New Year's Eve with the Clan

Family came up on the 27th and I have been trying to remember to take pictures ever since. Tonight we finally accomplished that. Happy New Years from us to you!

We feasted on quiche and roasted veggies.

                                      

Carter, Carly, Dean and Rob

Carly, Carter and Susan

Grands with grandparents

Neighbor Dianne came for an evening of 31 and wore a hat. It got passed around - and proved lucky. The wearer tended to win! Yes, friends. I had a 3 game winning streak at the end and won that round. 

Learning the art of the hat. 

Two classy ladies ~ and good friends.

I Loved It!!

I was ordering something on line today and I was ordering from a company that deals mostly with professionals. When filling out the order form, two of the required fields were Title and Company Name. They were required and I couldn't keep going without them.

Ergo I filled them in.

Title: Grandmother
Company: The Mix/McKay Clan

Placed my order and all is well. What fun!! I hope someone in shipping gets a grin out of that one.

How Traditions Are Born

We often think a tradition comes from some deep meaningful experience back in the history of the world, our family or even just in ourselves. It was and remains something that Matters. That may not be totally true however. 

When the hectic delight of Christmas morning kept me from wanting to spend time making breakfast, Sara Lee Butter Streusel became our go-to Christmas breakfast. Pop it in the oven - these were the days Way before microwaves - and by the time the presents were open and family was getting hungry, streusel was warm and ready to eat. Easy. 

Then I moved to Tahoe. No Butter Streusel. Oh, all sorts of other Sara Lee coffee cakes and even a streusel or two. No butter streusel. So I improvised and we ate something for breakfast. Now, Dean tries to be as gluten free as possible and honestly, after looking for several years, I gave up. 

This last week several things happened. My friends came to lunch and one of them brought an appetizer tray that included fig jam. We went to the Victorian Christmas and I bought some pomegranate jelly. Meredith and David were going to tea on Christmas Eve and high tea means lemon curd which I saw on a shelf - right next to mint jelly which I love. So - on my shelves yesterday morning were fig jam, mint jelly, pomegranate jelly and lemon curd. And fresh bread. Ta-dah!! A tradition may have been born.

 (Except - shhhh - I don’t think I will save it just for Christmas morning.) May the blessings of the season continue to be with you and yours ~ 

For Unto Us A Child is Born

The Christ Candle is lit. Joy to the world.

The tree shines in the morning darkness and will bless us with light all day ~ 

As will the candles on the table although only two of us will gather there. We will remember all who have shared this table with us before and will again.

Another candle lit at another manger ~ and in maternity wards, and ERs, wherever birth and death and life is celebrated, appreciated and released. 

The fire takes the morning chill away until the sun has time to shine in and warm the house. We are so blessed ~ and we pray that you are too in whatever way the Light finds its way into your life today. 

A Victorian Christmas

 Nestled in the foothills of the Sierras is the little town of Nevada City, California. Every weekend in December its streets are filled with booths and flags and people, all celebrating a Victorian Christmas. We spent an afternoon there.

There are amazing crafts. A very different kind of wreath. 

Homemade goodies of all sorts abound sold by folks in semi-Victorian dress. 

Notice the short sleeves though. Unlike any December the Victorians ever knew,

it was 70 degrees this day. 

The bagpipes played and the dancers danced.

I understood from this lady that the Pie Lady and her truck had a corner in town when the festival was not in full swing. I had a dirty mash and steak pie for lunch. About 2 1/2 inches in diameter, filled with savory goodies, it was the perfect size without being overwhelming. I had to go back for dessert though. She had buttermilk pie. I asked her to tell me about it and she said, "It is a southern recipe." "Yes," I said. "I know. That's why I asked. Is it really southern, or just something someone in California made up?" She laughed and assured me it was really southern. And it was. So delicious. I haven't had one like that since my Aunt Lalah stopped making them when I was still a little girl.

Dean wanted spiced pecans.

This gentleman didn't have to wear a special costume. He dresses the part all the time.

Whole families did dress for the occasion however.

The day was made perfect for me as we were leaving and came across Father Christmas himself handing out goodies to children from his green bag.

Advent 4

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus . . . " (Luke 2) 

So here it is a few days before Christmas, before The Birth. For just a moment, let’s strip Mary of the heavy burden of Holy Mother of God. Let’s see her as she probably saw herself: a very pregnant, uncomfortable woman who had to travel by donkey to a distant city. Now I have birthed two children and I know what happens to a mother’s body within a few days of birth. We nest. We gather husband and family around us. We clean. We prepare. There is something in our genes that does this. I know I am certainly not a cleaner naturally, but wow, did I clean. And suddenly Mary has to travel. 

For the next few days I will be aware of the reality of this birth. 

“Joseph, we have to room for some swaddling cloths.” 

“Joseph, you know I’ve been craving soup. Please, find room for some vegetables so I can make some soup on the road.” 

“Joseph . . . “ 

Or maybe she really did all this in silence scared to even call attention to what was about to happen in their lives. 

I learned but do not remember how long a walking, donkey-back journey would have taken from Nazareth to Bethlehem ~ doesn’t matter. Mary would have gathered and prepared and if she couldn’t “nest” at home, she would do her best on the road. 

The Gospel writers didn’t write to tell us about real life. They wrote to tell us the truth of the messianic prophecy fulfilled in the man Jesus. I find great comfort in the idea of the real life that took place in and around the prophetic story. A young pregnant woman setting out on a literal journey that would lead to a life-changing journey for all human kind. 

Blessed be as you make your journey of grace.

Pot Luck Evolution

The term pot luck for a meal comes from when we literally took the luck of the pot -- whatever was in it, you brought to the church, the town hall, the park and shared the little you had with others who had done the same. Eventually it evolved into meaning, put your finest and best on the table. Yesterday, following a now decade long tradition, I hosted a holiday potluck lunch for some women friends of mine. In order to avoid having an all salad - or all dessert - meal, we have always signed up for what we will bring. Yesterday, there was no way I could call it a pot luck.

We opened with hot apple cider accompanied by a lovely platter of cheese, olives, jams and bread.

Our main course consisted of butternut squash soup and two lovely salads, created in house with ingredients brought from their homes.

Dessert was my pear crisp with ice cream followed by "booze balls", a rich chocolate confection that includes Jack Daniels.

There were only four of us ~ several others being unable to attend ~ and we had a lovely time, visiting, visiting, visiting and eating. Luck was with the pot that day -- it was all delicious and with all good intentions I still didn't take pictures of the individual dishes. Nevertheless, here we are enjoying.

Song Cue: Tradition!

This morning at the grocery store there was a man filling the candy shelves. I stopped for just a moment to watch him, thinking what a delightful job he had for this time of year. As I watched, I realized it was almost Christmas and Christmas in the Mix household meant and means red and green M & Ms!! And there they were - and now here they are - in the same bowl that has held them for Ages. Just so my daughters know, yes, they are the ones with peanuts, but then as you were growing up there were no peanut M & Ms. Allow mom a little slack to change the basic tradition just a bit. 

Christmas and Holiday fun to all of you! 

Advent 3

Today’s chosen scripture is from the first chapter of Luke, Mary’s Song or “The Magnificat” ~ the song she sings after hearing she will bear God’s son, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” 

For those of you who follow the lectionary, I understand this is Way out of sequence. Chronologically this comes nine months before Christmas not two weeks before. However, the first time I was ever asked to dance in church it was for a Christmas Eve service and I was asked to dance The Magnificat. It began for me a long and glorious faith journey of dancing to hymns, scriptures, and anthems. And over and over again through the years, I danced Mary’s song again. 

Then one year, a beautiful younger woman in my dance ensemble was pregnant. By then my hair was grey and my own children grown. This was her first. She was also African American with dark hair and a lovely dusky skin color, surely more akin to mid-eastern Mary than mine ever was. I asked her to dance it. 

People wept. They really saw Mary, many for the first time ever. There she was, pregnant, scared, filled with praise for God even her questioning and wondering. And about to give birth to their Savior. Her image is forever in my mind whenever I read these powerful words of hope and praise: 

My soul magnifies my God,

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior . . . 

May your spirit rejoice even as you question, ponder, worry and celebrate. May you be blessed on your journey of grace. 

~ but We Really Are There

Last night at dinner the woman next to me asked me about my work. I told her I had been a stage manager and she was Amazed. In her words - so totally out of her range of experience, she couldn’t even imagine. I haven’t had that kind of reaction in a long time. I told her - when you go to the theatre, if we do our jobs well, you aren’t even aware we are there. She just kept shaking her head in amazement. And No, I didn’t succumb to the temptation to tell stories. 

I went file-searching to find a picture to illustrate and because we aren't there,  this is the only one I could find, taken by someone who was more interested in the T-shirt than the job. You can tell by the open mouth that I am still doing the job - talking to someone on that headset while trying to oblige the photographer. It must have been before curtain - I never would have allowed it otherwise. 

A Good Christmas Read

Among my Christmas books is one book with two mysteries. Anne Perry’s Christmas Mysteries includes “A Christmas Guest” and “A Christmas Secret”. One thing I like about Anne Perry’s writing is that she deals in character and not just in plot. This concept is heightened in these two short novels. 

Yes, there are “mysteries” in both. In finding the answers, however, those involved find out much more about themselves and the people around them then just their knack for solving a mystery. 

“A Christmas Guest” is about Grandmama who is shuffled off from the warmth and comfort of her London family to a daughter and son-in-law (who, heaven help us, is an actor!) who are spending Christmas in the wilds of the English coast. Into this home comes another unexpected and shuffled off guest who has the audacity to die after only two days in the house. Might it be murder? Much to her own dismay and amazement, Grandmama sets out to bring justice to this woman she was determined to despise and whom instead she found herself admiring. 

“A Christmas Secret” is the story of a Vicar who, with his lovely wife, is sent to fill in over Christmas for another priest who had to go out of town suddenly. Or did he? And when the Vicar’s wife finds the vacationing Vicar's body in the basement, she is determined to learn what happened. Again as she and her husband learn about the parish, now theirs, they learn that every small town and even smaller church have secrets they don’t want even their Vicar to know. 

Perry does not shy from emotions and (very pleasing to me) the faith of the Vicar, his wife and the people of their church. These are real people, struggling with their own lives and insights into themselves. The mystery is there to be solved but takes second place to the mysteries of the human heart. Both are very gentle reading for the Christmas season. Enjoy ~ and blessed be on your journey of grace. 

Give Us Some ~ Figgy Pudding???

Our mail boxes and inboxes are full of them ~ pleas for organizations for end of the year, tax-deductible donations. Grocery stores have bags that you can fill for families other than your own. Groups of all kinds sponsor families and buy gifts so that someone who can’t just maybe can this year. Much of this seasonal giving is very well organized and documented. Some of it isn’t. These are two of those stories. 

First: whenever she shops, she picks up an extra toothbrush and toothpaste adding less than $3 to her grocery bill. Every time. The toothbrush and toothpaste go into a grocery bag hanging on the back of a door. Sometime this season, she will take the bag to a shelter that serves the homeless - a women’s shelter where women come who have left violence with nothing but themselves and sometimes their children - a place that offers shelter and a little dignity to street people. She doesn’t get any tax credit. No one knows about it except her and the person to whom she hands the bag. And people who just might not have a toothbrush and toothpaste, have them.

Second: two young men standing on a corner by a grocery store with a sign that said “Hungry. Anything helps”. With her own finances in flux, she bought $20 worth of groceries ~ bread, lunch meat, sliced cheese, grapes, bananas, roasted pumpkin seeds and a gallon of water. No tax credit. No credit of any kind except the gratitude of two hungry people. 

These are the kind of people that epitomize the true spirit of giving at this time of the year and all year. Which brings me to one last reminder: whatever you do now, go to July on your calendar and make yourself a note to do it again then. Hungry people, shelters, non-profits have needs all year round. Blessings, to all who stop by here, as you continue your journey in grace. 

He Says It So Much Better Than I Would Have

I don't often share links here - and never on Facebook. However,  a friend found and posted this article this morning and I think it is worth a read.

http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/12/10/theres-war-christmas-just-not-one-you-think#.UqhOG1LkVNI.facebook

I'll be honest - I am not sure how this works and if it shows correctly, please, take a minute or two - it's a short article - and read it. ~ blessings on your journey

My Sacred Spaces

We have done minimalistic decorating this year and I couldn't be happier. I learned how easy it is the year I had my hip surgery and had to forego a tree. We've had trees since then and this year I was into easy so we compromised on the size of the tree. I knew when Dean offered to help me decorate it if I "really wanted" a tree that he wanted a tree. I suggested one that would fit on the table top. He is So Pleased - and so am I. Along with the little tree went other smaller decorations this year. What I realized this afternoon is that all the little decorated spaces are sacred to me. They are all special and I love them. 

You have seen the table that holds the Advent wreath and candles. The Bible is turned to a different favorite and meaningful scripture for each week, and I use it as part of my meditation.

                                            

Here is the small tree. Can you tell it is sitting on a table? It is decorated with lights and icicles and a few gold bows. Period. Please, notice there is still room for presents under it. When I was first thinking I might not have a tree, the Owlet was very concerned. "Where will you put your presents?" As you can see, my darling, there is room for presents. 

The center of our dining room table. Very simple. Very elegant. And absolutely perfect.

Our coffee table is exactly the right size to hold the tree skirt. There is history in this space. The skirt was given to me one year by my step-mother who regularly attended the bazaar workshop at my home church where a group of talented ladies worked from January through late November to make gorgeous crafts for sale to raise money for the church and charity. My first husband and I bought the nativity in the early 60's from a workshop in the deep South. African Americans had gathered together and decided they would no longer work for 25 cents a day (yes, dear young readers - a Day) and they formed an artists workshop and made crafts. I have been putting this nativity on a window sill for guests to see as they came up the stairs. This year I decided I wanted to look at it myself. 

That is indeed Santa you see standing there. One daughter has the little statue of Santa kneeling at the manger given to us after her father died. I like all of Christmas and so now there is a Santa in my nativity. The books have been gathered over the years and read to children, grandchildren and even when they aren't around, I indulge my inner child and will probably read all of them before the season ends. It is a blessed and sacred time and I enjoy it. May you too enjoy your sacred times and spaces and be blessed on your journey. 

Advent 2

The scripture I chose for this week is from Isaiah 40: Prepare the way of the Lord. We are promised that when we do that mountains and hills will be made low, rough places made smooth. As I ponder these words this week, I will think about the rough places in my life that God has smoothed for me; the mountains that seemed impossible to climb that were lowered enough for me to make it up and over. 

These times come for all of us:

~ like the death of a loved one and how we manage to keep on with our lives as we climb that awful mountain. 

~ like a job opportunity slipping through our fingers or another financial set back and we stub our toes on those stones in the road and yet keep going and discover the road smoothing out ahead of us

Each of you will have your examples. Some of you will look back and be grateful. Others of you are in the midst of mountain climb right now and may be saying “yeah, right” in a very sarcastic voice. We will each have our own perspective on these words of hope and promise. 

Wherever you are on your journey, whatever your expression of faith, contemplate the words of this promise and how it is made whole in your life. May you be blessed and graced on the path you have chosen. 

First Snow

Snow! There's snow! Yay, there's snow!

Come on, mom, come on. There's snow! Come out and play!

Close-ups

I watched the Rockettes 75th Christmas Show on Netflix and noticed a couple of things:

~ After 75 years, the show is just as or even more spectacular as it ever was. 

~ All the dances are precision to the maximum degree and the toy soldiers are amazing. All they do is "walk" in perfectly straight lines, backwards, forwards, in rotation, back and forth and it is the most amazing walking you have ever seen. And then while in a long line, they get shot down by a cannon and they fall back into each others' arms until all 72 of them are lying on top of each other on the floor. At which point they pop up into a sitting position and strike a pose. Incredible. 

~ All dances except the one mentioned end with the traditional high kick. It is still wonderful to watch.

~ Close-ups cause a bit of a problem in an extravaganza. Too close to the faces of the dancers and you see the sweat and just a bit of strain in the smile. One close up of the lovely young dancer playing Clara in the Nutcracker and you could see her thinking. It was just before a pirouette and she was probably counting even though she was smiling. 

~ Because tradition has it that there were three kings who came to the manger, and because (let's be honest) churches usually have to scrounge to have that many in the pageants, we have always thought three. Period. What a delight to have the kings cross the stage each with his own entourage of servants, ladies, and leaders of the real camel and donkey, and all dressed as might befit eastern royalty. If they were as wise as they are portrayed, they probably did bring some help along for the journey. 

~ The special effects were slick, smooth and perfect ~ and the best effect of all was the delight and wonder on the faces of the children in the audience caught on camera shining with pleasure at dancers, flying Santa, dancing bears and the lovely, lovely nativity. That was an effect no stage artist could produce. On the other hand Radio City Music Hall produces it every year by creating a show that delights and amazes. If you have a chance to see it, do so. It will bring out the child in you. 

OK ~ That's Just Plain Cold

We have a winter mantra at our house: if the weather is bad and you don’t Have to do it, then stay home. Now this usually applies to snow conditions, road conditions and precipitation. This morning it applies to temperature. 

When I got up at my usual time, the temperature was 0, to be 7 by the time I usually leave for gym. With apologies to my Minnesota friends who live with this all winter, I went back to bed for an hour. When I got up a second time the temperature was still 0 even though it was supposed to be climbing by now. I will make my 10:30 haircut, but oh my dears, I could not face 0 or 4 or even 7 first thing this morning even for a warming work out. Brrrrr.  

Happy Anniversary to Us!

(Picture from 2 weeks ago)

Happy Anniversary, us! Twelve years ago today Dean and I married. We have celebrated the day. We have forgotten the day. This year we remembered the day and Dean is slammed out at work for the whole week so all we did was remember. Oh, and I sent him an e-card. Twelve years ago we married in Virginia and two weeks later had a party in California followed the next day by a blessing service during church. This year, Dean will be out of town at a business retreat during that time. Still, it is a happy anniversary time ~ we are grateful for each other and we remember with joy and pleasure how pleased we are to celebrate this day in our own way.

Advent 1

Advent, the anglicized version of the Latin adventus meaning coming. Advent is the time in the church year when Christians anticipate both the birth and the second coming of Christ. In the societal, commercial rush of Christmas, Advent has a way of getting lost. Even if you do not adhere to the tradition, it is nice to remember in the middle of the crush that this is a time of expectation and waiting, a time for the heart to focus on what is important. 

I chose to open the Bible to the prophecy from Isaiah 43 “Behold I am doing a new thing.” What hope! Even God is doing a new thing, shaking things up, changing things around. At a time of year when tradition means so much to so many of us, it is interesting that Biblical tradition has it that God is not a traditionalist. God is about to change the world as we know it and it just may be that our waiting and expectation could be preparation for that Divine change in our lives. 

Another Tradition Broken

The last day of the month and except for missing the day of the accident and blogging twice the next day, I have blogged every day. I think I am going to take a breath and relax, although I have to admit, the subject matters came to me more easily than I expected. I have a friend who blogs 5 days a week, others once a week, and others whenever the notion comes ~ like I do. Back to that random routine I think ~ though maybe more often now that I realize how easy it is. 

Re: Black Friday shopping. I can state very clearly that I have never shopped on Black Friday ~ except . . .. Yesterday we did something we do almost every Friday: we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch and then took donations to the Hospice Thrift Shop around the corner where we almost always bring home about the same amount we donate. Yesterday it was a little more crowded than usual as it was a holiday and the last two days of the month which meant everything was half off. By “a little more crowded” I mean there were maybe 10 of us in the shop at the same time. Dean did what he always does and found four wonderful shirts and I found a lovely, snuggly, soft fleece robe and a little glass bowl. 

Then we stopped by the pharmacy and I found two pair of fuzzy socks and a red ear band to wear on my cold morning walks. So ~ I guess I have to admit to shopping on Black Friday. There is at least a once-a-year advantage to living in a very small resort town that doesn’t have large department stores: Black Friday looks about like every other Friday for us. 

Still Giving Thanks!

One of the nice things about being our age is that we have lots of traditions and are old enough to understand that if we break one or two no one is really going to turn over in their grave. And so we had fun planning our “just us” Thanksgiving day. 

After various conversations centered mostly on my need to keep it simple and easy, we ended with the perfect day. It started with a lovely long walk around the loop ~ Oso running so much further than we walked. Then we sat in the hot tub. During the day we talked to my family in New Orleans and Skyped with those family in Ashland. We sat down to dinner about 1:30. 

I set out the good silver and china. Dinner was smoked turkey ~ smoked last Saturday as we had company to dinner. I think we have learned that smoking the turkey and letting it sit for several days makes for a more delicious turkey. It doesn’t yell “Smoked!!” at you. Rather there is a subtle flavor that permeates the meat and makes it really delicious. Because I can only make dressing in Huge amounts, we let the dressing go this year. Mashed potatoes, roasted veggies and Dean’s good gravy made up the rest of the meal. And because I really was about easy this year, I requested being dismissed as pie maker. Instead we had brownies from our really good bakery and ice cream. Traditions broken, no one turned in their grave and we had a Wonderful meal and a delightful day. Many thanks for many blessings ~ 

Happy Thanksgiving ~

And here’s my list: 

My wonderful family ~ large, boisterous, 5 kids and their respective spouses, 12 grandchildren, one dog, great memories of my first husband, and a second husband whom I love and who is responsible for a good portion of this large and delightful family.

~ plus, wonderful cousins with whom I am still in touch and whose kids I know and love ~ Family. Thanks be. 

Friends ~ those close at hand and those farther afield with whom I am in touch by email, phone, even in a couple of cases letters; and of course Facebook friends ~ people with whom I would not be in touch except for this form of technology. I am continually blessed with posts of daily doings, recipes, pictures of kids and grandkids. I don’t pay a lot of attention to political or cat postings. I do enjoy learning about life. 

My country ~ based on a Constitution and in spite of all the turmoil, all the contention, all the anger and disagreement, is still a country of basically decent people who live by the laws and turn those laws over by vote not by coup. 

Our military ~ wonderful young men and women who say “yes” to defend and protect and go into harms way for you and me.

A Bunch of Little and not so Little Stuff ~ clean sheets, indoor plumbing, anesthetic, modern surgical techniques, airline travel (remember I have a college granddaughter in the Czech Republic this year and a tiny one in China visiting her other grandparents for a while), insurance of all kinds, a morning fire, our pressure cooker, Skype for video chats with that far flung family, a beautiful forest around our home, chipmunks, bears, and birds, and . . . and . . . and ~ and you for stopping by and reading and being in this wonderful world. Blessings and Thanks ~ 

I'm Part of the Problem

From the time you are a baby grandchild of Mama Susan's you know what you are getting for Christmas. No surprise. The only surprise, what are the titles this year. You are getting books. Always and forever.

Last week I received a letter from our local bookstore. It had had to move from Tahoe City because of high rents and now resides only in Truckee. Sales were going down. They needed help to stay open. The town of Truckee gave them a banner sales day on Saturday. I went in this morning to buy some  of those Christmas books. I was a little embarrassed because, you see, I am part of the problem. 

I fell in love with my Kindle and although I still love books, I read almost exclusively on my Kindle now. I have two grandsons who read almost exclusively on their Kindles. The brother of one has decided he really likes a gift card so he has his own money and can buy the books he likes. The father of two others told me three years ago that they have never read the books I have given them. He has a hard time getting them to read what they need to for school so if I'd like to give them something they will actually use it would probably be better. I'm offering a Kindle to another one although he may choose to have books instead. But you see the problem. Even in a basically book loving family, we are moving steadily toward electronic reading.

I don't want to see bookstores disappear. Bookstores are Wonderful. Books are Wonderful. I am So Grateful the grands are reading even if it is electronically. I would just like the best of both worlds so that the bookstore can remain in its own little corner of the world.

Self Awareness?

== not sure I am up to multi-tasking any more. Or at least not more than one Big Thing in a day.

I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself as each day starts with an hour's workout at my gym. I don't consider that a big thing. Yesterday after gym,  I was going to do A & B, doing C today. Instead yesterday I did A and b, c, d, e , f and today C and saving B until Wednesday. Phew. 

It's all those little letters that get me: groceries, post office, unloading and putting away groceries, walking out back with Oso. By the time I get through all the little ones and get around to the Big One, I have energy for only one of those a day. So I adjust and am grateful I am able to do that. Take care ~ and regardless of your age and energy level and how many Bigs and littles there are in your life, be aware and enjoy. 

Popcorn It Is!

What is there about a Sunday afternoon that brings on this incredible craving for popcorn? I don’t even think about popcorn most of the time. Even if I see the box in the cabinet, I just see the box. I don’t desire, want and certainly don’t crave it. I just know it’s there for another time. And this doesn’t happen every Sunday afternoon. But when the craving hits, it is a Sunday afternoon and it is a Craving. 

As my daughters were growing up, their father and I had what we called “stuff” for Sunday supper. My father had always taken us out for the Sunday noon meal. Because Rex’s father was a pastor and his mom taught Sunday school and sang in the choir, they would go out to eat for Sunday lunch. It was therefore natural for Rex and me to do the same when we married. So - we had a big lunch. What to have for dinner? Oh let’s just have stuff: pop some corn, put out some peanut butter and crackers, some slices of fruit and maybe have a little ice cream ~ stuff. And Stuff it became. 

Popcorn was always the center of the spread, no matter what else went with it ~ popcorn to start, ice cream to finish. Which may be the reason why the popcorn craving comes, it comes on a Sunday afternoon. I don’t know. What I do know is: I give in to the craving. Yum! 

Random Sunday Musings

We had a delightful time last night. We had another couple come to dinner. Dean smoked our Thanksgiving turkey which we will eat more of on Thursday - but with just the two of us here, we don't need a presentation. We will just add traditional Thanksgiving sides to this delicious turkey.

I refreshed the candles as this was the first time we had had people to dinner since we could eat on the deck. The house is lovely with candle light. I intend to light them for myself now as I sit here in the living room a lot at night. And then soon after Thanksgiving I will add the Christmas candles to the mix. 

It has also been cold enough that a fire was quite in order and it blazed cheerfully for the evening. 

Although this couple is younger than we are, he has an early morning job and had a hip replacement about 3 weeks ago, so they were ok to come early - at 5:30 - and left shortly after 8. Yesterday was our son-in-law's birthday and he was being taken out to dinner at a very nice New Orleans' restaurant. At 8:30 I received a text of the handsome birthday man, dressed for his evening out. Meaning - I think - their reservations would have been for 9 o'clock. They started just as we were winding down. I don't think it has to do with age as much as their being night people (good to be if you live in New Orleans) and we being morning people. 

Oh my - next Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent. I need to prepare my Advent candles and wreath. The last few years it has looked rather non-traditional. Have to think about that and mainly buy some more candles. And with those musings, the day begins. 

Still Smiling ~

When my daughter Michelle was pregnant with Joshua, my first grandson, a friend of mine was almost late to a rehearsal and she apologized because her 3-year-old grandson had wanted to call her. 

I gasped. “They want to Call you???” I got so excited to think that one day this baby who had not even been born yet might one day want to call his Mama Susan. And of course, he did. And then of course he didn’t. They become involved in their own lives and grandparents are once removed and so we don’t hear from them even when they hear from us. 

The other night I was starting to prepare my dinner when the phone rang. It was Joshua. He too was preparing dinner and his girl friend had read my letter to him while he cooked. He decided to call. Delightful!!!

We talked about one of his college classes and a movie I had recently seen. Ordinary stuff. So Special to hear his voice and know that even now, once in a while, he still wants to call his Mama Susan. Made me quite happy.

My Memory of Today

Fifty years ago today President Kennedy was killed. We all remember where we were when we heard the news. I also remember where I was just before. 

I was in a college government class. I had been fortunate enough to get the only Government 101 class taught by the chair of the department. He was funny, intelligent, wise, inspiring ~ all the things you want a professor to be. He let us read the text for ourselves. He taught out and beyond what was written on our pages. 

On that Friday morning he had been lecturing on the peaceable transfer of powers. He ended his lecture with these very ordinary ~ and for that morning ~ amazing words: Remember, in this country we change governments every four years, by the vote, not by guns and assassinations.

I left class, walked the two blocks to my husband’s office to meet him for lunch and as we got in the car, the university church bell began to toll. As we looked up wondering, a colleague ran out to stop us and told us the news, “The President has been shot.”

We went home and spent the weekend as most did, glued to our tv set, crying, upset, speaking in muted tones to each other and friends. 

On Monday morning I was back in government class. The professor walked in. He had no notes. He stood in front of us and he spoke. He spoke of freedom, of peace, of the greatness of this country even in times of trial. He spoke with eloquence about a country founded with a system of government that spread the power across all the people; a government of, by and for the people. He spoke with the passion of a man who loved his country. 

When he was done, he turned and walked out. We sat, muted, moved and more wise than we had been when we walked in an hour earlier. And then we too left the classroom. And somehow life was never quite the same. 

It'll Play in Peoria

Josephine Tey is a mystery writer extraordinaire. She wrote during the Golden Age of British mystery (c. 1930 -1950) and yet she followed no formula and even broke some of the rules. She has an Inspector Alan Grant in several of her books and I like reading those mysteries. Imagine my delight and amazement to come across this sentence in the book I am reading at present:

“ . . . an alliance between one of Britain’s best-known personalities and one of America’s most admired photographers would produce a book that might, with luck, have equal interest for Weston-super-Mare and Lynchburg, Virginia.” (Tey, To Love and Be Wise) 

Reflections on The After Dinner Nap

My first husband had a rather endearing habit of an after dinner nap. These were the days of the “Nightly News” and he would declare his intention of watching Peter Jennings to see what was happening in the world. He would settle down in front of the television, his head would drop slowly to his chest and for the 30 minutes that Peter told us about world events, Rex would nap. When the news was over, he would get up and be about his business, grading papers, loading the dishwasher, meetings, choir practice, whatever the evening held for him. Often it was one or so AM when he finally came to bed. 

Now that was endearing in him, but I certainly didn’t understand it, really understand it, until last night. I haven’t been sleeping well. Several nights recently I have been awake and restless and pacing and . . . and . . . and . . .

It has been very frustrating. So I decided to relax and (in the words of my present husband) turn that frustration into fascination. 

So last night when I dozed over my book, turned out the light and slept for less than an hour and woke just as Dean was turning off his light, I decided to let it be. I got up, pulled on a robe and slippers, took my book and came out of the bed room. For a couple of hours I puttered. I unloaded the dish- washer, usually my first task in the morning. I read. I turned on my computer and wrote and played a game or two. Checked a couple of blogs I haven’t read  recently and even planned a blog of my own. I even had a cup of hot cider to ward off the chill of the night. 

Then I took my book back to bed, read for a little while longer, went to sleep and slept. Had a really good night’s sleep actually and feel fine this morning. Even though I got up a bit later than usual, the dishwasher was already unloaded so one task down. I feel fine. And ~ no frustration for not being able to sleep. I was awake so I did wakeful things and then I slept. It works. 

Life Is Good

The morning of Dean's birthday, we all three walked to the Point. 

It was a beautiful morning and life was and is good. 

Comparisons are Good

I have a friend who is the mother of twins and she posts a lot of pictures of the girls' activities. Once in a while she will post pictures from various years and we get to see how the twins have grown, changed, and developed from 4 to 5 to 6.

Taking a page from her book, I couldn't resist. I don't think we have changed as much as the twins do and maybe at our age that's a good thing. 

Dean's 70th birthday dinner with friends, 2012

Dean's 71st birthday dinner with friends, 2013.

I can't believe I wore the same sweater!!

We had a delightful time: good atmosphere, good food, good conversation and a drive to and from under a full moon over the lake. Perfect! I'm you glad you keep having birthdays, Dean. They provide a lot of fun and good times.

The Varied Faces of Dean

Last year was Dean's 70th and his family threw an amazing celebration in his honor. We all gathered close to Yosemite for a weekend and ate and talked and partied. 

This year, 71, is back to being normal. He has remembered it is his birthday when I wished him happy first thing. He has read his card. We will go for a walk with Oso later in the morning and tonight we will go out to dinner with a couple whose husband shares the birth day. 

Here are some pictures to celebrate this year in Dean's life. Not in any order ~ just snippets showing who he is as he went about his daily life for another year. 

He works in the yard.

He likes camping and cooking over an open fire. 

He was surprised and honored by the Alumni Association of Drucker Business School.

He loves exploring out of the way places, 

and taking amazing pictures. 

He gardens.

He loves to wander the woods with Oso.

He finds a way to eat on the deck as soon as the temperature allows even if there is still some snow on the ground.

He likes having his picture taken in front of interesting scenery.

And he dresses up well when the occasion warrants.

Happy Birthday, Dean!