OK - I lied

Here I am again even when I said I wouldn't. Yeah, I lied.

I wanted to talk about Advent. I have said before - I am an old time Lutheran. I love the ritualism. I love the old hymns. I love the old liturgy. I hate the new hymns. I hate the new liturgy. I hate the loss of the ritualism and the bringing in worship leaders with microphones, loud guitars, and no robes. There I said that.

Now on to Advent. When I was younger, Advent was just the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It sometime brought extra services for me to play. It had a wreath, and sometimes a calendar that had candy in it. It was the blue vestments.

Now I have the need for the full meaning of Advent. I need it to be a time of contemplation. Of watching and waiting. The anticipation of the birth of the lord. I never really understood the not singing Christmas carols - until Christmas. Now I understand the beauty of waiting. Them beauty of contemplation. As the world (even Lutheran Churches) turn left, I turn right. Again. Out of step.

Oh and the left and right I used are not political left and right. They are just how far apart I feel from the churches that are in vogue now. We are at 180. I know there has to be change. The church needs to be a living thing, and therefore it has to change. I just never thought I would be the one who wouldn't change with it.

So save the Christmas carols until at least tomorrow night. Contemplate peace.

Peace be with you.

Bah!

No, I am not in a sour spirit about Christmas. Things are coming along rather well after my self imposed slavery upstairs in my converted attic room slaving over a sewing machine for hours on end - oh wait, that's not exactly right. I was in a nicely appointed, air conditioned (yes - it is still hot here) room while my machine works its little heart out. Things did get completed, and now I have the rest of the evening and half day tomorrow to pick up the danged clutter that was down here reproducing. That's what happens you know, when two pieces of clutter ... well fill in the rest.

No, what I am "bummed" about is that I miscalculated when I was counting years of survival from cancer. It is only four. So what's the big deal? It is survival, you know. True, but there is a bit of magic with that number five for survival. I know there are plenty of survivors who die at all number of years. I heard recently of a twenty-five year survivor passing from cancer. No true magic, but it is a special number, and I won't reach it until next year. Bah.

I am still in a state after that one particular "Hoarders" show. The one where she was, to me, just messy. Each little break from changing threads yesterday I used to go around and around the craft room trying to find homes for all the stuff. Some of it simply wants to live under a bridge - it wants nothing to do with a home. All you crafters know that we use some people's trash - or what they would consider trash. As a teacher I surely did. We used old 2 liter bottles, baby food jars - practically you name it. I have really become rather paranoid from that program.

I have never claimed to be a housekeeper. At the time I had a full time teaching job, part time organist, and running and supplying a little craft shop on the weekends, I learned that there are moments that you will never get back. Spending time with your loved ones is precious. The house can wait. I guess my mom was a little that way. A spotless house certainly wasn't on her agenda.

So I will continue on my "hoarder" ways. There is a little clutter about. Sometimes it gets out of hand and I get the whip to it. I don't know how many days are left in my personal calendar, but I think I would be better off if I try to live them fully. I won't be staying home to clean house if there is a better opportunity out there. Happy hoarding and sloppyness to all! Enjoy your life - after all you never know...

I don't know how much posting I will be doing between now and the 4th. With all the celebrating, we will be at the SSB until the 4th. If the elves have added more G's to the service, I might have web service. It is really spotty. So if I don't post again I hope you all have a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year. I will post pictures of my projects too.

Peace be with you,

Bah!

No, I am not in a sour spirit about Christmas. Things are coming along rather well after my self imposed slavery upstairs in my converted attic room slaving over a sewing machine for hours on end - oh wait, that's not exactly right. I was in a nicely appointed, air conditioned (yes - it is still hot here) room while my machine works its little heart out. Things did get completed, and now I have the rest of the evening and half day tomorrow to pick up the danged clutter that was down here reproducing. That's what happens you know, when two pieces of clutter ... well fill in the rest.

No, what I am "bummed" about is that I miscalculated when I was counting years of survival from cancer. It is only four. So what's the big deal? It is survival, you know. True, but there is a bit of magic with that number five for survival. I know there are plenty of survivors who die at all number of years. I heard recently of a twenty-five year survivor passing from cancer. No true magic, but it is a special number, and I won't reach it until next year. Bah.

I am still in a state after that one particular "Hoarders" show. The one where she was, to me, just messy. Each little break from changing threads yesterday I used to go around and around the craft room trying to find homes for all the stuff. Some of it simply wants to live under a bridge - it wants nothing to do with a home. All you crafters know that we use some people's trash - or what they would consider trash. As a teacher I surely did. We used old 2 liter bottles, baby food jars - practically you name it. I have really become rather paranoid from that program.

I have never claimed to be a housekeeper. At the time I had a full time teaching job, part time organist, and running and supplying a little craft shop on the weekends, I learned that there are moments that you will never get back. Spending time with your loved ones is precious. The house can wait. I guess my mom was a little that way. A spotless house certainly wasn't on her agenda.

So I will continue on my "hoarder" ways. There is a little clutter about. Sometimes it gets out of hand and I get the whip to it. I don't know how many days are left in my personal calendar, but I think I would be better off if I try to live them fully. I won't be staying home to clean house if there is a better opportunity out there. Happy hoarding and sloppyness to all! Enjoy your life - after all you never know...

I don't know how much posting I will be doing between now and the 4th. With all the celebrating, we will be at the SSB until the 4th. If the elves have added more G's to the service, I might have web service. It is really spotty. So if I don't post again I hope you all have a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year. I will post pictures of my projects too.

Peace be with you,

Here's some more random stuff

I never watch "Hoarders" when it is regularly scheduled. I watch "On demand." But I don't think I am watching it again. It's funny - there's that show -and then there is "Pickers." To me they seem one and the same.

The most recent "Hoarders" I've seen - the woman wasn't a hoarder! She simply either didn't know how to keep house or she didn't. She didn't live where there is one little path through a garbage strewn place. She was messy. Hello - that's where I am right now! I simply had not picked up the clutter because it was just too much. I. Am. Not. A. Hoarder.

I do (sometimes unfortunately) hang on to things. I am a crafter and I was a science teacher. When you teach science without sufficient funds - it is amazing what things you can use in your classroom. Anyway - those things are gone. They have been for some time.

I have been working on the craft room to get things in more order, but there is a lot of stuff. That I use.

Those programs are going all over me. I guess I could turn myself in - not telling that I was pretty incapacitated for several years - and get a crew in here to help me in two days to get rid of years of clutter. I know - nasty - but that's the way it is. I do recognize that I have had a problem with getting rid of things that belonged to my aunt/uncle and mom/dad. Those things are not holding me now. There was just such a loss there for a while. It was hard to get through. My kids still have some sh*t here. I am fully able to get rid of it now. If the garbage service will just cooperate.

No, I really am upset with that program. There is a big difference between hoarding and just not getting rid of stuff. If G had gotten rid of this sh*t, that would have been a BIG help. I don't think we need his cardiology books any more than we needed my taxonomy books that have been long gone. So I don't think I will be visiting those hoarders any more. It is not even an inspiration anymore.

I was going to add something else. I have been like a third world person sewing as much as possible because there were things I wanted to do. They are done. Now it is no time limit like before. But I still don't remember what else I was going to rave and rant about!

Peace be with you.

Oh - hi there!

I have been running since last week, and haven't come by here. As usual, I am running because I procrastinate. So it is time to pay the piper.

We celebrated a birthday and a dedication last weekend. I don't think I moaned about the dedication. It is verse two to Son's family. Little Bitty was dedicated on Sunday. I am old school Lutheran. I make no bones about it. Never have, and this dedication thing goes all over me. I have gone through that before. Of course the "service" was still a rock concert - at least it was Christmas carols done to rock. Then the communion method really goes all over me. When the congregation was invited to come up and take the communion back to their seats (!!!), G leaned over to me and said something like "over my dead body." My problem is that it remained just wine (don't know) and bread (wafer?). As my previous pastor remarked there was no voodoo over it to sanctify it. (BTW - L was the greatest pastor we ever had, and he made the love and message from God more real than anyone I have ever been around before. He has had honest dealings with God, and he is still God's servant)

After the dedication, we went to the reception. Daughter was afraid DIL's brother would be there, so she nicely had their church program as an excuse not to go. The brother was overheard to remark how he hated all of us because we were such snobs and pretentious. Well, G and I were there with Lady Bug. The brother wasn't. And we had a great time with DIL"S extended family - at least I think we did!

Yesterday I slaved over the sewing machine. I felt like one of those third world people in a sweat shop laboring over a sewing machine. Well, not really, but I am making each child a machine embroidered gift tag for each of their presents. Little Bitty only has a gift card holder this year. DIL wants money so she can buy clothes for the spring and summer. Hey - ok, I'm there. Sounds really good. I hate doing things like that, but a three month old isn't going to be opening anything!

I will get a picture of these. I am proud of them. There will be three different designs - to fit the three gifts for each child - how about that!!

Back to Little Bitty - for her dedication, I made her a pink "lovie" with a really pretty cross, her monogram, and date plus seven little bibs from quilted material with various designs. I told Lady Bug that the eighth design had a lady bug, and I would never put a lady bug on anything for another little girl in the family.

I wish I could say it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, but it is not. Yesterday it was 81. Miserable. I know other parts of the country (and world) are having beastly weather, but for us it is not Christmas like. We have a little cold front move through, then heat again. Even if I set the thermostat on automatic, it is wrong. Too hot/too cold.

Yesterday afternoon I had PT again. The therapist grabbed me before I could leave the clinic post injection. It has been at least a month since I have had PT. She only put me through two processes, and I AM SORE!! Shows I need it. I just hate giving up that much time for PT right now. Ah -well just more moaning about things. I am so terrible.

I have rambled along way too long. Sorry if it is too much in places. This is called stream of consciousness I guess. But then - that's my life. Just a jumble of things

Time passes so fast

Happy Birthday Daughter. You turn 37 today. My, where has the time flown? It seems like yesterday that you were born, and here you are with three children! You should be just a child yourself.

Every night before I turn out the light, I look at a picture that is a collage of you and your brother that I put together for your wedding. I know it sounds strange since usually something like that is made for the new bride and groom.

This collage was made because, as many of you know, Son has a band, and is a song-writer. He wrote a song that was dedicated to the new groom. It was to take as good of care of her as she did him. So I put together pictures of them from early childhood through the teen years.

Theirs was an unusual relationship - especially during the high school years. Daughter was a junior when her little brother came to the school. At that time, she included him in the group activities. That may have been because it was far easier. The group activities were here. I never knew when I got up on Saturday morning who I would find sacked out on the floor of my den. There would be kiddos from freshmen to seniors there. That was great with me. I knew where they were instead of worrying.

So every night I look at those pictures and morn the time that has passed. It happened so quickly. Now they are grown with families of their own. They are making memories like I did. But it went by so quickly. I hope they grasp that same thought - time passes so quickly. Grasp those precious times with your children.

Happy Birthday my wonderful daughter.

Wanted to show you

This is a picture taken from my kitchen window at the SSB. This is my house feeder where I can bring deer up for me to watch. This little doe didn't know she wasn't supposed to be at the feeder in the middle of the day, but she was great to watch. She is a yearling, and cannot easily reach the buffet table. She would knock off some corn, and then eat it from the ground. At least that's before she had posed for about three pictures then figuring she wasn't alone!!

It is such fun in the early evening when we have 6-10 deer on the feeder.

Here I go!

I am so bad at this. I am going to try to add a picture of my beloved Simone's head. I just hate this because it could be something really bad - a mast tumor. If it is, hopefully we have caught it early. But regardless it's placement, and her age don't add up to much good. The vet and I talked about removal of the tumor - especially if cancerous mast - involves also removing about a half inch of surrounding skin. Another problem is that she has about six very small "bumps" around that main one. She would lose most of her scalp on her head.

I managed to get the picture! The oily patch is where the associated tumors are. You can see if you add the half inch around them, we are in a mess. The other treatments include radiation as a follow up. Well - we will perhaps know more on Monday or Tuesday.

I have managed to get a few more things done around here. The tree actually has half of the glass garland. I purchased the other half yesterday. I have some solar lights that I put around the mailbox yesterday. Today the yard men came. They are not exactly careful - so we will see. The lights burned about an hour last night. I'll bet they won't even come on tonight as their little strings were probably cut. Not a big loss I fear. That's why the lights were put way back in the container. I think they are headed for the trash can.

I am off to lunch, and then finally upstairs - with the embroidery machine. We'll see how long this lasts this time. I hope a while. I was surprised the bill was only $94 for the computer part.

Should I post right now?

I had the injections yesterday, so I was out of commission due to the few minutes Dr Moreno send me to happy land. Today I am suffering the after effects. I have the headache from hell because I didn't sleep the rest of the day away, but I hate losing two days after returning from the SSB. I also still feel out of it! Someone is messing with this keyboard. They are moving the keys all around so it is taking me twice as long to type. I have never said I was a typist - thanks Mom who wouldn't let me take typing - but today is really bad.

I took Money Pit number one (Simone) to have a check of her lesions checked again. There is some improvement, but we are sending a sample to the lab for a more definite explanation - hopefully. There is no guarantee.

I am trying to get all the Christmas stuff done. Tree is up and has some garland. That's it. No decorations. The kidlets presents are here - waiting for wrapping. Son and SIL presents are here - somewhere awaiting wrapping. I knew I was too drugged to remember where they are right now. It is Daughter and DIL I have to get. I have no idea! Then is Lady Bug's birthday in January and Wiggle Worm in February. Oh my!

I was going through my blogs I read. I got through some of them. I have an order memorized. Guess what - memory failed me today. Signs that I need to have a close eye on me!

So before I reveal where the gold is hidden - I better sign off for today. I am not responsible for anything I say or do today!!

We're back - and to a mess

It was a fairly quiet weekend at the SSB. G shot a doe, and he is finished until it is Spike season. We have some mighty long spikes running about. Those will never sprout a full blown rack, and they are three or four years old. We don't want them entering the breeding there. That will mean none of the bucks will have any horns.

I forgot to check the home voice mail Sunday afternoon/evening. It was our renters. They had a sewage backup. I found the message Monday morning, and began calling. We had to leave the house, so that meant cell phone. We had cell phone + hills = no service.

Before we left, I got the voice mail of the renter. I left a message. On the road, I finally got the plumber in Llano. I kept calling the renter and leaving messages.

I got home, and renter called. She is really not the sharpest knife in the drawer! She hesitated, and I asked if they had gotten with the plumber, and had it come to fix the problem. No - she just got home. That phone was at home. She sees I have called multiple times. So talking top the plumber. She said they did a stop gap - the sewage is flowing into the back yard. Gasp!!

Then the way she does things, she adds that the heater "isn't putting out a lot of hot air." Ok - I gave her the HVAC people's number to call. She calls it in that evening as an emergency. That is an additional $78 thank you very much!

I am going to send an email, as I promised, but with all my numbers, not the contractors numbers as I had said before. They were so concerned before signing the lease that we would just enter the property without notice. I was trying to respect their privacy. So I have tried to let them schedule meeting with the contractors. Well that is OVER. I am no longer careful about their privacy except to give them notice. You either be there at that time or I will. Simple. Like the apartments do it.

And so here I sit.

It is 3:36 in the afternoon. That means only a few more hours of daylight, which brings me to another strangeness in nature - like why don't we have day light savings now if we absolutely have to have it. But that is another day's musings.

I managed to put out the little trees that had lost their stakes. I thought I was so smart when I bought "All-in-One Light Stakes." No - didn't work. They are standing like drunks in the front flower bed. If I get my brains together and find the camera, I will get their pictures before I make another attempt.

I had lunch with DIL, Son, and kidlets. We had a great time. I also found they have the stretchy "ribbon" to make the little head bands for infant girls. My first stop didn't have any, but I went on. I also got some more lights for the outside bushes too. That is why I am bemoaning the amount of daylight. Is it moving me to action, well you can tell!!

My niece sent DIL and Daughter emails through their Facebook pages (gah - she could use their REAL emails or duh, call on the phone)about MIL's 90th birthday. She suggested Dec 26, 29, or Jan 2. She doesn't have to travel - they do. Plus, the 29th is a workday for Son.

I know Daughter isn't just too excited about the whole thing. She remembers all the shuns by MIL at holidays before as it is. She also remembers MIL giving me a huge box full of her children's pictures, then at the 88th birthday asking why Daughter doesn't give her pictures. Anyone got a clue???

So I have played all day. We are off tomorrow for the SSB. When I get back on Tuesday, I have an appointment for another round of injections. I was going to cancel, but I think I have hurt something again. I don't know how that could happen since I put up the tree - alone. What a puzzle!

Hope you are enjoying the season! At least I hope it is a good one since most of the time this year things are not always pleasant.

Peace be with you.

Christmas decorating - again.

Wasn't it last week we took all that junk down? Are you sure? It seems like I just got it all put away. Maybe that's because I really did.

Anyway, if I don't get it out and up today, there won't be much sense in doing it at all. After a round of swearing and shouting (accompanied by some hurt feelings on my part), the Christmas tree was brought into the house. Right now it sits between the den and the entry hall. it is still in its body bag. Really that's what its bag looks like. So I need to get it out, and determine which strings of the pre-lit part are out.

Then I need to get the lights for the outside in the bushes. At least Lupe, out yard guy, has trimmed the bushes so they look nice. I have a garage full of yard art, but no one helps me put it out. I am not going to put my back into spasms by doing it. I know my limits at 65. It has taken me quite a while to learn this lesson, but I finally have. Of course, I have the scars and residual problems from the learning.

Yesterday I had to drive 30 miles to get my sewing machine. It was ready far earlier than I thought. I began looking for wreath holders. I couldn't find any. If I were not, I would have been falling over them. Since I want not one buy two, they are not around anywhere. I will continue my search tomorrow when I meet DIL and kidlets for lunch.

After doing all that, I will disappear into the upstairs void to work on things I wanted for the craft fair. I keep thinking if I outfit all the kidlets, someone will fall in love with the things and just have to have a copy. I wish my machine had been working, or I wish I could trust the little Brother not to eat the cards, so I could have made more Christmas cards. I had planned to not only have the Stella designs (she is like the Maxine character). I wanted to make some more traditional ones as well. Best laid plans and all that!

I have managed to waste enough time here. I have babbled on and on. Just a jumble of letters here. I hope you have all your things done. At least I have 99% of the shopping done.

Peace be with you.

Such sadness

Her political stand was never important. Her fight against breast cancer was. Her death has hit me so hard. She had a relapse at the time I was diagnosed. Her fight was my inspiration. Through her battle she had other battles to contend with - battles that would have brought a lessor woman to her knees. She lived her life with dignity and valor. She will be so missed. Her presence will no longer be the inspiration to us with breast cancer.

Peace be with you Elizabeth Edwards.

A bit of this and a touch of that

Daughter and I did the little craft show here in the city. Every year there are more vendors, and the take is small. My cards were the hit this year. I think they would have sold last year, but I was getting out of the hospital the day that was rescheduled. Since it was after Christmas, I doubt they would have sold either.

We did not sell a single wreath. They are beautiful. In fact, we sold eight cards, a sleep mask and two girls coins purses. What a waste of five hours on a cold Sunday afternoon.

I went to a craft show on Saturday. That started my back hurting. Setting up yesterday almost killed me. My back was screaming. So much for me not having the injection next week. I am not as well as I thought.

I decided the only way for any relief was a hot bath. I cannot kneel. I have to kneel to get out of the tub. So I thought I would bring a pillow. After the water was out, I put in the pillow. It wasn't going to work well. So I managed to maneuver to get out. I wasn't going to be known as the old fat lady who had to be hauled out of the tub. Not in this little city! Not on your life. It wasn't a pretty picture, but I got out!

Best news of all is my machine is ready. It is earlier than I thought, even though it is too late for this craft show. I will make some things for the grandkids now. Such is life.

Simone may have cancer. It is something that boxers are prone to. She had a bit place on her head. The vet did a quick biopsy this morning. The cells didn't look cancerous, and she has one little place with the big one. They are mostly in a circle - with one outside the circle - a little way out. G met a boxer that lives on the corner who does have that cancer - a mast cell cancer. He is ten, and this is killing him. So we just have to wait and see.

Enough rambling. My hydrocodone dosn't have any effect on me, does it. I feel just the way I have been writing. Ohhh bad. I will try to be more with it tomorrow!

Peace be with you.

Here I sit with other things to do

I just can't seem to break the habit of sitting here at the computer every morning. I check my embroidery sites, read emails (from 4 sources), check Facebook, and then read blogs. Then sometimes I am inspired to write on the weekend - like today.

Tomorrow is the last craft show of the year. My embroidery machine is still in the shop - not unexpected. So that means I can do sewing projects to add to the merchandise, but that's it. So I am working on little lovies (you know, the things with different ribbons sticking out) that are in the shape of a cat. I had a program for embroidering one, but well...

Yesterday Lady Bug came to help. I had her cutting those blasted ribbons. That takes time. So she cut while I sewed. We completed 3 1/2 in an hour and a half. Not too shabby.

I want to go to one of the school's FFA craft show today. I think Daughter will go with me, and if not, I may not go. I really do not need to spend any more money this month!

I have been reading all you wonderful people who have decorated for Christmas. It makes me a little sad. All my stuff is still put away. I want to put up the tree this year, but I am worried about that cat who should be dipped in gold when he passes. I am afraid, and for good reason, the little critter will try to eat the thing. I surely don't need to pay for another exploratory surgery!

So I have wasted enough time. Simone is sitting here coughing because she has a bad case of reflux, so I am going to get her an antacid pill and sew more lovies!

Peace be with you.

Highlight of the day

Yesterday I attended the sewing club's Christmas party. It was our club (morning and afternoon groups) and the Viking club. There were just a few from the morning club, and I was sitting next to someone I didn't know. She is a member of the Viking club.

I originally was going to attend the Passion Party that was given by my daughter's friend. Off this subject for a moment - her friends are tending to be somewhere between Daughter and me in age. Interesting. Anyway I was going to go to give N a little support when she had her first party. But then I changed my mind and went to the club party. I figured the Passion Party wasn't giving away door prizes, and even if it did ...

Part of the reason I went is that there are give-aways. I had hopes of winning something. I didn't win anything, but I had a great time because of my table mate. One of the give-aways was based on how many gifts/gift cards you brought for this military support group. You either brought a $10 toy or a $10 gift card. I had neither, so I was excluded from this give away. She had 7 (2 gifts and 5 cards), so I thought she would have a great chance. They only gave away ONE thing with this. She didn't win.

We had some games. We didn't win. They drew our memberships cards for two store gifts. We didn't win.

I didn't want to make a meat, vegetable or a dessert, so I bought decorated cupcakes from the grocery. I brought them all home. Great - just what I need. More temptation.

All in all, it was a great time because I met someone new who had a tremendous personality.

Peace be with you.

What a creep!

I just reversed a positive RSVP. What a tacky thing to do! I would feel much worse, but Daughter encouraged me to do it.

You see, her friend is having a Passion Party party. You know - the "special toys." There are other nice things that make a woman feel pampered. I really like N, and she will be great with this party plan. She has that kind of personality. Regardless of how you feel about these things, they are there, and N will be a great one to sell them. Anyway, Daughter made me feel better because she is trying to get N to postpone this thing.

Her timing isn't good. She is aiming at women who stay home. Those women are more "scarce than hens' teeth." My street is unusual here. There are at least six of us, but many of us are retired now. There is only one young woman who stays home. She used to work only part time, but that job disappeared like so many jobs.

What is a better opportunity than this party you might be asking. Well my sewing club of course. I feel rather like an outsider since my machine is at another facility being repaired right now! Just kidding, but I really am considering changing machines. I do like the Brother people - a lot. I got confused last year and went to their Christmas party. It was a lot more fun. To be honest N's party will be a LOT more fun, but there is the chance I will win something at this party.

****************************************************************************

We may have falsely accused my nephew and his gang for the destruction. Our hunter was there last weekend with his cousin. They are good people, but they brought the cousin's 12 year old boy. As it happens, the cousin shot an spike and his son a doe. They left the towels. Apparently the boy then decided to target practice.

Our hunter feels terrible about this. He shouldn't. G feels a little bad about jumping to conclusions about our nephew. I told him that once you get a reputation, it is hard to live it down. Something happens and you are suspect. That was especially true when we found the Game Warden has dealt with them three times since late October. His mom told us "they don't do those things anymore." Perhaps that is true, but sometimes it is hard to believe.

At least I don't think there will be any more problems. I don't mind my nephew thinking we are watching and have others watching the place. I sincerely hope he is growing up. It is time.

Peace be with you.