Left the house at 9:30am with Paul and Kath – Paul was designated driver, much to my relief! We stopped at Edinboro Walmart for a few small items, drove through McDonalds for a quick lunch, then headed over to visit with John – socially distanced and wearing our masks! We visited there for about 2 hours and sort of had Christmas for John. There were a few things we brought back for Mom. We had a Carrot Cake break before we left, then headed back down I-79 South. Got home a little before 6pm. Lots of driving for a short visit, but it was important and food for the soul.

I tuned in to watch Greg at Vanderbilt church but instead found Rob Grandy as a guest. Rob is a great preacher and songwriter and singer. He did a Christmas concert, including several songs he wrote. He also shared some bits of information between songs, like BETHLEHEM means ‘house of bread’, and Jesus called himself the ‘bread of life.’ Also, for such a small town, two kings were born there: King David and Jesus. Jesus’ birth was well timed; when the time was PERFECT, God sent his Son. God knew that man would would sin and need a savior even before He created man. He created them anyway, then created a plan to send his Son to redeem us. We wouldn’t celebrate His birth without His death and resurrection. Share the Good News so all can celebrate!

On this day in 1848 US President James K. Polk trigged Gold Rush of 1849 by confirming a gold discovery in California. In 1955 Historic bus boycott begins in Montgomery Alabama by Rosa Parks. In 2008 Former NFL star O.J. Simpson is sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery. George Armstrong Custer (US Army officer and cavalry commander in Civil War) was born in 1839, and Walt Disney was born in 1901. Wolfgang Mozart died in 1791 and Claude Monet in 1926.

TOMORROW December 6 is:

• National Pawnbrokers Day
• National Microwave Oven Day
• National Gazpacho Day
• St. Nicholas Day (Ron, are you putting your shoe out for St. Nicholas to fill???)
• Miners’ Day

So I hope St. Nicholas fills your shoe with candy! Have a great day tomorrow. Use your microwave for SOMETHING! God Bless….

It was a full, busy day today! I like crossing chores off my list. I had to run out first thing after my walk this morning to grab a few things at the Dollar Tree, then came home and marched through that list. Let’s see. I did a load of laundry, made cream of potato soup (Chrissy’s request), made a pot pie from leftover turkey (frozen), mixed up more icing for the scones (frozen), wrapped a few presents and boxed a few up, wrapped more presents, wrote out some greeting cards, made turkey salad (also with leftover turkey), ran the dishwasher and emptied it, then made last minute plans to meet Kelly, Matt and the 2 younger boys in Washington. They needed my title services! I would have enjoyed staying longer and even had dinner with them, but it was cold and raining and dark and very difficult driving. I was glad to get home!

Next week I plan to work on a few Christmas cookies. Kath and I may even connect up and do a batch or two together. No photos – I’m tired of taking pictures of FOOD!!!

I listened to Mike at HCC, and even though it wasn’t an official ‘advent’ message, it was centered around prophecy. He talked about John being a witness to testify and a witness for the light. The light is God’s answer to the world’s darkness. He planned from the beginning to send the light to us. Christians are children of the light, but we can choose to disobey and walk in darkness. God made His plan to save us even before we needed it. We are NOT to walk in darkness but live in the light. Jesus came to shine a light in a dark world. This was foretold from the beginning. If God is all-knowing, he knew before he created man that they would sin and need a savior. So even before we were created, he planned a way! Awesome!

On this day in 1915 Henry Ford‘s peace ship, Oscar II, sails for Europe ‘to get the boys out of the trenches by Christmas’ . In 1933 FDR creates Federal Alcohol Control Administration. In 1976 Actress Elizabeth Taylor (44) marries for the 7th time to politician John Warner (49) .

TOMORROW December 5 is:

• National Sacher Torte Day
• Bathtub Party Day (I have NEVER had a party in a bathtub!~!!!!)
• International Ninja Day
• National Repeal Day
• National Rhubarb Vodka Day
• Skywarn Recognition Day 

If you DO celebrate Bathtub Party Day I’d be interested in hearing about it. Make sure it’s clean! (haha – pun intended!) God bless….

Still cold enough that I did the treadmill this morning for my walk. Several projects to do in Jeannette, and found that Ken had left me a present under my tree: Reindeer ears! When I was on my way to Greensburg, Mom’s doctor’s office called me. I had called yesterday to see if I was permitted to go with her (usually one person) but Excela Health had instituted a ‘no admittance’ policy except for the patient. So the office proceeded to tell me Mom had dementia (???? – I knew that!) and she couldn’t articulate or answer questions or sign anything. The aid that was with her didn’t know any of her personal facts; could I come? The staff was SO nice and said I should be with her, and it wasn’t right not to be so SHE said I could come! I zoomed right over there and was able to spend the next hour with Mom. She smiled and listened to my non-stop chatter while we waited for her to be seen. I wasn’t permitted to make personal contact but I did pull up several photos on my phone and we spent several minutes looking at the photos. She loved seeing the Albion house in the snow!

So after she left to go back to her ‘home’, I continued on to Greensburg store, then got home about 2:30pm and had breakfast! Hmmmm. My schedule was thrown a little off track, but that was certainly ok. After I ate, I took a few minutes to finally get some groceries re-stocked. When I was walking to the checkout I discovered they were selling Hanukkah leggings! First year for that, if I recall. So my next project was to try again to make the pretzel/kiss treats, and this time they turned out – except I made a mess. My fingers were sticking to the chocolate and the pretzels would flip upside down and then fall on top of each other. Ugh. I’m not meant to do anything that requires precise movement! But they are all done and cooling in the fridge.

I am sharing Steve’s message from Maplewood – the first Sunday of Advent, which is traditionally about Prophecy. ‘This shall be a sign…’ Steve talked about not only the coming of the Baby, the Christ Child, but also the 2nd coming. He read in Isaiah about his asking Jesus to ‘tear open the heavens and get down here.’ If you weren’t focused on the second coming before, 2020 should make it seem ominous and very much pending. And if Jesus is NOT coming back, His birth is just a fantasy. His birth was no small gesture; he didn’t come so we would be nice people. He came to right every wrong, to reconcile all things to Himself. Watch, and be ready – He IS coming — SOON! We should not only be celebrating Christ’s birth, but be preparing for His return!

On this day in 1926 Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days (She probably just was trying to escape COVID and went to see her MOTHER!~!!), and in 1950 Paul Harvey began his National Radio broadcast (and that’s the rest of the story). George McClellan, Major General for the Union Army, was born in Philadelphia in 1826, Andy Williams in 1927, and Ozzy Osbourne in 1948 (That one’s for YOU, Nate!!) Robert Louis Stevenson (wrote Treasure Island) died at age 45 in 1894.

TOMORROW December 4 is:

• National Cookie Day
• National Dice Day
• National Sock Day
• Faux Fur Friday
• National Bartender Day

It’s on my Friday list to bake cookies tomorrow, so I will celebrate that. And enjoy my lovely home, decorated in its Christmas finery and sparkling clean! Have a wonderful day – but remember to Watch and be Ready! God bless…

A little additional snow overnight, but none during the day. Here is a picture of the table on my deck – we got quite a lot. I went outside first thing, before breakfast, and shoveled off the decks and the walks. The driveway was ok, thankfully.

After breakfast I spent the entire day cleaning and organizing. The place looks clean and smells fresh. I also made sure my Williamsburg tree was like I wanted. Kath came over about 4pm and we had a facetime with Mom. She spoke a few words, waved to us, and smiled several times. I think she was glad to see us! We were glad to see her looking happy.

I listened to Micah from Old Mahoning. He spoke about ThanksLiving. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Even when we make problems for ourselves God is still good; seek the Lord and you will not lack any good thing. Jesus is with us all the time – we can’t isolate ourselves from Him. 1) We make a declaration: I will bless the Lord at all times. We can PICK our attitude. 2) Deliverance – from fear, trouble, enemies. 3) We will delight in the Lord for he is good and trustworthy. He wants to give us good things, and he will not fail. He’s always available.

On this day in 1859 John Brown was hanged for murder and treason. In 1867 Charles Dickens gave his first public reading in the US (NYC), and in 1933 Fred Astaire’s first film was released (Dancing Lady). Britney Spears was born in 1981 and Desi Arnaz died at age 69 in 1986.

TOMORROW December 3 is:

• National Roof Over Your Head Day

I am VERY thankful for the roof over my head, for the safe, warm, and happy place I live. I will celebrate tomorrow, and every day! God bless…

Here we are; the last month of this crazy year. I don’t want to jinx anything but I really don’t expect that a number on a calendar is going to significantly change anything. Ugh. Well, woke up this morning to six inches of snow, and we got several more during the day. It’s still snowing and very windy. I opted not to go in to work; after all, I am retired, right?? So after lunch I went to my appointment (roads were clear) and stopped in at Jeannette, but then came home and continued working on the tree. Chrissy came over and helped with the ornaments, and I finished with the icicles. So all the decorating is done! And Wednesday is my day off, so I’m going to clean this house! There are dust bunnies, glitter, bits of garlands, and just plain yuck all over the place. It needs a good scrubbing!

Byron (John’s preacher) sent us a few pictures he took of the snow when he stopped to check on John. They got more snow than we did. And also here are a few random photos of more decorations.

Today I listened to Bram at First Baptist. It was the first day of Advent, and he talked about HOPE, and how it’s our anchor. Hope is not just a wish, but it’s faith in knowing God is at work, of a promise of the fulfilment of God. We have hope in Him, and we are not disappointed. Christmas is not just a day, it’s a life. Celebrate the life of Jesus, and celebrate the anticipated coming of the Christ child!

On this day in 1887 Sherlock Holmes first appeared in print. In 1913 Ford Motor Company began the world’s first moving assembly line for the Model T Ford. Hugh Hefner put out the first edition of Playboy magazine in 1953, with Marilyn Monroe as the centerfold. In 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus and give her seat to a white passenger, and in 1978 US President Jimmy Carter more than doubled the size of the National Park System. And in 1985 the mini-series Anne of Green Gables staring Megan Follows was first shown. Mary Martin (my favorite Peter Pan!) was born in 1913, Woody Allen in 1935, Richard Pryor in 1940, and Bette Midler in 1945. And my friend from Hempfield High School (actually one of our class officers!) and part of Hempfield Church youth group with me, Ernie Hertzog, is having a birthday today. Happy birthday Ernie – wishing you the best!

TOMORROW December 2 is:

• National Fritters Day
• National Mutt Day
• Special Education Day 

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, take time to stop and consider the Advent season, the coming of the Baby, the salvation of us all. God’s best gift! God bless….

The month went out with a bang. It was very busy, and a lot of stress. I was glad to be home. It rained all day – but tomorrow is supposed to be snow. Not sure I’m ready! But it’s 11pm and this will be short….

As it was so late I didn’t get much else done. I sat on the couch by the ‘fireplace’ and paid a few bills, did some review of title work for a friend, and put the tree together. Hoped to get the lights on but didn’t make it that far. Tomorrow is another day, as Scarlett O’Hare would say!

On this day in 1982 Thriller was released by Michael Jackson, and in 1993 Schindler’s List premiered in Washington DC. Mark Twain was born in 1835; Winston Churchill in 1874, Lucy Maud Montgomery (wrote Anne of Green Gables – there you go, Beth S!!!!) in 1874, and Dick Clark in 1929. Oscar Wilde died at age 46 in 1900, Evel Knieval (69) in 2007, George H W Bush (41st President) in 2018 at age 94. And on this date in 1940 Lucille Ball married Desi Arnaz.

TOMORROW December 1 is:

• National Pie Day
• National Eat a Red Apple Day
• Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day
• Day With(out) Art Day
• Rosa Parks Day
• World Trick Shot Day –
• National Day of Giving

Time now to call it a day – and wait to see if we really do get the snow they are predicting! If we do, I’m staying put! God bless…

We are all done now but building and decorating the tree. I will start that tomorrow. Lots going on this week but it will be done by the weekend! Chrissy was here until just a few minutes ago, and although she didn’t do a lot of hands-on decorating she loves all of it! Here are a few photos of the almost-finished project:

This morning I took time to listen to Paul at River Hill, about God’s indescribable gift, which is Jesus. We do not have words in our language to actually explain who Jesus is. He’s indescribable because: 1) of His nature; walking among us. We know the physical aspects but we struggle with the spiritual, things we cannot see. God is all-knowing but we have limited knowledge. We can’t describe him, we try and fail. 2) of His purpose; To save us! He gave everything so we could have life. 3) of grace. We are in rebellion; we don’t want to do what God wants. He owes us nothing, but will give us everything. 4) of his effect on us. Our lives are different when we accept God’s gift. God forgets our sins – forever. We are part of God’s family and we’re given His peace. WE can’t describe Him, but we can THANK him for his indescribable gift!

On this day in 1877 Thomas Edison demonstrated his hand cranked phonograph for the first time. Cary Grant died at age 82 (He was super funny in Arsenic and Old Lace!), and George Harrison (one of the Beatles – age 58) died in 2001. Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832 and C S Lewis in 1898. And a friend that I met through Ron at Sears – Mary Lou Kokoska – is celebrating a birthday today – happy birthday Mary Lou – Have a great day!

Tomorrow November 30 is:

• National Personal Space Day
• National Mason Jar Day
• National Mousse Day
• National Meth Awareness Day
• Computer Security Day
• Stay Home Because You’re Well Day
• National Mississippi Day
• Cyber Monday –

There’s a lot to celebrate tomorrow, in addition to it being the last day of November, 2020. We are only one month away from being done with the unpredictable 2020! God bless….

Productive day! I have way too much when it comes to decorations for this house. I didn’t even put it all up; I’d have to move out so there was room! But I was able to go through most of the boxes and pick out my favorite and important items and get them situated. I still have the inside lights to put up, and the window stickees and garland. THEN — I will set up and decorate the tree. Chrissy really wants to help with that so I’m going to plan everything around her if I can.

I decided to put up part of my little scene this year — and I put the little Snoopy figurines around the top of my computer desk. One of Kelly’s favorites is the snowman nativity (who happens to be sharing shelf space with Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus!)

When Kelly was here on Thursday and the girls were here for a while, they asked Kelly to French braid their hair! So here are my two little pigtail gals – from the back!

Steve from Maplewood had a message about Last Things – Talking about the fact that in this coming Christmas Season we should realize that Jesus is King; why he came and what he did for us. And what his ultimate plan was from the moment he was born. He came to intercede for us from the ultimate Judgement, the separation of the saved and unsaved. Our lives touch more people than we can guess or know. We don’t stop to realize what’s going on every minute because life goes so fast. We don’t pay attention to details, and we miss so much! We should do the right thing, all the time; be on guard. Be filled with Christ. Give thanks for the good things and the hard things. God is with us in all circumstances; be thankful for each minute!

On this day in 1520 Ferdinand Magellan began crossing the Pacific ocean, and in 1895 American’s first auto race was held: 6 cars, 55 miles – average 7 mph! In 1932 Groucho Marx made his first radio performance, and in 1984 William Penn and his wife Hannah were made honorary US citizens more than 250 years after their deaths. Washington Irvin died at age 76 in 1859, and Jeffrey Dahmer (34) was clubbed to death in prison by a fellow inmate in 1994. In 1582 William Shakespeare (18) married Anne Hathoway (26). And today is my sister’s very dear friend E.Anne Ketchen’s birthday. Any time she was visiting and we didn’t know what to do with something, we always asked E.Anne to hold it. And she always did! Happy birthday to a wonderful lady and tons of happy memories!

TOMORROW November  29 is:

• Electronic Greetings Day (I definitely plan to greet someone electronically tomorrow!!!!)

As my mom would say, have a wonderful Lord’s day tomorrow. Enjoy whatever you do, but continue to give thanks daily! God bless —

Today I hit the ground running – and not outside! After my shower and a piece of toast, I started outside. I put away all the fall things and tucked everything in their boxes. Then I took all the Christmas boxes (30 plus) off the shelves in the garage and spread them across the floor. The lights and decorations were all set outside by noon, and after lunch I started on the inside one box at a time.

Kelly helped me some, and we did the kitchen and all the Snoopy stuff, which gets scattered all over the house. Just now she set up the ceramic nativity that my mom made for me well over 40 years ago. It’s a highlight of my decorations. With that box, I am calling it a night. We had Abie and Bimbo’s pizza for dinner so neither of us had to cook or clean up. There are plenty of leftovers for tomorrow.

And even though this is a boring post, I’m really done. Every muscle aches. I am not quite half done, and that doesn’t count the tree! That goes up last, and always while I’m watching White Christmas.

Have a satisfying Saturday, my friends, and I will try to catch up with some fun posts once the hard labor is finished! God bless…

The turkey is in the oven and it smells so GREAT that I want to eat some RIGHT NOW! Patience, patience… But in lieu of my traditional postings, I am going to share some fun facts about Thanksgiving. Hope you learn something!

The first thanksgiving celebration was in 1631 and it lasted 3 days – 50 Pilgrims, 90 Indians, but only 5 women! Turkey wasn’t on the menu. Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863 – why? Because Josepha Hale (wrote Mary Had a Little Lamb) convinced Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday after writing letters for 17 years. Four towns in the US are named ‘Turkey’: Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina. Average # of calories consumed at a Thanksgiving meal is 4500. Butterball answers more than 100,000 turkey-related questions on their turkey hot-line in November and December.

The first Thanksgiving football game was in 1876 between Yale & Princeton; first NFL games in 1920. 54 million Americans are expected to travel this year during the Thanksgiving weekend (up from last year). A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was first aired on November 20, 1973. Ben Franklin wanted our national bird to be a turkey!!! Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was in 1924 and featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo. Snoopy has made the most appearances in Macy’s parade, between 1968 and 2015, then again in 2019. Jingle Bells was originally a Thanksgiving Day song.

46 Million turkeys are cooked every Thanksgiving. Eating turkey DOESN’T make you tired (???). George H W Bush was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1989. Black Friday is the busiest day for plumbers!!!

On this day in 1865 Alice in Wonderland was published, and in 1942 Casablanca premiered in NYC. In 1985 Random House bought Richard Nixon’s memoires for $3,000,000. (Who said there wasn’t money to be made in writing memoires???). Our beloved and esteemed Charles Schulz was born in 1922 and Robert Goulet in 1933 (my Mom’s favorite!). And in 1962 Tina and Ike Turner were married.

TOMORROW November 27 is:

• National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
• National Craft Jerky Day
• National Day of Listening
• National Native American Heritage Day – Day After Thanksgiving
• Black Friday
• Buy Nothing Day – (That will be ME!!)
• Flossing Day
• Maize Day
• You’re Welcomegiving Day

I’m pretty sure all of us have someone we would love to have around our table today but circumstances prevent that. We can pray for God to give us joy and peace in our hearts and know that He is still on the throne, and in control! So have a beautiful, thankful day, however you celebrate. God is good, and gives all good things! We can be thankful every single day – God bless —