HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope everyone will have a safe and happy New Year's Eve party! Enjoy each other's company and welcome the new year in with love, kindness & thoughtfulness! May God bless you all!

Grouchy Old Man

I have been reading how I can add a video clip to this blog. It might be faster than sending it individually to a number of people so thought I would try it. My hubby might not want this to be shown but he did a good job even though I missed most of it. I was 'watching' instead of 'videoing' his performance. Anyway, I got a few words taped. My camera is not the best and I didn't even realize that the sound would work but "oh my gosh, it did"! This was his part in the Christmas Eve service. It was a drama segment. He is definitely NOT a grouchy old man so he played his part well.

Along with this little drama was a lot of music. The venue was broken up into three different segments for different pastors to share. Very well done. I wish I had the whole video clip now. Oh well, this performance will have to do.

Computers

I was'off line' for most of yesterday' until about 9 pm last night. Then, I was so frustrated with this computer that I just shut down!  Bah computers!

I was trying to work on my e-Reader yesterday downloading some free uploads from a few sites and also tried to do some downloading of some music. I somehow got on the Imesh site and must have allowed it to become my main page because from that point on ... I had caos on my computer. There was a battle going on inside with the 'little guys' as my Internet Explorer did not want to give up ownership of the hard drive and thus shut itself down! (that's my explanation).

Anyway, my neighbor came over and spent about 2 hrs trying to UNinstall Imesh from all the places it attached itself. It was too much for me to take in. I am not even sure now what he did! He was getting frustrated himself so I know things were not going well. However, long story short, he was able to UNinstall and delete and he REinstalled Internet Explorer even though I did not find my operation disk for him to install it. He copied it from our downstairs computer. What a process.

All this time I thought I was covered by Norton through our other computer. Alas, silly me, I was not and still am not so definitely need to do that this morning. No more searching out sites until I get that done! Did I say, bah humbug yet?

My Eyes are Dim

I received a Sony e-Reader for Christmas. The past few days have been reading instructions and downloading stuff. An expensive gift that keeps on giving as you need to purchase books to download - Oh I know you get some free books too and I have spent lots of time going through them and downloading also.I feel much like that song ... 'my eyes are dim I cannot see, I do not have my specs with me!" Except, I do have my specs on and my eyes still are getting dim. Too much time spent reading instructions, watching the green bar as it downloads and checking out where these things are going on my computer.  It is like the 'black hole' as I download and then wonder where it has placed itself!!! I am totally at it's mercy. Computers make me realize how little I know and how much more information is out there. BUT do I really care?!

Merry Christmas

I truly understand what a lot of people are saying when they comment that Christmas is 'a lot of work' and many say they are 'happy when it's over'.  I, on the other hand, LOVE Christmas. This year I must admit was a bit different. I often 'bordered' on the same emotion as others. I say that only  because our daughter and her family were NOT with us for the first time in her life. Melancholy? you bet I was!  I had to give myself a 'schlap' once in awhile and tell myself to 'get with the program'. Fortunately, we were busy 'getting ready' for other company on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve also was busy as my husband was in the Christmas Eve pagent as a 'grouchy old man' and so he was involved in rehearsals and just thinking of his lines. We also were invited out after the production to a few different places and ended up in our friend's home having a casual, relaxed evening.

Christmas morning I was up early (at 6 am) to my shagrin! I wanted to sleep in since I had no 'little people' around this year. That was not to be.  I got up, made coffee and read the Christmas story to myself as my hubby had got up very early and had fallen asleep in the basement. So, I left him to dream his dreams and waited patiently for him to awaken. About 7:15 he came upstairs and we both had another cup of coffee and began to open our gifts for each other. Christmas tree lights are on, and I had put on the DVD we got from our Christmas Santa party and enjoyed a fake fire on our 42" HD screen which was accompanied by Christmas carols on it as well. So...with our atmosphere now fully established, I played Santa and handed out the gifts. He outnumbered me in the amount of gifts he received. That is simply because I like to give a lot of gifts for the same amount of money that he gives me one!!! So, we started with him, then him again, then, me and then him! It was all very organized.  I was thoroughly surprised and delighted to receive a Sony E-Reader (which I still have to download and connect). He received a book (hard copy) and some crossword puzzles (which he loves to do), a new sweatshirt (FINALLY!!) and a pair of lounging pj's and an indoor/outdoor digital  thermometer with remote sensor. Nothing big but he liked them all. The book is the latest of Joel Rosenberg's The Twelfth Imam. It is very thick and I am sure he will be in it for a few days (at least).

After breakfast we organized some of our fixin's for our supper that evening and at 10:30 we joined our neighbors next door for brunch. They had their family home for Christmas and wanted us to join them - which we did. Thank you for the lovely meal! About 12:30 we headed back to our place and spent the rest of the afternoon putting together the meal we served at 4 pm. Lots of work but it was a good time together. Our friends arrived and for the next number of hours we totally enjoyed ourselves, laughing and joking and eating. It was great.  Before they left for home, we had the dishes in the dishwasher, pots and pans cleaned and the turkey deboned and into the pot for soup. Just before I headed to bed, I finished that process and am now looking forward to making soup next week.

As I reminisce now about Christmas Day, I realize how blessed we are.  We have family and friends we share our lives with and though we are not always able to be with them on special occasions, we know we are loved. Thanks be to God. Happy Birthday, Jesus.

You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

Is It Noise or Silence?

A couple of days have gone by and I haven't felt the need or urge to write in my blog. Not that things aren't happening - because they are - but more 'cause I just haven't felt like it.  That causes me to think INWARD and wonder WHY?  I didn't do that for long - as you can tell - I am back on the blog.  I was just reading another blog lady who said her computer got a virus and so the store says it may not be repaired until after the holiday weekend. She figures she will be 'fasting' - not food - but internet! I laughed when I read it but ... that's not a bad idea.  Perhaps we have too many things happening in our lives - no time to sit and listen -  hear the silence. We always have to be 'doing' something. What happens if we are NOT always 'doing'? Guilty conscience? boredom? do the fingers start tapping? Feeling aimless? No direction?  Yes to all.

It is only three sleeps till Christmas morning. It will be different this year as our kids won't be here with us. Usually they are with us for Christmas day or Christmas Eve. Either way, we see them. Not this year. They are staying put and having the other grandparents visit. I am happy for them but as I said...it will be different.

Maybe we will have to try and do something different - something we wouldn't normally do if we had all the family home. Not sure what that is right now but maybe there will be something to report in a few days. In the meantime, I am enjoying the odd 'wholesome' Christmas tv special. Sometimes it means watching something made in the 50's or 60's or even earlier! Wholesome is an uncommon word these days.

Well, if I decide to 'tune out' to the noise and 'tune in' to the silence over the next few days, I may as well say "Merry Christmas and God bless ". Be good to each other. We're all we have.

A quick visit

Baba in her new red sweater

It snowed a lot on Tues and Wed and we were happy to see that roads all plowed when we headed out Thur morning for Bonnyville. It was good to see mom - 101 years old. Amazing. We had an early Christmas celebration with her and we gave her our gift - a beautiful red sweater. I did not get a picture of her 'all dolled up' for her Christmas party that evening but she did try it on for us and she said she liked it. She wore a silky white blouse with bow ties and a silver broach with black slacks. I am sure she looked wonderful!

We spent some time at the farm also. They have had lots of snow so it was more beautiful than usual. Got a few pics of the sky there at sunset. I love the cloud formations the way they develop in their neck of the woods! Beautiful.


Sunset on the farm

On Fri evening we attended the piano recital for our four great neices - 6, 8, 12, 14 years of age. They also sang 'Away in a Manger' for everyone. It was a nice evening. It was held at the senior lodge in Cherry Hill.



Here we are with our great neices

Sunrise this morning was beautiful again with the clouds. They are my favourite part of the day!

Sunrise on the farm

On our way home we drove by the hotel in Bonnyville which had a big fire on Wed night and all day Thursday. We saw the smoke in  the air as we approached the town. The main road was blocked off all day. 11 people were safely removed but one is still missing. Very sad. Hopefully that person is out of town and not in the hotel. They will do a search today. It was amazing to see the ice packed and hanging on the walls from the fire hoses.



Fire in the still occupied 1950's hotel.

An easy ride home. The roads are all ploughed and we are ready for the next snowfall which I believe is coming on Sunday. It is already snowing lightly now.

Blue Christmas

We had our Blue Christmas event on Monday night which went very well. Not as many people attended as we would have liked but it was good for those who did. A time of refreshment followed the one hour service (which included lighting a candle for a loved one). It is always very moving. So many people are going through so many different hurtful situations.  There were probably 60 people there which is a nice sized group. We had seating for over 100 so there was room to spread around - not having to sit side by side.

Bad news last night about a friend who's step-daughter suddenly died. She was only 29. Not sure of the cause yet. Healthy one day and gone the next. How do you offer comfort in situations like that? All you can do is hold them and be there when they need someone around.

Today I headed to the north side for my haircut. Of course today it was snowing and blowing. Yikes. Took me over an hour with white knuckles. I had highlights done today so it was more $$ than usual. I stepped out of the salon and into the wind and the snow and had to clean off my car. By the time I stepped into the car, I was a drowned-rat!!! Thankfull, lots of hair product kept it fluffy (more or less). It is looking pretty flat right now. Urgggggg

Tonite we have my Stephen ministry potluck party. Not sure how many will make it but we will go with whoever does. This is the last meeting until January.

The snow is blowing, and it is still coming down. The roads are hard to get around in but here I go.....'it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Let It Snow

It has been a busy last couple of days. Everyone is out Christmas shopping or trying to get the 'best of the bargains' that are out there. A person really should take time to decide what they REALLY need as far as upgrades in their home goes and do their purchasing when there are such great sales going on.  Me? well, I get out there and then totally forget what it was I came to buy or else I get so distracted with the sales that I end up getting something I had not planned for, budgeted or even wanted when I walked out the door earlier in the day! Often I come home without the item I went out for in the first place!

I was mesmerized yesterday when the 'flyers' arrived. They stuffed them into the mailbox and I could hardly get them out. There was an 'unbelievable' number of them.  I guess in 'the old days' people read the Sears or Eaton's catalogues and then just ordered an item or at least had an idea of what they wanted before they left home. There are just TOO MANY THINGS out there now. You really have to be disciplined to just buy what is on your list. I am usually updating my list all the time I am out shopping! Makes me sound kind of crazy eh?

I started doing my Christmas cards and got most of them done. Don't you just hate it when you get one from someone you least suspected of giving one to you and now you (well, I) have to send them one! I know, I don't HAVE to send them one - it's the thought - but I really think they took the time to send one - I should too.

Anyway, I have a lot of Christmas cards that were sent by different charities in hopes of getting you to send money. Most do not have any nativity scenes or reference to the Christ child. That is why we celebrate Christmas isn't it? Lots on 'Happy Holidays' which I guess we do get holidays for Christmas, but it seems all screwed up somehow. Anyway, thankfully I bought some cards on New Years Day when they were on sale and have them for this year. I can't just send 'a card' to 'anybody' it has to be the right card. Know what I mean?

Well, back to the Christmas music and writing cards.

The weather outside IS frightful and a fire would be delightful, and since there is no place to go, bah humbug...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

More Snow

Looks like it snowed another five or more inches last night. Lots of snow on the sidewalk and driveway. Yes, I heard that 'metal on concrete' again at  6 am but I must have 'turned over' as the next time I looked at the clock it was 6:45 a.m.  YES!!! I got another 45 minutes of sleep. John asked me yesterday why I didn't turn over and go back to sleep with the 'lull of the shovel'. I am not sure if he meant that nicely or if he was being sarcastic - meaning that he was out there while I was nicely tucked in my bed! I will take it as a considerate husband.  I have mentioned before that this man is awake wayyyyyyyy tooooooo early in the morning for me.  He's usually 'ready to go' by 6:00 a.m. I, on the other hand, am usually ready to get up an hour later!  We make quite the pair.

Multi-Tasking: Bah Humbug!

I had a lot of housely duties to do today and I realize now while doing them that I never told my mom enough how much I appreciated her.  I am NOT the homebody type. I mean...I like staying at home...just NOT doing the housework etc that goes along with it! Ah.... but that's another story. I am just saying that there is a lot of time and effort that goes into doing housework and that word covers a lot of things!

I was 'multi-tasking' today. I was trying to do my Christmas cards, then remembered I should type out a Christmas letter to go with the card.  I tried setting it up first on Word, then because I decided to add pictures to it, I needed to get it on Pagemaker which just didn't happen. In the end, all I wanted was to print the whole thing with some colour on it.

It became a learning exercise about my printer. For some unexplainable reason it would only print in  YELLOW - can you believe that? Why not red or green? Why Yellow?  Anyway, the nice little oranments I had intended to print were in red and green so obviously yellow was not 'doing it for me'.  I went back to black and white, changing all the options again. That took time!  I finally remembered I had some fancy Christmas stationery from a few years ago that I could use to give some bizzazz instead!! Well, that took my morning. Something that I should have been able to print off in half an hour - well, it took me three hours.  Of course, inbetween time, I was looking at the pictures on my computer which I haven't looked at for awhile but that aside...it all took too long.

I began signing the cards and writing out the envelopes etc and in between that I was trying to boil the ribs and prepare a sauce and get them all into the oven to bake. Doing that was creating lots of dishes - I always use lots of dishes - which means I have lots of dishes then to wash!!  I finally got the ribs in the oven and the dishes all done and put away - then- when I looked at the counter I wondered if I did anything at all today. It all looked so neat and tidy.  Just minutes before it looked like total caos.  Yet......hours had gone by.

I hear the front door open and my husband is now home and telling me he can smell the ribs...it smells good...that was good news for me.

In the meantime, I finished off a few more cards, added in the Christmas letter and left the house to mail them so they would make the 5 pm mail pickup.  As I write this, I now realize I threw them all in the mail box together - but - in my rush -I forgot to put stamps on the last three letters - one of which was headed for the States. Oh boy....sometimes, it would be better to just do one thing at a time and FINISH IT before starting something else!

Multi-tasking - bah humbug!!

Early Morning Riser

It snowed a bit last night so I was awakened at 6:35 a.m. by the wonderful sounds of shovelling (metal against concrete) outside my bedroom window. I know that whoever (as if you didn't already know) was shovelling at this hour of the morning was indeed trying to do so in the most quiet way possible. Of course, that is 'UN-do-able'!! So...I got up. It is dark outside so he had put on the Christmas lights (on our garage) and the front tree. I got to see the coloured lights reflecting off the window into the house and off the white snow. It was beautiful!! I am sure it is a mixed blessing to people in the cul de sac. Someonelse  is doing their shovelling but waking them up at the same time! I know most people are happy that he is out there and they are INSIDE!!

Now that I am up...might as well start on my Christmas cards. I just love looking at Christmas cards. Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way....

Festive Happenings

I have been working the past few days and no time to do blogging. We went to listen to the Greenwood Singers (a choir group) sing in an old church with a huge pipe organ. It was wonderful. Great Christmas carols along with the University of Alberta handbell choir.  That was something to listen to as well!

Seasonal parties have started and we had one last night which was great.. Lots of laughs and good food. Wow! I was careful not to overeat and was successful. I guess you just have to have some control (over yourself)!!

Met a friend today who is going through a messy divorce. Not a pretty picture for all involved. Hard to be festive when there are such problems happening in your life. She said that just talking with someone was helpful so I was happy to help.

My Christmas cactus is starting to bloom. Beautiful fushia colour. Buds on every leaf . It reminds me of my dad as it was part of a floral basket given to my mom from John's sister when my dad passed away. Mom replanted it into a separate container and I now have it. I need to make sure it remains healthy. Some unexplainable way of connecting with my parents.  Makes me smile to see it in bloom.

With Thanks

What a wonderful day. Sunday. The service this morning was excellent. Great reminders of the season we are in and of the reason for the season - Jesus. Our service was old fashioned in one sense - the hymns - and so techno in another - various media - videos - played to stimulate our senses - visual, audio and the lighting of so many candles was sensory. Truly amazing.

John and I went for lunch together - just us - which is so amazing - and though we saw many we knew - we still sat together - just the two of us. How I relish those times. I like people too but  today was special.

Later I went to pick up my friend Isla who I have not seen for over a month - since I was out of town and then getting back into things on my return. She did not know me but was willing to come with me. By the time we were in the car - she did have recollections of me and said so. We have been friends for 35 years. It is so strange to have her not remember me. What a terrible disease this Alzhimer's! I took her this afternoon to our Children's Christmas program. I thought she would enjoy the kids as she was a school teacher for over 40 years. She taught up to grade 6 but mostly grades 1-3. She was delighted. I am not sure what she was expecting. Even I was prepared for old Christmas carols but the drama and new songs were totally different than what I expected. I still enjoyed it. She said she did too. She seemed dazed sometimes but other times she laughed. She mostly enjoyed turning around to watch the little 10 month old who sat behind her who squealed with glee to the music. She loves watching the little children. As we left the auditorium, she put out a hand to another little boy about 3 who was looking up at her. She had on a big smile for him personally. It was really touching.

After the production we went to Tim Horton's for coffee. We indulged with a Candy Cane donut and a coffee. She really concentrates on eating it and drinking it up fast. Not much conversation with her during this time. I'm not sure if this is related to the disease or not. Maybe she just likes her donuts!

On our way home, she was telling me how she thanked me 'for this'. I asked her what 'this' meant. She said "just taking me out'. I told her 'that's what friends do for each other'. I definitely know that I would appreciate a friend picking me up and getting me 'away' from things for awhile. She realized she can't drive anymore and gets confused. She misses her husband and the old way of life. It will never be the same again.

Home now with my hubby and relaxing, I give thanks for all my blessings. You never know what the morrow brings. May I have friends who would do the same for me.

Easy Shopping

I went to Walmart today with a specific agenda in mind. I did not get sidetracked (too much) and was able to get everything done. For some reason, it was not busy (yet). That all happened around the noon to 1:30 time frame. If people are looking for exchange gifts under $20 that is definitely the place to go. I also decided on getting personalized post card format Christmas cards and when I went to pay for them they told me there was a special for buying a bulk amount so I was pleasantly pleased with the deduction! Happy Holidays to me!

I have a 'ladies only' event tonite. The best thing about this small gathering of women is all the laughter. There is never a dull moment. We are doing a $5 limit gift exchange - very hard to do these days but...as I said...Walmart has it! I bought two things and now am trying to decide which one to give and which one to keep for myself! Oh boy, I should just have bought one and that was that!

Well, better start on those Christmas cards now. Some have to be mailed and I just can't send out a card with only a signature on it. I have too much to say!!

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that willl be for all the people." Luke 2:10

Truly Canadian

I was at Tim Horton's the other day with a friend and they had decorated the room with wreaths made of Tim's disposable coffee cups. They looked really good. Also, they had for sale, little "tree hanger" porcelin coffee mugs with Tim's name on it - the same as the ones you get to drink out of, except they were brown, not cream in colour. I thought it might make a nice 'stocking stuffer' but couldn't wait. I ended up hanging it on the tree as part of this year's Christmas decoration. Looks really cute and it is truly CANADIAN!  Merry Christmas!

Using the Web

I was thinking of our last trip to Vancouver and how beautiful the drive is when the weather is nice. We actually saw the top of Mt Robson. Usually it is covered in cloud and it is rainy in the pass or overcast. This time, it was sunny and the surrounding terrain was gorgeous in it's colorful autumn attire! Even the weeds along the roadside were a deep burgundy in color and against the orange and yellow and red leaves it was -- simply beautiful!

        
        From Google:  Mount Robson is the most prominent mountain in North America's Rocky Mountain range; it is also the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. The mountain is located entirely within Mount Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia, and is part of the Rainbow Range. It is commonly thought to be the highest point in B.C., but that distinction is held by Mount Fairweather at 4,663 m (15,299 ft). Mount Robson is the second highest peak entirely in British Columbia, behind Mount Waddington.


Anyway, the facts may say it is second highest but it is still pretty darn impressive when you can see the top of it on a clear day. I guess it is because there are no other peaks around it.  It is ALL Mount Robson. These pictures are mine too and I am an amateur photographer and you can still get a good shot!

My point is simply this - on a cold, snowy, overcast morning in Edmonton, it is nice to think of that beautiful drive to the coast, when the sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was just me and my hubby on the open road. Sounds like the fixin's for a good ol' country song!

Pictures or Words

I am trying to decide if I should spend the time trying to find a good picture of John and me to make up one of those postcard Christmas greetings or simply use the old fashioned Christmas greeting cards and write a few notes in each. Amazingly enough, both are work. Finding the right card means searching through files and/or hard copies and then somehow downloading it to Costco or Walmart or wherever. I think I would find it easier to sit and just write.  It seems like everyone is sending out photocards these days. They are nice too. You get a chance to see people and their families who you haven't seen for awhile (in some cases, since yesterday!). On the other hand, people don't usually write anything on these cards. It's already printed 'Merry Christmas' or whatever.

I like to get cards that have handwritten greetings in them. They tell me what they have been up to and what they plan on doing for Christmas. Those are 'warm and fuzzy' greetings. They spent some time thinking about you and what to say in their card. I like to add an extra special note in each person's. You know...make it personal. That's what relationships are all about.

I have the tree up and decorated and most of my inside decor is done. The outside lights have yet to be put up. I was told today but so far...nothing. I think it might be tomorrow. We still have to find them.  Where did we put them last year when we took them down. I can't even remember when we took them down.  Because of all the snow, I think we had to wait until the spring so they can't be too far away. They are in the garage - s o m e w h e r e!

I put up my Christmas tree and decorated it on Sat. Spent the whole day doing that. Watching t.v. movies and just enjoying it all. Once I was finished I turned the lights on and the tree looked great. I turned it off again for awhile and then was showing my hubby how good it looked and when I turned the lights on - you guessed it - not all of them worked.  The top 1/3rd and bottom 1/3rd worked well, but the band around the middle of the tree was DARK!!! Oh boy, it took over an hour to find the problem, remove 'some' of the baubles and pull off the lights. It turned out to be one string of lights. Half of it worked and the other half did not! I fixed them! I bound up the half that didn't and put them at the back of the tree and the rest of them fit nicely across the front. You would never know there was a problem and I didn't have to take everything off to do it. However, I hope that it is not a fire hazard.

Ahhhh Christmas...don't you just love it!