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Celebrations in progress
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 02:44PM 
My friend Marsha gave me this festive gnome
I considered, pondered, thought about, intended, and one hundred percent meant to post something for you last week.
There was even a more-than-concerted effort to connect with you yesterday.
But here is how it all went down.
On December sixth -- Wednesday before last -- I developed a sore throat.
That is never a good sign.
This display adorns the foyer table
However.
By that Friday, I was convinced that my strong constitution and immunities had fought off a vile holiday illness.
Erica was suffering from a cold as well so I texted the girls and told them I was pretty sure that a mild cold had brushed past me in a noncommittal fashion and was in the rear view, no longer posing a threat to my person.
Yay, we all agreed. Erica was feeling much better too.
Then that night came. Friday night. This was eleven days ago.
This metal disc came from Mast General Store
It was a bad night. No good sleep. A great deal of discomfort.
Saturday came and I had some responsibilities that required me to be both vertical and presentable.
In addition, TG and Audrey and Dagny and I had planned to go out to dinner that night, to Midwood Smokehouse.
I wondered whether I should go, and ultimately decided that since I was hungry and had already got through most of the day without disastrous consequences, like dying, we would stick to the plan.
We were going early -- meeting at the restaurant at four thirty -- so I knew I wouldn't be out late.
I won this charming light-up church at a Christmas party gift exchange at least a decade ago
Looking back, I probably shouldn't have configured my day like that. The meal was delicious but I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have.
I couldn't even get a big kick out of the treat we got afterwards at Duck Donuts. It was across the parking lot from Midwood Smokehouse, and I was the one who insisted that we go there.
We each ate a still-warm donut while sitting at a little table in the shop, and TG brought the rest home in a box.
Saturday night was worse than Friday night. I developed a cough.
The next day, it rained all day. TG went to church. On the way home, he stopped and got me a big bag of Halls honey lemon cough drops.
These are old-school cheap but they do the trick
He'd asked me whether I needed anything and those were the only thing I could think of.
But I chuckled weakly when I saw that there were seventy cough drops in the bag. It seemed like a great many more than I needed or could consume.
I've lived on them for over a week now. We're not out but neither is that bag anywhere near to being full anymore.
It was funny because at the same time TG bought the Halls, he bought a bag of Luden's cough drops. Why, I don't know. They are disgusting -- nothing more than sickly cherry candy.
But the fact that he'd bought them prompted a memory of getting a box of cough drops to take to school when you were a kid and maybe had the sniffles or were slightly under the weather.
My front-door wreath lights up beguilingly at night
Not contagious -- don't freak out -- but you know, not one hundred percent. Maybe a scratchy throat, or just getting over a cold.
You felt so important with that box of cough drops with its wax paper liner. The teacher had been informed that they were on your person, so it was okay to have one in class.
I don't remember Halls as a kid; only Luden's and one other brand.
TG and I, over our supper that Sunday night, couldn't remember what it was. I only knew it was something Bros. With drawings of two old-timey men on the box.
Between bites of the cheeseburger and fries TG had brought me from Rush's, it came to me: Smith Bros. cough drops.
The Luden's and the Halls cough drops in the skull jar
Which prompted TG to look up the Smith brothers to ascertain whether they were real brothers who made cough drops, or merely a brand, like Betty Crocker. Who does not exist.
Turns out the Smith Brothers. -- William and Andrew -- were the real deal. Theirs are thought to be the original cough and throat drops produced in America.
Before Halls and before Luden's, even.
Beneath the pictures of their bearded visages on the box appeared the word -- but split in two, one word under each face -- Trade and Mark.
The brothers were thereafter known as Trade and Mark Smith.
This woolly ewe is new -- a S&P shaker from Cracker Barrel
Anyway, we don't have any Smith Bros. cough drops in the house but you can pick some up at the store the next time you're there, if there's a need.
I'll stick with Halls honey lemon because they really do help when you have a sore throat and cough. Which I sincerely and fervently pray that you do not.
So for several days I was mildly productive at home, not well enough to go out but not sick enough to lie in bed or sit around nonstop.
As a result, I am ready for Christmas. The cards have all been sent and the gifts are wrapped and under the tree.
With the exception of a few stragglers that I have yet to wrap. But that won't be a problem.
I found this metal sign at Tractor Supply last January, on clearance
Because I'm organized.
Our children's massive stockings are stuffed with all manner of small gifts and hanging from wreath hangers on the French doors between the TV room and the sun room.
TG took me to the store last night for our Christmas groceries, and I purchased the treats I always add to the kids' stockings at more or less the last minute.
The decorating has been done, as I told you before, since the day after Thanksgiving.
Naturally I've tweaked it, and even added a doodad or two, but that's par for the course.
There's a gnome on the coffee cart
Meanwhile we began our Christmas celebrations last Friday night.
It was the first day that I felt well enough to go out, but I admit it was still not as easy as I wish it had been, to get gussied up -- yes I always gussy up -- and leave my warm house.
But Audrey and Dagny had invited all of us (who live here, that being TG and me, plus the Chericas, consisting of Chad, Erica, Rhett, and baby Elliot) to theirs, for pizza and wings and entertainment.
I made Mari's Hot Taco Dip (minus the black olives as per usual, haha) to round out the meal.
For dessert there was ice cream with cookies, and coffee if you wanted some.
Screen shot of Dagny delivering her cardinal paper
The entertainment consisted of music, and a presentation about cardinals. The birds.
Dagny and Audrey had brought Dagny's keyboard into the living room to facilitate the musical part.
There was first an impromptu performance by our Chad, who played Silent Night. He learned to play the piano as a child but last Friday night was the first time I knew that.
Then Dagny played O Come All Ye Faithful. Third and last, Audrey played Silent Night again -- while Dagny sang it.
Completely charming and worthy of applause.
I got this twinkly tree a long time ago at Hobby Lobby
Sorry I got no pictures of the evening but I did take video, and I captured a still of Dagny -- who is homeschooled -- giving her cardinal presentation while TG held the poster visual aid.
It was all so excellent and everyone went home filled with the Christmas spirit.
On Saturday I felt well enough to go to the church with TG in the morning to spend about an hour distributing doorhangers inviting folks to our church's Christmas services.
Audrey and Dagny were there too, and when we were finished, TG and I headed for Simpsonville to have lunch at Cracker Barrel with my sister Kay, her husband Pierre-Philippe, and Henry.
Audrey had a day of errands planned, but Dagny decided that she wanted to come with us.
Dagny came along for lunch at Cracker Barrel in Simpsonville
Henry was married to my mother for thirty-seven years before her death in October of 2020. He is ninety-one years old and just keeps on going, enjoying life.
My sister had a birthday on the fourteenth, so the meet-up was both to celebrate that (I made my semi-famous, entirely homemade Vanilla Pound Cake with Amaretto Drizzle) and to exchange Christmas gifts.
Kay and PP will be heading up to South Bend, Indiana, this week to spend Christmas with two of their daughters and several of their grandchildren.
Henry will have his Christmas dinner in Greenville with our nephew Michael and his family. His (Henry's, that is) five children all live far away.
Kay had made a large jar of chocolate biscotti for me and TG. As I wrote to her in a thank-you note yesterday, I'm trying to stay out of that jar because the biscotti is so good, I fear I could eat it all.
Kay has completed her cancer treatments and her hair has grown back curly
I gave them a large panettone -- a favorite of all of ours at Christmas -- that came in a huge and gorgeous decorative box. I did not buy it from Amazon.
For Henry there was a Legendary Whitetails Buck Camp flannel shirt. Upon opening his gift, Henry's brow furrowed.
Did you get me a Large? he queried.
I had. But Henry, at his advanced age, is no longer a Large. He has shrunk to a Medium. I had forgotten that detail; standing six feet tall, he's always been a Large.
I suggested that he could wear the shirt as an overlayer. A shacket, as it were.
Henry: living embodiment of the word "spry"
Again Henry's nose wrinkled. I already have several big shirts like that, he replied.
Oh dear.
Kay then relayed that only about a week ago, Henry had shared with her that he was having trouble doing up his top button and necktie when dressing for church.
(Yes; contrary to the popular belief that coats and ties at church went out with the horse and buggy, many men still do wear them.)
My sister had suggested that Henry instead wear a black turtleneck beneath his sport coat, à la Steve Jobs.
See what I did there?
Henry liked that idea, so I offered to return the flannel shirt and buy him a classy black turtleneck.
Visibly relieved, he hastily handed me back the gift bag containing the shirt.
On the drive home later, which took about an hour and fifteen minutes, I selected, purchased, and had shipped to Henry this Land's End Super Soft Supima Mock Turtleneck.
He'll look sharp in that, and stay warm, and no buttons to bother with.
I was about to process a return of the lumberjack shirt when TG murmured that he wears a Large and had admired the shirt.
TG's and my stockings are all but empty ... so far
Only, a few years ago, TG had declared a moratorium on buying him shirts for Christmas and his birthday (which is in January).
He has so many nice casual shirts, he doesn't have time to wear them all.
I broke the rule last year by getting him a tee bearing the legend Reagan Bush '84, but he liked it so much that I was forgiven. It's now a favorite.
Once home, I reworked the gift tag that had been on the bag containing Henry's unsatisfactory present. It's now TG's present.
Aren't I a clever clogs? I will thank you not to sneer.
I couldn't resist the barn and silo S&P shakers either
On Sunday, which was a day of torrential rain here in Columbia, we went to church. Seeing that I and Audrey and Erica were all wearing green and black, we pressed TG into service to take our picture.
As I mentioned, yesterday was a planning day and TG took me to buy the groceries.
There is in fact a party later today, here at Chez Weber.
My friend Marsha, who is the receptionist at my dentist's office which is but two miles from my front door, is coming by after work for our Christmas gift exchange.
Audrey and Dagny are invited too. They go to the same dentist as me and we all love Marsha.
The bling reindeer has pride of place
It's very cold today, so I have a warm snack planned, along with freshly baked pumpkin bread. I will take pictures to share at a later date.
This coming Friday, our Stephanie and her family are coming for the day. From North Carolina, a three-hour drive. On Thursday, our Melanie -- their eldest -- will celebrate her nineteenth birthday.
Albeit one day late, we will have a birthday dinner -- I can't wait to show you what I'm serving for that -- and afterwards, Melanie's cake and birthday presents.
When she has been duly fêted, we will repair to the TV room and have our Christmas gift exchange with them.
They will spend the actual Christmas holiday with our son-in-law Joel's family.
Today I moved the little tree to the number six
Usually they spend the night on this occasion, but they decided to come early in the day this time and leave late, to avoid all of that packing. I don't blame them one bit since, leaving on Sunday in the early evening, they have a nine-hour drive to Pennsylvania.
On Christmas Eve we will go to church, and in the evening we'll have our traditional buffet at my house.
Audrey and Dagny have for years spent the night with us for both Christmas Eve and Christmas night, so that we can wake up together both on Christmas Day and on what the Brits call Boxing Day.
We don't box anything on that day, but this year I'm committed to making a Dutch Baby for Christmas morning, using my large cast-iron skillet which is roughly the size of Rhode Island.
With the pancake we will have berry compost. YES I know it's compote but many years ago Audrey had a tip of the slung and called it compost, so now we always say that when referring to warm berry sauce.
This gnome hangs out on the ledge each December
At any rate we will be eating good and there will be plenty of hot, fresh coffee laced with frothy cream.
For Christmas Dinner I have, again, planned an impressive lineup. I'll be telling you all about it in due time.
Meanwhile, two final things:
One: I had written ninety percent of this post yesterday when, for what I believe is the first time in sixteen-plus years of blogging, my website ate my post and it was lost.
It was devastating. I don't know what happened because there is this thing called autosave, only this time, it did not. Although I began rewriting the post yesterday, I was forced to leave it until today to finish.
Two: While writing yesterday I relayed what I thought was a humorous anecdote about an interaction I had at church on Sunday with a fond acquaintance of many years.
A little mailbox and other stuff sit on a tray at one end of the table
I thought perhaps I should retell it but in a different tone because I tend to be sarcastic and perhaps someone would construe that I reacted to said interaction in a way that I had not.
Hyperbole is, after all, my middle name.
Anyway the thing is, at our church we have a Christmas card exchange, the mechanism of which is two sets of shelves set up -- one on each side of the auditorium, in the back -- which hold boxes marked with all the letters of the alphabet.
A through L on one side and M through Z on the other.
We deposit our Christmas cards for others in the appropriate boxes and remove our own cards from the designated box bearing the initial of our last name.
Me in the foreground talking with my hands while Audrey opens a card
Only, the fond acquaintance of which I spoke has, like moi, a last name beginning with the letter W.
And every year, she brings us our cards, more or less gently implying that they were in her way.
She did this again on Sunday. I had tried three times to get near the W box, and finally succeeded, only to find that there were no cards for us in it.
That's because The Other Mrs. W had culled our cards and placed them on our pew.
At the very moment I discovered this, she was there beside me.
Your cards were messing up the W box, she said.
Me and two of my three girls sporting Christmas green
They WERE? I said, laughing. Really?
I felt our innocent Christmas cards had been unjustly maligned but what can you do. They were in the way.
We had a good time with it. She is a darling in the truest sense of the word. She told me that she wishes she could organize all of the boxes containing the Christmas cards, every year.
Which I think is an excellent idea and I vote to so name The Other Mrs. W as the holder of said office.
Audrey and Dagny don't use the boxes; they deliver their cards by hand before and after the services leading up to Christmas.
I have too many to do that but they keep it simple.
Just a few of our offending cards
How many cards do you send at Christmastime? This year we were up to one-hundred forty.
Have you a Christmas card or gift or party or tradition anecdote to share, either recent or from days gone by?
What are you up to in the days leading up to the ultimate holiday?
I know you're busy but if you have time, please tell me in the comments.
And that is all for now.
=0=0=0=
Happy Tuesday :: Merry Christmas
Reader Comments (20)
Merry Christmas Jenny,
What a lovely post. I do enjoy reading about your family, your adventures and your photos make me smile.
We are up to 75 Christmas cards. And no matter how much the USPS hike the rates on postage stamps I will continue to mail Christmas Cheer.
I am so happy to see your sister is well. I continue to pray for her and your family.
And Henry... my what a fella!! Did he like the turtleneck?
Lots of Merry Christmas Love, Carla
Aaagh! I'm so sorry about your post disappearing! I would have been distraught. Thanks for doing it all over again, because I enjoyed the whole thing.
I'm sorry you were sick, but thankfully it was gone by Christmas. There's lots of bugs around here too and I'm trying to avoid them!
Your decorations look so nice. I love that wreath!
What a nice night you all had together with music and a cardinal presentation. I'm sure Dagny felt important as you listened to her.
All three of you look so pretty in your black and green. That photo is a keeper, and for sure needs to be one under glass on your table next year.
Glad to hear Kay is doing well. It's funny how many people have their hair grow back curly after chemo. I think Greg is the smart one to snatch up that shirt from Henry. Bob has also put the kibosh on shirts for Christmas as he says his closet is full. This year we said we would do stockings but no gifts, instead we would go away for the weekend in the new year.
We have mailboxes at church but we each have our own so their is no issue with our cards messing things up. :) That's a great story.
Guess how many cards I sent out this year? Also 140! It's something I like sending and receiving! I got a sweet one from Cherica on Monday. :) Made my day!
My gifts are wrapped, I'm pretty well ready other than some last minute baking on Saturday.
We will just have church Sunday and a candlelight service at night. On Christmas, my whole family is coming. We are using our church to meet at and will have dinner and then some games. I'm sure there will be memories shared of Dad and Ann.
Then our girls are coming to our house for supper and opening presents. We'll have a video call with Andy and Nikki. It will be a busy but fun day.
Merry Christmas to the Weber family from the Bruins bunch!
That was quite a re-writing after losing the lot.
I did remember Smith Bros before you got to it. It's odd what triggers a name because I seem to forget many -- at least I forget them when I really want to recall them. At times like this with Smith Bros, something triggers, and it's there instantly.
We stopped going to church before it becamse casual, and I guess it was a rather long time ago come to think of it. As a teacher, however, I do remember how we switched from ties etc to casual almost overnight. I am going to say 1985, give or take, probably take.
We got two Christmas cards today, but we switched to just cyber cards a few eyars ago. I do like getting proper cards, but my world is different now. For many years I made and printed my own photo cards. In that vein I am thinking of blogging me card tomorrow. It's nothing special, but it is mine.
@Carla ... YES I will keep sending Christmas cards too, no matter what! Just last night while we were at the store, a high school classmate of TG's (with whom we reconnected at their 50th reunion a few years ago), called TG to say how much he and his wife loved and appreciated receiving the card. I'm glad that I can deliver half of my 140 at church, for free! Henry hasn't got his shirt yet but its on the way! I'm sure he'll like it. Merry Christmas to you and Jeremy and Sam and Atticus! Thank you for your prayers xoxo
@Mari ... Well there are worse things than losing a post but when you lose one, you can't think of what they are, hahaha! But its done now and I feel such a sense of accomplishment. And I am very grateful that I got sick when I did, rather than on Christmas! Girl that wreath is the Christmas wreath I've been dreaming of my whole life! New this year, from CostLess. Originally everything there was Costco merchandise. Greatly reduced prices! And yes that flannel shirt is especially nice and my TG will be so handsome in it! You're up to 140 cards too? It sounds like a big number but I can't do with fewer. And I weeded out my list a tad bit this year! I'm so glad Erica sent you a card! How about that adorable picture! Speaking of pictures, I can't wait to see yours from all of y'all's wonderful Christmas celebrations! Love to all of you from all of us! xoxo
@AC ... I hear you! I hope you do blog your card because I would like to see it. When TG's buddy from high school called last night to say how much he appreciated receiving our card, he remarked that he and his wife talk every year about sending Christmas cards, but never do it. I cannot imagine not sending Christmas cards, but then, for now I have the ability to do it. TG told his friend, my wife drives that process and trust me, without someone to drive it forward into reality, it would never happen! I think you're right about the casual dress becoming more common in the mid eighties. I'm not against being comfortable but it's ingrained in me from childhood to dress up and I love to dress up. I will always dress up and, like your lovely Sue, always add a flair or touch that says I care about how I look. It's how I roll and my TG likes me to be the bright bird that I am, so we're where we ought to be on that. And you thought of Smith Bros. before I even wrote it! It came to me rather quickly but once it did, I was surprised that I had to search my memory bank for it, however briefly. Merry Christmas to you and Sue, and I pray you'll be well and happy throughout the holiday and into the new year. xoxo
First off, get to feeling better!
My strategy in that is quercetin, Vita D, C and green tea. Started to feel poorly Monday night at work but by Tuesday morning I had it whupped.
I hope that all of you have a totally awesome, meaningful Christmas there. Of course I know you will, because you're some of the best grounded folks I know. Y'all know what matters and more important, why it does.
So from here, myself and my festive pet rock Seymour, send our best Christmas wishes to you and all yours!
Well, my son texted the other night that my daughter-in-law is ill and I am holding my breath that she will rally before Friday when they are expected to arrive. It is 'just' me, my daughter, my son, and my daughter-in-law for every Christmas. I put 'just' in quotes because while we are small we are mighty and cheerful. We have our traditions and the house is full of love and laughter, which makes me a little teary just thinking about it. My brothers have larger families and more hoopla and sometimes seem to think ours should be somehow 'more', but I tell you we all just love our Christmases together. In fact, I recently commented to my daughter-in-law that I am thinking of buying a new couch in the new year and she immediately reacted saying that she has memories of so many Christmas nights with all of us crammed together on the sofa talking, snacking, playing games, and so wants me to keep the sofa. Isn't that wonderful?! Merry Christmas to everyone,
I'm glad you're feeling better and that it didn't happen closer to Christmas. I still send Christmas cards and probably always will. I remember sitting down with my paternal Grandmother helping her with her Christmas cards every year. It's a tradition I've always loved. It's also good to hear you sister is doing ok. She looks great!! From TBG, myself and Binx we're wishing you a very, very Merry Christmas. May 2024 be the best year yet.
@Mike ... Well I have never heard of quercetin but I thank you for mentioning it because I looked it up and I think it would be prudent to purchase a bottle! You have a good plan for when the germs attack. I am feeling a lot better, thank you. And thank you for your kind remarks which I hope are one hundred percent true. Speaking of true, I think that to whatever extent anyone is grounded, it is precisely to the same degree that they value the truth. Because yes, you CAN know the truth, and it DOES make you free. So Merry Christmas to you and yours, and I know you will be working so that others may celebrate, but I hope you will find time and opportunity to celebrate as well, and enjoy some good food and have as much merriment as you can stand. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Seymour, who I suspect needs no encouragement to do all of the merrymaking available to a pet rock, and then some. Now let's sally forth into this election year and take fingers and point names, and git 'er dun. There's a lot on the line. xoxo
@Maryellen ... What??? Your daughter-in-law would be sorry to see your old sofa go because of all the good holiday times you all have enjoyed while sitting on it? That's awesome and amazing. I still hope you get a new sofa because I'm all about furniture, but her compliment is priceless! And yes your Christmas gathering does sound like the most charming and heart-warming that ever was. There is nothing better in the world than being with your beloved family and really, truly celebrating Christmas. We have a smaller group on the actual day too, and I confess that I like it that way because it's just less chaotic. But we more than make up for absent family members, by eating our share of the treats and theirs too, hahaha! And we hold those missing close to our hearts throughout! I do hope that your d-i-l feels much, much better by Friday and that no one else's health takes a hit. It's so distressing when that happens! And of course you want her to be there no matter what, but there's a certain amount of trepidation when you know there are germs that may enjoy hopping around amongst the crowd. UGH! I choose to believe that you will all be together, eat the foods, watch the movies, play the games, and most of all remember the reason for the season, as in other years! We will be doing the same. xoxo
@Lori ... what a precious memory, sending Christmas cards with your grandmother. I never knew of a Christmas card being sent (or received, for that matter, haha) when I was a kid, but when TG and I got married and began our family, at some point I started making sure that a family photo was taken and made into a Christmas card, and we've just never stopped doing it. I can't imagine Christmas without cards! I love every one we receive and I save them in bunches marked with the year. So here's to a Merry Christmas to all, most especially you and TBG and Binx, and I know you will enjoy wonderful meals and treats from your kitchen, and be warm and cozy together! And yes, here's to a new year that is the best one yet. xoxo
Oh my gosh! I remember taking a little box of cherry Luden's cough drops to school along with a little pack of Kleenex. I remember feeling very important to be able to pop a cough drop in my mouth during class! Too funny! I'm glad your sister is doing good. She looks great and I love her hair! I'm glad you are feeling better just in time! I just got over an upper respiratory virus that kept me coughing for 6 weeks! I love all of your decorations and the picture of you and the girls is beautiful! I'm glad you were able to find an alternative shirt for Henry. He looks great for his age! Sadly, I don't send Christmas cards anymore. I stopped sending them years ago due to budget restraints and never started again! We see most of our family on Christmas and I send personal greetings to the ones that we don't see! We are having a very low-key Christmas this year. My son and his girlfriend won't be coming from NH and Rich and I are both working a lot lately! It's going to be all about Maxwell and Levi! Anyway, Merry Christmas to you and your whole wonderful family!
@Jeanette ... well there's nothing wrong with making Christmas all about those darling grandsons! I'm so sorry to hear that you coughed for six weeks ... that is exhausting! All better now I hope! I love your memory of the Luden's box and the tiny pack of Kleenex -- YES! In case your nose dripped! So funny. Somehow that box of cough drops made you feel important, hahaha! Yes Henry looks great and he really does do well considering. He still lives in his and Mom's big house and keeps things up and does a lot of his own cooking! It's remarkable. We cherish him because he's the last of a dying breed of Americans! Just salt of the earth, hard working, industrious, and decent. I really do hope we can meet up again in the new year if you come to SC or we find ourselves in MI, but until then, keep safe and warm and have a lovely holiday season! xoxo
Lost a post? You are a wonderful writer...I have no fear you could write a novel if you wanted.
Look at Miss Dagny...Lordy, how pretty...ALL of you girls are gorgeous.
I had that nasty illness last week! Awful...but my go-to cough drop is....drumroll...Ludens! Lolol
Got introduced to it by the nuns in the first grade at Catholic school. If a nun says take it...you take it! lol
I don't know what gets into older generations (90's) lol... They are pretty picky! Larry's Dad is 97, spry and picky! I don't take any guff from him though. I'm the only one in the family that talks back to him...I think he respects that. He's usually a sweet guy but there are days...
Well sweetheart, Have a Merry Christmas! Hope you are feeling better by now...I am, also.
Big Christmas Hug
Donna
@Donna ... I'm so glad you are feeling better but UGH Luden's?????? I ate one of those that TG brought home and nearly gagged, hahaha! I guess they are an acquired taste and since I've never had a nun tell me to do anything, I'll trust you on that. Henry can be a pill but I stand up to him too, since my mom isn't here to do it anymore, hahahaha! He's such a good man but there are days ... if you know what I mean. Thank you for the compliments and I have no doubt that I could blather on about this and that for the number of pages it would take to FILL a book, hahaha! Merry Christmas my friend! xoxo
Thank you, Jenny. I needed help with that hope!
@Maryellen ... Fingers crossed! Hahaha xoxo
I'm so sorry you kind of missed a chunk of the Christmas season due to illness and I empathize as I had two out-patient procedures that are taking up much of mine. I enjoyed reading about all the wonderful things that have taken place in your family and plans for the next few days. It sounds sweet to this mom, grandma and great-grandma. I pulled your page off on my desktop to return to next week and read again as we're expecting our son and his family to arrive from out of town in a few hours to spend the weekend with us and I must get busy here. Thankfully, another daughter-in-law is hosting the big family dinner this weekend. I wish you all a blessed and merry Christmas!
Dewena
It's just wonderful that you got fit again quickly enough... what a difference a few good cough drops can make... I'll take Swiss herbal candies!!!
Green is definitely great, especially with velvet :-)) For this Christmas I sewed myself a pair of wide, dark green cotton velvet trousers, the finest material, and bought a blouse to go with it... But I also have a red dress in reserve :- )
The Christmas tree is decorated and it will light up for the first time tomorrow evening. I'm now preparing the potato salad for tomorrow evening... and there's goose with everything around it on Christmas Day with the whole family... wonderful... I love it.
I also sent cards this year... it's no longer common for us, but I want to revive this tradition.
Merry Christmas to all of you and a happy new year.
A happy hug from Viola
p.s. The coronation, it snowed... I'm in 7th heaven :-))
When I was a kid we had Smith Brothers cherry flavored cough drops! Glad you are feeling better in time for Christmas. I used to send Christmas cards (and Hanukkah cards and birthday cards( but know I do everything electronically. I know it's not the same but it is do much easier for me.
Your photos and decorations are lovely. I hope you are blessed with a wonderful Christmas full of love, joy, and family. Merry Christmas.
I'm sorry to hear that you've been under the weather. It's always a challenge when an unexpected illness disrupts plans. I hope you're on the road to recovery now. Sometimes, our bodies have a way of reminding us to slow down, even during the busy holiday season. Take good care, rest up, and I hope you'll be feeling better soon.
@Dewena ... Thank you for dropping by when you are so busy! I know what that's like. I have a tale to tell next week so I hope you are around to read it! Meanwhile enjoy every moment with your family. I know that you will. xoxo
@Viola ... SNOW? For Christmas? That's fantastic! And those green cotton velvet trousers sound gorgeous, as well as the red dress held in reserve. I have a black cotton velvet full-length coat that I've had for nearly 35 years and I still wear it. Not that we have much coat weather around here, hahaha! Today (Christmas Eve) it is 65 degrees. But we are due for rain tomorrow and I am excited about that. Merry Christmas to you, my friend! xoxo
@Judee ... The Smith Bros., yay! Trade and Mark! They have soothed many a throat. I think cyber cards are nice and I use them a lot too, throughout the year. When I'm unable to do a paper card, I'm sure I'll turn to that medium too. Have a lovely holiday, Judee! xoxo
@Melody ... I am so sorry that I JUST SAW your comment, which had got caught in spam! I never even look at that and yet it caught my eye today! Again I'm sorry. Thank you for your good wishes and Happy New Year! xoxo