Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year's Eve

Well, here we are again on the very edge of a New Year. Do we know what it will bring? Do we want to know what it will bring? Maybe, and, maybe.

I know I would like more quilting time, more family time and more travel. While I know I can make room for all of these things, the question is "Will I?". I certainly hope I will. I have UFOs to finish for my quilting time. I can always use more family time. And I still have 8 more US States to visit in order to say I've been in all 50. The trick will be to have the time and the money at the same time for those travel plans.

Now comes the hard part. Actually doing what I want to accomplish this next year. Wish me luck as I embark on a New Year, one that is for now, a clean slate for me to write on. After midnight, the slate will start to show some of the writing. Maybe I won't feel like I have to erase?

Monday, December 26, 2011

Lazy Day

Christmas is gone for another year. Today was a very lazy day. I didn't have to go to work, so I slept in a little bit. Then I didn't get dressed until I decided I wanted to go to the store for a few items. Man, was that a crazy idea! The going to the store, not the getting dressed.

Silly me! It didn't occur to me that it was the day after Christmas sales. I didn't do the before Christmas sales and I wasn't really out for sales today. Only picked up 4 items that couldn't wait until tomorrow. Christmas decorations were all 50% off, but I didn't need any. Christmas clothes were all 50% off, again, I don't need any. How does one know that what's on sale this year will be what one wants to decorate with or wear next year? Guess I just don't see the logic when I'm lucky to be able to decide what I want to wear the morning I plan to wear it.

Oh, well. My errand got run, my items purchased and then home I came. To spend the rest of day being lazy because tomorrow is another work day. Hope your Christmas was merry and that your New Year will be brighter.

Happy New Year in case I don't get back to this next week.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Season

Here we are, just a few days away from Christmas Day. That holy day, in the Christian religion, that celebrates the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Now why would I bring this up? Well, let me tell you!

I have often thought, in the last few weeks, that while our economy is not faring well, that perhaps it is time to re-introduce the reason for this season. While most know the story of how Joseph and Mary were turned away from the inn because there was no room, how often do we actually think about what that would mean to us today. How many people do you know who are without a job? How many in your town are homeless? How many of your friends are not buying gifts because there is no money for extras?

I remember as a child, we had a manger scene that was set up the first part of December when we started the Advent candles that first Sunday. The babe laid in his cradle of hay. This was how we learned the story of Christmas.  I've looked and looked for a manger scene that I would like to have my adult home. Do you know how hard a good set is to find? It's tough! The new ones don't have to right look to them or they have the look but are way out of my price range.

So, I think, this year, I shall just make believe I have my manger scene and will recreate that lovely feeling by using my imagination. I will wish all I see a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will try to understand when my friends only give me words as a present due to their tightening of budgets. I will wish a Merry Christmas to the stranger on the street in order to cheer them up. Will you do the same?

So I finish with Merry Christmas to all because I believe the Lord is the one who made this season possible!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Bad things happen to nice people

Yes, bad things do happen to nice people. I went to a meeting on Saturday and had a good time. On my way home, I was waylaid by a blowout on the passenger side rear tire. Now that's a bad thing when one is on a major freeway. However, it was good that there was a shoulder and I could get off that busy freeway. It's even better than I have AAA towing service and a cell phone. It was very good that I had cell service to be able to call AAA.

Now, yes, I could have changed the tire. But I would have been tired, crabby and dirty from doing it. It was so much easier to make a phone call. Then after the nice AAA tow truck drive finished changing the tire, he kindly reminded me that since my spare is one of those small donut things rather than a full size tire that I needed to only drive 50mph. While that saves on gas use, it certainly does not make you friends on the roadways.

I "limped" into the next town on the way in hopes of finding the tire shop that I knew was there. I got lucky enough to take a detour through that fine town as they were having a Christmas parade on the main street through town. And, as luck would have it, that is the street I needed to be on. Got to the tire shop and the nice gentleman from the shop asked what he could do for me. I told him I'd like him to either fix or replace the sad flat tire in my car. Well, you may have guessed, it needed replacing. The good news is the tire was still under warranty so my cost was way less than expected.

I was about 2 hours later getting home than my original plans. Now that made me sad and happy at the same time. Sad because I couldn't get everything done I had planned to get done. Happy because I was home in one piece and no one was hurt. With luck, this won't happen again for a long time.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Decorating for Christmas


For the first time in a long time, we have chosen to put up Christmas lights outside our house. Not on the house, but on our lemon tree..

Yes, on our lemon tree. No, we don't live in Los Angeles. This is a warming effort to keep the lemons from freezing and then rotting before they are ready to be picked. Kind of a frost protector, beats the heck out of the old smudge pots that were used in the "olden" days. Besides, it's December and what better way to cheer up the lemon tree and all the critters that come out at night.

Kind of a quirky reason to put up lights, but hey, those old strings of lights that put out all that heat have found a new way of life.

The way that the picture was taken you can't really see the lemons on the tree. It's not as loaded as it was a few years back, but there are plenty for my co-workers who want them. Last year we lost all of the lemons because we didn't deal with the freezing temps quick enough. Will let you know about the end of December when we go to pick them if this new method worked.

Till then, Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

November is over!

Kind of an odd title? Maybe to you, but not to me. It means that Eastern Star installations are now over and we can begin our year with the new officers. I made all of the installations in my district plus one outside. I'm now ready to start the month of December with it's season of celebration.

Yes, it is a season of celebration! We celebrate the coming of winter because we can. We celebrate the reason for the December season of Christmas. I truly believe that we should be glad to celebrate. Even the Grinch realized that Christmas would come - without presents, without ribbons, without a feast, without a tree - that it was a celebration of the heart. While I may add more to my blog this month, I will wish you a Merry Christmas and a Joyous month. There are other celebrations this month. The Christian faith is not alone in its celebrations. The Jewish faith has their own. We may celebrate differently, but we all come together at this time of year in joy and our own beliefs.

May you have the faith you need, the joy to share and family & friends to love.