Christmasy December Days....

The Christmas season is upon us!

 

Tuesday Brenda and I went to Decorator's Warehouse and it was amazing!!

It's a great to get inspiration and decorating ideas!

Even the ceilings are decorated!

We asked a guy who was taking pics if he would take ours with my phone.

He was happy to do it and then a lady asked him if he would like HER to take the pic so he could be IN IT! We all laughed when he told her we were just strangers!

We had lunch at Campo Verde and lingered long at the table just visiting.

I meant to come home and get to work BUT I was tired and felt like I was coming down with allergies...

So I watched Die Hard for the first time!

I even started Die Hard 2 before going to bed.

Wednesday I worked in the sewing room right up to 4:00 when I stopped to get ready for the Bell Grand Girls' Winter Concert!

Look how beautiful they are!

Amber and Mike sat up on the top row of the bleachers to get a better view while Louis Dean and I sat in chairs on the gymnasium floor. 

Amber said she had fun watching US enjoy the concert!

They played so well!!!!

He was excited to visit with the orchestra conductor!

That made his day!

I was so happy we were able to go!

Thursday I had an appointment with my eye doctor and was told I would need to see a specialist for my cataracts and macular degeneration. I had alreaady made an appointment for January so I was good to go.

I went over to see Kimmy and Aunt Tommie and her sweet dog, Baxter!

Since I was out and about I did several errands - as in Aldi and Walgreens and a thrift store!!

That was fun!!!

So many treasures!!

Louis Dean has been staying busy in his room.

I love that he has that special place to putter around and sort and organize his 'stuff!'

I have been working in the sewing room and will finish it today.

The middle of December and I am still not finished with my decorating!

I am going so much slower than usuall  due to the head cold I have - I take lots of rest breaks and am drinking a good amount of water. It's not often that I am sick and I am grateful for that.

I just hope I don't share this cold with Louis Dean!

"Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:

Because he trusts in Thee."

Isaiah 26:3

I'm Loving These Quiet December Days.......

 This December feels different from any previous ones....and that's not a bad thing....just different.

Back in previous years, Decembers were really busy and full of all sorts of activities.

Visiting nursing homes and shut ins, cooking and hosting and going here and there at nearly break neck speed. Louis Dean would play his music for Mother, Reaoma, Lillian and June and others.

We visited all my siblings and had great family gatherings.

I hosted huge Christmas Tea Parties for my friends as well as dinner parties for close friends and family.

It's bittersweet to realize those days are over and yet I feel good about embracing our slower life now.

I am a 'keeper at home' and able to enjoy time with Louis Dean with less responsibilities for others.

Actually, Louis Dean is the ONE whom I am concentrating on.

He does best when I am home with him even if he stays in his room all day puttering and I am in other parts of the house doing what I do - cleaning and decorating - baking and cooking!

God continues to bring people into my life - as in my neighbors across the street.

I've known them since their children were very young.

Now the son and daughter are grown and taking care of their parents and recently sent some delicious Indian food over. That has led us to a deeper relationship to them and I took pumpkin muffins over to them two days later.

Do you know why we had not 'connected' sooner?

I could not pronounce their names!

The family has watched out for us all these years and know us better than we know them - when our pecan trees gave us big harvests - the mother would chase off people coming into the yard to gather them.  If friends wanted to pick up some, I would go out with them!

Now that I know their names and can call out to them - our friendship is growing by leaps and bounds!

The dad is named Anise - like the spice.

Once I accidently called him and he immediately called me back thinking I was in need!

Now that is a friend!

The mom is Habiba - which means My Love and that's what I call her!

The son is Ahmed and I can say that.

The daughter is Katoon (I think) - which means Melody.

I saw her yesterday morning and called out, "Good morning, Melody!"

She has THE most precious dog named Mocha and that dog LOVES me and I LOVE him!

Times change and things change but God is always moving and bringing to us the ones we can minister to no matter what time of life we are in.

And I thank God for that.

Have you ever prayed the Prayer of Jabez?

His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

I Chronicles 4:10

I have prayed that prayer before and am praying it again now.....

Perhaps you will join me.

Louis Dean loves the days that we stay at home - and he stays here for days on end while I go out to do errands every other day or so.

Samantha only has eyes for Louis Dean!

Tabitha is the one who is keen on escaping so when we get going with our days - meaning in and out the doors - I put them in the guest room for their own protection.

I've been looking through my old recipes I keep in a metal box.....

And made up a batch for the first time in 19 years!

Still as good today as it was back then!

A small pan of pepper poppers because I forgot I had them so I could only use a few parts of them since they were old.

Filling was plain cream cheese and this seasoning.

SO good!

Served with potato soup from a day ago!

Friday was a 'spa' day for us.

I called ahead and made appointments for mani/pedis for three!

We met Brenda there and had such a relaxing time.

They always treat Louis Dean like he is super special - which he is!

I finished cleaning and decorating Louis Dean's bathroom on Saturday.

It's warm and cozy in there.

I took a bubble bath Friday night complete with candles and a glass of wine and fragrant body wash and lotions! It was an AHHHHHH time!

I tried to decorate 'man style.'

Candles make every room special.

Saturday I worked in our bedroom!

Not overly 'Christmas' but will last through the winter season.

The icicle ornaments are the only purchase I made at the thrift store this week.

I'm loving this season and the slower pace.

Pam came by yesterday and it was so good to see her. I sent her home with a bag of soup and muffins.

She's recovery from a recent knee replacement surgery.

I've been missing Ilene and will make sure we visit some this next week.

She is such a blessing to us.

Kimmy came by and picked up potato soup and pumpkin muffins.

No matter what our situation in life is - God can still use us to bless others while he brings others to bless us!

You cannot outgive God!

Cats Escaping, Food, Dining Room Dressed for Christmas and GUESS WHAT?? We Bought a Nearly New Car!!

 Not only have our cats been escaping lately - but Amber's Bandit escaped, too!

While ours only stayed out for hours - Bandit was gone for days!

Amber was so excited when she finally enticed him to come in!

We are so attached to our feline 'family' that we fear for their safety and worry about them when they get out! I've put ours in 'isolation' aka the guest room when we are going in and out a good bit.

Better safe than sorry with their welfare at risk.

These are pampered cats and not prepared to deal with the 'real world.'

I've been continuing decorating for Christmas and - NO - I did not finish by December first!

It's a work in progress and as I move on to a new room - I go back and add things to the one before.....

as in setting my collectiomn of Christmas book under the living room tree!

I've been cooking every day and this is a fried cabbage and onion dish.

It paired well with a lemon seasoned pork loin and sweet potatoes.

The Christmas cradinal tree is done in the dining room.

A small scale center piece using a siler tray to hold an evergreen wreath with pine cones and faux berries surrounding a candle.

I used a lot  of greenery, pine cones, faux berries, white fairy lights and red in the dining room.

The smaller scaled metal chairs make this room more open and spacious.

Every room seems to take on its own personality.

Rayne will be our only grandchild not to be here on Christmas Eve but she is in my heart and I have her pic here to keep me company.

The dining room is now done - and I added some things but didn't take pics.

Enough is enough!

Tuesday was a super special day for us!

Jesse came over before 2:00 and took us to the credit union to finish up membership papers and then on to the dealership to see the car he found for us.

I told him I wanted a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and that's what he found for me!

He gifted us several hours of his time and by the end of the day - I had a new car!!

It was dark by then and he drove us home.

What a wonderful car buying experience thanks to my amazing son!

Thank you, Jesse!!!

I woke up early this morning and went straight out to the front porch to look at my new car!

Not only my heart was smiling - but so was the car!!

Can you SEE it??

I'm cooking something everyday and this morning it was a skillet breakfast.

I used my favorite iron skillet and put a large tortilla on the bottom and topped it with four eggs, seasonings, chopped bell pepper, red onions and a jalapeno topped with chopped up turkey and finally a splash of half and half and then shredded cheese!

I served it with a dollop of sour cream and it was SO good!

While Louis Dean puttered in his music room - I spent the afternoon doing errands.

First the Dollar store for batteries, cat litter, canned pumpkin, make up face wipes, dishwasher pods and batteries.

Next up was the post office where I put nearly ALL the over 200 Christmas cards in the drop box.

I will finish the rest tomorrow and mail them off!

My third stop was the thrift store and I bought ONW item! A garland of silver icicles for our bedroom for $2.

On to Aldi for all sorts of good things from wines to Christmas cactus to fresh fruits and veggies and things for a Christmas tea with the grands, flavored gourmet coffees and more!

My last stop was at Walgreens to pick up a Rx for Summer - she will be back pretty soon for a visit.

After unloading everything and putting it all up - I did not get to Louis Dean's bathroom and the hall - which I intended to clean and decorate today.

No worries! I will do it tomorrow and then on to our bedroom, the guest room, sewing room and the gazebo! It's a labor of love and I'll enjoy it all through the winter!

So now I have a fire in the fireplace and dinner is ready.

LD and I will eat and watch a program and then I will go back to working on the last batch of Christmas cards.