Tradition

Sadly, we had to break with tradition this year because the tallest family member forgot to place the angel atop the tree when he was home. The tree was installed, the angel ready for placement----and we totally forgot! Luckily, we had the next tallest family member on the bench, suited up and ready to play!!

Holiday traditions.

It's been a weekend of holiday traditions---appropriate for the first weekend of December. First---I brought out my favorite ornament. My Mom's Snow Lady. I wish I knew more about this little gal! She looks waxy and is fragile. I know my Mom bought her during WW2 and she used to spray her with flocking from a can every year. I haven't touched up her snow in years and think she still is pretty. And then Friday nite we went to the Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas. It was packed!!! And packed attendance meant a traffic nightmare but a nice, family crowd. And a chance to see the prettiest tree in Toledo--covered in blue lights!

Beads!

We've been wanting to get to our Toledo Museum of Art's exhibit of Manet and decided Sunday was the "now or never" day before the holiday rush started. Yes---it was an exceptional exhibit and we also took in a photography show featuring old promotional photography from the golden age of Hollywood. But sometimes it's the simple things that really catch my eye. Like these beaded curtains in the cafe. The public was invited to create beads---all different mediums---and they have been assembled to create these window coverings. Some are whimsical--like cupcakes and hamburgs---and some are small intricate treasures like hand blown Venetian glass. Together they make a beautiful work of art.

Turkey Trot!

I've ticked something off my "bucket list" I have always been in awe of runners---knowing that "I just can't run".My youngest son ran cross country and it was an incredible feeling to just be surrounded by runners at events and feed off their energy. This summer I asked myself why I couldn't run and I didn't have a good answer. So I started a walking/running program and felt proud, and yet----. My oldest son urged me to sign up for a 5K run and said that would show progress. Again, those old doubts came into play. But when he presented the opportunity for all of us to run in a 5K---and do it on Thanksgiving morning, I asked myself --"why not?" So we all signed up and on a beautiful sunny Ohio morning 2 days ago, we did it! It was an emotional moment to see the Welcome Runners sign but with the finish line in sight---and my whole family(who finished quite a bit in front of me) cheering me on--it was emotional beyond words. I am proud of all of us and never thought I would do this!!!! What next???

Handmade Christmas

I've been knitting away at these mini sweaters---to make ornaments and also to use up leftover yarn. They look cute hanging on a small tree and they are an easy project to take along when I'm on the go. It's very gratifying to use up my scraps of yarn. I noticed online that some knitters use them as gift card holders.

Honey!

We've been slowly bottling our honey. Slow for various reasons----not only are we busy and that is slowing us down and also because our honey this year is very, very thick---probably from the drought and lack of moisture. And it is also opaque from a lot of pollen. So we will just work away at bottling and be very, very patient.

Magglio

Our Bassett Hound has started having anxiety attacks at nite---shivering, quivering, teeth chattering episodes. It is sad to see--not to mention sleep disruptive. Friends have given lots of advice and it usually makes mention of a Thundercoat. To me, that sounded like quackery but we were desperate and finally bought one. And incredibly, it worked. No more shivering at night and his waking episodes are coming to an end. It is just a snug, soft body wrap---sometimes I wish they had them for humans!

House Divided

We were somewhat of a house divided in California---Giants fans, Tiger Fans and some that were a little of both! We did get a few puzzled looks as my brother's car was decorated for each team! All part of the fun though! But next year is---the Year of the Tiger!

I miss my little home here in the blogosphere. Being busy is no excuse to ignore my blog. Being across the country isn't an excuse either. I did something totally out of character for me---made a spur of the moment decision to visit family in San Francisco and go see the Tigers in the World Series. No stressing about packing--just threw some clothes in a suitcase(lots of tiger gear and orange colored sweaters) and went. We had so much fun-my brothers family love the Giants and our 2 teams share the color orange and that was our theme! Like these orange rimmed champagne glasses that awaited us when we arrived! Cheers to the Tigants!

Yarn Bombing

Bloomington Indiana has the warmest, coziest trees around. They surround the town square and are part of a charitable cause called Knitting to Heal at http://www.knittingtoheal.org/. The trees have been Yarn Bombed and you can vote online for your favorite---proceeds benefit victims of violence.

Hoo Hoo Hoosier

Why go anywhere but Indiana to see fall color! It's the prettiest I've seen---peak color. We made our annual trek to the Hoosier state and had a lot of fun. Wine tasting, birthday cake, fall color, and lots of special people. The view from our hotel room in the heart of the IU campus was an extremely old graveyard. And by the dawn's first light a gaping hole was visible in the middle. Hmmmmm---what evil lurks. But it didn't concern the Indiana students who were excited about Hoosier Hysteria! Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

Message

Sometimes small surprises can make-or break-a day. But this made mine. This is a dry erase board at work that our surgeons use to confer with families. This morning-someone left a beautiful message on it. Don't know who-maybe someone waiting for a loved ones surgery-but whomever did it--thank you! Too bad I had to erase it to make way for diagrams of bowels, bladders and gallbladders.

Back on Track

I spent the first part of the year getting fit--running, losing weight, eating healthy-and the last part of the year--not so healthy for various reasons. But today I laced up the running shoes and went to the park and it felt wonderful. And I counted all my weight watcher points and even have 1 point left over-which will go unused. Oh---and I lifted weights at lunch in our work gym. You heard it here---if you see me with an ice cream cone, slap it out of my hand!

Market

Our farmers market is still bustling with all the fall produce and autumn smells --like doughnuts. Apples-apples-apples!!! Nothing like our local Midwest apples! We had stopped at a farmers market in Michigan this week for apples and stopped and turned around when we saw the crates stacked up that said Washington Apples. Not that Washington doesn't have good apples but when they are in season here---? Anyway--we bought a LOT of apples and pears for jam. And spaghetti squash, Osage oranges for the color and mums!

Preserving Summers Beauty

I accidentally planted a zinnia plant that I ended up loving-more so than any zinnia I have bought. So when my mother in law mentioned she saves her zinnia seeds with great success-I decided to try it too. It's a simple process-just plucking the dried petals and the arrow shaped seed is visible . Then store in a paper bag----marked with the date and flower and next summer we are good to go. Because next year I am planting a raised bed just for cutting flowers. I've always loved fresh flowers in the house but lately I have enjoyed seeing them in the flower beds too. So a bed just for cutting hopefully will eliminate the guilt of cutting them for the house!

Bees

Last year we had one beehive--our very first venture into beekeeping. It was fun-an adventure! Next year, we told each other, we will have more---lots more! Our bee club laughed and said "one hive is fun, 2 hives is a hobby, 3 hives are a lot of work". We didn't listen. We told each other 5 hives would be 5 times the fun. Well----we lost 2 hives and now we are harvesting the honey from 3 hives. We are both tired and medicated with lots of Motrin for our sore backs. Dan is laying on the couch with ice on his swollen bee stung ankles. Our garage, floor, door knobs and clothes are dripping with honey. And we still have more frames to remove from a hive. Are we having fun? You betcha! Will we do it next year? Yes. Will we add more hives----definately!!!

The Good Doctor!

I still have my original Dr Scholl sandals. Do they still make these? They have a bump under the toe and the premise was by gripping the bump when you walked, it toned your calves. So we-those of us in the 70's-walked around all day exercising our calves. And now that I think about it--they are called Dr Scholl's excercise sandals. And they do feel pretty comfortable to wear. Why do I still have them? Because they are virtually indestructible-wood base and leather strap. So retro--still chic. The skirt is new but the tie-dye is the right look with the shoes!

Red Gold!

My Mom used to tell me her mother would cry late in summer when she saw another bushel of tomatoes brought into the house. I am beginning to understand---and I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn like she did to light the stove or cook 3 heavy meals for a large family and farmhands at the same time like she did!

Jammin'

I read that canning is addictive and it is true! But it is so nice to open the pantry door and have my own "convenience food"! Every weekend another batch of our own tomatoes gets a "hot water bath" and yesterday I bought some local berries for raspberry jam. I remember when I was first married, my Mom would offer to give me some canned tomatoes and-I can't believe I said this---I would refuse them!!! What was I thinking--but I had limited storage space then.. My stubborn Mother wouldn't listen to me though and showed up with cans of tomatoes!!! I always used them too. I wish I had told her how much I loved that!

A sad tale

Once upon a time-in Michigan-we were walking along the beach and saw this Proud Tiger. Completely out of place in the relatively tame wilderness of Up North. We tip-toed around him and hoped his trainer/owner would claim him after his nap. But the next day---again we were walking along the beach and again we saw the proud Tiger---atop a sand castle bluff. Later that afternoon a storm came up and I ran back to the beach to rescue the Tiger--but he was gone! But---horrors---there in the sand was the dress of a fair maiden--probably eaten by the Tiger.

Zinnias

I did not plant these zinnias. They just appeared in a shrub border. And it is just one beautiful plant. And what is even crazier is that I love zinnias and have planted them in the past with no success. They have been short and get some dusty looking diseases. But not this one. It was probably from a seed dropped by a bird but it is exactly the right kind of plant I want. So I am going to do what my mother in law does---save the seeds and replant next year.

Peaches

Peach season is way too short. And once a juicy, drippy, sugary local Peach is eaten, nothing from the grocery store can compare. And then there is the decision to cobble them, crisp them, shortcake them, put them over vanilla ice cream, jam them, jelly them, layer them on rice crispies or just eat them out of hand with a towel tucked into your shirt to collect the juice.

Baseball Sunday

Huzzah! Or so they say at Vintage baseball games. And today we traveled to Columbus and saw 3 of them. I watched and Matt and Dan played. It was more of a festival rather than a tournament with teams from as far away as Missouri and Minnesota. It was interesting seeing the different authentic uniforms and accessories--such as wooden canteens. And to add to the intrigue---and back to the modern world---while we were eating lunch at the restaurant across the street, the police were searching every inch of the restaurant. We figured it was for drugs---later in the afternoon we could see them make arrests. Strange indeed.