THE DUST WILL WAIT

Clockwise from left.... Mizelle, Sweet Evalina, Red, Dinkum Devo, and Zbub! We are ready.  I bought some crafty stuff and we cut out crowns and decorated them so we could all be royalty as we welcomed in the New Year.  We have snotty noses, coughs, aches and pains, and even a pinched finger in the door (the 2 1/2 year old.)  But we welcome good things that we know are heading our way. God Bless Everyone in 2012. Goodbye 2011.  I'm not sorry to see you go.

Freezing Fog.  Hoar Frost. Weather Inversion.  Yes to all.  No to the Moon Eclipse.  Hidden.   Weather wants to make us all stir crazy and S.A.D.  Instead, I’m shouting that there is beauty – even in the icy barbs on neighbor Bills old tomato cages. Winter’s artist decorated our day for the season.

The smell of fresh cut Fir.  Bing Crosby’s crooning on the turntable – probably his White Christmas LP special.  At church, the story of baby Jesus retold. This is the nostalgia of Christmas past.    I spent hours at the kitchen table turning the pages of the Sears catalogue.  Toys were circled with color crayon. The little frilly dresses were check marked and the page numbers memorized. It was an optimistic game, mom appreciated the quiet, and I never stopped dreaming… even though I knew that my small presents would never resemble anything close to these opulent choices. The week of the “big day” I would tag along behind my dad as he searched our twenty-seven acres for a suitable evergreen to grace our modest home.  Daddy was reluctant.  It was a waste of potential firewood or fencing.  To him Christmas was a nonsense holiday.  Even in the 1950’s there was commercialism and unreasonable expectations…not that any of my siblings hoped...

This is the last month for Janis’s First of The Month hosted @ Murrieta 365.   I've been faithful to my commitment to post this whole year.  I haven’t been faithful to post much else.  What have we been posting all year? Capture one thing repeatedly on the first of each month. It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is, is fine. It can even be a record of where you are each First of the Month. My theme has been my three grandchildren, Zbub, Mizelle, and Dinkum.   I called it: Watch them grow! This fall grandpa piled some dirt back in the corner where the grands are allowed to dig and play without disrupting the landscaping in our yard.  There is also a small sandbox (which they pour all around the area, too!)  Unbelievable late November sunshine and temperatures sent them out to play in their long sleeved shirts.   I grabbed my camera and followed them out to their favorite...

November is a month "Thank" full. If I allowed myself to pause each morning, just the daily list of overlooked blessings would go on forever.  Starting and ending snuggled warm and cozy in my own "blankie."    Yes - I do admit that I have my special bedding that goes with me everywhere.  I'm thankful for it. Thanksgiving is the holiday during the month that most Americans celebrate in some way.  Our traditions are anchored in family and food and football.  That last one slipped into the national mood over the last quarter of a century, and our household has not been exempt.  This year we will be with daughters.  They are my special reason for giving thanks this year. Another day of remembrance in November is Veterans Day.  The saddest part of this day is that we are not running out of them . . . the Veterans. We keep adding to their ranks.  My prayers for these men and women are always of grateful reverence.    The old...

The month has rolled around once more and we return to the meme being hosted by Murrieta 365.    I've been faithful to my commitment to post the First of The Month . The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first of each month. It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is, is fine. It can even be a record of where you are each First of the Month. My theme is my three grandchildren, Zbub, Mizelle, and Dinkum. It is called: Watch them grow!  Of course this was actually the last day of the month - but who could blame me for wanting to capture a Ninja, a Transformer, and a Lady Pirate. (Archives - previous months posts)

It all started the first week of June when a door to door salesmen knocked on ours.  My husband opened it to    "Did you know you can Insulate your house up to the new recommended code for very little investment, or maybe none at all?"  Take advantage of the  "stimulus package," rebates, and an insulation company not only knowing how to do the job, but how to get it done free. By the time the young man had finished his spiel, we had an appointment for someone to come by and give us a bid.  Within two weeks we had a crew from this company in our attic. Part of the plan was for the gas company and/or the power company to send someone to take a look at the job, fill out the report, and then you file a Conservative Incentive Application and get the rebate through both energy companies.   It turned out to be not so easy.   The inspector came, and left us with six out of the nine objectives under the word FAILED.  On top of that there...