Sharing Some Snow

I don't have a lot to say tonight - I've been teaching and practicing and working on this old, tired body this week and that's about all. I have another appointment with my chiropractor tomorrow. I did make a couple of special people some special cards and they both liked them very much. Thank you from the first friend:

Your card arrived yesterday and WOW is it ever nice/neat/cool !! You did a great job on it, and it couldn't be more appropriate. Thanks

Thank you from the second friend:

I have a feeling you knew how much I needed some attention.....  Well, it worked.  Everything about that beautiful card is perfect; It will be displayed and will serve as a reminder...

Thank you.. thank you. thank you.

I love the feeling of knowing I was able to cheer someone up just with just some paper and glue.

Daughter came for a visit yesterday and the sun came out so I got outside to take a few photos of the snow.

This first one is our street; it's nearly impassable now...note the stop sign - standard height for a stop sign by the way.

 This is normal snowfall...by that I mean it hasn't been blown by a snow blower or pushed up by the plow or front end loader...it's just the natural snow accumulation in our back yard. Notice the neighbors van.

 This again is normal snow accumulation and natural blowing and drifting in our back yard. If you look hard you can barely see the top of the 6' privacy fence and that's the top portion of my clothes line pole.

 While Daughter was here she shoveled off the roof of her car. I wish I had got a picture of it before she had removed it all. There was quite a bit up there!

 I wanted to take a picture of my Daughter in front of this snow bank for a reference point, but she wouldn't hear of it so I had her take my picture. I'm 5' 4" tall.

 I'm wondering what the Little Turquoise House will look like by Saturday? Here is our forecast:

..BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...

HAZARDOUS WEATHER...

* SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND BECOME HEAVY
THURSDAY EVENING. THE SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH LATE THURSDAY
NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

* STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 8 INCHES OR MORE IS POSSIBLE BY 
MIDDAY FRIDAY. 

* WEST WINDS GUSTING TO 45 MPH WILL DEVELOP LATE THURSDAY NIGHT 
AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS MAY PRODUCE BLIZZARD 
CONDITIONS WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES AND SEVERE BLOWING AND 
DRIFTING SNOW. 

IMPACTS...

* ROADS MAY BECOME SNOW COVERED AND HAZARDOUS THURSDAY EVENING.

* STRONG WEST WINDS WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE LATE 
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. MANY ROADS COULD BECOME 
IMPASSABLE DUE TO THE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Somewhere I saw accumulation expected to be 8-12". UGH. 

Our son and his girlfriend are coming to visit on Saturday, hopefully the system will be gone by then and they will have safe travels. I'm looking forward to seeing him - I guess it's time to get to know her better...it's sounding serious. 

Winter Weather Advisory

In my last post I shared a photo of someone standing amidst the snowbanks near my home. Today we are told a storm system is moving through which should produce 3-5 inches of new snow. Pardon me if I'm not jumping up and down for joy! I was wishing I had taken pictures of my yard yesterday as we were blessed with sunshine, but I guess now I'll just wait as the snow is about to get deeper! The photo at the top of the page was taken a few blocks from my home; someone has a wonderful sense of humor and it makes me smile every time I drive past!

I had hoped to go down the hill and practice on the pipe organ and perhaps visit with David, my mentor this afternoon, but I'll not brave it now. I'll practice here at my church...not that that is a bad thing, I'm just in need of a little constructive criticism. I played for hymn singing last night at the evening service...I don't always as sometimes we don't make it back for evening service and now that Tim is here, he has asked to play sometimes and I gladly step aside when he wants to play. Anyway, I played last night and messed up pretty royally. I don't sight read well and the hymns are never chosen in advance at our church. In the mornings I have the Sunday School hour to practice a little so it's not so bad, but in the evenings it's "turn to number" such and such and I have a couple seconds to find the number, check the key signature, check my registration and check my hand position before we start. Somehow last night I missed a flat in the first line of the second hymn and I couldn't get back to the right key for several beats. It was bad, but I'm trying to not fret...not sure that I'm doing a very good job. I keep telling myself the more I do the better I'll get, but I'm not sure that's the case anymore. I'm becoming discouraged.

Yesterday morning at church one of the ladies bought the last four thank-you cards in my box ( $12.00 more dollars for the organ debt) so I spent yesterday afternoon making more to replace them. I made 6 thank-you cards, 2 all occasion and 2 birthday. My studio is a huge mess this morning and I have to make some time before lunch to straighten it.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to make any to replace the ones sold at the store, so I'll have to make time for that some evening this week.

This coming Friday my son and his girlfriend and her dog are planning a visit. I'm thrilled to see my son and I hope it goes well. I'll have to spend some time on Thursday doing a little cleaning and preparation.

I'm still hurting quite a lot, though it's better than last week. I am trying to remember to take my supplements - a multi-vit., D, calcium, magnesium and fish oil. The magnesium and fish oil specifically should help with the pain I'm having, at least I hope so...the rest will be hard work on my part. It's tough and I'm finding the temptation to just give up very tempting because the work-outs are so painful right now.

So it's the beginning of a new week of teaching, practicing, card making and painful work-outs not to mention cooking, cleaning and laundry...

A Relaxing Day

The morning started out with a beautiful sunrise...I took a picture, loaded it to my computer and the next thing I know it's disappeared. I can't find it anywhere. I wanted to share it here. 

It's been a relaxing day...one I have needed. Hubby and I started our day by going out  to breakfast this morning then I came home and began taking my supplements again...Carol, you were reading my mind. It's the beginning of my making more of an effort to be consistent in the things that will get me healthy and strong again. I also spent a good deal of time working out. I had a talk with a friend yesterday and now have a renewed determination to be more consistent with my exercises. I also think I discovered something I was doing wrong in my diet and will make some changes and see if it makes a difference. 

I did some laundry, made Calico Beans  for after church tomorrow, and some general cleaning. 

Our Valentine's Day was a quiet one. Hubby had a game to ref so I stayed home and did my work-out and then soaked in an Epsom Salt bath. Hubby bought me two red roses and a very sweet card. I make him a heart shaped chocolate chip cookie. He waited for some time to begin eating it...several jokes were made about breaking his heart. We talked about going out for dinner together tonight, but he was hungry and tired when he got home and leftover meatloaf was too handy. 

I stopped in the scrapbook store yesterday to check on Jeanne and while I was there a lady came in and bought two of my cards. Several others are "missing" as well so now I need to make some more...maybe I'll have some time tomorrow. 

Not much of interest going on around here, I feel as though this is lacking in creativity. 

Oh, P.S. here is a picture of some snow. This is in front of the apartment building where my mother used to live. She hated snow more than I do - I can only imagine what she'd be saying if she were still here. 

Valentine's Blah

I'm one hurting unit today. I went to the chiropractor on Wednesday and today I feel as though I've been hit by a truck. This is always the case though, I always feel worse before I feel better. Tomorrow should be better...I hope. I hurt all over  - the Dr. said everything seems to be inflamed and irritated. It's now time to figure out why and make some changes. I thought I was doing well in the area of my diet, but perhaps I'm missing something. I also think I need to start taking my supplements again and some warmth and sunshine would certainly help but that will obviously have to wait a while yet. 

I have one student scheduled for this afternoon but other than that nothing else going on. I still haven't decided if I should go to the church to practice or wait until tomorrow. Today would be better for the schedule if I can just get my body to cooperate. Hubby has a game to ref tonight so the only Valentine's celebration I get today is redecorating my blog. 

I will probably practice no matter how badly I feel. It's just better to go today and pay the price tomorrow. Tomorrow I can stay home, rest and take care of me. 

We got more snow...surprise, surprise. One of my piano families got stuck in my driveway last week...I felt so bad. Hubby was out of town and I did my best to keep up on keeping things cleared out but I just couldn't stay ahead of the wind. It was quite a job to get her out as she really got herself stuck. We dug the best we could but it was soon obvious we weren't getting her out and so she called her husband who pulled her out with a strap hooked to his truck. Even the plow got stuck on our street last week and had to be pulled out! The village is just not taking care of things as they should. Everyone is getting cranky...it really is time for spring but all of us who live here know it's a long time coming yet. 

That's all for today...I hope to be back later tonight to catch up with your news! 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

It's Been a While

I've been so uninspired in the blog/writing department. I'm here today, but I'm still not very inspired. I think it's the winter...the long...cold...snowy...blowy...winter. This past week in particular has been bad. I did fine through the month of January, but I need more sunshine and the ability to get out of the house...past the end of the driveway...once in a while. My car really doesn't like the cold and so I've been held up in this house way too long. I had so many goals for this winter and I've been working to attain them, but it seems attaining them is still so far away. My house needs a good cleaning and today would be a good day to do that but I'm not going to...I'll wait...'till spring. Instead I'm having a Gilmore Girls marathon today and I will probably make a few cards this afternoon.

I love this show...I used to watch it with my girls...it's been a long time since I've enjoyed it. I'm rambling...I know that...it's just the way my brain works these days. 

Quick Note

Happy Monday! It's good to be feeling better, but I'm still not 100% and I have a lot of catch-up to do. 

1. Morning chores

2. Focus on bathroom this week - today is the ceiling and it's going to take energy and strength I'm not sure I have yet. 

3. Re-start fitness program with flexibility and strength training

4. Make sausage stew for supper

5. Teach one lesson

6. Maybe practice...not sure I want to go out today. 

 ALL schools are cancelled here due to our extreme low temperatures EXCEPT for my daughters campus. She has to walk all over that campus in this awful weather. She has asked for prayer today as it's just plain dangerous to be out. It's currently -9 with wind chill of -33. I think they should have cancelled but they never do. 

Also please pray Hubby does not come down sick with what I had. He has a very busy weekend coming up that will bring in some needed money but only if he's healthy enough to do the job. 

I will try to catch up with everyone this evening. 

Afternoon By The Fire

It's not often and by that I mean it's rare that I get a chance to spend an afternoon leisurely enjoying the warmth of the fire and a cup of hot chocolate. Too bad I had to come down with walking pneumonia to get it. 

Yes, I've been sick all week. It came on suddenly during the pastors message at church on Sunday. As soon as I got off the organ bench and sat down in the pew my nose started running and I began sneezing etc. I could hardly keep up! It's a good thing my mother taught me to always carry tissues!! Then came the headache and by the time we got home, the body aches came. By nightfall I was on my back and the next day I did nothing but sleep and cough. Every time I cough I sound and feel as though I'm going to hack up a lung. Hubby did some research and diagnosed it as walking pneumonia and it seems he's correct. Tuesday I felt better so I got up and did up the dishes etc., by afternoon I was down again. Wednesday was spent watching favorite shows via DVD and sleeping and today I'm at least able to stay awake for longer periods of time. 

I have canceled all piano lessons for this week; I probably could manage to work on some cards this afternoon, but it's cold upstairs even though the sun is shining brightly today so I'm downstairs by the fire...spoiling myself just a little. 

The weather, like everywhere it seems has been cold and snowy...'nuf said.

Saturday a very special gift arrived in the mail!! My college piano professor...Gordon...the one who's fighting cancer, sent me a set of his music that he composed for organ!! I'm so thrilled and honored!! I can't wait to be healthy enough to practice again so I can try them out. Please continue in prayer for him if you would. Here is another pic of him that I just love. It's hard to see in the smaller image, but his smile here is priceless!

Before I got sick I spent several days working on cards. Some I'm attempting to sell, others I have made for the church ministry. One in particular I made for someone special. Here are a few of my favorites. Click for the larger image to see the details. 

 As I was typing this my son called. It was so good to hear his voice. He's been laid off from work again and is getting quite serious with his girl. They've moved in together...financially it was necessary, but I'm still not a fan. I don't yet know how I feel about them together, first impressions weren't the best. I pray...a lot. 

Well, that's about all for today...

Organ Video

Gilmore let us sleep in this morning...7:30...wow! General cleaning and chores have been done, I'm finishing breakfast as I type. I think I'll be heading out to the grocery store, I don't know when we're getting paid so I have to keep it simple. Problem is if I shop today I won't have the house payment for the first of the month. Please pray we get paid soon. 

Finishing laundry is also on the to-do list and I have to straighten the studio before 4:00 as my only student that hasn't cancelled will hopefully be coming. I started a project in there last night and got interrupted and it's a mess. 

Three hours of practice time on the organ yesterday - I should be so well toned! My abs and arms are sore this morning. 

Daughter #2  stopped in for a few minutes last night and brought us dessert. It was nice to see her. I shouldn't have had the dessert, but it sure was YUMMY!

Ok, here's the video I spoke of yesterday. I don't wish to share it with everyone,  just my closest friends. Like I said, it's short and I wish it was a better sample of my playing and I was dressed better but it was cold in there that day. Here it is, such as it is I hope you enjoy it. I hope it works, it's a big file and it's taken forever to load....Ok, I'm back in here...this isn't working but I don't know how to fix it.

Okay...Since the video is not working properly here I took it off and put it on my Google profile page. It seems to be fine there. 

Another Winter Day

Another winter day....another day to take care of my disciplines...do the work...manage...survive...get through. No students today due to cancellations, I plan to go to the church to practice. I put a roast in the crock-pot for supper tonight...comfort food. I cleaned out the refrigerator today - it's easier when it's empty. We're waiting for payday, so I've been using our freezer food...I had hoped to keep it for a storm. Floors are done, dishes are next as well as getting the laundry going. I'm taking care of the necessities so this afternoon I can focus on my organ practice.

Hubby is out for coffee with the Pastor. Poor Hubby - it seems everything is falling apart around him. He is the head of the Sunday School department and Sunday School now has a total of 4 kids in it...on a good day. They're meeting today to discuss what to do.

I saw this shared on FB and I found it interesting. It made me think. I think I used to be guilty of #1...not so much anymore. #2? No. I have very little of which to boast. #3...probably, but not in the way they talk about here. I think I'm more discontent with what I have to do and am looking for some way to escape. I don't compare myself with others anymore.  #4...maybe not protect, but could be spent doing something more worthwhile. #5...I'm not perfect, but I don't say inappropriate things online. I actually say very little outside of this blog. Still...an interesting and thought provoking read.
5 Questions to Ask Before Posting To Social Media

That's about it for today. Oh...at Thanksgiving my son made a video of me playing the organ. It's not very long and it's not very good and it's got mistakes in it and I look awful. I'm not posting it to youtube or Facebook...I might...I said might post it here.

Spring....

64 days until spring...I didn't count them up, I'm taking their word for it. It can't come soon enough for me, though I have a lot to accomplish yet before it arrives. This year I'm trying very hard to live a more disciplined life. I'm doing better. I can actually say this evening that today I have not eaten anything not in my eating plan and I accomplished all my disciplines...exercise, general housekeeping, time in the Word, a little bit of practice. I was still online more than I should have been and could have spent that time making cards or reading. I can do better.

64 days until spring...our pastor has a new saying..."winter ruins everything." Yes, it's a bit negative, but probably true.

64 days until spring. Winters here are dark and long and lonely. It seems people disappear...like me, they hold up in their homes and don't go out unless necessary. Winter here is a time to just manage. Don't try to do much other than sit by the fire and read.

Energies are sapped just trying to get through each day with shoveling, maintenance, grocery shopping and food preparation. Just do the basics...the necessities, and then do it all again the next day...just manage...just survive...just get through until the sun shines again.

My car doesn't like the cold, it's no longer dependable, so I'm home even more than usual. I didn't get to practice today because of that and because of a slight schedule change. Tomorrow....tomorrow is supposed to be warmer and my schedule is lighter so I'm trying for tomorrow. The church will be very cold, but I'll dress warm.

64 days until spring. I'm planning the organ recital/dedication. Mentor and I discussed it on Monday...a little. I kinda have to give him big plans in small doses, we need time to process. Asking either of us to do anything big during the winter is just asking too much. It's winter...just the basics...the necessities. In a couple of weeks I'll ask him to help me decide on some music as winter or not, I need to get practicing on it. I'm hoping to schedule it for May.

64 days until spring... Easter! I have to find and learn music for Easter!

64 days until spring. I have a student recital to plan...for June. I have a senior graduate this year, so it has to be extra special and that's going to take some extra planning. I'm going to have her begin and end the program as well as play several other pieces in between the other recitalists. At the end, following awards and announcements I'm going to announce her encore, then I will join her at the piano and we'll play a duet on Pomp and Circumstance...then I'll probably cry...she's been with me since she was little.

64 days until spring. Hubby is trying to refinance the business loan. We hope to know something soon - if we can't get the loan, we'll have to sell....then what? Only God knows. It's hard to trust sometimes, but I'm trying. Everything is harder to do in the winter.

64 days until spring. I've been making cards - it keeps me busy (as if I needed to be busier) and I promised to make them for the church. I'm supposed to be making thank you cards tonight, but I felt like blogging and I haven't felt like blogging in a while now. I caught up with all my friends here...some I commented on and others I didn't...I'm sorry...I did read though and I've been thinking about you all.

64 days until spring...Sun on my face, grass between my toes, hanging clothes on the line, garden soil on my hands, birds. Maybe this heaviness in my heart will lighten some, then. Of course you all realize that "spring" is only a date on the calendar. Spring arrives here when it's ready and long after it does everywhere else. But it will come.

64 days until spring....OOPS!! According to this site: countdown - it's only 63 days!!! SEE!! It will be here before we know it!!

Happy New Year!!

Two of my students cancelled this afternoon due to colds so I have a few minutes on my hands to finally put up a new year's post!!

First of all, I'd like to share some verses for the new year that a friend of mine shared on her blog:

Lucy Maude Montgomery in her classic, Anne of Green Gables book said, “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it?”

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:18-19

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,…”  1 Chronicles 16:11-12

It is nice to think that each new year, each new day is a chance to start fresh. I have been working on re-working my schedule to allow for tasks that have been slipping through the cracks. I'm doing better and hopefully this next week will be better yet. 

Our new year came in quietly but cold. We did stop in at a church members open house on New Year's Eve and when it came time to leave our car wouldn't start. We'd been having trouble but thought we had it solved...wrong. It seems the car doesn't like the cold and so ever since then Hubby has been chauffeuring me to the grocery store and to the church for my practice times...that's all I get to do - the rest of my time is spent here in The Little Turquoise House. This has been all well and good, I don't like going out in the cold and snow anyway. I've got my house all clean and put back in order after Christmas and have some Valentines created for sale...more on the way, hopefully tonight while I catch up on Downton Abbey episodes. Castle was certainly good this week!! 

Students have returned this week...well...sort of. I thought of taking another week off to get some more things done and now I wish I had as I've only had four students of the 13 show up due to either weather conditions or illness. Hopefully next week will be better. 

The sun is shining today - it's so nice to see!! I don't know how much I'll be around for the next while with my new schedule and all, but I'll be in and out. 

Memory Lane

A friend of mine shared this and I think it is worthy to pass on...

Memory Lane is so much fun to visit but if I parked there permanently then a discontent feeling could overwhelm a person. You know, the what ifs. I serve a mighty God that has brought me through so many different situations and it has caused me to be stronger in many areas of my life. The strength and endurance I have are only made through the trials my family and I have been through. So, though I may miss some of the past, I can never live there because my future is brighter than my past. How do I know this? Well, because Heaven is my future! Our family has crossed paths with so many people over the years and though some may not claim us in the friends category any longer...I still claim them, for I have grown closer to the Lord with each friend experience. Grudges, are really not my thing because ultimately God will handle any thing not taken care of scripturally and I leave those things with Him. Peace...love the sound of that word! A new year is about to happen in a few days. A do over for some, a fresh beginning for many. Let's do all we can to put our past in our past and move forward, onward, and upward as our goal this year. Let's put God at the helm of our ship and be the crewman taking all our orders from the Captain. He can guide us through the roughest of storms! Love y'all ... FOCUS may just be my word for the year. Don't enter 2014 blurry. Focus on the outcome you want to see and if the picture comes out blurry sometimes, just refocus and press on. Love ya! 

The Third Day

The third day after Christmas and The Little Turquoise House is too quiet. I woke this morning and thought of my kids sleeping in various parts of the house and then realized they were no longer here.  I'm enjoying the quiet of the morning, but at the same time I'm not because I know I won't be hearing giggles, footsteps, and the constant opening and closing of the bathroom door. Reality has set in that my second cup of coffee will be consumed alone instead of around the table filled with my chattering children. SIGH. So it's time to pull myself up by my bootstraps...well, clogs in my case and get The Little Turquoise House back in order and myself as well. That's the plan for today lots of cleaning and laundry (every towel in the house is dirty). Since Daughter #2 didn't get "her" tree up until Christmas Eve, I will leave it up for a few more days for her to enjoy. She'll be up tomorrow and maybe once again before she returns to classes. I will however put away the other decorations as I work through the cleaning process. I don't know how much I'll get done today, but I do plan to roll up my sleeves and go at it with a vengeance.

After the cleaning is done this week, I hope to get me in order and make some real plans for getting my life back in order.

We are expecting a storm today - temperatures are supposed to drop drastically and the wind will pick up; we are expecting around 5" of blowing and drifting snow tonight and another possible 7" tomorrow. Unfortunately it will make getting to church difficult for some.

Well it's time to roll up these sleeves and dig in...

Christmas Reflections

It's the second day after Christmas..almost the third and I can't believe it's come and gone so soon. Tonight I'm sitting by the fire, trying to stay warm, listening to Christmas organ music and reflecting on the last few days.

Late Sunday night Daughter #1, Son-in-law and my grandpups arrived, I was happy to see them but didn't expect them until Monday or Tuesday, so I did some rushing around to prepare just prior to their arrival. Daughter #2 also came up that night and we stayed up for a while and talked before heading to bed.

Monday the girls wanted to go to The Tea Room - a restaurant that specializes in tea and has a menu mostly of quiches, finger sandwiches, and soups. I had been in the front where they also sell their teas, but I had never gone there to eat. It was a very relaxing lunch...we tried several of the teas and it all felt so proper...it was fun! Before leaving we made sure to buy several to take home. After our tea we stopped in several stores in the downtown area. I must say, I was quite tired when we got home and it took no time at all to drop off to sleep.


Tuesday - Christmas Eve our Son arrived. The one thing I wanted to do this year was attend Christmas Eve services at my mentors church so I could hear him play and I could sing Christmas carols with the pipe organ. I wanted it to be a family outing, but neither one of the girls wanted to go, so I was prepared to drive down by myself, but Hubby and Son were kind enough to go with me. I was happy to not have to go alone and it meant a lot that they understood how much it meant to me. Just like the evening of Lessons and Carols I was a little disappointed in the music and the service was just so different than it was years ago when we attended. I was still glad we went, I loved just being in that room again and I was able to deliver a Christmas gift to my mentor. While we were gone, Daughter did some baking and we had pasties for supper when we got home we watched some Christmas movies and opened our stockings. Daughter #2 gave me tea, Daughter #1 gave me chocolates and Son and Daughter #2 gave me a cross ring that I just LOVE!

Wednesday Christmas - we all slept in. I haven't slept that late in years! Breakfast became brunch and lunch was cheese ball and crackers. We drew names again this year. I drew Daugher #1 and got her two dinner plates for her Fiesta Ware set that she is trying to build up. I also bought her a necklace made of Lake Superior beach glass. My Son drew my name...he bought me a set of wind chimes!! I LOVE WIND CHIMES. I used to have a set, but it took us so long to have a house that I got rid of them thinking I would never have a place to hang them. Now I have a new set, and I just love them. I can't wait until spring when I can hang them outside.

I started my day by cleaning up the dishes the girls left the night before. It took so long that my pies were late getting in the oven which made the turkey and ham late getting started. Long story short, the whole day was delayed and our Christmas dinner didn't take place until 8:00 p.m. I hate eating that late, but it's what we had to do. After dinner we played some games. I'm not much of a game person, but it was fun.

Thursday  morning Daughter #1 and Son-in-law left for Chicago. Son and I did a little shopping. His girlfriend surprised us all by sending gifts for us and since she had to work and I had only met her one time I did not think to get her anything so we went out so I could choose something nice for him to take back for her from all of us. The rest of the day was spent watching Castle and just relaxing. We did have a heart to heart talk that has left me confused and a bit shaken.

Friday morning Son left, I spent the day fighting tears. I left the house in it's total disarray and went to practice. I'm keeping this Sunday low key. I'm not ready for Christmas to be over, maybe because it took me so long to accept it's arrival, yet at the same time I want to clean house and prepare both physically and spiritually for the coming year. I have a lot to do but at the same time I want to try to enjoy Christmas for a while longer. Do you make New Year's resolutions? I don't, but I do have a list of goals to shoot for. After I get the house back in order, I plan to start work on my list but I think I'm going to listen to Christmas music while I'm at it.

~ Merry Christmas!

Christmas Blues

My cards and letters are finally done and everything that had to go out is in the mail, I went to the church and did the best I could to prepare my music for tomorrow...all that's left is cleaning the bathroom and mopping the floors and I really can't seem to get myself motivated to do any of that.

I found out last night that my daughter and son-in-law from Chicago were planning on arriving late tonight, then I found out this morning that she had a bad eczema flare up last night and now they might not make it at all. I've been trying to contact her, but she's not responding. I just hope they are safe.

My son can't make it up until Christmas Eve and my daughter who usually chooses our tree with her dad hasn't been up to take care of that and quite frankly, it's so close to Christmas now that I don't know if I want to pay for a tree that will only be up a few days.

I haven't even begun my cleaning and it's 2:00 in the afternoon...I'm having lunch. I need to get started, just the basics, just the things that have to be done.

Things should be getting busy around here so I probably won't be back in blogland until after everyone leaves. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

I should go.