December 2006
Making an Elf of Myself
December 29, 2006
The kids are always asking me to dance for them. I am not a dancer. They beg only for a cheap laugh. My hips do not wiggle; my arms are limp. I look plain stupid. Except . . . here. With a little Christmas magic I can do anything.
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Oh. My. Heavens. Jane, Terry and I laughed so hard to see this. He said
that he would pay money to see you actually dance this dance! How about
it? Love, Susan
Hi Jane,
Hope you had a very Merry Christmas!
Your newsletter sounded very similar to my time with Nicole. Nicole happens to have a neat cleaning gene (she must have gotten it from a few generations back). So we have rearranged the family room by taking everything out of the room including the huge heavy desk. Moving into our bedroom by taking the bookshelf out of there and replacing the desk with the bookshelf. Needless to say when you start cleaning out a bookshelf that has many old church manuals, novels, old reference books, etc. It was a much bigger project than I anticipated. Which we are still in them middle of this clean sweep. I will be happy when it is all nice and organized.
I think of you often, but feel connected through your newsletter and blog.
Have a very Happy New Year.
Love,
Donna
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After Christmas Trivia
December 28, 2006
I think it’s easier for me to Spring clean after Christmas than it is in the Spring. There’s something about getting a few new things that gives me the bug to get rid of a few old things, scour the house and simplify. This year did not disappoint. We’ve been painting, cleaning and rearranging the last couple of days. The kids are great sports; in fact, it’s at Cali’s suggestion we’re even doing it this year. It was at Ande’s suggestion that we did it last year. It’s never been Ty’s suggestion.J
We received wonderful and thoughtful gifts this year. I also loved the letters and cards. I am always so humbled at the generosity of our friends and family. Each gift I received was perfect and unique. The kids gave me small clothes. They said I’ve worn baggy clothes for too long (and they’re right but they were free!). I must admit, it is more comfortable wearing clothes that fit verses baggy ones. Who knew?
There is a little boy, ten years old, who has wanted to join the “blue army” for several years. His favorite channel is the military channel and Discovery. His family and aunt brought him over Tuesday to talk to Ty about being accepted into a military academy. He sat spellbound the whole time. It was cute/inspiring. It made me grateful that so many good people are willing to defend America, even little boys. We have a wooden airplane and he knew which one it was and in which war it was used. He was a funny boy.
Ok, I’ve got to get breakfast going and wake up the paint crew. We’re painting again today and they’ll be much happier if I get them up early.J I also need the paint to dry (we’re painting the dining room table and bench) because we’re having Ty’s host family over for supper tonight.
I’ll post pictures on our completed projects later. Do you ever take on any big projects during the holidays?
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Friends posed as Mary and Joseph
Merry Christmas Families
December 24, 2006
I know, I know, I have been slacking. I’ve been dying to write and share our celebrations, but if I pause I’ll miss out on something. J
Thursday: It snowed lightly and the roads were slick, but we didn’t know how slick, thank heavens, or we might have been tempted to cancel our family trip to the temple. Ty, Calvin, Ande and I loaded up early (and Ande was so thrilled because it was her birthday and Ty had so creatively wrapped her presents and they were sitting on the table waiting for us to return). My sister, Rachel, sent us a CD called Christmas with the Composers and also a book on the spiritual lives of the composers. They are both incredible. The music and information greatly enhanced our trip. Before each song, I told them about the composer and read a few lines from the book. We listened to eight songs and eight composers (and we even had to turn it off for a few miles when several cars had slid off the road so that Calvin could concentrate). We felt so enlightened and lifted. What a great start to a great day. . . .
Friday was a wrestling tournament at the high school. The whole family wanted to go—Ty wrestled in high school, Cali took stats when she was in high school, Ande had friends on the team, I have students on the team and Calvin just plain likes to watch it, so off we went. That afternoon, after the match, our couch arrived. It is so beautiful. It is a three piece, chocolate brown leather sectional with two recliners. It is massive, so much so that we have decided to take the craft table out of the family room. It is beautiful, so much so that we have decided we must repaint the family room. That’s the plan next week—paint one wall chocolate brown and tan on the other three walls and accent the room with red. Cali is an impetus.
Saturday we got up early to SNOW. Hooray for us. Calvin and Ty headed to Wal-Mart to get spices so that Calvin could smoke ribs (he covers them in a wonderful dry rub and then smokes them in the smoker). The kids and I coached him, cleaned up behind him and encouraged him and made cookies, turtles and whatever else sounded good and easy. We also sat on our couch.
Our church meets from 9 am-12 am. I love Christmas Eve on Sunday. It just feels right. This afternoon, later, we will have our traditional supper where everyone chooses their favorite food. This is our first year, since starting this tradition 17 years ago, that our meal will match. Usually it is a hodge podge of starches and sweets J, but today Ty is baking cubed red potatoes with drizzled olive oil and sprinkled red pepper flakes, Cali is steaming broccoli/cauliflower/carrots, Ande is frying battered shrimp, Calvin is grilling “some kind of meat from the freezer” and I am making crème brulee. Then we will have our Christmas program where we sing and read the scriptures together. And, WE GET TO HEAR FROM ABE! Missionaries serve in our church for two years and call home twice each year—once on Mother’s Day and once on Christmas Day. Needless to say, this is a much anticipated event and since the Philippines is a day ahead of us (and that is where he is serving) we get to hear from him tonight.
I am just so incredibly grateful to be a part of a family. The miracle of families (no matter how many rough spots or cracked edges) never ceases to amaze me. I am grateful for the beautiful plan of being organized into families--just one of the many gifts the Savior gives. I hope you are having a great time with your family—be they rough or cracked, smooth or whole—as you celebrate Christmas.
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Merry Christmas Jane!
Snapper
Jane,
I love this post! Your days before Christmas sound wonderful! Of course, you are right on about families! I agree with you 100%! Thanks Jane, you made me smile today!
You scored big time on your Pink Christmas gift! Michelle did an amazing job and when I saw it, I couldn't believe how well it fit you!! I want to see it in person and get my little hands on it! She said you could share.... you will right?
Love, Mel
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Wish her Back
December 21, 2006
Motherhood takes on a whole new slant today. I am officially the mother to only adult children. Ande, our youngest, turns 18 in about an hour and 31 minutes and 18 seconds.
Some days I have to remind myself not to wish the kids back. If I don’t enjoy them today, I’ll be wishing back today, too . . . but sometimes it’s hard to remember. Sometimes it’s difficult not to wish Ande back to the stage where she was just beginning to crawl. She put her head down on the ground and crawled forward like she was a loader with the front bucket down on the ground. She would crawl as fast as she could until her head bumped into something letting her know she’d arrived and then she’d pull herself up to the couch, the bench, the chair, whatever she’d run into.
A month or two ago I wrote in the NJP newsletter about the days when she thought she was raised in the pumpkin patch. It's hard not to wish her back to those days. We had a mess of pumpkins growing in the garden and Calvin convinced Ande that she was born there. He said, “Ande, one day your mom said we needed another baby, so I went out to the garden, lifted a big leaf and there you were hatching so I brought you in the house.” I know I should have corrected the story, but do you know how cute it is to hear a curly-haired little girl tell people, “I was born in a pun’kin patch”?
After several months, worried about her growth, psyche and development, I told Ande that her dad was teasing. Calvin solemnly said, (while inconspicuously scratching on the side of the bed with an intermittent thump), “Mom’s right, Ande. We didn’t find you in the pumpkin patch. We really found you under the house in a dinosaur egg. Hear the rest of them? (scratch, thump) They’re still trying to hatch.” I know I should have corrected that one, too, but can you imagine how funny she looked with her huge eyes, sucking on her two trusty middle fingers with her legs tucked up tight whenever she heard him scratch and thump on the furniture?
But, if I’m busy wishing her back to when she was little then I’ll forget to notice her funny giggle when she watches movies today. She laughs at the smallest things. Calvin and I both agree it’s more fun to watch a movie when we watch it with Ande.
If I wish her back I wouldn’t get what I’m getting from her for Christmas. She discovered this fall that she has talent in painting. She’s painting a picture of me flying through the air with my hand out-stretched with an oil lamp (like the Ten Virgins used) to light my way. She even captured my odd little feet. I have a very high arch and my toes, to keep from getting poked into the ground with an arch that severe, have learned to reach to the sky for deliverance and she captured that. Dangling from a sash/cord around my waist and gently blowing back are symbols of several things that I enjoy or hope to do someday. The depiction is incredible and I’m so glad to not only see myself through her eyes, but to enjoy her talents. If I wished her back, I would miss this opportunity.
And so, though I loved being a mother to young children, I’ll keep reminding myself not to wish them back. We have a great day planned and I will miss it all if I do. I will remember to live the present, not long for the past or wish the future.
Sometimes do you wish your kids back?
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As of this fall, three of my four kids are in their 20s. Can I say the 20-year-old isn't officially an 'adult' yet? I look at photos of those sweet little faces and get all misty. Don't even get me started on when I find a toy up in the attic (especially one that plays music) that brings back memories. But I wouldn't want them to be little again for the world. They are so cool and so much fun. Even my 16-year-old son, who generally cracks me up. Think about this, Jane...one day in the future you'll have grandchildren, and isn't that a lot like having your babies back again? :)Clare, aka Mom2fur
Hi, Jane ~
Some days I do wish my kids back (though they're still fairly young), but most of the time, I find myself trying to freeze moments in my mind, in some crazy attempt to make time stand still. I'm so in love with my kids that I can't imagine enjoying them any more than I do right now. (Which is silly because I'm sure I'll always enjoy them.)
I remember something my late mother told me back when my firstborn was a toddler and my husband & I were struggling. She said that she knew the bills might be stacked high, and things might seem really tough at times, but someday I'd look back on these same times with fondness and "wish them back." (Okay, those weren't her words but they fit so well here!) She said these years -- when my kids are young -- will always be the best years of my life. Because of her, I am blessed enough to realize that NOW and won't have to look back someday and wish I'd appreciated them more.
And also, when I see how much love and adoration your children obviously have for you, Jane, I can't help but look forward to the times when mine are grown, too, and our relationship has more of a "friendship" dynamic to it. Makes me not feel quite so desperate about not being able to stop time in its tracks. ;)
Merry Christmas, Jane! And Happy 18th Birthday to Ande!
Susan Walker
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December 20, 2006
Tis the season for sore, red, chafed, cracked, painful hands. If you have trouble with dry hands or feet generously rub Bag Balm® (found at animal feed stores or farm/ranch ssupply stores) over your hands or feet and slip them into a soft pair of odd socks before going to bed. In the morning, your hands and feet will be much softer and on their way to being healed. (If you can't find Bag Balm®, Vaseline® will help, but Bag Balm® is really good at healing them.)
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Please send your comments and ideas to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
I need that bag balm!! We all struggle with hands and feet through the winter months and it is starting to hit us with a vengeance right now. I'm going shopping for that today!! Thank you for the great tip!!
In Him,
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Yesterday, Today
December 18, 2006
A couple of months ago, I was visiting with a couple of women who read The Neighbor’s Blog. They said, “We catch you, you know. We know when you don’t post and then you do and post it as the day you didn’t post.”
Yes…they’re right. I DO do that. I laughed when they told me and tried to defend myself by saying, “It’s what I had planned to write that day.” It’s kind of the old habit of handing in your homework a day late, I suppose, or returning a rented video after the store has closed but hoping they’ll count it.
Though this post says December 18, 2006, I didn’t type it until December 19, 2006. However, it is what I planned for yesterdayJ.
Cali and Ande have been working on Christmas gifts. I thought they had great ideas and wanted to share them with you should you be running behind schedule and need an idea (or running ahead and filing ideas for next year).
Ande made gifts for her friends titled “Christmas Past. Christmas Present. Christmas Future.”
For Christmas Past she covered a tin with mod podge, paper, embellishments and “Senior Year” written in alphabet stickers. She gave her friends a note with it that said:
“The Gift of Christmas Past
This is a box for you to put things in that, years later, will remind you of your senior year. Put in shopping receipts, dance tickets, pictures, empty perfume bottle, movie stubs, and your ASB card—anything that will remind you of your senior year. This is so later you can look back and remember the past
For Christmas Present she covered composition books and made journals. Inside the journal she posted inspirational and funny quotes on random pages. This note was attached to the journal:
The Gift of Christmas Present
This is a journal to write about the present. Write down the little things, not just the big things. Put in the church hand outs you like, dove chocolate wrappers, and printed out m.s.n. conversations. Write down quotes you like, the acts of kindness you receive and give, the compliments you get, and the funny things you see that make you laugh out loud even when you are by yourself. This can help you to enjoy and live the present to the fullest.
For Christmas Future she gave them an item to be used in college next year. This note was attached to the item:
The Gift of Christmas Future
College!!! This is for your future when you are at college.
The future is the time for hopes and dreams and I hope you
never forget and never let go of them. I also hope you never
forget how much I love you.
(Then she told her friends what she appreciated about them. My favorite line was “You have laughed when I’m not that funny and cried with me when it wasn’t that sad.”)
Cali got her idea from Melanie (Melanie made cd's for several friends and wrote about it on her blog). Cali made her friends and family members a CD with some of her favorite Christmas songs on it. It is a great compilation—and so varied. Cali also made this cover in the Microsoft Paint* program for it.
Inside above the song listings she wrote, “I had 3 Christmas CD’s in my car this fall, and I kept forgetting to change them. That means I had to listen to the same 3 CD’s over & over & OVER! So…I felt it my obligation to let you know which songs were the best. You’re welcome!
I just got my copy in the mail yesterday and I LOVE the songs she chose.
Speaking of good Christmas music, Rachel, my sister, sent our family an incredible CD called “A Composer’s Christmas” along with a book giving information on each composer. You’ve never heard “Up on the Housetop” until you’ve heard it as a Mozart concerto. I have really enjoyed it.
I’m so glad to have gotten new music this season. We have been listening to the same few CD’s for years. Yoweee it’s fun to have something new.
*(This is one of Cali’s first Microsoft Paint projects:
Our computer was brand new and she was freshly mad at me. She made this sign and posted it on her bedroom door which was down in the basement (I didn’t see it until long after the crisis was over. Lucky for her. J It makes me laugh every time I read it, though I’m sure it wouldn’t have if I’d seen it hot off the printer.)
Now that you know what I would have posted yesterday, here’s today’s news.
Ty comes home! Hip, hip hooray.
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Projects
December 16, 2006
Today Calvin and I are working on Christmas projects—he’s in the shop, I’m in the house. I love days like today. Calvin bops in from time to time and I bop out from time to time and neither of our project messes interferes with the other’s. Shops are a very good thing for a marriage. J
Tonight we have a church party and I was asked last night if I could bring a fruit salad. I only have apples and oranges in the way of fresh fruit and didn’t want to go to town just for salad ingredients so I’m making cinnamon apples. (Peel and barely cover apples with water. Add a little cinnamon oil and red food coloring. Bring to boil and cook until apples are tender. Serve hot or cold.) Cinnamon apples look and smell Christmassy and they’re fruit so I suppose they can qualify as a salad. (If not, I could always pull out the pears and grated cheeseJ)
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Jane,
I just received my pink Christmas gift in the mail. Thank you so much!! I haven't opened it yet. But thank you!!! Can't wait until Christmas next week.
Love, Jenny :)
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Squatter's Rights
December 15, 2006
You just don’t grow up in Hollister, Idaho without a dog riding around in the back of your pick-up. Every rancher has one or two. The minute our dogs saw anyone heading for the pick-up they jumped in the back. If you didn’t want them to go with you it took several minutes to drag them back out. They belonged there and took up squatter's rights. I don’t know why they liked to go with us so much. The wind flapping their ears? The cars whizzing by? The hope we were going to the hills to check the cows? The sheer joy of being in our presence? It’s a mystery.
I’m not so unlike our blue-heeler, however. Sometimes Calvin will call and say, “I’m going to _________ want to come along?” And I nearly pant with the anticipation to jump in the pick-up and go with him. I don’t know why I like to go so much. So I can visit and flap his ears with my windy talk? See the country while he drives? The sheer joy of being in his presence? Maybe. But this much I know for sure—he always offers to buy me an ice cream cone or milkshake. And I have squatter’s rights on that.
He just called and I’ve got to run jump in, I'm glad the NJP newsletter is already sent so I can go.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com _
Jane, I loved the newsletter today. I was glad to be reminded about Ty and Abe's story. That's just the sweetest. Rachel
Thank you so much. I've used so many of the recipes you've shared! Happy shopping!
Sue
Jane:
I printed your newsletter and really liked the rolo cookies so I went to Wal-mart on my lunch break looking for the candy. I'm going to make some. Maxine
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Southern Goodness
December 14, 2006
Tonight our neighbors, Joe and Myra (who are originally from North Carolina), brought over some Southern Stuffing. Whoa. Now I know why BooMama has such southern pride. Out west, we have nothing as fine as that stuffing was. It was so very good and deserves a rave review beyond my capabilities to give.
Every now and then (tonight being one of them) I get a glimpse of how odd some of the dishes that I grew up on were. We often slapped a canned pear on a plate, topped it with grated cheddar cheese and called it a salad. In fact, I served that very thing tonight with the very fine Southern stuffing and that is when I first noticed it is a funny imitation of the French delicacy of fresh fruits with fine cheeses.
Another dish we served (which did not pass well through the generations--my kids don't like it) was a graham cracker topped with a spoonful of applesauce and a dollop of whipped cream. If we were feeling particularly fancy, we sprinkled cinnamon on top or did a double-decker of applesauce and graham crackers. Now that is a poor man’s apple pie if I ever ate one.
Do you remember or serve any dishes that seem kind of odd to you now?
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Quick and Easy Neighbor's Gifts
December 13, 2006
These gifts are just what the title suggests “quick and easy” and work great for those last minute gifts. I don’t know who to give credit for these ideas because they are a potpourri from years of receiving and giving. A few of the ideas are original, but I no longer remember which ones; but most are borrowed and if they came from you, THANK YOU! As you will see, these ideas are interchangeable—they work for birthdays and just-because days as well as Christmas.
M&M's –“Have a Memorable & Marvelous Christmas!"
Soup or soup mix – “Hoping you have a ‘souper’ season!”
Frozen cookie dough—Glue a few pennies to a card with the following verse
“We value your friendship, so how could we show?
By lifting your burden and sharing our dough!”
Ice Cream Cake Roll- “We hope you have a cool Yule!”
Warm Casserole or Bread – “Warm wishes to you and your family this Christmas!”
Jolly Ranchers – “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!”
Popcorn and Root Beer-“Pop! Pop! Fizz! Fizz! Oh what a good friend you is!”
Sparkling Cider – “Wishing you a Sparkling Holiday Season!”
Seasoning Mix- “Seasoned with Love”
Tray of cookies – “We ‘tray-sure’ your friendship! Merry Christmas.”
Yule Log – “We send you warm greetings this Christmas Season!”
Potpourri –“May this sweet scent bring thoughts of warm memories.”
Fruit Basket- “May your year be festive and fruitful!”
Broom or Duster –“You're "dust" the finest friend I know. Thank you for being a friend and Merry Christmas.”
Sugar Cookies- “Rolling out a batch of Cheer, for those we think are very dear.”
Star ornament- “Remember the reason for the season!”
Calendar –“Remember our love for you the whole year through.”
Disposable Camera- “Christmas makes memories”
Cookie Sprinkles - "May your year be sprinkled with laughter and love.”
Pizza- “Hope your Christmas is filled with Pizzazz”
Music CD -"May the sweet song of Christmas make your heart rejoice!"
Filled Basket- "Wishing you a basket full of blessings. Get well soon."
Salsa and Chips – “Hope this adds some spice to your life.”
Stocking or filled Jar - "Have a fun filled Christmas this year!"
Christmas Pasta and a bottle of sauce-“Have a ‘pasta-tively’ happy holiday!”
Box of Hostess Ho-Ho's – “Hope a merry ‘HO - HO - H0’ fills your heart the whole year through!”
Candle – “May your days be happy, your heart be light—
Your Christmas merry and the New Year Bright!”
Chex Party Mix – “Remember Santa ‘chex’ his list twice to see who's been naughty or nice, so be good for goodness sake!”
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Please send your comments and ideas to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Jane, I am SO jealous of the Pink Christmas gift under your tree! Now I am
going to watch for the mailman until mine comes! Oh the anticipation will
kill me, I hate waiting! Can't wait to see what it is...=), Mel
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A New Day
December 12, 2006
Last night one of the kids said, “Mom, if we were that cross you would say, ‘That’s unacceptable and you will not treat the rest of us like that.’” And the day before that another one said (when I asked for help on something I’d messed up), “Mom, you always taught us that if we’d do something right the first time we wouldn’t have to redo it. You’re redoing this because you didn’t do it right the first time.” And then, she smiled sweetly and said, “Aren’t you glad that your kids are old enough to use your logic on you now?”
Ark. I was cross yesterday. My day started out so well and just kind of wilted after that—nothing in specific—just a general meltdown.
But today? Well, it’s a whole different day and I have had several reasons to smile:
- A gentleman tipped his hat at me. It was the sweetest thing. I don’t remember the last time I had a hat tipped in my direction.
- I wore my sack dress today. It is very unbecoming but extremely comfortable. It’s green plaid flannel and has yards and yards of fabric in it—and I love it.
- I got a Christmas letter and picture in the mail from a distant relative I met through NJP. It was blogging made real! It was fun to look at each of her family members and read her kind note.
- My Pink Christmas gift arrived and it is wrapped ever so pretty. It has a little tag with my initial and a red Christmas ball attached to beautiful red ribbon. (Pink Christmas is an internet gift exchange that Kristi set up on her blog several months ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting other women through the blog exchange and preparing the gift for the name I drew.) I’m really excited to meet the woman who prepared a gift for me.
- I went to the family history library and was successful. Not only was I successful, but an elderly man who I greatly admire was there and needed my help. It was great being in the right place at the right time.
- I had good leftovers for lunch today.
- The evening is still ahead of me . . . and I love stress free evenings.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Jane, I am SO jealous of the Pink Christmas gift under your tree! Now I am
going to watch for the mailman until mine comes! Oh the anticipation will
kill me, I hate waiting! Can't wait to see what it is...=), Mel
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Time. The Gift of Life.
Yippee! Two hour delayed start for school today. I could not have been happier if someone told me that . . . that . . . that . . . well, sufficeth me to say I could not have been happier. Two extra hours this morning? A gift I really appreciate.
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Why Do I Blog?
December 11, 2006
I suggested to one of my sisters, a published author, that she ought to start a blog and she said, “Why would I want to blog?” I profoundly replied, “Because.”
That is the question of the year. Why do people blog? I’ve read several answers, “to keep in touch with family,” “it’s a creative outlet,” “it’s my journal,” . . . . and yet, for me, it’s all of those, but something so much more. Phones, e-mails, letters and notebooks can satisfy the reasons above for me, but blogging? Well, I still can’t completely define my love for it, but partly it’s about connecting with other people who my life would never cross paths with were it not for blogging. I have loved meeting new people and learning new things from all over—and, the ever practical part of me appreciates that it doesn’t cost a thing to read, see, hear or comment. There are no limits, other than time, as to the places I can go, the people I can meet and the things I can see through blogging. It’s like having a friend in all the cities that I’ve ever wanted to visit and seeing it through their eyes—the must-see places as well as the things to avoid and what the people in that city do and how they live. I feel like I’ve traveled a lot this year through my computer chair and blogging.
Some have expressed concern about only meeting the part of people that they want you to see through blogging—that we only see the carefully posed shots and carefully chosen words. That doesn’t worry me one bit since when I meet people in person, they usually only show me their best side, too. I think it’s very polite when they do that and I’m just grateful that people (through blogging or in person) take the time to make a connection and a difference in my life.
Another thing I enjoy about blogging is some of the interesting questions posed by some of the bloggers. Recently one blogger talked about family drama and being the child least liked in her family. It was interesting to read the comments. Most of the commenters recognized a family pecking order and it made me think when one signed herself as “number two in the family.” I found the discussion thought-provoking. I’m young enough to still feel something of family-dynamic-difficulty and yet old enough to have adult children that may be feeling the same thing the blogger suggested, but at my hand. We haven’t asked the kids in several years about this topic. The last time we discussed it and asked the kids if we had favorites, Cali said, “Yup. Abe’s your favorite.” Abe said, “Yup. Ande’s your favorite.” Ty said, “Yup. Cali’s your favorite.” And Ande said, “Yup. Ty’s your favorite.” We figured we were safe if they all thought someone else in the family was the favorite and no one could claim sibling superiority. But reading about family dynamics through this blogger’s and her commenters’ eyes, it made me want to ask the question again to our kids and make sure everyone feels loved, secure and accepted in our family circle.
Yet another benefit of blogging is the plethora of ideas: recipes, gifts, sewing, hand crafted arts, traditions, book, restaurant and movie suggestions, places of interest to see, first hand accounts of one-of-a-kind-events, the information is incredible. I have definitely improved my life by incorporating the ideas and information that has been shared.
So far, I have only found two snags in blogging. One is balancing time. Reading and writing blogs and the NJP website can eat my day if I let it. Knowing when (and having the discipline) to call it quits is something I’m learning. I’ve never been much of a TV watcher, so this is the first addiction I remember wrestling with (other than Lay’s potato chips and the old Marathon candy bar).
Another challenge is the actual writing. Because posts are written so frequently, there is no time to let the words or ideas stew in their juice to make sure they taste right before I serve them (for me that would take weeks). I like to have a plan before I expose myself and blogging isn’t so much about planning as it is about exposing. I am ever worried about sharing something about someone that they do not wish the world to know or writing words that would ever hurt someone. Hence…some of my posts are less stellar than I wish. It’s a side of me that I wouldn’t let you see if you came to visit J
So to the question of the year “Why would I want to blog?” Because I love it and am grateful for you wonderful people that I visit with because of it.
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It’s Beginning to Feel a Little Like Christmas
December 9, 2006
Today was a busy day, but it's smelling and feeling more and more like Christmas.
1 filled cookie jar. I filled it with Icebox Cookies. (You know it's an old recipe if it calls a refrigerator an ice box.)
2 burning oils. We mixed a little “Spice” with “Tree” from Bath & Body Works’ Christmas Spice Collection.® The combination smells like a citrus grove in a pine forest with a cinnamon plant thrown in for good measure (where does cinnamon come from anyway?). The smell is very, very nice.
Almost 3 watched movies. Lake House, White Christmas and Persuasion. I love White Christmas, especially the look on the general’s face when his troops gather for his party. I can’t wait to watch Persuasion, but I was too tired and didn’t even make it through five minutes. I’ll try it again tomorrow.
4 minutes spent talking to Ty. I sent him an advent to countdown the days till he comes home for Christmas. He opens them each night at 10:00 pm because that’s when his plane flies in. He was in a hurry but called to say “Hello” “10 days” and “I love you.”
5 sewn pillowcases. Actually, I made these Friday night, but we slept on them Saturday morning. They are fun, quick and inexpensive to make—just hem the end, fold and then sew two sides together. They’re not fancy, but they add color to the bedrooms.
6 strung feet of cranberry, dried orange garland. Ande is a gem and will always string the cranberries, popcorn, whatever—give her an old movie, a needle and thread and she’ll get it done.
7 Laurel projects finished. Ande made these little boxes that are filled with quotes and compliments for the girls her age at church. She started them a year ago and then put them aside. She pulled them out today and finished them. They are soo cute…I wish she had an extra one.
8 breadsticks. I made breadsticks from bread dough to go with the spaghetti for dinner. I sprinkled olive oil, coarse salt, garlic powder and parmesan cheese on the top of the breadsticks, but usually I just bake them plain. Since I was out of parmesan cheese I used the leftover little packets from Pizza Hut.
9 loaves of bread. Five white, four wheat/oat. This is just a Saturday chore, but it smells good just the same so it counts for the feel of Christmas. (I ran out of wheat flour and substituted oats for a portion in the recipe. Wow. It tastes great. I’m going to do that more often.)
10 biscuits. I fried bacon and made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. (Yes…yes…I know, we had a carbohydrate of a day, and it all tasted very, very good.)
11 + minutes talking to Cali. She is studying for finals next week (which always come before Christmas). What would we do without cell phones? I dreaded their entry to the world and badmouthed them (I’m not crazy about talking on the phone), but am so grateful for family plans that I’ve taken back almost everything I once said. I could also use 11 to count the new things Cali taught me today. She shares all sorts of tidbits she learns from her textbooks, real life experiences and documentaries that she watches. I love being her pupil.
12 shirts ironed. One of my least favorite chores and I let the basket overflow. Christmas or not it still needs to be done so give me an old movie and I’ll get it done.
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My Neighbor Jane-
Thank you so much for your kind words. The Christmas Letter and photo is my most favorite project each year, so hopefully that shows!
I hope the Christmas season has found you with much joy. Judging from your blog, that seems to be the case.
Word of advice on your new tree - when putting away for the season, be careful to wrap or bag in such a way that is "cat-proof." Because, if the cats can get in it, they will. And then, to add insult to injury, the birds my decide to perch on the newly exposed "tree" and make it their home for the summer. At that point, even the fact that it was free won't be enough to save its pour little soul for use in another Christmas season!!!!!
Have a fabulous week. . .
Love,
Heather
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"I Just Can't Hold It Anymore"
December 8, 2006
Funny what “I just can’t hold it anymore” means as you grow older. When I was little it meant I was going to wet my pants if I didn’t hurry. When I was a teenager it meant the secret was too big and there was no way I was going to carry it alone. Now it means I’ve got to write down my idea quickly because there is just so much room for the trivia, drivel and responsibilities already stored in my brain that I just can’t hold anymore info for very long.
In fact, that is just what happened. I was in the kitchen, had three ideas of things I wanted to blog or write newsletters about, sensed the “I just can’t hold it anymore” feeling, but by the time I got to the computer I had been sidetracked and lost it. And so, you got the “I just can’t hold it anymore post” instead. Argh. The feeling of not holding it is almost as uncomfortable as an adult as it was as a little girl.
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How darling you were, though! If it weren't for your forgetfulness, we might not have been treated to your childhood picture. You resemble Drew Barrymore when she was a child!
p.s. Thank you for your sweet comments to what I wrote earlier.
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A Day of Infamy
December 7, 2006
Today our good friends, Travis and Linda, are in Hawaii with Linda’s folks at the last Pearl Harbor Survivor Reunion. Leroy, Linda’s father, was in the harbor on the USS Missouri when we were attacked. Leroy and Wanda have gone back for several of the reunions, but this will be the last one held due to the survivors’ ages. As one attendee said, “We’re like dodo birds—almost extinct.” However, though it has been sixty-five years since the attack and the survivors are in their late eighties and nineties, an article recounted that they remember the smell of the burning flesh, the sound of the horrific explosions and taste the saltwater as if it were just yesterday.
At the United States Air Force Academy there is a box in a display cabinet displaying several shot glasses and a bottle of wine. Each shot glass represents airmen from Doolittle’s Raid.* As each man dies his shot glass is turned upside down. The bottle of wine (quite dusty) goes to the man who owns the last upright shot glass. The last time I looked there weren’t many left.
General George S. Patton said: “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men that died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.” I am grateful to all of the men and women who have defended America (living and dead) and their stories and memories. May we carry on the motto of the Pearl Harbor Survivors “Keep America Alert” so that history does not repeat itself.
*Jimmy Doolittle was the pilot who led a string of bombers into Japan several months after the attack at Pearl Harbor to hit power plants, a steel mill and an oil tank farm. The pilots knew before leaving the aircraft carrier that they did not have enough fuel to carry out their mission and still make it safely back to the ship. However, America needed their success and so the airmen flew their missions anyway. Amazingly most of the eighty men survived. The majority of them ejected from their planes before they crashed from lack of fuel.
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My parents were in their mid-40's when they had me, so even though I'm in my 30's still, my dad was a WWII veteran.
He died in 1991 at the age of 70 from something called Oat Cell cancer. It's a form of cancer that is caused by radiation. Because he was on a mine sweep five miles off the coast of Nagasaki when we dropped the atomic bomb (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/9/newsid_3580000/3580143.stm), he, and I'm sure many others (including my uncle, who also died in his 60's from the same type of cancer), were subjected to the radiation.
My heart is with the Pearl Harbor and WWII survivors. Makes me sad there are so few left... Susan Walker
Thanks so much for these comments, Susan, and for your dad's service. I appreciate you teaching me new things. NJP
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Spaghetti Bar
December 6, 2006
Last year around Christmas, my cousins (Larry and Sally) invited our family to supper. Sally had prepared a spaghetti bar. On the counter were dishes of toppings—peppers, mushrooms, shrimp, cooked and cubed chicken, browned hamburger, green onions, chopped celery, grated carrots, sliced olives . . . (Sally said the list is endless.)
On another part of the counter was a large bowl of torn lettuce, several containers of salad dressing, a basket of rolls, and several bowls of grated cheeses.
On yet another counter by the stove was a crock pot of spaghetti sauce, a container of olive oil and a huge platter with large piles of cooked noodles—thin noodles, wide spinach noodles, and curly noodles.
On the stove top were four frying pans.
We could begin with salads or spaghetti. Those who started with salads were busy visiting and eating while those who started with spaghetti filled their plates with all of the toppings of their choice and then went to the frying pans on the stove. Spaghetti makers added a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet and browned the toppings they had chosen. When the ingredients were nearly finished they added a tong-full of spaghetti noodles from the platter. After everything was warmed through, they slid the ingredients back onto their large plates and ladled spaghetti sauce on top and sprinkled with the cheeses of their choice.
The food was delicious! Never before had I had celery, chicken, grated carrots, or shrimp on my spaghetti and it was wonderful! The best part is everybody got to eat exactly what they wanted and it was a unique, fun and interactive meal. Spaghetti Bar works for me when it comes to entertaining during the Holiday Season.
Go to Rocks in My Dryer for more ideas on things that work for others.
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Oh dear jane, spaghetti bar sounds great at someone ELSE’s house. Too many dishes to clean up for me ; ) Deb Meyers (I mean SERVING dishes! I have the same problem when it comes to taco night…so many piddly dishes for all the necessary ingredients ; )
(Good point Deb! Disposable...definitely disposable :) NJP
What a terrific idea! I'll have to use it when we have our holiday get together! Thanks. Becky Fee
The spaghetti bar sounds delicious! Blessings, Tracy
Wow, this sounds delicious and fun. I've got a few picky eaters so I like that each person get exactly what he/she likes. Think I'll try it sometime. Thanks for the tip.
Ann
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Ho, Ho, Ho
December 5, 2006
Ho, ho, ho malls and Costco. Here I come.
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The Problem is . . .
December 4, 2006
Sometimes I wish I were an animal lover. When I was in grade school and took 4-H steers to the fair I was ever so glad for sale day. Ever so glad. I never cried for one of those steers (especially the one that constantly kicked me [and the judge] and got high-centered on the top rung of the corral for a few hours when he tried to jump it). My best friend, Anita, wasn’t so glad on sale day, though. She cried and cried and cried. She even missed a whole week of school due to mourning and her parents made her quit 4-H for a few years.
But, there is just something about a kitten that even I am drawn to. Except the non-lover side soon settles back in because . . .
the problem with a kitten is THAT . . .
Eventually it becomes a cat.
(Ogden Nash)
And yet,
The nice thing about two kittens is THAT . . .
They should do away with the chance of any . . . mice.
(Jane Payne)
And that is why I told my friend that I would love to have her kittens that she could find no home for.
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Starting out Right
December 2, 2003
I am a creature of habit. I’ve discovered if I start my day by praying, reading from the scriptures and then making a list my day goes much better. If I don’t, I’m wondering at 4:00 why I’m still in my cardigan-with-a-hole-in-it over the one-size-fits-all-pullover dress and why I'm cross. I’ve learned that starting my day out right is directly connected to it ending right and if I miss the first two steps—watch out. I can fly without a list, but I’m jammed without praying and reading.
Last night I got to start the Christmas season out right. Our Stake (the name used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to signify a grouping of smaller church units called wards) held their Nativity display in town. For several years it was a collection of hundreds of nativities that we wandered amongst and admired. The viewing of the nativities was followed by a beautiful half-hour program of songs. But the last two years our Nativity has been live with llamas, goats, sheep, donkeys and people and titled “Journey to Bethlehem.” As guests, we became taxpayers on our way to Bethlehem and wandered amongst the pens, shelters and manger scene and watched the reenacted proceedings of that incredible time when the Savior was born.
The talent amongst the people in our Stake is unbelievable. It’s humbling to me to see the vision and scope they have in building a program of this magnitude. The gathering place alone, where we guests paid our taxes, was built of three hundred or so bales of straw with beams and joists overhead covered with hay tarps. The three part harmonies in the songs were amazing, as were the solos. This year, a children’s angel choir was added to the Nativity. Oh my. Even they sang parts and one of the participants is only four years old. It was a great experience. I am grateful that the participants and organizers used their abilities and gifts so freely so that people like me could start the Christmas season “off right.”
What do you do to start your day or the Christmas Season off right?
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Christmas Countdown
December 1, 2006
Aunt Ethel made our family an advent tree a long time ago. I remember the gift I opened from it: an eversharp pencil. My first. I have had a soft spot for advent trees ever since then. And Aunt Ethel.
I have often made advent trees for gifts. In fact, that is what we have sent my sister’s family (Rachel’s) for the last few years. Last year I made one from fabric and then tied little gifts to it with yellow ribbon that I stitched to the tree. This year we just sent the replacement gifts for them to tie to the tree. The gifts are little things like a roll of lifesavers, gum, chapstick, etc.
I let our advent tradition die a few years ago. I don’t know why, I guess I figured since we could all read a calendar we didn’t need one. But Ande asked if we couldn’t please have an advent a few days ago and so I made a countdown calendar and an advent wreath today. As you can tell, the ideas aren’t original, but they are simple and you’d have thought I hung the moon for her when she saw them.
I don’t know which advent was easiest to do. Well, that’s not true. Yes I do. The wreath with candles and cranberries was the easiest. But they were both simple.
Wreath Advent
- Find a $tore wreath, fluff it and set it on a platter (plate would do just fine).
- Weave ribbon around the branches and glue a few pinecones from your yard to the wreath.
- Set the candles inside of the wreath and pour cranberries around the candles.
- That’s it! Each small candle represents a week before Christmas and every supper we will light the candles. We will light one candle the first week, two candles the second week, three candles the third week, etc. On our special Christmas Eve dinner we will light the tall candle along with the other four.
Christmas Countdown (shown at the top of the blog)
- Fill little bags (found in the craft section at WalMart) with various Christmas treats.
- Staple 2”x 2” paper to top of bags
- Write numbers (or use stickers) on bag tops
- Hang bags on jute string (under a clock if you can) with mini clothespins
- Though you can't see it in the picture, there is an activity to go with each day. Simple activities like: make Christmas pillow cases, go see the lights, drink hot chocolate and hot cider, read Mr. Toomey’s Christmas, go to Baskin Robbins and try a new flavor of ice cream, go ice skating, make orange rolls, make turtles, go pick up Ty from the Airport, Cali comes home, etc.
Do you have an advent? How do you countdown?
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Jane,
I love those advents! The string with the clothes pins is so adorable! I
want to be that creative, hopefully next year now that I have the idea.
melanie
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