When I woke up this morning, the sun was bright and shining. It was still fairly cold, but I bundled up and took a walk outside. It felt good to get some fresh air today.

After breakfast and a shower, I decided to use an unexpected extra day off to get a few groceries. I had already been to our Walmart and Aldi, so I headed to the North Huntingdon stores. While I was down there (grin) I stopped at Miller’s Crossing Fleatique. There were SO MANY NEW THINGS! It was a treat walking around and seeing everything. I did not, however, spend a penny! This was a ‘window shopping’ visit. I did, however, FIND a shiny new penny in the parking lot!

I still did not find two things on my grocery list. I will try again next week, because they were not urgent items. One was oyster crackers. Who knew that oyster crackers were on the endangered list? Last month it was decafe tea bags!

When I got home I had the last of my ham for lunch, and a cookie. I love ham, so I’ll miss it. And here is the picture I was telling you about that Kelly’s friend drew: A caricature of me as a Peanuts character, with Snoopy typing. She did a pretty good job!

Kelly txt me early this afternoon with the wonderful news that her vision was back to normal, and her eye surface looks good. No more appointments for a month! God is good, all the time. THAT is praiseworthy! Thanks for all of our prayer warriors out there.

My exciting task for this afternoon was to write out my thank you notes (finally!) and to update my Christmas card label list. Wow. Can’t get more exciting than that!

Just got a call from my ‘plumber’ contact – tomorrow or Thursday. I’m so excited!!!!! Maybe I can get started on a solution to this water issue after all!

I did walk around and snap a few pictures of some of my favorite decorations. Thursday I will start taking them down. It’s always a sad, sad day – but once I start, I’m driven to finish.

Memory book – December 28th: Is there anything else you would like me to know about your childhood? “I was always ‘busy.’ I liked to do things that kept me moving around. My older sister Hazel liked the work in the house. I liked to be out in the garden in the summer. My brother left me follow him around & I have always been glad I had him to teach me about nature, animals & sports.” So her love of flowers and gardening goes way back. Good to know!

On this day in 1065 Westminster Abbey was consecrated in London; in 1732 Benjamin Franklin began publication of Poor Richard’s Almanack. In 1832 John C Calhoun became the first vice-president to resign (differences with President Andrew Jackson), and in 1846 Iowa became the 29th state (Hey Drown family – this ones for you!!!). BRIGHT EYES (Shirley Temple) premiered in 1934, featuring the song ‘On the Good Ship Lollipop.’ And in 1975 the term ‘Hail Mary’ as used for a football play was born. In 1956 Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha on Bewitched) married Gig Young – wonder if Gladys Kravitz was spying on THAT. And Natalie Wood married Robert Wagner in 1`957 – I’d have married him, too! Yum! They are my favorite all-time celebrity couple. Clayton Moore (Lone Ranger) died at age 85 in 1999; Debbie Reynolds (actress – Tammy & the Bachelor and Singin’ in the Rain) died in 2016 at age 84 – one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher passed away; and Dennis Wilson (Beach Boys) at age 39 in 1983. Woodrow Wilson – 28th president – was born in 1856, and my niece Sarah is celebrating a birthday today. She is a very busy young working wife and mother of two – Here’s to a fabulous day and a wonderful year, full of God’s blessings and happy days! Love you!

TOMORROW December 29 is:

• National Pepper Pot Day
• Tick Tock Day

Tomorrow is Holiday Family Day at Hanna’s Town, from 11am until 3pm. Lots of activities, crafts, and a special story time at 1pm. Be sure to stop out and be part of the fun. I plan to be there! God bless…

Today would have been the perfect day to sleep in – cold, rain-mixed with icy snow, dreary. But it was indeed a work day for me! There wasn’t so much to do that I was gone very long. I got gas for the car and a battery for my Snoopy watch, something I hadn’t worn in about 12 years – I didn’t want to pair it with my fitbit.

I had a piece of cornbake (Thanks, Kath!) and some green beans for lunch, then set about a few afternoon chores. I pressed off the new pillowcases from the Hancher family – can’t wait to put the sheets on the bed on Saturday! I also took a picture of my ‘charm’ bracelet (featuring Snoopy) from the Burke family. Perfect Christmas!

I watched an old Hallmark movie (from 2014) called Angels and Ornaments, and I was surprised that I had never seen it. Although it was a little far fetched I really liked it, and the actor who played Harold (perfect angel name, right???) did a wonderful job! It’s thundering outside right now, rather surprising for December. I guess maybe nothing should surprise us these days! Supper is next, then thank you cards.

Tomorrow I hope to get an update on Kelly’s eye. Nate just called with the good news that the closing for their house is to be on Monday! So happy for them. It’s been a long time coming. God bless my wonderful family – all of them!

Memory book – December 27th: Do you remember celebrating any special wedding anniversaries of your parents or grandparents? “We celebrated the 50th anniversary of Grandma & Grandpa Eakman with an open house at their farm. I think it was around 1947. Grandma wore the ‘gold dress’ to your Dad’s & my wedding. We celebrated my mother & dad’s 40th wedding anniversary. We made a money ‘tree’ and had cookies.”

On this day in 1947 the Howdy Doody show debuted, and in 1932 Radio City Music Hall opened, featuring the Rockettes. Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) died in 2016 at age 60.

TOMORROW December 28 is:

• National Short Film Day
• National Chocolate Candy Day
• National Card Playing Day
• Holy Innocents Day
• Pledge of Allegiance Day

I will definitely buy into the Chocolate day! That’s every day for me! Have a great day. God bless…

Today was a slow but steady day – like the tortoise and the hare. After church and Sunday school, I stopped quickly at Aldi to get two things… that they didn’t have! I’ll try the end of the week. I came home and grabbed leftovers for lunch, then started on my list.

I only had small things to do but they took most of the day. I boxed up the rest of the leftovers (except ham!) for Nate to pick up. Organized a few things for work tomorrow, including 2022 calendars. Did dishes, scrubbed basement and kitchen floors, ran the sweeper, made icing for the scones, folded a dryer load of towels and fluffed a set of sheets. Nate came over for the food and helped me fill the soap dispenser built into my kitchen sink, and carried a few things to the shed for me. Tried Walmart for the missing Aldi items to no avail. However… there is almost no trace of Christmas items – clearance or otherwise! – and — yep! You guessed it! Valentines!

JJ & Max were painting crowns today, as the lesson was the Wise Men (or kings). They had glow-in-the-dark tubes that we made into necklaces for them. I took their picture to put on the wall, as we have photos of some of our classes from as far back as 9 years.

Last week I stopped at Joanne’s Fabrics and spent $3.00 on a piece of material for a pillow cover. Took me about 15 minutes to make, start to finish. It co-ordinates with my winter blanket, and still matches the Christmas ones. The print is white deer and snowflakes on a red background. Suitable for Christmas but also acceptable for winter!

Memory book – December 26th: Share any other Christmas memory. “The year Hazel & I were trying to put the Christmas tree up in the corner of the living room & for some reason we started to argue. Hazel went off & left me in the corner holding up the tree. My mother finally came in & ‘rescued’ me. Hazel and I were in trouble for the day. We laugh about it yet today.” Siblings!

On this day in 1924 Frances Gumm (Judy Garland) made her show business debut at age 2 1/2 – billed as baby Frances. In 1973 the Exorcist was released. Steve Allen – Tonight Show creator and first host – was born in 1921; Harry Truman – 33rd president – died in 1972 at age 88. Jack Benny died in 1974 at age 80, and Gerald Ford – 38th president – died in 2006 at age 93.

TOMORROW December 27 is:

• National Fruitcake Day

Would that be the food, or the person? Anyway… Today is the beginning of Kwanzaa, which ends January 1st. Have a lovely week, and God bless…

I had the luxury of a slow start on Christmas morning. I did get up at 4am and put the roast on, and again at 6am and started the ham. But I lounged around in bed after that and napped and read. Once I was up and showered, though, there was a list of things to do, getting ready for the kids and the meal.

I will recap Christmas Eve, though – Gen sent me a picture of her and Jack on their New York morning walk – he’s such a handsome little guy! With the Peanuts gang in the background!

At church I snapped a few pictures of the foyer and sanctuary, and the Silent Night candles lit at the end of the service. Joni was there, and her daughter Kim took a picture of us.

We had supper at Kath’s, and although Nate was taking pictures too, I forgot to get them. Here is a picture of Chrissy, Kath and I. We had a lovely evening, with great food and fun conversation. Jesse, Tonia and Isaac were there as well. Family are the best!

Still did not take photos today – I never seem to remember! Autmn was here with her new guy friend, Trakker, who seemed very nice and respectful. Chrissy got an ‘ugly sweater’ that blinked and flashed, and I loved it! Everyone was very pleased with their gifts, including me! Two gift cards to buy ebooks, Red Door, flannel sheets, a bracelet, nail polish and remover, and a purple candle from the boys. We ate too much, too many times, but it was a wonderful day with everyone together!

Chase is in the shower, Peyton is playing video games, Logan has a virtual reality game going, Kelly is eating chocolate chip cookies and reading, and Matt is sleep-watching the football game. Nate’s family left, as Chris and Autmn had other places to be. Despite my slow morning start, I had very little quality sleep last night and don’t plan to do much else this evening!

Memory book – December 25th: Tell about the most memorable gifts I have given you. “The GREAT ‘grandchildren’ who are adding to that gift with great-grandchildren.” She loved family – her quiver was full!

On this day – 337 is the earliest possible date Christmas was celebrated on December 25th; 352 is the first definite date Christmas was celebrated on December 25th. St. Francis of Assisi assembled the first nativity in 1223. In 1776 George Washington crossed the Delaware and surprised and defeated 1400 Hessians, and in 1996 six year old JonBenet Ramsey was murdered- still unsolved. Jimmy Buffet was born in 1946; Conrad Hilton (Hotel chain) in 1887, Clara Barton, Mother of the Red Cross and Angel of the Battlefield, was born in 1821, and Humphrey Bogart (Here’s looking at you, kid) in 1899. Charlie Chaplin died at age 87 in 1977, and Dean Martin at age 78 in 1995.

TOMORROW December 26 is:

• National Candy Cane Day
• National Thank-you Note Day
• National Whiner’s Day
• Boxing Day

Take time tomorrow to reflect the blessings and the bounty from today – we are so blessed! Have a wonderful day and a great start to the last week of 2021. God bless…

Sometimes, even when a day is full of activities and chores, there is nothing noteworthy to capture. I started the day by putting fresh sheets on my bed, and washing two loads of laundry – which task then included ironing. I peeled potatoes and put them in cold water for around the ham tomorrow, then peeled 2 dozen eggs and boiled potatoes for potato salad, and made deviled eggs. All done with that! Oh, and here is a picture of my fifty cent snowflake from yesterday!

Even though we only live a few blocks apart, Kath and I don’t really get to visit or chat much. We spent about half an hour on the phone catching up on the past few weeks. Right now I am baking a Marie Callender’s Dutch Apple pie, for tomorrow’s dessert. That will round out the cookie trays and ice cream and M&M’s – I always have M&M’s. The ‘eternal’ Hallmark Christmas Movies are playing in the background.

Kathy & I take turns having the Christmas Eve meal after our respective church services, and she is taking a turn this year. Since I was somewhat distracted and a little busy this past week, I am thankful that it was her turn! And tomorrow’s meal – ham and a beef roast – is much more user-friendly than stuffing a turkey. I’m looking forward to a main focus of having my family here.

Memory book – December 24th: Tell about the most memorable gifts you have given me. “When you were 3 years old we ordered a rocking horse (on springs) from Sears Roebuck. You Dad kept calling the catalog department every day. Finally on Christmas Eve it was unloaded from their truck. We picked it up at the side door & went home to a couple hours of putting it together. It was named Trigger & made to look like Roy Rodgers horse.” I guess I was a cow-girl in training!

On this day in 1877 Thomas Edison filed a patent for his phonograph, and 336AD is the first recorded celebration of Christmas in Rome. Howard Hughes – Billionaire – was born in 1905, and Anthony Fauci in 1940. Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, last of Lincoln’s descendants, died in 1985 at age 81, and in 1990 Tom Cruise married Nicole Kidman.

TOMORROW December 25 is:

• National Pumpkin Pie Day
• A’Phabet Day or No “L” Day
• Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you! Praying for peace and love for you throughout the holiday season, and that you keep Christ in Christmas! He IS the reason for the season! God bless… NOEL!!!

I slept well despite putting Grama’s clock back in the hall outside my bedroom door. I thought it would be too loud, but I never heard it all all (unless I was already awake).

After breakfast I boiled the potatoes and eggs for potato salad and deviled eggs, then wrapped the last of the gifts. Pinnacle Jeannette had their Christmas luncheon, so I went down early and did my work, then ate with the crew. Rege’s wife Jean stopped in – he’s still recovering from knee replacement surgery – to take him home after the lunch. Joe even stopped in from the Greensburg store.

Ken knows I like Brookside chocolates, so he bought be a huge bag, along with a box of single steep teabags. So many different kinds! I’ll be taste-testing for a long time.

Once I left there, I treated myself to a walk-through of L&L Fleatique. Always fun, and the staff were all in a great mood. Lots of laughing and sharing. I bought a little white snowflake for fifty cents. They won’t get rich on my shopping! I did see a clock exactly like the one we had in our kitchen for the longest time growing up. That’s one of the reasons I keep going back – just to see things that remind me of fun times and happy days of yore!

Just finished paying a few bills and turned on Godwink Christmas to listen to while I type. Two more days until Santa!

Memory book – December 23rd: Did your family go to a special church service at Christmas? Tell about it. “When I was 5 years old our church closed & we didn’t go until a few years later to the neighbors church. We had Christmas plays & exchanged gifts. When the war started there wasn’t enough gasoline to drive that far & we walked to the Old Mahoning Baptist Church – God was present in all the churches & I always liked to go to worship Him. I still do.” My sweet Mom, and the seeds of faith that were planted very deep, very young!

On this day in 1`779 Benedict Arnold was court-martialed for improper conduct, and in 1783 General George Washington resigned his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to Congress. In 1997 Woody Allen wed Soon-Yi Previn, 27, adopted daughter of Mia Farrow. EMMA by Jane Austen was published in 1815, and A VISIT FROM ST NICHOLAS by Clement C Moore was published in 1823 (The Night before Christmas). In 1938 Margaret Hamilton’s costume caught fire while filming The Wizard of Oz (Wicked Witch). Susan Lucci (All My Children) was born in 1946, and Victor Borge died in 2000 at age 91 – he was a talented pianist, satirist, entertainer.  My favorite was his skit of talking punctuation marks! Look it up (Victor Borge – Phonetic Punctuation)!

TOMORROW December 24 is:

• National Eggnog Day
• Christmas Eve

No Eggnog for me. Hot tea and chocolate chip scones! Happy Christmas Eve! God bless…

What is this called? A palindrome? That would be today’s date 12-22-21. Cool. And like the license plate the other day: A TOYOTA.

It’s very cold, and I was glad to stay inside. Pinnacle Greensburg was buying lunch today, but I had already informed them I wouldn’t be there; I was using today as a catch-up day. And I did catch up. I spent all day cleaning and doing laundry and replacing batteries in light strings. I even took about an hour and a half and scrubbed my basement floor on my hands and knees. It looks very much better, but there are still spots… Still waiting on SOMEONE to call me back and get this looked at. I can’t believe no one has time to get here. Hopefully after the holidays.

I didn’t hear from Kelly directly, but that’s probably a good sign. She’s not worse or panicked or overly stressed (note that I said ‘overly’). I was a drill sergeant before I left there last night – instructions for them all to HELP: her, each other, and themselves. We’ll see how that goes. At least they are on school break and she can wait to do that.

No pictures today. Nothing interesting or exciting. I’ll try again tomorrow.

Memory book – December 22nd: Tell about Holiday celebrations at a relative’s house during your childhood. “At Aunt Effie’s & Uncle Bill’s house we were treated as if we were very special. They had a beautiful tree & very special decorations. They bought us a gift (usually gloves or a scarf) & that was wonderful. They lived in Dayton, PA, which was about 8 miles from home.” I clearly remember Aunt Effie. We thought she was unique and fun and a little outrageous! She was one of Mom’s favorites.

On this day in 1882 the first string of Christmas lights was created, and in 1967 THE GRADUATE with Dustin Hoffman was released (It was ‘cutting edge’ at the time!!! I was a senior in high school). In 1895 the first human X-ray was taken, and in 1891 the patent for the first perforated toilet paper was granted. First Lady Lady-Bird Johnson was born in 1912, and Beatrix Potter died in 1943 at age 77. I loved the movie of her life starring Renee Zellweger.

(I just looked up a little more information on the Christmas lights. They were too expensive to buy, so you could rent Christmas tree lights for the season for $12 – That’s equivalent to over $300 in today’s money.)

TOMORROW December 23 is:

• National Pfeffernusse Day
• National Roots Day
• Festivus
• National Re-Gifting Day

Tomorrow is the Pinnacle Jeannette lunch. I will wait until about noon to go down to work and stay for a bit. I believe that the only thing I need from the store before Christmas is eggs. We ate a lot of eggs when the kids were here! Have a happy day. God bless!

Only a few more days until Christmas! I’m sure parents with young children are ready to pull their hair out – kids are so wound up! But what a lovely age, all the joy and trust and excitement.

I worked this morning – And there was a box of cookies that someone had dropped off for the sale staff. They were beautiful! I had to take a picture. I did not take one – they were too pretty to eat! Ken had changed my desktop background and given my computer reindeer ears! So it was a fun start to the day.

After lunch, the kids packed up their electronics and we loaded up the car. Taking them home was one of the hardest things I’ve done in a long time. Kelly is feeling much improved but she’s not better, and I know she won’t get ‘momma’ care nor get the rest she needs. Being a Mom and a Wife is a job you can’t just sit out. There’s so much to do, and so many people need so much – I don’t want to see her wilt. It was totally silly but I cried almost the whole way home. The good thing about that was that it kept me awake! I woke up at 4:45am and couldn’t get back to sleep. So this will be very short.

I pulled over when I got off of the expressway and took a photo of the Winter Solstice Moon, then another picture from my deck when I got home. It is really big, bright, and beautiful!

Memory book – December 21st: Do you remember a ‘best’ Christmas of childhood? “When we all got to go to Grandmam & Grandpap Eakmans & be with all our cousins, which were many.” We always loved to go to Grama and Grandad Crooks’, and be with the cousins. Grama and Grandad are long passed, but the cousins still love to be together!

On this day in 1933 Fox Films signed Shirley Temple, age 5, to a studio contract, and in 1937 Walk Disney’s first full length animated feature – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – premiered. Carl Wilson – guitarist for the Beach Boys, was born in 1946, and Jane Fonda in 1937. General George S Patton, 60, died in 1945. Jane Fonda married Ted Turner in 1991.

TOMORROW December 22 is:

• National Date Nut Bread Day
• Forefathers Day

Four more sleeps until Santa! You better be good! God bless….

Kelly & I left a little before 9am for her appointment at the WVU Eye Institute. We took a longer route (by about 10 minutes) to avoid tolls, which was fine. We were there about an hour and a half. Very thorough. She still has a few spots on her cornea but all in all doing well. The technician pulled a ‘mucus thread’ out of her eye with tweezer-type things. She looked like she was going to freak out and I was waiting… But she did good. He upped her meds (not stronger, just longer) and wants to see her on the 28th. I think Matt will be able to take her that day as he’s on vacation.

On the way home we saw Garry’s Auto Sales. Chase’s axolotl pet is named Garry (with 2 r’s) so we took a picture. Garry took a break from eating chips to pose for us!

She’s sounding more chipper but still gets tired easily. She’s napping right now. I am still considering the possibility of making a batch of cookies… We’ll see. I’m doing a few loads of never-ending laundry and getting the boys food upon request.

A nice treat after the appointment was that we stopped at Chick-Fil-A and had lunch. Don’t tell the boys – they will be disappointed. But of course, they could have come with us and spent 5 1/2 hours sitting in the car!!! While we were waiting to pull out we saw this license plate – it reads the same frontwards and backwards. Very clever!

This picture was on my facebook feed – and it just made me smile!

Kathy and Sarah both shared pictures of River Hill church’s Christmas program last night. Millie was an angel at the manger, and she was perfect! Doesn’t she look like a darling little angel? It’s very unusual for Millie to stand still for very long, but she lived up to being very ‘angelic’ and sang with the other kids. I think she may have a future in the theater!

Got a call about noon that Grama’s clock was finally repaired, so we stopped in New Stanton on the way home and picked it up. Now it’s back home where it belongs, ticking and chiming and keeping time!

Memory book – December 20th: Tell about your experiences with Santa Claus. “Our Uncle Edd lived with us. He always dressed up like Santa Claus. He would ring sleigh bells & then come in the front door. I was around 6 or 7 before I knew “Santa” was Uncle Edd.” Dad did that – he’d dress up and knock on our living room window and shake his finger at us. We never had our slippers on and we’d make a mad dash for them. But Santa was gone before we got back. It was a while before I caught on!

On this day in 1812 Grimms Fairy Tales was published; in 1920 Bob Hope became an American citizen, and in 1950 HARVEY with Jimmy Stewart premiered. Elvis received his draft notice in 1957 (Dear 53310761…). In 1946 It’s a Wonderful Life premiered, and in 1962 the Osmond Brothers made their debut on the Andy Williams show. Sacagawea died at age 24 in 1812; Donald Trump married Marla Maples in 1993, and in 2005 Renee Zellweger married Kenny Chesney – their marriage lasted 4 months!

TOMORROW December 21 is:

• Crossword Puzzle Day
• Humbug Day
• National Maine Day
• Phileas Fogg Win A Wager Day
• Winter Solstice
• National Flashlight Day
• National French Fried Shrimp Day
• National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day
• Yule
• Anne & Samantha Day

Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice – shortest daylight of the year. Go to bed early with a good book – and when you wake up on the 22nd the days will be getting longer each day! (This one’s for you, Joe Faddish!) God bless!

We sure have had some busy days, but mixed with fun and laughter along the way. Lots and lots of love and work and care-giving but isn’t that what love and family is about?

Kelly is improving but still in some pain – appointment tomorrow at WVU. Hoping for good news! Another day of lots of driving.

We had a Santa drive-through sighting this afternoon. Lots of families with younger kids were standing outside waiting for him to go by. Logan and Chase were not in that crowd!

After supper, we were just sitting in the living room, enjoying the lights and decorations, while the boys were playing games downstairs. Stolen moments of quiet!

Memory book – December 19th: Tell about the worst Christmas present you ever received as a child. “I don’t think I ever had a bad Christmas present when I was a child. We didn’t get things very often & we felt very happy with whatever we got.” Blessed and thankful- sweet memories!

On this day in 1777 George Washington settled his troops in at Valley Forge for the winter, and in 1843 A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) was published.

TOMORROW December 20 is:

• Go Caroling Day
• National Sangria Day
• Mudd Day

ANYONE can go caroling! At least sign a carol in your car or in the shower. But share the joy of the holiday season! God bless — It’s CHRISTMAS week!!!