Out with the Old in with the New

Maggie darted about like a blac-stockinged bird.... Wende Devlin

The old year was amazing, can’t wait to see what the New Year will bring.

2010, I can scarcely believe I will soon be writing that date.

But, firstly I must discuss Christmas. My Christmas was amazing.

My Dad was able to make it through the rain storm to be with Janet, Regena and I for Christmas Eve.

We had a white Christmas after all, which meant that we got to visit with Dad for a few extra days! He actually couldn’t get out due to weather until Dec. 27. We surely enjoyed having him around. We went to the movie theater on Christmas day to see Sherlock Holmes. I haven’t had the chance to go to the movies with my Dad for a long time.

Presents! There were lots opened and enjoyed. Let me just say I have delightful, wonderful, caring, giving daughters.

From Regena : DVDS El Dorado ( I love John Wayne)

Gidget (Sandra Dee)

Elvis compilation tape with 4 movies!

Do Not Disturb (Doris Day and Rod Taylor)

The Glass Bottom Boat (Doris Day and Rod Taylor)

Benny and Joon

A book on whales , some sake, and a delightful aromatherapy body cream(I will be having time to relax and enjoy that very soon!)

Also, she got me soft socks and filled my stocking with goodies (including Jack Daniels Coffee and chocolate and peppermint and homemade soap)

From Janet: DVDS Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Tammy (one with Debbie Reynolds and two Sandra Dee)

Soft brown reindeer socks

A lovely scarf

A metal spatula (one that Uma will not be able to eat!)

Lotion and bath gel in my stocking

I certainly won't be bored when they both go off to grad school next year.

I received a bottle of Baileys from my Dad. Which I have sampled already!

Steve. One reason my 2009 was so awesome. Not only did he make my dream of Cape Cod come true, he is making all my dreams come true. Maybe some of my loyal readers (both of you) remember that I blogged about the marvelous book Cranberry Thanksgiving. Well, I now own my very own copy! Steve bought it for me for Christmas. He also gave me a bottle of Irish whiskey, with a trip to Ireland attached. YES, you read it right, A TRIP TO IRELAND in 2010!

I feel very fortunate and have had a year filled with family and friends (of which I feel extremely fortunate to have several very dear friends).

I am looking forward to a new year, but leave the old one with fond memories to last a lifetime.

Here comes Santa Claus

You'd better not pout, you'd better no cry

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Here they are as promised, the reindeer and Santa made by J in 1995! These are some of my very favorite Christmas decorations.

I love to look at all the designer stuff, but when you come to my place you get homemade decorations. We not only have the beloved reindeer and Santa (so are Dasher and Dancer in the front leading the sleigh or are they closest to Santa?) we have three versions of handprint wreaths, Santa Claus in various forms from years in Oklahoma, three very special angels that sing in our Angel Choir that sits on the coffee table and a very special angel in a gingham dress that sits atop our Christmas tree. She will be there every year, or until she falls apart, even when her creator can't make it home for Christmas (missing my boy this year).

Our tree is full of handmade photo ornaments of the kids through the years. It warms my heart to look at them all, and remember.

So Merry Christmas to all and a very Happy New Year.

December Time Again

When the air is filled with twinkling bells

And the trees are white with crusty shells

When the frost is on the windowpane

It's December time again

When the snowflakes cover up the sky

And little faces breathe a happy sigh

Old man winter's here to entertain

It's December time again

The mistletoe that's growing

Will soon be picked for showing

That lovers like this season of the year

Those sleigh rides so exciting

The fancy colored lighting

Are certain signs the yule tide's growing near

When the woodman fells the evergreen

And little carollers appear upon the scene

And the heaven's echo their refrain

It's December time again

(song lyrics Walter Grieve)

I am so ready for December time.

The forecast for today is possible flurries.

The air this morning has the crispness of December.

Bell ringers have begun their vigil of standing in the cold

to raise a few dollars for the needy at this time of the year.

On Sunday, we make the long trip (across town)

to choose a Christmas tree.

Then the awesome task of decorating.

Shopping has begun, and in fact is almost done.

I have a couple of traditional shopping trips planned

with friends.

My family is coming on Dec 12

to celebrate the holidays

together at my home.

Then the long wait until Christmas Eve.

Yes it is December time again.

I am certainly feeling the spirit of the season.

Give Thanks

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

One more day of work and then rest. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I will be pulling our collection of Thanksgiving stories off the book case tonight. We have quite a few books, a few of our favorites are A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting, The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh, Twas the Night before Thanksgiving by Dave Pilkey and one of our favorites, which we don't have a copy of is Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin. This is a marvelous family story, with a bit of mystery. At the end of the book you will find the recipe for Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread . Now I always make this delicious bread on Thanksgiving Day.

I would love to have a copy of the book, but it is difficult to find and quite expensive when one is found.

Tomorrow we give thanks for what we have, as the Pilgrims did so long ago. Which brings me to the real point of this story, decorations! My favorite thanksgiving decorations are the pilgrims that J made some years ago. Her creative use of toilet paper rolls and felt are shown in the photo above. They are treasures. Next week I will be bringing out Dasher Dancer Prancer Vixen Comet Cupid Donder and Blitzen, with Santa in his sleigh(all made with the same technique as the pilgrims).

Happy Thanksgiving and safe journey for all travelers on this holdiay weekend.

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to His name: He forgets not his own.

Over the River and
Through the Woods

Over the river and thru the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the wood,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bell ring,
"Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Thinking a lot about music for Thanksgiving. I have already hit the playlist for The Night Heron Consort A Celtic Celebbration (Christmas Favorites) Vol. 2, while I work on databases at work, and jumped into the season with both feet. I have numerous playlists for Christmas, but I only have one playlist for Thanksgiving. Which includes the song We Gather Together, but sadly not Over the River and Through the Woods.

I love Thanksgiving. I really love the day. I love waking up with the anticipation of the smell of Turkey roasting in the oven. I love the smell of home made bread as it bakes. I love the smell of cinnamon and cloves in the pumpkin pie.

Now I am not traveling over the river and through the woods, while I will miss all my family, I love being at home, with my girls, cooking and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Now the parade has changed somewhat since I was a little girl, but I still love it. I love handing over the loaves of stale bread to the girls and having them begin the process of fixing my mom's famous dressing, by pinching the bread as they watch the parade.

We are having a guest from across the Atlantic, a friend of Janet's from England. We plan on giving her a taste of a traditional American Thankksgiving Day.

The best thing about Thanksgiving traditions is that all families have their own traditions, and I think no one family has the exact same traditions. I believe the unifying factor is the Turkey (or in our case the Turkey and the Vegetarian meatless roll that tastes like turkey). Most families include this delicious fowl in their Thanksgiving tradition.

So what are you traditions?

What ever they are I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I will be giving thanks for all the blessings in my life.

Whale Tales

. . . these are the times of dreamy quietude, when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang.

"There she blows!--there she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It is Moby Dick!"

from Moby Dick by Herman Mellville

The Atlantic Ocean is truly magnificent. I spent some time just being with the ocean on my visit to Cape Cod.

It is no secret to those who know me well, my love of whales. I finally got to board a sea going vessel and head out to Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary and view these magnificent mammals in the wild. The feel of the wind on may face as we glided through the ocean to our final viewing spot, was exhilarating and awesome!

While I find whaling to be a heinous occupation, and I understand it still happens in certain countries, I am curious and fascinated by the history of the whaling industry.

I have never read Moby Dick in its entirety, but I love Mellville and I am adding this title to my ever growing list of books to read.

I think I need another trip to Cape Cod to sit on the beach, listen to the sound of the surf, and read.

Strange Brew

"It's my last one, its a jelly" Bob McKenzie

I was invited to an awesome Strange Brew party this last Saturday.

It was an awesome party. I have never seen the movie, and I have to admit I laughed out loud!

I also ate and ate and ate! We started with pizza with canadian bacon and a beer. We moved on to a big bag, and I mean big bag of popcorn and beer. Then moved on to jelly donuts and beer.

Oh did I say we had a couple of beers?

Now, as my loyal readers, all two of you, know, I have been sticking pretty closely to a healthy eating South Beach plan. Well I indulged this weekend. Not only did I eat a jelly donut, I had two Krispy Kremes on Saturday and one on Sunday morning!

And I didn't stop there. We were celebrating the birthday of our host, my delightful niece and I had a piece of chocolate cake and a delicious cupcake made by Regena.

I don't feel guilty, but I now need to workout extra hard this week to work off those jellys. Beauty!