For Crying Out Loud

I know that the news that I have been posting lately has been rather dire, but I want to reassure you that I am fine. No, make that Fine! I truly haven't felt better in a long time. As you can see from the above picture, I really am the picture of health. (My Hospice nurse even says so!) Mara and I got out hairs cut yesterday, hence the photo. And we walked to the appointment for the exercise. It was such a lovely day, as is today, again. Thank you, El Nino.

If the weather is still nice tomorrow, I will go out into the yard and do some 'Fall Clean-up' (meaning I should have already done it.) I need to cut back the mums, the raspberries, and, is this a good time to trim the roses?

I would do these things today, but we are hosting Feast. And, as usual, I have made it a potluck. Why do I do that? It is more work, but I really enjoy the community getting together for a meal. Of course, I don't want to do all the cooking, so I ask others to contribute -- hence the pot luck. But what inevitably happens is that I think of one thing I want to cook, then another, and another, just to make sure the meal will be well rounded, and the next thing you know, I've made dinner for 10. Again. This time I'm making chicken adobo, rice (to put under the chicken), salad (you have to have your green veggies) and serving (Gramma and the church ladies made it) a nut roll. Plus what Cindy will bring, plus what Donna will bring, plus what Julie will bring.

I have been working hard these last two months to catch up on the last 25 years or so of not house cleaning. It has been driving me nuts that the 'kids' have all moved out and yet I was still feeling crammed into my house! That is ridiculous! So Mara and I have been working hard to sort, pitch, package and generally, make room. We did the front room, my desk (!), some other spaces, including spots in my bedroom. Rachael joined the effort and the three of us worked on my corner of the basement. Wow! We are not quite done down there yet, but what a difference! Daddy just removed the desk and is going to paint the walls and the floor. I can't wait! And it hasn't been all work, no play, either.

I washed all the letters and found this great space for our message center.

Here are some of our Christmas photos for those of you who weren't there. We missed you.

Jaci was very sociable this year. She is turning into a person. Very nice.

Of course, she was very happy Rachael was there.

Some of us enjoyed it more than others. No, it would be better to say that some of enjoyed it differently than others.

Gramma and Uncle Gene were looking good. Daddy helped Gramma buy a new car yesterday. Oh, and we got a new car on Tuesday! I will post, but not today.

Gramma brought Grampa and he did very well. He took a nap when he first arrived. We ate dinner while he slept, then he ate (our traditional pork and farina dumplings, compliments of Uncle Thom and Aunt Barbara), then we all opened our gifts.

Aren't they cute? (I think so.)

I finished sewing together the Mommy Snug and Mara tried it on. I was setting them up for a 'shot', and this was actually better than the shot.

And, yes, Aunt Barbara was there, too. She was a bit camera shy, but Uncle Thom got her. Oh, no, that was a Mark picture. To be honest, I didn't take any of these photos. And then my camera ran out of juice.

Next post: Update on the house next door and car photos. And maybe others, too. Who knows where life will lead me?