Monday, December 16, 2019
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Christmas Busy!
Monday I played Canasta with just 7 other ladies since so many could not make it. If not for making our wild card Canasta once I would have won! We play for $1 so not much lost. Afterwards I dropped my Christmas cards off at the post office then continued on to UPS to mail two packages.
Tuesday was my friend Irene’s big surprise birthday party at a local restaurant. I picked up Carol and drove in the rain to the venue where there were 33 ladies present to honor her. She turned 80, takes no meds, walks everyday, is fit and trim and attributes no alcohol, lots of water, vitamins and keeping busy to her good health. When I took her for foot surgery the doctor said she was the healthiest 79 year old he had ever seen especially one taking no meds.
Wednesday was a funeral at church but I had my dessert all ready to go and Ted dropped it off. I spent the rest of the day cleaning and getting dishes and things ready for the group coming for dessert, coffee and presents on Thursday.
Our group for Thursday’s annual neighborhood Christmas lunch was cut almost in half with the death of one’s mother, the fall of another, two sick, one attending a retiree luncheon, etc. We all gathered back at my house to share an enormous amount of desserts and drinks!
Friday was deviled eggs for another funeral. Most everyone loves deviled eggs, they are always all eaten but apparently no one likes to make them! My Instant Pot makes short work of boiling them and they peel so easily. I am the official deviled egg lady at church! Ted took my two dozen eggs to church for me and then we went shopping for our 2 year old great niece Anna who would be having dinner with us.
I wrapped the presents for Terry, Carol and Anna and we left to meet them at the country club for dinner. Anna is their great granddaughter, Kelsey is their granddaughter and Kenny is their son with his wife Jana, all from Alabama. We had a delightful visit and meal. Family is so important around the holidays!
Friend Tommy called to say they were going to be in the area Saturday to visit Susan’s aunt in hospice. They wanted us to have lunch so we agreed to meet them at 1:00. Susan was visibly upset and said she doubted her aunt would live through the day. We had a nice lunch, got caught up with them and all the changes coming - Susan’s retirement, gutting the house for a redo and possibly a new motorhome down the road before saying our goodbyes.
We were going to church at 5:00 and then to play Shanghai so I got my cheeses, crackers and dishes together so we could go right over to Connie’s afterwards. Ted forgot his glasses so we had to go home anyway so he could see to play cards.
We had a very nice spread despite Connie having a broken foot and using one of those knee scooters to get around. And I won! Well, actually Connie and I tied. The leader did not get down in Game 6 so she was caught with a handful of points, Connie had 10 and I had 13. Turns out Connie had 3 points in her hand matching my score so we split the pot.
On the way home I had a message from Susan, her aunt had indeed passed later in the day. Such a hard blow, especially around the holidays.
Ted is leaving for Plano TX Sunday to make a business call first thing Monday morning. He will be back in the afternoon. This next week is less busy so I will start getting ready to load the trailer. Also, our baby Cece and her “other side of the family” will be here Friday to stay with us until their family reunion starts. We are looking forward to seeing them again.
Tuesday was my friend Irene’s big surprise birthday party at a local restaurant. I picked up Carol and drove in the rain to the venue where there were 33 ladies present to honor her. She turned 80, takes no meds, walks everyday, is fit and trim and attributes no alcohol, lots of water, vitamins and keeping busy to her good health. When I took her for foot surgery the doctor said she was the healthiest 79 year old he had ever seen especially one taking no meds.
Wednesday was a funeral at church but I had my dessert all ready to go and Ted dropped it off. I spent the rest of the day cleaning and getting dishes and things ready for the group coming for dessert, coffee and presents on Thursday.
Our group for Thursday’s annual neighborhood Christmas lunch was cut almost in half with the death of one’s mother, the fall of another, two sick, one attending a retiree luncheon, etc. We all gathered back at my house to share an enormous amount of desserts and drinks!
Friday was deviled eggs for another funeral. Most everyone loves deviled eggs, they are always all eaten but apparently no one likes to make them! My Instant Pot makes short work of boiling them and they peel so easily. I am the official deviled egg lady at church! Ted took my two dozen eggs to church for me and then we went shopping for our 2 year old great niece Anna who would be having dinner with us.
I wrapped the presents for Terry, Carol and Anna and we left to meet them at the country club for dinner. Anna is their great granddaughter, Kelsey is their granddaughter and Kenny is their son with his wife Jana, all from Alabama. We had a delightful visit and meal. Family is so important around the holidays!
Friend Tommy called to say they were going to be in the area Saturday to visit Susan’s aunt in hospice. They wanted us to have lunch so we agreed to meet them at 1:00. Susan was visibly upset and said she doubted her aunt would live through the day. We had a nice lunch, got caught up with them and all the changes coming - Susan’s retirement, gutting the house for a redo and possibly a new motorhome down the road before saying our goodbyes.
We were going to church at 5:00 and then to play Shanghai so I got my cheeses, crackers and dishes together so we could go right over to Connie’s afterwards. Ted forgot his glasses so we had to go home anyway so he could see to play cards.
We had a very nice spread despite Connie having a broken foot and using one of those knee scooters to get around. And I won! Well, actually Connie and I tied. The leader did not get down in Game 6 so she was caught with a handful of points, Connie had 10 and I had 13. Turns out Connie had 3 points in her hand matching my score so we split the pot.
On the way home I had a message from Susan, her aunt had indeed passed later in the day. Such a hard blow, especially around the holidays.
Ted is leaving for Plano TX Sunday to make a business call first thing Monday morning. He will be back in the afternoon. This next week is less busy so I will start getting ready to load the trailer. Also, our baby Cece and her “other side of the family” will be here Friday to stay with us until their family reunion starts. We are looking forward to seeing them again.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
The Rest Of the Week
Since our Christmas cards had arrived, I worked on them on Friday. Nancy stopped by to pick up her Christmas gift since she will not be at the neighborhood lunch this upcoming week and I prepared two boxes to be shipped to Michigan and Indiana. We met Gerre and Barry for dinner and then saw A Christmas Carol, The Musical. It was well done and because there was no intermission we were out of there at 9:40 much to Ted’s delight.
I was busy most of Saturday with the afternoon devoted to making lemon blossoms for a funeral Wednesday and some for our neighborhood dessert and present gathering here after lunch on Thursday. We did go to church at 5:00 and then on to Cracker Barrel for dinner.
Ted was shooting Sunday so I got the house all in order, finished the Christmas cards, finished my book and watched the Finale of Dancing With The Stars that I had missed while we were gone. We met John and Irene at Perry’s Steakhouse at 4:00 to celebrate her birthday and to thank him for taking us to and picking us up from the airport for our Ireland trip. Since we had a 7:30 am flight to Detroit, we drove ourselves. I won’t ask someone to get up at 5:00 am or come out late at night to save about $50. Good flight times and longer absences play a huge role in whether we will ask for a ride to the airport.
Our dinner was terrific. Another friend Nancy happened by and another Val was being seated with her husband.’s golf group. It filled up really fast starting at 6:00 pm just as we were heading home.
Ted had to drive to Lufkin as soon as we got home. He texted me when he had arrived at the Hilton and was in for the night.
Our son-in-law’s mother who was with us at Thanksgiving and at the dinner for Kara’s 50th birthday dinner was hospitalized with some sort of internal bleeding. Hopefully there will be some diagnostic tests and a plan developed early Monday morning.
Home For Awhile
Wednesday was unpacking and laundry day. Even though I had access to a washer and dryer, I chose to just bring it home to do. We had all the gifts we brought back to find homes for. I have my new Kindle up and running but I haven’t synced my 300+ books from Kindle 1 to Kindle 2 and I Pad 10 Pro. I haven’t had much time to research what is probably not a hard thing. I downloaded a new Nelson DeMille book and have already read it.
Thursday was our Sustainer Christmas outing and we toured the West Wing, an exact replica plus other things in a private home where we live. It is a long story so I will just show the finished product.
George was a Navy pilot and flew this plane. It is suspended from the ceiling. The last shot is from the second story.
The flag which gives you an idea of the first floor size where two Ferraris, a Bentley and a red vintage Cadillac convertible were housed.
A gym housed in one corner.
The second plane photo.
.
Walking straight ahead you enter the replica West Wing. GWB 2 rug, Obama wallpaper, white shell moldings from same company that made the ones in the White House
Presidential seal in ceiling.
Exact replica of Resolution desk. A famous photo has young John John playing at JFK ‘s feet.
Moi on the phone at the president’s desk.
It is all exactly replicated using many of the same vendors that provide the White House with things.
Off to the left is the Cabinet Room and the Vice President’s office.
The opposite direction has the First Lady’s office. This photo of Jackie Kennedy hangs there.
The veranda, fountain and gardens were spectacular.
The second floor is a party room with two bowling alleys, stage, sound equipment, bar to accommodate 50 bar stools, a video game corner, two billiard tables and a hand shuffleboard.
We were allowed to tour this private residence “garage” because our Sustainer leader is friends with his neighbor and helper with all things White House. She served as our docent. Afterwards we passed the “house” on our way to lunch.
Thursday was our Sustainer Christmas outing and we toured the West Wing, an exact replica plus other things in a private home where we live. It is a long story so I will just show the finished product.
George was a Navy pilot and flew this plane. It is suspended from the ceiling. The last shot is from the second story.
The flag which gives you an idea of the first floor size where two Ferraris, a Bentley and a red vintage Cadillac convertible were housed.
A gym housed in one corner.
The second plane photo.
.Walking straight ahead you enter the replica West Wing. GWB 2 rug, Obama wallpaper, white shell moldings from same company that made the ones in the White House
Presidential seal in ceiling.
Exact replica of Resolution desk. A famous photo has young John John playing at JFK ‘s feet.
Moi on the phone at the president’s desk.
It is all exactly replicated using many of the same vendors that provide the White House with things.
Off to the left is the Cabinet Room and the Vice President’s office.
The opposite direction has the First Lady’s office. This photo of Jackie Kennedy hangs there.
The veranda, fountain and gardens were spectacular.
The second floor is a party room with two bowling alleys, stage, sound equipment, bar to accommodate 50 bar stools, a video game corner, two billiard tables and a hand shuffleboard.
We were allowed to tour this private residence “garage” because our Sustainer leader is friends with his neighbor and helper with all things White House. She served as our docent. Afterwards we passed the “house” on our way to lunch.
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