One Drawer at a Time - the year's end

 Now that the year has come to an end, I am happy with the progress I have made with my "one drawer at a time" process.  I have managed to cull many things and get most spaces better organized.  And I look forward to continuing this process in the new year.  However, now that Christmas is over, it is time to go ahead and make space for some new things.

I got some great presents this Christmas and several of them will definitely need a permanent home within the house.  One of the things I received was an immersion blender.  I have wanted one for a while now.  I have watched many cooking videos where they are used, and I am excited about mine.  Now I just need to find some place in the kitchen for it.  I will be able to do it, I just need to start looking around for the best possible solution.  

There are several other pieces that I will find a home for here.  It may not be immediate, but this process helps me create the spaces that I need.  This year has been good for me as far as this goes and I know that next year will be even better.  I will keep you updated!

The set of three kings

 In today's installment of "Around the House", I am going to stay with my Christmas theme since it is still December and talk about one of my favorite Christmas decorations.  That would be my set of three kings.  I absolutely love them and make sure that they are displayed every Christmas season.  I do not have a specific place that I put them every year.  I like to change it up.  This year, they are on my buffet.  Some years they are on top of the bookcase, some years they adorn the curio cabinet.  I like switching it up every year.

Like most of my antiques, my desire to have my own set of kings began with the family home in Wingate.  When we were cleaning out the house and going through Aunt Sara's Christmas decorations, we came upon her set of kings.  These particular kings are ceramic.  They are about 12 inches tall and just grand looking.  I do not know if Sara painted hers or if Grandmother did.  They were both very good at painting ceramics and made many things over the years.  Anyway, Grandmother gave the kings to my Aunt Jan.  While I did not complain, I made it clear that I wanted some one day.

Fast forward several years to 1989.  It was my birthday.  My 15th birthday to be exact.  My favorite gift I got that year, in fact the only one I remember getting that year, was my own set of kings.  Grandmother painted them just for me.  One red, one green, one blue.  I adored them. They became a part of our Christmas decor every year.  Grandmother painted many things just for me over the years, but the kings are my favorite.  She knew how much I wanted a set and she made it happen.

Now, every time I look at them, I am blessed with feelings of nostalgia and family.  I will one day pass these on to someone who will love them as much as I do.  It is this kind of decoration that adds a special layer to my Christmas holidays and I am thankful to have them. 

The Christmas week

 I do not know about the rest of you, but I had a wonderful Christmas week.  I finally finished decorating the house.  I love doing it and really took my time this year.  I mean, really took my time with Christmas this year.  I was up until 1:00 a.m. Monday night/Tuesday morning finishing things up.  And I still managed to run errands before work on Tuesday.  All the gifts were wrapped; all of the cards were in the mail and the house looked sentimental and special to me. 

I got to spend time with friends that I love and enjoy their company.  I spent a few days with Dad, June, Bill, Heidi and the girls at Dad's house and it was absolutely lovely. I had to work until 4 on Christmas Eve, which was fine.  It was very slow that day and everyone was full of the holiday spirit so that made the day go by quickly.  I spent that evening here in Greensboro.  Jason's family and several friends came over for dinner and gifts.  Jason fixed his traditional German Christmas Eve dinner of German hot dogs, potato salad and German rolls. It was so good! And we set up a huge spread beforehand of appetizers that made for a very pretty buffet.  Our gift exchange took a few hours as there were 7 of us and we each take turns, but it was a lot of fun. We all had a grand time and it was so nice to spend the evening with these good people.

Christmas Day, I drove to Angier that morning. I got off to a late start, I left at 8:45 and Dad was getting worried about me.  Anyway, I made it safely and Heidi and I got to cooking our Christmas meal. Turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, yeast rolls, winter fruit salad and butter pecan cake. We had so much food over the next two days and all of it was delicious.  My cheese ball did not turn out as good as I'd hoped but oh well.  I'll still eat it LOL We had another lovely gift exchange and did our stockings.  It was just a fun afternoon.  We spent Friday just being with each other and enjoying each other's company.  What Christmas is truly about.  Even though Angier is not my hometown, it is now my home because that is where Dad and June are.  And there is just something about going home to make the holidays all that more special.  I realize how lucky I am because not everyone has this privilege. I am truly blessed.

Christmas always inspires me towards the kind of daily life I want for the upcoming year.  I am ready to fill my life with friends and loved ones in 2026.  Life is too short not to. 

O Come All Ye Faithful - King's Choir

 Merry Christmas!

What Child is This? - Vikki Carr

 I love her voice and this is one of my favorite versions of this Christmas carol.  I have it on several compilation albums and I never get tired of hearing it. Enjoy!

Blue Christmas - Loretta Lynn

 Blue Christmas is, honestly, one of those songs that I can take or leave.  If I hear it at Christmas, great.  If I don't, that's ok too. The other day, though, I was listening to Loretta Lynn's 1966 Christmas album, Country Christmas, when Blue Christmas came on.  There is something about the way she sings this that made me hear it differently.  I really heard the longing in her voice and brought out more emotion in the song than I am used to.  I enjoyed this immensely and hope you do too!

Home for the Holidays - Jerry Vale

 Jerry Vale is one of those vocalists that I tend to forget about, yet he's on so many Christmas albums that I have.  He recorded Home for the Holidays in 1967. It was written in 1954 and had been recorded by many artists.  I love the message that it sends about being home and with family for the holidays.  It brings back many wonderful memories of Christmas in Monroe.  Enjoy!

O Little Town of Bethlehem - Perry Como

 Perry Como is another artist that, for me, it just would not be Christmas without hearing him sing.  His version of O Little Town of Bethlehem was recorded in 1946.  I have it on many of my Christmas albums and, as always, he does a beautiful job.  Enjoy!

Recipe of the Week - Boursin Chicken and Orzo

 I am always looking for new crock pot recipes.  This one I found from AllRecipes.com.  I was looking for a new chicken dish to make and chose to try this one.  Plus, I had never cooked orzo at that point, so I wanted to try something new, and this fit the bill.  I definitely enjoyed this and will add it to my recipe canon.  It came across as having an almost stew like consistency which was fine with me.  It did thicken up the next day and was even better!

Boursin Chicken and Orzo

1.5 lbs skinless boneless chicken breast

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

1 can Italian style diced tomatoes

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup orzo pasta

2 (5.2oz) packages Garlic & Herb Boursin Cheese

5 oz baby spinach

1 tsp lemon juice

Place chicken in crock pot.  Season with salt and pepper.  Top with tomatoes and pour chicken broth around the chicken.  Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.  Remove chicken from crock pot and cut into 1-inch pieces.  Return to crock pot.  Stir in orzo and Boursin cheese.  Cook on high until pasta is tender - about 35-40 minutes.  Stir in spinach until wilted.  Stir in lemon juice.  Serve. 

Jolly Old St. Nicholas - Maurice Chevalier

 One of the Christmas albums that I grew up listening to was Great Songs of Christmas.  This was a series of albums put out for several years by Goodyear Tires.  Mom had several different albums in her collection. Maurice Chevalier appeared on album five with two different tracks.  He did a version of Silent Night which is every interesting as it is mostly spoken. And then he did this children's Christmas classic.  I always loved hearing his version and I hope you do too!

Mary's Boy Child - Harry Belafonte

 This is one of those Christmas songs that lingers in the back of my mind during the holidays and whenever it plays, I will stop what I'm doing and quietly listen to it.  Harry Belafonte first released it as a single in 1956 and then it was included in his 1957 album An Evening with Harry Belafonte.  It is a hauntingly beautiful song and I love sharing it here with you all.  Enjoy!

The Happiest Christmas Tree - Nat King Cole

 It is always exciting for me to find a new vintage Christmas song.  I had never heard of The Happiest Christmas Tree until yesterday.  It popped up on YouTube and I decided to give it a try.  How delightful it is.  It reminds me of the kind of song we would have sung in the Christmas play in 1st or 2nd grade. Nat King Cole recorded and released this song in 1959.  While it's not as memorable as other Christmas songs from this era, I really like it!

Christmas Traditions going forward

 As much as I love Christmas and this festive holiday time of year, I realized recently that I have very few Christmas traditions.  There are very few traditions that I do each year.  And these usually consist of decorating the tree and the house, writing Christmas cards and listening to Christmas music.  I love these traditions and have no intention of stopping them any time soon.  But I would like to start to add some traditions to my Christmas.  I'm not very good at scheduling things to do for myself, so once I get to the Christmas season, I just have not made the time to do the things I would like to do. I think that if I had children or family (real and of choice) nearby and wasn't single then I would probably have a more structured schedule of holiday fun.  So, next year, I just need to do it for myself.  There is nothing wrong that having a tradition or two just for me.  And if someone wants to join in, that would be great!

Here are a few things I would love to start doing:

1. Ornament/Cookie exchange party

I think that this would be fun.  I have never been to one before and it sounds like it would be a nice way to start off the holidays.

2. Filling Stockings

While my family and I do stocking stuffers when we get together for Christmas, it's not the same as filling up stockings that are hanging in anticipation of Santa.  This will require having people in my life that would enjoy it and maybe a Christmas Day meal to have people together.

3. Driving around looking at Christmas lights

We used to do this every year when I was growing up, and it was always a magical car ride to me. I remember especially driving through Rolling Hills and down Church Street in the historical district.  There was a house on the street behind where Grandmother lived that had lights everywhere and we always went to look at it.  It would be fun to take an evening to put some Christmas music on the radio and drive around with friends and enjoying the seasonal decorations.

4. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

This was a staple of my time in Monroe, NC. It was always such a special service and I have not been to one in years.  I need to find a church home though because I don't want to be that person that only shows up at Christmas and Easter.  The last one I went to was at FBC in Monroe about 20 years ago.  They did communion, which was totally new to me at these services, and after 30 minutes of watching people take communion...row by row...I left early and missed the candlelight portion.  Oh well. 

5. Caroling

Almost no one goes caroling anymore...at least not like they used to.  And I can't really say that I blame them with the way people are these days.  Still, I think it would be fun to do and revive this Christmas tradition.

6. Advent Calendar

I want to start doing an Advent calendar each year.  When I was young, our cousin Bernie sent us one that we used for several years.  It was a picture of the manger and I loved it.  These days there are all sorts of advent calendars out there and it would be fun to start doing them each year.

7.  Lessons and Carols Service

I would love to find this service to go to each year.  I know that they're out there, I just need to seek them out and get my behind there because I know I would love it.  I have seen them on tv and would love to take part in one live.

8. The Nutcracker

I have not seen The Nutcracker live since 1985. It's a holiday tradition that is still going strong.  Here in Greensboro there are multiple productions to go and see.  It's just so dang expensive.  I'm going to need to start saving in the summer months to get tickets.  And, also, this would be something I would enjoy doing with someone else.

9.  Christmas Books

I would like to pick out a different Christmas book to read each year.  Either something new to revisit a classic or a favorite that I have already read.  This is something that I know I can do I just need to plan better.  I have so many Christmas books that I have not read....go figure

These are just a few things I would like to begin doing during the holidays.  This list will give me something to look forward to next year!  Care to join me?

Caroling, Caroling - Tennessee Ernie Ford

 Tennessee Ernie Ford put out several Christmas albums throughout his career.  His album "Sing We Now of Christmas" was released in October of 1965.  This is one of the tracks from that album.  Caroling, Caroling is another favorite of mine.  It is actually my favorite Christmas song that Nat King Cole recorded, but Ford does a great job with it and I enjoyed listening to it immensely.  Hope you do too!

Silver Bells - Johnny Mathis

 Johnny Mathis released his first Christmas album in 1958.  Among the tracks was this version of Silver Bells.  Again, this version is on several different records that I have and I love it.  I like that it's a little slower paced than most versions.  It has a very soulful feeling to it for me.  It's just not Christmas without some Johnny Mathis on the record player!

Joy To The World - Ray Conniff

 This is a fun version of the carol Joy To The World by Ray Conniff & the Singers.  His album, Here We Come A-Caroling, was first released in 1965 and became very popular.  A television Christmas special based on this album would air that December.  The album was reissued in the late 60's as well.  I have this track on several different albums, including the original album, and it's always a fun listen!  Enjoy!

Christmas Shopping

 

Like most people these days, and quite sadly to be honest, I rarely go out shopping to physical stores.  Online shopping has become so convenient.  Of course, it's not like the old days of ordering something from a catalog which, in itself, was a form of convenience but you had to do it early if you were shopping for Christmas.  Once the order was received, by mail, it would take 6 to 8 weeks before it arrived.  Our society does not like to wait that long anymore.  Alas, I am also guilty of doing online shopping for the holidays but at least these days I mostly shop from independent stores and stores that use independent artisans.  So, in essence it is a form of supporting small businesses, just differently than in person. 

Yesterday was different for me.  I got up early.  Well, I always get up early but this time I had a purpose (outside of my normal purpose of going to work). I made a list of places to go and do some Christmas shopping.  I warmed up my car and hit the road.  I was at the first store just a little after they opened at 7:00 a.m.  I have not done this in years.  And I had a blast shopping.  It really put me in the Christmas spirit.  Well, it enhanced my Christmas spirit as I already have that. There was Christmas music playing over the sound system, the staff was friendly and helpful and there were plenty of other shoppers, but no one really got into each other's way.  I found some great things and got inspired to do more shopping today. 

It got me to thinking about all the times going Christmas shopping when I was growing up. We would go to the Monroe Mall and it would be decorated to the hilt.  It always looked amazing back in the day.  In the early years of the mall, Belk's department store had a room set aside for kids to shop for their parents. Dad took me there several times when I was little to get a gift for Mom. One year she got a mirror on a stand for her vanity.  Another year she got a green umbrella.  And you could buy the gift prewrapped or not.  I think I always got the prewrapped one. I remember going to the Hallmark store and buying things there.  One year I got Grandmother a Christmas card that played Silent Night.  I don't know if they still make cards like that today but at the time, it was an extravagant purchase for me and that card sat on her coffee table every Christmas until it could no longer play.

Once a year during the shopping season, we would venture to Charlotte on a Saturday for a day of holiday shopping.  Eastland Mall was the place to be in those days.  They had an ice-skating rink that always amazed me. It was so much fun to look down over the second-floor railing to watch the skaters on the ice. In my high school days, Eastland Mall had run down some and Carolina Place Mall became the place to be.  I went there many times with my friends, especially at Christmas.  The last time I went there was when I was a senior in high school. Tanya, Jonathan and Jim Edwards and I piled into Tanya's minivan for an evening of holiday shopping.  Hard to believe that was over 30 years ago now.

And that made me remember of a shop that was on highway 74 between Monroe and Charlotte.  I cannot remember the name of it, but they sold a lot of brass and glass items.  You could get them engraved there as well.  We stopped there one day, and I found a set of brass elephants in a ring holding up a glass ball for Grandmother.  It was a random gift, but she loved it and displayed it year-round.  It's fun finding those shops you don't normally go into and discovering something wonderful.  That's one of the joys of Christmas shopping. Of getting out there and seeing what people have to offer.  As convenient as it is to click a mouse sometimes, it is just as important to go out and look around.  You never know what you will find. 

Jingle Bells - Julie Andrews

 Julie Andrews first recorded the holiday classic, Jingle Bells, around 1966.  Her recording appeared on many different albums including her collaboration with Andre Previn and then on many compilation albums that were popular for the next few decades.  She recorded this version several times throughout her vocal career, and it is always a pleasure to listen to.  One of my favorite versions of this timeless Christmas song. Enjoy!

Christmas Is... - Percy Faith

 Here is another holiday classic from the 1960s.  Christmas Is... is the title track from Percy Faith's 1966 holiday album.  It was written by Faith and Spencer Maxwell and first released on this album.  I first remember this being on one of Mom's Christmas records.  It was another of those albums with various artists that was put out by either Goodyear or Firestone and I have that somewhere.  But I have also since acquired the original 1966 album that this came from and it is delightful.  Percy Faith and his orchestra and chorus are always a welcome addition to my holidays and I hope they will be to yours!

Some Children See Him - Diahann Carroll

 Some Children See Him is another of Alfred Bates's yearly Christmas songs given as gifts to his circle of friends.  This song was written for Christmas 1951 and was first released by Tennessee Ernie Ford on his Christmas album in 1958.  For several years, Grants Department Stores released a Christmas album with various artists.  Volume 3 from 1969 contains this gem sung by the great Diahann Carroll.  It's a beautiful version of the song and I hope you enjoy it. 

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard

My Grown-Up Christmas List - Natalie Cole

 It's hard to imagine Christmas without music from the Cole family, both Nat King and Natalie.  Today, I am going with Natalie Cole.  My Grown-Up Christmas List first was sung as a duet by Cole and David Foster for his 1989 Christmas special.  In 1990, the solo version by Cole was released.  This is one of those songs that is poignant and relevant to our world. At least it is relevant to my feelings.  There is great nostalgia in this song for me as well and you all know I love nostalgia.  It just has such a nice, warm feeling to it and I consider it a Christmas classic.  Enjoy!

This Christmas I Spend with You - Robert Goulet

 This is the title track from Robert Goulet's 1963 Christmas Album.  While I do not have a copy of that album yet, I do have him singing this song on several Christmas albums with various other artists on them.  One of the albums we always listened to at Christmas when I was growing up contained this song and I have always enjoyed it.   The song was chosen one year as the theme song for the Christmas Seals campaign and that is the introduction you here from this 45. I hope you do too!

We Need a Little Christmas - New Christy Minstrels

 The New Christy Minstrels is another singing group that I absolutely love during the holidays. I only really know their work from Christmas albums so I should look into some of their other stuff because I do enjoy them.  But I often wonder whatever became of the Old Christy Minstrels? LOL  Anyway, they do a fun version of this holiday classic from the Jerry Herman musical, Mame.  It was a track on their 1966 album Christmas with the Christies.  I just love the album cover! Enjoy!

The Christmas Waltz - The Carpenters

 It's just not Christmas without The Carpenters.  Their album, "Christmas Portrait", was released in October 1978 and has been a Christmas music staple ever since.  There are so many great tracks on this album that choosing one each year is hard.  But one of my favorites is Karen's performance of the Christmas classic, The Christmas Waltz.  I hope you enjoy it.  Also, you can find several of their television Christmas specials on YouTube if you're looking for some fun retro holiday viewing!

I'll Be Home for Christmas - Anne Murray

 Anne Murray's first Christmas album, "Christmas Wishes", was released in 1981 and it quickly became a holiday music staple in our house.  Mom had it on cassette and we would listen to it on the tape player she kept on the kitchen counter.  Then, when we finally had a car that had a tape player in it, we would listen to this all the time whenever we were going places. I have always loved Anne's voice and this is one of my favorite tracks from this album.  I hope you'll enjoy it!

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

 I love to find "new to me" versions of Christmas songs.  This is one of them.  I was listening to one my Christmas music stations on the computer, and this started playing.  I thought this was so much fun.  Released by The Impressions in 1976, their version is definitely Disco Christmas!  I would love to hear more of their music, and this gives me something to look forward to.  I hope you enjoy this version as much as I do!

Quote of the Week

 I love the original film version of Miracle on 34th Street.  The remakes are fine, but the original is just magical. This is one of my favorite quotes from this film and it applies not only to the Christmas season but to life all year long. May you carry this with you into 2026!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

 Most people know this song because of Andy Williams and rightfully so.  His version is probably the most famous and it is very well done.  It does not seem like Christmas without hearing it.  In later years, Amy Grant put out a version that gets a lot of radio time, and it is good as well. This version, by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, I was less familiar with.  I was listening to one of my Christmas records and this was on it.  When I first started listening to it, I thought it may be the New Christy Minstrels but it turned out to be Roy and Dale. I thought it charming and wanted to share.  I hope you enjoy it!

Star Carol - Peggy Lee

 I have always been intrigued by the story of jazz musician Alfred Burt and the Christmas carols he wrote as gifts for a small circle of friends during his lifetime.  Sadly, he would never know their popularity as he passed away before many of them became considered holiday classics.  The Star Carol from 1954 is one of my favorites.  It is a hauntingly beautiful carol, and Peggy Lee gives a wonderful interpretation.  Enjoy!

Silver and Gold - Vanessa Williams

 Of course, we all know this Christmas song from the Bass/Rankin special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  It was sung by the narrator, Sam the Snowman, voiced by Burl Ives. And I love that version as it's the original, but I picked up one of Vanessa Williams's Christmas albums at the record store one afternoon and discovered this gem.  Her version is slower than the original, but I believe that it works for her.  She has a beautiful, rich voice and if you have not heard any of her Christmas recordings, I suggest that you do!

Lenox Jewels Nativity Set

 

I started collecting this nativity set about 10 years ago.  I had always wanted a nativity set of my own.  We had a beautiful one growing up. It was a ceramic set that Grandmother painted.  Bill has that set now.  Even though I would have loved to have it, I thought it only fair that if he wanted it, he should have it.  I have so many beautiful ceramic pieces that Grandmother painted specifically for me that I could let go of that.  Still, it is a beautiful set and holds many precious memories.  Still, I wanted one of my own.  I remembered seeing these pieces in gift shops and always thought they were wonderful.

I set out to build up my own set.  I did not want to buy an entire set at once because that would have been thousands of dollars.  There are so many pieces to this set.  So, I started small and am building my way to a complete set.  I started with the essentials:  Jesus, Mary & Joseph.  Oddly, while these are the most important pieces in the story of the nativity, they are also the cheapest to buy and easiest to find.  By the first Christmas I was displaying the nativity, I had acquired them along with the three kings.  It was small but simple.

Over the years, I have added a piece or two each year.  Sometimes I would get a piece for a Christmas or birthday present.  Thank you, Michael, for the camel! I cherish this set and enjoy finding pieces each year to add to it.  I have not gotten one yet this year but it's still early.  Like I said, there are so many pieces out there.  Many of the pieces are on the expensive side, so I have to find good sales, mostly on Ebay.  I don't mind if they are in their original box or not.  While I would prefer that, it is not necessary because it bumps the price up!!  But there are pieces like the camel master, the perfume seller and the woman with urn that are on my bucket list but like I said, they are on the higher end of the price range.

Woman with Urn - Not in my collection...yet!

Anyway, I love putting this on display.  You will see pictures here over the years of the different places I have put the set out.  And I love the tradition of having this set and adding to it piece by piece.  I'm making my own Christmas memories!

That Holiday Feeling! - Steve & Eydie

 I love this Christmas song and have it on several albums.  It is the title track from Steve & Eydie's 1964 album of holiday songs.  Both Steve & Eydie have amazing voices, and I highly recommend this album.  This song appears on several albums that I have, mostly compilation albums put out by companies, but it is always a fun, jolly song!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

 I always start my Christmas blogs with this beautiful song.  It is definitely in my top five Christmas songs, both sacred and secular. The first time I remember hearing this was on an episode of Fame.  Debbie Allen was seated at a piano and played and sang the song.  I just loved it.  And then, of course, when I finally saw Meet Me in St. Louis, I was blown away by Judy Garland's performance of it.  That entire scene is amazing and if you have never seen the movie, I highly recommend it.  This is one of those songs that means more and more the older I get.  Let us all take its message to heart and carry it into this holiday season because we could all use a merry little Christmas now.  

The silver cake stand

 

I love pieces on stands, so naturally I love a nice cake stand.  I remember this one always sitting in one of the cabinets on display.  It is a silver plate and was received as a wedding present for my parents in 1968.  I don't ever remember Mom using it, but I know she did.  Somewhere there are pictures from my 1st or 2nd birthday, and the cake is sitting on this stand.  I remember because apparently, I wanted to try to eat my plate rather than my piece of cake LOL Anyway, when we divided up the household, this came to me.  And I cherish it.  I have used it multiple times over the years. I have used it both as a cake stand and as part of a centerpiece for my dining room table.  It just looks so pretty when it is shined up.  Being silver plate, it does require cleaning every now and then.  And honestly, the decorative work around the rim can be a pain to polish, but I love it too much not to do it.  This is one of those pieces that always makes me feel connected to Mom.  Even though I don't remember her using it, I know she did and when I use it it just makes me feel close to her.  Hopefully one day one of my nieces will want their grandmother's cake stand and they will use it just as we both have.  That is all. 

Decorating the Tree

 

Christmas 2020

You know, I really never expected to be at this stage of my life and to be decorating my Christmas tree by myself.  Decorating the tree was always a family tradition. Now that is not to say that all of the family got to decorate the tree.  Growing up, Dad and Bill put on the lights, then Mom, Grandmother and I decorated the tree.  Eventually it turned into Mom and I decorating the tree and Grandmother telling us where to put the ornaments LOL  And once Heidi came along, she got invited to decorate the tree as well.  Dad and Bill were still relegated to lights duty.  Often the decorating of the tree would take place around my birthday. We did not do it the weekend after Thanksgiving because we usually had company with us.  And Thanksgiving was sacred to Mom so no decorations went up during that holiday weekend. 

Christmas 2021

When I have been in relationships, I always decorated the tree with my partner.  I don't know if it meant as much to them as it did to me because I just love to decorate for the holidays, but I appreciated the assistance. Memories were created.  Good memories and that is what is important.  And now, here I am, by myself and decorating the tree on my own.  And to be honest, I'm having a wonderful time.  I've got my records playing and I am reliving so many memories when I pull the ornaments out of their boxes.  It makes me smile.  It makes my heart smile.  And it is important to me that I can still enjoy this on my own.  I am enveloped in love and in the spirits of those gone before me and those still here while I hang each ornament on its branch.  It is no less special than it was 30 years ago.  Different, yes, but still no less special.

Christmas Toy Tree 2023

I will admit, though, that I have gotten frustrated when putting the tree together.  Several sections of the lights are not working, and I cannot figure out how to fix it.  So, there are some dark sections of the tree.  Oh well. This is still a great precursor to December for me.  I still have to finish up the tree tonight and then start decorating the house.  My goal is to have it done before my birthday next Friday.   I often make jokes on social media about my spinster status, but I actually wear that title with pride these days.  I have learned that being lone does not equate being lonely. Decorating my tree tonight only reiterates that philosophy.  Now, time to get back to it!  Hopefully I can finish up tonight!

Bea and the Tree 2024

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Slow down and notice the things that make you smile. 

 

Time for some Christmas shopping

 One of my favorite things to do in life is give gifts.  I have always enjoyed it.  The thrill of the hunt for the perfect gift gets my adrenaline pumping.  And more often than not, it will be a gift that the receiver never expects.  I pay attention when people say things and I file them away.  The result is often something unique and memorable.  At least it is for me.  So now that we are going into the Christmas season, I am really in my element.  I've been shopping for a few months now, picking up things here and there. I will often be out somewhere and see something that reminds me of someone, and I have to go ahead and snag it. I do, though, get a person what they ask for if they tell me specifically what it is they want.  That was usually the case when my nieces were younger.  But these days, I rely more on my creativity.  

Today is Black Friday and I have yet to buy anything.  Oops.  Luckily, the websites where I shop online have their Black Friday sales extended for a few days.  Tomorrow, I hope to participate in small shop Saturday.  While I have things to do around the house, like get the tree up and decorate, I will try my best to get out and do some local shopping.  I think it is very important to support local businesses and artisans and Christmas is a great time to do that.  I love Christmas shopping, so I am ready to really get into the thick of it.  And it is never about getting something in return.  That does not matter really to me.  I just enjoy the love that goes into each gift.  That is what is important. 

5 Things I am Thankful For

1. My BFA Class

When I went to college for the first time in 1993, I did not know it at the time, but I was to make some lifelong friends. I met everyone in my BFA class that first year but did not get to really know many of them until our first year in the acting program, 1994.  These people are so dear to my heart and have such a big place in my heart. We lost one of our members several years ago but know that she's still with us, looking out for us. Now that we are mostly all over the age of 50, we try to get together as often as we can in different combinations.  And each time, it's as if time has stopped.  Our connection is deep and true, and I am extremely thankful for that. BTW, Margaret on the right of the picture was a theatre ed major but she was still one of us!

2. Trips to Disney World

I have had the pleasure of going to Disney World 4 times.  I am truly hoping that my last trip in 2015 was not my last trip, but time will tell.  I am thankful that I got to go each time. It is a magical place that brings joy and happiness to so many people, including myself. I credit Disney with giving me more time with Mom.  When we went in the summer of 1990, that is when she had her gallbladder attack.  Because of that, the doctors discovered the tumor on her liver - metastasized breast cancer.  If she had not had the gallbladder attack, by the time the tumor would have been discovered on its own would have been too late.  Thanks to that trip to Disney, I got 6 more years with her, and I am extremely thankful for that. 

3. The Dawn

Each morning, I get up before the sun rises. There is something so special to me about seeing the first light of day.  It means that another opportunity awaits. It means that I have been given another day to make a difference. It means a fresh start each day.  I am thankful to see each new morning. 

4. My Family

I won't go into too much detail here.  Just know that I am eternally grateful for the family that I was born into.  I could not have asked God for anything better. 

5. Cream of Mushroom Soup

Without it, my life would be incomplete.  That is all. 

Better mental health lately

 

I can definitely tell that my mental health is maintaining a good place.  That is a good thing for me, obviously.  My bouts with depression occur much less than they used to.  And when they do happen, they do not last nearly as long as they used to.  In fact, I cannot even remember the last time I was truly depressed.  Yes, I have been sad, and I have had moments of melancholy, but not real depression like I used to get. If you have never experienced depression, just know that it takes over your whole body and it is very draining.  I am thankful not to have dealt with that in a long time.  

Even now, when I do have those moments of sadness, I am able to refocus that energy in a more positive light.  Doing my daily devotions and having my moments of mindfulness help a lot with that.  But I have also learned to be grateful for what I have and that feeling enables me to redirect into a positive life atmosphere.  There are times when I get so frustrated because I cannot go do things that my friends do because of my budget, but I have learned to be thankful that at least I have a budget.  Not everyone does.  I know that this makes me sound very Pollyanna, but I do not mind that label.  Finding the good in situations has done wonders for my psyche. 

It's good to be in a good headspace, especially going into the holidays.  Normally the holiday season is what draws me out of my slumps but now I am beginning my holidays at a better level of mental health.  I like how that feels and can't wait to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I have worked hard to get here and will continue to focus my energies for more improvement going forward.  That is all. 

We Are the World

 We Are the World was released in the spring on 1985 and became an overnight sensation.  This is one of those songs that whenever it comes on I will just stop and listen.  It has a powerful message, and it still rings true today.  I think it is a very appropriate song for this week of Thanksgiving. 

It Is Well With My Soul

 This is one of my favorite hymns.  Trying to find a version to post here was not as easy as I thought.  But I came across this one and really enjoyed it.  I have not heard this gentleman sing before, but he does all 4 parts of the harmony and creates a beautiful sound.  Hope you enjoy!

Daily Challenge for November

 

Now that November is almost over, I suppose it is time to talk about my daily challenge. This month's challenge has been all about self-care.  That was also my challenge for October, but I decided to continue it into this month. And I will do it each month going forward with more specific challenges added to the canon. 

I have been taking time each day to do something just for me.  Sometimes it's listening to music, sometimes it's going thrifting, sometimes it's reading.  It is simply the act of taking the time each day just for me.  It's not always as easy as it sounds, but I need those few moments to regroup and rejuvenate.  It does the soul good.  

Part of this self-care has been combining my previous challenges into my normal day to day routine.  Doing my morning devotions has been good for me.  This series of devotions is directed at care givers and that is right up my alley. I often joke about shopping in my garage, but I love going through the boxes I find.  The items I uncover bring back such wonderful memories of people and places.  While I do not wish to live in the past, it is always nice to visit and reminisce. Taking care of myself is so important because it affects how my day goes, how my interactions with people go, how my mental health goes.  So many good things result from self-care that I am quite enjoying this practice.

Glass Fruit

 I don't know why, all of a sudden, I became enamored with glass fruit.  It just sort of happened one day while I was out thrift shopping.  I was at Reconsidered Goods, a local thrift store, and I saw a glass pear.  I thought it was very cute.  It was bright yellow. Very appealing and only $1.  And I left it there.   It stayed with me, though, and I kept thinking about it.  I decided that I would get it the next time I went if it was still there. When I came back several weeks later, it was still there.  Into my basket it went.  As I walked around the store, I came across several other pieces of glass fruit.  So, I picked them up as well.  Later that day, I was at another antiques store and found a grouping of fruit, all different pieces from what I'd already gotten, and they were on sale.  It was $10 for 4 more pieces so I got those as well.

One of the reasons that I love this fruit is because it shows how my tastes in antiques and collectibles is evolving.  When I first began collecting, decades ago, everything I loved was either Victorian or early 1900s.  No real exceptions in that.  Now, the older I get, I am more open to different styles, and I will get something for myself because I like it, no matter its age.  Glass fruit was a really popular decor item in the 1960s and 1970s.  We never had it in our house, so I have no sentimental attachment to it.  I just liked it and so I bought it.  Normally, I have a rule that if I buy something I need to be able to use it.  These pieces were made purely for decoration.  You can't eat them LOL  So, I'm using them for their designed purpose. No guilt there at all!  I don't know if I'll buy any more pieces, but you never know.  In the meantime, I enjoy seeing them throughout the house.

One Drawer at a Time - Utensils

 

If you've read the past few posts on this topic, you can tell that I am still in the kitchen.  Oh boy LOL Might as well be because that is really where I spend the majority of my free time these days and having it organized is so rewarding for me.  Today, it is time for me to go through my utensil drawers.  Now, that is big fun!  I have 4 drawers full of kitchen gadgets and utensils along with a countertop container full that I need to address as well.

What I am looking to do this time is to find items that I have multiples of and see if I really need those multiples.  I can tell you off the top of my head that I have at least 3 soup ladles.  I'm not sure why I do, but I do.  And I can tell you that the chances of me having 3 different pots of soup going at one time is pretty slim.  So, I am going to have to make a choice here.  Keep 2, get rid of one probably.  We shall see.  I also know that I have 2 ground beef separators.  Those will both be kept simply because if one is dirty and I need one, I'll have a spare.

Another thing that I'm going to have to decide on is the electric knife.  It was Grandmother's but I have never used it.  She only used it once or twice a year whenever she cooked a turkey breast.  I'm not even sure if it still works so I have to plug it in and find out.  As sentimental as I am about some things, I have to be practical about others.  Like, in that same drawer, I have Grandmother's handheld mixer.  It is older than I am, but I use it all the time and it works like a charm. Ah, gotta love utensils that were made to last! So, I'll keep you updated on the knife because I know you'll be holding your breath until I make a decision.

As mundane as this sounds, it is what I do in my spare time, and I actually enjoy it.  My goal is for one day not to have to do it because everything will have a home in my house.  And while drawers and cabinets may be stuffed to the gills, it will be somewhat organized! Wish me luck!

5 Things I am Thankful For

1. Squirt

We had Squirt for about 12 years, so he was probably around 14 when he crossed the rainbow bridge.  I'm so thankful that I had all of that time with him. He was my baby and while I hope that other dogs come into my life down the road, no one will ever take his place.  He's my heart. 

2. Theatre

I am so thankful that theatre has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  Grandmother would take us to see the children's productions put on by the local theatre.  I remember seeing Cinderella and Tom Sawyer.  The Music Man was the first musical I ever saw on stage.  Fred Simpson, who went to our church, played the lead.  I was in Drama Club in high school and then majored in theatre in college (the first time around). And one of the reasons I am so thankful for theatre being a part of my life is that so many dear friends I have made along the way have been possible because of theatre.  While I do not actively participate on stage at the moment, I am still enjoying going to see shows and supporting the arts.  For that, I am thankful. 

3. Christmas Music

I've been a Christmas music junkie for as long as I remember.  Growing up, we didn't dare listen to it until after Thanksgiving.  Of course, that was back in the days when Christmas was not even publicly thought about until the day after Thanksgiving.  But once we could, those records played nonstop in our house. Every year, Mom and I would go to Hallmark and get their annual Christmas album on cassette. Now, as an adult, it is my happy music.  I listen to it all year round though I do not force anyone else to listen to it (but I'm always happy for someone to join me!). I have amassed a nice collection of Christmas vinyl - over 250.  I am thankful for this music because it reminds me of such happy times and makes me feel good about life. 

4. Running water

This one's pretty much a given.  When I think of people who don't have running water, I simply cannot imagine what that hardship must be like and I am so thankful that I do have it.  Of all utilities, this one would probably be the most difficult to live without!

5. Being Old Fashioned

I am thankful that I am old fashioned.  As nice as computers and other technologies are, I prefer the simpler way to do things.  I cannot help it, it's just part of my soul.  I'm an old soul and proud of it.  And people appreciate that, even those who are not old fashioned themselves. There is something to be said for keeping traditions alive and well and being an old-fashioned person gives me the opportunity to do that.