I was thankful to get a better night’s sleep last night, and ready to get up this morning. Wayne’s message about managing our expectations was excellent; something I needed to hear in light of so many disappointments of people and events that did not come through. But as always, our little Sunday School class put energy into the morning. They are little sponges, soaking in everything they see and hear around them. Such a tremendous responsibility as a teacher, being certain they are fed and encouraged by God’s word, and focused on the eternal.

We did, however take a few minutes to to celebrate Max’s birthday with donuts and candles. The boys, of course, loved it. And since JJ’s birthday is next week, we lit the candles again and sang to him as well. Let’s just say that the boys were one step ahead of us the whole time!

Mary had a cute craft for them, where they painted the miniature crates and clothes pins and put ‘fake’ hay in. They will finish the project with baby Jesus next week.

I opened my Christmas cards from the Skunk Hollow girls, and the one from Beth had a coaster inside. I love it – someone knows my heart, both in coaster-collecting and for the Reason for the Season! Thank you, Beth! Also had a little snowman ornament from Karen V and a snowflake magnet from Colleen. Perfect! Thanks, Karen and Colleen… And a huge thank you again to Colleen for hosting!

I’ll try to recap the HCC Christmas program, but it was really fun! The idea was that two guys were DJ’s at a radio station (WHCC 1420am radio), and they shared a few memories and photos from each decade – from 1940’s through present. The members contributed their personal memories and pictures, and Shelagh grouped them into decades. There were also songs and appropriate dress for each decade, as well. My personal favorite was ELVIS (Blue Christmas) and the four ladies who sang ‘Let it Snow’. Everyone did a wonderful job!

I didn’t get a picture, but Dianne and Jim led the audiance in “Felice Navadad” and it was MORE than entertaining! Great fun; great job!

My part was last – I was Mary, but an older Mary reflecting back on Jesus’ birth (and death) and how the world has received and remembered both of those events. I was very nervous, but it went very well (God gets the credit for THAT!!!), and everyone enjoyed it. the kids’ choir (under the direction of Dianne) closed the program. My little Max (from Sunday School) came flying over afterwards and threw himself in my arms and told me I did a wonderful job! It was a lovely evening and I believe everyone took away laughter, smiles, and thoughts for reflection. It was very fun seeing the slideshows of family and friends from all those decades at Christmas! A huge thanks to Shelagh Robertson for putting it all together and keeping us sane!

Memory book – December 12th: (Starting holiday topics) When did you put up your Christmas tree? Where did you get them? “We usually put up the tree a few days before Christmas. We cut limbs from the big white pine tree that grew in our front yard. It was not easy to trim & it lost its long needles quick, as we didn’t have it in a tree holder with water. Just nailed to a board.”

On this day in 1787 Pennsylvania because the 2nd state to ratify the US constitution; in 1800 Washington DC was established as the capital of the US of A. In 1972 The Poseidon Adventure premiered; George Grant received the patent for the first golf tee in 1899, and Father Flanagan founded BOYS TOWN in 1917 (‘There’s no such thing as a bad boy’). Bob Barker was born in 1923; Frank Sinatra in 1915, and Connie Francis (singer) in 1938. Charley Pride, country singer, died in 2020, and in 1937 Jerry lee Lewis (22) married his 3rd cousin Myra Brown (13) while still married to his first wife.

TOMORROW December 13 is:

• National Cocoa Day
• National Violin Day
• National Day of the Horse
• Pick A Pathologist Pal Day
• National Guard Birthday

I feel very relieved that the program is successfully over, and looking forward to a more settled spirit in the weeks ahead! Have a great week before the week before Christmas! God bless…

Wow the storms were something else last night. I woke up about 2am convinced it was the rapture. Nate txt me about 10am and said the same thing! Thankfully all are safe here.

Kath and I left at 10am and headed to Smicksburg. We spent about two hours looking in the shops (although sparse) and enjoying the Christmas displays. There was a new store called The Shop in Smicksburg. Mostly vintage items. We enjoyed looking at everything, and so many items brought back memories – especially things that Dad had. The owner shared that the facility was originally a John Deere dealership that her father owned. They were able to keep the family legacy going by turning it into a Mercantile. It was a delightful store with unique and interesting items. I bought a beautiful snowflake ornament.

We also stopped at Donna’s store – Smicksburg Country Store – and bought cheese and double dipped chocolate covered peanuts. One of my favorite things! I’ll share them with Nate.

Colleen’s home was beautiful. Exactly what a perfect Christmas farmhouse should be! So many vintage decorations – and every inch of the house was transformed to be Christmas. I took a few pictures but didn’t do it justice. We spent several hours stirring up memories. Of all things, we ended up talking about unsolved murders in our neighborhoods! The wind was so fierce that eventually the power went off. It could have been Halloween instead of Christmas! We were smart enough to switch gears and shared our favorite gifts and memories of Christmases past. It was so fun to have Aunt Joan and Uncle Clifford with us, putting a touching and additional layer to our nostalgia.

Gwen was the only one who could not attend. She had been ill (NOT COVID) and couldn’t be there. Get well quickly, Gwen! We love and miss you!

Some of our favorite gifts were baby dolls, ice skates, wagons, earrings, aquarium – and all of our favorite memories were about sharing time and activities with family and friends. Such rich blessings to be sharing with precious family!

Dinner was lasagna, salad, garlic bread, fruit, Jello-pretzel salad, chocolate lasagna, brownies, pretzels, M&M’s, cookies, two kinds of crunchy snacks… It’s a wonder we all didn’t waddle out the door. Everything was delicious. Thankfully they had a generator so after the short dark bump in the road we had lights and heat and the oven worked, so all was well. What a wonderful evening. The drive home was windy but dry and traffic was light. Answered prayer for safe travels and special people.

Memory book – December 11: Were you ever in a church or school Christmas or Holiday pageant? “At Davis School I was always in the Christmas plays. From first grade up to 8th grade. My sister Hazel & I sang a song together one year. We had Christmas plays when I attended the Church of God. They were fun. Russel Wilson was our pastor and we liked him very much. He was drafted into the army in WWII.”

On this day in 1932 it was the coldest day ever in San Francisco – 27* – with snow. In 1980 Magnum P.I. with Tom Selleck premiered. Brenda Lee – singer – was born in 1944; Joseph Mohr (wrote the words to Silent Night) was born in 1792, and George Mason, American statesman, was born in 1725. We think he had a crush on Susan… My cousin Mark has a birthday today – Happy birthday, Mark! And my niece Hannah celebrated today as well. She was signed up to run a half marathon but it was cancelled because of bad weather – but Happy Birthday, Hannah! Hope you had a great day no matter what you did!

TOMORROW December 12 is:

• National Ambrosia Day
• National Ding-a-Ling Day
• Gingerbread House Day
• Poinsettia Day

Tomorrow is also the church Christmas dinner and program. I think once I get through that the rest of the month will be smooth! God bless….

** This did not post last night! Apologies! So I will catch up tomorrow on the Smicksburg Day and the Skunk Hollow Christmas event. Thanks, Beth, for catching this! Love you!

FIRDAY: I got up early this morning to be ready for Brown’s Heating/AC – they were coming to do a maintenance service on my furnace. They changed the filter, cleaned everything, and pronounced it good to go for another year! I paid them in cookies (bill to follow later, no doubt!) and all is well.

Brown’s Plumbing – Heating – Air Conditioning LLC.

Since I will be unavailable tomorrow during program rehearsal, I went up to the church today to work with Shelagh and Dianne to get familiar with the set and the cues. I’m at the end of the program on Sunday afternoon. Hoping I can stay focused!

After lunch I made brownies for tomorrow’s Skunk Hollow Christmas event. When I cleaned up I used the dish cloth than Gen brought down to me in the fall when she came. I love it! Never had one like it, and it’s my favorite ever! Thanks, Gen!

I did some online banking, then walked out to get the mail. My heart caught in my throat when I saw the return address – then I realized it was my step-brother, not my step-father! Whew. For a split second I was concerned…

Yesterday I missed a post. It was the anniversary of the release of the Beach Boys song, ‘Little Saint Nick’ in 1963. Found this cool picture to share! The Beach Boys Christmas Album was the first Christmas Album I ever bought and I still have it!

Also contacted someone I knew (but didn’t know they addressed water issues) to analyze my basement problems. He plans to stop after Church on Sunday to see what’s going on. He’s very focused and concerned about eventual mold so he won’t put it off. I was just about at my wit’s end, and said, “God, I can’t do this. I’m going to give myself a nervous breakdown.” I didn’t even turn over on my pillow and my phone pinged with a message to call him! God is good! I know it won’t be an easy solution but at least I can get a solution!

Memory book – December 10th: Tell about something you built, designed, or made as a youth. “I have always liked to sew. We had a treadle sewing machine and I could keep the sewing machine going as smooth as any electric motor did. I made myself a one piece ‘jump suit’ out of feed sacks. It looked nice but never fit very comfortable. Your (meaning mine) grandmother used to hide her ‘good’ material so I couldn’t cut it up when she was away.” (Seems like youth are the same in any decade!!!)

On this day in 1884 the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was first published, and in 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt was the first American awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1936 Edward VIII signed an instrument of abdication, giving up the British throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson (that’s love!), and in 1978 Superman the Movie premiered in Washington DC. Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash at age 26 in 1967, and Emily Dickinson was born in 1830. Garth Brooks married Trisha Yearwood in 2005.

TOMORROW December 11 is:

• National App Day
• National Noodle Ring Day

It’s also our Skunk Hollow Christmas Event, and at HCC it’s the Birthday Party for Jesus for the youth. Both are very worthy celebrations! Have a great day! God bless…

Early morning treadmill – don’t like the cold weather walking! After working both stores and stopped to see Mike P, I headed home. Diane planned to stop over with a frozen pizza and we had lunch together. I provided the hot tea and cookies, and she provided most of the conversation. We covered a lot of subjects! I’m not sure why I never remember to take photos at these things. But the pizza was different and really good.

Last night on my way home my eye caught movement out the window, and there were three wise men – – ah, er, DEER — standing in a yard on Fosterville. I think they got tired of the camels and were hoping to hijack the cars…

Again I took a walk through my house, enjoying the decorations. I may have posted some of these before. Just absorbing the magic!

When I finish here, I’m planning on reading over my script again a few times and then balancing my checkbook. Blaaaaa…

Memory book – December 9th: What did you like to look at there (favorite stores)? “Douds store had everything you needed for the housewife & things to use when you sewed. I liked to look at the pretty buttons in the cabinet full of drawers. Murphys 5&10 had fingernail polish that was behind the counter. We had to ask a clerk if we wanted to see a color up close. We never had money to spend on things we didn’t need.”

On this day in 1868 the first traffic lights were installed outside the Palace of Westminster in London. In 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas premiered (first Peanuts animated special), and in 1992 Prince Charles & Lady Diana announced they were separating. Margaret Hamilton (wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz) was born in 1902; Donny Osmond in 1957, and Clarence Birdseye, founder of the frozen food industry, in 1886. And today would have been my grandfather Lloyd Steiner’s birthday – born in 1904.

TOMORROW December 10th is:

• Dewey Decimal System Day
• National Lager Day
• Human Rights Day
• Nobel Prize Day
• National Salesperson Day 

I personally know several amazing salespersons! I work for four of them, and worth WITH several more. Thanks for all you do. God bless!

This was a quiet, productive and comfortable day. After breakfast I started cleaning upstairs. Took a lunch break (soup!), then cleaned downstairs. That is always a challenge with the floors, but the house is clean. I ran a small errand after I did a load of laundry, and I will leave for the angel Bible study about 6pm. I couldn’t find last week’s posted online.

I took a few pictures in the kitchen so I could remember next year what I did this year. I may have posted them before, but that’s all the excitement for today, anyway.

Other than it snowed for a bit this afternoon. It’s very cold.

Memory book – December 8th: Tell about your favorite store to browse in as a child. “The only store in Plumville was the Douds General Store. When we went to shop in Indiana, PA, I liked Murphy’s 5&10. J.C. Penny’s had a tube that the clerk put your money into, when you bought something. It shot up to a secretary-bookkeeper on the mezzanine where she made change & sent it back down to the clerk. It was fun to watch.”

On this day in 1980 John Lennon was shot and killed; in 1967 Otis Redding recorded ‘Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay’ – he died two days later in a plane crash. Jim Morrison (The Doors) was born in 1943; Sammy Davis Jr. in 1925; Eli Whitney (inventor of the cotton Gin) in 1765, and Flip Wilson (‘The devil made me do it!) was born in 1933. John Glenn, astronaut, died in 2016. In 1872 Brigham Young married his 55th wife. UGH!

TOMORROW December 9 IS:

• National Pastry Day
• Weary Willie Day
• Christmas Card Day

My Christmas cards are done. I’ll consider making pastry – or at least eating some! Have a happy Thursday. God bless…

Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Be sure and take time to remember that day, and the lives that were lost for our country. It was a horror to live through, but we must focus on the sacrifice to move us forward. God bless those who gave, and are still giving.

After work, I went Christmas shopping for a little while, then came home and made a huge pot of Stuffed Pepper Soup. I used red and green peppers – so it’s really Christmas soup! I just had a taster’s cup, and it was very good.

Basically I just want to take a few minutes to honor a friendship that began back in junior high – Youngwood Junior High, to be specific. Gen & I met in class, and had lunch together, and became fast friends. She was very outgoing and had lots of people around her all the time. I was in awe of the fact that she had six (SIX!!!) siblings, not to mention a Siamese cat! Wow…

But from there our friendship grew and bloomed, and we are still good friends today. We probably couldn’t be more different, but we respect each other’s choices and lifestyles and view, and always support and encourage each other. And share tears and laughter. I don’t know about her, but I learn from our discussions and am blessed by them – even if we don’t totally agree! She lives in New York now, so our time together is infrequent, but it is still and always precious and cherished. Happy birthday to my sweet friend Genevieve Elizabeth Cerk Morris!!! Love you!

I am unsure of the dates – most of them are NOT recent!

Memory book – December 7th: Do you have a Pearl Harbor Day memory? “Our family was my grandmother Margret Crooks, her oldest son Edd, my dad (Grandma’s youngest) my mother & us 4 kids. We were all at the table & Dad turned on the radio. The newsman was telling about the awlful attack on Pearl Harbor. That was the first time I remember hearing that name, Pearl Harbor. None of us ever forgot it from that day to this day in 2004.”

On this day in 1787 Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution; in 1941, Japanese navy planes attacked US fleet at Pearl Harbor Navel Base, Hawaii, killing 2,403 people. Harry Morgan, actor (Dragnet and M*A*S*H) died in 2011 at age 96. Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck and his nephews, was born in 1904 and Richard Warren Sears, co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company, in 1863. My cousin Gail’s granddaughter Autumn Patterson Ziegler has a birthday today. Happy birthday Autumn. Have a wonderful day and a very happy year! And of course, Happy birthday Gen!

TOMORROW December 8 is:

• National Brownie Day
• Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day

I am baking brownies on Friday for our Skunk Hollow Christmas party. I will celebrate then. Maybe I’ll PRETEND on Friday that it’s Wednesday! Have a great day – God bless…

Well, let’s see. What kind of adventures did I experience today? Nothing exciting, for sure! I had a medical test (routine/yearly) at the hospital this morning. As I had read online previously, the parking garage across from the hospital has closed – condemned and will be torn down. I walked along the sidewalk there to stay out of the rain, and it was creepy, like a spooky movie. It felt like it was going to just fall down right around me. Even the walkway bridge is closed. But I found my way to where I belonged, had my test, and went to see about getting my bloodwork done.

Normally, they said, I could get the bloodwork done at the hospital’s lab. But they were short staffed today, and the lab was closed. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, because there was a Quick Draw in the Commons across from the parking lot. So I did that (no use wasting a good fast). The technician could not find a vein in my right arm (I do have blood there; honestly!) so they tried the left arm, which worked. But barely. She still had trouble. So I have matching band aids on each arm, but thankfully no bruises.

But let me recap the last of yesterday. After I went with Nate, Jen and Chrissy to notarize something for them, we stopped at the Trailside Cafe for supper. Chris, Jen and I had salads, and Nate had a burger and fries. Jen had this frothy pink drink that looked cute in the glass! As we were driving out of West Newton I snapped a picture through the window of a little park right by the bridge. It looked festive and inviting.

Also, Kath sent me the picture that Paul took of her and I in the carriage house at West Overton Saturday night.

That was actually it for the day – I got stamps at the post office (used them all on Christmas cards!), worked at Pinnacle Jeannette, and come home to laundry and a little gift-wrapping. Next, I have ironing to do and then dinner!

Memory book – December 6th: Do you have any knowledge of how your first name was chosen? “My father always picked our names. I know my middle name, Jane, was his sisters middle name & he always told me I was given that because of how much he thought of her (Emma Jane Crooks Whitacre).” Now Millie has that middle name, too!

On this day in 1923 the first presidential address was broadcast on the radio by Calvin Coolidge; in 1964 Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer was first aired on TV. The first photo of the ‘Loch Ness Monster’ was published in 1933, and in 1865 the 13th amendment abolishing slavery was ratified. Wally Cox (voice of the cartoon UNDERDOG) was born in 1924; Agnes Moorehead (Samantha’s mother Endora) in 1900. St. Nicholas (model for Santa Claus – that’s why today was St. Nicholas day!) died in 343AD at age 73; Jefferson Davis – president of the Confederate States of America – died in 1889 at age 81. Roy Orbison died at age 52 in 1988 (sang Pretty Woman).

TOMORROW December 7 is:

• National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
• National Illinois Day
• National Cotton Candy Day
• World Trick Shot Day

Tomorrow is also my friend’s birthday. We will talk a little bit about THAT tomorrow! Have a happy day. God bless…

HCC was very Christmasy this morning – the setting, the message, the lesson. It’s so important to keep focused on the reason for the season; on God’s beautiful and precious gift. As Wayne pointed out in the sermon, we have a tendency (as Martha did in the very familiar story) to get caught up in the urgent and not recognize the significant.

Our Sunday school lesson was the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary. The boys are very into Santa right now, and it was wonderful to be able to emphasize the God is NOT one of Santa’s helpers (yes, we discussed that!). JJ & Max took turns being the ‘messenger’ and bringing the good news to Mary (my co-teacher’s name IS Mary!).

So I will share a bit from yesterday evening’s event at West Overton – the Candlelight Christmas Tour was very nice. We watched an 8 minute movie about the Overholts and the Fricks and their rolls in Westmoreland County. We walked around the museum, including a small area set up to represent the 1940’s, and included photos and information about the war. Even the restroom was nicely done!

The main house had four rooms decorated for Christmas. The candlelight – although very ascetically pleasing – did make it a bit difficult to see everything. We will definitely come back to see the house in the daylight, probably in the summer. The springhouse was the first building on the property, and displayed the comforts of guests in later years, after the main house was built.

We went into the detached kitchen, where we tasted a ginger bread and had hot wassail (non-alcoholic), and learned about oven temperatures and open hearth cooking. The carriage house had Santa’s sleigh all packed and ready for the pick trip!

And earlier in the day I had stopped at L&L Fleatique. I enjoyed this winter scene that someone had painstakingly arranged. There were plates of cookies there, as well!

Since I don’t foresee anything more exciting for the rest of the day except writing out Christmas cards, I decided to post early!

Memory book – December 5th: Did you ever have a bad experience with a haircut or a permanent? “My neighbor in Greensburg gave me a home perm in May 1986. I was marrying John June 21st. My hair was so ‘permed’ I looked like a wild woman. My nephew’s wife, Bonnie Crooks, is a beautician. She treated my hair and set it for my wedding day. Thank you, Bonnie.”

On this day in 1848 US President James K Polk triggered Gold Rush of 1849 by confirming a gold discovery in California. In 1933 FDR issued a proclamation declaring the end of prohibition. Walt Disney was born in 1901; George Armstrong Custer in 1839, and our 8th president Martin Van Buren in 1782. My great-niece Rosie Gump is 12 today! Happy birthday, Rosie – have a great day! Love you!

TOMORROW December 6 is:

• National Pawnbrokers Day
• National Microwave Oven Day
• National Gazpacho Day
• St. Nicholas Day
• Miners’ Day

Don’t forget to leave your shoes out on the porch for St. Nicholas to fill! If they freeze you can heat them in the microwave oven. Have a happy Monday and a great week! God bless…

A lot going on today! After my weekly Saturday routine and breakfast, I pinned (literally) myself into 4 layers of 18th century clothing. It paid off, because other than my hands, I stayed warm enough to be outside in small increments. My task was to take the small group for each designated tour from the education center to the 1700s presentation (thus the 18th century clothing). I spent a few minutes taking about Hanna’s Town and what they would see on the tour. There were 3 tours scheduled for today.

Joanna and Belsnickel explained the traditions and celebrations that would have been observed during the late 1700s, including food and music. And if you don’t know, Belsnickel is a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of southwestern Germany and in Pennsylvania Dutch communities.

Once that was done, Belsnickel led the group across Forbes Road to the new LeFevre house displaying the 19th century (1800s). Lisa and Claudia shared information about their celebrations and traditions. At the conclusion, Santa led the group back over to the Steele house for the next two centuries.

Kathy and Lilian each took half of the century (1900s) and explained celebrations. Lilian explained that the ornaments on the little tree were her family’s personal ornaments (brought over from Germany and France) – which she lovingly and carefully preserved from Christmas to Christmas in secure wrappings. I was particularly taken by the little wooden farm set, and by the tiny bisque doll in the buggy.

It was only a walk across the hall to the 21st century, which was of course more familiar to most of us. I not only had some of those decorations, but still have a few that I put out every year.

The gift shop was filled with beautiful crafts and items celebrating the season, and it was a good thing I left my purse in the car. Several of the little decorations on the shop tree were calling my name. Thankfully I could resist them.

After the tour and shopping, there was a ‘Christmas Past’ self walking tour on the paths among the buildings. Each sign gave details about a tradition related to our holiday celebrations. It was fun to walk around and find out when and who sent the first Christmas cards (can you believe Hallmark was eventually involved in the U.S.???), which President had the first Christmas tree, and how the term HOLIDAY came into being. So much fun information! Did you know that Christmas was the second most important and celebrated holiday? EASTER was first, Thanksgiving 3rd, and Halloween and July 4th tied for 4th. Just some facts…

It was a beautiful, sunny (if not chilly) day, and all of our groups thoroughly enjoyed the tours. Several stopped to chat with me afterwards and asked interesting questions. I was glad to interact. A few specifically mentioned the Civil War and I – of course – plugged my book and handed out business cards! An added bonus! Glad to have had the opportunity to be part of the program.

Memory book – December 4th: Were you ever in a life-threatening situation? “When your father & I went for a buggy ride & the horse, Dusty, got spooked. He upset the buggy with me under it. If Dusty would have run off he would have dragged me along with the upset buggy. I was very sore and lots of scratches but no bones broken.” (And you wonder why I preferred my Chevy to the horses!!!)

Not much of interest happened on this day – Dennis Wilson (Beach Boys) was born in 1944. Here is a quote from the history page: He drowned while swimming in Marina Del Rey, California; he should have stayed on the beach. (Poor Dennis….)

TOMORROW December 5 is:

• National Sacher Torte Day
• Bathtub Party Day
• International Ninja Day
• National Repeal Day

I DID have a cookie today – they provided lunch for us at Hanna’s Town, which included cookies. I also stopped at the open house at L&L Fleatique, and am going to a Candlelight Christmas tour at a local museum later. I will report on that tomorrow. Have a happy Sunday! God bless…

How can someone who is supposedly retired have so much to do? I seem to be busy all day most days. This morning I went out to Hanna’s Town to see Pam – she loaded me up with skirts and accessories to wear in layers tomorrow to keep warm. I will only be outside a few minutes at a time but I want to be warm! I’ll probably not be able to move once I have all those clothes on!

I stopped to get groceries on the way home – other than the Thanksgiving meal and Kelly/boys staying over, I haven’t really replenished in a while. Probably half of what I spent was on non-edible items. But my house and clothes will be clean!

I spent some time in the afternoon organizing my Christmas Card list, and also snapped a few pics of things I didn’t post yet.

I stopped on the way to the theater to pick up a raffle prize that I won at the family reunion in August. It was custom made/hand made. It is beautiful and will look wonderful in my kitchen.

Also took a picture of the stage at the Civic Center. I ushered for Bear tonight; it was a kid’s program: Matilda Jr. There were about 25 kids in the cast – and I have to say there was a lot of energy on the stage and even more in the audience. The show was almost completely sold out – first time since fall of 2019! Nice to have a crowd there again.

Here is a photo of the courthouse that I took on the way home. It’s always a lovely view across town.

Memory book – December 3rd: Do you have another good piece of advice for me? “Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.”

On this day in 1926 Detective novelist Agatha Christie mysteriously disappears for 11 days. Ozzy Osbourne was born in 1948.

December 4

• National Cookie Day
• National Dice Day
• National Sock Day
• National Play Outside Day
• National Rhubarb Vodka Day
• Skywarn Recognition Day

Now I could really get into National Cookie Day – I’ll definitely celebrate that. And I will also wear socks and be outside part of the day! I’ll be at Hanna’s Town helping their their Three Centuries of Christmas program. I believe the programs are all sold out. They are vastly popular! Should be a fun day… Enjoy whatever celebration you choose! God bless…