My friend JF told me last month that after Thanksgiving "December ushers the icy downhill descent to Christmas. Less to ponder, more to wonder." That thought has stayed with me given the activities of this month and the lovely snowy weather we have experienced. I'm so glad to have a woodstove and lots of wood to burn this year. We are blessed and my dad enjoyed sitting in a wicker rocker in front of the woodstove most of the day and evening. Of course, now he will freeze away from the stove - it's only 72-74 in the other rooms and he's been basking in temps near 90 all day. David told me to put a hot water bottle in his bed tonight. He's always so cold with his anemia.
A big disappointment this weekend. My niece Kate whose blog I follow (find the link and see her beautiful face and baby Ava) was supposed to come home for a few days with her sweet little 5 month old Ava. Well, not a good day to fly into Albany, NY with this snowstorm so they cancelled and will hopefully get to visit again soon. We miss them and were planning a Christmas party at our house. Another time... I even put up a Christmas tree. A 12" ceramic one with color lights and a light bulb inside that lights them up. I went hogwild. A far cry from our "pre-Coco" days of the 8 ft. balsam we always enjoyed. I just don't want to fight with her over ornaments. So far this week, I have taken from her mouth a bottle of Head and Shoulders, Elmer's Glue, paper plates, kleenex, a box of coffee filters and more. She was getting into the boxes of Papa's stuff. I finally had to put those out of dog reach until we get all unpacked. She is like a bad, bored little kid. We haven't been getting as many walks in as usual and this is the result. I get bored I just eat chocolate, but her, being a dog, well no chocolate for dogs. Elmer's Glue works for her.
So as you travel on the icy descent to Christmas, be safe, be warm and find cause to wonder if not ponder.
I paid for a young woman's groceries at the IGA in Keeseville this week. I say this not to gloat but to enourage others to join me in helping those less fortunate. She was standing at the counter for more then 10 minutes as the clerk kept trying her food stamp card - declined every time. The clerk would wait on the next customer, try her card again - this happened over and over. I finally got to the register paid for my groceries and my change was exactly the 12.78 she needed. I handed it to the clerk, wished them both Merry Christmas and went on my way. It seemed a good thing to do this holiday season. That reminds me to thank my dear cousin in Texas who sent 3 boxes of gifts for me to distribute to nursing home residents. I brought the last two boxes to Tupper Lake last week between hospital trips. It's nice to think of the joy they will bring some of the residents. Thanks Darwin!!!