random thoughts on nye {december 31, 2021}

December 31, 2021

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ~ T.S. Eliot

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Resolutions? They go in one year and out the other!

*In 2022, I plan to get in 1,000,000 steps (10,000 steps for 100 consecutive days) before my daughter's wedding in April. One million good wishes for the newlyweds. January 1 is my starting date. And I just might continue the steps to the birth of my first grandchild in June.

*I want to blog daily, rather than playing catch up on my entries. I will do my best to write one entry for each day, documenting the countdown to my 65th birthday.

*Yoga 2-3 times a week. It's amazing what a regular practice does for strength and flexibility and for peace of mind.

*The pandemic has been isolating for me. I want to make an effort to reach out to friends via phone call or a visit rather than on social media.

*Make sure I say I love you to those who mean the most to me.

*Road trips and bigger trips.

*Kindness and tolerance.

*Gratitude.

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My very talented artist friend Pat did a series called "A Plethora of P's". One year, I did my own drawing (I'm not a talented artist), "P" for Prosecco and sent it to her just because I really enjoyed this series. Much to my surprise, she included it in her blog for a New Year's Eve Post. 

https://saxtonstudio.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/cheers-a-guest-plethora-of-ps-p-prosecco/?fbclid=IwAR0We22x1UgyZPX6jszCL2vspB5y9Dpo4m44Rn1Ax-t-qYhPBQ1bnxrqS0c

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And finally, what would New Year's Eve be without "Auld Lang Syne?" 

Happy New Year and many blessings for 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMFnqj6aFwY

last look {december 30, 2021}

Yesterday, I made my last visit of 2021 to the Tree of Light. Starting around Thanksgiving and going to New Year's Day, this display is such a beautiful six-week addition to the Dayton skyline. The Tree greets people as they pass through Dayton on I-75 and residents can see shine it from various vantage points throughout the city. It's been a beacon of hope these past two pandemic years. And when the tree's lights are turned off for the last time, the sun will be shining a few more minutes each day, and we will see renewed hope of the coming of spring...only 80 more days!

 

ponderings {december 29, 2021}

I was wondering: 

1: Who is happier the person walking the dog, or the dog being walked? 

2: Are dogs or people easier to photograph? 

3: Do you prefer puppies or old dogs? 

4: Aren't all dogs lap dogs? 

5: If a dog could answer one question, what would you ask? 

My answers:

1: Who is happier the person walking the dog, or the dog being walked? I enjoyed walking my dogs and they would go nuts when they saw me walking toward the leash closet. Both of us were happy.

2: Are dogs or people easier to photograph?  Dogs, especially when you have a treat to get their attention. Most everyone likes to see photos of dogs (or cats or other animals), even if the photos aren't that good. Unlike humans, dogs aren't critical of the photos taken of them.

3: Do you prefer puppies or old dogs? Each stage brings its delights and challenges but I love older dogs. 

4: Aren't all dogs lap dogs? Nope! The 35-pound dog in the middle photo is such a sweet dog but he does not like to cuddle or be held or be on a lap. The guy in the first photo at 150 pounds, loved to put his head on my lap when I was on the couch. He took up the whole couch, too!

5: If a dog could answer one question, what would you ask? Tell me what you smell when you sniff the same spot for 5 minutes.

errands {december 28, 2021}

To dos for today...

*Chiropractor appointment. The doc spent a lot of time on my back today; worked on lots of tight spots and getting things in line.

*T needs a couple phone cords, one for his car and an extra long one so he can charge his phone as he talks and works on it for the majority of the day.

*Buy a 2022 wall calendar. I use a Day Planner and the calendar on my phone (sometimes) but the wall calendar is still my favorite organizing tool. I can see the whole month in one fell swoop vs. flipping through the planner or the iPhone.

*Visit my parents' grave on this rainy day. 

tears {december 27, 2021}

Well, today's the day. The day that the last of my family heads back to their homes. The girls are packing their car. It's a full one with gifts, three people, and a dog. I run upstairs a few times so no one sees me shed a few tears. It's been a tough year for many reasons and having my whole family here was just what I needed. And for that, I am very grateful.

8-bit christmas {december 26, 2021}

It's Sunday, December 26, 2021...The last Sunday of the month...the last Sunday of 2021.

How was Christmas? Ours was very good…House was filled with family … 

Food and gifts and fun…

A and J leave to celebrate Christmas with J's family...

More football today…
1 p.m. Bucs (19-4) vs Carolina Panthers (5-9)

T and I take a walk. Even though we're tired, we just had to move. A small rainbow graced the sky. I smiled as I thought of my mom and dad and three dogs who have left this earth.

The rest of us are pretty much slugs for the rest of the day. We watch a cheesy Christmas movie, "8-Bit Christmas," a flashback to 1988 about a young boy's quest for a Nintendo NES console. There were so many growing up elements for my kids, I mean young adults: ogreish bullies, Boy Scouts, baseball cards, puke and poop jokes, the "Diarrhea Song..."

When you're climbing up a ladder,

and you feel a little splatter!

Diarrhea, Diarrhea.

When you're standing on a stoop,

and you see some juicy poop!

Diarrhea, Diarrhea.

When you're heading into first

and you feel your insides burst,

Diarrhea, Diarrhea!!

When you're sliding into third,

and you feel a juicy turd!

Diarrhea, Diarrhea.

Some people think it's funny,

But it's really brown and runny!

Diarrhea, Diarrhea.

When you're climbing up a ladder

and you feel something splatter

Diarrhea, Diarrhea.

When you feel your tummy bubble

And your ass says "Here comes trouble!"

Diarrhea, Diarrhea. 

When you thinks it's just the toots

But you're filling up you're boots!

Diarrhea, Diarrhea.

I'm sure there are plenty more verses but it's time to cut the crap and be done! 💩💩💩

christmas day {december 25, 2021}

 

S made her traditional biscuits and gravy for Christmas breakfast and afterward we opened presents. The kitchen was busy with making turkey, prime rib, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, and salad for Christmas dinner. The Cleveland Browns played the Green Bay Packers and on this unusually warm day, the windows were open and the fam was yelling during the whole agonizing game. We didn't sound very Christmas-y! We added two leaves to the table so the eight of us could sit together. Christmas dishes from my mom brought holiday cheer to the table. Delicious red wine flowed, laughter and Christmas music filled the room. These are the moments that mean so, so much.

Merry Christmas from my house to yours.

christmas eve {december 24, 2021}

 On this last day of Advent, a thrill of hope...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsfGJuugPUk

My whole gang fills the house today. This is what Christmas is all about, having a house full of the people I love the most. 

hustle and bustle {december 23, 2021}

Learned something from the New York Times Mini: A cynophile is a lover of dogs. I have had dogs for over 20 years and never knew I was a cynophile!

Rather than hauling all their Christmas gifts from Chicago, the girls had all their Christmas packages shipped here and now they are busy little elves wrapping their presents in the dining room. And I made a huge bowl of Chex Mix for everyone to nibble as the day went along.

Other day-before-Christmas Eve doings included: last minute shopping runs, working from home phone calls, ordering Chinese food for dinner, making a baby blanket, and listening to A read his Christmas poem to the family to inform his siblings that they will uncles and aunts in June. The sibs' reactions were priceless and joyous. Even though the kids told T and me about our grandbaby in early December, I still cried at this announcement. 

peanut blossoms {december 22,2021}

Palindrome (last one of the year): 12-22-21

Last batch of cookies to make before the Chicago crew arrives tonight...Peanut Blossoms. This recipe is also from my mother-in-law.

In the Christmas cookie count, three recipes came from my mom, two from my mother-in-law, and two from me. (Those peanut clusters are compliments of a friend). LOTS of butter involved...all made with love.

winter solstice {december 21, 2021}

 

Some more fun with numbers...

white chocolate cranberry shortbread cookies {december 20, 2021}

My nephew had a cookie bar at his recent wedding. One of the cookies was a shortbread with white chocolate and cranberries. Crispy, buttery, sweet, and a touch of tart from the cranberries...delicious! When I made my list for this year's Christmas cookie line up, I wanted to include these in the CC repertoire. One of my daughters loved these and has requested another batch.

*These cookies were 2" instead of 2 1/2" that the recipe calls for. Watch the first batch carefully to see how your oven cooks these buttery wafers. My first batch browned a little more than I wanted. They were still good but...

caramel cream sandwich cookies {december 19, 2021}

Caramel cream sandwich cookies.

My favorite Christmas cookie.

THE MOST LABOR INTENSIVE Christmas cookie in my collection.

Make marble sized cookie dough balls, flatten them, bake them, match them in size to a  comparable wafer, frost them. I made 92 wafers, which produced 46 cookies. I make them once a year.

Every bite of this cookie is worth the effort. 

kiflings {december 18, 2021}

Kiflings, aka Mexican Wedding Cookies, aka Italian Wedding Cookies...I think quite a few cultures have a cookie that is made with butter, flour, nuts, and covered in powdered sugar. My cookies are called Kiflings because my mom got the recipe from her mom who got the recipe from her mom who came to the US from Germany.

My mom used pecans in her Kiflings. I don't like pecans. I wanted to use almonds but my daughter is allergic to almonds so pistachios became the nut of choice for this batch of cookies.

frosted chewies {december 17, 2021}

A recipe from my mother-in-law. It's similar in concept to Rice Krispie Treats but the recipe calls for Special K. I began my search for Special K a couple weeks and a few trips to the grocery store before I wanted to make these and plain Special K was nowhere to be found. There's Special K with cinnamon, Special K Dipped Chocolate Almond, Probiotic Special K, Special K Honey Almond, Special K with Dried Strawberries...every flavor under the sun except for PLAIN. I bought the one I thought was the plainest (the one with dried strawberries) and picked out all the strawberries. I did consider using Cheerios or Rice Krispies in place of Special K, but I wanted to stay true to the recipe...gotta stay one step ahead.

stockings and decorations {december 16, 2021}

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
I made each of my kids' stockings after their births in 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1990. 
The last one on the right was added in 2018 for my new daughter-in-law. The two buffalo check stockings are for my daughters' boyfriends. When they join the family, they will get a handmade stocking.

Some of my Boyd's bears and a couple of my many Santas. The little green chair belonged to my grandpa who was born in 1898.

Gotta represent Cleveland sports!

 

christmas sparkle from grandma {december 15, 2021}

My grandparents lived in a big farm house with leaded glass windows. When the sun's rays hit those windows, their dining room walls were covered with rainbows. My parents lived in a mid-century modern home, no leaded glass windows, but my mom hung eight crystals (one for each grandchild) in her kitchen window. When the sun shined through that window, rainbows danced on her kitchen walls. When Mom moved to assisted living, I kept the crystals tucked away in a drawer to figure out what to do with them. 

I've had those crystals for eight years now and it was time to get them out of the drawer and to Mom's grandchildren. My very talented jewelry-making friend and I bounced ideas back and forth and we agreed that a Christmas ornament would be a wonderful way to repurpose the crystals for the kids to remember their grandma.