Five years and the eve.

The year ends softly. 

It has been a good one.

Tonight? I am looking at the moon, full and bright, and thinking about five years ago.

New Year's Eve was my Dad's last night on earth.

He died in the early morning hours of New Year's Day, 2013. 

For the next several New Year's Eves I lit a paper lantern and sent it off into the night sky in remembrance of Dad. This year? I did not buy the paper lantern.

However, I did find two old sparklers leftover from my 60th birthday a year ago.

So. In remembrance of you, dear Dad, I sparkled. 

From the song, Stardust, by Hoagy Carmichael...

Sometimes I wonder why I spend

The lonely night dreaming of a song

The melody haunts my reverie

And I am once again with you

When our love was new

And each kiss and inspiration

But that was long ago

Now my consolation

Is in the stardust of a song

My peace fill your home in the New Year. 

Time after time...

We just now got home from visiting Mom. We also got to visit the locals...two sisters, one brother,  and Beach Boy and his family. Another brother and sister-in-law with duel citizenship (the coast and Madison) were down to visit, too. 

So, lots of family hugging and loving. 

We have done a Christmas trip to be with Mom several times since Dad died 5 years ago. Mom tells me with real emotion how deeply she appreciates us traveling to be with her at Christmastime. I believe her. It does my heart good. To do it. And. To hear it. 

I look in her eyes and see my past. And. I see my future. 

She is how I will look. If I live long enough. 

As long as she lives I hope to repeat this trip. 

Time after time. 

Christmas vacay...

So. Over the course of last weekend, whilst the grand chilluns were here, my angles' attention kept getting redirected. It brought back memories of my childhood and how we used to rearrange the Nativity set according to where we thought the cast members needed to be. With so many siblings, you can imagine, positions changed hourly. The funny thing here is that last weekend, somehow, the angels kept re-centering on the one with the broken wing. Mind you, none of my angels are fancy perfect angels. They are well worn and some are down right different. I like angels that way. Isn't it poignant that they ended up honoring the broken angel? There is a lesson here. 

Out of Town Son and his wife gifted Macho with a drone. The first one was defective and the replacement arrived yesterday. The battery on this one charged nicely and Macho nearly had lift off in the kitchen. The weather is frightful outside and it is hard waiting for the inaugural flight. But wait we will. New kitchen + flying drone = disaster. 

But. He is tickled with this drone and looking forward to earning his wings. 

I gifted Macho a canjo. It is a one stringed banjo with a can. This can happens to be of the Prince Albert variety. It came with a pick and a song book with music for a canjo or dulcimer. And. 

He is having fun with it! What a treat to see him enjoy this instrument!

Macho hung my new wind chimes for me today. Sadly it is a calm day and they are silent. It is a large set of chimes and they make church music. 

My second batch of Christmas waffles are being cooked as I type. I'll take some down to Mom next week. Maybe put some in a pillow case and hang 'em on a nail in my closet. That is what I learned last year from some dear cousins. My uncle, their dad, would hang his waffles in a pillow case. They thought it sacrilege to freeze the family waffles. I confess, I have been know to stick them in the freezer. Every time I make a batch I think, "This is the best batch I've eve made". This batch is no different than the rest, but I think it is quite possibly the best batch I've ever made! 

We thought we finished all our in town errands yesterday. Only for me to discover I am almost out of moisturizer. Ugh. One more trip to town and we will try to make it fun. Keep up our Christmas cheer. 

You do the same. Keep your spirits light.

Shalom. 

O Little Town of Bethlehem...

"...Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by..."

I love the family shot. Here we are with our offspring. And their offspring. All present and accounted for. It was one of the best Christmas family gatherings ever.

I wish. I wish I could freeze the picture of each grandchild as they opened their gift. It felt like every one was a home run. The baton the Millie got was a hit! Lauren seemed pleased with her iTunes gift card and Tucker, in his understated way, exuded warmth when he opened the Seahawks hat we gave him. 

I have to save the best for last. It was the most precious reaction and I knew she loved it right away. Our Merritt loves the "Annie" movie, and all things "Annie" right now. She had requested from Santa, no less, the old version of the movie since she had not seen it.

When she opened our gift a smile lit her face. She fell back on the floor and just could not stop smiling. I knew. It was the best thank you I think I have ever seen. 

"...Yet in thy dark street shineth

The everlasting Light..."

Peyton and I shared some Christmas reading. She humored me and we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" together. Then I read another book to her - "Bright Christmas, An Angel Remembers" by Andrew Clements. She listened intently. And. I cried through the entire book. It is one of those especially sweet poignant Christmas stories. 

"...While mortals sleep, the angles keep

Their watch of wondering love

O morning stars together

Proclaim thy holy birth

And praises sing to God the King

And Peace to men on earth."

Phone dump...

Don't exactly remember the date of my last post. So here is what has gone on lately....

Garden club presentation? Check. Had much help from a dear friend. We tag teamed this bitch and got it done! And. It looks mighty good if I do say so myownself. 

December 8. Deep south snow. So unusual anytime. Much less before winter is officially here. 

It was gorgeous. Then it was gone. Best. Kind. Of. Snow.

It snowed more in my rural area than in town. So. I was surprised to get home to this when it had already melted while I was hunting the groceries.

Picked my basil pre-frost. Then. I made the pesto. 

The drive over to T-town Saturday morning was gorgeous. The snow was still in the woods and it was early. The sun coming up and shining on all the white in the woods was marvelous, wonderful, Lord of Lords! King of Kings! Yes. It was that moving. 

Helped Daughter at her art sale. Well. I didn't do anything but sit there and lend moral support. She did all the work. It was fun. The venue was small. And indoors. And the hosts provided a good bathroom and tasty brunch snacks. 

Win. 

 Christmas traditions are being checked off the 'to-do' list this week.

I hope these taste as good as they smelled whilst I was cooking them. 

I give most away to our offspring. Keep just a few for Christmas morning coffee. 

 Learning new scarf tie techniques this week. 

Christmas oranges. Another of our family traditions. 

It smells like Christmas now. 

Yesterday I got to attend Cecilia's Christmas program.

She was the cutest snowman ever. 

Hit the ground running today. After a quick trip to church for a good 40 minutes of Christmas meditation...I ran through the grocery stores to pick up items needed to get us through the weekend. 

And now? 

George Michael and Mariah Carey are keeping me company while I construct the gumbo.

If you haven't heard it yet, ask your Siri to find Wham's "Last Christmas" and Mariah's "All I want for Christmas" and just try to keep your feet still.

You're welcome. 

Holy trinity. It's gettin' very spiritual around here. 

More kitchen constructions this afternoon. 

Bunko and dirty Santa with my church peeps tonight.

Shalom. 

Under the weather

On the way home from senior mass and brunch on Friday I stopped to snap this photo...

I texted it to Mom. This is where she went to college. It is my alma mater, also. She graduated in 1941. There was a legend about the ginkgo tree. I'm not sure if this is still the same tree, but it might be. Anyway. The colors on College Street are still loudly proclaiming fall. 

I had been swallowing with a scratchy throat for several days. I didn't feel bad until I got home. Then I just laid on the sofa for the remainder of the day. Whatever perkiness I felt Friday morning disappeared. 

Saturday I wasn't up to snuff but Christmas decorations were calling my name. Macho said he would help when he finished his yard work. I waited for a bit. Then I realized that I was at the best I was going to be all day. I could not wait for Macho to finish. So up in the attic I went to retrieve the decorations. 

The pencil tree I bought two years ago is easy for me to handle by myownself. And so I did.

I even got 2/3 boxes down by my self. I commenced to decorating. Macho finished the yard stuff and came in to assist. 

He put his ornament on the tree. Yes. This one is specifically his. 

Handcrafted by our Daughter with materials from his Dad's house. The sentiment is advice from her Granddaddy to more carpenters than we will ever know.   

These are my Christmas angels. They are not fine or rare.  Some were very inexpensive. One was a gift from a client at the tax office where I worked for a dozen years. One belonged to my Aunt Eleanor. One came from my mother-in-law. Two I found in an antique store. The most precious angel was made and hand painted by our first granddaughter. 

This is my view from the sofa today. After church we opted to come home and stay put. I am following the EMCC Lions on Twitter as they play for the National Junior College Championship. 

We are winning, so far. 

I am feeling better. 

Go Lions!

Shalom.