WEARING PJs - A LOT

I decided to get dressed early today since a couple of neighbors have caught me in pjs in the afternoon. In my defense, one lady is still working and the other is our aunt who "ran to town" on an errand and stopped by on her way home. Christmas night I just crashed and slept till mid-morning the next day. That day I did nothing and another good reason is that it rained all day long. Yesterday I took all the Christmas things down, carefully wrapped and packed all the ornaments, threw away the holly; Paul took the tree apart and all is back in the attic now.

Today is my youngest brother's birthday so I made him brownies to take to him this afternoon. Right now I should be - should be... those terrible words - washing sheets. It is sunny and I love sheets hung on the line. But wait... the line is down because they dug the trench under it for our field line. So no frozen fingers... I did wash the sheets. In a prior life I would have had to have that bed made back up, but there is tomorrow. I'm calling myself Scarlett again.

We did have a wonderful Christmas: Christmas Eve (pizza!) at Mike and Marsha's; breakfast at David and Sandra's. (Amy was so sick, though, and barely made it through, but by Christmas night was much better). We had dinner/supper at our house - chicken spaghetti, fresh green beans, corn pudding, desserts. Carol brought a big pot of chili. I was amazed how rested they seemed after their flight home from Hawaii just Christmas Eve! But then they are a good bit younger than we are... and slept fourteen hours.  I have to brag on Oscar. He begged me to let him off the leash and he was good as gold with all the people around. Of course, no one looked at him directly or petted him, and he was happy to just be part of the crowd.  Christmas evening Paul, Amy, Matt and I opened gifts before they went back to Memphis.

Highlights:

My help making a stocking for Amy.



All moving parts ready to go... and sew...



Forty-plus sayings when you mash this paw or that ear.

I know Morgan and Steven will love it. Tyler did!

Amy's "nap mat" from kindergarten that I used for a tree skirt.

Spinach/cheese pastry roll, before baking.

Tyler with Great Uncle Paul

Grandmommy and Granddaddy (brother Mike and sis-in-law Marsha) with Tyler.

Mama's picture behind Marsha.

Lapful of furry friends.

Matt with Marianna and Whitney, Christmas Breakfast, David & Sandra's.

Carol comforts Amy in the big easy chair. Maybe Carol was still a little sleepy...

Our house for afternoon Christmas dinner; Tommy, Paul, Aunt Ginny, Matt.

My old white china I've not used in years; Harmony House.

Christmas evening before Amy and Matt went back to Memphis.

He loved the housecoat Amy gave him. I'm wondering now if he took it off when they left...

Gift card. Paul took this and another he'd had "a couple of years" to Lowe's and bought a small chain saw for brush work.

Oscar was so good. And so tired.

These will go on the tree next year!

Sandra made each family an ornament.

Amy loved her bedside table.

She practically slept with her laptop in her bed, so maybe this will help.

Wonderful time with families. Thank You, Lord, for keeping us all safe and well. Thank You for Your Son Jesus, who makes Christmas what it is; help us keep it as it should be. 

Thanks to everyone for all the cards and family pictures!

Happy New Year, in case I don't show up here again till next year!

I GO THROUGH A DOOR AND...

It's true what they say about going through doors - it causes you to forget. I sometimes go from one room to another wondering why I am wandering around. I do find things to do in each room and usually end up carrying things from one end of the house to the other! For so many years I had to remember so many things at once. Paul wondered what it would feel like to be retired. "Mindless," I told him. It sometimes is pretty much true.

I'm not looking back at what I've written about. So since I wrote I think we've had the Christmas party at Carrington House where Mama Nick is. If so, the memory is still wonderful and I write about it again. There was entertainment by a lady who was singing when we left over 40 years ago (I bet she's tired); dancing by an octogenarian; a great meal with loads of delicious food brought by family members. Mama Nick was up and able to eat at the table with us and other friends we've known for years - Harold was married to my cousin Diane who died three years ago this month. His sister is Mama Nick's next-door neighbor. Tommy and Carol came. I know Mama Nick was glad we were there; she was so tired sitting up though and soon wanted to be helped back to her room.

Tommy, Carol and family have arrived safely in Hawaii, their "surprise" destination. Carol planned it all; the rest of the family knew they were going somewhere and what sort of clothes to take, but not really sure about where. I think maybe at the end they had it figured out. Tommy texted me this morning and said they must be going there because they were in Denver airport changing planes and at the Honolulu gate to board! They got there around 8:30 p.m. after traveling since 3:00 a.m. this morning. They are younger that we are and have teenagers. I hated to say anything about the jet lag coming back this way, so I didn't.

If things keep happening, our whole back yard will have been dug up. The men came today and trenched over 150 feet for new field line. They had to knock down a few trees to get the trencher in the woods, but it had to be done. It doesn't look bad. Another job for Paul: cutting up small trees and limbs. He said he'd probably need to get Mike to bring his chain saw again, a few were that big.

We took Aunt Ginny light-seeing tonight. One great light show was down a hilly gravel road (about like a roller coaster in the dark) but at the top of the hill - lights synchronized with a radio station where the homeowner told where to turn, how long the show would be, (not sure how they do that)Thousands of lights synchronized with Christmas music and boy did they blink! I couldn't look at the whole show - too strobey for me, but it was neat and the people who did it must have fun putting it together. As Aunt Ginny said, "You had to be going there to get there!" We had directions from Brenda.

Looking toward Christmas weekend, today I started cleaning house and made some more cookies. Tomorrow, lunch with Brenda and maybe a few others from our class. She and I try to have a Christmas lunch every year. How neat to be able to just drive to town this time on "just a weekday." Some years we would squeeze the hour or so in between being at my family's and Paul's.

Of course I miss my Buds in Arkansas. I talked to Becky this evening about old times, old friends, her family, mine, how we don't miss work. Carolyn, Norma and I were in touch by email this week. I know Wesley and his wife are expecting another baby. Ruby's dad passed away and her husband had surgery last week. Had a card from our dispatcher who retired on disability not long after I left. He always called me "Sister." Great encourager. Another Carolyn is getting ready to retire - the cashier I relieved practically the last year I worked. Many more cards from friends in Arkansas, people who retired years before I did, my wonderful lady who helped with housework for years.

Another year. Another year of blessings, surprises, more friends, more relatives, more fun, more peace. I pray it would be so for everyone.

Sitting here, I didn't even go through a real door - I just meandered around here in this writing room. 

Holly from Aunt Ginny's abundant holly bushes.



FOUR, THREE, TWO

When do the days of Christmas begin the countdown?

Today is Amy's birthday. Paul and I went to Memphis to take her to lunch and take her a birthday gift. I told her about this time (12:30 p.m.) 38 years ago I was counting her little fingers and toes. There is not another feeling like it - unless you have other fingers and toes to count, which we didn't. So hers were extra special and I'll never forget what that felt like. No mother does, I'm sure.

We had a good lunch at the Sidecar Cafe once again, but this time the service was fast. Amy had brought me and Paul two Christmas stockings with ornaments in them - little pet frames (I'll put Oscar, Lucy and Tommy's pictures in them) and three little ornament dolls representing her, me and Paul - the whole family. Sweet. And I can use the stockings on the mantel to see if Santa will leave anything in a few weeks!

It rained on us from about Highway 385 on to Germantown and same coming back. We stopped in Corinth and got a pre-lit Christmas tree at Walmart, plus some ornaments since we don't know where our tree is. Later on the way home I told Paul I remembered the tree from last year (Amy's) was in the box it came in at the foot of Mama Nick's bed for a long time. After that, I don't know what we did with it.

Yesterday I helped with the kids' Christmas party at the library. Fredda had it so well organized and it went great. There were kids and parents lined up to get in when I got there around 8:30. She said last year they had about 150; I think there were more this year. My game station was finding Santa's reindeer. Each child got a sheet of paper with pictures of the nine reindeer and then had to find matching pictures with numbers, write the number beside it's match, and return the sheet to me. Then their prize was a little bottle of bubbles. The sign said "Ages 7-12" but a lot of parents joined in the fun and helped wee ones. Great way to let children use the library or see it for the first time. Many Friends of the Library volunteers. Great Santa, too - I didn't even realize who it was till Paul told me - one of the men from the men's breakfast who left early to fulfill his Santa "helper" duties!



Friday night Paul and I went to the old Courthouse Museum to wait for the parade with Brenda, Cindy, Austin, Andrew and others, which turns south just past the courthouse, down by Mineral Springs Park, for judging. Naturally, I didn't get good night pictures, but some turned out okay.  We met the son of one of Paul's classmates (nephew of one of mine). To think of Terry with grandkids! Like Rip Van Winkle - you move away, you move back, other people have gotten "old" or "mature" and you wonder how it happened these kids have grandkids! When the parade was within sight of the courthouse the kids rang the enclosed brass bell which still hangs inside, and rang it again when it was over. Great tradition! I asked Bren wonder how long it had been since we'd seen a parade together?

Looks as if Santa's reindeer have run amok... Car and street lights as we drove east on 72.

Old Tishomingo Courthouse Museum entrance. Paul...

On display at the museum.

Upstairs in the old court room. Paul and Dustin Lambert. The old coal stove is one from Oldham Baptist Church. May be the very one I remember warming to on Sunday mornings. Herbert Robinson faithfully started the fire before we got there on winter mornings.



On display at the museum...Sitting on the steps leading up to the court room.  Very Best Friends since high school.

Bren and her oldest grandson Austin whose birthday it was Friday. He was 14 and is at least 6 feet tall already!  This old safe weighs over a ton. The tall door behind Bren was from the old McDonald home which used to be located near our old high school.

Ring the bell! The parade has begun! Andrew, Bren's second grandson and Terry's granddaughters.The bell was also rung in the old days when a jury had reached its verdict.

One of the better night pictures, have no idea what the camera setting was. Just lots of lights on this float, I guess. Music was from Beverly Hillbillies; Granny looked like Granny!

One of the antique tractors. Alas, not Jim or David's (Bren's husband and son). My battery went kaput just after this. Alex, the youngest grandson rode with his dad. Most were antique John Deere. The boys love the JDs!

So those have been my last three days. This week is already booked except for tomorrow and I need to put that tree up, get some of my old ornaments from the attic, return the wrong window candles (cords and I meant to get battery-powered), figure out finger foods for two different occasions this week, deliver a plant to Mama Nick (a beautiful pink Christmas cactus for her room), do laundry and clean the bathrooms, make Sher's Christmas gift. At this moment those are the most pressing things. Tomorrow it'll be something else. I'm just thankful I have the time, health and enough energy to do them. I've loved it all. It's been fun having time to have fun.

Tomorrow is Five - but that's another day, Scarlett.

ONE OF OUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS

During all the other exciting events at during the Christmas season, our nearly 60 year old sewer pipes decided to literally disappear. Paul called the plumber and he said he could patch things up for the time-being, but eventually the whole line would have to be replaced. Eventual became immediate. A backhoe operator was called and he dug trences five feet deep on two sides of our small patio - there there were no old lines to be found. After about an hour of this folderol, there were no old pipes (greenburg I think they called it) to be found. (Later our neighbor said he believed our two houses' pipes were joined at an angle at an impossible distance from the house, but at the time was probably the most economical way to join up to the brand new sewer line.) So when we decided we'd paid enough for digging, we told Randy to cease and desist and just go ahead and put in the new line. It had to be done anyway. What better Christmas present than some PVC pipe? At least everything goes out like it's supposed to now. Our house was probably one of the last, if not the last, to have to have this replacement done. I did notice our neighbors down the street were having their front yard dug up, but I think that was the water line... My Virginia Sweet Spire and Wygelia bit the dust. I doubt their horrible roots could penetrate the PVC, but we'd had enough.

In better news this week, Paul sold his mother's car to my brother. Paul made a trip to Iuka yesterday to have the title signed by her and took care of some other business while he was there.

I made a trip to Memphis this morning and learned (at Semmes-Murphey) that my neck is inflamed. I knew that. But thank goodness, no x-rays even at this point - some physical therapy. The doctor did reflex tests and I passed all but one where I didn't see all the fingers he held up because of the "glaucoma" spot in my left eye. Since I had a bunch of migraines back in September I seem much more susceptible to light and motion and he said, "Yes." My diagnosis was correct.

I drove back I40 and stopped at Woodruff to visit a while and talked to Norma, Carolyn, Wesley, and returned my plaque to have it corrected. Somehow my first 8 years of service was overlooked and it said "32" instead of "40." No problem. They'll have it fixed. Good to see everyone. I noticed the walls had been painted, a darker tan color. Looked nice. Wesley was nursing a broken heart over the Sugar Bowl loss but said he'd be okay. "Lost Mallett." Razorback's Ryan Mallett is going for the NFL draft.

It's supposed to snow Sunday, so tomorrow for sure I need to go to the grocery store. But first, there's the refrigerator to be cleaned... Is it always something "first?"

Cooking in Mama Nick's kitchen. Without her there. A little strange...

Scene from the front window... RFD MS

CHRISTMAS IS OVER, A NEW YEAR BEGUN


I hope to get back into the routine of writing - it's always been one of my best therapies and hobbies.

We spent Christmas in Iuka where we visited with family and friends. We're home and it's good to be here, settled after a fall of traveling, moving and rearranging.


Amy is with us indefinitely because of the economy and we've "enlarged our tent" as the Bible says in Isaiah 54:2: Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. Yes, our tent has been enlarged, small as it is, and I do especially pray for my stakes to be strengthened! (smile)


Her two cats - Lucy and Tommy - came with her and they have not totally adjusted as we all are tweaking living arrangements somewhat. But she had to surrender her two dogs - Moe and Pauly, which was heart-breaking.


We bought Paul's mother's home in Iuka with life estate for her. She is in assisted living, but had managed to live alone until almost 92 years of age. She's doing well, with bad days and good, and it was an emotional time when we spent Christmas day at her house. We've made a few little changes to the home, most of which were structural or maintenance, very few cosmetic at this point. It's "home" now in another sense - it has always felt so good to be there in the quiet of the rural area, and hopefully it has assisted Mama Nick in being able to have good years at the living center. We also wanted to keep the house in the family as the property that is with the house, as well as most of the surrounding several acres were in her grandmother's family for many years.

We have also been reunited with some family members we have not seen for many years and it is such a joy to be with them! Having lived away from family so long, it is now so great to be able to be there without so much of the time restrictions of seeing everyone for just a little while. Now we can be "home" and come and go, as well as have family with us. Of course, Wynne is home; now we just have a "country home" to visit when time allows.

Many changes this past year. God will find a way to take you out of your comfort zone. A mission field can be in the next state, or in your living room!

Melanie and her son Nate, brothers Mike, Steve, me and Oscar, Paul, Sher and Bailey.

The TBs (Travelin' Buddies): Carol, Charlene, me, Jean. My dear friends.

Niece Whitney with one of the goats at the goat/sheep farm where they got their nanny goat. Nanny (now called Tina) had twin kids on Christmas day. Their names are (probably) Noel and Belle.

Grandma Sher and Nate playing at Coleman Park.

Mama Nick (left) and her sister Aunt Ginny, with Mama Nick's beautiful granddaughters - Jess, Jenni, Amy, Whitney, Marianna.