The Day After

This is my final blog post on this site.  It served its purpose well.  The end of December will mark five (5) months since my beautiful girl moved from this world to the next.  Even though I miss each second without her, I know that she dwells in happiness and peace.
We had our final Christmas celebration of 2009 yesterday in Nashville.  We made it through this holiday.  Suzy gave us the gift of joy by giving us Ethan and Abby and I am eternally thankful.
May God's Blessing be on each of us.

Merry Christmas

Wow, what a day!  Complete and total enthusiasim from a 6 year old, non-stop!  It's the way Christmas feels for only a few years of your life.  Ethan is there.  Abby too, just a little less vocal.  It was a Star Wars and Barbie day.  It's good to know some things don't change as time goes by.  How old is Star Wars now?  I know Barbie is over 50.  We'll party again tomorrow with family in Nashville and then just have fun playing with all the new stuff.
On  a more serious note, we made it through the day, through the season.  There have been days when we weren't sure we'd make it through, but we did.  This is one more "first time" behind us now.  I believe we all had in mind to make this be as perfect a Christmas for the children as possible and I believe we have succeeded.  Time pushes us through each new dawn, steadily keeping us moving forward.
Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Christmas Pageant

Ethan was Joseph in the Christmas Pageant this year.  He did a great job.  At first he was a little bit worried about what he'd have to do to act the role, but once we told him all he had to do was sit there and look brave, he was fine.  As he and "Mary" walked down the aisle, he gave Beth a thumbs up!  Suzy and Beth both were angels in pageants several times over the years and John was a sheep one year, then an angel one year.  (I have a picture of him in his angel suit, a one time event)  and of course he finally got to be a shepherd.  Abby didn't want to perform this year.  Even the idea of getting to wear a sheep suit and crawl done the aisle yelling Baa, didn't appeal to her!
As I sat there in the church and looked around me, I saw several people that I've watched grow up.  Now they are the parents with their own children in the church pageant.  There is something to be said for the continuity of a small town.

Wrapping Presents

I really don't mind wrapping the presents.  I really do mind that I forget where I put the presents before I wrap them.  Sometimes I hide them too well.  This year, I shopped online and and had lot of things sent directly to TN.  I also packed a box of small things I'd purchased and mailed them.  The problem with that was that I forget what I put in the package and wound up thinking I'd left them in VA, so buying again.  Luckily I only replaced one (1) item before I realized what I had done.  I think Christmas makes me a little crazy!
This year I've picked out blue paper with lots of silver and white snowflakes.  Kind of a break from the traditional red and green.  One year I did a natural look and wrapped the gifts in brown paper and tied them with twine.  I stamped Christmasy things on them.  It was all very thematic.  I didn't really love it and have never repeated it.  Give me glitz and glitter every time!

Traveling

Kirk and I have a long established tradition of traveling home for the holidays.  This year is no exception.  Our trip from Virginia Beach to Cookeville yesterday was beautifully uneventful.  We started out as usual with Kirk driving, John lounging in the back seat and me reading aloud.  Every year I read Barbara Robinson's "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" to them.  Some times in the car and other times at home.  I think that's my favorite Christmas book and Kirk and John always seem to enjoy it too.
We played Christmas Trivia and listed to Santa Cruise on CD.  It's a twelve (12) hour drive, so after Santa Cruise we played Christmas music.
From Cookeville we will go to Gainesboro on Christmas Eve and to Nashville on the day after Christmas.  Then on the 27th we will make that twelve (12) hour drive again.  It's good to be here and will be good to be home too.  I really wish I had a pilot's license.

Annual Office Christmas Party

That title isn't really accurate as far as the Northrup Grumman party goes.  In Kirk's actual office in Suffolk, they have a lunch time "bring a dish" party one day during December.  Northrup Grumman also hosts an annual Christmas Party for all NG employees at different commands.  So you get to meet people who work in the same general area for the same company, only at a different location.  It's always fun to meet new people.
Everyone dresses up, very fancy and very festive.  Men wear the corporate uniform with the addition of a Christmas tie.  Last night I noticed a couple of the younger guys in black velvet blazers.
It was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth and the hotel was decorated beautifully.  After a cocktail hour we went into the dining/ball room.  They had buffet stations set up in each corner of the room.  The prime rib was just right!
The music was about what you expect with a DJ, some good, some just noisy.  There were tons of door prizes and after dinner, there was plenty of time to mix and mingle.
It was a good night, even with the worry of snow falling down and knowing we had to  drive back through the tunnel to get home. 
Abby would love my fancy shoes.  They are flats covered with silver sequins.  I will take them to Cookeville with me.

Supper With Friends

Last night we had our dear friends, Melodye and Tony Maiella over for supper.  It was nice.  Just the four (4) of us, no children this time.  I used the old white damask tablecloth that I appliqued holly leaves and ribbons on years ago and red napkins with the counted cross stitch napkin  holders that Geni made for me one year.  The table was set with our Lenox Christmas dishes, good silver and Mama's very delicate crystal.  We used silver trays, bowls and serving dishes.  It was all very fancy.  Abby and Mama would have loved it.

All the Christmas decorations and lights were on in every room.  I even found my Christmas Shower curtain and decorated in the bathroom.  It was really a very festive atmosphere.

The food turned out to perfection too.  That's always a worry.  Generally if one thing works another burns!  I made Ann's dill dip and had raw veggies, I also made a cranberry/apple chutney and spread it between to halves of a brie round then wrapped it in puff pastry and baked it.  It was really good.  We had smoked apple cheddar wedges with water crackers and smoked salmon with a garlic/dill mayonnaise.  That was probably my favorite.  The wine expert at Grape and Gourmet recommended a  Pinot Noir for appetizers and supper, so that's what we had.   It was good too.

Supper was a roasted turkey breast, sausage stuffing, green bean casserolle (Tony's favorite), Duchess Mashed Potatoes and my Cranberry conserve.  And more Pinot Noir!

Dessert was a choice.  There was pecan pie or chocolate swirl cheesecake.  The wine expert recommended a Muscat.  We loved the dessert, but none of us loved the wine.  It reminds me of a mix of B&B and brandy, if that's possible.

I do love cooking and I do love entertaining, so I really was in my element last night.  After supper we answered questions from a Christmas Trivia game.  Some were easy and some wanted really obscure information.  I'll have to practice before playing that again. 

All in all it was a wonderful evening.

Christmas Cards

Don't you just love getting Christmas Cards in the mail?  I do.  It's just fun to go to the mailbox and get cards and letters from friends and relatives.  I heard on the news last night that the postal service is in trouble financially.  I hope that it's fixable.  It would be a real shame for the next generation to miss out on getting real mail.  When John was in kindergarten he told his teacher that he was not going to learn to write, that he had a computer and didn't need to be able to write.  Of course, she called me and we had to have the talk about electricity and that we do all need to be able to write.  He grudgingly said he would consider it.  That's my boy.  Now he is a Sr. in college majoring in English Literature.  I love getting email and ecards, but my favorite is still opening an envelope and taking out a card with a wonderful picture on the front then seeing who signed it and what message they wrote.  I even like the annual Christmas letter.

Malls

Whoever thought up the concept of shopping malls was a genius.  Yesterday I shopped alone with a list.  I get more done like that.  The plan was to hit specific stores only.  Well, at Lynnhaven Mall, I went to Macy's, but thought of something I needed at Barnes and Noble, so had to go into the mall.  Okay, if you're in the mall, you have to walk the loop for "health" reasons.  Next it was Charming Charlie's (great store) in MacArthur Mall.  It's a 3 story mall and Charming Charlie's is on the second floor.  I parked on the top level next to Nordstrum's.  It is impossible to go through Nordstrum's without looking at everything there and if I'm in MacArthur Mall I have to see what is available at Restoration Hardware,  The Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, and Harry & David's.  I mean, really, if I'm going all the way to Norfolk to the mall, it would just be a waste of gas if I didn't check out the good stores!  On the way home, I ran in at Pembroke Mall.  I parked at the end nearest Sears, had to go more than half way done the mall to Steinmart's and since I was already on that end it only made sense to see what was on sale at Kohl's.  Of course I've spent time in Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Tuesday Morning too.  Just not yesterday!  The two little strip malls nearest to my house have good stuff too.  La Promenade has Talbot's and Jos. A Banks, that's in walking distance and when you get there, you can go to Starbucks.  I love combining healthy walking with a tall vanilla steamer!

Decorating

Yesterday, Kirk and I decorated the house for Christmas.  We stopped at K-Mart and bought a new tree stand and put the big tree up in the living room in from of the double windows.  In addition to the really large tree stand, we have small ropes tied from the tree trunk to the latches on the windows.  This is to prevent our annual Christmas tradition of our 25 pound cat knocking over the tree!  So far, he is just eyeing it.  I'm really hoping his age and weight are against him this year.  Maybe he will just be content with lying under it.
We really enjoyed getting out all the old ornaments, even testing the lights and probably for the first time ever, we had the extension cords we needed.  When John was little he wanted colored lights, so we have colored lights and a very colorful star shaped tree topper and bubble lights on the big tree in the living room.  It is beautiful.  Of course, in cleaning up to decorate, I've hidden the camera.  As soon as I find it, I will take pictures!

A New Tradition - On Line Shopping

I am past needing the satisfaction of holding an item in my hand and seeing for myself exactly how wonderful it is.  I may never need to experience that again.
With on line shopping your feet don't get tired, you don't fight crowds and you aren't disappointed when you go to a department store to do "one-stop" shopping and it doesn't work out.
You do, however, experience the buy one for you  and buy one for me at the same time.  And I must say, it is a little frustrating when the "Sorry - Out of Stock On Line" phrase appears.  I am sure that Wal-Mart's warehouses are too deep to run out of anything.
Still looking for a pink haired Lola Doll.  The internet hasn't helped there so far.  I find her only to be told "out of stock".

Decorate or Shop?

So far I have been to Hilltop Shops, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, Pembroke Mall and Sam's Wholesale this week.  Oh, I forgot Kirk and I stopped at the Nimmo Parkway Wal-Mart last night.
I do have a list, I'm just not really finding what I am looking for.  One of the things I now understand is not to be found anywhere is a pink haired Lola doll from the Hannah Montana series.  However, I did find a pink Barbie beach car and a beach Barbie and Ken to put in it.  I also found this really neat toy for Ethan (it wasn't on the list).  It's a voice changer.  Looks like a small megaphone, with a dial on the side to change your voice 4 different ways.  I think he will love it.
Today was the day I had scheduled my time to decorate the house, I may just put on my good walking shoes and hit the mall.  I can always blame it on the boys, they didn't get the Christmas decorations down from the attic!

Toys

I remember certain toys that I received and label that particular Christmas as, "The Chatty Kathy Christmas" or "The Electric Train Christmas".  Boys aren't the only ones whose toys get more expensive.  I also have "The Christmas Kirk gave me emeralds."  That was a really, really good year.
With my children, I remember it from the parent perspective.  The year Care Bears were the "must have" toy or the year of Cabbage Patch dolls.  They had electric train years too. 
Mother made the most wonderful doll clothes for our dolls and then did it again for Suzy and Beth.  I'll do it for Abby before she outgrows dolls, but not this year.
This year Ethan really wants everything Star Wars.  Abby has marked babies, Barbies, princesses and anything else in the catalogs that is pink.  I saw on the news that a toy called a Zhu Zhu Hamster has been recalled and am really glad neither of the children had asked for that one. 
I think it's time to make a trip to Toys R Us.  I used to dread the toy store and now I am actually looking forward to going.  Wonder what the "must have" toy is this year?

Christmas Parties

Okay, best tradition ever.  Christmas parties.  What's not to like? 
Kirk and I attended my sorority chapter Christmas party tonight.  We both really enjoyed ourselves.  It's always good to be with friends during the holidays.  In following with the theme of international sisterhood we all brought food from different countries.  Yum!
When we were younger, Kirk and I had limitless energy and could party till the wee hours without feeling it the next day.  Nowdays, we get home by 9 pm and are in bed  by 9:30!  Remember the old saying, "Youth is wasted on the young"?  It's true!

Over the River and Through the Woods

Ethan and Abby sang the Over the River song to me yesterday as we went to Grandma's house in Gainesboro. 
Today we are going a bit farther afield.  Kirk and John are going over the mountains and to the beach.  The children and I are going down the hill to the flatlands to Martin to help Beth with her move into her first new house.  They are very excited about it. 
Kirk and Eric loaded an antique dining room table and (6) chairs into the back of my van last night.  Eric is very creative at getting everything to fit in and still leave room for people.
We will put on Christmas music and sing loudly for four (4) hours in thecar.  Ethan and Abby will know all the words to the Christmas songs by Christmas day!  Right now they want songs about the reindeer since they were able to meet and actually pet Blitzen and Dancer on Saturday. Singing is much better than asking, "Are we there yet"?

The Night Before Thanksgiving

It was one year ago today that Suzy had a seizure in the parking lot of Kirklands and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.
It was one year ago tonight that I got the phone call telling me she was in the emergency room.  From the time the children began driving, I began dreading phone calls.  I just never expected that one.
I am grateful that we are able to be together as a family this year.  We need each other.
Ethan and Abby helped me cook tonight.  We tried to get as much done tonight as possible.  I brought my "Macy's On Parade" pop up book and we read it together this morning.  We are all excited about watching the parade tomorrow.  Ethan asked if we could go see it and I told him that I've been planning on taking him to see that parade since before he was born.  He just has to be a little older before we can actually do it.
When we were shopping for our turkey, his main stipulation was that it have bones.  He really wanted our cousin to take him out and let him shoot a wild turkey.  He wanted feathers and everything.  Since turkeys are not in season, we compromised.  Grandpa and I took him to Hobby Lobby and bought a bag of turkey feathers!  He is planning to take them to school on Monday and give them to his classmates.  I'm not real sure what he wants with the bones. 
Abby asked me what I'm wearing tomorrow and then told me what she's wearing.  She already has plans for her hair too.
I made sweet potatoes and a butternut squash casserolle that Ethan can eat and I baked a pumpkin pie that will be allergy free for him.  The cranberry fruit conserve and the Waldorf salad are all going on his plate too.  It's really not to hard to convert recipes to get around the allergy ingredients.
Tomorrow we'll bake the turkey and the Tofurkey.  Mama is bringing the ham.  Another Thanksgiving where we could feed the neighbors!  Oh well, the left overs are my favorite part,

The Nashville Nativity Scene

I have this print hanging in the hallway of my house in Virginia Beach.  The picture above is of the artist, Elaine Speed Neeley.  The picture depicts the life size Nativity Scene in front of the Parthenon in Centenniel Park in Nashville.  I keep it up year round.  The nativity scene was sponsored by the Harvey's Department Stores.  It had colored lights and it glowed.  I remember thinking it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.  Mama would come home from work, fix supper and then we'd pile into the car and drive across town to the park to see the Nativity Scene.  It was there every Christmas from 1956 through 1967.  I wish my children and grandchildren could have seen it.

Thanksgiving in Cookeville

Eric called me and suggested we have our Thanksgiving celebration in Cookeville.  What a good idea!  Ethan and Abby can help me cook.  I love it.

The Tradition of Flexibility

Beth's loan officer told her yesterday that the closing has been put off until next week.  All is okay, just next week now.  The underwriter's are all overworked because of the end of November cut off on the first time buyer incentive.  Well,  okay.
We'll just  have to do Thanksgiving dinner somewhere else.  See, flexibility is important.  Maybe, this is a good way to move in and put up Christmas decorations at the same time.  We'll play Christmas music and watch Christmas movies while we put dishes and tupperware in the cabinets.
It really doesn't matter what we'll be doing, we'll be together.

Christmas in October?

I wondered why the department stores begin decorating for Chrsitmas in October, so I asked a lady who works at K-Mart.  She told me that it's because things are so expensive that shoppers need the extra time to be able to afford them.  Also, K-Mart still has a lay away program.
I think most people I know put up their trees the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We didn't used to, but when we moved back to Virginia in 2000 we began decorating that weekend to have time to enjoy the fun there before we headed back to Tennessee for the actual holiday.
Driving through Martin, Beth and I noticed houses that already have their Christmas lights and garland up.  That's too early for me.  I need Thanksgiving to be a seperate holiday.
When the girls were little we put up the decorations to coincide with the Christmas break from school and kept them up until New Year's Day.  At some point we began putting the ribbons from the Christmas packages on the tree and calling it our New Year's tree.
Seems like I remember growing up the tree was a two (2) week event.  One (1) week before Christmas and one (1) week after.  Of course, we had cut trees back then instead of artificial.  Even the white flocked tree that Mama got from a florist one year was a real tree underneath.  It was beautiful.  She put blue and silver ornaments on it and we painted lots of other decorations silver.  (I associate painting pinecones, hedge apples, old ornaments etc with Christmas decorating - maybe that's why the smell of spray paint doesn't bother me).
A couple of years ago, I decided to decorate the house at the beach in other ways and not use the big tree in the living room.  Mainly because of our cat.  For those of you who know Oberon, no explanation is needed. For anyone else, he is a twenty five (25) pound tom cat (fixed) with an attitude problem.  I have done battle with him over the tree for years.  I never win the battle.  One year I even tied lavender scented moth ball packets to my tree to keep him out of it.  It didn't work.  I have tried everything that anyone has ever suggested to me to keep that cat out of my tree and none of it has ever worked.  He has broken more ornaments than you can imagine.  The last time we put the tree up, he climbed up the middle and tried too lay himself across some branches about half way up toward the front of the tree.  His weight tipped the tree over.  It fell on it's side across the coffee table.  The tree stand broke.  Luckily K-Mart sells replacements.
I'm not sure how we will be decorating this year, but I know it won't be until after Thanksgiving.

More on Life With Ethan

I did pick up the Penny's Toy Catalog and a small one for the holiday season.  Wal-Mart has also produced a toy catalog and I brought that home too.  Ethan and I looked through them and he finally told me, "Granny, when you go to Santa's workshop and see  him, just tell him everything Star Wars." 
He has asked me a couple of times now if I really believe in Santa and just why is it that grown ups get to go to the workshop, but kids don't and why doesn't Santa bring grown ups toys too.  He thought about that and amended it to say other than their stockings.  He is working this out too fast!!
Last December we got a Santa's Elf that lived here for the month, moving around and playing tricks during the night while we were sleeping.  And of course, reporting to Santa. 
All during this year we've made Fairy Houses and hidden them in the trees so the fairies will have a nice place to sleep.  I've hidden fairies in the houses for them to find when I leave Tennessee each time and they always call me, too excited for words, when they find them. 
This trip I found two (2) really beautiful Autumn Fairies, a girl and a boy, and have them in the house just like the Christmas Elf.  Every morning, first thing, Ethan and Abby look for the fairies to see where they moved during the night.  It is so wonderful to see their belief in magic and fairies and Santa.  I am really not ready for this stage of their childhood to end.
I'll just have to be as convincing as possible for as long as I possibly can.

The J C Penny Christmas Catalog, etc.

I am sitting here at the kitchen table next to Ethan as he marks his name on every item in the Lillian Vernon for Kids Catalog.  They personalize many of their items and he is diligently searching for an example of luggage with his name embroidered on it.  He found a rolling suitcase with Abby on it and was very excited about that.
I remember making a list from the Sear's Christmas Book and giving it to Grandaddy.  It must have been a mile long.  Suzy and  Beth always loved all the catalogs that came in the mail.  But as I recall they were a little more discriminating than Ethan is being tonight.  He has even marked a pink electric mixer!
I will check at Penny's when I go out tomorrow and see if their Christmas Catalog is out yet and if it is I'll bring it home and we will sit down together and do some serious marking.
If I had just been thinking of traditions, I don't believe I would have listed marking the catalog as one of ours, but it really is and it's another one that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Holiday Food

I like food.  I love finding something new and wonderful and sharing it with other people.  I really love all the wonderful food we have that is associated with particular holidays.  When I think of Easter, I think of ham, asparagus and potato salad.  Independence Day is cookout food; burgers, ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans, deviled eggs and, again, potato salad.  Valentine's Day is chocolate and Halloween is more chocolate!  Then we have Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Feasts.  Food so rich you only have it once a year.  Last year I learned to brine a turkey from the class at Williams Sonoma.  It was the best turkey I have ever made.  I always make sweet potato casserole from a recipe that Peggy gave me many years ago.  I found a cranberry conserve recipe in the Victoria Magazine over 20 years ago and it is now a standard that we have to have every year.  I make Gina's chess pie every year too.  Aunt Nyta used to make jam cake at Christmas every year.  I haven't tried that, but I don't need to because Peggy does it!  Geni makes the coconut cake now.  A few years ago, when we found out about Ethan's allergies, I figured out how to make an "Ethan Friendly" pumpkin pie.  When we were kids, Mother made these great Christmas breakfasts.  We always had country ham and biscuits.  Christmas is the only time I eat country ham these days, but it is absolutely necessary on Christmas morning. 
Sharing great food with family and friends, now that's a tradition I'll never change.

Games

I picked up a Scrabble Jr. game today and it made me think of all the games we've played on Christmas Eve over the years.   I'm not really sure when we started doing it, but it's been going on a long time.  When John was little we would go to the 5 pm church service most years because he would be in the pageant and then we would head down to Ann & Jack's in Gainesboro for our Reeve family Christmas celebration.  When we got home after that we would play some sort of board game before going to bed.  We haven't played as much since Ethan and Abby were born, just too much going on, but now that they are older, maybe it's a tradition we can begin again.  I really love Cranium, but even Old Maid would be fun. 

Tree Ornaments

I ran in to Hobby Lobby today to pick up goggly eyes and pipe cleaners so Ethan and Abby can help me make pinecone turkeys.  Of course, I had to look at the aisles and aisles of Christmas decorations.  They are all 50% off right now.  Some were fun and some were pretty, even at 50% off, some were quite expensive.  I was standing there looking at the crystal snowflakes and a lady standing next to me said, "I don't know how anyone buys new ornaments every year for a theme tree."  Actually, I can't imagine using all new ornaments every year.  I cherish the old ones and they seem new every time I unpack them because it's been a year since I last saw them.
We put a small "theme" tree on the sideboard in our dining room every year.  It has beautiful Lenox and Wedgewood ornaments and the fillers are little porcelain angels.  And in the kitchen, we put up a garland around the window that has gingerbread people and Coca Cola ornaments.  The fireplace is in the den, so that's where the stockings go.  It's sort of a "North Woods" theme, lots of dark red and cream colors and all of the Mooses that John has gotten from Harry & David's over the years.
It's all pretty and I love it, but my absolute favorite is the big tree in the living room.  That's the tree that has the "kid made" ornaments.  There's a silver Legg's egg with glitter and a red yarn cord that Suzy made at school one year and a picture of Beth in a paper frame that she made in kindergarten and a clothes pin reindeer with goggly eyes in odd places that John made for me.  Lots of others too.  And there are the ornaments that each child picked out on a Christmas shopping trip every year, they are on that tree too.  Of course, we gave Suzy and Beth their ornaments when they started putting up trees of their own, but John's are still on the tree at home, including a tiny wooden angel from his first Christmas.  We still put the breakable ornaments up higher on that tree.  We did it for so long to keep them from getting broken that they just look like they belong there.
Better Homes and Gardens will probably never celebrate a tree like our living room tree, but I think it's the most beautiful Christmas tree in the world.

The Tradition of Travelling Home for the Holidays

On my long drive from Tennessee today I thought about other trips from Virginia to Tennessee.  There have been plenty of them and most of them were fun.  Even when we lived in Cookeville, we still had traveling to do to get to Mother's for the family gathering and dinner. 
Having books on CD make the rides better for me.  In earlier years, I would read aloud to Kirk and the kids with only a few breaks for breathing!  I enjoyed reading to them, still do.  But I really appreciate the books on CD for my car trips.  My audio books, music CD's and movies this time are all Christmas themed.  I used to start playing the Christmas music at home and in the car right after Halloween so the kids would know all the songs again by Christmas.  Today I listened to Mary Higgens Clark/Carol Higgens Clark, "Santa Cruise" and John Grisham "Skipping Christmas"  I also listened to the music from the Muppet Family Christmas.  I really love it.  Miss Piggy is too fabulous.

Lists

Does everyone make lists?  Today is my day to pack for November in Tennessee and I have multiple lists!  The newest is a Christmas shopping list.  I had a gift idea while I was changing the laundry and decided I better write it on a list quickly lest I forget it.  Mine are paper and pencil lists.  Not modern technology.  I like to mark through accomplished tasks.  That black line is satisfying.  Back to packing!

All Saint's Day

Frankly, this has been a tough weekend to get through.  It is very easy to remember all the wonderful times with all the children on Halloween, but very difficult to not feel sad that Suzy won't be here to repeat the process with Ethan and Abby.  This is the first year since Ethan's birth that Suzy hasn't sent me Halloween pictures as soon as they got home.  It was just part of our routine.
Even more difficult for me was Sunday, All Saint's Day.  When Suzy and Beth were little, we attended St. Anne's in Nashville.  On All Saint's Day the children dressed up like a saint.  One year, Suzy was St. Suzanne, a Roman martyr and Beth dressed like St. Elizabeth.  Part of the service was having all the children come up front and sing St. Elizabeth's hymn.  It was a charming service and such a happy time.  It's a wonderful memory.  Until, it hits me again that it's another thing that horrible disease stole from her.  She's at peace and resting now, but I am angry for her.  If only cancer could be eradicated.

Halloween

Kirk and I made it through Halloween.  As seen in the picture, now that my children are grown, I dress up the dog!  I used to put angel wings on Rosie, but age does rate the priviledge of not having to wear a costume.  Our neighborhood is safe and comfortable for children to trick or treat and we had a steady stream from 6 to 8 pm.  The little ones were so cute.  Rosie sort of ignored them, but Gracie stood on the couch and spoke to them all. 

Calm, Serene Holiday Celebrations

Every magazine with a holiday theme has a headline concerning holidays and stress.  The all say "Read me and you will be able to manage your holiday stress."  Well, maybe not in those exact words, but close. 
Today is a holiday.  It is Halloween.  I am determined that this will be a good day.  One year Suzy changed her mind about her costume the night before, so she and I made a witch costume that night for her to wear to school the next day.  Another year she wanted to be a pumpkin.  We made a huge felt pumpkin and stuffed it with balloons.  The Halloween when she was in the 10th grade she had me make her a clown suit.  That was for a party with other band students.  A little later she made herself a "modest" Arabian Knights costume.
My favorite costume of Beth's was the "Gypsy".  We went to Lynnhaven Mall for the Halloween "safe" trick or treating that year.  I think my all time favorite of John's was the stegasaurus that Suzy helped me make.  But maybe it was Elvis, he had such fun in that one.
John is dressing up for two (2) parties tonight.  He is going as a Knight in Shining Armor.  Maybe this one is really my favorite.

A New Tradition

Okay, I now realize how foolish I have been to turn down opportunities to go to a therapeutic masseuse in the past.  Very foolish.  If I were wealthy, I would have one on staff and get a massage everyday.  This was the most calm I have felt in so very long.  I have decided that a massage is now going to be a new holiday tradition.  That means; Martin Luther King Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, (there's bound to be a holiday for August), Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For my birthday this year, Kirk gave me a session at a nearby Therapeutic Massage center.  This morning I dropped Gracie off at the groomer's and walked two doors down for my massage.  It was like drifting on a cloud.  I highly recommend it to everyone. 
Anyone know of an August holiday?

Cookie Dough

I remember times, after Thanksgiving, around my Aunt Mary Jo's table, making Cookie Dough Christmas Ornaments.  I remember Beth, our cookie monster, wanting to eat them!  I remember Suzy, concentrating and working so hard to get the painting on each one she made just right.
We used cookie cutters that had a good bit of detail, I think they were by Tupperware.  The ones I have on hand are generally made by Wilton and more about exterior shape than interior content.  I think they are in a big bag in a box up in the attic.  Oh no, another trip to the attic.  At least I pretty much know where everything is up there now.
As I recall, the recipe had a lot of flour and salt.  I'm sure I can find it on line.   This would be the perfect year for Ethan and Abby to begin this tradition.  Whether I make them here and take them to be painted in TN or I have the kids help with the baking depends on how brave I feel!  As a grandmother, I'm not as good with chaotic mess as I was as a mother.
If the rain stops for a while I plan on going to Red Wing Park today to hunt for Hedge Apples.  This will be a great Christmas Tree; decorated pinecones, cookie dough ornaments and hopefully painted hedge apples.
I found my camera.  Pictures will follow soon.

My Mother's Comment

Mama doesn't blog.  She doesn't email either.  She does write "real" notes and letters.  In today's "snail mail" I received her comment for my blog regarding pinecones.  She also sent me a picture of some pinecone candle rings.  Here's her note.
"Virginia McDaniel (Mama's stepmother) sprayed with silver and gold to make Christmas decorations.  She also sliced the bottom off those green balls from trees, Hedge Apples! and bored holes and sprayed silver for candle holders at Christmas.  I used to put the pinecones we got in Williamsburg and Jamestown in the log basket and kept on the hearth.  Pinecones are used in making X-Mas wreaths.  A pretty one would be pinecones, wine bottle stoppers, grapes and grape vines.  That could be used fall and winter.  I'm trying to think of more but I guess that's it.
Love, Mother"
Thanks Mama, I love it!  Now I'll have to tell  her she left a comment on my blog.

My Birthday

I am 57 years old today.  Somehow that seems a lot closer to 60 than 56 did.  Getting older has never bothered me.  My 30's were better than my 20's and my 40's were better than my 30's.  The 50's started out well, but kind of went down hill for a while.  I have a tough time keeping my New Year's resolutions, so instead, I make birthday resolutions.  This year my resolution is to find the good in every situation that arises.  I know, it sounds like Pollyanna.
My dear friend, Melodye, gave me a birthday party last night.  We had a really good time.  The food, as usual, was superb and the company, perfect.  We played a game called Catch Phrase that is a wonderful party game.  I plan on getting one to take to TN next time I go.
Kirk and I are having a leisurely morning.  He's running to the market to pick up a Sunday paper and later we will go to the cooking class at Williams Sonoma.  It's going to be a great, lazy day, birthday.  We opted for watching "Hour of Power" instead of rushing to dress for church.  I'll go on Wednesday!
Pinecone, update:  I filled all the planters on the front porch with pinecones (a Martha Stewart idea) and along with chrysanthmums and pumpkin, the porch looks very autumn festive.
John says I am the only person he knows who views Martha Stewart's ideas as a challenge!

Searching & Scanning

I am amazed at how many pictures we have accumulated in fifty-seven (57) years!  What wonderful memories they bring.  I am also a little amazed that I was able to put the slide show for this blog together.  It confirms my theory that if you can read you can do just about anything.  Suzy loved the year she and Beth got the electric train.  Looking back at the first pictures with Santa brings back good memories too.  I took Suzy to the Santa at Cain Sloan (now Dillard's) in downtown Nashville.  With Beth, we went to Madison Square Shopping Center.  Suzy was so excited that day.  Now, John was at Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach.  There is a story to that one too.  I decided to take him to the mall during the middle of the day, in the middle of the week.  I figured there would be fewer people and we'd be in and out quickly.  It didn't work out that way.  There was a robbery in progress and a guy with a gun running around in the mall!  Scary then, but makes for a good story now.
Pinecone art is still in progress.

Family Photographs

So far I've gone through all the pictures I have stored on my computer and about half that are saved on discs.  Then, there is the antique Steamer Trunk, full to overflowing.  All of the pictures are dear to me.  I love seeing how we've all changed over the years.  I especially treasure the pictures from last year.

Pinecones and Fairy Lights

Look at my bowl of pinecones!

I was thinking of putting the wooden bowl of pinecones on the hearth, but Gracie steals everything I put there!  I really loved the cinnamon ideas from Melodye, once you cook them, you sprinkle them with cinnamon and they smell like Christmas!

An Additional Note on Pinecones

Baking pinecones create a truly unusual odor.  To be crafty/creative with them, your supply list should include Easy Off Oven Cleaner and Lysol Odor Remover Spray.

An Abundance of Pine Cones

I happen to have three (3) large and unattractive pine trees in my front yard.  They drip.  Constantly.  They drip sap and pine needles and pine cones.  They attract birds.  Birds drip too.  On my car.
I am going to turn a negative into a positive by using the pine cones to decorate.  I have been on line garnering ideas.  An important item that I learned is that you should bake the pinecones before you do anything with them.  This kills any insects that might be lingering between the petals.
The thought of insects in the pine cone petals is a little disgusting.  Actually the idea of killing bugs in my oven doesn't do much for me either.  Sounds like I better pick up some Easy Off at the grocery.
There are lots of things to do with pine cones.  Spray painting sounds easiest.  So, add spray paint to my list.  What do you do with scads of painted pine cones?  Pile them in your outdoor flower pots!
Do you have any interesting pine cone ideas to share?

Why am I doing this?

This will be the most difficult Christmas season of my life.
On July 31, 2009 my precious daughter, Suzy, lost her battle with cancer.  This will be my first Christmas in 38 years to not shop for a gift for her. 
This will be her sister and brother's first Christmas without her.  She was my first baby and took the role of big sister seriously.  She was an organizer and planner and when she told Beth or John to have a good time, she meant it!
This will be Eric, her husband's, first Christmas without her in fourteen (14) years.
But most difficult of all, it will be Ethan and Abby, her children's, first Christmas without her.
She loves all of us unstintingly, forever.  So, my Christmas gift to her will be to make this the best holiday season ever.  I'm not sure what that entails, or how I'm going to do it, but I do know there will be humor involved!  This blog will chronicle my journey.