9 Chapter BlogBook!

Christmas is over and a New Year begins in a couple of days.  I really enjoy getting decorations up by December 1st and this year was on target with all of that.  I also really enjoy having them all down by January 1st and that is also on target for this year!

Realizing I didn't even post anything about our Christmas, and that being another thing I enjoy...well, two things I enjoy...Christmas and blogging...seems strange that I had so much to say that I said nothing!  Now I have a BlogBook in my head.  This will be inappropriately long so just scan through but I do want to end Christmas today and focus on my New Year plans tomorrow.  Maybe this needs to be chapters?  Yes.

Chapter 1- Light 

There aren't as many outside light decorations as their used to be on nearby houses but I still saw lights in windows as I drove by.  I love the lights of Christmas.  Such hope.  Such a reminder of the Light of the World.  I was reminded that right off the bat, in the telling of the creation in Genesis, the first task at the beginning of our earth's birth, was...And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good.  Christmas lights denote such hope.  I still believe that the best time to have hard times is Christmas time...Be it death or hardship or whatever saddens a person.  This was the first Christmas without my sister.  It was lightened and brightened by the promise in seeing the reminder of Christ being The Light of the World through Christmas lights.  Gospel principles seem more powerful...more promise-filled about life's purpose...about Christ's purpose.  Between Christmas lights and Christmas decorations and then the Church pulling the members to remember the reason for the season with the #Light the World campaign...it's been glorious!!! 

Chapter 2- Christmas Eve

Terry had a hard day and early evening found me sitting alone and enjoying the Christmasy feeling...the warmth...comfort...and thinking of my children and their families.  I was melancholy...sentimental and turned on TV.  Nothing wonderful that I could see and then I tried the Hallmark Channel. At some point I'd recorded their shows for this season.  I watched some made for Christmas movie, and here is how tender I was, even knowing the outcome from the start (everyone would end up happy and life would be a fairytale) I sat there with tears rolling down my face.  Tears of happiness over how good my life is (even with all of the adjusting and tweaking at this phase and stage of my mortal experience) and how much I love my family and friends and the Gospel.  I super love MyHubby.

I admit to sitting and watching several of those super sappy sugary unreal, TV shows.  I also admit to
starting some and they were just way to unreal so I flipped them off.

Chapter 3- Gifts

Remember how we gave money for meals to the Gospel Union Mission instead of gifts to our kiddos?  Well, it felt really good when we did it.  The family reaction was sweet and they were happy about it.  Me?  I won't do it like that again.  When it came right down to the wire, after the fact actually, I regretted not sending a puzzle or a game or a gift card for fine dining at Subway.  Something.  Yes, we helped others.  Yes, our family was supportive.  But...it just didn't feel good to me in the end.  I'll not being doing it that way again.  I'll give to both.

Remember our gift?  We were going to get our DNA testing and find out if Terry is really a hardcore Viking.  Well, his kindness got in the way of that, and his concern for comfort and protecting me IF the temperatures dip again and a possible power outage and etc. etc.  So he got this for us!

BIG Buddy!  (not!)

Not what I wanted, needed or am happy about.  It is what it is, folks.  Wouldn't just a fire in the fireplace work?  So, you didn't have the wood ready a few days ago.  We were fine.  We are fine.  Now we can have propane heat for up to 5 hours or so? When have we ever been without power and heat for 5 hours?  Let me think...oh, right!...NEVER!!!  I best stop or this will be a Scrooge moment.  but really...bah, humbug!

Chapter 4- Christmas Decorations

This year was the very basic things and yet it was still ample.  I really did miss our lit garlands and will do my best to get them out next year.  I missed straw by the Nativities.  I guess I missed those couple of little details that makes things pretty.  And some white snow by the little sleigh scene.  There was only one little house and that was one that we leave out year round- reminds us of Homer. 

On that Christmas eve, of quiet contemplation and reminiscing within, I glanced around and could fill in the blanks with memories...lots of houses, lots of greenery, lots more of everything but this year was BabyBearPorrige- it was just right! 

We do love wreaths.  live ones that smell so woodsy!!  Our inside wreath, from one of our boys family, was the more beautiful thing ever!!  it just became so full and lush!!  it was like it grew!

it grew!

this big old non-grow is still a favorite!

I will spare you the pictures I took of individual ornaments!!

Chapter 5- Christmas Baking

This should be non-baking.  I had decided to not bake and make things.  Then I was reminded of the Christmas non-cooked candy that we made a zillion years ago.  My daughter still makes it as do some other friends.  That was inspiring. 

And then came the gift giver friends on mine.  Cookie makers.  Candy makers.  Young Moms with kiddos and still taking/making time to bake and share.  My heart became desirous to make that long ago recipe.  I made sure I had everything on hand.  Would you believe that there was no melting chocolate in Zillah or Toppenish?  That is how late I was!  Using icy roads as an excuse to not go any further and not interested in using chocolate chips...I let it go with a promise to myself that next year...I'm baking/making something and will give it away!  I tell you the love and thoughtfulness in those Christmas treats made them delectable!

You knew that I had a fudge shop at one time?  I mean I do know how to make things!  what was I thinking...to not make anything!!

Chapter 6- Christmas Day

In our life we have the luxury of doing exactly what we want, when we want and how we want.  We had no problem with the challenge of Christmas being on a Sunday.  Sometimes with children it can be a super problem about opening gifts or waiting...or even going to Church.  We were anxious to go to Church.  We enjoy going to Church.  Terry does the best that he can as he hates to miss.  It was tough but he was all dressed and ready and then could not do it.  (pain at times and taking Rx, does take an unwanted toll).  He wanted us to take a selfie with a camera that does not do such a thing!

homemade selfie!  He thinks this is "cute".

ready and set...

and...no can go!

I have been so letdown, in the past, by our Christmas Sacrament programs and lack of a real celebration of the day with music and scripture, that I admit I was going to go to Sunnyside, as they really sing and have a choir and I knew I would love it.  (I've already repented so don't judge me!)  Then, my friend Jane, got called as Music person, and she put together a program and even had a choir and some solos and trios and 2 violins and a flute and a family and the YW and also the YM and the Primary and on and on.  A narrator with a great voice!  The Chapel was packed and our dwindling Ward felt so full and wonderful.  The Spirit was totally in the building!!  It was so strong.  I'm already looking forward to what she will do next year!  Coming after our previously mentioned, Ward Christmas Party/dinner/program, which was the best ever with the true feeling of Christmas...I'm happy...totally feeling joy!

Chapter 7- Children

Our daughter was 12 when we got our last little newborn baby boy.  We had found out that he would be born in 8 weeks.  He arrived on March 4th. She had prayed that he would be a girl and she and I had named him Bonnie. Here is an exchange on FB between them.  I love it.  To have your children love each other as adults is priceless.  Best gift for sure to read this!

Jeanee's Nativity

I went on a semester abroad in Israel. Living on a kibbutz, where the building we stayed in had bullet holes outside the windows from the 1968 war. Bethlehem twinkled and glowed at night just down the hill.

My friend Loriann and I had no money but desperately wanted a nativity set carved out of olive wood. We went to Omar's place for "seconds"... where the eyes didn't quite line up and the mouths were sometimes a bit off. We carefully hand picked each piece. They're not perfect but they're beautiful. Every year I unwrap each piece and smile with memories of our time there.
I was thinking of Christmases as a child and how my parents gave what they could. How simple, warm and cozy. One financially difficult year my mom made us quilts and handed us each an envelope of pictures from a catalog of what she wished she could have given us.

And the one where we hand made every gift and Benjy had a rock tumbler loudly grinding in the boot room. Telling us not to look at it, so we would be surprised.

This Christmas will someday be a memory to look back on. I hope it's a lovely one for each of you.

Merry Christmas sister. I love you so much. I remember a box you sent us from Israel where your gifts got stolen and replaced with old clothes. I remember making you tapes of me singing and playing the violin so you could here me while you were overseas and I remember when you came back to the states and I thought I would never let you go. I remember you being so nice to me and me so in love with you that I wished when I got older I could marry you. I still am so in love with you and wished we lived closer. I cried every time you left for college or work or adventure wanting you to take me in your luggage. I remember us having a slumber party in your room every Christmas Eve you were home. You are the best sister ever. I remember us making chocolate chip cookies, and sitting over a heating vent with blankets and walking down our road holding hands my hands were warm and yours always seemed cold. In the end memories are the only gifts that last and I will always remember you

Awww!! You were such a doll. I had such a blast with you and Dave every Christmas eve. I cherish those memories. Seems like a lifetime ago! Sending love to you, Mo and the boys. I'll call later. xo Merry Christmas!

Chapter 8- A Bird

It was time to go to Church and a bird flew into our window.  that happens sometimes as they see through to the backyard and don't realize it's blocked by windows.  He really whapped into it and I saw some down floating as I glanced over.  I went outside and he was just motionless.  I picked him up and reassured him he was okay...that I'd hold him...that I'd warm him up...that he could make it.  slowly he nodded his head.  fluttered his wings.  tried to fly but couldn't.  I figured his wings weren't broken.  Maybe a broken leg?  I didn't know.  I decided to place him on a headband so he could be warm and comfortable, go to Church, and bring young Leea (animal lover/snow shoveler).  After Church she came with me and the bird was gone!

I thought of how we are like that little bird and Christ takes care of us.  Sheep on His shoulder and in His arms and helpless birds in His hand as we derive strength and respite to carry on.  I then thought of my Baptist Sunday School teacher, from eons ago, and this song....

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Bill Gaither, Lynda Randle

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Songwriters: C D MARTIN, CHARLES HUTCHISON GABRIEL

Chapter 9- End of this blog post!

If you are still here...thanks for making my life happy by allowing me to share my thoughts!

Bonus--pics of Christmas ornaments.  well, some of them!

and we read books.  This year?....nary a one!!

It seems unreal that I could now write about all of these pictures and the memories I have but I will gift you with signing off!!! 

Really---THE END

Marking off the weeks!

Not bypassing any single thing about the fantastic Christmas season but ...being totally self-indulgent and practically breaking my arm (patting myself on my back!), today  (drum-roll and fireworks.  please) I celebrated 5 months of my biking to nowhere!!  Yes, dear readers!...5 months today of 5 days a week and 40 minutes per day!!  Gave myself love today!!  Yay Me!

I have stayed consistent and am still doing my roll out of bed and now wearing long-johns, hat, gloves, socks and bath robe.  Oh, and sweat pants also.  No matter the outdoor temperature, the garage is not blowing/snowing/icing/sleeting/freezing/foggy or dark.  True it is cold but I used to walk in the afore described weather so this is just sort of like working out in a refrigerator?  I've never done that feat but it's a garage that is rather bare walled (totally just 2x4 with insulation and shelves filled with stuff )  It's brisk and cold but it's fine as I'm doing it, riding that bike, no matter the weather outside that impacts the weather inside.  It must be done.

Why?  Because I know myself well enough that even after 5 months of my choice of exercise, if I decided to stop, for even a couple of days...I'd stop altogether.  So...biking nowhere 'til no heart beat.  Okay.  Very dramatic.  But really...if I stop, I know I'll just quit.  I've done that before and can't afford to do it again.

This is about my health.  Remember I'm trying to get stronger and healthier and have more energy.
I am stronger...less tired...more endurance.  Not a bundle of energy.

 And I'm now hoping as 6 months approaches that I will start to see some changes in appearance.  I'm still the same shape except smaller.  For anyone that has ever had a weight problem...you know how you kind of pooch out someplace and then fat fills in and things become rounder and smoother?  Okay...only real fatties will get that sentence!  anyhow as I go down a bit suddenly I have some pooches being revealed.  (what psychoses do I have that just allows me to tell everything to you???)  Anyhow...I'm hoping by 6 months mark that I will start to feel like I have a shape that is more a real body shape. Not melting snowman body shape. 

I have started a stop/drop/roll exercise on my living room rug.  I've considered yoga.  I see the need for flexibility.  I think even walkers etc. break bones because they aren't flexible.  just my theory.  I may do some Yoga though.  I'm ready to add something to my biking.  Not sure what but I'll keep you posted (as if you doubted!)

I also want to do something different with eating.  I've tried Beet Kivass.  tried and stopped.  I've tried fermented cabbage.  tried and stopped.  I've tried smoothies.  tried and stopped.  Not as a steady diet but on a consistent daily basis.  Long enough to know that I didn't want to do it anymore.

Then I got to thinking...maybe some sort of an eating program that is known for helping folks lose weight.  I've looked into Blue Zone.  I've looked into Forks over Knives.  Looked into means...I bought books and read them and tried one or two recipes.  Then I got ads for Paleo and in a moment of weakness, with a sale that only had an hour left because of the super low prices, I ordered an assortment of books.  Then actually read about Paleo eating online, started rebelling immediately and will return books (when they arrive!)

I see Marie Osmond is still touting her 50 pound weight loss from a few years ago- NutriSystem? and Oprah!  Didn't she get into Weight Watchers a couple of years ago and she's now ecstatic about losing 10 pounds??  She is now cooking?  No personal chef anymore?  AMAZING!  (apology to Ms.Oprah.  I now hear from her ad that she has lost 40 pounds.  She bought into the company.  Does she own all or half?  either way...she paid a lot to lose those 40 pounds!)

I've spent so much money over the years on these type of programs that I've probably funded office suites at their headquarters!  Really!  Everyone wants my money and I'll still be a heavyweight so...No thanks.  Been there.  Done that. Heading back to checking out the WOW.  Testimony intact and it's still valid Doctrine in my mind.  Calorie reduction/portion control etc.  seem to ring true.  Maybe?  Possibly.

I'll keep you posted & will check back in 4 weeks, right on my 6 month mark!!

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🐍 Venom Cream.  Creepy as all get out to even think about!!  My daughter is not coming in January and that is when we were going to open the face cream.  It will be February.  Can't wait that long.  Curiosity is getting the best of me!  So...On New Years Day, me the brave one, will have my Viking open the box and take a peek as to what the labeling looks like and what is really in the box.  I'll take pictures! 

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Just didn't seem right to mix Christmas with all of the above but also couldn't resist sharing my progress.  Christmas report is coming ...low-key and wonderful!

'Tis the season

We worship on Sunday and that is our Sabbath.  Technically it had been on a Saturday.  The only thing that matters to me is that we have a hallowed day.  We have a neighbor that is very active in the 7th Day Adventist Church and they worship on Saturday.  We support each other in our choice of religions.  One Sunday I waved to the husband, who was working outdoors on his yard and said...I'm off to enjoy the Sabbath.  He said...Yesterday was the Sabbath.  Today is Sunday. 

Along those lines...I was raised in snow-land when Alaska had colder weather and a lot more snow than nowadays.  My Baptist Sunday school teacher let us know of the cold surrounding the Saviors birth.

When I joined The Church, the true one, I studied a lot and found out that Christ had been born in the Spring.  Again...it was interesting but did not take away a bit of my joy in December celebrating His birth.  (DC 20:1)

Today this came out, on LDS Living, and I thought it very interesting... here  There will be a lot of the reading of Luke tomorrow and this is definitely food for thought.

Just like the Wise Men...how many were there?  Did they come to the manger?...did they see Christ as a baby OR when He was a child?  Lots of things to think about! 

This weekend will be terrific for all of us!  The world has become brighter, as we have done what we could.... to light up the world.

Enjoy every moment of the entire weekend!!

Merry Christmas!

Nostalgic candy making

Loving the season all the way around!  This is a time of thinking of memories of past Christmas celebrations.  The memories seemed more vivid of those Alaskan times because we have had a cold snap that has hung on a bit!  That coupled with snow that has stayed in place just all seems so familiar. 

We got ready to hunker down and gathered a couple of lamps, matches, covered a curtainless window with beach towels.  Then Terry remembered our little food room partitioned off in our garage (it's a storage shed.  let's call a spade a spade!  looks like a garage but it's a shed!)  Anyhow he devised a hole in the wall to place a small air conditioner to keep temperature right during summer heat.  He pulls it out at the beginning of fall and then covers it up.  Well...he remembered it wasn't taken out and re-covered.  It got a bit stormy in here with him insisting that he was going to go yank it out and replace it.  It was a yes/no back and forth word war.   You can't!/I can!  etc. etc.

So...we went out and he found the breaker box needed to be switched, or something or other, and it was so hidden behind shed stuff, even he admitted he'd have to do something else.  I wanted to stack bags of wheat to block it and he kept saying ...No. No. No.  I can do it!  I came back into the house to get a little portable heater that he wanted and when I came out...there he was panting and leaning up against the shelves BUT he did it!  It was a moment of victory that he yanked it out and replaced it with the cover he had made eons ago!

Back in the house to bring some firewood in.  for just in case.  2nd spousal war of night.  We had no wood that we could bring in!  Oh, we had wood but it was in a tote, covered in snow, stacked on the fence side of garage, no lights, no certainty as to which tote the wood was in!  he has a tote of kindling....a tote of ready-logs...a tote of medium wood etc.etc.  He was upset that he didn't have us ready as he'd always done and I was upset that we weren't ready and didn't know how on earth I was going to go out and find the wood.  Then we both got a grip and settled down.  We were toasty warm.  We were fine.  We could wait until daylight to get some wood.

That being said...a holdover from frozen pipes in my past!...I wasn't able to sleep without some water trickling in a sink!  He understood my precaution, even though he did remind me (more than once!) that our water line would not freeze.  Been there done that and have had my fill of frozen water lines!  trickle away little faucet!!!

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In our high school days, at one point there was a fad that was considered so cool...if your Dad had a white shirt then you wore it to school.  oh, my.  so very cool.  another fad, and it was fun, you coordinated your clothes with your boyfriend when you went out.  Mostly going out, was a school dance.  Terry and I married out of high school (we were 2 babies, for sure!!) and then when our first baby came along, sometimes I'd dress all 3 of us in colored matched clothes.  For some reason on Sunday I thought of that time and decided to dress Terry and I in sort of matching clothes.

Maybe it was the new white shirt I'd bought him but something clicked.  I was wearing black and decided to have him wear his black suit and a black/white tie that was sort of like a shell I had on.  He is great about letting me pick out something, if I want to (which is not all of the time).  He has been trying to go to Church for weeks and we were both happy that he was going to make it!!!  I told him we matched and he just smiled at such foolishness.  Sitting in Church and I stared...What!??...he is wearing navy blue!!

All of this jabber to say...I'm thinking my cataract surgery did not hold!!  Things are blurry again!  Colors aren't true!!  today the light hit just right and I saw cobwebs!  oh, no!!  I don't want to have it again!  I know of people that did have again but I don't want that!  That is irritating!! 

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We are loving every minute of having the Book of Mormon read to us!!  What a treat!  We sit and read along as we are being read to and it's just so wonderful!!  Hooray for technology and hooray for a very modern Church that embraces all of the techie stuff and makes it all available for low/no tech folks like us!

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The late 1960's we were in Anchorage and went to the wonderful 3rd Ward.  Fantastic experience with amazing people.  A huge education for me on learning about the Gospel, and how to be LDS.  I thrived.  I loved it.  There was so much going on all the time!  This was when we went to Church seemingly every day!  It was a different era and one that I just enjoyed immensely. 

There was a recipe that came out through RS and made the rounds.  An uncooked candy.  It made a vat full of dough!  Almost 3# of powdered sugar and at least 1-1/4 pounds of melted butter!  I made this gigantic batch of goodness and my children and hubby, & me too!, really thought it was the best ever!  You mixed this mass, rolled it into balls and dipped it in melted chocolate chips along with melted paraffin wax!

Yes!  you heard me right!  Every year I'd threaten my boys to leave that wax alone and not use it on their sled runners.  They would get in the box that had four flat pieces of wax and sneak it out.  I don't remember how much was used in the recipe because at some point...we were told to not do that!

Our daughter got married and she kept up the tradition.  When her girls were born, their Daddy bought a little red wagon to pull them around the neighborhood.  Every Christmas he would load the girls and all of the bags of candy and go to all the neighbors and then he'd also take some to work for office workers.

when the girls were about a year old, they moved into their home.  A brand new area of houses.  It's been about 19 years and all of the neighbors are still the same folks! a little Americana for sure.  So now those babies are seniors in college, home for Christmas, carrying on the tradition and again...pulled the red wagon and delivered the candy.  I think they delivered 21 bags.

something just tugs at my heart, for simple things that are repeatedly done consistently over many years and the heart connection that happens. 

When we moved to Homer, in early 70's the making continued and a friend asked for the recipe and they started their tradition also. She had two daughters about the age of Jeanee.  This year those girls, now adults like Jeanee, let her know that they were making the candy as always.

Old age settling in....just touched my heart to hear from Dina and Ann.  You don't need to do pazillion things and always be changing things out.  Settle on something and repeat it yearly and suddenly you have a tradition that triggers memories of a lifetime.  I hope you  Mothers, with children still at home, have something yummy that is becoming a part of your family for the rising generation as far as tradition.  Something that can be made and shared.  My kiddos sometimes ate so much of the dough, while rolling the balls, that they couldn't stand the thought of making or eating it ever again.  Then the next year would come around and it was a different story

Mixing dough!  at Jeanee's in Florida!

dipped and setting up for bagging!

Bagged and ready to load in wagon!

Loaded for delivery!

Dina- dough in Washington

Ann- dough in Washington!

Gifts

So I sent this note to my kiddos....

Well, I mailed off the check to the Union Gospel Mission and our family purchased 100 meals.  I just like the sound of that number better than what I first said.  So a lot of folks will eat inside where it is warm (it’s freezing and snowy here now) and not be alone and get a traditional holiday meal.  I hope they have some good memories of another day and time when they were with their families.  I hope the children got some gifts from a kind Santa.  Merry Christmas to all of us! 

It felt right and good to do this, as there is way to much commercialization of Christmas in the world!  I considered a donation for a water well or buying a goat for a family in some far away land.  What I would really like to be involved in is a micro-loan...for this year though - a Christmas dinner for many is the choice!

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This so tender about gift wrapping...  here

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Christmas is all about love.  I'm still thinking about loving my sister.  When she was 20 or so she had a real challenge in her life that was so traumatic and she was battling life on her own.  I was so impacted by her being abandoned, that is the only word that comes to mind, and so wounded within myself at her aloneness and pain and plight, that something inside of me rose up.  A fierceness, a loyalty, a devotion, a determination that no matter what happened to her for the rest of her life...I would always be in her corner.  I would always have her back.  She would never be without me.  I would never be against her.  I would always be there for her.

The aftermath was that I did that right to the end of her life and her letter to me attests to that fact.  It made me happy that I'd been her protector in ways that only she and I knew.  The downside of the choice I made was I lacked closeness and connection with her 4 daughters.  They love me and I love them but we are not as close as things coulda/woulda/shoulda been.  Dixie had a lot of resistance/opposition in personal relationships including her ex-Mother-in-law.  She had a lot of pain but she also had a lot of happiness.

She had the ability to create beauty and surrounded herself with an abundance of it.  She loved.... top of the line fake greenery and had it all over her house...and lace...and teacups...and gorgeous furniture...and beautiful clothes...and sparkly jewelry...and properly coiffed hair...and make-up done to the nines...and bargains- for her/her family/her friends...and HSN/QVC...and her friends...and eating out at restaurants or eating in with friends for lunch.  And on and on and on....!

This picture (propped up on my bookshelf) is so representative of her.  She slipped her oxygen line off and is holding it in her left hand and the line is on floor behind chair and you can see the stash of oxygen bottles there.  She has her full make-up on.  (When she was at our house or McCall or wherever...she'd get up early to be ready for the day and be all dolled up!  Terry never once saw her without make-up!)  She is wearing an outfit and it has a pink satin blouse.  she seldom wore pink but she wanted a picture taken in this special purchase (in real life it was stunning with the bead work on it) and then she gifted it to her oldest daughter for a memory gift.  She loved her clock and had shopped for days to find just the right one.  The cane back chair was from a Red Lion Inn, that was changing out furniture.  She had found the chairs were $279 in a catalog and she got them for $27 dollars.  She bought and gave chairs to everyone!!  She immediately had hers re-upholstered in animal print.  To her dismay and being slightly miffed that I didn't act at once on the 6 she gave me, she was always threatening to take them back!  that is why she gifted things and wouldn't let you purchase them...technically they were still hers and she could call the shots.  Mine still aren't done but they are gorgeous chairs.  I see the mirrored chandelier refection of her small formal dining room and am reminded of her knowing exactly what she wanted and nothing else would do.  She carried in her purse for years a picture of a glass top dining room table with 4 armless white upholstered chairs with seat-skirt to the floor.  Always feeling she had a "shopping angel" and always knowing that what she wanted would turn up, she waited and kept looking and one day what she wanted would turn up. The replica of her magazine picture did turn up.  The exact replica.  I have that paper that she carried around for so long.

She is in a good place now and not in pain and I feel she is happy.  I miss her but not to the point of not living my life to it's fullest.  That honors her- by me living my time on earth to the fullest.  I will do so with gusto.  IF I can muster up the gusto!!

Memory

Today my sister would have been 75 years old!  She's been gone now for 6 months.  Seems impossible to fathom.  As of all things of importance in mortality...sometimes it seems like it happened yesterday...then it seems like it was years and years ago...then the mind game of did this really happen?  Is she really gone?

Out of sight but not out of mind.  At this time she would be looking at the new cookbook I would have sent to her.  Calling me up and reading me recipes...asking me to be sure and copy it down as she just knew I would want to make it...even though she herself had never done so!

She would be calling me multiple times and telling me to hurry!  change the channel to QVC/HSN because such and such is on and she has her family on the Christmas show.  Or she'd be telling me what I needed to buy.  Mostly jewelry. She had exquisite taste and class and especially in jewelry.

I think she was born loving glitz and glam.  No teen was happier with the advent of rhinestones although all of us were enamored, she was over the top.  She loved doing hair and could do her hair in the most professional French roll ever!

She loved to shop and bought bargains in bulk and then usually gave them away .  She'd buy multiples because the prices were so low that she couldn't pass it up.  She would wear me out calling and telling me what I needed to go buy.  She got 100% of the shopping gene and I was left with zip!

She was beautiful and she liked to look beautiful.  She told me once as her health took a steep decline...I don't look sick as I make sure I have my make-up on.  Without it...I look real bad.  She wore make-up from her teen years right up to her leaving.  She had so many oxygen bottles, obviously she was on the wane and yet, if the young man was delivering oxygen, she would check and make sure she didn't look sick.  Towards the end of her life...she would sometimes doze off while applying her lipstick and have a red line jutting out towards her cheek.  She liked to use her lipstick as rouge also and towards the end, there were times she looked like she had red circles.

She found a black pullover robe with silver sparkles on the neck and she wore that  a lot.  She wanted to look lovely.  to look her very best.  And she certainly did.

She was so incredibly bossy and could drive me nuts with her insistence of driving her point home.  I believe that the good we see in others, and the not so good, that grabs our attention, is but a  mere reflection of us!  It pained me to think I was bossy also!!   Yet in my own way of being bossy...it is true.  I try to catch myself.  There are many ways to be a BossyFace!

Before she died she wrote letters to everyone.  I read mine this morning and also Terry's.  So tender and loving.  Lipstick kisses all over.  She and I both love lipstick.  Last night I thought of her when I saw 2 of my Laurels that are home from their first semester of college.  both wearing make-up and deep dark luscious lipstick!  Looking glamourous!  She and I used to really talk about the absolutely no make-up look and it's blandness.  She couldn't believe they wouldn't want to do something!  She more than I, as I'm happy with a swipe of brightness on my lips and mascara on lashes...she wanted full make-up on all women.  She practiced what she preached in that arena. I'm trying to do better. 

She would love the happenings of today of modesty in clothing and full make-up and people all excited about lip color.  She, like I, would not understand why you would want to go through a lengthy process of several steps to get lipstick that stays put.  We loved the carrying of our lipstick tubes and checking ourselves in our little primp mirrors attached to the lipstick holder and putting lipstick on.  If we went someplace to eat or just being out, we'd excuse ourselves...and go to bathroom to primp.  It was such a fun time!  I love, and I know she would too, seeing YW having fun with make-up and beautiful, modest, feminine clothes.  The soloist at the Christmas party last night was an update from those years past.  I would have called Dixie today and told her all about her dress and her scarf and her make-up and how reminiscent I felt.

I will stop writing as I could go on and on.  Maybe I'll post more tomorrow and find some early pictures to share.  I will be forever thankful for the one sibling that I had and that we remained true friends.  I miss her today more than you can imagine.

top of my Mother's lipstick holder.

lipstick snapped in place

Mirror flipped open for a peek at lips

a bit much on the rouge

towards the end of her time.  I love her.

Long Day!

An early phone call asked if we'd heard that Zillah was being evacuated and we could come to their home.  (such great friends)

ZILLAH, Wash. - About 8,000 pounds of ammonia is leaking from Stadelman Fruit, authorities said Wednesday.
Zillah fire Chief Paul Stonemetz said a couple hundred people are being evacuated this morning by first responders west toward Second Street.
Zillah police are also on scene assisting with the evacuation.
It is unclear whether anyone is injured or has been affected by the leak, which was reported about 7:30 a.m.

We went out to see where the roads were blocked and we were safe at home.  Right across from the Church is a school and they were sheltering in place.  We did also.  Everything was back under control and back to normal by mid-afternoon.

So...that got me going this morning.  Terry was still asleep and I woke him up and probably scared him!  He is very level headed and not easily alarmed.  He said we were safe, as there were no fumes wafting about.  A wake-up call for 72 hour packs and gas in the car. 

My day started cockeyed with that possible evacuation and it was just kind of down hill from that point.  One of those days that you'd like a rewind and have a do-over!

My original plan for the day was preparing for the Ward Christmas Program dress rehearsal tonight.  I'd gone to my friend Chelle's yesterday and had fun planning some costume details.  Today I was planning to hem 3 shepherd boys robes and sleeves and get those together.  Then go back to Chelle's in the afternoon today and do anything she needed me to do.  She was in charge this year of the program and she knew what was needed and what she wanted and was pretty well set for the 7pm - YW... tonight would be a dress rehearsal.

So I'm chatting with the YW President, Shannon, with brief PM back and forth.  Her little daughter really wants to come visit me so we were figuring that out.  And then my life started to unravel.  Rapidly from my viewpoint!!

Even if she comes by for 15 minutes while you do something at the Church. She wants to come so much!!

so what will happen for YW tonight? still on?

The Ward Party... I am going to the church at 4:00 today. Maybe today would work for you and her? Just for a bit.

I am so lost. I thought the party was tomorrow night. I need to cook the ham today???

Yes.

Oh, my gosh!!!!! I just thought it was a rehearsal of the play! 
What time do I need the hams there?

I can't believe that I had the days mixed up. 
I need to go hem those shepherd robes!

I think Chelle will be at the church with me. We have quite a bit of food prep to do still.

Nancy...it's Wednesday, December 14th, 2016.

ack!!!! I'm aging!! I just looked at my calendar and I don't have it even written down!!! I use to hold all dates and times etc. in my head!!

here I'm all relaxed and thinking today I'll help Chelle and hem robes and etc. now I'm spinning out like the Roadrunner!!

oh, my gosh!!!! I'm shuddering over you being short 2 hams!! really...what time do you want them? I don't trust me at all!

5:45. I'm doing the other 4, so we can start with those. They take 2 hours to cook. Plus the glaze time of 10 minutes.

oh, good grief!! I'm thinking 6:30!! thank heavens I asked. 
                                                                                   ********

So you get the drift?  I ended up not getting the hams there until 6:15!!  I was shocked I even got them there.  I finished the Shepherds robe details mid-afternoon.  It was sleet snow and I felt frazzled so I did the only thing sensible.  Eat sweets.  No chocolate to be found!!  So I decided to make Carmel Corn while the hams were baking.  I nearly burnt the carmel, dumped it in anyhow and stirred it and it formed a big hard ball.  Nearly burnt.  tasted like Cracker Jacks.  (do they still put little toys in those boxes?)  Now that is an out of control HeftyGal!!  Not crying in my beer but feeding that sweet need by eating stuff that doesn't even taste good!!  Oh, sad tale!!!

This scenario actually ends up very nice.  Rewind back to when the YW were assigned the Christmas party and the sweet YW President decides she wants to feel the Spirit at said party.  She wants you to feel the spirit and to think of Christ and to have things beautiful.  She wanted table settings that looked beautiful and brought the spirit.  She wanted you to feel it from the minute you came in. 

I told her that I'd never seen it done.  Usually it's like a gladiator bowl with kids running everywhere throughout the Church and being loud and obnoxious and all super hyped up about Santa Claus.  I've been to some that were a testimony test for sure.  Not being Scrooge because of my day filled with holes, and the hole in my head, but really Ward Christmas parties....,usually are not conducive to the Spirit.  Tonight was a miracle!!

The atmosphere that was created by the welcoming garland on the outside and the tableau inside and the tables were just beautiful with white tablecloths and red napkins tied with twine and holding utensils.  There was greenery in the center and Shannon taped a transparency on a mason jar, with something of Christ and then there was a votive tea-light, greenery and red ribbon.  Plus she did a beautiful focal point with lights and tulle and a extra large piece of art featuring "Adore Him". 

This created the right atmosphere for dinner and it was amazing.  I looked around and people were sitting and eating and enjoying themselves and it was like being in a restaurant all decked out for a marvelous Christmas experience.

This then created a backdrop for Chelle's program which just topped the night off.  It had all the things you want in a Christmas program...scriptures/singing/children/shepherds/carolers/angels/kings and of course, Mary and Joseph and the Baby.  Costumes and color and solos and trios and groups singing.  And then we all sang.

My heart felt tender and I was glad that I was there.  It filled my soul.

Lots of snow going on here and I feel safe and warm and secure and thankful.  Thankful for days that are so crazy and  just feel it's unreal because I know, when I go to bed tonight and awake in the morning...this chaos and the Christmas event will reside in my memory bank to be relived and cherished.

Santa?  yes, he arrived after prayer and was in the RS room...after children saw him they came back in and had dessert. 

Face Cream...

So...IF you see a little ad, offering you a small sample of some sort of miracle cream and it will only cost you total $4.95, you best be careful.

Saga Summary-
1-ordered 2 different trial size face creams.
2- they arrive.  I see the snake venom note and refuse to open it.  (total coward)
3- another box arrives.  I call to cancel. they say they will.
4- yet another box arrives.
5- my credit card bill arrives.  2 charges of $89.97
6-call credit card company.  They say that there had been 2 charges of $94.94 on Dec.5th and the Snake oil company had cancelled and refunded that money.
7-I told her that there were still 2 charges for $89.97 on my bill.  She saw it and acknowledged that it had not been removed.  told me to call Venom dealers and IF they wouldn't cooperate she would help me out.
8-called the company and honestly it was a 3 ring circus.  The gal kept upping the volume on some babbling conversation and noise and hollering are you there?  can you hear me?  I told her to turn the volume down and yes, I could hear her.  I was on the phone with her for 45 minutes.  She tried to convince me that the charge was cleared etc. etc.  Anyhow...I said I'd call the credit card and let them deal with the situation and suddenly she offers me a $100 coupon, for free, to buy any products they have! No!  No!  I want nothing to do with your company. 
9-end of story.  she talked to her supervisor yet again and suddenly...it's all cleared up!  then these two emails came.  I should have let the credit card people do it but I did win. 
10- it's shocking to me that even though I never agreed to anything at all and there was no fine print when I ordered the cream, they actually charged my card $369.82!!!!  In 4 weeks time! 
11-end of Saga.  Just had to vent.  I know...it was my own fault.  I guess it was? 

Hello Nancy, We have refunded $89.97 back to the original payment method you used when purchasing order number 200758 on 11/16/2016 03:51am for the total amount of $89.97. If you have any questions please call 1-866-208-3871 and a member of our customer service team will be happy to help.

Hello Nancy,  We have refunded $89.97 back to the original payment method you used when purchasing order number 200756 on 11/16/2016 03:51am for the total amount of $89.97.  If you have any questions please call 1-877-968-2238 and a member of our customer service team will be happy to help. Refund Confirmation #200758 - Premium Brand Snake Venom Peptide Cream Refund Confirmation #200756 - Premium Brand Anti-Aging Formula

It's white outside! still.

Snow day at schools here so there was havoc on the roads.  I stayed home.  Again.  I shoveled quite a lot of snow and then came in and thought...it's okay.  if I need to get the car out...I can.  So I came in the house.  Later I looked out and the entire driveway was done and the car window cleaned off.  Turns out the teen, across the street, that lives with his grandparents came over and did the deed!  Still later, Hank, a man that is an angel unlike any man ever as far as rendering service, came over and did the snow on the other side of the car.  I was so surprised when he came to the door.  People are just so very VERY nice. 

I did something that seemed so right and then after all the kindnesses rendered to us, I doubted my judgment for a bit.  I sent this to my children today...

So we are giving $$ to the Union Gospel Mission to feed 78 people.  It will be from the Seljestad Family on the donation slip.  That is our Christmas gift to your families.   I’m mailing it today.  Please share that info with your children.  I can’t imagine the loneliness and heartache of this particular time of year and to not have a home of your own and food that you are enjoying with family and having some Christmas decorations and hearing Christmas music.  I want those with courage to go to a charitable place to eat a meal to have it be a nice one and to enjoy it.  That is what our family is giving to 78 homeless/down and out folks in Yakima.  A Christmas meal with all the trimmings!! 

I started feeling Scroogie as I was visiting with my Alaskan friend, Joyce, and she was packing boxes to mail to her children and also wrapping things for those nearby.  I thought maybe this idea is not as feel good as I thought.  Then I got a quick response from my darling daughter...

Mom!!! That's so fantastic! I love that idea. So meaningful and life changing for so many people, instead of just stuff... I love it!!  You look BEAUTIFUL!!! You look amazing and youthful and small!! 

me- being beautiful and small and wearing my un-ugly sweater!

You have got to love a child even with her lame vision!!  I'd taken a picture, my first selfie, with my camera not intended for such frivolity to have them see the sweater deemed not ugly! 

Maybe this sweater is not as swanky as I thought!  looks a bit topsy turvy.  Maybe it just takes a bad picture?  I love the silly thing!

**************

Houston, we have a problem here so I showed the family pictures of said problem.  HubbyMan, has this unique ability in fixing things to #1-never use all the parts you take out.  no need to put them back!  and #2- if it's fixed to the point of working then why bother to fix it back to it's original status? 

SO...the kitchen faucet nozzle fell off.  here is his current solution.

Current fix. Using my serving fork still.

first fix. serving fork 

fork resting in Vita-mix!

doing surgery on hose.  he wanted my sewing scissors but ended up with a paring knife.

Showing how hose can stand on it's own!!  Eureka!!  A waterfall!

after surgery with scalpel ready for cleansing

sink water supply line.  standing on it's own!  ready to spray all over EVERYTHING!!

It has been 3 weeks?  maybe 4.  He insists he knows how and he will fix it and NO Help is needed.  He can do it and he will do it.  Because of his known reputation for creative fixes that never quite get completed as intended,  I invited the children to a lottery on when it will actually be completed.  (me...are those pigs flying by???)

***********************

Christmas!  I'm loving it already!