Saturday, a day of leisure

I can't believe my computer is working again! At least I was able to sign in to my own blog once more. I've no idea what went wrong, but if it's fixed now I'm not complaining.



These photos were taken during the week leading up to Christmas. Note the one with the fall arrangement still on the table with the Christmas decorations. I never did get that replaced with something a bit more winter themed.


Spritz were the ONLY cookies that were baked before Christmas. They wouldn't have made it if I didn't have help from my niece, Megan. She and her family are visiting from California. Her mom Linda, helped us with mixing up dough for sugar cookies and pepparkakors. Neither of those cookies are baked, YET! My helpers are now back home in warm southern Cal. The cookie doughs are still in the fridge. Perhaps tomorrow I'll bake them???







It turned really cold yesterday and we had a good freeze last night. More of the same tonight. I'm afraid to look at my plants outside under their blankets. The mountains were lovely with the dusting of snow. But this is Tucson and in a couple of days the temperature should be back above freezing once again.

Am I ready?

I can't believe it's already the 19th of December. Christmas day will be over in just a week. The year will be over in less than 2 weeks. Am I ready? I have all my envelopes addressed for the Christmas cards that should have been signed and mailed out last week. There are gifts I purchased through out the year that I haven't even tried to find where they are hidden. Some of those presents should have been mailed out already. I've been thinking about making cookies. The butter has been out on the counter for almost a week. It's probably soft enough to work with now. Ken, my darling husband, has had the colored lights up outside for the past 2 weeks. He put the tree up about that time and has been adding ornaments to it every day or so since then. Yesterday he put the star on the top.

So what have I been doing? Well, I finished the church newsletter for January. Last week there was a Christmas party for the kids. It was "Lunch with Santa" and Father Christmas was there to talk to each of the children and gave everyone a bell from his sleigh. I was in charge of lunch. Yesterday the ASPIRE students and volunteers, meet with the Daybreak people for a party. Daybreak is a daycare facility for adults. The young met with the elderly and everyone sang Christmas songs, had snacks, met with Santa, received gifts and a warm recognition was given to all the volunteers.

Somehow, what I've accomplished doesn't seem to add up to very much. I feel like I've really been busy running here, there and everywhere. Through out the month, I've felt tired and worn out.

Yesterday was my birthday. It's no big deal. Yet I craved attention. My birthday frequently gets lost with all the preparations for Christmas. I have 4 sons and only heard from one. It's my own fault as I'm notorious about not getting cards in the mail for their birthdays. It's not that I don't remember everyone birthdays, anniversaries and special events. I do! I even purchase cards that never seem to get mailed. When I die, they'll find enough cards stashed away to compete with Hallmark. Kenny, my youngest God bless him, called and we had a nice long chat on the phone. My sister sang happy birthday on my voice mail. Saturday she will be making a family dinner, complete with blueberry pie, to celebrate. My dad took me out for a wonderful mani-pedi. Ken gave me an adorable Precious Moments figurine.

Yet for some reason, today, I feel a sense of contentment. If the cookies don't get made it's not the end of the world. The gifts and cards will be mailed out even if it's after Christmas. My family should be used to this by now. The tree will get most of it's ornaments hung, up to the time for taking them off and packing all away once more.

The most important thing is to let all of my family and all of my friends know that I love each and everyone of them.

Another day ends in Tucson...

Another beautiful ending to a December day in Tucson. I almost missed this one due to dinner preparations. If the dogs didn't need to go out right then, I would have! How can anyone not believe in God, when there are such magnificent sunsets such as these. This time of year has the best evening skies of any I've ever seen. The photo doesn't do it justice. You have to be here to really appreciate the view.

Wow! College for me?

Well, I am truly surprised at the reader's level rating I received.  

Considering I never even made it to college. Maybe I should reconsider my life and take a course or two and see where it leads. As if I had the time! Adding one more thing to my to do list, would certainly be the last straw.
Although, I have thought about it from time to time. One of those "Gee, I should get a degree and then I can teach kids how to bake." ideas. Why would I want to put myself through all that torture? I hate deadlines. Doing homework was never my idea of a good time. And taking notes? Don't get me started on that! Oh, I can take notes as well as the next person, but I never seem to do anything with them afterwards. When I'm busy trying to write what I think is important down, which is everything as I don't want to miss anything, I end up missing the pleasure of just listening to the lecture. I like to watch to the speaker talk, their expressions and hopefully enthusiasm on the subjects I'm interested in learning. Can't do that when I'm trying to write all their ramblings down on paper. Anyway, I can't deny that I'm very impressed with the rating I received.

Today is a Good Day!

After yesterday's melt down, today is beginning better.  I actually got through breakfast eating sensibly.  Just eggs and tea (no cream or sugar).  Drank chicken broth for lunch with a piece of cheese.  Trying to stay away from the sweets and overdoing the carbs.  I know, take it one meal at a time.  Tonight is soup supper at church before the Advent service begins.  I'm making corn chowder to share. Yes, it does have a lot of carbs, but I'll try to take it easy. 

I only sat and watched one hour of tivo and it's already after 1:00 p.m.  Yeah!

While looking through the ads from the Sunday paper, I started cutting out coupons I will probably forget to take with me when I go shopping.  Then I thought about what I want to do with my life... so I started to cut out pictures in the ads of things to remind me why I have to watch what I eat.  I'm making a collage to put on the fridge door.  Maybe another one for the bathroom mirror.  

So far I have pictures of a bike I would like to ride again, I always loved riding my bike as a kid and continued loving it as a young adult.  Why did I ever stop?  I just don't know.  

I have a picture of clothes I would like to wear.  Not just the shapeless t-shirts, sweats and grandma undies.  (Oh, wait... I am a grandma, but I don't have to wear ugly undies do I?)  Boots, tall boots, maybe with laces and a bit of a heel.  That's not possible right now due to feet as wide as a ducks and necessary support inserts again due to my weight.

I'd like to play again.  Like ping pong without gasping for breath in under a minute.  I want to go hiking in the mountains and along the lakes.   I want to ride a horse again.

I want to travel.  So I have a picture of luggage.  A coo coo clock to remind me I want to see Germany, Switzerland, Norway and especially back to Italy once more.  A picture of a camera because I want to enjoy pictures of me doing things and not getting all gloomy because I look fat.  I am Fat!  That's the problem.  I want to be able to sit in an airplane seat in comfort. Alright, I know airplane seats are not noted for comfort, but if I could remove the extra 150 pounds sitting with me, it just has to be more comfortable.

Julie, thanks so much for understanding.  To answer your questions, Dad didn't watch me make pie crust, but he did help by peeling and slicing the apples.  Had a lot of apples so we made 2 apple pies and skipped the coconut cream (& lemon meringue).  No, I'm not a lunch lady anymore due to the past foot, knee, tendon injuries.  Just can't stand for hours like before.  I'm still on the payroll and occasionally help in the district office.  

Troubling Tuesday

Feeling tired, too fat, no get up and go, getting older, watch my footing, don't climb ladders, people my weight(or is it my age?) have to be careful, I sleep, I eat, I lay in the recliner and watch too much tv, too early to go to bed, just don't want to do much of anything right now.  What happened to the spring in my step?  Will I spend the rest of my life like this?  There's so much to do, to see, to experience.  I want more energy.  More time.  

Let's eat!!!

Family and friends around the table.

Thanksgiving in Arizona and the plants on the patio are looking great.

Blooming Geraniums Thanksgiving Day

Rain on the horizon and a rainbow in the sky in Tucson, Arizona.

All the time it takes to prepare for the Thanksgiving Feast and too soon it's over for another year.   Our group was small this year, only 16 at the table.  There was enough food to feed at least 40.  Lots of good leftovers for everyone to take home.   Tonight we had turkey and vegetable soup.  So nice to have during the cooler weather months.  Can't really say cold, it is Arizona after all, but we did have rain and the temperature had dropped at least 20 degrees from a week ago.  Here's a few photos of the festivities...

I'm thankful for...

Here are just 5 reasons I thank God for on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day!

Not to forget, I have 2 other wonderful grandchildren that I need to get photos to add to this group!  I love you all!

Bake Day

It's the day before Thanksgiving and time to bake pies!

On the list is:

2 pumpkin pies

1 granny smith apple pie

1 mince meat pie (for Ken since I forgot it last year!)

1 coconut cream pie (maybe,    it may end up as lemon meringue pie)

Taking all the STUFF to Dad's house and work there.  Why?  Because his fridge has more room than mine, he lives behind my sister's house (where we will have dinner) and because he wants to learn how to make the crust.  He's been using store bought crust (oh nooo!) and it's just not as good as homemade (duh...).

ASPIRE: kids, homework, tutoring, fun

Our church, Abounding Grace elca, hosts an after school program for elementary kids (average age is 12) called ASPIRE.  Lutheran Social Services provide the teacher, one assistant and all the supplies.  Thursdays and Fridays are the days I volunteer to help.  It's only for 2-4 hours.  And that's long enough for me.  

Yesterday Jim, another volunteer, and I were whistling a song together.  I don't remember the tune now, but it had something to do with our mental state at the time.  

The average number of kids are 30 and really quite an ethnic soup.  One would think that here in southern Arizona we would have mostly Hispanic, Native American & Caucasian.  But most of our kids are from Africa and the rest are from Iran, Iraq, China and Caucasian.   Religious backgrounds are also varied so snack time has to have a substitute for any pork items on the menu.  

During last month's holiday, halloween, it was realized that some of these kids didn't have a clue about American  celebrations.  They couldn't believe that kids actually got dressed up in costume, went around the neighborhood ringing doorbells and would be given candy.  Just what kind of holiday is that?

Well, they caught on fast and had a great time.  We also realized that another holiday was just around the corner.   What would they know about Thanksgiving?

I'll continue tomorrow...

One step at a Time...

This is the beginning, the first, numero uno, my starting place and just where do I begin? 

If it wasn't for my very good friend, Julie, I wouldn't be creating this blog.  It's all her fault!  If that wasn't enough, she left the warmth and sunshine of Southern Arizona and packed up all her quilting fabric, her tie dye totes, her crates of crafting, her crazy canines, her huggable husband and two out of three cuddly children (she left one here, thank goodness) to move to a frozen, mostly gray skied, skimpy on the daylight hours new home in Alaska of all places!   I just hate her!  I just envy her!  I just really, really miss her!  And I hope to visit her in Alaska before she decides to move somewhere else. I've heard a lot about Alaska.  My husband spent several years there when just a boy.  I love anyplace that has big pine trees and mountains.  Also gurgling streams, ice blue lakes, tall willowy aspens, gigantic red maples, you get the picture.  So, why am I living in Arizona?   After living most of my life in the Chicago burbs and Northern Utah, the novelty of snow, lots of snow and cold and ice and scraping windshields and shoveling walks only to have the city snow plow push it back with interest, finally wore thin.  It was time for Ken, my husband, and I to head for the sunshine and warmth (okay, hot, very hot, over 110 degree HOT, but it's a DRY heat) of Tucson.  It's been three years and we're loving it!  Of course we also have air conditioning for the summer when it gets really really HOT.   But sometimes I think about it and I wouldn't mind visiting the snow and ice for a little while...