Author: Rene

The promise of warm weather and scuba diving, along with that “clearance sale” from Land’s End sent me to the bathing suit section of the advertisement. Of course, options were limited to certain styles and sizes, so in the end I had to choose a polka dot model. Thus, my husband has been humming “She wore an itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot bikini.”

It is not itsy bitsy, nor is is yellow or a bikini. It is merely a suitable replacement for the time-worn, weary-elasticized models I have been relying on. And, it has spurred me on to re-examining my wardrobe.

That cleaning of the closet still hangs in the balance. I’m just waiting for 2024 so that I can accomplish one thing in the new year. No sense crossing off something in the old year?

Happy end of 2023!

Nothing says “Christmas” like a few rousing rounds of Bingo!

It was a tradition my mother began with her little paper game of Christmas bingo. There were always prizes which one of my sisters procured for her – usually gift cards. It was a lucrative adventure if you were lucky enough to have a winning card. So when our dinner yesterday grew to 12 guests, the obvious thing to do after dining ‘twas bingo! (Well, that and “jumping frogs,” a new tradition to be sure.)

I’m surveying the damage from the fun and frenzy, which is happily non-existent. Everything is cleaned up quite nicely. I see a new ball we can play with, a puzzle to assemble, some yummy “moose munch” for later, and one unopened gift under the tree. It’s not for me so I’m not too excited about that.

The gently falling snow has me yawning this morning and considering an early nap, all as I listen to a doctor and his recommendations for “safe shoveling.” That can wait until later – maybe after I shovel some moose munch into my tummy.

Peace on earth.

The best song…”Don’t Know Why” for doing dishes and reminiscing. It’s a vibe and it fits the end of a glorious evening.

I really tried to get to a post on Friday, but it just wasn’t happening. It’s Saturday morning at 12:05 and I’m thinking about the music and the memories of family singing events. (Once a month with my grandparents in my childhood.) I don’t care who sings, who plays an instrument, I just think we have to get the music out in some fashion. Thankfully my son is super competent on guitar, I stumble on piano, and I invite some ringers. (Friends who happen to be in orchestras and professional choirs!) The factor which levels us all is the annual singing of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Oh, it’s hokey and silly and I think it makes the evening sparkle. Thank you, friends. I am so happy to be able to sing and share. You are my family!

Yes, there was dust in the stable, too. That didn’t stop the greatest event in human history from unfolding, did it?

As I’m preparing for Christmas and shooing away the dust I’m also celebrating another wonderful event. My brother and his wife are coming for a visit to our little stable! My belly is in need of some good laughs and my siblings both deliver on that promise. How fortunate am I to have had my sister and now my brother grace our home?

It’s a good day. I hope my SIL doesn’t mind washing floors with me?

“We are vertical,” quoth the spouse.

“The Broncos will hopefully lose and we can stop this chatter about playoff potential,” quoth I.

Keeping the lights dim will ensure no one sees the dust of the day which is going to live with us longer than I had planned, thinkest myself.

And yet…hope springs eternal! The joy of the season is definitely slipping in and making its home in the peaceful moments of the day. Today’s advice – (by the way, the closet didn’t get cleaned) -stop and spend dedicated moments in gratitude. You can make the noise of the world halt and hold its breath, awaiting the Incarnation we celebrate in a few more days. It is possible.

Just breathe.

It’s time to clean my closet. Guys you can stop reading here.

I can’t fine my favorite bra. As I stood looking at the shelves in my closet I realized I have been stuffing stuff and misfiling everything for the past few months. It’s a mess such as the world has never seen. I exaggerate, of course, but it’s now taken precedence over grocery shopping. (Most things do.)

Just wearing the favorite undergarment support makes a difference in the day. It’s a lovely lavender color, too. I will shoulder on (!) even with my regular granny style delicates. This caffeine is hopefully spark enough to empty my half of the storage area for our costumes and create a share pile for my future travels.

Oh, and a herd of deer came traipsing through our ‘hood this morning – I counted ten – cleaning up the spits of green in our yards. That was probably worth reporting more so than the closet quandary.

“Go and clean something today,” is the encouragement.

…my mother would be figuring out the meal for Christmas Eve. It was usually soup. I don’t think there were many surprises or deviations on that menu. Christmas Day? That was always at both sets of grandparents, running up and down that well-trod alley between the homes. I don’t know which side dish she claimed, but it could easily have been a jello creation.

Anyway, if my mom only had to figure out soup, I’m wondering why my list is so long?

It’s time to put the armor on and prepare to do battle with grocery store parking lots! Either early in the morning, or late at night when all of the super-speedy high school checkers are employed – that’s my strategy.

Since it’s already cup ‘o coffee time, I guess I’m going late at night.

It begins…looking ahead to Christmas Day.

When I was a child, Christmas was spent visiting the grandparents, both sets who lived on the same block in a little village where my parents were born and raised, and I, too, was born. We ran up the alley from one house to the other. It was predictable and anticipated. So much fun to be had with the 50 cousins we met that day. (We saw them more than that, but at Christmas we usually got the full count. And frankly, I haven’t stopped to accurately count, but I have more than 50 first cousins.)

Now, I’m planning meals and figuring out schedules. Of course I enjoy it, but I’m pretty sure my grandmothers had the same menu and the aunts brought the same sides year after year. All I know is, as kids we were ignored and had the run of the house and the town when we were all together. And my grandmother with the most grandchildren gave the unmarried ones two dollars each year. Finally, when I turned 30, she was relieved of her duties and invested elsewhere. (I may have held the record for latest marriage date in her clan.)

Ah, I miss the grandmothers. Their spirit lives on through my hosting efforts, which include good food, family and friends, and of course, music.

The music part is a story for another day!

Well, the razzle dazzle of the day was a fox seen at 9 pm in the evening on Tuesday night. It took all day, but I saw the unexpected. After that, it was necessary to fly to Florida for some more interest.

Lest you think you are cold and could use a good dose of warmth, do not come to Florida. You are going to have to fly further south for that need. If you are looking for sunshine – stay home. It’s far sunnier there than it is here. However, nothing beats the company of good friends, so if you have good friends in Florida, by all means visit.

I’ll be wearing my red winter cape to dinner, but that’s what I would have worn rain or snow. I guess it doesn’t matter where I go, the unexpected is always to be expected!