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I was quite late waking up this morning. Much later than I usually am. Normally I am up between 5 and 5:30. Today it was more like 6:30. By the time I fed the cats my father was on the phone letting me know he was still with us. We worry when he does not call. The calls usually go like this.
Dad: How are you?
Me: I'm okay? How are you?
Dad: I'm okay too! (in a sing-song-ey, happy kind of voice)
We are creatures of habit. If I forget, then he makes sure I remember and prompts me. There is much comfort to be found in daily routines.
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When I opened my curtains yesterday morning I noted that the wind had blown my bird feeder over and it was laying on the ground. Cindy and Dan came over late morning so that Dan could put it back up for me. I am so grateful for their help. Cindy was also going to try to help me with the tax forms, etc, but it was Greek to her also (and she works in accounting). I will have to call H&R Block and see if they can help me. I don't be able to get there until next week though as we are expecting heavy snow here today at some point and tomorrow and I have a lesson to do for church on Sunday that is only just started.
We also took a drive to the cemetery to see mom's grave and to switch out the arrangement to the Christmas one from the summer one. It was very cold up there on the hill. The wind was blowing. We did not stand outside for long. At least it was open. When I had gone with Eileen and Tim on the 11th, the cemetery was all locked up so we could not go in.
When I went to put my recyclables in the garage I noticed that my bag of refundables had fallen onto the floor of the garage and spilt all over, so I had to gather them all up. I must have had it too full and the hanger couldn't support the bag. There is a friend of Eileen and Tim's in town who has made it his life's purpose to collect refundables. He donates the money to charity. His name is David. He has a wagon that he pulls all over town to collect them. The town bought him a new wagon last year to replace his old one. He walks thousands of miles each year collecting them.
I save all my refundables for him. I think I had three bags the last time and I am working on my fourth bag this time so I best call him before Christmas to come pick them up. He helped his dad to buy a truck so that he can drive out these further areas to pick them up.
I think it is a pretty wonderful thing that this learning challenged man sees it in his heart to do a service like this for his community all year round.
I got a lovely Christmas card from Monique yesterday. I always love her cards. Usually they employ some of her artwork. I have collected them through the years and tried to bring them all with me in my boxes. Usually each year we exchange a Christmas ornament as well.
This was in the card. It is so beautiful. It was created by a Quebec Artisan called Ginny, who has a shop called Martinis and Roses on Etsy (closed for the year now). She makes things like this, pet tags, etc. I love LOVE this. It says 1st Christmas in new home, from Monique 2021. What a thoughtful and wonderful gift. There are stars and a winter scene etched into it as well, plus a lovely hanger and a crystal.
It is hanging on my twinkle tree, and looks very much at home there. Thank you Monique!! So very thoughtful and perfect!
My heart has been toying with the idea of trying to get just a tiny 3 foot tree. But I don't know if the cats will mither it too much or not. Maybe a pre-lit one. We will see. I could just decorate it with little bows or something. The cats are leaving the twinkle tree alone now. It has lost its appeal I guess! Whew!
Seeing everyone's trees on Facebook and IG is making me want one. I am sure if my son and his family are able to make it over they will be wanting a tree. Food for thought.
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We are expecting a heavy snow fall beginning this afternoon and on into tomorrow. Yesterday there men come up and down the street hammering in sticks for the snow plow to see where the edges of the street are (I assume) I had been going to meet my father for Fish and Chips tonight, but I don't think I will if it has started snowing. Instead I will be sitting here in my cosy little home watching the flakes fall and sipping on eggnog, listening to Christmas Carols.
I might pop on A Christmas Carol to watch it as well. We will see.
My youngest son turns 33 today. I hope that he has a Happy Birthday, filled with the people and things that he loves.
I remember the night I had him. We had been eating supper and my belly did a flip flop and then the labor pains started. It was snowing quite heavy out. We were living in the snowbelt of Ontario at the time and so we left for the hospital early just in case. I can remember being in the labor room and saying to my husband at the time, why did we do this? haha I don't think you think about the pain of delivery much during your pregnancy, but when you are in the delivery room, well . . . its a good thing it is a pain that is forgotten easily.
He was born a little after 10 pm, screaming and he has been screaming ever since. He was probably the most demanding of all the children. He would start as soon as I got into bed at night. He had bad asthma as a toddler and so many nights I had to sit in a chair, holding him upright while he slept so that he could breathe, dosing him periodically with his mask and inhaler. My how he would scream and cry through that. But that was a good thing because more got into his lungs.
When he got a bit older he used to crawl into bed with me every night. His dad was away a lot so it didn't really matter. It was about the only way I could get him to go to sleep. I would make up stories for him. He always wanted to be the green power ranger. He also loved the books Goodnight Moon and Just Me and My Dad. He used to love watching the film "Our Vines Had Tender Grapes" with me and he loved me to call him Yentime. I am not sure if that is spelled right or not, but it was the name the father in the movie gave to his little girl and I think it was Norwegian and meant beloved or some such.
Eventually I did get him to sleep in his own bed but I had to be in my bedroom sitting on my bed where he could see me from his own bed across the hall. I positioned both of our beds in just a way that this would happen. He would wave to me and fall asleep.
I remember when he had the chicken pox, I made little bags for his hands so he would not scratch himself. His head was covered with them and I spent hours patting his little head so that they would not itch as bad.
The School bus when he got older stopped outside our house and he would wave to me from the drive as he got on the bus, looking to always make sure I was standing in the window watching. And I would be there watching when he got home in the afternoon.
He was only 12 when his father and I split up. It was a very sad time. Life has a way of sometimes ending up quite differently than you expect it to. I hope that he knows that I have always loved him, even since before he was born, and that I always will. It is my hope and prayer always that he might become reconciled with me. My door and heart are always open.
A thought to carry with you . . .
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*.˛.God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things that I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
•。★★ 。* •。★★ 。* •。★★ 。*
In The English Kitchen today, Eggnog Thumbprint Shortbread Cookies. Delicious!
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone. Don't forget!
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