Wrapping up Christmas

Today I started the part of Christmas that I dislike the most.  I have started the wrapping of the gifts.  Usually I try to use as little paper and bows as possible and still get the job done.  This is probably due to the level of income we had when I was a child.



Christmas Tree Downstairs

We never had much disposable income.  So the gift was the focus, not the wrapping paper, which only added extra cost and was not kept by the recipient.  Now if our family was the recipient, we did save all the paper possible and all the bows.  They were ironed and reused during the next year and especially again at the next Christmas.  We just had to be frugal with all we had.  I do not feel bad about this, as it is still important to me to use our resources wisely.

So I spend a lot of time seeing if I can get multiple packages wrapped with the paper I have on hand.  I don't waste any leftover paper from the piece that is used on the gifts.  From time to time, I have even pieced together scraps of paper to be able to cover a large box.






With mild apprehension I set about to wrap our gifts.  This is a long and teduous project for me so I usually only wrap one or two at a time.  I found a YouTube video on how to create a bow and got inspired.  Before I quit I had managed to get six wrapped.

These Two are for the Sunday School Class Dirty Santa Party

 

There are many more gifts to wrap.  But tomorrow is another day!  God is good!

Kindergarten Lunchroom

Last Wednesday, Kash, our 5 yr. old grandson, invited us to his kindergarten for Thanksgiving lunch.  Walter and I worked it out to be there before his class went into the lunchroom.  He was both happy and surprised that we were there.

He sat next to Walter and I sat across from him.  A girl named McKenzie sat next to me.  While Kash and his Grandpoppie talked, I talked to the girl classmate.  "I am Kash's Grandmother," I told her.  "I thought you were his Me Ma," she said.  "Well, I guess I am his Me Ma, but I am called Grandmother, " I told her.

"I thought you were a Me Ma because your hair is the same color as my Me Ma's."  I thought I would laugh out loud but I composed myself enough to say, "Yes.  When you become a Me Ma is about the time your hair turns this color."  We went on to have a nice conversation.



Kash is Wearing an Orange Tie at his Preschool Graduation Earlier This Year

Our conversation stayed with me all day and even until now.  Although true what the girl had said, I still wandered how much evidence will I have to gather before I can admit to myself that I am aging.  You see, it didn't feel much different to me to be sitting on the stools in that lunchroom as when I did it over 55 years ago!

Strange and Beautiful Thanksgiving Cactus

Several years ago, my daughter, Patricia, gave me a Thanksgiving cactus.  I have repotted it once and moved it from location to location in the house, trying to find an ideal spot for it to grow and flower.  Well I finally found a good spot in the middle of the living room.   It gets good indirect light and has started to flourish.  About mid-November it started setting buds and has produced several nice flowers.  It is shown here next to another cactus I received from my friend Kathy for my birthday a few years back.  My photography is fuzzy for some reason but the flowers are continuing to bloom and set buds even today.

I did some internet research and found the following information on the care of the plant.  “The Thanksgiving cactus really is a cactus but it is far from the other typical plants of the family. Its stems are not round and spiny, but flat and smooth. Moreover, many people mistake them for leaves. The stems are divided into segments called "articles". First they grow up, and then arch up gracefully. The flowers, elongated and slightly asymmetrical, grow directly from the end of articles. Each flower may last two weeks, longer if the room is a bit cooler. There are three factors that stimulate flowering Thanksgiving cactus: short days, some drought and a slightly cool weather. So do not place your plant in a location that stays bright at night (your plant will suffer short-day) and reduce watering from September. If you lower the thermostat at night, you will make your Thanksgiving cactus very happy and it should bloom abundantly. But even if you do nothing special at all, it is not uncommon for it to flourish anyway.

Other than for short days and reduced watering and temperature in autumn, the Thanksgiving cactus is the perfect companion for indoor gardeners, because it requires no special treatment. Treat it like any houseplant, and it succeeds well. The Christmas cactus tolerates very dry air in our homes, but is not bothered if you increase the humidity. It does not particularly like transplantation. It may well grow in the same pot for 10 years or more without penalty.

It is propagated mainly by cuttings of the stems. Simply take a healthy stem comprising two to four items and insert it into a small pot of slightly moist compost. Rooting is fairly quickly." Source:http://voices.yahoo.com/how-care-thanksgiving-cactus-4514169.html

Boxes for Samarian's Purse Project

How many things can you pack into a shoebox?  How about if it is for a child who is in an under developed country?  Then you really want to become a packaging genius.

Operation Christmas Child expects to reach a significant milestone this year—the 100 millionth shoe box gift packed and distributed since they started this project 19 years ago.  Our church, plus many others, want to help them reach the 100 million boxes sent to these children all around the world this Christmas.  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php will explain the program headed up by Franklin Graham, President and CEO of Samarian's Purse.

The Packed Box is Bulging but Properly Secured

For my box to look like this what did I do? I started out with many items.

Items Gathered to Fill the Operation Christmas Child Box

These things were:

• Black T Shirt
• Coloring Book
• Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss Kit
• Sunglasses
• Paperback Books (2)
• Washable Markers
• Pins
• New Testament
• Wooden Cross
• Change Holder (UT)  I couldn't resist
• Smart Links Toy
• Toy Cow
• Stickers (3)
• Notepads (2)
• Slippers
• Bowl. Spoon, Cup

Three things in the picture above were not included.  I just couldn't get them all in.  They were the toy house, a notebook and a hardcover book.  All else were included!  Whew!

I used spray adhesive to attach a message and two pictures of us.

Box Lid Decorated with Our Pictures

The bottom of the lid has a note saying "With Love, Martha and Walter".  We had heard that many of the children like it best if they know who sent the box to them.  I hope they like seeing that some grandparents from another part of the world are concerned about them.

Box is Ready for Shipping Label

There!  I did it!  This box is stuffed to almost overflowing.  The rubber bands will keep the box intact during shipping and delivery.  I will turn it in tomorrow at my church and a sticker added to the front will indicate whether it is intended for a girl or a boy.  Since most of our grandchildren are boys, I decided I wanted to shop for a girl.

I come from a legacy of people who helped when they could.  I remember as a child our school was asked to pack a shoebox for far away and needy children, (not this program).  My mother helped me fill the box each time.  We always included toothbrushes and other practical things.  We never seemed to have much money but we always packed these boxes.  Most times a small toy or fancy item was found by my mother and lovingly slipped in at the last moment.  I was always proud of those boxes we packed in our small kitchen.  That joy returned as I placed each item into this Operation Christmas Child box.

God is good.

Pumpkin Patch with Grandchildren, Then and Now

Walter & I took three of the grandchildren to a nearby pumpkin farm that has opened its gates to the community for several years now.

This trip is probably best chronicled by just showing the pictures we took.  The children had a swell time in the newly added activity area.



Waiting to Do the Tennessee Slide

Nola Finishes the Slide on a Burlap Bag

Nola Practicing Driving Skills

Someone Joins Nola

Kash has a Rider During his Time at the Wheel

Seesaw Kash!  Creepy Corner is Behind Him

Grandmother Watches Nola on Tractor Seat Seesaw

Sunshine Blinds the Guys While Chandler Pulls their Wagon

Grandmother, Nola, Kash & Chandler in Front of the Rope Maze

Waving to Grandpoppie from the Corn Maze Train

See I Wasn't the Only Adult on the Train!

Seeing How the Pumpkins are Grown on the Vines

Grandpoppie and Chandler Smile for the Camera (That's a Shadow around Grandpoppie's Neck!)

Pumping Water the Old Fashioned Way

Everyone Wants In on the Fun

Funny Scarecrow with Grandchildren

Caught You on the Children's Hay Maze Slide!

Chandler was a Big Help with the Smaller Children



Pondering the Days End?



Taking a Little Rest Together

We Each Take a Small Pumpkin Home and Pose for One Last Photo in this Pumpkin Patch

Back in 2006 we also took the only four grandchildren we had to the farm.  Let's take a look back.  That trip was a free outing except for a couple of dollars for a tractor pulled hayride that spanned about three acres of the farm.  The big attraction for the children was the grain bins.  We watched for an hour as the grain was poured from one container to another container, all by kid power!

Austin, Colin, Chandler & Brandon at Site of the Activity Area Now

2006 Family Photo

Grain Bins Held Their Attention for a Long Time

2006 Everyone Likes the Feel of the Corn

Relaxing on the Flats of Pumpkins

Grandchildren Pose for a Group Shot - Ages Range from Six to Two

Grandpoppie & Grandmother Share Time with Sweet Boys in 2006

It was a simpler time in 2006.  The farm area had an animal petting area.  It was not as commercial as the farm is today.  The activity area was not developed then.  Today it costs $4.00 to enter.  Several attractions with separate prices have also been added.  On the Sunday we went it was crowded so seeing it all was harder.  Our grandchildren and us had a good time. We were tired more this time.

In 2006 we had food at home before we went to the farm.  Here is a quick look at the table we had.

Chili, Mummy Cheese Ball, Finger Sandwiches, Carmel Corn & Cupcakes

Treats at Home before Going to the Farm

Closeup of the Mummy Cream Cheese Ball

In 2006 we made homemade treats to serve the family.  Sunday we just went to McDonald's.  Yeah, I guess everything changes with time, including our energy level.  I am not complaining.  We still had a glorious time together.

God is good!

My Sister is Feeling Better

My sister is feeling better, so I am feeling better too.  She got to spend a few days back in Harrison at her family home.  For four days she got to go to her girl friends' homes and out to eat.  She even held a Bible study in her home Thursday night.

She was in her home alone for the first time in about two years.  She was excited to share trips to the local malls and local eateries.  Even though she sometimes sat and waited for her friends to return, she reported that it was all fun.

Where the lymph nodes were removed from her arm, she has swelling still.  Her arm is 7 cm. larger than the other arm.  Her doctor has ordered 12 massages for the larger arm.  She has had two hot liquid massages to date.  They make her feel good and are expected to reduce the swelling of her arm until it goes back to its normal size.

I told her she could come to my house now for a visit.  She said she would think about it!  It excites me that she is even thinking about it.

Pumpkin Mantel

I decided to decorate for fall and Halloween without spending any money.  An attainable goal I think.  Why spend when perfectly good decorations are in your closet already?

Rust Candles Repeat the Rust Color in the Picture Mat

Pumpkin Found Last Year for 99 Cents at Goodwill

I took all of my fall decorations out of the closet.  As I was taking them out I was evaluating their sturdiness and if I still loved them after the many years I have owned them.  A few had not stored well so they are gone now. 

As Walter and I are planning an extended family party this month, I wanted to decorate in a few more places than usual.

Pumpkin Side is Nice for Fall, A Carved Face on the Other Side Will be Turned Around for Halloween

I put pumpkins, gourds, candles and leaves on the mantel.  The picture above the fireplace was a birthday gift to me right after we moved into this house in 1997.  It is too heavy for me to lift it, so it will stay around a lot longer.  I do think it goes with the fall decorations.

Picture Above Fireplace Fits in with the Decorations

Later on I will share any other vignettes that I come up with.  Zero dollars spent so far.  That's a good thing.

Sometimes You Are Sad

I have been sad lately.  I can't seem to make decisions and find little joy in things that used to give me much pleasure.  I stay at home alone and busy myself with household tasks or watching TV for hours on end.  So what have I been thinking about?  My sister, a friend's death, financial decisions, insurance choices, etc.  It is hard for me to reach out to others for comfort.

Walter could see my sadness.  He did the nicest thing.  He surprised me with roses on a Friday afternoon.

Twelve Red Roses Cheered Up the Kitchen and Me

My Favorite Flower Smells Sweet



Roses From a Dear Husband

I called my sister on Saturday as we were leaving my friend's burial.  Something about that timing should have given me a caution.  But it didn't.  I just wanted to hear Jean's voice.

My friend that was buried (age 43) is the daughter of a good friend.  She had fought lung and brain cancer for six years.  In February, 2006, we were summoned to the hospital where we heard the diagnosis along with her family.  We were to leave on a cruise with her parents that weekend.  They did not go, of course.  But there were many cruises to come later on when their daughter stabilized more.

She went through chemo, losing hair, setbacks, etc. but always surprised the doctors with her determination and spunk.  She beat the odds by a landslide.  Although given 6 weeks to live, she lived a good life for six years.

My sister is going through breast cancer and when we expected a remission we were told that had not happened.  She let her body rest for a month and has now started taking a new form of oral medicine.  She takes it daily and is expected to take it for five years.

I had my phone on speaker when I spoke to her.  The conversation was short and of no consequence.  She was alive, taking her medicine as directed by her doctor and had walked a short distance.  Nothing any more important than that.  Walter said he thought the call was eerily short.  Maybe so.  But sometimes it is a long call with laughter and stories shared between us.  And sometimes, the calls are just like this one - short with not much new information.  We are at peace with this "phone dance".

Thanks dear husband for the roses, and most of all for the concern and sharing of my emotions.  I love you.