Moments

The "way back I'm time" machine".....that's how this feels to this Christmas photo ....before 9:00a.m. church. Biff was behind me....T.J. and Grace in the wonderful glider we all shared each day. Click. Click. Photo. Seems like yesterday and click ....it's NOW! I'm grateful for the moments.

Jammies

Who could be cuter than sweet little children all cozied up in their jammies.......and at Christmastime! Not in our house these days. The sweet little teens are just acknowledging that it's just not the same as it used to be at Christmas. We were talking about that tonight at dinner...
T.J. remembered some of his gifts of Christmas past. Grace thinks we should rent a good Christmas movie since they don't get toys and games that used to have is busy all day. This seems to be a year of adjustment ...teens with great spirit and energy...who are realizing the changes of growing up. We all go through these changes together.

How many friends have discussed the joy of buying the infamous Little Tykes kitchen or little red wagon? We feel it too. These sweet children are older now...they have no desire for the kitchen.... certainly there is proof when you see the difficulty they have emptying the dishwasher. The little red wagon or bright red bike is steering more towards saving for a car someday.

These changes take some time. We can't hold on to the past....although we treasure those shiny red fire engine, baby doll days. TODAY, we can laugh with our teenagers and talk .....about how it used to be and the new ideas we have for our family Christmas' to come....we do have new ideas....Biff and I feel the changes too. We have good ideas and surprises....and planned outings as experiences that we will have together. After all, that's what we remember. It's not the stuff that matters.

Besides, we still have our new Christmas Jammies!

Got to the Board of Ed. mtg.tonight at 6P.M. Relieved to get there with time to spare....only to find out the mtg. was at 7:30 P.M. I returned at the scheduled time....after doing some quick errands....And listening to a great book o tape,"NEW YORK" by Edward Rutherford...a historical novel
I am loving it! Such an enjoyable to get in some extra "reading."

Daisy and Fitzy sleeping with quilts and blankets .....note Fitz is on her very long leash.....so she can't get to any midnight snacks!

Full moon. The night after the eclipse....stayed up and missed it!

So cold last night....waiting to see Dennis Leary! Freezing Biff!

Dennis Leary at our local bookstore...

At the bookstore to meet Dennis Leary....the comedian. Biff and I were freezing with all of the others who came out on this cold night to see him. The line was down the street! Fingers frozen!

The Farm

"The Farm" ..."a great place to spend a childhood," Biff told the folks who bought his family's house....

2010 A Christmas tree to remember

Christmas tree 2010?

2 very worn out parents....yes. we actually went out looking like this....we were driven to it! And crazy enough.to photograph our temporary insanity!

JK....just kidding as T.J. and Grace say.....

                                                       Cozy Christmas Grace....
                                                  

 

 

So much to catch you up on! This Christmas tree comes with a story....in our life, what doesn't? As Biff and I prepared to go off to get our 2010 Christmas tree, our teens were less than delighted. Unlike every other year since their arrival on our planet (even though at times we seem to be inhabiting two different planets)....we have merrily gone off, in early December, to cut down our tree. We've trekked through mud and frozen grass and snow, rain and heavy winds to find the perfect Christmas tree for our sweet family.

Did I say sweet? Well.....maybe most years...or maybe that's how it always was....til this year.

On the morning in question, there seemed to be a cool wind blowing through the house, as though a storm might be brewing. Not the weather ...the teenagers. Comments and muttering and a variety of opinions began to change the atmospheric pressure and the parental /barometer began to bounce and bend and point to a rather unpleasant direction. We called out to our children and bid them adieu .....not quite those words. Biff and I left them to listen to their own mutterings and maladjusted, not yet fully developed, frontal lobes.

We left on our own adventure to get our darn tree. We were in shock. We could barely utter, not mutter, a word. That is highly unusual ...like snow in July. As we approached our local tree farmer......who always remembers us, we told him of our plight....he. nodded and said something like, "give 'em another couple of years..." We felt validated by the knowing older gentleman's comment.

We walked a few feet......and that's when we spotted it. Our first Christmas tree without the children....specifically, teens. It was practically calling our names. "Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree.....you seem to have no needles."

It was perfect. It was almost bare. I looked at our friendly tree farmer and he knowingly smiled ....he nodded and said,"I know what you're thinking and I like it....I guess the kids will be back with you next year!!!

We aren't that horrible. We picked out another ...a beauty! But that's not the one we brought in the house first. We brought in the 6ft. tall naked tree.

Our children gasped! They shrieked at the sight! They were horrified......sad.....angry ....hysterical, with myriad emotions....all at once. Biff and I could barely keep a straight face. It became apparent...we had made our point!

Before they were too deeply scarred Biff brought in the bigger, more "traditional " tree....with needles.

Our teenagers had calmed. The storm had passed. Our world had changed ..."all was calm, all was bright!"

That had me thinking. I went out to the tree that had made our point....and it sure was pointy. I rustled around my spray paint cans, found some almost empty, less than full, spray paint cans. Whites and creams and soft pinks.


I dragged the less "traditional" tree to the woods, positioned it and began to shake, rattle and roll and spray....their was mist in the air...not just spray paint. I kept at my project. I left my creation to dry...or not to dry.

On Monday, after more rain and mist, followed by a hint of sunshine....I checked on my project.....the paint had survived the elements.

I dragged my white with a hint of pink Christmas project into the house. I popped the 6ft. tree into a pink container, and popped some random props to keep it standing tall. I scrounged around for several strings of teeny white lights and some extra sparkly snowflake ornaments from a prior project......and in a few moments, this little lesson of ours was an ethereal delight in our living room.

Grace and T.J. walked in from the bus and they were awestruck....Grace found others silver sparkles to add. It was a beautiful sight!

Grace and T.J. asked,".mom....did you plan this?" Nope, I said.

Then I reminded them both that it all depends how you look at a situation ....it can all be miserable or we can take what's not so great and do our best to make it better, or look at it in a different way and change our thinking......and we may see it in a whole new light.

That's life. That's our tree. Oh! Did I mention that our teens have made a comeback too....life is good. Sometimes we all just need a gentle reminder!

Catching Up!

So much to catch you up on! This Christmas tree comes with a story....in our life, what doesn't? As Biff and I prepared to go off to get our 2010 Christmas tree, our teens were less than delighted. Unlike every other year since their arrival on our planet (even though at times we seem to be inhabiting two different planets)....we have merrily gone off, in early December, to cut down our tree. We've trekked through mud and frozen grass and snow, rain and heavy winds to find the perfect Christmas tree for our sweet family.

Did I say sweet? Well.....maybe most years...or maybe that's how it always was....til this year.

On the morning in question, there seemed to be a cool wind blowing through the house, as though a storm might be brewing. Not the weather ...the teenagers. Comments and muttering and a variety of opinions began to change the atmospheric pressure and the parental /barometer began to bounce and bend and point to a rather unpleasant direction. We called out to our children and bid them adieu .....not quite those words. Biff and I left them to listen to their own mutterings and maladjusted, not yet fully developed, frontal lobes.

We left on our own adventure to get our darn tree. We were in shock. We could barely utter, not mutter, a word. That is highly unusual ...like snow in July. As we approached our local tree farmer......who always remembers us, we told him of our plight....he. nodded and said something like, "give 'em another couple of years..." We felt validated by the knowing older gentleman's comment.

We walked a few feet......and that's when we spotted it. Our first Christmas tree without the children....specifically, teens. It was practically calling our names. "Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree.....you seem to have no needles."

It was perfect. It was almost bare. I looked at our friendly tree farmer and he knowingly smiled ....he nodded and said,"I know what you're thinking and I like it....I guess the kids will be back with you next year!!!

We aren't that horrible. We picked out another ...a beauty! But that's not the one we brought in the house first. We brought in the 6ft. tall naked tree.

Our children gasped! They shrieked at the sight! They were horrified......sad.....angry ....hysterical, with myriad emotions....all at once. Biff and I could barely keep a straight face. It became apparent...we had made our point!

Before they were too deeply scarred Biff brought in the bigger, more "traditional " tree....with needles.

Our teenagers had calmed. The storm had passed. Our world had changed ..."all was calm, all was bright!"

That had me thinking. I went out to the tree that had made our point....and it sure was pointy. I rustled around my spray paint cans, found some almost empty, less than full, spray paint cans. Whites and creams and soft pinks.

I dragged the less "traditional" tree to the woods, positioned it and began to shake, rattle and roll and spray....their was mist in the air...not just spray paint. I kept at my project. I left my creation to dry...or not to dry.

On Monday, after more rain and mist, followed by a hint of sunshine....I checked on my project.....the paint had survived the elements.

I dragged my white with a hint of pink Christmas project into the house. I popped the 6ft. tree into a pink container, and popped some random props to keep it standing tall. I scrounged around for several strings of teeny white lights and some extra sparkly snowflake ornaments from a prior project......and in a few moments, this little lesson of ours was an ethereal delight in our living room.

Grace and T.J. walked in from the bus and they were awestruck....Grace found others silver sparkles to add. It was a beautiful sight!

Grace and T.J. asked,".mom....did you plan this?" Nope, I said.

Then I reminded them both that it all depends how you look at a situation ....it can all be miserable or we can take what's not so great and do our best to make it better, or look at it in a different way and change our thinking......and we may see it in a whole new light.

That's life. That's our tree. Oh! Did I mention that our teens have made a comeback too....life is good. Sometimes we all just need a gentle reminder!

Who doesn't love a little glam. Don't we all require some time to be pampered and fluffed up....physically, mentally and spriritually? Who better to get the works? Daisy. She's a little lady now at 8 years old. It seems we all get so busy with the business of life and the busy-ness of life we let things go. We don't take the time to slow down, linger in the shower for some extra bubbles. We have a clock to think about. We have others to care for. We have appointments and meetings to get to.

Daisy reminde me of that today. She looks beautiful everyday. Today she got the luxe. Today is Daisy's day. Although a wonderful woodsy scent, something eau de squirrel or chipmunk bath beads would be her choice, we settled with a light floral natural shampoo and conditioner for her grand goldilocks.

She's been washed gently in a warm shower, fluffed with her very own sham-wow and a martex towel, let outside to shake and brushed to keep her golden gleem. As I write, she is sprawled out in a sunny spot on the floor of the family room. Our shiny, happy puppy reminds me that it's good for all of us to slow down, take a break from the hustle bustle of the season and allow more than a moment for glam.

We give. We do. We live. We move. We run. We hurry. We hustle. We forget that we matter. It's a good time to stop...if only for a few extra minutes...and care for ourselves. It makes a difference in how we feel. Daisy can testify. 

I still remember visiting my 92 year old grandma, a woman who enjoyed a long life of walking, dressing and healthy living. Now matter what, when we visited, I always gave her a touch of lipstick and blush. It amazed me how instantly she appeared to feel better. We laughed together about how we all love to look our best. Just a touch made her spirits lift and her smile light up her face! Don't we all feel that way? I think so.  

Think of a 4 year old girl. Think of how dress up and mommy's lipstick have her beam. Shouldn't we all take that moment? Don't we all need a touch of the glam? I think so.

EXHAUSTED! Last night stayed up way to late or early depending on how you look at it....late for Thursday night...and early for Friday morning. I was listing lots of goodies on E-bay. Lots! I wanted to get merchandise on for Christmas. Great motivation buy kind of obsessive. I realized as I slipped into bed that it was like I was working the late shift. That was never something Biff and I considered in life. Just once in awhile, when I get on a roll, I like to keep going. But, it's like needlepoint...just one more row! That's what happens to me.  Oh...wait...just the Raggedy Ann....Oh wait! The Vineyard Vines ties....on and on.

This morning, woke up...late-ish.  Made coffee...checked out my E-bay....talked to Biff. Next, put on my coat, took Daisy and Fitzy outside with me to blow some more leaves with the herculean blower our neighbor shared with us this week. The way he looks at it, it's great to share because he benefits by our clean ups. What an awesome neighbor...flower plantings, tree plantings, loves our dogs...stops to pet them everyday, we pick up his mail while he and his wife are away, he came to my rescue the one and only time that I ever ran out of gas....yup! Biff was away and the kids were pretty small, I drive him to pick up his car from service. Give and take. Just plain old friendly neighbors...that we all hope for. Boundaries. Respect. Friendship. Caring. Just nice. It makes a difference. A big difference.

In a world where lots of people drive into their driveway, click their garage door open, drive in, click garage door closed and that's it....the bat cave. That's o.k. That's the world we live in....but it kind of changes the connection. It's more of a disconnection. Funny, I'm not hoping for more friends....we have plenty. It's just the connection and the spirit of community. It's a big world. I don't ever want to lose that small town feeling of connection. So, we are grateful for the folks in our life that make the effort. Just sharing common courtesy and kindness. I am thankful that our kids have seen that kind of community.

So, back to the leaf blower on wheels....I filled it up with gasoline, turned it on and let her rip! I also had the dogs with me. I pushed, pulled, rumbled, rocked and rolled with that big machine....for 3 hours plus. Again, just one more leaf...oh! gotta get under that rock...our of the pacasandra.....on the path....push  the leaves behind the tall grass and into the woods. THREE hours. Biff had to drive about 40 minutes away to pick up something for work.  I started the engine just as he left.  The kids got home, walked up the driveway, said their hellos, went in for a snack, I pushed, pulled and moved and hauled and blew leaves off of every blade of grass...

Biff returned home.  I was still blowing the leaves.....Grace and T.J. had each given me a bottle of water....I downed each one in seconds. On a freezing cold day, I was sweating! I was hot. I was tired and still had aches from earlier this week.  Biff offered to take over at the helm....NO WAY! I had to finish what I started. I had in my mind what I could accomplish....after 3 refills of gas...today....and 3 Monday....and  3 Sunday! Now that's plenty of leaves, considering we also had Biff raking side by side with Grace and T.J.

I had to finish. I had my route planned. I couldn't be interrupted. Finally, the third tank ran out of gas. So did I.  That's when I came inside. I sat down. EXHAUSTED. Stared. Blank stared. Picked up laptop and began checking E-bay...that's when I realized I might have been obsessed.

The leaf clean up was incredibly empowering....it was something I could control.  Probably the only thing that I could control ....today...until the gas ran out.....I was IN CHARGE! If it was to be, it was up to me. I like that expression. It's really a great way to live. BUT, it doesn't always work out quite that way. Before I get obsessed with one more thing.... in the blog.....I'd better go. I have no control of the fact that I'm EXHAUSTED. Good night. Uh Oh. Good morning.

One more thing......That tree up above....not this year. We could not get the tree until the leaves were gone. So that was my motivation. Grace and T.J. had some friends over tonight, with some of our neighbors for our annual Gingerbread Gathering....candy and Gingerbread kits.....and cookies....1/2 hour after collapsing on the chair....all of the kids began arriving....gotta keep going. We had a ball...photos to follow.