Happy New Year!!

I was up until 300 this morning and woke up bright eyed and bushy-tailed at 645! I know I will crash before midnight, but I'm retired...I CAN!!! :)

I was awake before the birds even. I laid there watching the local news and waiting for TODAY to come on. I noticed my breath in the window, so I lay there blowing smoke rings into the cold air, and trying to keep Loki from licking my face. It was most definitely his morning for lovin!! I noticed where the sun starts showing through the naked alders out back, and it is way down behind the house three doors down. By the Summer Solstice it will be way over there <------, and be showing his face way before 430AM! as it stands right now we have 8 hours of daylight, by summer we will have 5.5 hours of darkness. One of the wonderful things about living in the northern latitudes. You really get to appreciate the sun.

I have been trying to change my blog again, but I can not get Hello to work, to post a picture. It just sits there. SO you may have to look at ChristMoose for a bit yet. While I am at it, if any of you know of a site where I can get a new cartoon lady like I normally have up, please let me know. I want to update, but not to MAXINE. I want a sexy, sassy, 60ish characature. I cant find a site.

I am sitting here waiting for the DISH man to come put my new dish in, and hook up my three free sets! And a free DVR!!! My cable company was Millenium digital media, and it was so lame! the only reason I kept it for so long was for the Canadian Channel they carried. CBUT out of Vancouver CBC. I really like to watch THE NATIONAL at 10:00. GIves you a whole new persective on the news. ANd who can resist THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES! Guess I will have to learn to live without it now. THe MDM company has pulled off most of my favorite channels, and went up on their price for basic cable, ANd did not have DSL, so BYE BYE!!! for only 10 dollars more a month, I can get 180 channels, several movie channels, and BBC!! COOL! any of you on DISH?

Well let me try Hello again, so I can get ChristMOOSE put to bed for another year.

You all stay safe, and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

This and that....

THere has been so much going on in the world this week, and all of it warrants a long long post. I don't have time to tell you how badly I feel about it all. I also dont want to alienate some of you with my feelings on certain events. I try so hard to keep my political views to myself as much as possible, but enough seeps through to let you know where I stand. I will say that I think that the world needs to either stop expecting the US Of A to be the world's savior, or get behind us all the way in everything we do. QUit bitching about how much we DO or how much we DONT do. My GOD people!

#####################################################################################

OK, I was going to go into a real rant yesterday, and deleted most of it and then just signed off and didnt post. I will leave what I did write, but I really dont want to get in to it all right now. My mind just cant deal with it right now.

I will say that the Tsunami has eclipsed everything and it is just uncomprehensible...all of the humanity gone. With no warning! It really puts into perspective just really how insignificant we are. Mama Nature does her own thing...I did hear that Osama Bin Laden was secretly vacationing on Phuket and was on the beach and was swept away when the Tsunami hit. WOuld that not be justice? Would that not be GOD speaking?

Death...

All of you who have been reading me for awhile know how I love to feed the birds. I will do anything to attract new species to my feeders. I finally have 3 different species of Woodpeckers that are coming to the suet feeder now. Downey, Hairy and A Northern Flicker.

This morning while making coffee I heard a loud bang on the dining room window, and when I raised the shade, three Northern Flickers flew away from the ground below the window, but one did not...


flicker

I was broken hearted! I hope that this one is not the one that I have worked so hard to attract. I picked him up and brought him to the railing, but it was evident that he was dead, and not just stunned, His tongue was hanging out, and his eyes were non-reactive and half open.


northern flicker

they are so beautifully colored, a blush of red on their cheeks and a hint of Orange on the edges of their wings. The black and gray and white spotted body is so intricate. What a waste! And I will not let ugly orange kitty from across the street eat him either.

I am so SAD! :(

Christmas Cats...

My Brother Mike is finally well enough to get out of the house. He looks dreadful though! So pale, so wan. He has really had a bad go of the flu or something. He missed Christmas altogether. Today he brought over my Christmas Present. He made me a Cat tree out of scraps from around the house, and rug samples from the furniture store where SHerry works.


catnip

I was not sure the cats would use it so I went out back where there was a nice fresh patch of catnip growing wild, and picked some. I should not have worried, because as soon as I brought the stuff in Loki was on the top shelf. He smelled the catnip oil and immediately went into ecstasy! He is such a drug whore. He rolled on it, and ate it, and purred and scratched at it, and would not let Chitters up on the top for anything! Loki weighs a good 18 lbs and is almost as big as the shelf. I was afraid it would tip over, but it did not.

Chitters tried, but stayed on the bottom shelf. I went and layed down on the couch to wait for the phone man who never came, and when I woke up Loki and Chitters were asleep on the top shelf, Ethel was asleep on the bottom shelf, and Sadie was asleep on the arm of the sofa. I guess you would say this is another do-nothing day huh?

It is now 530 and I have been waiting for verizon to come install my jack in the office since noon. THey gave me a 12-4 time frame. PHFFFTTTT!!! I wonder if I pay my bill that way if they will let me slide? I am assuming they will be here first thing in the morning, and I have lunch plans. ah well.

Better go pick more catnip...

Guess What I did Today....

zzzz

Absolutely NOTHING!!! I woke up at 730, got up and DOnna was already gone for the week, made a pot of coffee, did my blogwalk in less than 1 hour, cause everybody was either sleeping or gone! I fixed something to eat, and went back to bed, and SLept, and slept, and slept some more.

Loki had the right idea, so I just went with it. DOnt you love his method of Urban renewal? gets in the way just lay on top of it and move it out of the way...he loves to sleep under the tree.

I think I will go take a nice soaky bath, and go to bed and read a little, maybe take a glass of baileys to sip...ahhhhhhh!!!!

Scrapbook

For the past 10 months I have been sorting through some old albums that my Dad left here when he died, looking for material to include in a scrapbook for my brother and sister. One of the dilemmas that I ran into was who gets which pictures? And whose memories are the right ones? Most of these pictures were of friends of Dad's and friends of Mom's long before they were married, so they really meant nothing to the family. I sorted through them all many times looking for pieces of history.

As I was gathering these pictures all together, I decided that was what I would make my Brother and Sister for Christmas. We are sposed to give hand made gifts, because some of us are not well off, and cant afford Expensive gifts. Besides the handmade ones are fun and creative. I made each of them an heirloom scrapbook. I bought a flatbed scanner that also scans slides and negatives, and started scanning away.

At first I was printing out all of the pictures in a 5X7 format, but decided that would be too uniform, so I scanned some as 8X 10 some as 3X5 some as wallet prints and some as 4X6. I started working on this project in February of last year, and spent at LEAST 2-3 hours a day making these books. I am not a "busy" scraper, but a clean tidy one. I like the picture and some journaling, and I like the pictures mounted, but I do not do a lot of embellishing. I do use stickers, but hardly any of the raffia, or brads, or rub-ons., YET!


scrapbook

I decided that I would make these albums as a way of preserving our family history, as Dad and Mom were both gone, and I had no idea who came when. I got on line, and with the help of CarolC and Dave I got some websites and started researching. I ran into brick walls everywhere. They all want MONEY to tell you that you did indeed have a grandfather. I did find one site that had a listing of all the people in the family during a census, and that helped close a gap or two. I have a lot more research to do, yet, but that can all be done as I get the money to do so, and then the pages can be made and inserted.

It was fun going back through the years and reliving my parents lives. I tried to journal what I remember them telling me about certain events. And I left a space for Phyllis and Mike to do the same. One thing that Phyllis and I have discovered, is that even though we both lived through the exact same event, we remember it entirely different.

I cut out postings from my blog and pasted them into and around the pictures also. So during the past year when I would go on a trip down memory lane, that is what I was doing. It was so very hard to keep this a secret from Phyllis, because she reads this site and yours too. I emailed a few of you for help and received it. I thank You.

Mikes was the first one, and it was nice, but Phyllis' is nicer. I was able to spend more time on hers as she lived through more time with Mom and Dad than Mike did. I also am going to make one for myself. Of course It will be even NICER! :)
I was not sure how much to include, and when to end it, SO I included more on each one of them in their own respective books. I also decided to end it as we each left home and formed our own lives. It took me most of the year to get these two books compiled, but now I feel like I have made a difference.

This was a labor of Love. For my parents, for my Siblings and for the lives that we each shared. Our lives were by no means easy, we went without things a lot of times, but we were never hungry, cold, or unloved. Hopefully in the years that follow, My children and Mikes son will be able to add to these Scrapbooks, and pass them down through the generations. Just think, in 5 more generations, or 6 or 7, some one will be looking through the books and see the pictures and compare them to themselves and see where the resemblances are. I look Exactly like my Mom, and Grandmother. I would love to have seen a picture of my Great grandmother on Moms side. I wonder if I looked like her?

Silent Night....

I Adore Christmas Night, after Dinner is over, and everyone has gone home, the presents are all unwrapped, the house is clean again (sorta,) and it is sooooo quiet! I don't even turn on the TV all day except to get the news. I turn on classic King FM and listen to Classic Christmas Music all day! In fact it is on right now.

Donna is in her room, she spent the day with her in-laws. (teehee) the tree lights are still on, the dishwasher is running the last load of prime rib dinner right into the septic tank, and I am finally getting a chance to sit her and blog a bit.

last night was spent at Phyllis' house, where we opened our hand made gifts. I am getting (not finished yet) a lap robe from her in the most luscious purple chenille yarn. Yummmy. My Sister In Law made me a wood tote, 'cause Sadie chewed my other two up when she was cutting teeth. (for you non-wood burners, it is a piece of tapestry or canvas with wooden dowels in both end for handles and you fill it with wood to carry it in from the yard. Save your clothes. GREAT Item! My Nephew came over and stacked my wood pile. Bob brought me a cord of free wood, from a salvage job him and a friend did, and he split it but left it in the front yard. So Galen and sherry came over and stacked it for me, and then he raked the leaves out of the front yard! Whoot!!

Donna gave me two books on bird sounds and how to identify them COOL! And a book on how to keep from getting dementia! (Bitch!! ;) ) Santa came and filled our Stockings, and we all got really cool stuff like nite shirts and nail polish and SEE's Bon-Bons and FUDGE no nuts raisins only.






Today I cooked Prime Rib for the family. Mike was sick in bed, so Sherry and Galen and Phyllis and Bob and I were the only ones here. Tim called, he will be here tomorrow morning first thing. (we shall see, the Ferry ran aground tonite, so it may be a mute point now) He is bringing his "friend" over, SO I will get to meet Sandy. There is plenty of Roast left, so I'm sure he will avail himself of the opportunity to raid Mom's Ice box. It will be good to see both of my Kids together for the second time in a year! How cool is that?

Bob was twitching because I hid the Remote. (on purpose) and he had to endure listening to music all day. He likes classical music, and knows it very well, but there is something about the TV that forces him to pick up the remote and surf. The Messiah in it's entirety was played, so I handed the book of Music that I had that had all the choral parts and told him to follow along if he could. He did! For the whole 2 hours and 22 minutes he read the music note by note and part by part with the recording. He has never read music in his life, but he was able to keep up. I would love to be able to teach him how to read music, but I have forgotten most of what I learned.

I have on my new nite shirt, Sadie is in bed, the kitchen is clean, the living room is fairly straight, Donna is in her room and I am about to crash myself, So I hope you all had a Safe and Happy Christmas, I will see you all tomorrow morning. Don't wake me up...I've had a long day....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Not a creature was stiring...

I built a fire, and finished wrapping all the gifts, turned on the halogen lights to read the Gourmet magazine that came this afternoon, and fell asleep on the sofa. I woke up with a cat asleep in front of my face, on the cushion, one asleep on my legs, Sadie and Ethel asleep in front of the fire and Loki asleep under the tree. Bea was asleep in her cage, and it is just a dreary dark quiet easy to sleep in day! I dont have anything pressing until I go over to Phyllis' this evening at 700 so It felt good to take a cat nap...pun intended.


.

I am hoping the somewhat predicted snow mixed with rain will turn into just snow. I would so like to have a white Christmas. 12% of the years have had one. Odds are against it though. Ah well. THe tree is lit, now I am just waiting for Donna to get home, and Bob to come over.

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas, and a safe Holiday commute. It is nasty where most of you are, so stay VERY SAFE!!

I'm DONE!!!

The shopping is done, the fudge is made, Im NOT baking…I don’t need it, so screw it! I remembered to take the Prime Rib Roast out of the freezer for Saturday’s dinner, I remembered to stop at Albertson’s and get the last minute fixings. I was going to make a batch of fudge again tonight, HOWEVER it seems that the bag of chocolate chips I THOUGHT I had in the cupboard has mysteriously disappeared!! (DONNA!!!!????) I always make two or three batches, one with nuts cause I like nuts and one with raisins cause Donna likes it with raisins no nuts,. And one with both for those that don’t care. Amazing isn’t it that the one batch I did get made is the one with the Raisins no nuts?

I finally have my Dept 56 village out, it is under the tree, not with snow because the cats would probably use it as litter, so I just put the village out and plug it in. Maybe this next year I will try to get a platform display area built for it. With plug-ins close to each house so the cords won’t show. I have 1 or 2 from several different villages, so now I need to decide if I want the Dickens Village, the Snow Village or Santa’s Candy Village. I think I want the snow village, as it is more contemporary, but I like them all, so MY TOWN will have all kinds of buildings, just like a real city!.


santa

I need to wrap the few presents I did buy and get Phyllis’ stocking stuffers wrapped and ready for Santa to pick up and deliver to her house. (Don’t tell her, but I stuff her sock each year, as Santa has so many things to do, so I get it ready and hang it on the door knob and when he flies over he swoops down grabs it and delivers it to her house, She has never caught on. SO SHHHHHHHHHH!!)

The weatherman has just told us about all the nasty snow and ice ya’ll are getting all around the country. Washington State is I guess, the only place that ISN’T. The High sitting right off our coast is breaking down which will allow the pineapple express loaded with moisture to go on up and over the Northern part of it, which MIGHT bring some flakes to us by Christmas Morning. It will probably dump it all in Canada, and on Vancouver Island, and by the time it gets here it will be warm enough to turn to rain. It has only snowed for Christmas 17 times in 105 years! L L As Long as CJ gets her white Christmas, I can live without it.

Well I have last minute wrapping to do, and I need to run the dust mop twice around the room and get one more load of washing into the dryer. SO I had better sign off for tonight and I will check in on you all tomorrow morning. For you all on the other side of this big blue ball…MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Dis-organised!!

I almost finished shopping today. I say almost because I thought I was finished and I dumped everything out on the bed to sort through it all and forgot my nephew. and I thought I had stocking stuffers for Phyllis, but I didn't I twice as much for Bob as I planned. I hate being disorganised! I am though the WORST one for organization. I want to be so badly, but I just cant. It is not in me! So tomorrow, while I planned to do nothing but bake and wrap, I will be down to (GAG!!!) Wwwwwwwww (oh just SAY IT!) WAL-MART (I just got struck by a blot from on high) and picking up something for Phyllis and DOnna for their stockings, and hopefully something for the nephew.

I was feeling so good driving into Mt Vernon today, Traffic was not too bad, and I found a spot right by the door to the store I wanted to go into, and then I walked right up to the register and got what I could not find, because it was an order only. SO I got that and will wrap the receipt and when it comes in Bob can go down and get it himself! yay for that.

I was listening to the station that has Christmas music 24/7 and was singing my heart out, and when I hit the really loud high notes, Sadie would look over at me and she would throw her head back and howwwwwllllll too. We were having so much fun singing in traffic, until I looked over and there was a man in the next car over looking at me and Sadie and laughing. I did not expect to be a public spectacle.
LOLOLOL What the Hell...we sang some more. Sadie does this really good, she sits in the front seat, sits up so she can see out and throws her head back so that her nose is pointing up and out she howls. It is so funny!! She really sings good to THE FIRST NOEL...especially when I try to sing descant. You see I am a Tenor, and anythong over an f is almost too high for me.

I headed home, and the traffic from the Junction to Mt Vernon, clear down to the Swinomish bridge was stop and go. BOTH LANES!! All headed to the Island!! I can just envision this island sinking one day. From the Casino all the way into the Bridge at Deception Pass the traffic ran smoothly, so It got much better driving.

I went on base and filled up the car with gas, reached into my pocket and found my long lost debit card!! I had lost it three weeks ago, and called and cancelled it, got a new one and was terrified that someone had access to my account. DUH. Right where I put it. I have only qworn this coat three times, so I did not think to check the pockets of it. Sure glad I know who had it though.

So Tomorrow I will FINSIH my damn shopping, start my damned baking, and wrap presents. THen on Friday I can run the dust mop quickly through the house, scrub out the toilet, empty the cat box and dishwasher ( love how those two go together?) ( I did that just for KAT) :) and bathe Sadie cause she stinks!

So How about you are you ready for Christmas? Phffffttttt...

Three things...

Ok Leslie, Brenda and Wanda. I did it!!

Three names you go by:

Mary Lou
Loulie
Mom

Three screen names you have:

Whidbey Dreamer
Dreamer
????

Three things you like about yourself:

I am loyal to a fault
I have a wicked sense of humor
I am a great mom. (Right Kids? Uh…Kids?)

Three things you hate/dislike about yourself:

I am soooo out of shape (read that as fat)
I am not healthy
I am a Type A personality

Three parts of your heritage:

Irish
Norwegian
Scottish
Indian

Three things that scare you:

Losing a child or anyone that I love
Cancer
Altzheimer’s

Three of your everyday essentials:

Coffee
insulin
Meds

Three things you are wearing right now:

Does it have to be THREE?
A sweatshirt from the play I Do! I Do!
White undies
Blue cords

Three of your favorite bands/artists at the moment:

Seattle Symphany
Harry Connick Jr.
Pink Martini (If you have not heard of them, find them and listen..you’ll be hooked.)

Three of your favorite songs at present:

Silent Night
Ave Maria
Lili

Three new things you want to try in the next 12 months:

To finish all my scrapbooks before I forget who they were
To get my Physical health back together
Excersing every day

Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given):

Respect
Appreciation
Touching (not necessarily sex)

Three physical things about the opposite sex (or same) that appeal to you:

Good teeth
Big and strong
Nice BUNS!

Three things you just can’t do:

Math
Bake a great pie
Make really good soup

Three of your favorite hobbies:

Scrap booking
Reading
Photography

Three careers you are considering:

been there done that…but if I was starting over..
Music
Cimematography
Scientist of Natural World

Three places you’d like to go on vacation:

Scotland (by way of Norway and Sweden and Netherlands and Belgium)
Alaska (by way of Canada…)
South Africa by way of (Europe)

Three kids’ names:

Rebecca
Michael
Betsy
Three things you want to do before you die:

Meet all of my blogging friends
be healthy again
Write a bestseller!

Three people you’d like to see take this quiz now:

I’ll steal Brenda’s answer!

Everyone who reads this
Everyone who reads this
and
Everyone who reads this
(grin)

Longest Night...

Winter Solstice has always (in my grown up years) meant Peace. It is the ending of one cycle and the beginning of another. It is the beginning of the sun heading North and the days getting longer and longer. It is also the season that gets colder and colder. For some reason, this has held a special place for me. The nights are usually crisp and clear, and the stars are twinkling very loudly, Singing to me to come out and look up! As I stand out there in the blue darkness looking at the universe, my breath leaves my body in a warm cloud, creating a white trail over my head.

I have every single Winter Solstice album that Windham Hill has produced, and this is the time that I play every one of them, a marathon of peaceful music. Navy Blue and White are the colors of this season, the Navy blue of the sky and the white of the stars, the Navy blue of the shadows of the trees cast on the white snow, the Navy blue of my skin as I stand out there in the COLD, and the white of the frozen flesh on my nose.


Winter Solstice

Tonite marks the longest night of the year. Tonite marks the longest night in 10,000 years! How do they know that? Was someone around to time it 10,000 years ago? Was there time back then?

On Adak, there is a legend that on this night the single men all run outside NUDE at midnight and jump up and down and yell HOODY HOO! HOODY HOO!!! To scare away the darkness and bring the sun back. It must work, because the Sun always does come back. The Druids would paint their bodies blue and wear mud hats, and dance in the nude. Maybe it is because the blue paint covers up the Navy Blue of their skin.

Right now, the air is cold and crisp, and I was out on my deck cleaning all the rabbit poop and litter off of it. I had forgotten I had the bag of litter box leavings in a sack on the deck, and Sadie tore it up and ate bunny poop. So now it will freeze tonight and while I am sitting inside listening to Winter Solstice albums, the Auroras will show there talents by dancing with their white lights across the Navy blue sky and my sister will call me to go look. I will forget that I had just shot water all over the deck, and it is now a solid sheet of ice, and I will run out to look, and slip and fall, and lay there until my skin turns Navy Blue, and the deck turns white with ice.

God I LOVE it!!

THINK SNOW!!!

Yesterday it was the darkest dreariest day. The fog started rolling in under the thick clouds making it seem even darker. I woke up with a horrendous backache, couldn’t sleep kept waking up every hour. I finally got out of bed and came in to blogwalk, and was hurting so much I could hardly sit still. I got up went in and took a long hot shower and let it pelt on my lower back. It felt really good, and then I slathered on some Icy Hot and got dressed. I was able to function the rest of the day.

I looked out the window about 500 and could barely see across the road. The fog was coming right up the Strait and smacking right into me. Shortly thereafter Phyllis called and wanted to meet me in Oak Harbor for dinner, so I told her to take care in the fog, and I left. It was so bad that I had problems seeing the road, and getting out of the Cove, and up onto the highway was difficult. No fog lines or white lines on the developments roads. Once on the highway, I could at least see the middle line, and the fog lines, but could not see far ahead in the pea soup. So being the cautious driver that I am I slowed way down in case there were deer out. They don’t have taillights ya know, and other than Rudolph who is resting right now, they don’t have headlights either.

Soon right on my butt was a truck. I am doing 40 in a 55 zone and can’t see 50 feet ahead of me and he wants to pass me. I pulled over for him to do so, and he started to go around me and right in front of him coming out of the fog was a set of headlights. He pulled back in right away and backed off from my butt. And followed me the rest of the way into town. Hope it taught him a lesson. You may know the roads, and where they turn, but you don’t always know what is on them.


think snow

I came home, took a hot bath with Epsom salts and smelly stuff, and then some icy hot and flannel PJS and went to bed. I slept like a baby until 1030 this morning. Feel pretty good today.

Phyllis mentioned going to see the lights up Engle road. Well I did on the way home last night, and she was right they were spectacular even through the thick fog! There is something so ephemeral about Christmas lights through the fog. So NOT there while being there. If you get my drift. You can see the essence of them but can not see the actual things that they are on.

Today the morning broke with the sun blaring right in my face. And the wind whipping about 30MPH. And WARM It is about 55 out there. A front is moving through and cleared out all of the yuck in the air. Now it will start to get colder. It is going to rain, and then clear up again, so no snow for Christmas! BOO!! But that is fine, as long as It goes to Dixon, Mo. I talked to CJ today and she is really hoping for a White Christmas. Let’s all put our positive thing caps on and wish her lots and lots of SNOW!! She goes in Tomorrow and Tues for Chemo and then no more until after the New Year. SO COME ON WEATHER GODS, SNOW FOR CJ!

December 18, 1919 Dad was born.

Wilton W. Brett December 18, 1919 - Nov 7, 1996

Today My Dad would have been 85. He died in 1996 from an embolism in his heart. He had Diabetes, and was on Kidney Dialysis. He was a very Strong man with a wicked sense of Humor. He instilled in us our love of the Natural Beauty around us. He was a career Navy Man, retired from that and went to work for CIvil Service on Base as a Firefighter. He was also a volunteer firefighter for COupeville. Dad was known by people from Baja California to Adak, Ak., and always had a wise crack for everything.

He married Mom in 1943 and stayed with her until she died in 1993. They would have been married 50 years had she lived another 7 months. It was not easy living with her, but his sense of loyalty was strong. And he stood by her through hell and high water.

When we were little, we would always put our tree up on this day, as a commemoration of Dad's Birthday, but mainly so the tree would not die before Christmas!! I do not follow that same tradtion, as my kids always wanted it up right after Thanksgiving. But every year when I get my tree, and start cussing at putting the lights on it, I think of my Dad, Cussing at his lights too. I miss him!! Very Much. (SNIFF) The old fart...

Christmas Lights...

One of the things that I have always LOVED about Christmas is the lights! When we were young, we had the big lights on the house and the medium lights on the tree. (There were no twinkle or mini lights yet. We are talking LONG, LONG AGO!) When one light burnt out they all went out, so the thing to do was to make sure that you always had a stash of good working replacement bulbs. Then when the string went out, you would start at the bottom by the plug and take the first bulb out and replace it with the good one, and just keep on right up the string until the bad bulb was discovered. Heaven help you if there were more than 1 bulb on the string out.

Later as we grew older, the bulbs became clear glass, and they were wired singly so that when one went out the rest stayed on. That was a miracle. I liked to putz with the tree when I was little. Rearrange the ornaments, add more icicles, (hanging tinsel) which in those days were really aluminum foil cut into thin strips and hung ever so carefully over each branch. Once on the tree it was there forever. You did not re use it.

Later the White Twinkle lights came out, and then the multi lights. And they blinked off and on together, one string at a time, so either the whole tree stayed lit or one string at a time blinked on and off. I hated that. I have always been partial to the multi colored lights. The non-twinkling ones. As I grew and got my own decorations, I invested in the lights that we know today as mini lights. All different colors and steady burning. I have found that the fuses are becoming more standard now, as are the bulbs that are replaced. It is much easier to fix the lights on the tree.

We would take one night (sometimes Christmas eve) and drive around looking at all the lights on the houses, and the way they were strung around the windows and the edge of the roof. There were not a lot of extra-lighted decorations, just strings, and what we could do with those strings was magical.

Tonight Bob and I had our usual Friday Night Date night, and we are both BROKE, so when he asked what we are doing tonight, he was hoping I would say stay home and watch TV. FOOLED HIM!!! JJ

I said we are going to go look at lights. KOMO TV had several houses on the news, and one of them was on reservation road, so we went to see it. You could see the glow in the night sky miles before you got there.


xmas lights

This house was GORGEOUS! It had every tree trunk wrapped in colored rope lights, (another miracle invention) and every bush draped in colored netting lights. And several inflatable figures all tastefully done. I tried getting pictures, but cars kept driving by, so I only got a few clear ones.


Town Hall

We drove through Oak Harbor looking at the lights in the “city” and then came on back along Madrona Way into Coupeville. Coupeville is a small old Victorian town, and is kept historical looking by the town historical committee. The Cook Park was all lit, and so was the Rec Hall. And the Town Hall. It is so peaceful seeing these lights outlining the businesses on Front Street with out all of the commercial neon signing vying for room in your minds eye.


Front Street


Cook park

Coming home along the water, the fog was low and the lights were blurred by it making it seem so surreal. Kinda out of focus. Like my pictures…

Christmas 1953

One of the things that I remember when I think back about Santa Claus is wondering which doll of the many I wanted, that I would get. Being raised as a Navy Brat in the 50’s, we did not have much money at all. Our clothes were hand made or hand-me-downs, and a lot of the time our toys were hand me downs also. One year I wanted a ‘Walking Doll’ very badly. I wanted her more than anything I had ever remember wanting. I knew the chance of getting her was very slim, as I knew money was tight. I think I was 7 that year.

All of my friends in Brownies had a doll that walked. When they walked, their head would turn from side to side and their eyes would turn also. Some of the dolls that Mom pointed out in the stores were nice, also, but I wanted THIS one. She had dark rooted hair, and stood about 20 “ tall. All the dolls that Mom pointed out were the smaller ones like I already had. She said that way the clothes would all fit each other. Nope it didn’t sway me. I wanted THAT one.

I don’t remember ever sitting on Santa’s lap and telling him exactly which doll I wanted but I know I wrote a letter to him.

Christmas Eve Night I went to sleep, quivering with anticipation waiting for Santa to come and leave my doll. I just KNEW she would be under the tree. Phyllis was sleeping soundly and I so wanted to run out and look at the tree, but I knew I could not.

On Christmas Morning, we were told that we had to wait for Mom and Dad to wake up before we could go out and see what we had gotten from Santa. Naturally, It was too early, and we had to wait anxiously for them to decide to wake up. I tiptoed in to peek around the corner, and saw that there were quite a few things under the tree, but I could not see what all was there. I could see that our stockings, so carefully hung by the cardboard fireplace, were full and stretched down almost to the floor. Mom made our socks, and all three of them were exactly alike. Dads, Phyllis Ann’s and mine. All were hand knitted with our names on the top.

Finally after much pestering Mom and Dad got out of bed and we got to go in to see what we had gotten. We had to do it systematically, and not in a rush. There were packages from the Aunts, and Grandparents, and A few packages from Friends of the family. All covering what Santa had shoved under the tree.




After a quick look I did not see my doll, so I knew that once again I was not going to get exactly what I wanted, but I knew I would get others that I would like. I don’t even remember what Phyllis Ann got that year, all I can remember was the disappointment of not getting the Walking Doll, mixed with anticipation of what I did get.

We opened presents one at a time, so Mom could record who got what and we could write thank you cards later that day. Dad was passing out presents, Mom was recording and Phyllis Ann got to open the first one. Then It was my turn, and them Dad’s and then Mom’s. And then back to Phyllis and me, etc. Until all the presents were opened and we could see what all was in our Stockings.

Dad and us kids picked up the wrapping paper and put it in the trash, and Mom handed us down our stockings. We were allowed to go at them together because it was really hard to mix up what Santa brought with what Santa brought. ;) There were always Candy Canes in the top, a color book, and a new box of crayons, a set of jacks, and maybe a jump rope. The toe always had an apple and a tangerine and some Christmas candy. The filled raspberry kind, (Because that is what Dad liked) It was a nice Christmas, and we had to get ready to go to Sunday School and then over to Aunt Margie’s for Dinner.

We were finishing the clean up and my Dad said well what do we have stuck back here? And out he comes from behind the Christmas tree with my Doll! My Rebecca!! My Beautiful Walking Doll. With Rooted Hair, and a pretty dress. Along with her dress, she had a beautiful purple corduroy coat and Beret with a white rabbit skin collar and a white muff. I had just learned about Rebecca in Sunday school and I had liked the name, So that is what I named my Doll. Mom had hand made the clothes from left overs in her scrap box. I will always remember that Christmas and that Doll. My Rebecca! For the life of me I can’t remember anything else that year. But I do remember the Magic…

Redone

xmas 1948 redone

John Strain took my Xmas 1948 photo from down below and reworked it in Photoshop. I tried and so Did Vanessa, but he did it right. GOOD JOB JOHN!!! Now tell me how you did it!

Yay! It's HUMP day...

Oh Man, I have tried all day to post, and I keep getting kicked off. So I will do it off line and then try tomorrow. I am getting a line into my office installed on Dec 28. I asked to have an extension put in, but was told they don’t do that. (HUH?) They can put a line in or they can put a jack in, but not an extension. SOOOOO what are they going to do? Just put in a jack and no line? How do I get the line installed? I do not want a 2nd phone line. Which is what the lady was trying to get me to take. Nope.

It has gotten to the point that the service reps are now salesmen; they don’t want to help unless they can sell you something. SHIT! All I want is a damn phone line with the same number that I already have installed in my office. I have one that I put in, but I want THEM to do it so that I will know that it is done correctly. Right now it is hung out the window, up over a nail, and around the house to the box. Inside it is wired by me to the jack, which is just hanging on the wire, not in the wall at all. It is all wrapped with sealing tape to keep it secure. It has worked for me for 9 years. In several houses.

I ran in to town today to display the poster for OKLAHOMA! that I finally got constructed. And As I was driving in, it dawned on me that I do not see the seasons pass as I once did. I am trying to save gas, so I only go in once a week or so, and usually at night. I went in today early afternoon, and saw all the stores decorated with the signs in their windows 50-75% off! That usually does not happen until after Christmas.






I ran in to several people I knew and they said that sales are way off at the store. (teehee, I don’t CARE!) I would normally been pushing and pushing and trying to wring that last dime out of people before Christmas, but not any more. Carmel said I looked GREAT! And when I poohed her she said No really you have no stress marks on your forehead!
(BEEEEEEEG Grin here!) The only stress I have left is making a few more presents, and some goodies, and Im as done as Im gonna be! Im not worrying about it anymore.

I used to always expect the BEST Christmas ever, and got disappointed a lot, but not now. I just want to relax and enjoy the feeling of the season. If the Kids are home, that would be WONDERFUL, but I don’t expect them to be, so I wont be let down.

One thing that I really want is WINTER WEATHER. Snow, Cold, Blizzard! Freezing, Wind. And then on My Birthday, it can all go away and start warming up for spring. It just feels like it should be Over by the end of January, and on to a slow warming of SPRING.

Only 27 days until my Birthday!!!

Let There BE......

I have not been able to sleep lately. I wake up about every 90 minutes, wide eyed and bushy tailed. I am keeping a crossword book beside the bed and when I wake up I flip on the light and start a puzzle. After about 20 minutes, I am writing all cock-eyed, and wake myself up snorffing with my nose right on the book. I turn out the light and go back to sleep only to repeat this process at least 3 times a night.

Last night I went into bed fairly early, 11:30, and read until I got sleepy, then flipped out the light. I woke up 90 min later with leg cramps, and a backache, and thought CRAP here I go again! So I remembered the Excedrin PM in the bathroom. I got up took 2 of those suckers and fell back to sleep after about 20 minutes. Slept like a baby until 830 when the phone rang.

It was Bob, Telling me he and Ron were on their way over to give me my Christmas Present. ??????? Huh??????? So I got up, got dressed and waited for them. About 1100 they drove up, and walked in, yelling MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!


santa

Ok folks, I have to admit; I am very picky about Christmas! When I was little, I knew EVERYTHING I was getting, I peeked! And I knew I would still be surprised on Christmas morning. So since I have become an adult, and live alone, there are no presents under the tree, so I don’t want to know until Christmas what I am getting.

Bob is world famous for the most useful gifts. We have been dating for over 20 years, and I am always amazed at what his mind wraps around for a Christmas present. The first year we were dating, I got a gift certificate for a pair of new glasses. That was very practical, as I was BROKE, and my glasses were too. Then I got a used PC the next Christmas, and the one after that I got a cord of wood. All cut, split and delivered. I did have to stack it though.

And then there was the Ice Cream maker, the Pasta maker, and of course you can’t forget the Fan for the woodstove that I got last year. Romance is NOT in this boy’s vocabulary. AT ALL! None, Zip, NADA!! So every year, it is a joke between the women in this family, what ‘wonderful’ gift he will come up with next. Oh yeah, I forgot the Tune up for the truck, and the Oil change for the car. 2 separate years. I just KNOW that if he didn’t think he would get it over his head, he would get me a composting toilet! He’s just that kind of guy. PRACTICAL!! THOUGHTFUL!! Never cheap!

Oh how I would love a beautiful necklace, or a ring, a right-hand ring of course, would not want to kill the guy; a bottle of cologne, a pretty bauble of some sort. But not from Bob. Nope. Practical.

My Living room is very dark, it is 20x30 and I have to arrange the furniture in the middle, which is nice, except that all of the outlets are on the wall, and I have extension cords running everywhere. Today I got lit!

I got for Christmas my very own 4-bulb halogen track light, installed on the ceiling right down the middle of the room. It is GREAT! Aimed right at each place that people sit. At first I was leary of it as It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but this afternoon I laid down on the couch to read a magazine. I got on my tummy, and put my glasses on and opened the magazine and I COULD SEE THE PAGE!! WHOOT!!! Sadie jumped on my back, Lint lay on my legs, and Tyler the visiting black cat wanted to curl up in my face. (He lost) The lights are very bright as halogen can be, but they also put out a very small amount of heat, and we all took advantage of it and took a nap. I woke up after it was dark out, and the living room was flooded with light! It is going to be WONDERFUL! My eyes are getting weaker and weaker and I need the light to see. So as practical as it is to have Track lighting, It is a wonderful present. Really.

BUT WAHHHHHHH!!!!!! It is 10 days left before Christmas and I wont have anything to open!!!!!! SNIff... :(

My first memory of Christmas...1948

What is your very first memory of Christmas? Mine is a foggy memory of the Christmas before Phyllis was born. I was 2 about to turn 3 in the next few weeks. Phyllis was born in February.

Dad had gotten orders from SandPoint Naval Air Station in Seattle, Wa to Honolulu, T.H. Mom and I flew Naval Air Transport from Seattle to San Diego to stay with my Aunt and Uncle who raised my mother. They were like Grandparents to me. Mom was a good 20+ years younger than her sister. I remember the plane, and sitting on my knees coloring in a book on the seat, while my mother was crying. Dad got to come back and sit behind us for a few minutes, but he was crewman on the plane, so he had things to do. I remember eating an orange and even though I know windows don't open on planes, (even in 1948?) I have a very vivid memory of opening the porthole and throwing the peels out of the plane. Mom cried some more, and Dad was with her telling her everything was alright. (turns out we had lost an engine and had to make an emergency landing, and Mom was afraid we were going to crash.)

I remember getting off the plane and my Aunt running out on the field to meet us and she was crying too, and then everybody was happy. We went back to the house, and we stayed there until after My sister was born. That Christmas I remember getting my "Sleepyhead" doll. It was a stuffed blue plush baby with a plastic sleepy face. I know that I loved that doll, and it had to stay with aunt Margie. Every time I went to Her house, I ran to the bottom drawer and pulled it out.

I also remember the people. All were dressed up, and we ate a big dinner on Christmas Eve. We also got to open 1 present that night, the rest were left for Christmas Morning. My Aunt Margie always got us a new nightgown or robe for Christmas, So that is the present I got to open.

I remember I sat on Mr Elo's cane and broke it. He was very old, must have been in his 80's then. He was my Uncles father, so He would have been no relation to me. Even though he felt like a great grandfather.

I remember that I had to sit on a San Diego phone book to reach the table, and I had to practice perfect manners. The grown ups were all dressed up in shirts and ties and party dresses and I had on a full blue organza dress, and my long blonde hair was in two braids. I always felt in awe of sitting at that big table, with the fine dishes and the special napkins and tablecloth, and the Silver. The very special set of silver that my daughter has now.

I know that I had to go to bed right after dinner, because Santa was coming, and I heard laughter and singing and Bells. Then the house got quiet and I heard Jingle Bells just before I fell asleep.