Hi Everyone. Hope this finds you well. WOW 17 December! Only another week until Christmas. Hope your shopping and baking is almost complete. My shopping is completed, (you know I don't bake), but now my problem is when I see something I buy it any way...no such thing as too many gifts. I wrapped (not great at it) as I watched Christmas movies. Just need to pick up gift certificates and the cookies I ordered for the nursing home staff. I mailed two huge boxes of presents yesterday - the line was not as bad as I expected at the post office. My only surprise was the difference in mailing costs - the smaller lighter box cost more because it was going to the Midwest (more zones to cross) versus the bigger heavier box that went South.
Plymouth had a little snow this past week - nothing to write home about - just enough to make everything pretty, especially with the Christmas lights. My neighbor has lights around the big bush on the corner and the other morning as I peeped out the window in the dark I was stunned by the simplicity and beauty of the snow falling and the lights. When I walk Lady at night I just love to see the lights. Lady has worn her jacket or sweater a lot this past week as the temperatures really dropped. She does not seem to mind although some of the time it seems it takes us longer to get ready to go out, as we both bundle up, then it does for her to do her business and want to head back inside. Reminds me of kids and their snowsuits...LOL! I think the crisp clear air has really brought out scents for Lady because sometimes she just sniffs and walks with her head down and does not care which direction. Other times she plants and will not continue any farther.
I went out to shovel a little yesterday morning (turned out to be light/fluffy stuff) and my elderly male neighbor (I've written about him previously) came over with his shovel. This man is so like my dad in many ways, especially in the way he wants to help everyone around him and will not slow down no matter what. He was in the hospital twice in the past few weeks for a leg injury and infection. Although he is still limping around he went hunting yesterday morning after he shoveled his own driveway at o'dark thirty. We talked and joked and I give him a hard time about slowing down. I knew he would shovel next door, as there are two elderly women there, so I assisted him and we got it done quicker. I then insisted he go home and put his leg up with a nice cup of coffee (he calls me 'boss'). He can't wait for the big snow to break out the plow. His family is close by and checks on him constantly (even has GPS on his phone), but we neighbors keep an eye on him as well.
I must have been tired and chilled last night as I forgot to turn the heat down when I went to bed. I usually turn it down a degree or two as I love to snuggle under the comforter. I woke up this morning with only the sheet and a little parched. Oh well, the propane tank was filled on Friday so it's not likely I'll run out any time soon. I know it's a lot different this year than last as I keep the house about 10 degrees cooler than papa did. I don't mind wearing a sweatshirt or sweater inside and I'm up/down or in/out most of the day. Perhaps January/February I'll need it a bit more. I'm pretty sure I'll get a rebate when the winter is over from the budget plan. I just found out I forgot to shut off the outside lights as well...boy I must have been tired.
I felt like I had a lot of peopling this past week. I was invited to a small farewell lunch for one of the neighbors as she moves permanently to Florida. She was a dear friend of my parents as were the other attendees. It was nice to hear stories about them from over the years. Several of them were part of the team that worked with my dad in the kitchen for community events. Of course, I heard some interesting tidbits and their opinions about happenings in the community now. Always good to know what's going on. Yesterday I went to an open house at another neighbor's - in a different part of the community. You could tell she loves Christmas by her decorations and she loves to cook/bake. Her family helped her and I could tell she is well loved by all those that attended. She had a beautiful corner filled with Angel tree toppers that I would love to really view again some day. I met more people that knew my parents. The houses here are not very big so after a couple of hours when more people arrived and it was getting a little tight, I decided it was time to head home. I hate to say it, but Lady is sometimes a great excuse to get home. I don't use her very often, but every once in a while when I'm feeling a little antsy...LOL! What do you do when you feel a bit antsy? Or have too much peopling?
My mom did not feel too well this past week. She picked up a bit of a cold with chest congestion. Many of the residents seem to get it around the same time. Mom slept a lot (not a bad thing), but hopefully is on the mend. She was up yesterday and ate a bit better than the past few days. I just keep popping in/out to keep everyone on their toes.
I have to say I sat here this morning with no background (music or TV) noise for quite a while. Every once in a while a car drove by crunching on the ice. It was very peaceful, but at the same time a bit difficult for me. For as far back as I can remember I have always had something going on around me as I work/study/etc. I enjoy the silence most mornings when I am out walking with Lady, but for some reason in the house is different. I am going to try to enjoy it a little bit every day. Do you enjoy silence or background noise? Do you notice anything when in the silence?
OMG! I just heard that Saturday Night Fever is 40 years old....WOW what memories come back to me from the disco era! I do have to say that no matter where I go if you play music from the disco era everyone gets up and dances. OK I'm feeling a bit of my age although with a big smile on my face!
I am posting a picture of a poinsettia that my sister made in school many many years ago. My mom kept it and protected it all these years and for the past several years hung it from the window valance as I have also done. I believe it's made from the old IBM index cards (let's see how many of you remember those!!). As I sat here in the silence this morning I was drawn to it - perhaps because it's the window where the sun comes up.
I am going to leave it here for today. I already have thoughts written down for the next couple of week. I hope you have a wonderful week filled with fun and no stress. Take care. Chat soon. Marie
"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."—Christopher Robin to Pooh, A.A. Milne
"And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about."―Haruki Murakami