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!