Almost Out Of Here

 2020 is coming to it's final hoorah.  I'm sure many are actually saying HOORAY! for this day.  I read my post from New Year's Eve 2019 and read the optimistic outlook for what I called "The Roaring 20's".  Never in my imagination did I think that statement of being roaring would be so dang true.  I always pick a word to focus on in the new year.  Last year it was CHANGE.  Again I never imagined how true that word became.  My sister's illness, surgery, kidney failure, and near death experience along with my dear Mother's falling and breaking her leg, rehab, eventual homecoming, and then her passing all made our family go through change in heartbreaking ways. My job as a  Surgical Technologist went through the changes that Covid 19 brought on.  Surgery was closed and we were reassigned to new areas and new job duties that were out of our comfort zone and, for my RN co-workers, scary as heck.  We missed our surgery "home" and friendly faces.  When we did get back the supplies were limited and we had to change a few things to help preserve them and yet keep working day to day.  In the early part of the pandemic I thought it was a bit over blown and figured it would be over soon.  Boy, I was wrong!  Soon masks were everywhere. No visitors in the hospital and nursing homes.  Not being with my Mom was the worst thing and really challenged her in her 90's to be separated from all she was familiar.  I'm glad she was able to come home and that she was able to be surrounded by loved ones, family faces, at her passing. We miss her every day.  I can't imagine how hard it would have been on Jack and I if I wasn't allowed to visit during his 17 day hospital stay.  The family being there during those stressful times can be a life saver.  When I used the word change for last year I was really focusing on my retirement plans.  I mentioned in that post I would go PRN and not truly retire. Well those plans changed as I found out I would be leaving money on the table if I did that.  So retire I did with the idea of going back in January.  That may not happen unless the hospital gives permission to have a PRN person in surgery.  So not sure about that in 2021.  I did learn many things from 2020.  I was reminded again how fragile life is and how quickly things can change.  I drew closer to God in so many ways even though Church was closed for a bit and we did more studying in our home. That was an eye opener.  You have to find your faith in Christ in yourself and not rely on others to supply it.  It's nice to have a Church meeting along with the good people who become a church family but truly you have to have your own testimony to rely on. I found out there were so many good people willing to offer up prayers in our behalf and then I was able to witness the power of those good thoughts and prayers.  Yes, I can say I have seen miracles preformed in 2020.  I have been blessed in 2020.  I have learned some wonderful lessons and have made decisions for the future that needed planned. My biggest lesson from this year for me was that "I CAN DO HARD THINGS"!  We all can when we put on our big girl..or boy, panties and get it done. So what's the word for 2021?  I'm choosing "HOPE". It's
hope in my heart that it will be a healing year for the world.  That the vaccines will indeed move us into a better place so we can gather with family and friends again.  I have hope that my sister will continue to improve as she has done since her illness happened...that a new kidney will happen for her.  I have hope for good health for Jack and I and our family.  I have hope that whatever comes our way in the new year, challenges or trials, that we can get through them with the help of God, the love of family, and the support from friends.  I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Making Merry!

 I've watched about every Scrooge movie there is this year. Jack and I have stayed in and not gathered with family like usual. This post won't be filled with photos of our gang making quite merry as Mr. Cratchet would have said.   Jack is doing quite well in his recovery but we decided not to push the envelope on Covid.  2020 has not been our best year in many ways. However, we did have a delightful day of quiet filled Christmas spirit. We opened gifts, ate good food, listened to beautiful music and watched a Christmas stocking full of Christmas movies. We watched snow fall gently and abundantly...7--8 inches...all day long.  I hope everyone has had a lovely day today.  I know there are many who did not and are struggling with feeling that Christmas Spirit. It's been a different year for sure. So I guess I'll just say: "Merry Christmas from our home to yours" and hopefully next Christmas will be better.  I will throw in a few pics though...sorry!

A few weeks ago this was the weather...sunny and 60de! Our son Phil came and split wood. See that pile to the side of him? Gone into nice split stacks and warming our home as I type. He's a sweetheart! Love this kiddo! 

Jack was even feeling good enough to come out and thank him and get a few rays! Notice he's wearing a heavy coat? He has lost a lot of weight and is cold quite often. But still getting better each day! 

I made a little change in my kitchen.  I moved the bench that was here and put my old singer as a desk for my laptop. I like it here!

The bench our son Jack made for me for Mother's day a few years ago is now in the foyer...come on in and sit a spell!

As the snow fell all night and day you can see the accumulation on the bird bath.  But we did have some entertainment watching the birds come to the feeder.

Like this little dude.  I went outside to get some snow off the feeder and it fell and broke open.  I scooped up as much of the seed as possible and put it on the deck railing until we can get a new one.

The broken feeder didn't stop them from enjoying some food on a very cold Christmas morning.

The cold didn't stop Arnie from enjoying the snow. He doesn't mind it at all. He loves to rub his face in it but as you can see it's up to his chest! 

This evening I made a couple of little peppermint milkshakes...yummy....

They helped make our spirits brighter! As Tiny Tim would say: "God Bless Us Everyone!"

Moving Into Winter

 Monday will move us formally into the Winter Season.  We've had a couple of snowfalls that made us feel that Winter is upon us. We didn't get the massive snowfall that those farther East received but it wasn't too shabby either! I think maybe we got 4-5 inches.  The other day I took a stroll up to the Creepy Woods close to sundown.  Although the temps were around 30 there was no wind and that made it quite pleasant to wander. I had my trusty companion, my camera, along.  In the quiet white stillness Winter has it's own beauty.  No excitement that Spring brings with new life and the lovely smell of fresh dirt and pretty flowers popping up.  Not the green of a lush Summer day sprinkled with sunshine, heat and sometimes humidity that we like to complain about in Ohio. None of the explosion of color that accompanies Fall as Mother Nature gives us that last blast of beauty.  This is the season of gray skies, white fields, blankets of snow that cover the pines and naked branches on the trees. The bird feeder is attracting the Winter birds who brave the cold and stop by for a snack.  There are many who don't enjoy Winter cold and snow. Those folks who worry about ice and driving and staying indoors more.  The seniors who migrate down to warmer climes.  I totally understand and some days during this time I think I would enjoy a warm day on a beach filled with sunlight! But for now I'll be enjoying this other beauty. Maybe because I feel I'm slowly entering the Winter of my life and hope I can appreciate the white beauty of hair without miss Clairol...one day when I'm ready for that change! (Not there yet though!)  Walking slower, doing less, having memories that will help keep me warm when the days stretch out bone chilling and gray. For today I'll just wander the Pines and enjoy the quiet beauty that is Winter.  

I jokingly call this trailer my lawn ornament.  It's just waiting for someone to fill it up and tow it someplace!

The pine trees all frosted.

Tracks in the snow that let me know I'm not the first today to visit the woods.

The quiet whiteness.

The paths that lead back to home.

The woods decorated in the colors of the season! The red just stands out and brings life to the starkness.

The neighbor's barn stands out in the snow and keeps the animals inside cozy and warm.  At least that's what I'm assuming since none of them were out like me walking and enjoying the snowfall!

I eventually came in from the cold and watched the snow gently fall.  It was a lovely afternoon and coming in and enjoying the delish smell of dinner in the oven and the warmth brought on by our wood burning furnace made me happy to be here, in our home, this almost Winter day.  Come on by.  You may not be able to come in because of the times of this year but I'll leave a light on for you to let you know all will be good eventually. 

Celebrations Past

 Christmas will be celebrated differently in many homes this year.  In our home it will be just Jack and me and Arnold of course!  All the gifts are bought and will soon be wrapped and ready to be delivered or picked up by my family.  We will follow the "better safe than sorry" rule.  This weekend would usually have been our Christmas gathering with my siblings, nieces, nephews, and all the kiddos that go along with our group.  We would pack the car full of gifts, food, the silly "white elephant" gifts for our annual game we play as a family.  The Christmas CD's would play on the drive out, especially my favorite John Denver and the Muppets Christmas one! (don't judge me please!)  In the past we would arrive at Mom's and see her smiling face, smell the delicious food she and my sister prepared and hug and talk for hours! Jack would then head up for a nap while we did the talking! I have many fond memories of trips to the shopping center by Mom's. A trip to our new favorite place...a resale shop that I always find something I can't pass up! This year none of that will happen.  Mom is gone and Covid is not so all celebrating with a huge family gathering is cancelled.  I know I'll connect with my family this year. Phone calls, video chats, etc.  Our youngest, Jordan, is in California with his new job and we miss him and I feel bad he will spend Christmas totally alone this year.  Yep, many things are different.  So we'll sit here and enjoy our cozy, warm home and the decorations that tell us it's Christmas. We'll listen to the songs of the season and remember our Savior's birth is the real reason for the season. We'll count our blessings. Yes, even with all that's happened this year we have had many blessings come our way.  I'm just going to show a few pics of celebrations past and pray for a better one next year.

Silly white elephant gifts!

Santa visits

Sister Moments

Those sister moments from years ago.

Cookie baking with the Grands!

Siblings and Mom moments.

Mom with her Christmas tree.

Not getting together this year, on this weekend, is probably not so bad. It just wouldn't be the same without Mom here.  I know she's probably having a great time with my Dad and all her family that has passed before her.  But for us this year....Mom we miss you.  Perhaps next year we will be in a better place to celebrate and have all the other memories of celebrations past kept in our hearts. 

Deck The Halls

 Jack's been home a solid week now and things are still going good. He sure would love to have his energy levels back but slowly and surely it will happen.  We're getting Christmas under wraps and have the shopping (on line of course!) almost done.  I decorated a little less than I normally do but if you didn't know me and just came to visit you might not think that! But if I showed you all my containers in the storage room you would understand! I know I'll appreciate it when it comes time to take it all down. Less trips up and down the stairs! Here's a glimpse of my decor this year.  Actually, it's pretty similar to years past! 

The tree is ready for the gifts!  We won't be gathering this year so the gifts will probably stay wrapped and separated by family for them to get picked up.  I'm sad we won't do the traditional Christmas day festivities but I think it's better to stay safe and just have a quiet day.  Next year we'll rock it out! (God willing and the creek don't rise!)

My favorite cookie jar. Jack got me this some years ago and also a matching cake stand. However the cake stand broke as things sometimes do over time.  Anyway, I love this and when it's filled with goodies the Grandkiddos do too...not this year though...(insert sad face here)

I picked these up at Bronner's Christmas store last year.  Salt and pepper shakers..or I should say: Snow Flakes and Coal Dust!

This is one of the few Santas I put out this year.  I've had him forever! When my kids were little they called him "Psycho Santa"...the green gloves creeped them out! I had a good laugh back then and now he's just part of my kitchen Santas and this has been kind of a crazy year so he fits right in!

The mantel on the kitchen fireplace has my "Lori Mitchell" figurines that I love and the wreath is another very old decoration I bought at a craft show years ago. I'm guessing it's close to 37 or 38 years old.  It's a classic I guess!

The mantel in the living room has this Nativity set that Mom gave me some years ago. It's all metal and it has the 3 Wise Men too.  I'll certainly be thinking of Mom every time I look at it. 

This sweet Mary and Joseph are another Lori Mitchell design.  There are more pieces to it but that's on my list to purchase one of these days. I just think these are super cute. The painting above is one that's out all year.  Mary kissing the baby Jesus...It's titled: Kissing the face of God.   

I picked this up this year at our local hardware store downtown. I thought it fit in here at Whispering Pines!

A tiny tree in the dining room gives a nice glow.  Anyway, that's about the size of it for now.  I do have some lighted garland in the foyer and even though we didn't put out any outdoor lights this year I have candles in all the front windows that are simple but festive.  Even though it's not the same as past years, we can still celebrate this Christmas season with lights, music, and joy. Have a good week!

Hello December..Hello Snow

 First day of December brought the first snowfall of this season.

Last night the snow started and we ended up with about 5 inches of heavy, wet, snowman making white stuff from heaven. (Or perhaps hell if this is not your thing!)

The Pines are frosted..lovely.

I wouldn't suggest sitting on the bench under the oak tree. Brrrr!

I wasn't planning on having flocked wreaths on the little red barn but Mother Nature had a different idea. If you don't get snow where you live I will gladly share the pics of the snow so you can stay warm and still enjoy the season! As the seasons change so do other things in life. 

Thursday Jordan is heading out to California for a new position with his company. Because of the snow storm he was able to leave a couple of days later than planned. We will miss him but are excited for this new adventure. Yes, I'll probably cry but he's looking forward to a change and if my kids are happy so am I.  One more month for this crazy year. Jack is home and doing good and that really makes me happy. Stay safe everyone!