day before the day before.....

I've told this before, but when the girls were little, one of my most favorite days was "the day before the day before".. when the promise of Christmas is "still there" but not quite here. I have to admit, now that we're empty nesters.. the day has lost some of it's excitement, but I have passed it on, and now Reagan is all excited about the "day before the day before". This morning he called bright and early and asked what we were going to be doing to celebrate it. I suggested out favorite lunch place and he was all about it....

So, I met up with Kass, Reagan and Cal... I was hoping Mom and Dad could come, but Dad wasn't feeling so great. And sadly, Abi is in school, so she couldn't come along... and we just had to have our own little celebrations, minus some...

Reagan happily drove his tractors on the "new placements with the barn".....

Cal and I had a good conversation....

After lunch we went to check in on Mom and Dad... Dad was happy to see us, he just gets so tired now after his dialysis but he loves having us pop in to see him. I also decided that it might be nice to give the boys one of their Christmas presents. Like everything else this time of year, I feel that there is often too much in one thing. So, a little present to celebrate our special day and a chance for them to have something soon. It was just their pillows and covers, so not the most exciting gift, but Reagan had a smile when he saw the tractors, and knew it was just his pillow and case. My Mom used to make cases for the girls, and I well remember that I always had to be sure they had the "right one" on their pillows...






The day was cold too... but the porch was sunny and warm, and Mom had her little gas stove chugging, so it was a wonderful afternoon. 

Reagan pulled out the marble game.. and had a grand time deciding when the marbles could roll and when they had to wait. 

And little Cal had some surprise presents too... the first of his little teeth are coming threw!!!! 


All I can think about with days like this are... "treasures"... these are real Treasures .... I mark them here in the blog.. but they are forever in my heart.....

winter days... shortest day....

Today is the shortest day of the year... which means, the sun will begin to regain its' strength and we will be heading back to longer days. Of course, it comes in mere seconds per day, but I have to say, as cozy as the house is this time of year, getting dark by 4:00 does make the day seem very short and goes by way too fast. However, today is a busy one with two Christmas parties on one day. (and thus part of the "trouble" with the holidays... trying to cram too many wonderful things into a few short days".) But, the first party was with the folks at town hall, and much to our surprise and honor, even Livy was asked to come. I reminded her to be on her very best and she was... 

Ed has really enjoyed being a selectman here in town. He's on his second term, and I think he would like to stay on for a bit. However, it's a voted spot, so after each term, who knows... but for now, he's enjoying his time and doing his very best at the "job". He has become quite close with the folks he works with.. and this time together is nice when it's social and not just all business...

Well.. mostly social .. when he and Jennifer are together, I am sure some "work related ideas" come into the conversation...












We had a nice lunch of Chinese food and then a "yankee swap".. (which does not thrilled my Ed.. he really does not like this game).. it was a fun time, and the gifts that got passed around where really fun. 

After our town hall party/lunch, it was back to the farm to settle all the critters in, and then down to Kass and Nate's, for the "Brentwood Power" Christmas get together. In the past we have gone to a restaurant, which has always been nice, but sometimes it's hard to visit. So, Kass had the idea of having a party in their barn and thought we could enjoy each other's company better there. 

It was quite the feed, and I was glad that I didn't fill up too much on lunch...

It was also "easier" for the kiddos... Reagan for one appreciated not having to sit still and could play about... even getting some to play his version of pool....

Everyone came, and brought their families, so it was a pretty big crowd and we certainly could enjoy visiting. It was nice not to be rushed out as well....

So, the "holidays" are in full swing... something seems to be happening each day...and it's hard to "slow down" and enjoy... but I'm trying!!!!

family times...

Having a somewhat recent snowfall.. Reagan offered to come and "shovel for you, Baby".. he has a new snow shovel that just needs to be worked. I'll always take offers of help, especially from grands... and so, they all came up to the farm for a visit, lunch and snow shoveling. I was sort of hoping he would do the stairs and walk ways, but he was more interested in "snowplowing paths around the front lawn"... why not???

"poor" little Cal is not very mobile yet, so, he got sled duty. Both the boys love to be outside, but Cal wasn't so sure that sitting this close to the ground, near the snow.. even if he is on a sled -- was the greatest idea. 

We tried to convince the boys to go for a sleigh ride...

Cal thought that was a bad idea....

Reagan preferred to shovel.... 

these boys are so much fun, and so very different from when I raised my gals.... that is for sure!!!!

"There we go buddy... the steps!!"

Reagan said he was impressed with our snow banks and the amount of snow we have. There isn't so much on the coast, close to the ocean... we often get snow, and they get rain or ice. So, he was pretty pleased we had so much of it on the farm....

We all played outside for the better part of the morning, then everyone.. including Charlie was getting cold.. so the promise of some lunch and hot cocoa brought everyone happily inside. And with the Christmas holiday so very close... I think that I have already had the most amazing present, spending it with the grands!!!!

Amy......

Normally, I wouldn't post photos of my Dad in the hospital... it's a very private matter and I'm only going to say that he hasn't and isn't well.... it's been an emotional fall for the whole family... my Mom and Dad in particular. But, this is really a post about Amy, their little Jack Russell, whom I call the "caretaker"

Amy came to them not too long after they lost their Toy Fox, Adam. My Mom and Dad have always had dogs ... so I came "blame" them for the love of dogs that I grew up with. They have had all breeds from Huskies, Shepherds,, St. Bernards to Rhodesian Ridgebacks... but as we kids grew and left home, they seem to down size their breeds.... and Amy is now their number one gal. 

She comes by the "caretaker' name honestly, because all threw my Dad's illness she has been at this side. When he is home and not feeling well, Amy can mostly be found in his lap. When he is away for some reason or another, you can find her in my Mom's lap. The only other places she is, is either pro trolling the yard... or at the door warding off any strangers that might show up. This includes the ambulance folks who have had to come... Mom really has to watch that she is not nipping at their heels while they are trying to help Dad. I find this one photo quite interesting now that I look at it... when the nurse came in to talk with Dad, look where Amy moved to...from Dad's lap to this position ... can it be any more obviously that she wanted the nurse to know that she is there... this is her person, and she's going to be watching over him.... whoever thinks that dogs don't know or care.... they don't understand...

When Dad has to be in the hospital, I am so happy that they allow dogs to come and see their humans... this is the sort of thing "dog folks" have always known, but with therapy dogs now getting some real recognition ... dogs (aka pets) make huge differences in the lives of their people and it's now being understand  As sick as my Dad is, his face lights up with his little dog comes bounding into his room and hops up on the bed and checks everything out. 

It's been... it is ... a long hard couple of years for my Dad and my Mom... we all support and love them as much as possible.... they have a good support system in the family, the medical field and friends.... but Amy certainly needs to be a name on their list....

Good girl, Amy!!!!!

home again, home again...

Home once again... and time to be thinking of Christmas and all that happens during this wonderful time. Though, Dad has gone back to the hospital with complications from dialysis and so I find myself running back and forth . Which is fine, I want to do that, but I'm glad we are here where I can. In the meantime, I am getting some of my Christmas projects done too. This year, it's kind of a combo thing... I have a big stash of project items that need to be turned into "something" and friends to give them to. So, I dug threw some of my dog material (of which I have a lot of) and found these panels that I have kept for a long time. It's nice to get them out, and I decided that for my friends  with these "breeds" pillows are in order. I was not only able to use them, but had enough for the friends that I like to give gifts to... a bonus for sure.

Reagan and Cal can be a little tricky to "buy" for. They have so many wonderful toys and though Kass grateful, her house is full of trucks and all sorts of boy things. So, I got thinking and found this great material and decided that I would make them each their very own pillow case. I remember my Mom did this one year, made a case for each one of us.. that was just ours, and I thought it was pretty cool. The boys are a little young to "get this", but I did it just the same and maybe one day, they will think it's cool like I did. 

I made one too for Abi.. she really likes pugs.. and of all things I even found pug material. She'll think it's cool... so that's good.

I've also begun an ornament collection for each grand.. and then for Kass and for Sadie. There's a great ornament company that you can find almost any kind of ornament for or of.... so this year, each got their own once again. (and having this photo.. I can remember who got what in the Christmas's to come!!!)  Maybe one day when they are grown and decorating their own trees, they will have these ornaments, given to them by their "Baby" and will remember all the wonderful times we have been blessed with.

Last year, I had made these candy cane covers for the kids that the dogs go and read with. And since we have all different kids this year, I wanted to do that again. So.. the brown dog is for the kids who read with Livy and the gold dog are for the children who read with Shelby. I even made one for the teachers, since both commented last year as to how much they liked them. I have to say, I think they are cute and different, and I like to make them... so.. another good thing.

And Ed came up with this cute idea for Abi. She likes to collect the "my little ponies" and I guess she has some that aren't made anymore and she doesn't play with those, but likes to show them off. So, Ed had some wood from an old barn that had been at his grandparent's place in Canada. He trimmed the boards up and made them into this barn shape. Then adding shelves, he created this wall hanging for Abi so she can display her "ponies".... fortunately I had a couple of play ponies here so we could test it out and see how they'll look and I think this is such a cute idea. I know she will be pleased. 

I made a few other things for Christmas gifts, and of course Cal's stocking... there's just something nice about hand made gifts and I get such enjoyment from doing them... and I think the ideas we come up with are appreciated. Christmas is just so special and not about the "whats" we get in the stores.. but the time, love and the ones we have around.... and I don't take that for granted. 

the Grand Illumination.....

We had a nice dinner last night in the tavern.. and today is another full day in the city. I can't help but notice that each day the crowds are getting bigger and bigger, and so I have been so happy that we had the past two days with the city not quite so busy. The carriages are never really still... there's always people waiting for their rides, but CW is so good to their horses, and I think they really enjoy the work they do and all the attention they get. For some, this is a rare treat, taking a carriage ride. 

They have all kinds of things going on, which is nice because you can really enjoy the celebrations. We spent the day walking, and did some shopping and eating... and getting ready for the big event tonight. 

By the time for the illumination, the city was pretty much packed. As much as I enjoy this, I had forgotten how the crowds can be, and truly crowds are not my thing. Standing in line for a cup of coffee was it's own event, but then, we remembered that one of the taverns has an outdoor eating place, at least it does in the summer, so we headed there, and not only was it open, but not crowded. And it wasn't so much something to eat, as it was a place to sit. We had pretty much been on our feet all day. We really lucked out when we realized that not only was there a place to sit, but a stage near by with entertainment... the fife and drum corps came and played... then a choir sang, and then another instrumental  went on. It was perfect. 

We also had a good view of the magazine and since the set fireworks off there... we decided to stay put and this is the show that we got to see. Some of the ground fireworks were a little hard to see, but everything that went up was a perfect view.... we were happy to have found this spot. 

and certainly not one bit disappointed with the show.

After the fireworks.. the place clears out pretty quickly... We decided to let the crowd go by. Thank fully we didn't have to deal with the traffic, because I know a lot of the local folks come to see it all. We had more cocoa, and just enjoyed the quiet of it all after everyone left. Even managed a "selfie" in front of the court house. 

Tomorrow we head for home, but that's OK because there is much to celebrate in the days ahead. And I am anxious to be close to home again, with my Dad and all. But it certainly was a great weekend/time, and I know that we will plan on coming again sometime to see another Grand Illumination....