Oh, the calmness of after Christmas...

Yes. It's me. I'm back. I feel like I've been on a long, long journey...with so many people, going so many places, eating so much food! Food that isn't that good for me, but I figure I'll calm down when all the leftovers are gone. Which is pretty much now. There's a turkey carcass simmering in a big pot of water on the stove. It smells pretty good. Lunch for New Year's Day. (tomorrow)

I spent the morning taking down ornaments and figuring out what boxes they all go in to. At least I recognize the ones that are Paul's, and the ones that are mine. We had a full house pretty much all the time for the past two weeks. The day after Christmas, when we celebrated a family Christmas, we had 16 people sleeping here - on beds, on air mattresses. 24 people for dinner. Never had that many people in our house at once. Vincent "lost" his bed to Jeff and Dorothy, and he slept on an air mattress in his parents' room. As did Neenee and Brenan - air mattresses in their parents' room. They gave up their beds in the Kids Kamp for Alaina and two german exchange students who were visiting Jeff and Dorothy. DJ slept in the living room.

Little Vincent, as a three-year old, was overwhelmed by all the excitement. Too much company, too many places to go, too many things to do, not enough "alone" time. Nancy and Dan have the patience of saints. Plus they had the added burden of a sick car. Talk about stress...They arrived on Christmas day with a clutch that needed repair. The next day they headed off to Ithaca, where the only Honda dealer was. Dan driving the Honda, and Nancy, my Kia. They came back in the Kia - The Honda needed a new clutch, which the dealer had to order. It would be there this week. Dan starts classes the first week in January, and he needed time for preparation. They needed to go back on the 30th. (yesterday)(Wednesday). It all worked out. They drove straight through... The little guy was in his own bed last night.

Somehow I always have expectations of Christmas that need to be underwhelmed. I don't know if that's a word or not, but it seems to fit the situations we put ourselves in. No matter how hard we try, something will go wrong! That's where my current philosophy, which my dear husband often says - It is what it is - fits in. Unfortunately, those thought processes don't come by easily.

I could write more, and there's pictures to post, but I'll close for now. So...

What's happenin' in your neck of the woods?

Company Comin', Company Arrived...

Christmas is quickly approaching. I still have some presents to wrap, and if I sat down to do it, I would be finished. Of course, I'm procrastinating....
Greg, Noi, Neenee, Brenan all arrived around 1 AM Monday morning....I actually consider that Sunday night, as we waited up for them to arrive. Nancy and Dan should have left Chicago this afternoon. They'll be due at Neal and Judy's tomorrow, Christmas Eve, some time. I'm so glad they're staying overnight at a hotel. And will be here some time Christmas morning- late. In time for Vincent's nap.


It is Noi and Greg's 22nd Wedding anniversary tonight. They'll be going out to dinner, and we'll be enjoying Neenee and Brenan's company for the evening. Right now I can hear them downstairs playing ping-pong. Neenee loves to giggle. We also put up an electronic dart board which doesn't have sharp darts. For obvious reasons we prefer the dull kind. Of course it's harder to tell when they're playing it...

I talked with my friend Marcia in North Carolina and got all caught up on news from them.

I also talked with brother Bob and friend Marian. Good to hear their voices and know we'll be seeing them soon!

Pictures:

Our house is starting to fill up. As is our hottub! Can't say I was too enthusiastic about going in myself, as it was around 12 degrees again last night, and the hottub only can hold 4 people comfortably. So I was glad I couldn't fit...But Brenan, Neenee, Greg and Paul enjoyed it. Hats and all. You can see the steam rising up. The flash takes away the LED ten-strobe shifting colors lights.

I must start wrapping the rest of the small presents I still have, so I will close for now. Perhaps I'll continue procrastinating...anyway...

So - that's all the news from here for now....what's happening in your neck of the woods?

The Sunday Before Christmas...and all through the house...

I looked thru my pocketbook twice to find this camera. The third time was the charm.

We went to church this morning and enjoyed the last advent candle being lit, had a coffee hour so we had a chance to meet some more people. Sure wish they had one every week like they do at my old church.

These pictures are self-explanatory. The village and "red lit tree" is on the glass-doored bookcase.

Same problem as always with these photos - no flash - looks good on camera, but dark on blog. Flash - too light, and the color is all washed out. Oh, well.

Our huge tree that Paul is decorating is in the corner of the dining room. I'm sure we'll be taking numerous more pics during the next two weeks.

We called Greg and his family yesterday, (Saturday) and they got started from Gainesville around 3:00 PM. Not sure where or when they stopped to rest last night. We talked to them again today around 4:00 PM and they were stuck in traffic in Virginia. They missed the snowstorms in that area. Hallelujah! They expect to be here late tonight. Midnight? (7 hours from here) We baked chocolate chip cookies for them! The heat is on upstairs. Beds are made.

We both heard from our children that can't make it home this year. Each sounded homesick. We miss them too. One is half way around the world, the other is on the other side of our country. But...It is what It is. It's cold here, guys. Someday...

Guess that's all the news from here...what's happenin in your neck o the woods?

I couldn't resist this picture of Ella. Her tail is covering her mouth. One foot is missing. I'm sure it's somewhere...don't you think?

Blog #100 - isn't that a milestone, or something?

I am just about finished with my gift wrapping, envelope stuffing, general pre-Christmas time activities. In fact I say almost, because invariably - there's something I need to get, do, etc.
I know Paul and I have to sit down and make up a list of food we need to have in the house for everyone who will be here - either the.....permanent-Christmas-vacation-kind, or.... drop-in- for-a-couple-of-hours-kind. Both kind are very welcomed and looked forward to! We even have a brand new hardly used bottle of almost original Baileys brand liquor for egg nogs, decaffeinated coffeeor whatever.
Boy - if I ever read an unsettling paragraph...that was it. It's so wishy washy. Here, there, everywhere...
Christmas is quickly approaching. Greg and Noi should be on the road now - we're anxiously watching the weather reports, which aren't that great, for the south-mid eastern seaboard.
Paul has utter confidence in his son's decisions. We look forward to hearing from them while they travel. That's thestart of the holidays...knowing where they are, estimated day/time of arrival.

We're also looking at the weather reports for Chicago and Nancy, Dan and Vincent's trip for the 23 & 24th. It'll be good when everyone is here and accounted for...
Well, guess I'd better make our food list.

So much is going on, but I'm going to close for now...
what's happenin' in your neck o' the woods?

Wintry Morning...and other musings..

It's too Christmassy a day not to write...the snow is falling gently outside where it is 13 degrees. Okay. I'm not too pleased with the temperature, but it does look pretty. The snow on the picnic table at the edge of the woods, and the double seated chairs, also at the edge, are being lightly covered with the snow, reminding me of the warmer days when Vincent was here - playing in the mulch with his trucks. And I was sitting on one of the seats watching him. Sigh. Wish it were sunny though, like then. Could we have a rainbow if it was sunny? Or is that just in the warmer weather. The sun did come out. It still looks cold.



I have some medical news about myself.
I had a cardiac nuclear stress test a week ago. We got a call Tuesday, that the results needed an explanation by the head of the cardiology department at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Pa. So we went there yesterday, Wednesday.
It seems they found what may be a blockage in one of the arteries to my heart. They can't tell where the blockage is, or to what degree, until they do a cardiac catheterization. They let me pick the date so I decided to have it done after the Christmas holidays. Why add more to our full schedule for this time of year? After all, they let me pick the date...a good sign. It will be done at the hospital on January 6th. Three scenarios: First: - not much problem - medication will take care of it. Home the same day. Second: - a partial stent needed. Stay overnight. Third: bypass needed. The surgeon seemed to think that the first or second scenarios fit best.
I had an EKG and an echo cardiogram while there, plus blood tests. (for the catheterization.) My heart is strong. There isn't much of a recuperation period needed. For five days, I can't lift more than 10 lbs., so Ella can still be cuddled. I can't lift Paul. We can go to Florida on schedule.

So - that's all the news from the woods edge for now - How're things in your neck of the woods?

You say Christmas is coming???

I had thought I was really really late in posting, but it was only last Thursday that I finished our trip to California...
I guess the problem is I really feel it's been a long time since I've posted an every-day, informational, newsletter. I just have not had time to work on it. The pre-Christmas season has gotten to me. Paul and I went out shopping yesterday after taking Brenda to the airport and I still had things to get today. It seems like it's never-ending.

Okay... For those of you wonder, why was Brenda here and why we were taking Brenda to the airport, I will explain.

Brenda's good friend, Joanne, from high school, died last Sunday after a long two-year battle with breast cancer. So...Brenda traveled from California, Thursday and got into Elmira Airport around supper time. She stayed with us til Sunday morning (yesterday). It was a very difficult time for her, of course, but at least we had a chance to see her, and we had the family members, (10) who could come, join us for a pork roast dinner Saturday night, so she could see them. She and her family can't be here for Christmas this year, which of course is the reason we went out there for Thanksgiving. It's their year to stay in California and celebrate with Eric's family.

We gave her the use of the Kia while she was here. Friday, Brenda took the Kia, while we went in Paul's car to go Christmas shopping. And as often happens, we seemed to meet up at various stores. She showed us a bathing suit at the checkout at Dick's Sporting Goods Store. Now, she could go in the hottub with her father. She did, that night. The snow was coming down quite heavily, so I brought hats out for them both. I would have gone in myself, but I had been fighting a cold.

The viewing and funeral were Friday night, (covering 4-8:00). The burial was Saturday morning at 11:oo, with a luncheon to follow at the local Moose Club. She brought along 11 pairs of hand and foot warmers that she'd bought at Dick's yesterday. (Before she left, I teasingly said - How're you going to decide whom you're giving these to ---only to people you like?) There certainly wasn't enough for everyone there. I heard that the Moose Club was packed, and the burial service was also. Joanne, was very popular. It really was a tragedy.

So - from Thursday til yesterday, you can see we all were quite busy. But, isn't that usual at this time of the year? It just wasn't the usual Christmasy things. Some were. Some weren't.

As I said in the beginning, I'm beginning to feel frayed around the edges. I have to check and see if I've gotten everything on my shopping list. Nope. My Christmas newsletter is written, printed out, some are in addressed envelopes. I think I'm up to the N's. I've ordered a lot over the internet. The postman delivered the first present here. Yeah!

I guess I'd better stop writing and begin addressing envelopes, etc. again. These days are getting shorter and shorter - not only in daylight time, as it's supposed to, but in hours left to get things done. Everything will get done, and all will be calm again (eventually).

Relax. Enjoy the season - my addled brain says. I will, I promise myself.

Got a lovely Christmas Card from the choir at my old church...and lots of people signed it. Oh. my. I. miss. them. so.

So... that's what's been happenin' here at the Woods edge. What's happenin' in your neck of the woods?

Post #4 - Trip out West - adventures in returning!

Our hotel had a fire. We were all evacuated. But let me back up a bit. Paul and I arrived at our hotel in San Francisco - the one we stayed at the night we arrived. We took our rental car back to the airport and took the shuttle bus to the hotel. When we walked in the door, the alarm was sounding. The front desk crew were on the phone to the fire department and they said the building had to be evacuated immediately. There was a fire in one of the rooms on the fourth floor. So we turned around and went back outside. It was cold, too. But - there was a McDonald's across the street where we and other hotel guests could watch the 12 fire engines arrive, with all the firemen in their gear and with their axes. Sorry the pictures didn't turn out well, but you can get the idea. I guess if you travel a lot, this can just be another episode in your travels, but to me it was rather exciting.

Then, the next day everything worked out okay - except we had a four hour wait in Philly. And that turned out to be five hours - because our plane had an electrical problem and we had to change planes. So we got home after midnight. Tired but happy to be home.

Post #3 - Trip out West - Napa Valley

If you get this twice - it's because I edited it. The town where the dancing statues were found is Clayton, not Clarion...Clarion is in Pennsylvania, not in California. It really was a gorgeous little town and deserves being recognized by the correct name!

Sorry about lapse between postings - I think December has gotten to me! But that's for another posting... Here we are in Napa Valley. All the pictures seem dark to me, but it was truly beautiful. I think we arrived about a week after all the colors had been at their brightest. Some leaves had fallen also, but it was just gorgeous. I talked to Nancy recently and she said a couple of years ago she had been at a wedding there in the valley.
The first picture is of the statue children I mention below.

The next two pictures are of vineyards, and it shows that the green leaves have turned yellow, and there is green vegetation below them. We also so rose bushes at the end of some rows. (I understand this is what they do in Italy.)
I also see that I repeat myself with duplicate pictures.

This is a picture of Paul's hand when we were on the cablecar going up the mountain to Sterling Vineyards. I have a better picture of him, but the colors were better in this one!

Here we are at the top overlooking Napa Valley at Sterling Vineyards.

We left Brenda, Eric and Emma on Sunday morning to travel a couple of hours through the mountains on a leisurely ride to Napa Valley. The weather reminded me of the beginning of October in our wine country. Magnificent blue skies.

We had lunch on our way through the mountains, to Napa Valley, at a beautiful little town called Clayton. The restaurant overlooked a little town square that had statues of 6 or 8 children in a circle dancing around. Neat. The trees are all yellow, orange, reds. I had thought we had a monopoly on autumn, but I was definitely mistaken.

We got to Napa late afternoon. After signing in at our hotel, which was at the top edge of Napa Valley in the town of Napa, we decided to go to Mondavi Vineyards for their wine-tasting. We had heard of their wine, so we thought we'd try it. We were in for a rude awakening - it was $25 a person! Everyone knows, who lives near us here in our wine country...that it may cost $3 to sample 6 wines here. Good heavens. But - it was late, so we continued on and had a dinner...which was also costly. We were a little discouraged, but the next day, everything turned around. We found a better place to stay. We found several wineries that had just beautiful grounds, cost little to sample the wine, and their tasting rooms, gift shops were very picturesque. One even offered to have us share a tasting for $5. Good. One winery had a delicatessen where you could buy a sandwich, paper goods, they'd open a bottle of wine, and you could sit at picnic tables by their vine-covered brick buildings overlooking their rose gardens, vineyards and live-oak trees.

We spent a nice time (two nights) at Napa and were sorry to have to leave. I could have spent another day there...perhaps some time again when we're visiting Brenda and her family.

Posting #2 of our vacation out West

This is still before Thanksgiving - but the pictures are in the wrong order. They're kind of self-explanatory...but in case you're wondering...I was kinda proud of myself...putting the pictures in first. Oh, well...
The next to the bottom pictures are of their dog, Daisy, who jumped into the trunk of our car when we were packing to go to Yosemite. Brenda is commiserating with her. We piled Daisy in the car with us and we took her to the kennel...where the next picture is of some of the kennel's boarders waiting to see who got out of the car. Unfortunately...previously, Daisy failed their test for good manners and congeniality, and wasn't allowed to join them. She had to be exercised on her own. The last picture is of Figaro - their cat.
Now, Ella looks like she's on her last legs (after seeing a 20 lb. cat vs. a 4 1/2 lb. one). Ella is due for a vets appointment, which was planned before we left, and not because of the weight discrepency, but I just didn't get to it.
But - I've gotten off the subject! Figaro guarded the house while we were gone overnight.

Happy Thanksgiving - Brenda cooked a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Emma is getting to be such a big help for them. She made an apple pie that was scrumptious! And she's a big help in the kitchen. Eric's parents, Cliff and Dickie, came up from Santa Barbara - an 8 hour trip, and Eric's brother, Forrest and his new bride-of-only-a-month, Kim, came from Reno - a three hour trip - to help us celebrate. We stayed at the house with the family. Due to space, the others stayed at a motel nearby.

Seated at the table are from L to R - Brenda, Emma, Kim, Forrest, Cliff, Dickie, Paul, and Eric. Cliff is a retired geology professor from UCLA, Santa Barbara. He's very interesting, to listen to. Cliff and Dickie are both interesting people. Dickie plays tennis regularly. She and Emma played.


Paul made the gravy. Eric carved the turkey.

That's about all for now. Will continue with Napa Valley soon...

Posting #1 of our vacation Nov. 22 - Dec 2

I always seem to write before I download pictures. Thus in about the middle, you'll find my beginning paragraph! At least I have the pictures in the correct order! - Picture #1 - This is Eric, Brenda and Emma's house in the San Jouquian Valley. (sp?) I understand this area is called the breadbasket of the United States. All kinds of orchards, dairy, and vegetable farms. The orchards are massive. The farms are huge.

After spending a night at their home, we all piled in to our rental car and set off for Yosemite National Park. This is two hours from their home. Our first stop was the giant sequoias.
All I could think of was the relationship between the words magesties and magestic - and how magestic and king-like these huge beauties were.
If anyone watched the recent Ken Burns special on our national parks, you may remember a statement he made: Europe has its magnificent castles, churches, and man-made monuments, but we have our magnificent and magestic, eons old, parks. And he was right about the comparison.

The picture of Paul and I was taken at El Capitan - one of the famous sites to view. The next one is of the famous Bridal Veil Falls.

Welcome to the beginning of my post!

Okay. I could say - where did the time go? I haven't written since when? Time does really fly when we're having fun!

As most of you know, and if not, you must have guessed we were somewhere, since I haven't posted in a while.

Paul and I spent Thanksgiving, plus 11 days before and after, in California visiting Brenda and her family, plus touring.... This is my third time in California. Each time we've gone someplace new to me. It's nice having a tour guide who can say - "now we're going to go......, because it is the most scenic route to....." and he was right - we did go to many beautiful indescribable places that even photos cannot do justice to. But we tried. And hope you enjoy them.

As the title to this post says - it's #1 - I'll add to this with some more postings, but the Christmas season, at this time, pleads for me to do other things at the moment. (like finding Christmas ornaments.) Or I will begin stressing out.

So...what's happenin in your neck of the woods?