Because

Because you are all so close to me

will share yesterday and now today

something I do not want to share
just no lengthy responses
have some help taking me where I need to go
miss family
but no one near
and Christmas in a few days
will see them at that time

trying to stay more quiet
and difficult for me with my routine of busyness

and maybe I should not share
but will

Putting my boots on Sunday night to shut screen door porch
which I keep open in the day for Callie

I fell
flat on my face

Waiting for test results
no pain
thankful
nothing broken
just feel like someone picked me up and dropped me

results, nothing unusual
just huge knot on head
now draining

trying to stay quiet and almost impossible:)

A New Day and Small Gifts Along The Way...

Rum cake is cooling

love my stay at home days
it is so cold outside.

Yesterday, so cold, much bagged trash in garage and needed mail from box way down the drive.
Took off and sometimes a kind person will help me unload bags my car, man in vehicle behind me stepped forward and said I"ll take care of that for you :)
 I gave him a small box of King Leo peppermint sticks and he smiled.  New practice of keeping
small items and sometimes a plastic bag of several fresh baked cookies to hand out to strangers
who help me.

Not accustomed to this
as this independent one
never needed help.
So thankful for Angels that appear along the way.

Yesterday such a small check received, like 3 cents and letter from Lowe's where I recently
purchased a few items for yard and bird seed.   Letter stated they appreciated my business
and I made an over payment of 3 cents which they were returning to me :)

A number of chores inside and late to do stretches and seems no time to read lately.
Time goes by too quickly and day has ended..

They Arrived

Later this year
because of all the rain
but late this afternoon
the crew of 4 arrived with heavy blowers
to clean leaves from around this cottage and also on roof cleaning gutters.

A new practice of 3 years, before that I was on the mower daily and used my small blower.
Things change, but with much checking it is less expensive for me to live here then in a condo.
Maintenance fee's of $400 a month and up year round.  Until 3 years ago Nashville was an option but
not any more as prices have probably doubled for living arrangements and homes of any kind.

My small home in Nashville sold 7 years ago has doubled in price, but so happy I escaped
to the woods.  But a surprise that I can no longer do the outside work I loved to do.
Silly me, I thought I could do it forever.

Today a Surprise

Day begins with rain

and I plan on being home all day in old clothes

a lot of chores inside

and want to tackle big pile of ironing on the loft.

Ironing board has been move by big window

will be a delight to look at the country view.

Well did not turn out this way

at 9:00 phone rings and someone special

tells me she is pulling in my drive.

Now I like this

but this morning still in pajamas, a lot of clutter

and like home neater for one who has never made a visit before to this cottage by the woods.

Oh, if it was summer and all the flowers blooming would look lovely

but there are leaves everywhere, bare trees and landscape looks kind of barren.

She comes in the door, arms full, a pumpkin cake for me and homemade candy

she hugs me and goes on and on about special things in this home.

Love this young woman, she did Jamie's hair for her wedding and I now go every few weeks

for her to make my trimming look good, as I am continually chopping on my hair and she does

not scold me, tells me I do a good job:)  She is a dear and think of her like a daughter.

So, Cindy, thank you special girl, here it is your day off and you arrive looking so happy

and made my day....

Then another visitor pulls in right behind her with a wonderful Carrot cake, the best I have ever tasted that I ordered for Christmas, seems a lot of sweets in this home.  Everyone watching their diet

but mama as she never gains weight :)

At the moment still in pajamas, no breakfast but tea and a piece of her cake and at 1:00

my vegetable soup, cheese and crackers, another piece of cake and do not know when I ever did this and feels so good.

No ironing was done,  just sitting out a few more decorations, straightening drawers  just doing odds and ends  and thinking of my simple menu

for Christmas lunch, making grocery list and just a good day....

small table I am eating at - while I prepare big table for Christmas.

Life is Good

Cold Morning

13 degrees this early morning by the woods.

I wonder
what would I do without a computer at this time of life?
It seems to be main form of communication with my children and grandchildren.

Son in far away land emails several times a week and almost feel like I have made a
a visit to Thailand.  My first born Laurie was asked to model at a fund raiser in Tampa
and mom is so impressed with images she sent.

Jamie, my youngest with 2 youngest granddaughter's goes nonstop and I remember
those long ago days so well.  Guess that is one of the reasons I enjoy this late in life
time in this cottage the woods.

Middle daughter, the nurse is busy with planning for my chef granddaughter who is
finishing a season in Nantucket, her arrival soon and so pleased she will be among family
sitting at the long table at our Christmas lunch.

I smile as I view my orchids now showing 20 buds and buds are just beginning to show.

Busy days continue
plan on baking fresh Apple cake and Sour cream, Chocolate chip and Cranberry cookies
this week.  They look so festive, so good and I wonder why do I not make them more often.

Leaf removers with strong blowers have not arrived and seems this year the leaves do not bother
me that surround this home.

So life continues at a fast pace for my family and a delightful pace for this one traveling through her
80's.   I will end with....Life is Good....


80>s 80

Holiday Busyness

Not as much done as times in the past
but still busy here by the woods.

After errands yesterday, home through heavy traffic and thoughts of what do I make for
late lunch.

So on a bed of mixed greens a slice of wonderful bread warmed and covered with cheese
topped with cooked bacon, egg and tomato from vine in pot.  A side of artichoke dip with
black bean chips and the last slice of my pumpkin pie - made it complete and enjoyed more and probably healthier then any food I picked up on the way home.   Lately it seems I like
my food better.
  The tomato's picked green and have been
in utility room and finally ripened and so good.

A simple lunch buffet for family on Christmas at noon
and thoughts kept coming about something I purchased over 50 years ago that was in the
storage room.   So much given away
but for some reason kept this container and it will contain some kind of soup for Christmas
lunch.
Thinking I would feel more comfortable using this one
neither of these used for almost 40 years.

December Beginning

Busy time after Thanksgiving  trip to dentist and then onward to Nashville to have tooth pulled.
Visit to doctor and waiting for blood work results, on antibiotic for infection,

An all day rain and I like it, we need it  and much tackled inside, a healthy dinner and tomorrow
hopefully desk full of papers and ironing.

Love the pictures that arrive from family
My first granddaughter with her dad

Awesome hair on one of my youngest granddaughter's
Going to a Christmas party and remember those days well

Today second visit from plumber and I cooked a healthy meal, black eyed peas, fresh turnip greens,
 mashed potato's, cornbread and even made a pumpkin pie.