Take a Deep Breath... and Keep Going

What a Monday and the day before bills are due! At one point I didn't know what payments I'd posted and what I hadn't. I had to take time out and do a quick audit and see if it was all there. It was...

It was a Dr. Pepper day. Tomorrow will be the same, and Wednesday - well, I... I just can't think that far ahead. It'll be okay. God already knows just what customers will be coming in, driving by and I will just take my time. I'm more familiar with everything this time around. Take a deep breath.

We got cards from Paul's first cousins once removed, which I used to call second cousins, but they're not. And their children - cute little boys - 2 in one family, 1 in another - all little redheads and all could very well be brothers. Tara has the bright red hair - not coppery shiny bright, but true red - and Lynn's is more auburn - and their boys all have the red hair gene. Cute, cute!

Martha C in Memphis sent a thank you card for the banana bread I sent her - she said she called three people before calling Salinda to find out who sent it to her! We'd only met once. She asked for the recipe, which I copied from one of Mama's cookbooks, and have it ready to mail to her. The kind of sweet person you feel you've known all your life. I read Sher the note and she said she didn't sound like she's in her 80's. She doesn't act like it either. Salinda and Martha, below.

I heated soup for supper. Paul wasn't feeling well and had been home a lot today. After supper, I wrapped Mama Nick and Amy's gifts, straightened up around the computer. I need to get back in the bedroom and hang up clothes. Always have to "clean up" before Tina comes!

The Weekend

Saturday I finally got to the beauty shop, caught up folding laundry, washed a load of white sweaters, turtlenecks, etc., and when I started to put them into the dryer, there was another load to be folded... Paul said he had a scratchy throat and only had one Coricidin. I went to Walmart for another box and picked up a few other things. Soup for lunch, quick and hot, and then a three-hour nap. I had to make a point of putting it on my to-do list. My self couldn't do another thing until I rested. I also called Tina and made arrangements for her to come help with the house this week. I just couldn't let it go till after Christmas! It needs more attention than I've had time or energy to give it lately.

This morning I went to Sunday School but not to church. Afterward I stopped at the grocery for over-ripe bananas, which they had - bags of them for $1.99. I made peanut butter cookies first, and Oscar and I delivered them to Sol and Rose (they and their parents weren't home, but I left them in between their doors); took some by Jean's for Julia, and then we drove to the cemetery. I left a poppy in front of Teri's headstone and walked Oscar around a little. It was so cold and windy atop the hill!

Home again, I started on the banana nut bread and made two loaves of that. I had bought cranberries a couple of weeks ago and needed to use them, so next I made cranberry-orange bread. (I really like - really like! - the stand mixer I got several weeks ago. It has saved me so much holding of bowls and stirring. It does just about everything but clean itself up!) All these loaves needed pecans which were in the freezer. I had to unload the top of it to get to the nuts. I got everything "iced" with cream cheese icing with a little maple syrup stirred in - gave it a really nice flavor. All these are in the fridge now waiting for their trip to Mississippi on Thursday.

Tonight was our church's Christmas music. Baby Jesus really cried and it was very sweet and realistic. The music was so pretty; Wesley began the program with a solo and was backed by the choir. A young boy played violin accompanied by piano for the offertory; I don't know who the boy is, but it was a beautiful piece and he played it very well. The choir and all the musicians work and practice very hard to lead us in worship and it was a wonderful program.

Three days to work this week... It'll be very busy, too, because it's "that time of month," the due date on the bills. I'm glad I got the baking done today. I have a few gifts to wrap. Winding down, catching up, watching the Christmas tree lights blink, and half-way listening to "White Christmas," which I'd recorded. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen... Got to go to bed.

Par-tees!

Charlene had the "TB's" over yesterday for breakfast - it was a quick breakfast as I had to go on to work - but lots of fun and laughter all the same. We each spent no more than a dollar on gifts for each other, which is also fun; and brought snacks to go along with the spice cake, pigs 'n blankets, juice and coffee Charlene prepared. You can get great bargains and useful gifts for a dollar and have a good time exchanging them! Oh, these girls - we've been friends for many years and I'm thankful for them. Charlene's home was decorated for Christmas and looked so lovely - Darlene decorated over the last year or so that Charlene and Bill have lived in town, and it was done so tastefully. Carol, Charlene, Jean, moi.



Last night was Woodruff's Christmas party and I didn't make quite as many pictures as usual; I just sort of sat back and looked, visited with most folks, especially the retirees. Mr. Carpenter and Miss Mildred were in from Booneville (he came by the office after they arrived in town; she visited her friends she'd known for years from church and the community). Wesley, Mollie and Kaylin were there and Cindy was very handy with the baby - they both enjoyed each other's company. Carolyn and TR sat across from us, as well and John and Cindy. Johnny Criss from Moro won a Crock Pot. Maybe we'll hear that he used it over the holidays...

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Beck and I both have been Mr. C's secretary. I started in 1969 and then later worked pretty much in benefits, which I'd also done as his secretary. Benefits became HR, and Beck was his secretary from 1990 until he retired in 2003. We both think the world of him and his family. Their granddaughter Kelly Jane is already 10! Quite some folks when Miss Mildred can drive four hours at ther age - 86!

Visiting with Sharon in the lobby. The trophy is one that Woodruff's float was awarded in one of the parades.

John and Cindy. She has a priceless laugh! If you don't even know what's funny and hear her laugh, which we do often, you just have to laugh, too!

Cindy and Kaylin.

TR and Carolyn. She's helped me so much in the cashier's drive-through, as have all the billing office folks.

Johnny and his prize. I have one like this, and it's a nice one. (Mine was a gift, too.)

Me and Paul.

After the party, Paul and I drove by Beck and Wally's house, which he'd decorated with a gazillion lights! And it's beautiful, reflected on the lake. When it comes to Christmas decorations, Wally reminds me very much of Sparky - he loves Christmas! I got out of the truck and put the camera on the hood of it for balance, they saw us stopped across the way and yelled at us - we exchanged the greeting and I flashed the camera a couple of times. The last house is Tommy and Pam's. He's our billing supervisor. Again we stopped and I steadied the camera on the truck hood - when will I ever have time to learn all the things about my new camera????

So after all the partying, it was Friday once again, and I was soooo tired all day. Paul has gone to a basketball game at the high school, I've had a hot shower and used handfuls of Curel lotion, Christmas Vacation is on sort of in the background, Oscar is lounging in the recliner, and the Christmas lights are blinking. I talked to Amy earlier and she was snugged in, too.

When Can I Read A Book?

I have a list of things to do in the next few days and doesn't everyone? I think the scanning caught up with me today about lunch time - no, not I caught up - IT caught me - my back between my shoulder blades feel as if it's been twisted into a red-hot knot. This, too, shall pass. A couple more Advil...

Lately I've been looking at all these recipes for baking - cakes, breads, cookies - as if I had all the time in the world until next Thursday to make all these picture-perfect goodies. One of my very favorites from childhood is Snickerdoodles, and there was a recipe in today's newspaper for them, but they are swirled, so I suppose that involves one of those pastry cone thingies, or a Ziploc bag with a corner cut out of it. Every year I think I will save all the December magazine issues for "ideas" for the next year, since the current year just doesn't have enough hours between now and next Thursday to do these neat things. Such as this simple but pretty gift wrapping over at Rosy Little Things. I even have scissors that will cut scallops like this, but I think I'm out of doilies and any "theme" colored paper. But by the time I think of all the magazines I've saved it's too late to look for them or too late to make the ideas or requires one more trip to Wal-Mart where I don't want to go again until 2010.

Speaking of books, does anyone have a Kindle? Do you like it? Now if I could just convert all my "real" books to digital and download them....

Gone With the Wind was on TV last night (I watched about 15 minutes of it). Poor Scarlet. But I know how she feels. "I'll think about all this tomorrow."

Girls' Night!

Woodruff girls had their Christmas party at Mazzio's tonight, with an unexpected visit from that "jolly old elf" himself - Santa! We all took gifts and played Dirty Santa. I had Cindy going for a while because I had a high number and I took her snowmen figure! But... I gave it back to her. She opened my chocolate I swapped her and shared it all around before I could give her snowmen back! But there was plenty and I have been hitting the chocolate pretty heavy lately, so I was glad she opened it. And Paul loves Turtles, too.

Two of the retired ladies came - Donna standing 4th from left and Ruth standing 4th from right. Ruth's daughter Beth got the prized place on Santa's knee. She's been having some health problems and we all wish her the best and pray the doctors soon diagnose the trouble. We missed Kay, Rachel (another retiree), Lisa from Barton, Carolyn #2, and Mickey. Kay's mother had a house fire which was pretty bad, and although didn't burn completely, the smoke damage made it a complete loss. Most of us have been there many, many years, and we are indeed a family who cares about each other, having been through weddings, births, deaths, illnesses, and other "challenges" with one another. We are, left to right: (front) Danielle, Lisa, Santa (of course!), Beth, Norma; (standing) Cindy, Carolyn, Ruby, Donna, Becky, Sharon, Vera, Ruth, London, Norma, me.

Love you all, girls. And thanks, Santa, whose middle initials are WOD, for your surprise visit!

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For a really lovely Christmas card, go here - someone sent this to me and I thought I'd pass it on. Turn up the sound...

What a Day Holds

She is my and Sher's friend from Alabama whom we knew about 45 years ago, Diane's aunt, but very near the same age. Sher let me know today that her (Carolyn's) husband died, shortly after retiring and after they'd bought a travel trailer or RV, and made one trip to Florida. And he died. She didn't say when, but recently, since April anyway, since Diane's mother's funeral where we saw them.

Isn't it amazing how those childhood friendships are just there forever, even if you don't see the people for decades? There's a connection, grounded in innocence, vulnerability, exploration of life, and fun times. I was so sorry to hear this; and they have an adult child with a lifelong health problem they've managed all these years. I'm glad Diane and Carely Fay have each other and are such close friends. I plan to get in touch with Carolyn soon.

Today one of the girls was sick and out of the office, so I floated around from one cashier station to another and got quite a bit of scanning done to boot. Beck said those who wanted to take the H1N1 flu shot could do so this Thursday (day of the WECC's Christmas party). I'm almost afraid to, but really afraid not to, as sick as I was several years ago - flu or not - I think they've always helped me be less sick with URI, colds, in the winter. Several had signed for it. Tomorrow night we "girls" will have our party at Mazzio's.

I mailed Miss Martha C's banana nut bread to her today. It's in a nice sturdy box, so it should get there alright. I met her last week at Salinda's birthday party. I can think of two things I meant to do on my way home from work this evening, but didn't - stop by Debra T's and leave her pictures, stop at Mike's in Colt for a gift. Just add to my list for tomorrow. Paul said he'd get the Sonic gift card for me - part of a Sunday School project.

Time to sign off. Time to sleep - that beautiful state of being that God gives us for restoration and renewal.

The Week in Pictures

Thursday's Goodie Day -

Tommy (far background), Carl and London.

Carl got a good start, and this didn't include desserts!

John's smoked pork - great BBQ! Yummy!

An Elf slipped this in here!

Sharon (receptionist) will be on vacation the last two weeks of this month. This beautiful arrangement is behind her at the front desk. We'll sure miss her! - more calls for us to answer!

Becky often relieves Sharon.

Norma looks very innocent, but I think she just jabbed Cody with her fork... Or was she trying to get his dessert!?

Matthew, Mark and Glenn (thought I was gonna say Luke?) were on the same day figuring out some wiring on new hardware upgrade installations. We all did work a little that day!

Friday night - a wonderful steak supper at the Fire Department...

where good-natured jokes and pranks are carried out with the newest firefighters performing Christmas songs; Gerald directed.

The firemen's wives read a rhyming tribute to their husbands... and their ranks...

who were not immune to good-natured fun! (Elf Yourself by OfficeMax) The elves were busy this week!

Teri's aunt Alice Virginia, whose husband Elliot was a fireman - we were glad to give her a ride home - deja vu - had it already been a year since we did this??

Meanwhile, all week the rain and wind had been doing its work, stripping the trees of more leaves.

And Oscar wishes you a Merry Christmas!!