects and then came up to the sewing room and we made Isaac a little felt stocking with his name on it to add to their ornaments for their advent tree calendar. Mother made this advent calendar for Melany and Nathan and gave it to them on Nathan's first Christmas. There are ornaments to snap onto the tree each day starting on Dec. 1 and going through Dec.24. On the 24th they put a star on the top of the tree. The children take turns snapping ornaments on the tree. When it was given to Melany and Nathan there were only two stockings on it...now there are eight...a third of the ornaments are stockings! I have been making new little felt stockings for each of them their first Christmas. So Isaac's got made today thanks to Graham's help. After lunch, it was time for me to head to the library for our weekly work time. Not long after I got home we ate. Then Woody went on a four-mile walk. I came upstairs and rested for a while...and looked at my party "to-do" list to see if there was anything that I could mark off! Not much marked off today...but Woody did go to the grocery store so I do have the ingredients for my Wassil. I have decided to come into the sewing room and do a couple of things...I mended a skirt for Joy and now I'm going to work on making some Christmas ornaments. The Christmas tunes are cranked up on my iPad and I'm settling in for a sewing/relaxing evening. Woody is watching a library DVD...relaxing also. 'Tis the season!

Wheels Spinnin'!

At least my head is spinning! Busy, busy with everyday things along with "getting ready for party" things. Today I had school time with five of our neighbor grandchildren. We did everything from read to trace sounds (letters) in salt to sewing pockets on an apron to handwriting to math to stuffing pillows. Elijah and Esther came over for their school time after lunch. Elijah stayed and played for a little while after his time. Then Esther decided to stay after her time too. She helped me. While I washed tea cups, Esther played with the angels that I had taken down from my cup and saucer display. We got all the tea cups and saucers put back and also the angels. We then attempted to find a place to store Christmas serving dishes. After that she decided to go home. I did get all the spoons in my spoon collection polished last night along with the 12 Days of Christmas bells. I also made and/or covered pillows for the front porch rockers and glider. Graham helped me stuff one of the pillows. After all t he work that Esther and I did, I made turkey noodle soup...pretty good! Now I am ready to sit down and relax for a little while and watch the finals for Dancing with the Stars. Woody walked to the prayer room at church a while ago. He will come back any time now and have a bowl of the soup that I was in the process of making when he left. It has been a cold, damp, and dreary day here in Middle TN. It never got out of the 40's today. Well, I keep marking things off my "to-do" list...but also keep adding things so not sure that I'm making a lot of headway! One thing for sure...the party will happen Sunday whether I am ready or not! I'm so thankful that I managed to get all the decorating done before Thanksgiving! Woody has packed the "box puzzle" back into the Christmas closet...so boxes are gone from the upstairs hallway.

Fun-filled Monday

My day started out with a tap-tap-tapping on the front door. Elijah was over and ready for school...more than a half hour early! Figured that we would get started and perhaps the school day would end a bit earlier than usual...but not so. It started a half hour earlier and ended a half hour later. Everyone really buckled down and worked really hard and did a bunch of school work. Abigail worked on her apron and got another pocket sewed on. She should be able to get the last pocket on tomorrow. Esther and I counted and found out that if she reads three stories each day this week that she can finish this Dick and Jane book. I came home and ate lunch and then went upstairs to rest and finish my book (fell asleep before finishing it last night). Ended up dozing a bit, but did manage to get the book finished. Woody walked to the Post Office this afternoon. He raked, blew and dragged quite a few leaves today. Now I am going to go down and polish my spoon collection while I watch Dancing With the Stars. That will get a "to-do" before Sunday party marked off my list! Friends stopped by with baby Frosties for us and the neighbors (Nathan, Kathy and family). Yum! Nice treat!

Our Little Buddy!

This morning we got a call from next door (Nathan and Kathy). They had a problem...too many children for the number of seats in their vehicle! They have a niece visiting. So we had Elijah ride with us. He sat with us in church, too. He was sooooo good! Then we headed off to Sunday School...well, Elijah and I did...today Woody went to Life Care to preach. I lead my class. Woody came back to the church and picked up Elijah and me after Sunday School. The three of us headed home and Elijah had a snack (pumpkin pie (with whip cream (his request!)...backwards lunch...pie at Grammy and Goosey's and then lunch at his house!). Then he played till his family got home. He and I built another garage for the school bus and another house for the little people. After Elijah went home, I had my lunch and then went upstairs and took a little nap. Graham came over while I was resting and stayed for a while. Elijah came back over for a little while too. Woody walked to get a paper so he would have another cross word puzzle. I have done a little reading...almost finished with another Randy Singer book. I have been trying to get up enough energy to get up from the rocking chair downstairs to come up and blog. I'm on my way to get my daily allergy medicine. Something "got to me" a while ago...I was sneezing my head off and my eyes started itching and my nose started running. It is better now...but hopefully the allergy meds will make it a lot better! Too much to do to have allergy problems at the moment. Woody is watching a library DVD and I'm off to the upstairs' recliner to finish my book.

One Month From Today!

Oh, my, I just realized that one month from today our family Christmas will have come and gone! I did spend some time today ordering some gifts. It has taken a bit longer for me to get inspired this year as to just the perfect gifts. Hmmmmm maybe some won't be exactly perfect! It has been a cold day here in middle TN. Woody didn't go out first thing this morning, but waited a while to go on a seven mile walk. I slept in a bit making up for not much sleep the night before. We have enjoyed our turkey dinner leftovers. Kathy, Elijah and Isaac came over for a little while this afternoon. Elijah stayed and played. He started out playing with the Fisher Price Nativity, but then he and I built with my grandfather's blocks for a while. Tonight's photo shows the results of our building efforts.

Family Thanksgiving 2012

We had a great time with our family today. It was a gathering of 14 Dorrell's and Proctor's. We had lots of great food to eat (probably too much!) and lots of fun times visiting. Elijah was very happy that Friday had finally arrived. The moment that Wade, Melany, Erin and Alex arrived, five little folk from next door joined them. After they got in the house it wasn't but a few moments till the Fisher Price Manger scene was unboxed and set up. Later Isaac discovered that he could easily pull up on the coffee table and he enjoyed "destroying" their work! It is nice that this addition to our Christmas decorations is such that it can be played with even by the littlest in the family. Woody and I got up very early to get the turkey in the oven. Then one by one we attacked the remaining menu items. Woody peeled the potatoes that would later be mashed by Wade (his annual Thanksgiving job!). Melany carved the turkey. And, Joy rang the dinner bell. Everyone was ready. The kids' table was in the kitchen presided over by Goosey (Woody)...the biggest kid of them all! The rest of us ate in the dining room...including Isaac. Isaac enjoyed his very first Thanksgiving dinner. Kathy brought him over unadulterated sweet potatoes and he also tried a couple of things from our meal...some were accepted by him and others came right back out followed by a shiver! Woody pretty much washed all the dishes. Melany took the rest of the meat off the turkey carcass. I then started the carcass simmering with onions, celery, etc...the start to some turkey soup. Wade found containers and put away the leftovers. Some of us watched children...especially Isaac as he is now on the move so an adult pretty much has to have an eye on him to make sure that he and "things" around the house are safe! There was a lot of game playing...and not the outdoor or board variety...an iPad here and an iPod there along with DS whatevers, etc...it's a different day and age...but then Grammy is right in there with her iPad (though, I did share it with a grandchild or two this afternoon!). All these devices didn't come out till after the meal and there was cooperation and sharing among the children while they either played or observed. Elijah finally had had enough and decided that it was time for him to go home to play with his cars and trucks! Alex showed us on their laptop a design for a part of a robot that he had done in CAD for his robotics club. Their robotics club took first place and will be going to Auburn at some time in the future for further competition. So lots of talking and sharing about things that have been going on in our family's lives. After the Proctor's left, I headed upstairs to just sit for a little while till the turkey stock was finished cooking...well, the next thing I knew it was time to blog...so late as Woody and I needed to strain the broth and get it to cooling. Now Woody has the TV on and a book in front of him and I'm heading in to read. Happy Turkey Day to one and all from the Dorrell's and Proctor's! Tonight's photo shows the turkey place card holders that Graham made out of K'nex. We got a kick out of the way he spelled some of the names...Wade was "Uncul Wade." We got a laugh out of that when Wade pronounced the way Graham had spelled it as "uncool" Wade! He spelled Melany's name correctly (which most don't spell correctly...guess we spelled her name phonetically when we spelled it the way did when we named her!). Graham decided where everyone would sit in each of the rooms. I sat opposite of where I usually do and sort of liked where he placed me...I could see both tables (at least part of them) from my vantage point!

Gobble, Gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving from Woody and me. We will celebrate tomorrow with our family so we are busy getting ready. Pumpkin pies are in the oven. At this point we have gelatin salad and rolls ready for tomorrow. At the rate that I have been going...one step forward...two back...that may be all we have along with the pies! Well, back to work! Oh, the tree is finished and the mess is out of the living room...now to vacuum! Well, looks like I forgot to click the button to publish this...my sister just emailed me wondering why there was no blog...I knew that I had blogged so I checked and oops...forgot to push the publish button! Guess I have my mind on other things!

Is It Friday Yet?

Elijah came over for a while this morning...he'd been outside playing and just decided to pay us a visit. When he comes in like that I make a quick call on the phone that pages next door! That way they know where he is! He put a few more ornaments on the tree and then asked if it was Friday yet. I just thought that he was asking what day it was and then I realized...that he was looking longingly at the boxes on the coffee table that are pictured in tonight's blog photo. I had told him and his siblings yesterday that they had to wait to get the Fisher Price Nativity out until Uncle Wade, Aunt Melany, Erin and Alex come on Friday! He then knelt down and looked at the pictures on the boxes telling me what was his favorite in each box! Again, so cute! I started out this morning working on the Christmas tree and that is pretty much what I have done all day (and...it still isn't done!). I did stop long enough to make the gelatin salad for our Thanksgiving meal. I am hoping that I can get the last two boxes emptied of ornaments and get them on the tree before I go to bed tonight so I won't have to think about anything except getting ready for our family Thanksgiving that we are having on Friday. Tomorrow is pie making (2 pumpkin and 2 pecan (that includes making pie crusts, too))and homemade roll making day and prep(chopping onions, slicing celery, drying bread, etc.) for the other dishes that I will put together Friday morning while the turkey is roasting. Woody walked six miles today. He had the kitchen all cleaned up when I got up this morning. He has taken emptied boxes upstairs to be added to the piles of boxes in the upstairs hallway. He also started putting boxes back in the Christmas closet since both tree boxes were ready to go back in (they have to be put in first on each end of the closet and then he works the rest of the puzzle of smaller boxes on top and around them. I'm hoping that he will help me pack up the big boxes that contain lots of little ornament boxes. The children got so ahead of me yesterday that I have no idea what little box goes in which big box...another puzzle. Well, back to the tree if my back will allow me! It is really slow-go now as I have to hunt for a space for some of them...but the tree top still needs to be dressed (step-ladder work...that I save till last) and then one side of the tree seems to have been neglected. The children were attracted to the back of the tree for some reason so it is quite well decorated. I have gotten a kick out of where they put some of the ornaments...and Grammy has used her prerogative...that I can move ornaments if they need to be in a different place. I told Melany when I talked to her today that I had moved some to different places on the tree and she said that was always the rule when she and Nathan put ornaments on when they were kids...that Mommy could move them after they got put on! Guess some rules don't change!

Raining Leaves!

There were times today that it literally looked like it was raining leaves. Nathan, Kathy and some of the children worked on raking/blowing the leaves in our two front yards. It wasn't long after they completed the task that it was almost impossible to tell that the yards had been just about bare of leaves. Woody and I both got up really early. I headed straight to work getting the decorating done in the dining room and Woody headed off for a walk as the temp was milder than it had been lately. I got the dining room done pretty quickly and then told Woody that I was just about ready for the big tree box. He got it for me and not long after that I started putting it together (75 separate branches!). I got about half of the branches put in and I headed off to run a couple of errands. I came back ready for lunch. It was good that the soup was all made and all we had to do was warm a bowl for each of us. Then it was back to the tree. Joy came over and not long after that Graham came over. They were both very good helpers and we made short order of getting the rest of the tree together. I fluffed branches, Joy carried branches to Graham, and Graham put the branches in until they got too high for him to reach and then I finished putting those rows of branches in. I had chicken simmering as I need chicken broth for my Thanksgiving cooking...so now have chicken for a casserole or salad or soup and also have broth to cook with. The first of my Thanksgiving cooking has begun! Woody has the pecans shelled for our pecan pie and sweet potato casserole. I will do a little more cooking tomorrow...but can finish up around the house before I get too involved in cooking since we won't have our feast till Friday. While the broth was simmering, Elijah joined us and he and Joy played for a while and Graham and I got started on hanging ornaments on the tree. In a while, Joy and Elijah decided that they wanted to help with ornaments. They were all such great helps! Abigail and Esther came over after they got back from the store and they helped too. It was a bit of a challenge keeping up with five of them going through boxes of ornaments as quick as a wink! At the moment the living room looks a bit like a whirlwind has gone through...what with little boxes, tissue paper, etc.!I don't think that ornaments have ever gotten put on the tree faster! Little Elijah was so cute...first he figured out how to put ornament hangers on the ornaments he was putting on the tree...a big accomplishment for the little guy! Then he was just so pleased when he hung each ornament. Once he got it on a branch, he would stand back and clap! So sweet! Fun day! Joy made the statement that some day she would be the one having help with her tree (think that she was thinking ahead to being a grandmother and living next to her grandchildren!). They all wanted to know if there was a story for the ornament they were hanging. I shared lots of stories...perhaps just telling them who gave us the ornament or perhaps a little lengthier tale about how it was acquired. We had a fun afternoon and the tree is looking great! Woody has walked to the prayer room at church this evening. I'm about to head down to watch Dancing With the Stars. Hope that I can stay awake...I fell asleep when downloading photos just a few minutes ago.