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!

Embrace Change

"Nothing in the world is permanent, and we're foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we're still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it If change is of the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy." W. Somerset Maugham

Embrace change. Change, the season from summer (if you could call it that) to glorious fall. This is one change I love to embrace.

Driving to work this morning I was listening to a story on NPR about Elderhostel. They have decided to change the name to Exlporitas. What I found very interesting about this report was the people, "older" so to speak who are appalled by this idea, thinking it will bring in the 20 somethings and they would feel old around them.

While I seriously doubt that 20 something will flock to Exploritas, because they have their own networks of international youthhostels to choose from, and I am certain they don't want to be sharing with the old folks, the interviews with the older females who travel made me stop and think about myself.

I just said to Steve the other day, " I don't do change well". I mean , I was upset that Victoria's Secrect put some spandex in their new line of underwear! After wearing the first new pair, I was totally thrilled with the change. After hearing the interviews this morning, I have decided that I will from here on out embrace change! I will learn to love it and quit moaning and groaning about why things have to change.

So if you hear me complaining because some change has occurred, you have my permission to slap me back to reality and tell me to embrace the change. I don't want to be one of those old woman who complain about EVERYTHING because they are afraid of change!

It's Hockey Night in Urbana!

Yes September, the beginning of the ice hockey season!

It is time to rumble. I am looking forward to seeing how the team looks this year.

The Illini are ranked No. 2 in the ACHA this year.

Let the fun begin!

A Vacation at last

"Take rest:; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop ." Ovid

Finally, after a long time waiting, I have visited Cape Cod.

Steve, being the wonderful person he is took me on the most relaxing enjoyable vacation to the Cape.

I have seen whales in the wild. It was so thrilling. There is nothing like the Atlantic Ocean and being on a boat with the wind and the motion of the waves was both relaxing and thrilling. Days of picnics on the beach, walking hand in hand with the surf coming in at our feet, picking up rocks, lots and lots of waterworn pebbles that glisten in the sunling, igneous and metamorphic rock just waiting for me!

Lots of exercise to be had also, climbing 25 stories up the Pilgrim Monument to gaze at the panoramic view of Provincetown, not to mention walking barefoot in sand.

I got to eat simply scrumpous seafood, had my first whole lobster at the Lobster Pot. I devoured scallops and lobster and shrimp and mussels and oysters and fish!

Speaking of fish, stopped in at Capt. Kidd's in Woodshole, for lunch and had Bell Haven Ale from Scotland on tap with my fish and chips.

Enjoyed a lively time at Liam Maguire's Irish Pub in Falmouth. First night I had Sheperds Pie and the second visit to Liam's I had fish and chips.

I can now say that I have been on Martha's Vineyard. That was a fun trip over on the ferry then a day of walking. I have to tell you that we lunched at an Irish Pub, Danny Quinn's on the Vinveyard and I consumed a bowl of Guinness Stew with my Smithwicks!

Spending 9 whole days with Steve, just enjoying life, made me the happiest woman. It was terribly difficult to rejoin the working world, but alas it had to be done.

Fear of the unknown

One need not be a chamber to be haunted;

One need not to be a house;

The brain has corridors surpassing

Material place.

Emily Dickinson

Of late my dreams have been quite frightening. A little history; when I was about 16 I began to have nightmares. Nightmares so real that I would wake up screaming. My poor mother would jump out of bed, knocking her shins against the bed frame or the dresser, in an attempt to get to me, to see if i was being murdered in my bed!

A particular memory was a time that she came in my room and I was crouched by the bed, I told her "Get down they will get you". She was always so reassuring, she would wake me up and tell me everything was okay. My mom's name was Regena.

Fast forward to modern day, another Regena, my darling daughter, has taken up the task of reassuring me that everything is okay. Yes indeed, all these years later, I am still waking up screaming bloody murder! Regena thinks I need to see a sleep therapist. Perhaps she is correct, but I am not sure they could do anything for me. The last two weeks I have had a screamer, about 10 of the 14 days! Do I remember the dream, not usually, but I know it always involve my making the wrong decision.

Fear of the unknown, that nagging thing that you have to get around. I think my dreams are tied to fear of the unknown. Or it could be fear of making decisions, whether they be financial or decisions about what to do with my life, or fear of things that are to come. Now I have to have a needle aspiration of a cyst in my left breast. I have never had anything like this done ever, so I am a little nervous about. There is a slight fear that it will turn out not to be a cyst, but the doctor assured me he believes it is a cyst. So I am NOT going to obsess about the whole thing and just think about my upcoming trip to Cape Cod with Steve.

Hey, Regena will get a 10 day break from those screamers!

A Long time coming

"This time , like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well I am still here, believe it or not! I haven't had a chance to post all summer. You see I think I am having too much fun now. Well also I have been really busy at work.

Both girls have been home for the summer and I have been enjoying their presence, but Janet moved into her apartment on Friday, school started today and summer is winding down.

Steve and I have been so busy doing fun things and getting some work done in my yard.

I need to sit down and write again.

I have been sad that my pool closed for good. I haven't had a chance to swim all summer.

I am getting ready for a wonderful 10 day vacation to Cape Cod with Steve.

So, I am back. I am happy (even though the work being done in my building is sending chills down my spine and making my teeth hurt).

It amazes me

It amazes me 

and I know the wind will surely one day

blow it all away

It amazes me 

and I am so very grateful that you made the world this way

This is the refrain from one of my favorite John Denver songs.  I was lucky enough to see John Denver in concert 3 times, twice in St. Louis, once at the now long gone Ice Arena, where my favorite hockey team , the St. Louis Blues once played  and at Kiel Auditorium which now goes by some other stupid corporate name,  and once in Oklahoma.  All the concerts where absolutey fantastic.  He was truly a gifted storyteller and songwriter.  He played constantly, never left the stage, when the band went to take a break, he played on, sitting on a stool with his acoustic guitar.

Oh to be able to hear him again.

When Regena was a little girl, and we were taking driving trips in the car, we always listened to John Denver,  he is great for listening to when driving long distances, you can sing along,  and that is just what that delightful little girl did.  Now Regena sang all the time, and still does, she once asked if we could hear her singing in the backseat, because she was sure that she was blending with John Denver and we couldn't hear her.  She has been a joy in my life that is uncomparable.

So here's to JD, I plan on listening to all his albums today while I work.  And here's to Regena, who brings great joy to my life.

88% Full

"The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles." Ralph Waldo Emerson

This morning I am feeling like the waning gibbous moon,  88% of full. Okay, so you might wonder what makes an upbeat person like myself feeling less that full?

Well, you see I have finally realized that I cannot continue to just eat anything and everything that I want.  I think I am finally feeling like I am in my 50's! But, according to Emerson that should not mean a thing. According to him I am like an old fiddle.

So I embarked on the South Beach Diet.  I am not hungry.  I eat plenty.  The food is good, but the act of eating has lost its pleasure.  Which makes me feel sad.

I have started a challenge with a co-worker to get this extra weight off.  It is exciting.

It is possible that I am just tired today because of the stormy weather.  A good workout this afternoon should pick me right up, and then an evening with my guy will certainly brighten my mood.   Hey, I am feeling better already just thinking about it.

Adjustments

"How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to."  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

So here I am searching Goethe for some inspiration.  I have been alone in the house, with the two dogs (one of whom has been ill and has been in need of nurturing and nursing) and the lone cat for a whole week now!

Regena left for Scotland and has been touring with her sister. She leaves such an empty spot when she goes.  Regena is so full of life and so much fun to be around that when she is gone for an extended period of time, I really notice her absence.

It takes a period of adjustment to be alone again.  I have been busy trying to make my flower garden look like the one in the picture above.  Right now it looks like a few lone flowers and a lot of dirt, but hopefully it will get there.  I have some seeds that are definitely sprouting.  The vegetable garden is taking off and I am so happy to see the plants growing.

Steve and I went to the movies, I did some grilling and we spent a lovely morning in the park, sharing breakfast with his church friends.  So I have not been totally alone, and I am filling in some time at the gym and reading.

So, do I know myself?  Well I certainly try to always do my duty,  so I can say, yes, I know me fairly well. I know that I don't like to be alone all the time,  I like to be with the people I love. I do like some alone time, I like the way the garden looks, even though it is a lot of work and I love my dogs,  even when they are old and need extra care.  It is so nice to se Mickey bouncing around again and the ear infections healing.

Just as I make the adjustment for being alone, Regena and Janet will be home! I am looking forward to June 3.

Longing for Ireland

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, 

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; 

Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee, 

And live alone in the bee-loud glade. 

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, 

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; 

There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, 

And evening full of the linnet's wings. 

I will arise and go now, for always night and day 

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; 

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray, 

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

—The Lake Isle of Innisfree, by William Butler Yeats

Oh how I long to visit Ireland.  A friend recently asked me if Innisfree was a real place in Ireland.  I found this delightful poem and a couple of images.  Now I guess I need to watch The Quiet Man, which is on my top 20 list of favorite films.

Take me out to the ballgame

...Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks....

Oh the call of the ball park!  I have yet to visit the new stadium in St. Louis.

I really hope to get to a game this year.  Right now my team is at the top of the standings.

When I was a young girl I went to Busch stadium with my dad and mom.  Baseball was so much fun then.  It was a real treat to see Bob Gibson pitch a no hitter. In 1982 when the Cards won the World Series we drank champaign and sang Celebrate !   

 In 2006 I was in Scotland  getting ready to head back to the states, when I turned on the telly to get the news and  got to see my team win the world series! 

For tonight I will head over and see the U of I baseball team beat Ohio State. It should be a good night to eat hot dogs and cheer on my team.

April Showers

bring May Flowers

and my Lily of the Valley plants are up and waiting.  The showers are here, can't wait for the flowers.

Today I was feeling like I needed an Irish Blessing.  So here is one for you.

"May you always have work for your hands to do.

  May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

  May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

  May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

  May the hand of friend always be near you.

  And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Opportunity Knocks

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas A. Edison

  

Friday my favorite day of the week.  The weather is beautiful, but may get a little warmer than I like at this time of the year.  I am not complaining 

however,  I am enjoying the sunshine.

I have a beautifully tilled very large piece of my backyard just waiting to be planted.  Thanks to Steve my garden spot is ready and waiting.

Regena planted some seeds in peat pots and has been nurturing them for several weeks now.

The peppers are sprouted and hopefully are ready for the outdoors. She planted some watermelon seeds and some herbs also.  The watermelon look ready.   I gave all the seedlings a little taste of outdoors yesterday.  They spent the day in the garage, but I carried them out to the sunshine for a few minutes as I transplanted some Irises and finished putting the rock in my rock garden.

The call to grab the trowel was too strong for me yesterday. I have some new rose bushes ready to plant and a couple of very pretty border plants to put in.  We have lots of flower seeds to sow in our newly tilled flower garden.  

We have strawberry plants and onions; star gazer lilies and peonies; radish and zucchini seeds, along with green bean and carrot and yellow squash; three tomato vines are ready and waiting.

Hooray for Friday and I am anxious and ready to plant (I don't however have a pair of overalls!, but Steve does and I hope he dons them to help me plant my garden.

86 days left

" I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me." Harry Potter

Only 86 days until the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes to a theater near me!

I can hardly wait.   I am longing for a good film with my favorite Wizard.

Since there are no more books to look forward to, the movie just has to do.

I think i will revisit the books.  I may just read them all again.  I am going to watch all the films too.  I am thinking full HP immersion!

Glorious Day

"Oh how this spring of love resembleth

The uncertain glory of an April Day! 

William Shakespeare The Two Gentlemen of Verona Act 1 Scene 3

Oh what a glorious morning to be sure.  Spring is in the air. Life is good.

Driving to work this morning, I realized how light the morning has become.  Now I love driving to work in the dark, still, coolness of the morning,  but I was struck with the beauty of the day on my drive in this morning.

I looked up to see the third quarter moon in the sky, and watched the sun glinting off the stadium as I passed it. There were more cars on the street than usual.  I sometimes see one or two when I drive in at 6:15am but there were 6 cars this morning.

The love quote of the day "Love is the beauty of the soul" seems to just encompass how I feel this morning.

The love I feel for my son and daughters, my dad and my brothers and sister and their families and for Steve fills my soul with beauty and joy.  I was thrilled and excited to greet the day.

On my way to St. Charles this Saturday to share in the love my nephew feels for his fiancee as they unite in holy matrimony.

Love and Spring are in the air!

Easter

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."  C. S. Lewis

When I was a little girl, Easter was a marvelous holiday.  I always got a new dress and new shoes and a purse and white gloves and a hat!  I loved dressing up and going to church.

Of course, the Easter bunny always made a grand appearance.  The eggs we had colored the night before were hidden around the yard.  We had a grand time hunting for those eggs.  To top it off there was a basket full of goodies, a chocolate bunny, jelly beans and those ever beloved Peeps.  Then there was a delicious dinner which included ham.

Easter is probably my very favorite of all holidays. Not only do I still love the Easter Bunny, the mass on Holy Thursday, is one of my favorites of the year.  Good Friday service is very special and then a glorius mass on Easter Sunday morning, brings with it the sound of trumpets, everyone dressed in their Easter Sunday clothes and a general feeling of well being.

This Easter sunday morning, Regena and I will attend mass then the Easter bunny will hide some plastic candy filled eggs (usually indoors now) for Regena to gather. Of course a wonderful array of Easter goodies will be found in her Easter Basket.  I will be making Ham and au gratin potatoes, green bean casserole, bunny bread, deviled eggs (of course) and Chocolate Pie and Lemon Meringue Pie.

Steve and his mom will be joining us this year.  How special for me to spend Easter with the people I love. Some of my loved ones will be absent, my family are doing their own things, haven't heard from Ryan yet, but he is probably working and Janet is off in Scotland enjoying Easter with some friends.  We miss her but know she is having a fantastic Easter too.( Don't worry, I mailed her Easter Basket early.)

Happy Easter!