May the blessings of the season be yours, whether you celebrate the feast of the lights, the return of the sun, the birth of a savior, or the gift of life, rejoice in the light and hope of the future.
I found a quote that I feel that expresses my feels for the world and our future. A Hopi legend says "We are the ones that we have been waiting on." I don't think I have ever heard a more empowering statement. I hope that you will feel that empowerment and make it part of your life. Additionally, I ask you to make this a gift to all that you know.
Blessings!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Preparations for the holidays
Cards and two packages are in the mail. Four packages to go. The tree is up with some struggles. (We got the pieces stack and forgot to put the screws in the base. I went to turn to tree and it collapsed. Cats fled!) The new little LED colored light are perfect, but two strings aren't enough and one of the two strings is bad.
Work becomes an encumbrance at this time of year. I should just take a couple of days off and get it all done. I have one more gift to get-something Hannah Montana for Gary's granddaughter.
Tonight my goal is to get the presents, requiring shipping, wrapped and packed.
We have a major snow event tomorrow. The weather people can't agree how much some say six to eight. I have heard one say a total of fifteen. Maybe my day at home will be tomorrow!
Work becomes an encumbrance at this time of year. I should just take a couple of days off and get it all done. I have one more gift to get-something Hannah Montana for Gary's granddaughter.
Tonight my goal is to get the presents, requiring shipping, wrapped and packed.
We have a major snow event tomorrow. The weather people can't agree how much some say six to eight. I have heard one say a total of fifteen. Maybe my day at home will be tomorrow!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Winter has arrived!
Winter has settled in here. Low temperatures were 5 degrees Fahrenheit last night. Yes, that really is a single digit. Normally, we don't have these low temps until January. I hope this is not a precursor of things to come.
Gary has the snow blower up and running. We had about 4 inches of snow on Wednesday and he successfully got most of the driveway done before something got sucked up into the blower and clogged it. Yesterday he tried again and one of the belts slipped off. While it is physically difficult for him to heave and shove this tractor-beast around, I do think he enjoys getting it to work.
The big discovery doing this job was that the legs of his pants get wet from the snow. Another was that his monster, eskimo coat that we bought last winter is too heavy for him to work in. He has found a good pair of pants and a jacket online at Cabela's, but they are $100 each. I suggested that we drive up there tonight and check out the material before we order. We may even luck out and they would have the set in his size in the store. I need to get another pair of polypropylene glove liners anyway. I love the ones that I have, but they are getting very worn. I like them as they do their primary function well (keeping my hands warm) and the bonus is that I still have some tactile sensation while wearing them. They make excellent driving gloves.
Today is the last time Fabian's will be coming to Milwaukee until late spring. I am going to go over there at lunch and get several pounds of shrimp to put in the freezer. They are a Galveston company who drives up here every five or 6 weeks to sell shrimp, crab meat, and oysters. There is nothing like shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. Yum.
We got all the Christmas cards in the mail yesterday. Now we move on to get packages wrapped and in the mail. I got two parcels done last night. I need to get two more done tonight. That will leave the remaining two for tomorrow. I am not sure when I am going to get to decorate.
Decorating may be an interesting adventure this year with the new cat. I do hope she is not like my friend Ellen's cat who loves to climb up in the artificial tree and sleep!
Gary has the snow blower up and running. We had about 4 inches of snow on Wednesday and he successfully got most of the driveway done before something got sucked up into the blower and clogged it. Yesterday he tried again and one of the belts slipped off. While it is physically difficult for him to heave and shove this tractor-beast around, I do think he enjoys getting it to work.
The big discovery doing this job was that the legs of his pants get wet from the snow. Another was that his monster, eskimo coat that we bought last winter is too heavy for him to work in. He has found a good pair of pants and a jacket online at Cabela's, but they are $100 each. I suggested that we drive up there tonight and check out the material before we order. We may even luck out and they would have the set in his size in the store. I need to get another pair of polypropylene glove liners anyway. I love the ones that I have, but they are getting very worn. I like them as they do their primary function well (keeping my hands warm) and the bonus is that I still have some tactile sensation while wearing them. They make excellent driving gloves.
Today is the last time Fabian's will be coming to Milwaukee until late spring. I am going to go over there at lunch and get several pounds of shrimp to put in the freezer. They are a Galveston company who drives up here every five or 6 weeks to sell shrimp, crab meat, and oysters. There is nothing like shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. Yum.
We got all the Christmas cards in the mail yesterday. Now we move on to get packages wrapped and in the mail. I got two parcels done last night. I need to get two more done tonight. That will leave the remaining two for tomorrow. I am not sure when I am going to get to decorate.
Decorating may be an interesting adventure this year with the new cat. I do hope she is not like my friend Ellen's cat who loves to climb up in the artificial tree and sleep!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Thanksgiving well-spent
Gary and I spent Thanksgiving Day, Friday, and Saturday in Chicago with my dear friend, Ann, and her two children, Sara and Christian. Sara and Christian are my godchildren. We ate and drank and talked and walked.
The children, as children do, have grown into fine adults. Sara is now 24 and Christian is 22.
We took the train down on Thursday. The train is such a lovely way to travel. When we are in England or Europe, we always try to take the train. It is so stress-free. You can sleep or read comfortably. I have never been able to read in a car so traveling by train is aways a treat.
My persistence with Orbitz landed us rooms at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for under $100 a night. We ended up with adjoining rooms, allowing us to talk even more.
Ann had brought a watercolor that David had done for me a long, long time ago. (David has been dead now for four years.) She had found it looking through some of his things for something entirely different. I took it to Michael's on Sunday and picked out a very nice frame and matting.
While in Chicago, we did get to all three museums of note: The Art Institute, the Field's Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry. We didn't get any shopping done, except for those few items that we purchased in the museums gift shops. I had planned to go to Macy's or Bloomingdales, but simply ran out of time.
It was good to spend time with friends you see infrequently. It was good to be thankful for the opportunity to travel, to eat well, and be with people you love and who love you.
The children, as children do, have grown into fine adults. Sara is now 24 and Christian is 22.
We took the train down on Thursday. The train is such a lovely way to travel. When we are in England or Europe, we always try to take the train. It is so stress-free. You can sleep or read comfortably. I have never been able to read in a car so traveling by train is aways a treat.
My persistence with Orbitz landed us rooms at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for under $100 a night. We ended up with adjoining rooms, allowing us to talk even more.
Ann had brought a watercolor that David had done for me a long, long time ago. (David has been dead now for four years.) She had found it looking through some of his things for something entirely different. I took it to Michael's on Sunday and picked out a very nice frame and matting.
While in Chicago, we did get to all three museums of note: The Art Institute, the Field's Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry. We didn't get any shopping done, except for those few items that we purchased in the museums gift shops. I had planned to go to Macy's or Bloomingdales, but simply ran out of time.
It was good to spend time with friends you see infrequently. It was good to be thankful for the opportunity to travel, to eat well, and be with people you love and who love you.
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