Shiny Brite

I have been collecting the old Shiny Brite Ornaments for a number of years. A few here, a few there..after all they are just little..and so pretty. I recall them on our tree when I was growing up. I loved how they caught the light and it was bounced back in all directions. I love all the different colors!!

Some came from antique shops..

Some came from garage sales..

Some are one of a kind singles..

Some are sets of twelve.. these are special ones to me. When I was growing up we had a lovely neighbor lady and her very stern husband ..he was a Constable or a Deputy..he had a gun, he laid his gun and holster on the counter just inside the back door. Sometimes it was hung up near the back door..it had to be ready just in case he had to leave quickly. I remember the day that a few no goods tried to kill him by slitting his throat ear to ear..he didn't die. It was a miracle that he lived. He died a number of years later..he was a big man, I had the utmost respect for him..and I may have looked closely at his gun..but I never touched it. ( My nose may have been just two inches away from it to get a closer look..but I never, ever touched it.) I had cookies there often..it was only about a half a mile from our farm, and she was a good baker and liked kids that stopped by for cookies..they had a very spoiled dog..a Pekingese..I cannot remember it's name..I do know that I loved that their dog was allowed in the house. It was a big old farmhouse too..white..two stories and probably had a large attic. Anyway..back to the Shiny Brites..one day I was at a garage sale..this lovely lady was widowed by this time..she lived in a nearby little town if you can call it that..one of those blink and you might miss it towns. She lived on the east side of town..I stopped there at her garage sale one day..she was clearing out some of her "Junk." When I admired the ornaments, she said "Oh yes, those were quite the ornaments in their day." I bought both sets..I have hung a few of them on my Christmas Trees over the years. They are in their original boxes...I am not quite sure why I felt the need for two boxes... maybe just because I liked them...maybe it was the price..the garage sale price was 25 cents..the original price was a whopping $1.19..it is written in grease pencil on the package. The original strings are still on the ornaments.. just ready and waiting to be hung on a tree...but still two boxes..what was I thinking?

Shiny Brites were manufactured until 1962, more popular unbreakable ornaments took over about then. . Shiny Brite ornaments were originally made by Max Eckhardt. In the last few years a fellow by the name of Christopher Radco has reintroduced a new line of retro ornaments... they market the new line as a trip down memory lane. It is and was for me..the new ornaments ..are just that ..new memories in a box. Menards has them..probably other stores too.. I think I will purchase myself a box. There are lots of different designs..I imagine that I will have to stand there like an idiot for twenty minutes..looking at them..searching the deep recesses of my mind to see which ones evoke the most childhood memories:)

Wheat Weaving

Years ago my best friend Susan made wheat ornaments for me.  She had really good luck with hers..they are holding up very nicely..of course I think of her when I put them on the tree!

I tried wheat weaving or Hvetevefting..I soaked the wheat in a bucket..I braided the stalks together..I made ornaments ..they slowly lost all their grains and were left looking skinny but  bearded.  I threw them away.  Luckily  for me I have a friend who shared her good harvest with me.  Wheat is a symbol of life and the key ingredient of bread.

Our tree is finally complete..see I had plenty of time..these days before Christmas are listed on a piece of paper..it is "The List" that we will live by for the next few days.. Happy first day of winter! :)

December 20, 1969: Anniversary

"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me" ~ Author Unknown


Forty years ago I was a young bride..and Far Guy was a young groom..there are more wedding photos here.
Today I will share this one..it is one that I did not share last year.

I will always regret getting married at Christmas time.  We have never celebrated our anniversary.  It is too close to Christmas to go anywhere.  Christmas was always more important..this year we have made a pact to go someplace further than Thief River Falls, Minnesota.. a kind of second Honeymoon! We aren't sure where yet or exactly when..but we are applying for our passports.

Our neighbor Jo came over and took a few photographs.. one for our Christmas letter..but they serve for remembering our Fortieth Anniversary too! We always have some kind of Christmas photo that we can say serves as an anniversary photo. It is the only thing positive that I can say about getting married at Christmas time..you are likely to have a few photos!

Far Guy deserves some kind of reward for putting up with me for forty years..one of his favorite sayings over the years is " Calm down sweetheart! " I am pretty happy that he sat in my desk one day in study hall..and I am pretty happy that he eventually asked me out forty two years ago:)

Death of a Blogger

This morning a blogger died..Flydragon.  It was a pleasure to have known her.  She was one of the first people I met in the blogspot blogging world back in September of 2008.  We became friends,  she had many friends in this big old blog world.. many people are sad today..my heart and prayers go out to her family.
Bloggers can touch your life in so many different ways..and I am truly honored to have been her friend.

Death is one way to escape the cold, snowy winter in Ohio..she is probably laughing her butt off..and eating chocolate that has no calories.. walking among flowers that never need watering or weeding:)

Christmas Exchanges

Do you participate in Cookie Exchanges?   I did years ago, I packaged up twelve dozen wonderful Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies.  I came home with broken cookies, burned  cookies, cookies my girls wouldn't eat. It was a  total waste of time.   One time was enough for me after that I would let the children chose one or two kinds of cookies that they liked and we would bake before Christmas.   Jen liked Rosettes so I bought an iron and made them a few years.  Trica liked Fudge and we invariably would try a recipe and it would turn out to be spoon fudge..which was acceptable to her.  They both liked Star Cookies a peanut butter cookie with a chocolate star on top. I always had to hide the chocolate stars in the deep freeze or they would be all gone when it was time to bake.    I have not baked any cookies this year..the girls will bring some of their baked treasures along..I heard that one of them made caramels, mints, and  Star Cookies, she is my over achiever.  Hopefully I will get some pumpkin bread made..the grands all love it.

Jen called one day last week..she said she was going to a cookie exchange.. I said "Great, I hope some of them are edible."  She said.."Well Mother, times have changed and the women that don't bake just get gourmet packaged cookies at ten dollars a dozen..they can afford to have someone bake for them."   I thought..what a waste..good for the cookie baker..but ten dollars a dozen??  I hope they were edible..and not burned or broken.

I participated in an exchange this year!  I signed up for an ornament exchange. I got two cute little ornaments from a gal in Florida..they look great on my tree!  I sent off one of my handmade loons and a tin spoon with a painted Santa on it that said "Ho. Ho Ho" down the handle.   I was pleased with this kind of exchange..it was a whole lot better than cookies.

Far Guy and I drug ourselves to a local shopping establishment last night armed with our "list".. we were confused.  Play Station Ones and Twos..DS... Wii..I pod.. all these thingys that we have absolutely no idea..what they do.  I approached one of the ASSistant Managers with my list, he said can't help you with your list..music isn't in our computer.. I asked him if the movies are?  "Yup" the ASSistant said.  I said "WELL could you look up -------?"  OK he could..but the phone rang..so he had to talk to his friend on the STORE phone while I waited.  ( Picture me standing by the counter, clicking my fingernails on the counter to the tune of some death march) Nope, no luck,  they did not have that movie.  Luckily we ran into a group of teenagers who knew where everything was..and then a store employee that actually knew something helped us to find almost everything on our list. I remembered to get gift receipts..because I am positive we messed up on something ..so exchanges will have to be made.  We headed home.. I have one final list..and IF I cannot find something..they are getting socks or mittens.  I have really had it with this shopping crap.  I don't like it, I hate that Christmas is a commercial holiday.  So far I have enjoyed this holiday..zero..and I am sure that when all the cooking starts next week I am really going to be happy..nothing like spending a day or two in the kitchen to perk me up.  

Far Guy is working on the Christmas Letter..the envelopes,  paper and stamps stand at the ready..I usually do them on a stormy day..haven't had one of those yet in December so the greetings remain undone.  I do have all that wrapping paper to use up..that part I don't hate..I find it rather freeing to slice into paper with a sharp instrument:)

Wrap it up!

Well we finally did it..we wandered into a store with a list. We walked out with a few presents.

A glass block stuffed with Christmas lights and topped with a bow..a gift from Jen a few years ago.

Since I guess that more packages will be wrapped this year and less Gift cards..or cash will be given..I had to pick out some wrapping paper. What a waste of perfectly good trees. The variety is endless..but if I am going to take the time to wrap this crap up and make it look good, I want some half way decent paper. I did not attend any after Christmas sales last year..I THOUGHT that my gift wrapping days were over and I would never need another box or gift tag..no bows or curly ribbon..none of those fancy gift bags ever again. One complaint and Far Guy caved, those girls I birthed for him have a way of talking him into just about anything. ....they want packages picked out with a meaning. Bah Humbug..I said..give them cash..it's too cold to shop..then they gave us a list..and THEN they shared the same list with other people so stuff got crossed off one by one..TAKEN. Last night I prayed..yes, I prayed that someone would find that Bullhorn that one of the little lovelies has on her list. No such luck..this morning it is still on her list..of course this would only be on the list of Miss Paige.. and she will "fake cry" if she doesn't get it. Of course..she will sob quite realistically..and have everyone fooled ..but me.

A tiny tin ornament from my Mother.

Back to the paper. First of all I refuse to use any hot colors..hot pink is definitely out. Who are these designers anyway..what happens? Do they lock them in a room and have a contest to see who can come up with the worst paper design..only letting them out when they have successfully created an entire line of wrapping paper that I will not purchase.

A glass ornament from my Mother,

I want a simple paper, a neutral background..white or beige..some beautifully decorated little trees with some forest creatures and birds flitting around the paper. I would also like some blue paper with some Angels or maybe a manger scene. I do not want santa's, huge honkin trees, stars, squiggles or cartoon characters. Fine I will settle for Poinsettias, Mistletoe..something botanical.. that only exists in my mind..Menards has a very limited selection of wrapping papers..but they are 40% off. After spending twenty minutes in that very short aisle and while Far Guy walked every aisle in the store getting a head start on his three mile walk for the day...I bought three rolls..a plain silver that kinda looks like aluminum foil but much cheaper ..a turquoise blue with burgundy Angels..and a baby blue with white Angels blowing trumpets with some shooting stars. I also bought a whole slug of BLUE BOWS. I am once again armed with wrapping paper and matching bows. Now I am going to begin a search for a bullhorn:)

Ashes

Sometimes "stuff" just happens.

This is the farmhouse where my Dad grew up.  It was his "home-place."   My Uncle lived there for years, then his son..my cousin.  Monday afternoon a fire erupted upstairs..the fire department got it contained. My cousin, his wife, their daughter and their grandson had taken refuge with family members just down the road. During the night the fire rekindled and the house was destroyed. Luckily no lives were lost..that is a blessing.

Yesterday Far Guy and I went over to see what it all looked like. It was sad..my cousin was there..the house was still smouldering. I asked "What can we do for you?" My cousin said.."OH..not much that I know of right now." The insurance adjuster had been there..and a check was in the works. The Local Lions Club had brought them out a check to help take care of their immediate needs. He said "We will rebuild in the spring, kinda cold to do anything right now."

The Fire Marshall was out to take a look..he believes the fire started near the chimney. There was a wood burning stove in the basement. From what I understand some of the fireman had carried out some firearms and some black powder earlier in the day and put them in a truck outside..they were the only thing saved from the fire.

There were lots of memories for me in this house.. it was where we gathered before and after sauna on Saturday nights, playing checkers with my Grandfather, hearing him spit and hit the inside of the spittoon, sipping coffee out of a saucer, butter on fresh bread, a long table with lots of chairs, huge black leather chairs in the front room..stiff, cold and unyielding leather against a small child's legs..welcoming coolness on a warm summer night...but chilly in the winter.  My Grandmother lay on the satin covered pillow of death in the front room when I was just a little girl, it was the custom years ago to have deceased family members all laid out in the front room at home before Funeral Homes took over that part of the ceremony. I remember the night of my Uncles Wedding..we waited til dark and drove over there with cakes and cookies and pots and pans to clang together and "Shiveried " them on their wedding night. One night years later my Uncle died of a heart attack on the floor in the bedroom. Yesterday as we drove away through the grove of trees that I remember as small seedlings.. I thought of all the births and deaths, all the happiness and sadness that house had seen.. all reduced to ashes that will blow away in the winter wind:(

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1957

We believe that this photograph was taken in 1957, the little boys would have been 9, 6 and 7.  That is Far Guy on the right. The other little boys are his cousins..Stevie and Jay. We had a discussion about this photograph..you see the Christmas Tree is on the wall where the piano always sat. Far Guy does not remember that chair.  We believe this photo was taken at Grandma and Grandpa H's... Another thing that puzzles us is the Military Hat hanging on the wall..did it belong to Uncle Jimmy or was it Uncle Archies..and was it common to hang them on a wall? Lots of unknowns in this photo..and I do hope that relatives will help to answer some of these questions.

Grandmas plants had been moved in from the front porch..and she perched some Christmas cards in the upper window ledge..I can recall her doing that in the dining room..but I suppose she did it in the living room also. We were hardly ever in the living room, unless there were lots of people in the house..we were usually in the dining room or the kitchen, that seemed to be the hub of this old farmhouse.

Those fancy dolies on the chair..lots of women had them on the good furniture. I have several old sets that I purchased at garage sales..I don't suppose they will ever come back in fashion again..but you never know!

I can almost smell the chicken and noodles cooking on the stove, and I can imagine that these three little boys could put away a bunch of Christmas Cookies:)

"Loony" Winner

Big drum roll.....and the winner is..

Please contact me with your snail mail address and whatever inscription you would like on the reverse side..my email address is in my profile! Congratulations Nezzy you will now be as loony as me! Thank you to everyone who commented with your traditions..I enjoyed them all!

Today I will share one of my miserable failures..it is a clay loon..I still have a whole bunch of this clay..it was sparkly and black..Fimo clay I think. I even numbered the loons on the bottom..I believe I gave one to my Mother..Mothers usually are thrilled with whatever their children make for them. My best friend Susan may have one also.. best friends always give you the benefit of the doubt. This clay was stiff and hard to work with..I think I actually built up my arm muscles trying to form this stiff clay into something that was recognizable as a Loon. I finally gave up..well ..not completely..this was years ago..I still have the peanut butter jar full of packages of black clay and a set of special clay sculpting tools. Now if I had thrown that jar away, I could say I really gave up. Why do you suppose I kept it, because I don't like giving up? Because I am a glutton for punishment and like to be reminded of my failures? It was probably a case of "just in case" ..I keep lots of "Stuff" for just in case.

I have two of these Loons on the tree..they hang a little off center..their heads are too large and misshapen, they look a little funny. Every year I look at them and shake my head and smile...the poor little things. BUT they are mine..I guess I must have two..one to hand down to each of our daughters..a reminder that their Mother was a little loony and sometimes she didn't do everything exactly perfect..but she tried:)

A Carved Santa

A carved ornament, My Uncle Otto gave this to me in 2002.   I used to carve with him twice a month..we had a  whole group of wood carvers.  He used to sharpen my knives for me..he kept them in great shape, he lived just a few miles away..if I got stuck and didn't know where to remove wood next..he was always available.  He was a great teacher...actually he was a teacher and a Principal all his life.  I had to learn how to sharpen my pocket knives for grafting trees a long time ago... and I guess I should take a class on sharpening wood carving knives too.  I enjoy carving..I recently took all my knives in to be sharpened...I haven't felt much like carving since he died..but perhaps it is time.  I will have to buy a box of band-aids:)

Ringing The Bells

Bells I have a few.. one was an ornament the year we lived in Buxton, ND.  That year I had zero for imagination so the ornament was a simple bell with your name and the year on it..mine now has a bow to dress it up a tad..but I am not sure if the others had bows or not.

Last year I got a new bell, but for the life of me I cannot remember who gave it to me... maybe I bought it for myself.  As an ornament giver..I am not often an ornament receiver..I think it must be true..you give the gifts that you would like to receive yourself.

In 2006, I received a very special gift from my niece, Rachael and nephew, Jacob and my X brother in law.  I kept the slip of paper that they sent with the bell.. " We hope that you enjoy this authentic Victorian Sleigh (Jingle) Bell. The kids and I have restored this bell and offer it to you in celebration of the Christmas season.  We hope that you will find a place on your tree or perhaps an entry door to hang it and each time you hear it jingle, be reminded of all your blessings in life."  It is one of my most treasured ornaments.

In some cities the church bells ring at noon everyday..I am sure that many people don't even hear them anymore.  They are just a normal part of the city noise. Far Guy has a favorite Christmas Carol..it is a tad sad..but it has a happy ending.  As Christians whatever our life story is..there is a happy ending.  No matter what pain and sorrow you have, no matter how tough your row is to hoe ( my Grandma used to say that) ..everyday should be all about reaching the end..it is not a race either..everyone will reach the goal in their own time:)  

"Loony" Ornaments

Every year Far Guy and I design and develop a Christmas Ornament.  It is a labor of love..and once you start a tradition..you just keep plugging away..every year.. this is our 19th year.  Here is a link to the history of all of our ornaments.  

This year I designed a loon for the Christmas ornament.   This is quite a process.. first  Far Guy cuts out the diamond shape..he used Basswood.  He sands them and gets them looking smooth...

I transfer the pattern in pencil.

I use the wood burner to burn an outline.  The first couple of ones are always just practice, I worked out in  Far Guys Greenhouse/Shop this fall when the weather was nice.

I brought them back in the house to paint them..painting about ten at a time. Each one is different..It is impossible for me to make them all look the same.  Hand painted one at a time!

 I write the recipient's name and the year on the back..then they go back out to be wood burned on that side.  Then Far Guy drills a hole in them  and dips them in a shellac...and they hang to dry..

Then I decorate envelopes and package them all up.. delivery has started.   I am glad I started early this year..there was no mad rush to get then done.   I made sixty of them.  I have two that I made especially for blog readers, if you would like to enter a drawing for one leave me a comment telling me about one of your Christmas Traditions. I am giving one away on both of my blogs..area voices and blogspot.. the drawing will take place on Monday at 9PM  and the winners will be announced on Tuesday.  So comment away! I am just a little loony..and you can be a little loony too:)

Milestones

"Last week the candle factory burned down. Everyone just stood around and sang Happy Birthday.”... Stephen Wright 

It has been a bit of a milestone type of week for several people that are special to us.

First of all a small child was born in New York City..a much awaited first Grandchild to one of my best friends. I told the new Grandma to think positive..Sadie Magnolia  doesn't sound real New Yorkie to me ..so I am sure that she will become a Minnesota gal!!   My friend will be 60..and she is just now a Grandma for the first time ..I was a Grandma when I was 45.  So she has some serious Grand mothering to do! Since she only birthed male children..this little girl is a very special person that is entering her life. Will Sadie ever know how much she is loved?  When she is older..when I meet her I will have to tell her..that her Grandma was pee your pants excited for months before her birth..she ought to remember that!!

Far Guys Auntie Esther was ninety yesterday..we went to town for a gathering of friends and family for cake and coffee. It was a great turn out, after all the golf course is shut down for the winter! Ninety years..not everyone makes it to that milestone! She reads my blog everyday..she is probably my oldest reader! Yes, she is a computer savvy ninety year old! Don't that beat all! Many people her age wouldn't even try to navigate around the Internet.. way to go Auntie Esther!

Milestones reached..what are you reaching for?    I am reaching for several things..several dates..December 20, December 25, and December 28 ..all milestones for me/us.   December 20 will mark forty years of wedded bliss, December 25 marks a two year Trigeminal Neuralgia diagnosis for Far Guy,  that was a gift that kept on giving.. (not all milestones are pleasant) ..and December 28..two years of blogging for me:)

Chance : Ornamental Help

They  have a tree inside..and it isn't even a real tree..  they fussed with the limbs and all the lights one whole night.  I suppose there will be no playing ball in the living room now.  

Last night we helped Far Side put on some of the ornaments.  Wanna see mine?  

This one I got from Savannah one of my favorite kids in the whole world. 

This one I got from Sue, Joe and Buddy in Indiana.  


Far Side makes me an ornament every year just like everyone else in the family.   I have five of those!  So I have seven ornaments in my collection..well maybe only six..there was that year I was still a wild one year old pup and the ball went under the tree.. and the tree crashed.. Far Side forgave me..and I didn't get hurt in all the broken glass..but one of my ornaments bit the dust. 

Far Guy and I had a cozy spot on the couch to watch the trimming of the tree.  I watched Far Side go back and forth..forth and back..she tired me out so much I just had to have a nap:) 

Wistful Wednesday: 1979

On December 08, 1979..thirty years ago, my brother married "she who always sees the first robin." They were young ..my brother was just nineteen. Too young to get married..but it seems to have worked out for them quite well..after thirty years they are still married! Our oldest daughter Trica was a flower girl in their wedding..she was seven years old. My brother sure did have a head of hair back then, of course this was before they had four children and eight grandchildren!


Minnesota in 1979 was a year without snow at Christmas time. The frost was so heavy that it appeared to have snowed. I remember how the frost sparkled in the trees that year..like thousands of diamonds. Far Guy and I planted these little trees..I wonder are they still there? Trees can grow quite a bit in thirty years.

Sometimes I think that marriages are kinda like trees. There are all different kinds, but they all start out little, planted in the same spot, bending and growing with the winds...putting down roots, you can't see them, but you know they are there. Some get too much water or are struggling too much and they croak. Some are toppled in violent windstorms. Some cannot bear the extra weight of an ice storm... some just never had a chance to build good roots. Some never took the time to build roots..or one side of the tree was a good root builder and the other side really sucked at roots. Some worked together and communicated, they grew, the tiny branches that were formed grew sturdier each year, strong and vigorous.....until finally they are full grown and filled out..now they just ebb and flow with the seasons..anchored by a good root system.. enjoying their grandchildren:)

My Newest Old Ornament

The tree is up..but just the tree and it's lights..not so many ornaments yet.

I found this box at an Antique Shop. I thought is was an interesting box..it had a foreign flavor to it. 

Inside was this ornament, which is now hung on my tree! What does it say? Yes, that was my thought exactly. I asked everyone in the Antique Shop if they spoke or read any foreign languages..no one did..so I had to part with a whole dollar to bring it home and find out for myself. It says "Jolly Christmas" in German. Apparently Louise was the artist..this is a hand painted ornament.


Now to research the box..it is not foreign. Instead it came from Schumachers at the New Prague, Minnesota Hotel. Chef John Schumacher is known for roat duck, kolacky and other Czech and German specialties. First I wondered what is a roat duck..apparently is is a roasted duck. Kolacky..what are they? I looked them up.. ahh Kolache..those wonderful pastries that are filled with prunes or apricots. Montgomery Minnesota is known as the "Kolacky/Kolache capital of the world." I have had just a few of their kolaches from their bakery on main street. I can just taste that dough that is not to sweet..and the wonderful fruit filling.


Apparently the 1898 Hotel with it's historic charm was closed after thirty one years..it has just recently reopened..Chef John is still the owner. Apparently my ornament came from one of those thirty one years... 1974 to 2005. So my newest old ornament is not so old. It is still a nice ornament and it has it's own box..that is a plus when you collect lots of glass ornaments. If I am ever in New Prague, Minnesota ..I know where I am going for lunch:)

Snowshoes

One snowy cold spring day a gentleman came by the greenhouse to visit.  He was newly retired and needed some help designing a few gardens.  We talked of rock gardens and perennials.  I asked him to come back in about a month, some perennials would be out from under cover by then.  

He came back and purchased a wide variety of perennials.  I gifted him some Phlox subulata that was struggling to look good enough to sell. 

  
He returned one day, with a gift for me.  A tiny pair of handmade snowshoes that he enjoyed making in the evenings while watching TV.  They are a one of a kind ornament..that reminds me of retired people, Phlox sublata and that one kindness often leads to another:) 


** Our tree is not up yet, this photo was taken last year..we still have time!  

Cinnamon Ornaments

A few years ago, Maddie came home from school with a little package for me..she was so excited.  It was one of those "School Creations."  She said that I could open it right away or I could wait until Christmas morning.  We discussed it..and decided together that all gifts should wait until Christmas morning.

Every year when I open the Christmas Ornament container the smell of cinnamon greets me and I am reminded of the big smile she had on her face that day.  How proudly she presented her gift, and the ornament that she made especially for me.  

I have many ornaments, and I mean many..enough to decorate several trees.  I collect Christmas Ornaments..however this one holds a very special place in my heart and upon the tree.

Perhaps you would like to make a memory for your tree.

Maddie's Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments
One Cup Cinnamon
One Tablespoon Cloves
One Tablespoon Nutmeg
3/4 Cup Applesauce
2 Tablespoons white glue
Mix the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients..kneed for a few minutes.  Roll out to a thickness of 1/4 inch.  Cut out your shapes with a cookie cutter.  Use a straw to poke a hole through the top of the cutout.  Air dry for several days turning occasionally.  Paint with a glitter glue..attach a length of ribbon for a hanger:)

Cousins Christmas

Last night was the annual girl cousins Christmas Party. We do a potluck supper and invite the Aunts and Uncles. It gets everyone out for an evening! It is nice to see everyone in one place at one time during the winter..when it isn't a funeral. The Aunts and Uncles each receive a small gift from one of the cousins. Nothing fancy, usually something handmade. One of the Aunts brought a whole bag of knitted dish rags, she said "I sit in my chair and knit while I watch TV." ..we got to choose our favorite..I was the last person..and there was still a red one for me! My Mother and Father usually bring some small gift for everyone..this year it was a bookmark. Everyone is getting older..the oldest is Aunt Senia ..she is 92. One of my cousins had the geriatric limo..she had three Aunts with her, she had her hands full. Aunt Grace had her hips done..she is moving along pretty good. She complained that her hearing aid didn't work real well, she thought it might have water in it. ..My Father being the helpful person that he is suggested that she stand on her head.

Earlier in the day we heard through the family grapevine that one of our cousins was touched by tragedy when her boyfriend and the father of her four year old twins was killed in a car accident. Very sad. All I have to say is ..wear your seat belt..because your chances of survival are much better if you stay inside your vehicle instead of being thrown around like a rag doll and ejected from a vehicle.

One of the coolest gifts at the cousins party was a bowl that had been sewed..I would like to try this ..and I don't even like to sew.

My Dad had his own take on this bowl. That is one of his sisters on the left, and a sister in law on the right.

It is 0 degrees F ( -18 C) here this morning...I suppose there is little hope of Indian Summer returning.  We got some new snow yesterday..it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas..no we do not have our tree up yet...the Christmas letter has not been written and there are no packages to wrap yet. We still have time:)

Wish Books

Sometimes late at night I think and try to remember...things from a simpler time. I have not thought about "Wish Books" in years. I googled wish book..and low and behold there is a site with some of the old wish books..I really enjoyed my visit there. I was so excited I almost woke Far Guy up..but since he was sleeping like a big ole baby..I figured my discovery could wait until morning. He recalls the excitement that surrounded the arrival of the "Wish Book" ..he would look it over and then get out a sheet of paper and methodically write down everything he wanted, with the page number and description and everything. He said " I made it pretty simple for my parents to shop..I never thought about what would happen if they lost the piece of paper."

My brother and I would share "The Wish Book" ..the special catalogue that came out in the Fall, it was filled with toys and games and everything imaginable for Christmas. We would write our names by the things we wanted. Before you wrote your name by an item, you had to spend hours looking through the book and reading all the descriptions. I can remember telling my brother to write neatly and not scrawl his name all over everything.. Our "Wish Book" would end up without a front or back cover and all the pages would be dogeared. We kept them from one year to the next, they were stored in the front room closet, stacked neatly in the corner with all of the other catalogues..Sears, Pennys, Montgomery Wards and Spiegel regular editions .. none of which got nearly the attention that the Wish Book did..I believe that the wish book we got every Fall was from Sears. In later years we may have gotten one from Pennys too.. but by then we had another brother and a sister who we had to share with. There just were never quite enough wish books to go around. The were also lots of wishes that were made..it would have been impossible to make all those wishes come true.

I wonder what children today would do with a wish book..:)

The Christmas Skates

All I wanted for Christmas back in 1962 was a pair of white figure skates. I did get them the next year. I loved trying to skate in town at the rink..I never was very good at it. I spent lots of my skating time on the ground, up close and personal with the ice. I loved watching all the town kids skate on Saturdays ..especially the ones that could skate backwards.  I had a hard time going forward upright.. backwards was just a figment of my fruitful imagination. Some of those kids sure could skate.  I did have a beau one winter who could skate backwards..couples would dance and skate holding each other in their arms.. I just kinda hung onto him for dear life and went along for the ride.  The kids in town were really lucky they could skate everyday, and they had a warming house!

The only ice skating that took place on the farm was in the spring in a corner of one of the fields where the spring runoff would collect and freeze for just a few days..but you had to watch out for the weeds that stuck up..they would send you flying. We would haul a block of wood out to the edge of the field so we would have some place to sit down and put on our skates.

My beautiful white skates were a size seven and a half..the last time I can remember wearing them was in the winter of 1972..Far Guy and I would skate down on the narrows in the moonlight. We would put Trica to bed, and head down the hill to shovel a spot to skate. Those skates served me well... I had them much longer than that old pink radio. Not that the radio was a bad gift..it wasn't. I would unplug my parents radio all the time and take it to my room..so I suppose it made perfect sense to them. I don't ever remember wanting anything for Christmas as desperately as those skates.. I just had to wait patiently for them until the next year:)

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1962

The year was 1962..my brothers were two and eight, I was eleven.   I desperately wanted a pair of figure skates, I wanted to glide along the ice and dazzle everyone with my skating skills..I just knew that a pair of proper ice skates would be better than the old pair of strap onto your boot skates with the double runners on the heel and on the toes.   Figure skates..they were the only thing on my list.

There was one package under the tree for me that fit the bill, it was just about the right size, kinda heavy and jiggled like it contained skates..I could just imagine them all white and nestled in their box..I could even smell the leather through the box.  I was so excited..this was going to be the most perfect Christmas ever.  I didn't even peek..

Christmas eve after church we opened our packages.  My excitement had moved to a fever pitch by this time.  I ripped off the wrapping paper and was about to yell "Thanks for the skates!!" When I noticed..that there were no skates..inside that box in place of my skates was a pink radio..my "Thanks for the radio" was polite..but my cheeks were sore from biting back my tears:(

December First

I do declare that the Christmas Season has begun..but only because the calendar says so.. the stores began their Christmas season in August..they better dust off that stuff they have been trying to sell since August.. either that or put it on sale. Who wants to buy dusty old crap anyway.


I would just as soon hibernate until New Years Eve.. that's right I could sleep from the night before Thanksgiving until the eve of the New Year no problem. If I didn't have children, that have children I would totally "ignore the hype" that goes with these holidays.

I just want an old fashioned Christmas, all homemade gifts, someone playing the piano and singing, stringing popcorn and cranberries to put on the tree, reading the Christmas Story out of the Bible by candlelight, going for a sleigh ride. I know, I know I was born 100 years too late. It kind of sucks, everyone else loves these holidays, I am the odd person out, my girls are quite used to my complaining, they tune me out over the holidays... Far Guy too. Yup, I must be related to Scrooge.. I must be his sister.

I believe that my girls always say "Mom and Dad are having Christmas" because they know that if it is at their house I won't drag out even one decoration. Don't mind me..I will plug along through the holidays..I will entertain you with some stories..I will show you some of my Christmas tree ornament collection, it is way to large to be shown in one year...last year I just scratched the surface. I will slowly decorate for the Christmas Holiday. With the emphasis on slowly..


So are you brave enough to meander along with this blog for the next 24 days? Misery loves company.. To my youngest daughter..who will call every day until the tree is up..cause "You know you have to get that tree up before we get there." It is only December first..I still have time:)