October the Eighth: Ghoulies, Ghosties, and True Love: A Victorian Halloween

Halloween has been a favorite holiday for many centuries. . It was a time to celebrate the harvest, acknowledge the past, and to look forward to the future. During Victorian times, Halloween was a night for tricks and surprises. It was also a night for fortune telling and romance. 

Many local customs were brought to the United States by the Irish and Scottish immigrants in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. One of these involved jack-o-lanterns, which were originally carved from Irish turnips. Other ancient superstitions were adapted to courtship rituals and games.  The Victorians, who were great romantics, enjoyed the folklore of the holiday. They revived a lot of the ancient customs. 

Halloween was known by many names. One was Mischief Night. This was the time when boys would often do tricks such as putting wagons and out houses on roofs, exchanging gates and signs, and covering doorknobs with molasses. The general merrymaking was considered mostly harmless. According to our local paper (Iowa State Leader, November 2, 1874) "Halloween brought with it the usual frolics of degenerate youngsters at the city." It was followed by a list of the usual frolics.

Halloween became a perfect time for parties.  While the boys were out playing pranks, the girls were staying at home, dreaming of their own true love. And planning parties in the dark, mysterious, and slightly scary atmosphere. Props would be needed for the popular party games. Charms would be hidden in cakes and breads, and in apples. Apples and nuts were used in many of the games, because of their association with harvest time. Finding a coin or ring in the refreshments was alway lucky. A coin represented wealth. A ring signified an upcoming wedding. If you found a button, you would stay unmarried.

Other popular games were played with walnuts. The shells were hallowed out and made into candles and set afloat. Each boat was given a name and set afloat in pairs. If they stayed together and floated peacefully, it was a good omen. If they crashed into the side, or sunk, not so good. Nuts could also be roasted by the fire. If the nuts blazed quickly, then the romance would be blazing too. Slowly smoldering, and turning to ashes showed a long and happy relationship. If they popped and moved away from each other, there wasn't much hope!

Many games were played with apples. Peeling an apple and throwing the peel over your shoulder would tell everyone who your true love would be, according to the initial that it formed. After eating a red apple, a girl could save two seeds. If she named the seeds after two gentlemen, she should put one on each cheek and wait for them to fall. She should get rid of the first, and marry the man who represents the second.

Sometimes apples were hidden in various rooms of a house, and couples would be sent to look for them. There were so many rules about proper behavior and being chaperoned, that young sweethearts often got very creative about ways to be together.

This holiday has gone through many changes since its' beginnings as a harvest festival. Through the years it has evolved from mischievous children begging for soul cakes, to little beggars asking for treats and threatening tricks.  A modern Halloween focuses on thrills and chills, and scary movies. And let's not forget the romance!

                                                                               

 

October the Seventh: Pinterest Fail?

 

I'm not sure if this looks like a pumpkin or not. I do know that there are about six million little pieces of fabric in it, and at this point, I am thoroughly tired of it. It does look a little more pumpkin shaped in the photo, than it does in the real world, so I guess it's a keeper.

This is a metal wreath form that I bought at the Dollar Tree. They really have some fantastic Halloween decorations there. It has become quite the popular place recently. They sell out quickly. I have read on several internet sites, stories of mad crafting women fighting to procure them. I happened to walk into our local store shortly after a delivery or I wouldn't have walked out with anything. At this point in my crafting life I am really trying to use what I have. There are lots of little bits and bobs in this pumpkin, including pieces of ribbons, trim, fabric, tulle, yarn, and jute. 

                                              

October the Sixth: Party Time #blogtober2021

 

When I was growing up, Halloween was a big, exciting holiday. I think it was probably the golden age of parties and trick or treating. I lived in a rural neighborhood without streetlamps or sidewalks, but we still managed to fill our paper grocery sacks with treats. And when I say treats, I am talking about the old fashioned goodies. I remember homemade popcorn balls, caramel apples, cookies, and full sized candy bars. This changed a lot by the time I was raising my children. There was a time when hospitals were doing screenings of treats and the rule was to throw away anything that wasn't safely packaged. By then, most kids only went to houses of people they knew. Now, I think there are lots of prescheduled events, such as Trunk or Treat in school parking lots. Kids still go trick or treating in some areas though. My last house was in a neighborhood with good lighting, wide streets, and sidewalks. We were told before Beggars Night that people came from all over town. So the first year, I was prepared with lots of candy. My mom and husband were back-ups and we all sat on our porch on a beautiful evening and listened to silly jokes. But by the end of the evening, I was raiding my kitchen for fruit and granola bars and just trying not to have to turn our lights out early. I kept a tally, and we actually had over 500 visitors our first night. It stayed the same for all six years I lived there. After I moved, it was back to only a few. I had a lot of leftover candy to eat. In our area , the trick or treaters still tell jokes, but I understand that isn't so popular as it used to be.

Our childhood costumes were pretty elaborate sometimes, but always homemade. Even as a child, I was usually a gypsy. One year I was a princess, wearing my aunt's old high school formal. It was pink and sparkly, and I got to wear my pony tail down and curly. I felt so glamourous. I was also wearing my winter coat and snow boots. Weather in our area can be pretty unpredictable! Another year my two friends and I went as the Three Stooges. I was Moe, and we had a little comedy routine. Sometimes we had to work for those caramel apples! 

When my own children were growing up, they were usually pirates, gypsies, ghost brides, or bums with coffee ground beards. Creative costuming was not a strong point with me. I think maybe because I was involved with Christmas craft shows at that time, and was busy making things to sell for the next holiday.  Sometimes we purchased a costume, but not often. We went to several Halloween parties for grown ups back in the days when we had couple friends, but I usually stuck to my basic costume. We had friends who were really a lot more creative. I remember a party when John was Kermit the Frog, and his wife was Miss Piggy. She was really a genius with Halloween. Once again, I was a gypsy.

I picked this photo because of the children bobbing for apples. We used to actually do this at parties! I can't even imagine it now, but we all thought it was a lot of fun at the time. This little walk down Memory Lane was interesting, but now I am feeling rather old. Until tomorrow  #blogtober2021

October the Fifth--In Sickness and in Health

 It's been a week since John had rotator cuff surgery. It's been a long week for both of us. I did have an idea about what it would be like-thanks to a couple of conversations with friends, and, of course, Google. I don't think John did. They told us that it would be six weeks of doing almost nothing except for some arm exercises. They said six weeks, but I'm sure John thought that meant about 3 days. He is ready to be recuperated and is so done with it.

Before I start my story, I need to say that he is a very good patient. He apologizes every time he needs to ask for help. And he hardly ever whines, whimpers, or complains. I understand it is a painful recovery, so I wouldn't blame him if wasn't quite so well behaved. Although he is a great patient, I'm not so sure that I am a great caretaker. I certainly have a new respect for people who find themselves in this situation for long periods of time.

Surgery was first scheduled to be early in September. Knowing how I feel about schedules, it wasn't really a surprise when it was changed. We thought he would be recovered enough for our anniversary trip October 12, but we realize now that isn't going to happen until later. Hopefully, it will still be fall when we are able to travel.

We left the hospital with a lot more equipment than we started with. They have a wonderful little machine with an electric ice pack now that he uses several times a day. It must weigh about fifty pounds, and has a long hose, and cord, and three buttons to turn it on. I don't know how many times I've nearly tripped over it. He also has a very complicated sling to keep his arm and shoulder immobile. He needs to wear it all the time, except for showers and the arm exercises.

We came home, and he got settled into the recliner, and just kept feeling worse and worse. He had quite a bit of anesthetic and his kidneys didn't want to work, and then he started having chest pains. So off we went to the emergency room. We were there for five hours, most of the time waiting. His EKG was fine, so that was a relief. When it was time to install (?) a catheter, I thought the nurse would have me leave or at least get out of the way. Instead, she said," Here, hold this sheet." And after a few days of carrying the bag, and helping him dress, and especially trying not to step on the tubes, I am feeling like we have a very intimate relationship. John and I have been married for just two years. We are both very private people. In fact, neither of us can understand the need for two bathroom sinks. (We watch a lot of home improvement television). We fervently believe that two people never need to be in a bathroom at the same time. Naturally, some of these beliefs have had to change recently.

Before we set up housekeeping together, we had both been alone for several years, and we have become very independent. And maybe we are a little bit set in our ways! We are both used to doing things on our own, and John usually fixes his own breakfast, and does his own laundry, and many other chores. I know, I'm a lucky woman. I haven't done much cooking for a long time, so that has been an adjustment. And obviously, we have very different ways of doing things. I am keeping busy trying to do things the way he likes, since he is my patient. I was pretty proud of my over-easy eggs this morning. I am usually an egg scrambler if I cook them at all. I like coffee for breakfast. Just coffee.

This past week has reminded me a lot of those years when I had toddlers at home. Sometimes, it felt like everything I try to do is interrupted by a need or a want. And naptime is a necessity that doesn't come a minute too soon.

Actually John is doing better now and he approved this message. I am grateful every day that we found one another. My worst problem currently is making sure that he follows the rules and doesn't try to do too much. I came home this morning just in time to stop him from getting into his truck and driving to the bank! He definitely is not ready to drive yet, even though he thought it was a good idea. Every day is a new adventure!

October the Fourth---Practical Magic

 

Alice Hoffman has written over 30 novels. I haven't read all of them, but they are on my list. Her genre is known as magical realism. They are a mixture of fact and of fantasy. My favorites are the books about several generations of the Owens family. The first book was "Practical Magic", written in 1995. It was made into a movie in 1998, starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as the magical sisters, Gillian and Sally.  The movie was different than the book. It was one of the few movies I've seen that I preferred. I remember in the book the sisters and Aunts lived in a creepy, scary old house. The house in the movie is one I still dream about. Although this house was never real, there are lots of photos from the movie available online.  Many people have wanted to buy it, but it's a house that never really was!

It was several years before another book telling this story was written. In 2017, "The Rules of Magic" came out, and we learned about the youth of the Aunts. This was followed by "Magic Lessons" in 2020. Magic Lessons told us all about the matriarch o the unlucky in love Owens women. Next week, on October 12, the final story will be available. "The Book of Magic" will tie it all together and let us know how the curse is finally lifted for Sally's daughters. I will be reading it as soon as I can. Unlike most series of novels, these are not written in order. This time I want to read them in chronological order. That means 1. Magic Lessons 2. Rules of Magic 3. Practical Magic 4. The Book of Magic.            Tantalizing Tidbit: Years ago I corresponded with a very interesting woman I met through the internet. She had purchased the actual spellbook used in the movie. Although they only showed a few pages, her book was completely filled with fascinating artwork. I lost touch with her. I hate it when that happens.    Several years ago I participated in a lot of online swaps with some very creative people. One of my partners in a Halloween exchange made a practical magic altered book for me. Here are some of the pages.

  I always enjoy putting the book on display this time of year, and looking through the pages. And of course this is a good time to watch the movie, and to have a Midnight Margarita.

                                                                            

          

October the Third--Acorns and Oak Leaves

I have moved a few times in the past several years, and each time until I had a house again I downsized more than I wanted. One of the hardest things for me was going through my sewing and craft supplies to get rid of things I would never use. When one is a crafter and scavenger by nature it is easy to believe that anything can have a creative purpose. My daughter was helping me to clear a room that was my "studio" in preparation for the move to my tiny space as a fraternity house mother in the coming phase of my topsy turvy life. She was getting quite exasperated since I kept saying that I needed to keep each bit of fabric, ribbon, and paper. She opened a tiny drawer, and exclaimed, "Finally, something we can throw away!" I was horrified, and said, "Meghan, don't you know how hard it is to find good acorn tops?" She just looked at me like I had finally gone over the edge. And maybe I had, because now it is really easy to buy bags of them on Etsy. That probably started my acorn collection. I have always liked them, but after my friends heard of that conversation, I started to be gifted with them. My daughter bought me my first acorn charm necklace. I think it was to remind me of that momentous occasion. But I have heard that wearing an acorn around your neck will help to prevent premature aging. And if you want to carry it in your pocket it will help to keep you forever young. 

Acorns have also been seen as a talisman to keep a person strong when facing difficulty. They are a sign of security and abundance. It was often said that setting an acorn on a window sill would guard against lightning. To sleep with an acorn under your pillow would help a person to overcome challenges.

         

Acorns are often used in fall decorating. These oversized acorns are on a shelf with pumpkins. I can tuck them into tiny spaces.

 Real acorns are often used in fairy gardens. I have seen the middles scooped out and replaced with the tiniest of gifts. Some of my favorite little people are made by the well known artist and author , Sally Mavor. They are amazing and very detailed. Many of them wear hats of acorn tops.

This darling fairy house was constructed by two of our granddaughters and has a roof of acorn tops.

"Great oaks from tiny acorns grow".  As the trees start to lose their leaves, make a wish, and try to catch an oak leaf as it falls. If you do, you will get your wish.

                       October is here. Dance in the leaves and keep an acorn in your pocket!

 

October the Second

 It's already the second of October and I am posting again. I just found out that this is really an official thing with a hashtag.   #blogtober2021 .I am not even sure how to do hashtags! I guess bloggers have been participating in this for a few years. I always wonder why no one reads my blog, but I'm pretty sure it is because I hardly ever write. When I first began, I planned to have a "lifestyle" blog, with lots of creative decorating and crafting projects, and hints and tips for family life. Who knows, maybe even recipes. Well, as we know, life happens when we make other plans and my personal favorite -- " All Gods laugh at schedules." (I think I made that one up)

It barely feels like fall. The leaves are just starting to turn here, and the trees aren't bare. I haven't put many decorations up yet.

.I think I may be turning into more of a minimalist lately. Everything feels crowded to me. After combining two households, we have too much of everything. I think I have just been moving things around. There is one thing we do need. More bookshelves. As much as I try, I hate to get rid of books. They are my comfort.

Life has been even more hectic than usual lately. John had rotator cuff surgery on Tuesday and it's been kind of rough, including a late night emergency room visit. He's doing better now, and is really the best patient. I had a bit of an idea about what it would be like. (Before the surgery I talked to a couple of wives who'd been through it. I think the word murder came up more than once!) It's quite a long recovery period, and he won't be able to use his right arm for several weeks. Right now he isn't even sure he should have gone through with it, but the results should be worthwhile eventually.

And just like that, two days of October blogging are completed.

Welcome October

 Happy First Day of October. Starting with pumpkins and ending with witches. What's not to love?

This is an experiment. Since I love October and Halloween, I am going to see if I can write more often. I'm not usually one who is up to a challenge, but I do love this time of year, so I think I can do it. I want to write something every day this month, before the end of the day if possible. Just squeezing it in tonight, but I'll be back tomorrow.

September Comes Along Again

"SEPTEMBER WAS A THIRTY-DAYS LONG GOODBYE TO SUMMER, TO THE SEASON THAT LEFT EVERYBODY BOTH HAPPY AND WEARY OF THE WARM, HUMID WEATHER AND THE EXHAUSTING BUT THRILLING ADVENTURES"   Lea Malot

At one time, September was my favorite time of year. I loved school supplies, and the idea that everything was filled with new beginnings. Now it seems that everyone is hurrying through September, and that fall wants to rush in too soon. (Except, of course, for the days when the weather still insists on being hot and humid). I am trying very hard to not think about pumpkins and lattes until October, and to let September have all the time it needs.

We had a busy summer, even though I didn't spend a lot of time here on the blog. I am doing some other writing though, and am thinking a book.  Our house has new siding, and is looking quite spiffy. We also got a new roof, courtesy of a nasty hail storm and our insurance company. 

The first photo is during the shingles removal. The storm didn't do all that damage! We have one of the few old farmhouses left in this area. It seems like new houses are being built here every day. I have always lived in old houses, except for my time at the frat house!  I love having a real front porch, and my own little she-shed cottage. Life is good.

This is my new favorite picture. I photographed it through a window at a real estate office, so the quality isn't very good. I am hoping to find a copy to hang in our lake house------if we ever get one!      " Moonlight on the Lake Always Soothes My Spirits". Isn't that perfect? Of course, we only dream about a house on the lake. $$$$$$$. We are actually looking for a place in the picture perfect town of Clear Lake, Iowa. Every house there is just a few blocks away from the water, and the prices go down dramatically as the distance increases. But with the housing market the way that it is right now, we haven't been able to look at many. They almost always have offers pending as soon as they are listed! We've seen lots of pictures and found many possibilities, but some one always gets there first. I can't even imagine what it would be like if we actually needed to find a house immediately.

                             We have been to the lake several times this summer. When we got married, I thought we would travel more. But of course, Covid became a part of everyone's agenda soon afterwards! Short trips are all we need to revive and rejuvenate. Just being by the water is always a grand time. I imagine by now that you are thinking we boat, and swim, and fish, and all those other things that lake people do. Well, no, not really.  We watch the boaters. We look at the ducks. We picnic. We eat at our favorite restaurants and walk along the beach. We talk to other people.  We shop. We watch the sun set.

The only thing I miss in this town is a bookstore. We joke about opening a combination donut shop/bookstore. We won't. We are content, and it is good.  We aren't ready to move. But we know that it won't be too long before we want a smaller house, less land, and fewer stairs.  We like the idea of being equally distanced from the Iowa and Minnesota grandchildren. And, as silly as it seems, I still want a place where neither of us has the "home court advantage."                  

Oh, What A Week It Was!

This has been quite a week. What a way to end one month and to start another!

Monday: We picked out our "final resting places". Nothing like seeing your name and proof of mortality on the memorial plaques. 

Afterwards, we decided that margaritas were necessary.

Tuesday I started my day with a new morning multivitamin and two Tylenol. (No judgements, please) Half an hour later we were on the way to the ER. There will be no photos here, but anyone who has ever seen me during an anaphalactic allergy episode knows it isn't pretty. I already knew I couldn't take Advil, but now it looks like vitamins and Tylenol may also be on the list. I just finished the last of  the prednisone, so maybe I will start sleeping again. I have been awake for most of this week. I know it affects everyone differently. Some of my friends have had wild, creative bursts of energy, and paint their entire houses. I don't sleep, and can't get my mind to shut down. I've spent the whole week thinking about things that don't matter, but not able to do anything about them. It could be much worse. It makes some people angry. I have another friend who drove through her garage door just because she was mad at her husband.

Even though I have lived here now for more than a year,  I am still having a time trying to find a place for everything. Every time I open a cupboard or a drawer, I am bombarded by another woman's treasures and memories. I finally boxed up most of the stemware and china and reclaimed the cabinet they were in on Wednesday. I do find it difficult to go through the house and to rearrange it in my own style. I don't want to hurt any feelings, and many of the collected treasures I enjoy. Sometimes it bothers me more than others. It has been that kind of week.  At least I am not driving through doors. (Prednisone?)

Thursday was another big day. We had an appointment to redo our wills. That was a lot more complicated than we expected it to be. It is entirely a coincidence that all of these end of life arrangements happened the same week as my hospital visit. But it didn't helped that all the lawyer's scenarios seemed to start with the words: "Now, if you die tomorrow.........".

A bright spot in the week was the seventh birthday of one of my bonus granddaughters. It was such fun to be able to go to their house again, after all our covid quarantining this year. They are such magical little girls and I really had fun seeing the fairy house that they had made, and their elf family.

                                                                                 

On Sunday we decided to spend the day at our favorite Clear Lake. We have been looking at houses. Mostly for fun, but I would really love to live there, at least part time. The houses in our price range sell very quickly, so it is mostly just a dream. We have found two nearly perfect places, and they each sold immediately before we looked at them. Very disappointing, but it is still fun to imagine.

                                                                             

Today was very crowded. The weather was wonderful. There was lots to do and see, but these photos are from a couple of weeks ago. Most of today's are still on his camera! I did get a picture of the flag that was on the top of the firetruck for the holiday. It felt very patriotic.

And a very Happy Fourth of July to all!

 

Date Night

 We have been doing some remodeling lately and thinking of some projects so we thought it would be fun to go to the Home and Remodeling Show. We got there soon after it started for the weekend so it wasn't very crowded at all. And, of course, we always wear masks.  I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to see fabulous finished room vignettes. Most of what we saw was brochures, photos, and granite and siding samples. A couple of interesting moments did make it worthwhile. 

When I go to places like this, I always try to not make eye contact. I never know how to get away from vendors once they start talking to me. I usually say very little. That's why John was so surprised when he found me in very animated conversation with Iowa Legends Roofing and Remodeling. The truth is, I was talking to a hometown hero! I can't help it, I am a fan of accidentally famous people. Carson King is known as an Iowa legend. In September, 2019, he had a homemade sign asking for "beer money" at the Iowa-Iowa State football game. It got a lot of press, and he got a lot of money. And he gave it all away! He donated over a million dollars to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital  after that weekend. He has continued with fundraising and philanthropy and started The Carson King Foundation--Helping children and families in times of need and uniting communities to make a difference. 

We had one other bit of humor. A chiropractic booth was offering three minute posture exams. It was to demonstrate how poor posture can cause all sorts of problems. I chatted with the woman but John just walked away very quickly. When I caught up with him, he asked me why they were giving prostate exams at a Home Show. I can't help it. I am still laughing.

For us, here in the Time of Covid, being able to go anywhere new and without a lot of people, is a treat. Masks don't make communication an easy process!  We are still staying home most of the time. And we watch a lot of tv. He likes documentaries, and I like cozy English murders. But we both agree on buying, selling, remodeling and renovation.   We also love the lake house properties. You know the ones---you buy a house for a lot of money, and then tear out almost everything, and replace it all. There are always a few expensive catastrophes that the inspector missed But, at the end, everyone is happy, and usually under budget. We have learned all the key code words. The word we hear the most is "outdated". New home owners like to tear out the outdated kitchen cabinets and replace them with new white cupboards. And counter tops need to be granite or quartz. Floors are usually replaced with hardwoods. Everyone wants shiplap on their walls. (Thank you Chip and Joanna). I like to see the houses that are rejected because the prospective buyers don't like the paint colors. They don't want to paint, but knocking out walls is never a problem. The open concept idea is the most popular change. Many of the rooms have to be a "total gut job". All through the shows, we hear ways to make it POP. No one wants a cookie cutter house. Everyone needs a firepit. Don't forget the guest rooms for all the friends and family who will be coming to visit and to grill hot dogs. And someone always wants to make it a little more glam. There needs to be a garden tub and double sinks in most of the bathrooms. Am I the only one who thinks a bathroom is a private place? Or should I say space, because space is something that everyone wants more of. There has to be a lot of space for the family dogs. Of course, the dogs and children all have opinions too. We have lived in several old houses, and done lots of taking apart, and putting back together again, and it is never like the ones we like to watch. And now we even watch reruns of the ones we have already seen.  I am just waiting for the trends to change. I want to see contractors putting walls and doors back in. I want to see islands with waterfall sides disappear, and cupboards to no longer be white. I also want to see them serving something better than hot dogs! 

Turn Back Time

 We have a lot of clocks. This is a favorite. (Sorry about the glare. I needed a photo, or another day would go by without writing.)  Several of the antique clocks need some loving care, and don't always keep the time. Many years ago when I worked at the Flynn Mansion at Living History Farms, we had five clocks, and I wound them every morning. Listening to the tick tocks and the chimes marked my days at work for nearly fifteen years. I hope to get the clocks fixed here at some point. Right now I suppose that they are the way they should be. I never seem to know what time it is anymore. Or what day it is. Or even what year it is. In many ways it seems like time has stood still. And yet, it goes by so quickly. I feel like the holidays passed by this year, and weren't even celebrated.

We did a partial kitchen remodeling in December. It was supposed to happen in January, but you never want to argue with a contractor when he wants to start early! So I spent more time moving things around than I did decorating.

The old floor had probably been here for many years. In fact, I had the same floor in another color installed in my first house! We changed both the kitchen and entry. We also redid the countertops and installed a new sink.

The kitchen was light blue. We changed it to a yellow gold and I am very happy with it now. (It doesn't actually look like either of these pictures. It is a much softer yellow.) The painting was done by John's son Eddie when he was still in school. It had to stay, but that's ok, because I like it. We have a few more of his paintings here. He is a very talented artist. He has done large interior murals for two of the restaurants in Des Moines.

I'm still finishing. It was a very crowded kitchen, and right now, I am enjoying the empty spaces. Little by little, and bit by bit, I am feeling that this house has more of my own style. It is not an easy process, even though John is very encouraging. I don't want to take away a family's memories, but I also want to make new ones.

Oh, and we did have Christmas. Even though we were the only ones who saw it. Next year I am hoping for Christmas Mass and wild and crazy gift unwrapping with lots of people. And hugging!

Covid 19 has been with the world for almost a year.  It has changed the way we shop, travel, see our friends and spend precious and irreplaceable hours with our families. We seldom see our grandchildren in person, and when we do, they have gotten so much older, and taller, and so quickly. I would really like to slow down time where the little ones and the young men and women are concerned. I feel like everyone is growing up without me. 

I heard lately that we should start the year over with February. I think I will do that in my head. I have spent most of January watching news programs in disbelief and wondering where this country is going. Here at home, it has been a month of computer snafus, and lost items, and things never quite happening the way I expect them to happen. Except for the Inauguration, most of January hasn't been what I wished for.

My Christmas Letter

 Christmas 2020

Christmas is near so I think it is time

To try to make another rhyme

A year has gone by and the time has flown

This was a year like we’ve never known

We’ve been through a storm and it wasn’t just weather

But we have learned the value of being together

We have work-at-home, school-at-home, shop-at-home tasks

With circles and bubbles and zoom calls and masks

Our first year of marriage was not quite as planned

I thought we would travel and see more of this land

Instead we stayed home, watched a lot of tv

We think “old people romance” is a good place to be

Blending a family can be a real test

But lucky for us, we both got the best

We’d love the idea of some big family cheer

But we are socially distanced so it won’t be this year

Our grandchildren range from young men to just tots

Thirteen of them now-Sounds like a lot!

And now here we are, at the close of the year

Hoping that normal is once again near.

Stay home and Stay Safe. Things will get better

Merry Christmas to All. That’s the end to this letter

Virtual Hugs from Sandi and John