Come along as I downsize and decorate our cozy retirement home in Coastal Maine. Travel back roads in our little "Casita" and meet amazing people along the way. Join me in the craft room as I learn, practice, mess up, and try again. Follow along as I struggle to get fit. Share in my love of books, antiques, politics, photography and fiber arts. But, most importantly, laugh with me as I stumble along into "geezerhood". As Ward Cleaver said, "You're never too old to do Goofy Stuff!"
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
A Quick DIY Retirement Gift
Teachers have LOTs of required paperwork to complete. So does everyone who works. So I came up with a gift idea for colleagues who were retiring that was such a big hit that my supervisor asked me to make them each year for our district's special education retirees.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Christmas at Our House
Lyrics from my favorite Christmas song: "Christmas At Our House" by Barbara Mandrell:
Christmas at our house . . .
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| Newington, Connecticut, 1950's |
Warm memories
.jpg) |
| Andrea, Cheryl & Nancy; Christmas 1953 |
Bright colored presents
And Christmas trees
Marshmallow meadows
 |
| Applegate, Thanksgiving 2014 |
Candy popcorn balls
 |
| Photo courtesy of Taste of Home.com |
I knew that Santa wore overalls
Mama's baking in the kitchen
Daddy's chopping firewood
Raisin cookies I was snitching
Christmas was good.
Reaching out to help a neighbor
That's the way it always was
We knew Jesus as our Savior
Christmas at our house still does.
Christmas at our house
Some things have changed
Faces and numbers have rearranged
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| Kristen & Grampa (1923 - 2005) |
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| Mom (1921 - 2014) and the "Stunning Smith Sisters", 2008 |
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| Hank, Cheryl & Nancy (1952 - 2010) , Wells, Maine 1987 |
Giggles from children stay in a place
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| Andrea, Cheryl holding Nancy; Christmas 1952, Newington, CT |
.jpg) |
| Rob, Aunt Joanne, & Kristen, Christmas 1978, Essex Junction, Vermont |
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| Rob, Katie, Kelly, Kristen, Kevin & Kit; Christmas 1990, Andover, Mass. |
I see old Santa has gained some weight.
Mama's baking in the kitchen
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| Nancy, Christmas 2006 |
Daddy's chopping firewood
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| Kristen & "Mommy" (me) |
Raisin cookies I was snitching
Christmas was good.
Reaching out to help a neighbor
That's the way it always was
We knew Jesus as our Savior
Christmas at our house still does.
 |
| 22 Applegate Lane |
Christmas at our house is love.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Images of Christmas Past
Feeling sentimental on this Christmas Eve day so thought I'd share some of my personal favorite Christmas memories...
Andrea and I with our new baby sister, Nancy Ann, on Christmas Eve 1952...
And the BIG year...We still talk about the Christmas we got our "Walking Dolls"...1953.
Nancy was walking by then too!
Nancy's Letter to Santa...1960.
She asked for Mr. Machine, a Barbie, and Moon Rocks!
"Aunt Nancy" reading "The Night Before Christmas" to Robert & Brian, 2001.
The way I'll always remember Nancy...
She loved Christmas.
My daughter, Kristen, still believes...
My son, Rob...
and my "daughter", Tomomi.
I helped Rob hang his stocking in 1972...
And steadied his son Takanori after he hung his in 2005.
Taka's letter to Santa...
They don't seem to differ much from one generation of children to another.
(except for "Furthermore"???)
Grandson Toshinori, "nephew" Thomas, GrandsonTakanori...
and sweet Grandaughter, Miyo Alice.
Cricket reads a story to granddaughter, Anna.
As Hank and I finish the baking and get ready to pick Kristen up and load the sleigh for our Christmas Eve visits, we wish each of you a very Merry Christmas in a world at peace.
This Christmas, we are missing our friends...
Ron Lambert...July 5, 1943 - Dec. 19, 2013
and
John Goddard...1943 - 2013
I know that Nancy probably already has both of you laughing in heaven this Christmas Eve...or at least she's baking heavenly cookies for you!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Top 10 List of Gift Wrapping Headaches
It all starts out looking so easy...the wrap is color coordinated, the craft table is organized, the equipment is laid out as if it belongs in the surgical suite at Maine Medical Center...
And then, in the blink of an eye, I find myself in gift wrap H*ll.
It happens every year.
So I've come up with my Top 10 List
of
Things That Make Me Crazy About Wrapping Holiday Gifts:
#10. No matter how many gifts you have wrapped, you will always find one more. There is no escaping this truth...don't even bother trying.
#9. That super-duper extra-long roll of gift wrap will always run out on the fourth side of the biggest box.
#8. Toy manufacturers have secretly plotted to package toys in open-front cardboard packages with angles previously unknown to modern geometry.
#7. The time it takes to wrap a gift is inversely proportional to the time you have left to get it done.
#6. Wherever your _______ (insert your favorite: coffee, cat, ink, etc.) is, it will find its way to the front of the package you have just wrapped.
#5. Like maps, gift wrap tissue is impossible to fold flat once it has been opened. Just give it up...can't be done. Stuff the leftovers in a bag and move on.
#4. The term "stick-on bows" is an oxymoron. They either have backing that is impossible to peel off or, once "un-backed", simply don't stick.
#3. If a box has six flat sides, the idiot person in the store will have placed the huge, ugly sticky price tag on the one that shows the most. This is especially attractive on the front of a book or picture frame. (OT: And what's with price stickers on fruit??? Every tomato I own has a hole in the side!)
#2. It often takes more time to remove the price sticker from a gift than it does to wrap it. There should be a special place in h*ll for the person who designed the sticky price tags used at Home Goods, Marshall's and TJ Maxx that come apart in those frustrating little circles.
#1. And my top gift-wrapping frustration??? Getting the gift all wrapped and forgetting who it's for. Guess there's no one to blame but myself for this one!
So here are a few tips to compensate for the frustrations listed above:
- "Goo Gone" is a gift wrappers best friend.
- Have your glue gun hot and handy when wrapping...great for sticking on recalcitrant bows or adding tags and embellishments.
- Have everything boxed up before starting to wrap.
- Choose colors of wrap and ribbon that all work together, and...
- Pour yourself a big glass of wine or Bailey's before you begin. Repeat as needed.
AAAAh!
Done!
Hang in there, fellow wrappers, the holiday finish line is finally in sight!
Linking to "Inspire Me Tuesday" at A Stroll Through Life
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