An Art-Filled Day!

I'm going to write first and then post several photos from our day...that way maybe I won't have to fight the scrolling back and forth of the lines as I type.

We really had a nice day...Melany and I and Erin, Joy, and Esther...five girls off to check out art in Nashville.  Woody did end up driving us as I was having allergy problems with my eyes.  He spent the day at Melany and Wade's reading and working crossword puzzles.  I think he enjoyed the change in his venue, though not in his activities!

The five of us went to the Frist Museum first.  We saw an exhibit of downtown Nashville street art, an extensive Native American Women's Art, and an exhibit of the children's book illustrator, Eric Carle.  All three were very interesting and informative.  Joy enjoyed the Native American exhibit the most.  Esther said that she enjoyed the hands-on art area thr most.  And, Erin said that she liked one of the art pieces in the Native American Women exhibit the most...a TALL pile of folded up blankets that reached almost to the ceiling.  I just wondered if they were attached someway...or if they would tumble if a child or anyone happened to reach in give it a slight push!  I think that Melany and I enjoyed all...don't think that I can pick a favorite!  The Native American Women art exhibit was very thought provoking.  Eric Carle's was just fun to see the original illustration/collages for the covers and backs of so many of his books.  We ate lunch at the little cafe attached to the Frist.  Made a quick stop at the museum gift shop.  Then we loaded up in the car and went to The Plaza Art Supply store...where each of us made a purchase of some sort or another.  Melany even came away with some free samples because she is an art teacher.  Esther now has all the colored pencils that were recommended to draw the eye she drew a while back.  She plans to come over tomorrow and sketch the eye again...we will see if there is a difference!  Joy found some ink cartridges for some of her calligraphy pens.  Esther also found a large palette for her water color painting...clean for the moment!

The End is Near!

I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day of 2019.  Time has certainly flown this year...though in some ways it seems like forever since Woody had the second surgery on his leg and we were facing that in just a few days on this day last year.

Woody has come and gone much more than I today.  He took his friend to the doctor here in town this afternoon and this evening has gone to the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting.  I only ventured out to go next door to talk to Joy and Esthe about their trip tomorrow to the museum and art store.  We will head off in the morning and go to Melany's house and at that point let her take over the transportation and Erin will also join us.  Esther came over this afternoon determining some colors of colored pencils she needs.  I told her back in the early fall that you could buy prisma colored pencils individually at some art stores and that got her intrigued in going to a "real" art store.  And, the idea for her and Joy's Christmas presents came to my mind.  When I asked Melany if she would take us to an art store in Nashville, she came up with the idea of going to the Frist Art Museum  in the same trip and that became their Christmas gift to Joy and Esther. So tomorrow is the day that their Christmas present becomes a reality.

I planned to make bread today, but then decided that we had too much bread on hand and that I should wait till we are in need of bread!  So instead I decided to start the quoted wall hanging that I plan to make.  I traced all the applique pieces and fused the pieces onto the back of their respective fabrics.  Next step is to cut out these pieces and fuse them to the background fabric.  I will have tondo some piecing before that step...so machine work is just around the corner.

I have also been reading.  Not sure if this book will be the last book of 2019 that I have read this year or if it will be the first book finished in 2020.  It is a pretty fast read so it may add to this year's total...time will tell.  The fact that I will be away a good part of the day tomorrow may hamper my getting it finished.  I have surpassed my goal of 52 (a book a week) so perhaps it will be more of a help towards 2020's reading goal!

Woody, of course, has been reading, doing crossword puzzles, and watching some TV.  He has a lot of crossword puzzles to work on since my sister and Melany and family gifted him with crossword puzzle books for Christmas.  He's happy working his way through them.  He's working on the puzzle book he got for his birthday at the moment.  Alexa has helped him some with difficult clues.  I have used Alexa this afternoon to get a few things straight in my head about World War II.  The book that I am reading takes place in that time frame.  A new source for "needed" information!?!  We just need to learn how to communicate with her properly by asking the right questions with the right words and in the right order! I've been testing her and she's not too swift when it comes to answering questions about sewing!  She just tried to sell me a sewing machine on Amazon, and all I asked her about was a type of sewing machine needle.  I guess she is entertainment?!?

Last Saturday of 2019

Another low-key day.  I decided that I would work in the sewing room.  I got the thread explosion all out away.  I fixed a top that Joy wants to take to the Philippines—added a buttonhole and button that she requested.  While I was putting things away I came across some pieced squares and decided that I would make another mug rug.  I ran an errand this afternoon...a "Walmart run."  I needed an over the counter medication and a couple of things that I neglected to get on our grocery list and one sewing item for my next sewing project.  I'm going to make a small quilted wall hanging for the kitchen.  I needed some fusible web as there is a lot of applique on this wall hanging.  That's the tube in tonight's photo...and the pattern/kit for the wall hanging is next to the machine.  The mug rug is on the bed of the machine.  The ironing board is all cleared off...so the room is ready for me to begin something else.  I do need to clear off my sewing table...but that may happen another day!  I think that I am through for the day.

Woody made his weekly trip to the library.  He has been working on doing some wash.  He's washing some of his new clothes that he got for Christmas.  He has read, worked crossword puzzles, and watched some football on TV.  All in all a very low-key day for both of us as the year draws to a close.

Routine...Sort Of...

We are slowly returning to more of a normal routine.  Woody headed out this morning to do our weekly grocery shopping.  I stayed home and out away groceries when he returned and also did some cooking.  I made Woody a pot of soup and also made his salad dressing.  Nathan came over and set up devices that we had received for Christmas.  Woody and I can now communicate with each other when one is upstairs and one downstairs.  And, Woody can tell the time and also the temperature both inside and outside...all while sitting in his recliner.  Woody headed back out after he rested from his first outing and picked up his friend ran errands with him. Due to my cooking efforts I had quite a bit of clean up.  That is done and the kitchen is shut down for the evening!  Woody is reading and/or crossword puzzle solving or TV watching.  I have come upstairs to blog and then read and rest.

Tonight's photo shows Esther finding the pickle ornament.  She got to open the pickle present which was a huge set of dominoes, the kind for making patterns that will all fall down one after the other if placed correctly!  There are chutes and tunnels and other fun things to include in the challenge.  Melany challenged them to make a run that would go down their stairs...but no one chose to do that.  Star Wars Monolopy won out for the older kids entertainment after our Christmas lunch.  They retired up to the bonus room and we hardly saw (or heard) them the rest of the afternoon.  A game of Scrabble was played as well as a card game of Wheel of Fortune by some of the adults.  Woody and I mainly sat on the couch and either watched a Christmas movie on TV or talked with folk not involved in the games.  We had a very good day...but...it is pretty good to be getting back into routine after all the Christmas festivities!

Low-Key Day After Christmas

Today has returned to a slower pace after a couple of days of Christmas celebrations.  We have enjoyed being with the family.  Christmas Eve morning we spent at Nathan and Kathy's watching and participating in opening gifts.  And, then yesterday the two Dorrell families headed Melany and Wade's way to celebrate in Murfreesboro.  Enjoyed ourselves immensely!  But rather glad to come back down to earth today!  

Today Esther happened in and found out that I was going to make cookies with my new mixer that 

her family gave me so she became my helper.  In the above photo, she is being an appliance model introducing the newest item in our kitchen!  She was a great help.  I could tell that she helps with the cooking at home.  She was very capable of helping with all the steps as we used the mixer for the first time.  She rolled out all the cookie dough and used the cookie cutters of her choosing.  We had to go up and raid the art tub in the school room as that is where the cookie cutters are stored (with the play dough).  And, don't worry we washed the ones she wanted to use.  We also used the mixer to make the icing.  She really enjoyed frosting the cookies.  This was a "Woody" friendly recipe so he was glad to partake of our efforts.  Esther went home with a cookie for each member of her family.  That way they can enjoy the first thing made with their gift to me!

Esther approves!  Goosey (Woody) does too!  He's happy to have the cookie jar filled once again.

We have been looking at next week and it is filling up with appointments and a planned trip with Esther and Joy.  We've been trying to get everything to fit into the week!  Woody's friend has an appointment on Monday.  Joy, Esther, and I are planning to go to Aunt Melany's so she can take us on an "art excursion" along with Erin.  Melany is treating them to a trip to the Frist Art Museum in Nashville as their Christmas present.  We Re going to see an Eric Carl exhibit.  he is the author/illustrator of "The Hungry Caterpillar" and other children's books.  After the museum we are going to a "real" art store so they can choose some art supplies with the gift that Woody and I gave them.   So that will be a busy day to end the year. On Thursday Woody has an appointment with the infectious disease doctor at Vanderbilt.  We got that reminder call just a few minutes ago.  So Woody won't make it very far into 2020 before he has that first Vanderbilt appointment.  He had more than a dozen appointments last year at Vandy plus surgery on his leg.  I'm sure he hopes for a few less trips to Nashville in the coming year! 

Woody has read today.  I think that he may have picked up a few sticks in the yard today as he had Esther fine the "yard bucket" (wheelbarrow-type equipment.  He is enjoying working crossword puzzles in puzzle books that he got for Christmas.  

Merry Christmas from the Dorrells and the Proctors!

Christmas Eve 2019

Drawing Near!

Christmas celebrations are drawing near.  I guess our first Christmas will happen tomorrow.  We plan to join Kathy and Nathan and family for a round of presents tomorrow morning.  I still have a few to wrap.  I'm also in the midst of one last sewing project for a gift...that doesn't have to be finished till Christmas Day when we go to Melany and Wade's for our second Christmas family celebration. We will all gather that day...Nathan and family and Woody and I will join Melany and family.

Woody ran an errand today to pick up the last of the presents and to get a missing ingredient that I need for a salad for Christmas Day.  I ran one errand and have spent most of the rest of the day in the sewing room.  'Tis the season!

Christmas Blessings for Each of You on This First Day of Winter 2019

Year All Sorted Out...Till I Snap More Photos!

No photos left on the screen to sort and the side bar is all "collapsed" back to smallest size.  I finished this afternoon.  I really enjoyed filing the kitchen renovation pictures...a day by day update as to progress.  When looking at it through pictures it doesn't seem to have taken as long as it did!  I am glad to have the year sorted...at least to this point in the year.  It sort of makes me want to not take any more pictures...BUT the family Christmas celebrations are upon us so I'm sure that I will be adding more to be put into the photo files!  But at least it won't be that many more days of photos to go through.  It should be a snap to get them added in the slow down after Christmas and the approach of the New Year.

Speaking of taking pictures.  My point and shoot that I use the most had been giving me fits lately.  I could take just a few pictures and it would shut off.  I finally decided that both the batteries were probably on the outs.  So I ordered a new battery the other day and it arrived this afternoon.  I didn't buy two...I always have two batteries for my cameras so I can change them out...but since I wasn't sure that it was just the battery I only bought one.  I got it charged and put it in my camera a little while ago and took several pictures to try it out...and it didn't shut off on me...and, yes, now I have photos to upload to the computer once again!  I reformatted all my cameras yesterday...so they would have clean slates as we head into the holidays.  I am glad that I have my little point and shoot back up and running.  It is so much easier to take pictures with it when in a group...I can zoom in and out at will whereas with my other cameras the zooming is limited as to the lens that I have on at a particular time.  I have one that I like to shoot inside with...but it isn't a zoom lens so it is more like the old 35mm cameras...you shoot what the lens sees and your legs have to move you in closer to your subject.  I just know that in all the hustle and bustle of opening gifts that I don't move around a whole lot, but the children do!  So I like the lens to do the walking for me.  I will have a camera with that lens on next to me and I will use it some, but I know that I will use my little one the most.  I do have another point and shoot, but the quality of the photos isn't quite as good...but will still work for our Christmas craziness!  Maybe I can focus more on my picture taking when at Melany's since I don't have to be thinking about timing of food, etc.  We'll see!  It almost always passes in a blur and it is hard to get just the pictures that I want to get...lots of "wishes that I had taken this or that" when the day is done!

Woody went on his weekly trip to the library.  He even added in a stop to buy a Christmas gift.  I "think" that we may be done with gift buying and making.  I will wrap tomorrow and/or Monday and find out!  Wrapping isn't my favorite thing to do...I used to like doing it...but not so much any more.  I have LOTS of gift bags...I think that I will rely on them for most items...lots easier on me and the unwrapper! 'Tis the season!

Here's the ornament that I was making for our tree the other night.

Sorting 2019

This is what I have been looking at most of the day.  I got up and finished up the ornaments that I made for our tree and hung them.  Then I decided that it was time to start the dreaded job of sorting ALL the photos that I have taken this year on FOUR cameras!  I had not sorted any for this year prior to today.  What a job!  But...I can say that the pictures taken on three of the cameras are all sorted and filed away on my external passport drive...some have been backed up twice...those that are date/event specific will be copied over to the second Passport when the photos are all in by months/days.  The general ones...flowers, animals, etc. just go into general folders...not by years...so those I already copied into two Passport drives.  It has gone pretty quickly so far...but these three cameras I use less than the one point and shoot...that is the one that I am still sorting...and, that one I use almost daily to snap one thing or another.  So at this point I am completely finished through January and February with my four cameras...March through December still lack the one camera.  But I feel that I have a good start.  Usually this is a job that I approach the week after Christmas...not the week before!  But this year since we aren't having the family Christmas here time management is different!

Woody did his usual Friday grocery shopping or us and then ran errands with his friend.  Both those take quite a chunk outdoor his day.  He has also read, watched TV, worked crossword puzzles...again...his usual daily routine.

Several happy children have popped in today to announce that they are through with school for this semester...and won't start school again for four weeks (I won't either).  Their trip to the Philippines happens during this four-week break.  They are looking forward to their break and their trip.  I'm just looking forward to the break!

Back to picture sorting...thank goodness for the blog!  I use it to figure out what we are doing and whe we went on certain days so I can sort months specifically! 'Tis the season!

Winding Down

This is what it looks like after sewing 30 ornaments this Christmas season!  And, I have cleaned up in between one ornament sewing marathon...so these threads are just for the 15 that I have been sewing on this week.  This afternoon I completed sewing ornaments for gifts for this Christmas!  So now I have time to make a couple for our tree!  Here's the one that is sewing out as I am writing tonight's blog:

It is one that I will wash out the base "fabric" when it is finished and it will look like lace...what machine embroidery folk call "free standing lace." The tree in the center of the circle of lace will swing by just a thread when the water soluble fabric is washed away.  

Today has been another cheesecake making day for Abigail.  Last count she was on her eighth for today and four of them baked over here.  I just took one out of the oven for her...the last over here for today.  I think that this one is going to cool off and then reside in my fridge for the night.  

Woody took his friend back to McMinnville today to see another heart doctor.  Woody left around 11:30 and returned around 4.

Joy continued to make gifts for her family today.  She made another very nice gift...won't say what don't want to give away any secrets!  She decided she wanted to embroider a name on this item...so my machine stopped making ornaments for a little while so it could help Joy out!  The machine that Joy sews on is my original embroidery machine...but technology has come so far that I told her if she wants to embroider to plan to use my newer machine...so much easier and does a much neater job much more quickly.  Mine sews up to 800 stitches per minute...pretty fast!

Well, it is time to change threads our tree ornament so I will publish this before doing that...'Tis the season!

Happy Birthday, Goosey!

Woody has had a double celebration for his birthday this year.  When Melany and Erin came here last Saturday, they brought him gifts and he celebrated.  And, then our nine next door neighbors arrived bearing a fruit box for his actual birthday today.  They decided to go the fruit route instead of a cake this year.  These are all fruits that he can eat. So he has quite a few treats to enjoy over the next days. I added the poinsettia to our kitchen Christmas decor.

Donna and I worked in the library for a short while today...our last library work day this year...guess, really the last of this decade!  After we worked a while, I went to WalMart to do a little shopping.  I found something for Woody's birthday and also found gifts for the two younger boys...so a successful shopping trip.

Woody has had a calm stay-at-home birthday.  The two younger boys came over this morning and did some of their homeschool work with me while their parents were occupied with returning some items to the church.  Abigail is busy making cheesecakes for Christmas orders.  I think that she baked at least three...maybe four over here.  She has at least 25 to make and that order could grow as someone asked if she would make 20 more!  That last 20 more order hasn't been confirmed yet. But she is working diligently on the 25 she knows she is making. 'Tis the season!

Let It Snow!

And, it did snow this morning...nothing stuck, but it was coming down pretty good when I stuck my head out the door.  I didn't get a picture so I decided to let this picture that includes Melany's Christmas card be the snow for tonight's blog.

I have spent a good part of the day at the sewing machine.  I have accomplished quite a bit.  I still have one more ornament to machine embroider and then I have to make some of the embroidery into ornaments.  Some are already complete as they are all done "in the hoop" while the design is stitching out.  But there are still quite a few that have to be finished and then the ones for the grandkids next door have to have a name attached some way some how!  Still working that out in my head.

Woody had to head out in the cold today a couple of times.  He had to go try to get the message to his friend that he had a doctor appointment this afternoon.  And, he managed to get that message delivered and also picked up some prescriptions at the pharmacy on that trip out.  Then shortly after noon he headed off to lick him up and take him to the doctor appointment that was 45 minutes away.  It was after four when he got back home. So he spent most of the daylight part of the afternoon away. By the time he came home it was getting dark.  It gets dark so early these days...I guess that shows that we are fast approaching the shortest day of the year...then we will slowly but surely gain more daylight time each day.

Well, back to the sewing machine to hopefully finish up the machine embroidery of ornaments for this year! 'Tis the season!

Stormy December Night

We have a cold front coming through...and it bumped into above normal December temperatures...a very balmy day...never a good sign when storms are approaching.  They just confirmed that at least two people have been killed in Alabama.  The threat has ended in our area.  Woody is out in it because of the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting.  He is in charge of opening up so he headed out just prior to the storm's a arrival.  He said that he wouldn't get out of the car unless someone else came.  I'm assuming that someone else ventured out into the stormy evening since he hasn't gotten home.  Speaking of him getting back...he has just come in!

 I chose tonight's photo because it shows an umbrella ornament.  I bought this ornament in
Massachusetts on a special trip that a friend and I went on many years ago.  I bought the Plymouth/Massachusetts Cape ornament at the same time.  I bought the umbrella ornament to represent all the rain that we get here in TN.

I didn't have school today as Kathy's parents are here and they are celebrating their family Christmas. I did see a couple of the children out in the yard.  And, Joy is still making gifts.  She came over and finished sewing a gift that she had been working on for a while.  She is the only one who comes over and works at the sewing machine and enjoys her Grammy's fabric scraps.

I continued on with my ornament making...but still more to go and until all the lightning goes away I won't be turning on my machine.  I think that I will still be able to get one more done tonight.  The storm has mainly just turned to rain here at this point...wind has died down and only faint rumbles once in a while.  I made a big pot of chicken soup for our supper.  It will taste even better tomorrow when the temperatures drop.

Woody ran an errand with his friend and then later in the day tried to get a phone message to him about an appointment that has been set up for him tomorrow. But at this point the appointment will be a surprise to him, as he didn't come to the door when Woody went over the last two times or he wasn't there.  Woody also had an appointment with his nephrologist today...this time with the PA.  He has to go back in a couple of weeks as one of his labs wasn't the best so they want to check it sooner than usual.

Well, back to the sewing machine! 'Tis the season!

Taste of Christmas!

The first bite of Peppermint Stick ice cream each year tells me that it is Christmas time!  And, today I had that first bite so now I know that Christmas is upon us.  We used to have this ice cream when I was growing up...so I guess it is a memory taste!

Melany and Erin arrived late morning and stayed to visit till a little before dark...dark comes around 4:30pm these days that are getting shorter and shorter!  We had a nice visit.  I think that Erin liked our new kitchen.  She helped me finish up lunch.  She made our green salads and helped me put the finishing touches on the focaccia bread that I was in the process of making when they arrived.  We had an enjoyable lunch of spaghetti and meatballs, a green salad with lots of fixings, focaccia bread, and peppermint stick ice cream.  Nathan, Kathy and part of their family came over and we made plans for our family Christmas celebration at Melany and Wade's.  Looks like we are going to have our celebration of the actual day...that hasn't happened in years!  I guess that gives me another day to get ready!  'Tis the season!

"Tennessee Christmas"

Tonight's photo show two ornaments on our tree that represent Tenessee.  The heart is counted needlework that I did some years ago. It has different symbols that "are" TN.  The mocking bird is our state bird.  The music notes represent the music industry and the irises are our state flower.  If I recall correctly the other lines represented something about the state too, but I would have to find the needlework graph to remind myself what they represent.  The red, white, and blue wooden ornament is a facsimile of our TN flag. Close to these two is s brass ornament that I bought for Tennessee's bicentennial several years back. (By the way, if you look at the picture again, you will see where I hung the pickle ornament this year.  The children will be hunting the pickle at Aunt Melany and Uncle Wade's this year so I guess that it is okay that ours is this easily found!  Speaking of the pickle ornament...the grandchild who finds the pickle first gets to open the "pickle present." This is a gift that stays at our house for all to enjoy.  This year Alex has hidden a pickle ornament on their tree for the hunt.  I guess he thinks that he is too old to hunt...so will join in the fun this way!  The pickle present arrived on our front porch this afternoon...so another step closer to being ready.

Woody headed out fairly early and did our weekly grocery shopping.  He came home and rested a bit and then ran errands with his friend. Those errands took about three hours!  He came home from that and ate a late lunch and rested some more.  His pulled muscle is still bothering him some.  He is upstairs as I write this, making copies of our Christmas letter.  We will get them out...and hopefully they will arrive at their destinations prior to Christmas Day!

Today has been a cooking day for me...no ornaments so far today...I did get two more finished yesterday.  I put away groceries after Woody got home and when doing so found a large roaster chicken.  I decided that I had better go on and roast it right away.  After roasting, I carved and sliced and diced the meat to be used in sandwiches, soups, and whatever.  I wasn't going to make chicken stock, but in the end talked myself into it...that way what is in the freezer can stay there and I can use the fresh for soup and gravy, etc.  The stock simmered for several hours.  It is now cooling in the fridge.  Esther's kitties got a treat from that cooking and then hung around on the front porch for the rest of the daylight hours...hopeful for more!  I also made gravy so Woody can have some hot chicken sandwiches if he wishes.  I now have a lot of greasy dishes to go tend to...most will go in the dishwasher after I unload it from the first cooking run!

I need to continue cooking as none of what I did today is what I need cooked for tomorrow!  Melany and Erin are coming to spend some time with us.  Erin hasn't seen the kitchen as she was sick at Thanksgiving time and didn't get to come.  I'm heading down to cook spaghetti sauce and meatballs.  I'm going to at least get the meatballs cooked tonight...not sure if I will go father or just get up in the morning and make the sauce...and maybe some homemade bread of some type to go with it.  So I'm off to make meatballs!  'Tis the season!

A "Leisurely" Jaunt to the Doctor

I put "leisurely" in quotes in the title because that wasn't exactly what I wanted the doctor visit to be.  I had hoped that since I had an 8am appointment that I would be in and out quickly.  A couple of months ago the doctor's office called and told me that the doctor would be out of the office...did I want to see one of her assistants or reschedule.  Since I knew that it was in the midst of holiday doings that I would just stick with the appointment day and see someone else.  This appointment is really mainly for my 6 month lab work...so...I got there this morning at exactly 8.  I checked in and it wasn't long until they called me back.  I mentioned something about just squeaking in at the exact time of the appointment and the nurse said that I wasn't close to late....as my appointment wasn't until 9:30!  They had left me on the same day but changed the time and didn't tell me and for some reason this time they didn't call to remind me of the appointment.  It sounded like I would be seen early...BUT...NO!  I sat there for more than an hour and no one came in...I told myself that I would sit in there till 15 minutes after my "9:30 time" and then I would say something.  I ended up waiting a little longer but did finally open the door and ask if and when I was going to be seen.  I guess that got the ball rolling as it took another 10 minutes, but she finally came in.  I wasn't the happiest of campers...to say the least.  We left the house at 7 and didn't return until after 11.  It was almost like a Vanderbilt appointment and this one so much closer!

We did stop and run a couople of errands on the way home.  Woody a bit stove up.  He has pulled a muscle and is in pain today.  But he has carried on as usual.  He drove me to McMinnville.  Came home and couldn't get one of his Deacon family folk on the phone and he needed to check in with her so he drove to her house.  He is now ready, as am I, to head off to the annual Deacon/Widow banquet.  I decided that I would blog early tonight!  'Tis the season!

Progressing in the Right Direction!

Today's major accomplishment was getting the AZ package mailed.  I stayed up and burned some midnight oil (and beyond) and got the last of the sewing done for their gifts and then got them wrapped.  I only had two more gifts to wrap for them when I got up this morning.  I got them in a box and got the box addressed (jobs that Woody used to do).  I went downstairs to get ready to mail them and Woody said that he thought he could do that task. I put the box in the car and figured that someone would come along and help at the Post Office if he needed it!  Remember...we live in a small town!  He said that he didn't have to carry the box in, that he had someone offer right away to carry it for him.

My next efforts turned to getting back to getting ornaments made.  I have completely finished three more...so am starting to get a handle on the rest of the ornaments that I need to make before two weeks from yesterday (when we will have our family Christmas...this year at Melany and Wade's).

Woody received a call today from his infectious disease doctor's office.  They needed to change his appointment.  I was more than willing to move that one...it was on Decembet 31st and I'm not too keen on traveling anywhere on New Year's Eve during the day or night!  So it got moved into the first week of  January.  Appointments! Appointments! Appointments!  There always seems to be one lurking around the corner!

I had planned to run to the church to work in the library for a few minutes, but in the end Christmas sewing won out.  'Tis the season!

A Sprinkling of White!

Look what we got today...just a dusting...but it is still snowing a little!  'Tis the season!

Flying By...

December is flying by.  The Sunday School party is over and now I HAVE to buckle down and get ready for family Christmas!  I'm not sure when I have ever been so far behind in being ready.  I have very few gifts and the problem is that I don't even have ideas for a good portion of the folk we give gifts to!  I just spent time looking through a website just trying to get some ideas...did come up with a couple possible gifts...but...

Tonight's photo shows what one of my "barn buddies" found for our tree...a gingerbread barn ornament...silo and all!

Woody had a meeting downtown this morning and tonight he has gone to the Monday night Furnace Room Prayer meeting.  He will stop at the library either going or returning and drop off a couple of books.  I finished a book this afternoon that has to be returned today as it can't be renewed.  As soon as I hit publish, I plan to head into the sewing room and get back to work on a gift that I'm making for my niece in AZ.  I've got to get that finished so I can get their package together and get it off in the mail...I try to send by December 10th...but doubt that it gets in the mail tomorrow...we will see!  But nothing is even wrapped yet.  I got decorated early this year, but seem to be behind with everything else!

We really had a good time at our Sunday School Christmas party yesterday.  It was a much smaller group than years past...but our group has changed...some have moved away, some have died, some were sick and couldn't come, etc.  But the group that gathered had a fun festive time.  Yesterday we gathered our house at 8am for brunch.  After we talked and ate and talked some more, we had our Sunday School lesson.  After the lesson we had our ornament exchange.  We each bring a Christmas ornament wrapped and then we pass them around the circle while I read a story about the Right family.  Each time I say the word "right" they pass the gift to the person to their right and when I say "left" we pass the gift to our left.  It turns into quite  laughter fest as the gifts get passed in different directions and often there is a bit of confusion...depending on how fast I read and how quickly the words "right" and "left" said.  When the story is finished, we open the one that we have in our hands and then we go around the circle to find out who gave us the ornament we got.  My ornament was angel wings this year.  After the ornament exchange, everyone gathered up their food dishes and then headed back to church for the 11am service.  We have found that the length of about 2-1/2 hours is a good length for the party and doing it early just makes it fit into our day and still leaves the afternoon for time to do other things with our families.  It hardly adds on much additional time than a regular morning at church. 'Tis the season!

The Party's Over!

Checking My List and Checking It Twice!

I'm getting pretty close to being ready...down to just a couple of things to do in "Woody's room," the family room and then most of the rest that I have to do will be in the kitchen.  I'm still getting dishes out for us to eat on.  Woody went to the library this morning.  He has helped with "his room" and also helped outside blowing leaves, etc.

The wassail is waiting for its second heating up...it has been sitting for twelve hours...almost.  Another hour and it will be time to heat it to the boiling point and then let it simmer for 15 min. Then all that will be necessary to do in the morning is heat it up for the party.  I'll have to make coffee...not the best thing for someone who doesn't drink coffee...but I have my friend's proportions of coffee to water/number of cups brewed.  She makes delicious coffee according to the class members who drink coffee so maybe I'll come close?! I don't own a coffee maker so had to borrow Nathan and Kathy's.  They also don't drink coffee, but Kathy's parents do so they have a Mr. Coffee for when they visit.

Well, back to doing something so I can mark it off my list!  'Tis the season.

Lots Going On!

I feel like I have done a little of everything today.  The hour of my Sunday School is fast approaching so today was a day to mark some things off my "to-do list."  I think, though, that I may have added more to that list than I marked off! Though I have done a lot.  All my helps have been working: dishwasher, vacuum, Bissell Little Green Machine, sewing machine, food processor, and just plain ol' elbow grease on my part!  Things are cleaner and I'm a little closer to ready.  Tomorrow will be the day when I will have to finish up.  The brunch is at 8am on Sunday so there won't be much time to do things that day!  I even straightened up my sewing room...just to have it clean when the party is over so I can really get busy again on my Christmas sewing.  I did manage to do run the vacuum and do some spot cleaning on the carpet in the family room while Woody was gone to do our grocery shopping and then later to run errands with his friend.  I have all the ingredients out on the counter to make Wassail tomorrow (my contribution to the brunch along with coffee and fruit juices.).  I will put that together tomorrow and then let it sit to blend the flavors till Sunday morning when I will heat it back up.  I got the coffee pot from Nathan and Kathy this morning...before Kathy went for her kidney stone surgery.

Speaking of Kathy's surgery.  She is home and is very thankful that her back is no longer hurting.  Hopefully she is resting and catching up on some of the sleep she lost the last few days when she was hurting so badly.

Woody, as I mentioned did our grocery shopping.  He had three very helpful grandchildren bring the groceries in from the car for him.  That helped me too!  I had just finished wiping down the shelves in the fridge when he got home...so good timing!  He later headed off to run errands with his friend.

We expected to get some rain today, but we got very little...mainly just sprinkles.  I'm sure that Esther's cats were happy that we didn't get much rain.  They really wanted to come inside today...it wasn't very cold so maybe they felt the rain that was supposed to be coming...or they just wanted to come in!  They re both very friendly with me when I was outside today for a short time...they both came running to get petted and to talk with me a bit!  They may have just been trying to convince me that they needed some food...they like to do that.  Esther assured me that she had fed them.

Time to get back to doing a little something more before the day ends for me...my chair is starting to call my name along with the book that is on the arm of the chair!  But I think that I should at least go transfer the wash into the drier before I totally play out for the day! 'Tis the season!

Busy Day!

At the moment my machine is sewing away while I blog...it is that sort of day...need to multitask!  I probably should be doing something to get ready for the party on Sunday, but at this time of day it is easier to sew!  I need to work on "Woody's room" (the family room) but it is easier to work on it when he isn't in there trying to watch TV or read!  I was going to work in there today while he went to his nephrologist's, but I was needed to take six grandchildren to the dentist!

Can you imagine having six appointments back to back!?! Their pediatric dentist is willing to do it that way.  The 7th went this morning as he had college classes this afternoon!  I was impressed how efficient the office was and they were all done in about an hour!  I expected to be there all afternoon! Isaac got good news about the tooth that he bumped a while back and they were worried that he was going to have a root canal...but at this point it seems to be okay.  For which we are all very thankful...especially Isaac!  He was so happy when the dentist said that it was okay now.

The reason that I needed to take them to the dentist was because Kathy has a kidney stone.  She is going to have surgery tomorrow to remove it.  She needs to get on the mend as they will be leaving after the first of the year for a mission trip to the Philippines.  So we have to get her well!  Abigail drove us to the dentist in their 15 passenger van.  No way am I going to drive that!  We had quite the time today with cars between our two households.  But it all worked out and I think that everyone got to where they needed to be and back.

As I mentioned this was an appointment day for Woody at his nephrologist's.  It was only for lab work.  He will go back to see the doctor in about a week and a half...after the doc has a chance to read his labs.

Well, the design is about finished stitching...now to decide what to do with it!  I did finish the ornaments that I needed to do for Sunday...and, they are all wrapped and ready.  I have found the little story that I read while we pass around the ornaments for our exchange and that is under the tree.  I got the prayer list ready to pass around on Sunday.  So I have done a few things today to get ready.  Thanks goodness I am decorated and cleaned really well while decorating.  Still have dishes to get out, but those can wait till Saturday...other than the family room there isn't a lot of cleaning to do...a good thing!  'Tis the season...to be busy!

Three Weeks!

When you work in a library, you date things at least two weeks ahead...I was reminded when I changed the date due stamp in the church library today that in two weeks it is Woody's birthday and since his birthday is a week before Christmas, that means that Christmas is in three weeks.  Say it isn't so!  I am farther behind than I have ever been!  I have very few gifts purchase, still don't have the package ready to send to AZ, etc. I can say that I am decorated...which is a good thing since my Sunday School brunch is this Sunday.  I would really be going crazy if I wasn't decorated.

I did do a few things this morning to get ready for Sunday's party.  Then this afternoon Donna and I worked in the church library.  We got started on our next books to process.  Hopefully we will be able to get them ready to check out next week when we work...a good present for our patrons...several new fiction books.

Woody spent most of his morning at Tennessee Oncology.  This time he got his shots for anemia and B-12 and saw the doctor.  Seeing the doctor caused him a much longer wait than usual and then he only saw the doctor for about five minutes.  The doctor was pleased that Woody's anemia was improving over what had been a drop a few visits before.  The doctor upped his anemia shot dosage and I guess that it is helping.

Guess I will finish folding some clothes before I call it a night.  'Tis the season!

December Start-Ups

Today was a red letter day in the next door Dorrell household.  Esther got started with braces and Joseph started building with K'nex!  Esther made her appointment top secret and only a couple next door knew that she was going to the orthodontist this morning.  Goosey and I had to know as we are footing the bill!  Esther is the sixth child that we have put into braces at this orthodontist office: Melany, Nathan, Graham, Abigail, Joy, and now Esther.  That office must like to see us coming!  I figure that it is probably my genes that have landed in each of these children's mouths so it is the least that we can do to help them end up with a beautiful smile!

Joseph decided yesterday that he wanted to start building with K'nex rather than just watch the others build with them.  I found the original book that we started with many years back.  It was a set that I bought for the pickle present one year.  I think that Graham was four and he fell in love with building with them and thus we added many more sets and pieces.  So now we have tons of K'nex pieces and lots of books with K'nex builds in them.  I like them to start with the original book as it has several quite easy builds and moves up to harder ones.  Joseph just hadn't shown an interest before, but he was so excited today as we put together the pieces that he needed for this book.  He ended up doing two different builds and an hardly wait to be able to make the ones like Isaac is doing with simple machines.  While Joseph did his second build, Isaac did a wheel and axle build that showed him how a steering post works on a car...his build actually let him move the front wheels on a car.  The K'nex have been loved by all of the neighbor grands so I look at as a good investment as they are used a lot and I feel that they learn a lot as they work with them...following instructions...if nothing else!

Woody has stayed in most of this rather chilly day.  I had school this morning and then after lunch, I headed off to get my hair cut.  I came right back and stayed in the rest of the day except to take the cpgarbage can to the road and get our mail in the same "trip."  After that I got busy working on ornaments again.  I need a couple for this coming Sunday.  Our class has an ornament exchange.  I did get one finished and am now moving on with some others that I need soon.  I am definitely behind in Christmas sewing this year. 'Tis the season!

Riding Into Christmas!

This Hummel figurine is called "Riding Into Christmas."  It belonged to my parents and both my sister and I liked it...not sure exactly how I got it.  I know that Mother sent it to me before she died...guess my sister relinquished her rights to it.  Cheryl was supposed to get the Hummels because she took care of my parents as they grew older!  I like him.  This year he is riding into Christmas on the bookcase next to my recliner in our bedroom...so I am really enjoying looking at him this year.

Woody had an appointment for labs at TN Oncology this morning.  He is back in a doctor/lab cycle this week.  He has three appointments this week.  He went this evening to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting.

I had school this morning...back to routine.  This afternoon I didn't feel all that great.  I had a headache so ate lunch and went upstairs to rest and felt better when I woke up.  This evening I went to a scholarship meeting with Graham.  Interesting to have a senior in high school.  Nathan and Kathy  had a banquet to go to due to being the Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director.  They have three of those this week!  Much in demand! 'Tis the Season!

Welcome, December!

December 1957

Glendale, AZ

My "Leave it to Beaver" years!

December is a time to reflect and reminisce on memories of old,

But also a time to look forward to what is still to come.

Reflect on that tiny babe born in a manger, 

Who God sent to be the Savior of the world!

Christmas: a time of wonder and awe.

Take time to pause and ponder on the true meaning of Christmas this year!