We were up by 6:30 a.m. this morning, but I skipped my exercises so we could do last-minute household chores and food preparations for when family visited.
The first group arrived around 10:30, and by noon everyone was here. Thirteen of Hubbie's family came, including Daughter and her husband, Grandson and his wife and three daughters, Sister and her two sons and two granddaughters, plus Nephew's girlfriend.
They came with healthy appetites on this cold, windy day, and enjoyed the three choices of hot soup (11-bean with ham and Rotel, potato, and chicken noodle), plus barbecued pork on hamburger buns, and cole slaw. There was also a choice of dips and cheese balls with crackers. Daughter brought several kinds of homemade candies to add to the desserts we set out...fruit salad, various homemade cookies, rum cake and rum-soaked fruit cake. Drinks included wine, tea, soft drinks, and coffee.
Following lunch, Nephew and I adjourned to my office upstairs, where Nephew downloaded a program to use in transferring cassette audio books to CDs. He also showed me how to use the program, and then spent time cleaning my computer. In order to use the new program, I needed a special jack to hook my tape recorder/player to the computer. So Nephew and Hubbie went to the WDCS to buy one. Now I can begin getting books recorded on CD, and play them in the van when we travel. Yippee.
Nephew has also volunteered to clear my old word program out and download an updated version, as well as add memory to my computer. He needs to order something or other to do this, so as soon as he has what he needs, we'll take the computer to his town and let him work on it. He's very enthusiastic to help me, because he's a natural at technology and a born teacher.
Around 3 p.m., after Nephew had finished working on my computer, the family was ready to go home. Grandson and his family had left shortly after lunch to go visit with his wife's family in another town.
A few minutes after the family left, I got a call from a high school classmate. She was contacting class members to see how many of us might be able to attend a 50th class reunion at the end of May. That time-frame would be perfect for me, since we usually camp in the area on that weekend, anyway. So I hope the reunion committee nails it for that time.
We had a small class...only about 30 of us...and sadly, five of us are gone. So of the 25 of us remaining, there will probably be only 20 or so, plus spouses, to get together (some live too far away to attend). We will probably have the reunion at one of the classmate's homes, like we did ten years ago.
Mother, who slept only a couple of hours last night, was pooped by the time family left this afternoon, so she was plenty ready to go home and crash. Hubbie and I are feeling the effects of a busy holiday season, too, and are glad to just sit and veg for the evening.
After an eggs and toast supper, with cottage cheese, and fresh oranges and prunes for dessert, we watched the movie "August," that I'd recorded on DVR. Two brothers try to keep their start-up dot.com business alive after the 9/11 attacks. The movie is rated "R" for language.
The second movie we saw was "Spinning into Butter," an R-rated (for language) movie starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Beau Bridges. A black student is the object of hate crimes that turn a small, ethnically diverse, New England college into a tailspin, as racism is examined on campus.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Day
Got up around 8 a.m. to a smattering of snow that dusted the roof of the house and the van. Not exactly a white Christmas. After breakfast, I did a treadmill session and weights exercises. Mother came over while I was getting ready for the day and put a beef roast and veggies in the slow cooker.
Then Hubbie decided to scratch off his lottery tickets. He won $30, a $10 gain on the $20 I'd paid for the tickets. Of course, it was a $30 gain for him. When I bought the tickets at the grocery store this week, the clerk said lots of folks were buying them to use as stocking stuffers.
While the beef was cooking, we spruced the house for company. The beef, with carrots and onions, was delicious served with mashed potatoes (Hubbie peeled the potatoes, and I mashed them after they were cooked), gravy, canned asparagus, and fruit salad that I'd made yesterday. We also had mouthwatering yeast rolls that we'd bought from a local restaurant.
After lunch, we set the tables with alternating poinsettia patterned and plain green place mats, and alternating white and green dinner plates, alternating white and green bowls, and clear stemmed goblets, for the soup and sandwich lunch tomorrow, when Hubbie's family comes. We expect thirteen to come, so there will be sixteen of us for lunch.
After that, we watched a couple of Christmas programs....the Disney World Christmas Parade, the St. Olaf Christmas concert, and the animated features, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "The Little Drummer Boy."
Then Hubbie and I went upstairs to straighten the office, since tomorrow, Nephew plans to load a program into my computer for transferring audio tapes to CDs, and then teach me how to use it. Nephew is a technology teacher.
Mother went home later in the afternoon, and Hubbie and I relaxed for the evening.
Then Hubbie decided to scratch off his lottery tickets. He won $30, a $10 gain on the $20 I'd paid for the tickets. Of course, it was a $30 gain for him. When I bought the tickets at the grocery store this week, the clerk said lots of folks were buying them to use as stocking stuffers.
While the beef was cooking, we spruced the house for company. The beef, with carrots and onions, was delicious served with mashed potatoes (Hubbie peeled the potatoes, and I mashed them after they were cooked), gravy, canned asparagus, and fruit salad that I'd made yesterday. We also had mouthwatering yeast rolls that we'd bought from a local restaurant.
After lunch, we set the tables with alternating poinsettia patterned and plain green place mats, and alternating white and green dinner plates, alternating white and green bowls, and clear stemmed goblets, for the soup and sandwich lunch tomorrow, when Hubbie's family comes. We expect thirteen to come, so there will be sixteen of us for lunch.
After that, we watched a couple of Christmas programs....the Disney World Christmas Parade, the St. Olaf Christmas concert, and the animated features, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "The Little Drummer Boy."
Then Hubbie and I went upstairs to straighten the office, since tomorrow, Nephew plans to load a program into my computer for transferring audio tapes to CDs, and then teach me how to use it. Nephew is a technology teacher.
Mother went home later in the afternoon, and Hubbie and I relaxed for the evening.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve
We were up by 8 a.m., and after breakfast, I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. Mother came over while I was on the treadmill and started some chicken stewing for chicken noodle soup Saturday. Hubbie went to town while I was exercising. I didn't even know he'd left the house until I was done with my session. I guess he sneaked off to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.
While I was cooling down, the door bell rang. I really didn't want to answer the door in my exercise clothes (a t-shirt and shorts), but I did. One of our neighbor teenage boys was there. He handed me a couple of small gift bags, one holding sugar cookies, and one holding fudge. I was glad I had a gift box ready for him to take to his family. I think he and his family were on their way to visit relatives, so maybe the goodies in the gift box I gave him will become part of their refreshment table.
After I was ready for the day, I did a few things related to getting ready for company Saturday. After lunch, we watched "Scrooge," starring Alastair Sim. This is my very most favorite version of the Scrooge movies, and I look forward to seeing it every year.
Then Hubbie and I worked together to make a batch of fruited popcorn. It didn't turn out as usual, though, because this morning, Hubbie had brought home a bag of dark brown sugar instead of light brown. So the popcorn had a molasses taste instead of a caramel taste, according to Hubbie. I never eat this popcorn, which has real butter, candied cherries, and pecans in it.
We decided to run to the grocery store and get a bag of light brown sugar. On the way, we noticed that after the hard rains of last night and today, the creeks were swollen, and low-lying fields looked like lakes. Before going to the store, we went down to the river, and found that it was flooding out of its banks. The deluge makes this the wettest year in our state's weather-recording history, surpassing the last most rainy year of 1882.
Back home, we made another batch of fruited popcorn, which turned out just right. We'll save this batch to give to Hubbie's daughter Saturday. She loves it as much as Hubbie does, so we make a batch for her every year.
Later, we had boiled chicken, with rice and gravy, and mixed vegetables for supper. Shortly after supper, my brother from Florida called, and we talked for quite a while. This brother, who is ten years older than me, doesn't have a computer, so phone calls and snail mail are the only ways we can communicate.
Around 7 p.m., we adjourned to the living room to open Christmas gifts. It is our tradition to open gifts on Christmas Eve, instead of Christmas morning. We will be busy tomorrow, anyway, getting ready for company Saturday.
We each got nice gifts. Besides a 12th day of Christmas present this morning of a scented reed diffuser and refill bottle, Mother got several puzzle books, a humorous gardening book, a Magic Chef cookbook, a jar of peach preserves from the Wildseed Farms in Texas, jersey bed sheets, a photo mug with her cat's picture on it (her favorite gift), and an original painting of a Japanese woman that I'd gotten at the art gallery silent auction last summer.
Hubbie got an electric toothbrush and an electric razor, as well as a shoe box full of western novels, a wine-colored sweater shirt, a big bag of peanut brittle, and some scratch-off lottery tickets.
I got several gift cards, and a beautiful heart-shaped pendant necklace from Hubbie. I'd already gotten several gifts before Christmas, including a new pair of brown leather gloves, a pair of gold colored Swarovski crystal earrings, a book about the wildflowers of our state, and a food blender.
As usual, Hubbie was clever in wrapping the gift cards. One was taped to the bottom of a small box of Whitman's dark chocolates (I'll sample those later), one was on the back of a cake of bird suet, and the other one was taped to a box of mini candy canes.
After we opened gifts, we enjoyed glasses of the Riesling wine that Granddaughter from Michigan gave us for Christmas, along with slices of the fruit cake that we brought back from Corsicana, Texas last spring. I'd stored the cake in the freezer, and then got it out after Thanksgiving. wrapped it in a rum-soaked cloth, and refrigerated it after a few days. Mother had a glass of sparkling grape juice with hers.
Then we played two games of Skipbo, with Mother winning one game, and Hubbie winning the other. Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched an episode of "The Good Wife," before retiring.
While I was cooling down, the door bell rang. I really didn't want to answer the door in my exercise clothes (a t-shirt and shorts), but I did. One of our neighbor teenage boys was there. He handed me a couple of small gift bags, one holding sugar cookies, and one holding fudge. I was glad I had a gift box ready for him to take to his family. I think he and his family were on their way to visit relatives, so maybe the goodies in the gift box I gave him will become part of their refreshment table.
After I was ready for the day, I did a few things related to getting ready for company Saturday. After lunch, we watched "Scrooge," starring Alastair Sim. This is my very most favorite version of the Scrooge movies, and I look forward to seeing it every year.
Then Hubbie and I worked together to make a batch of fruited popcorn. It didn't turn out as usual, though, because this morning, Hubbie had brought home a bag of dark brown sugar instead of light brown. So the popcorn had a molasses taste instead of a caramel taste, according to Hubbie. I never eat this popcorn, which has real butter, candied cherries, and pecans in it.
We decided to run to the grocery store and get a bag of light brown sugar. On the way, we noticed that after the hard rains of last night and today, the creeks were swollen, and low-lying fields looked like lakes. Before going to the store, we went down to the river, and found that it was flooding out of its banks. The deluge makes this the wettest year in our state's weather-recording history, surpassing the last most rainy year of 1882.
Back home, we made another batch of fruited popcorn, which turned out just right. We'll save this batch to give to Hubbie's daughter Saturday. She loves it as much as Hubbie does, so we make a batch for her every year.
Later, we had boiled chicken, with rice and gravy, and mixed vegetables for supper. Shortly after supper, my brother from Florida called, and we talked for quite a while. This brother, who is ten years older than me, doesn't have a computer, so phone calls and snail mail are the only ways we can communicate.
Around 7 p.m., we adjourned to the living room to open Christmas gifts. It is our tradition to open gifts on Christmas Eve, instead of Christmas morning. We will be busy tomorrow, anyway, getting ready for company Saturday.
We each got nice gifts. Besides a 12th day of Christmas present this morning of a scented reed diffuser and refill bottle, Mother got several puzzle books, a humorous gardening book, a Magic Chef cookbook, a jar of peach preserves from the Wildseed Farms in Texas, jersey bed sheets, a photo mug with her cat's picture on it (her favorite gift), and an original painting of a Japanese woman that I'd gotten at the art gallery silent auction last summer.
Hubbie got an electric toothbrush and an electric razor, as well as a shoe box full of western novels, a wine-colored sweater shirt, a big bag of peanut brittle, and some scratch-off lottery tickets.
I got several gift cards, and a beautiful heart-shaped pendant necklace from Hubbie. I'd already gotten several gifts before Christmas, including a new pair of brown leather gloves, a pair of gold colored Swarovski crystal earrings, a book about the wildflowers of our state, and a food blender.
As usual, Hubbie was clever in wrapping the gift cards. One was taped to the bottom of a small box of Whitman's dark chocolates (I'll sample those later), one was on the back of a cake of bird suet, and the other one was taped to a box of mini candy canes.
After we opened gifts, we enjoyed glasses of the Riesling wine that Granddaughter from Michigan gave us for Christmas, along with slices of the fruit cake that we brought back from Corsicana, Texas last spring. I'd stored the cake in the freezer, and then got it out after Thanksgiving. wrapped it in a rum-soaked cloth, and refrigerated it after a few days. Mother had a glass of sparkling grape juice with hers.
Then we played two games of Skipbo, with Mother winning one game, and Hubbie winning the other. Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched an episode of "The Good Wife," before retiring.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, December 23
Another special day...Grandson's 24th birthday. Happy Birthday, Grandson.
We were up by around 8 a.m. this morning, and I did a treadmill session and weights exercises right after breakfast. Mother came over about 9 a.m. and worked on her jigsaw puzzle. Before she got started, I gave her an 11th day of Christmas gift...a can of tuile cookies (see description below), and a key chain flashlght, so she can locate the keyhole on the door of her house at night when we return home from trips like the one we made Monday.
While I was getting ready for the day, Hubbie went to a local restaurant to pick up the dozen yeast rolls that I ordered yesterday, and then ran some other errands that he kept secret.
After lunch, we both went to the WDCS for more last-minute items for Christmas weekend. We also stopped by a local food and clothing store for the disadvantaged, because I wanted to leave a small donation. But they were closed, so I'll have to drop it by there next week. The store is in constant need of donations, so the money will be just as welcome next week.
From there, we went to the farm supply store to pick up several cakes of suet for the birds.
While we were gone, Mother put together an 11-bean soup with ham and Rotel to serve Saturday, when Hubbie's family will be here.
Back home, I put together a food gift pack for our neighbors. The young husband of the family is very good at helping Hubbie with heavy-duty yard chores, for which he refuses payment. In the food pack, I included a tin of tuile cookies (thin rolled cookies shaped like cigarettes), a Ziplock bag of assorted homemade cookies, and individual packets of hot chocolate and apple cider mixes. Hubbie will take this pack to the neighbors tomorrow, when it will hopefully be too late for them to reciprocate.
Later, Mother enjoyed catching up on e-mails, blogs, and online Christmas cards on my laptop. When she finished, she went back to her puzzle, and I gathered ingredients for making whole wheat pancakes for supper.
After I made the pancake batter, Hubbie stepped in to take care of the cooking chores, while I heated dinner plates and pancake syrup in the microwave. The pancakes were very good. Mother especially finds them to be a treat, since she doesn't fix them for herself when she's at home.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I watched a Hallmark movie that I'd recorded on DVR..."The Three Gifts," starring Dean Cain. An orphanage needs someone to host three trouble making boys (about 10 years old) for the holidays. A couple who cannot have children of their own agree to take them in. Life lessons are learned.
Then we watched a movie called, "The Wool Cap," starring William H. Macy. A woman leaves her young daughter with the mute superintendent of her building and never returns. The man doesn't want to be responsible for the child, but as times passes, he becomes attached and tries to adopt her. Problems ensue.
We were up by around 8 a.m. this morning, and I did a treadmill session and weights exercises right after breakfast. Mother came over about 9 a.m. and worked on her jigsaw puzzle. Before she got started, I gave her an 11th day of Christmas gift...a can of tuile cookies (see description below), and a key chain flashlght, so she can locate the keyhole on the door of her house at night when we return home from trips like the one we made Monday.
While I was getting ready for the day, Hubbie went to a local restaurant to pick up the dozen yeast rolls that I ordered yesterday, and then ran some other errands that he kept secret.
After lunch, we both went to the WDCS for more last-minute items for Christmas weekend. We also stopped by a local food and clothing store for the disadvantaged, because I wanted to leave a small donation. But they were closed, so I'll have to drop it by there next week. The store is in constant need of donations, so the money will be just as welcome next week.
From there, we went to the farm supply store to pick up several cakes of suet for the birds.
While we were gone, Mother put together an 11-bean soup with ham and Rotel to serve Saturday, when Hubbie's family will be here.
Back home, I put together a food gift pack for our neighbors. The young husband of the family is very good at helping Hubbie with heavy-duty yard chores, for which he refuses payment. In the food pack, I included a tin of tuile cookies (thin rolled cookies shaped like cigarettes), a Ziplock bag of assorted homemade cookies, and individual packets of hot chocolate and apple cider mixes. Hubbie will take this pack to the neighbors tomorrow, when it will hopefully be too late for them to reciprocate.
Later, Mother enjoyed catching up on e-mails, blogs, and online Christmas cards on my laptop. When she finished, she went back to her puzzle, and I gathered ingredients for making whole wheat pancakes for supper.
After I made the pancake batter, Hubbie stepped in to take care of the cooking chores, while I heated dinner plates and pancake syrup in the microwave. The pancakes were very good. Mother especially finds them to be a treat, since she doesn't fix them for herself when she's at home.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I watched a Hallmark movie that I'd recorded on DVR..."The Three Gifts," starring Dean Cain. An orphanage needs someone to host three trouble making boys (about 10 years old) for the holidays. A couple who cannot have children of their own agree to take them in. Life lessons are learned.
Then we watched a movie called, "The Wool Cap," starring William H. Macy. A woman leaves her young daughter with the mute superintendent of her building and never returns. The man doesn't want to be responsible for the child, but as times passes, he becomes attached and tries to adopt her. Problems ensue.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, December 22
Slept late this morning, and then did a treadmill session and resistance exercises. After being away from the treadmill for several days, I had to slow my pace just slightly. It doesn't take long to lose strength. But then, exercising regularly also means I can get back up to speed in a day or so.
Mother came over mid-morning, and we made a list of groceries we'll need for Christmas weekend. Hubbie called our favorite barbecue restaurant to order pulled pork to have with soups on Saturday, when Hubbie's family will be here. He ordered it for 11:30 a.m., and then went to pick it up around that time. He also picked up a package of hamburger buns, so that we could sample the barbecue for lunch. We put the rest of it in the freezer until Friday.
Before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I called another local restaurant to order a dozen of their mouthwatering yeast rolls to have with Christmas and New Year's dinners. We'll pick those up tomorrow.
While we were doing those things, Mother chose another jigsaw puzzle to work on. Before she got started on the puzzle, I gave her a tenth day of Christmas gift...two word search books and some intimate apparel in a style that she likes and that are hard to find. She was excited by these.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the pharmacy to pick prescriptions for both Mother and me and to the Caring Hands Hospice office to pick up a pewter dove for Hubbie's sister. From there, we went to the WDCS.
When we got back home, I turned right around and went to town again, because I had some last-minute Christmas shopping to do. Things went very well, and I was able to quickly find what I wanted, as well do Mother's Christmas shopping for Hubbie, and get back home within an hour. I was even able to apply a $10 discount coupon to the purchase, which helped both Mother and me.
While I was shopping, Mother put together a pot of chili to simmer for supper. I returned home around 3 p.m. and sat down to catch up on reading newspapers from Sunday, yesterday, and today.
Around 5 p.m., we had bowls of chili, and afterward, we went on a tour of Christmas lights around town. We usually do this tour on Christmas Eve, but predictions are for stormy weather that night, so we decided to do it tonight.
We were impressed with how our town has outdone itself decorating for Christmas. Both the downtown district, and the park at the river are ablaze in Christmas lights...very enchanting. I think the reason for the extraordinary display is that we are listed this year in the tourism department's trail of lights brochure, so our town's powers-that-be wanted to make sure we are well represented.
It rained a little while we were out and about, but the temperature was moderate, so it was still pleasant. When we got back home, we had cups of hot chocolate with slices of chocolate date nut bread. Yum.
Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to another nail-biter win, after the game went into overtime. I had recorded the game on DVR.
Note: I got a very special Christmas card today from a high school classmate, who was one of my best friends, but that I haven't had contact with since graduation. I learned that she lives in a town about five hours away, near Hubbie's daughter's home. So I hope to be able to see her some time when we go to that area to visit Daughter. Tomorrow, I'll send her a New Year's card and letter.
Mother came over mid-morning, and we made a list of groceries we'll need for Christmas weekend. Hubbie called our favorite barbecue restaurant to order pulled pork to have with soups on Saturday, when Hubbie's family will be here. He ordered it for 11:30 a.m., and then went to pick it up around that time. He also picked up a package of hamburger buns, so that we could sample the barbecue for lunch. We put the rest of it in the freezer until Friday.
Before I went upstairs to get ready for the day, I called another local restaurant to order a dozen of their mouthwatering yeast rolls to have with Christmas and New Year's dinners. We'll pick those up tomorrow.
While we were doing those things, Mother chose another jigsaw puzzle to work on. Before she got started on the puzzle, I gave her a tenth day of Christmas gift...two word search books and some intimate apparel in a style that she likes and that are hard to find. She was excited by these.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the pharmacy to pick prescriptions for both Mother and me and to the Caring Hands Hospice office to pick up a pewter dove for Hubbie's sister. From there, we went to the WDCS.
When we got back home, I turned right around and went to town again, because I had some last-minute Christmas shopping to do. Things went very well, and I was able to quickly find what I wanted, as well do Mother's Christmas shopping for Hubbie, and get back home within an hour. I was even able to apply a $10 discount coupon to the purchase, which helped both Mother and me.
While I was shopping, Mother put together a pot of chili to simmer for supper. I returned home around 3 p.m. and sat down to catch up on reading newspapers from Sunday, yesterday, and today.
Around 5 p.m., we had bowls of chili, and afterward, we went on a tour of Christmas lights around town. We usually do this tour on Christmas Eve, but predictions are for stormy weather that night, so we decided to do it tonight.
We were impressed with how our town has outdone itself decorating for Christmas. Both the downtown district, and the park at the river are ablaze in Christmas lights...very enchanting. I think the reason for the extraordinary display is that we are listed this year in the tourism department's trail of lights brochure, so our town's powers-that-be wanted to make sure we are well represented.
It rained a little while we were out and about, but the temperature was moderate, so it was still pleasant. When we got back home, we had cups of hot chocolate with slices of chocolate date nut bread. Yum.
Mother went home after that, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to another nail-biter win, after the game went into overtime. I had recorded the game on DVR.
Note: I got a very special Christmas card today from a high school classmate, who was one of my best friends, but that I haven't had contact with since graduation. I learned that she lives in a town about five hours away, near Hubbie's daughter's home. So I hope to be able to see her some time when we go to that area to visit Daughter. Tomorrow, I'll send her a New Year's card and letter.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 21
It has been a very long day. We got up at 6:30 so we could get ready to go to another town to be with Hubbie's family. Of course, I skipped my exercises again. Before we left town, Hubbie and I delivered a box of cookies to Caring Hands Hospice to be used in making gift boxes for hospice families. I also left a tin of cookies as a gift to the office staff.
We got on the road to the other town around 9:30 a.m. We arrived at the church where the family gathered for a "cousins party" around 11:00. Here, all the ladies set to work getting food ready for lunch. We provided a tray of deli meats and cheeses, along with flat bread for wraps, and various cheese balls and crackers. Others brought fruit and veggie trays and a ton of desserts. Pizzas were planned for the kids and whoever else wanted one, so some of the ladies prepared meats, sauces, veggies, etc., so that each individual could make their own.
Many of the adults, including Mother and I, preferred sandwiches, though, so I was glad we'd brought the makings for them.
After lunch, there were games and crafts. Daughter led the kids in a game about the Nativity. An aunt helped the kids make beaded Christmas ornaments. And we led them in constructing graham cracker cookie Christmas houses. Then a nephew involved everyone, kids and adults alike, in a game in which we all sat close together in chairs in a circle, while he read a story about Mr. and Mrs. Wright and all the Wright children, who did things going in right or left directions. As the story was read, we were to move to the chairs on our right or left. It was a fast game of moving right and left and sitting and standing, so some folks were out of breath at the end of it. This was one time I was glad that I exercise regularly.
Nephew provided a couple of other games, too...a "guess the name of the Christmas carol" paper and pencil game, and another in which teams blew up balloons and stuffed them into the legs of pantyhose. The leader at each table then put the pantyhose on his or her head, ran to a chair and sang "Jingle Bells." Folks wearing balloon stuffed pantyhose while singing "Jingle Bells" look pretty hilarious.
It was clean-up time after that, and by about 2:30 p.m., we had the church fellowship hall looking spruced. From the church, we went to Daughter's house, where we visited until time for the gift exchange. Hubbie's daughters an son gave him a new Bunn coffee maker to replace the one that quit working in the camper. He also received a pocket knife from his granddaughter. Mother got hand cream and Christmas themed dish towel and pot holder. I got a new makeup case (which was really for my birthday rather than Christmas) and a colorful tote from Granddaughter.
At 6 p.m., we had a supper of turkey and dressing, a choice of baked sweet or white potatoes, green bean casserole, corn-on-the-cob, raw veggies and dip, canned cranberry sauce, and homemade crescent rolls, plus an array of desserts.
Finally, around 7:30, we headed home. Shih Tzu, who had stayed in the van all those hours (because she can no longer tolerate crowds of people) was plenty ready to be home. Hubbie had tended to her frequently while we were at Daughter's house, feeding her and walking her and seeing that she had plenty of water, but she finally grew bored with being confined. I don't blame her.
At home, we watched a movie, "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus," an R-rated film starring Nicole Kidman. The movie is about the real-life famous photographer, Diane Arbus, but as the title implies, this is a fictional account that supposes Arbus falls in love with a man with werewolf syndrome, a condition that causes excessive body hair. Arbus is noted for her photographs of "members of society's fringe." The movie starts with a brief scene featuring not-your-model-type fully nude folks.
We got on the road to the other town around 9:30 a.m. We arrived at the church where the family gathered for a "cousins party" around 11:00. Here, all the ladies set to work getting food ready for lunch. We provided a tray of deli meats and cheeses, along with flat bread for wraps, and various cheese balls and crackers. Others brought fruit and veggie trays and a ton of desserts. Pizzas were planned for the kids and whoever else wanted one, so some of the ladies prepared meats, sauces, veggies, etc., so that each individual could make their own.
Many of the adults, including Mother and I, preferred sandwiches, though, so I was glad we'd brought the makings for them.
After lunch, there were games and crafts. Daughter led the kids in a game about the Nativity. An aunt helped the kids make beaded Christmas ornaments. And we led them in constructing graham cracker cookie Christmas houses. Then a nephew involved everyone, kids and adults alike, in a game in which we all sat close together in chairs in a circle, while he read a story about Mr. and Mrs. Wright and all the Wright children, who did things going in right or left directions. As the story was read, we were to move to the chairs on our right or left. It was a fast game of moving right and left and sitting and standing, so some folks were out of breath at the end of it. This was one time I was glad that I exercise regularly.
Nephew provided a couple of other games, too...a "guess the name of the Christmas carol" paper and pencil game, and another in which teams blew up balloons and stuffed them into the legs of pantyhose. The leader at each table then put the pantyhose on his or her head, ran to a chair and sang "Jingle Bells." Folks wearing balloon stuffed pantyhose while singing "Jingle Bells" look pretty hilarious.
It was clean-up time after that, and by about 2:30 p.m., we had the church fellowship hall looking spruced. From the church, we went to Daughter's house, where we visited until time for the gift exchange. Hubbie's daughters an son gave him a new Bunn coffee maker to replace the one that quit working in the camper. He also received a pocket knife from his granddaughter. Mother got hand cream and Christmas themed dish towel and pot holder. I got a new makeup case (which was really for my birthday rather than Christmas) and a colorful tote from Granddaughter.
At 6 p.m., we had a supper of turkey and dressing, a choice of baked sweet or white potatoes, green bean casserole, corn-on-the-cob, raw veggies and dip, canned cranberry sauce, and homemade crescent rolls, plus an array of desserts.
Finally, around 7:30, we headed home. Shih Tzu, who had stayed in the van all those hours (because she can no longer tolerate crowds of people) was plenty ready to be home. Hubbie had tended to her frequently while we were at Daughter's house, feeding her and walking her and seeing that she had plenty of water, but she finally grew bored with being confined. I don't blame her.
At home, we watched a movie, "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus," an R-rated film starring Nicole Kidman. The movie is about the real-life famous photographer, Diane Arbus, but as the title implies, this is a fictional account that supposes Arbus falls in love with a man with werewolf syndrome, a condition that causes excessive body hair. Arbus is noted for her photographs of "members of society's fringe." The movie starts with a brief scene featuring not-your-model-type fully nude folks.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday, December 20
A special day today...Son's birthday. Happy Birthday, Son.
We were up by 6:30 a.m. this morning, and I skipped my exercises again in order to get ready for a visit from Daughter and family. Since they planned to be here at lunch time, Hubbie and I ran to the WDCS for sandwich makings and other groceries.
Daughter arrived around 10:30, along with Granddaughter and her husband, and two great-grandsons. We had a good visit. Daughter brought gifts for Mother and me...acrylic nativity scene Christmas tree ornaments. Daughter also brought Hubbie and me a gift...a bottle of Riesling wine...from Granddaughter and her husband, who lives in Michigan.
Daughter and Granddaughter enjoyed helping Mother work on the jigsaw puzzle before lunch. For lunch, we served deli turkey, ham, and cheeses, along with herb and garlic flat bread for wraps. With these, we had a choice of tortilla chips or pretzels, and cottage cheese, as well as crackers and a variety of dips and an Italian cream cheese ball. Dessert was rum cake and several types of homemade cookies.
Daughter and group left about 2 p.m., and we spent the rest of the afternoon being lazy. I helped Mother finish the jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie read the Sunday newspaper. Later, we had a supper of braised pork chops, baked sweet potatoes, and canned vegetables.
Just as I was sitting down to supper, my friend from Springfield called, and we chatted for a while. My supper had cooled by the time I got back to the table, but it was still okay.
Mother went home shortly after supper, and Hubbie and I watched a movie..."The Color of Freedom," an R-rated film about Nelson Madella's personal prison guard, who shifts his alliance from racism to Mandella's fight to end racial segregation in south Africa.
We were up by 6:30 a.m. this morning, and I skipped my exercises again in order to get ready for a visit from Daughter and family. Since they planned to be here at lunch time, Hubbie and I ran to the WDCS for sandwich makings and other groceries.
Daughter arrived around 10:30, along with Granddaughter and her husband, and two great-grandsons. We had a good visit. Daughter brought gifts for Mother and me...acrylic nativity scene Christmas tree ornaments. Daughter also brought Hubbie and me a gift...a bottle of Riesling wine...from Granddaughter and her husband, who lives in Michigan.
Daughter and Granddaughter enjoyed helping Mother work on the jigsaw puzzle before lunch. For lunch, we served deli turkey, ham, and cheeses, along with herb and garlic flat bread for wraps. With these, we had a choice of tortilla chips or pretzels, and cottage cheese, as well as crackers and a variety of dips and an Italian cream cheese ball. Dessert was rum cake and several types of homemade cookies.
Daughter and group left about 2 p.m., and we spent the rest of the afternoon being lazy. I helped Mother finish the jigsaw puzzle, and Hubbie read the Sunday newspaper. Later, we had a supper of braised pork chops, baked sweet potatoes, and canned vegetables.
Just as I was sitting down to supper, my friend from Springfield called, and we chatted for a while. My supper had cooled by the time I got back to the table, but it was still okay.
Mother went home shortly after supper, and Hubbie and I watched a movie..."The Color of Freedom," an R-rated film about Nelson Madella's personal prison guard, who shifts his alliance from racism to Mandella's fight to end racial segregation in south Africa.
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