Battery Life: 10 Percent: Time to Recharge

One of my Christmas presents that I turned into a new prayer journal. Isn't it cute?

December found me feeling incredibly blessed and a little melancholy at the same time. It has been a beautiful month. Our Decembers along the coast are usually overcast and so foggy in the evenings. This December has blessed me with mild temperatures and sunny days. All that makes it hard to understand my feeling somewhat off my game. I wasn't really blue, but just at times it seemed like I wanted to slow down and just go backwards a few months if that makes sense. I wasn't quite ready for Christmas I suppose.

The foggy night came in last night with terrible weather all across the south. We were fine but I did wake up at 3:00 to loud winds and rain. 

Let’s move on…

I enjoyed Christmas. We celebrated on the 23rd with all the usual fanfare. Same good food and same traditions. Three boys leading the charge; all old enough to demand that they be the first to open a present in our round robin tradition. Paul Allen came up with the compromise to let all 3 boys open a present at the same time in the rotation. They were pleased with the idea and went at it with great gusto as one can imagine that has been around little boys. Oh and Carol, I think I am going to go with your method  of using bags next year except for my girls who appreciate a pretty wrapped package. 

It is virtually impossible to get all 3 boys to look at the camera at the same time.

I took lots of candid photos which I think I am going to pass on showing because I have so many thoughts to write. However, one that I will share is Gus in Aunt Donna’s lap. He is a lapdog and the only lap he could find to sit on who wasn’t opening presents in a comfy chair was Donna.

Christmas Eve was church and  dinner out with Lindsay, Tyler and the boys. Something I have never done on Christmas Eve is eat out. Christmas Day was brunch with the kids. Really good times and so blessed. The 26th ---take it all down and put my house back in order. That is me!!!

Here it is the end of another year and I feel like the years are from Star Trek flight logs. I mean 2025! 

I am in reflection mode as usual this time of year. 

What went well? 

My cleaning schedule. Other than my one day when talk of moving hit me like a ton of bricks I have found in deep thought that my home is organized and I have a handle on keeping it tidy and clean. I am not going to lie —- that took some time after retirement to feel like this. I have declutterred all I am going to other than the usual keep a basket handy to discard things as I come across them in daily life. What I have in closets is organized, well labeled and should we move I will make big decisions then - but for now I am just going to live.  I have a good cleaning schedule that works for me. Those are very personal I think, but I have leaned into my strengths and weaknesses. I clean 2 rooms a day. A major room and a minor room. A major room is the family room, one we really use and live in. A minor room is one not as visited like a secondary bedroom. I try to hit the surfaces with a duster, vacuum thoroughly, and rotate some deeper cleaning things when it is the day for that room. What I have found is that by being diligent and sticking to the plan I don’t have nearly as much of that heavy cleaning to do -aka spring cleaning. I still have projects, but home ownership means you always have those things.

The Bible Recap. I would have to say this was amazing for me. I linked it for reference. It was just perfect for me this year, so much so that I am doing it again for ‘25. It is a chronological reading of the Bible in a year; then you listen to a recap. Easiest way to read the Bible in a year ever! It is not a theological podcast, but just simply a recap and sometimes  if there are differing theological viewpoints those will be noted with links to study the viewpoints. What drew me to it last December was the fact that I was sick of reading study books from people. I just wanted God’s Word. You can buy a book and read but I preferred the podcast for the recap. I got up each morning his year and after wetting my eyes and  taking my thyroid meds headed outside to the porch or sat at the kitchen table and read my assigned Scripture. Then while getting dressed for the day, I listened to the recap. Jeff usually heard it while I was doing all this so when the narrator, Tara Leigh Cobble spoke of people joining in with the New Testament he did just that. He gets up much earlier than me so by the time I hit play I never had to worry about him not being ready. He is jumping in for the whole Bible with me on the 1st. I would say it was a huge hit for me in ‘24.

The hard stuff of ‘24 does not make me unusual. We all have hard stuff at times in life. It is how I react which some days I do pretty good and some days not so much. I think that makes me human and normal.

Watching Jeff with Parkinson’s is not easy and will not be easy going forward. One thing I have learned is I am not able to research outcomes. That goes against every bit of my usual self. I love researching and being abreast of all things. In this situation, I have found it sends me down a dark hole. I am going to have to just go forward without the facts laid out for me. I will have to take it as it comes. There are good days and months and there are days not so fun to watch… worse for him I am sure. We have a good doctor, a strong faith, good friends and we will put one foot forward at a time.

Watching Mama age is hard too. She is slowly deteriorating. She has good days and bad days. Sometimes I think she will live to be a 100 and other days when she is short of breath I am not so sure. Again, there are blessings, she has her mind or at least a good one for almost 90. 

Things I am planning to improve upon in '25. A plan for strength training, I have left that off too much this year and it is too important. I am setting a time each day and a more planned time hoping that I can manage it without a gym visit. However if the gym is needed I will squeeze it in. When I went to the gym pre grandchildren I was knocking it out. Going and using the machines makes it easy, but I so hate going. However, I am making it a top priority, so that all options are on the table.

I have many things to share from just the couple of days since Christmas that I did in the house so I will be back in '25.

I am going to take a little break for a few days, and then reconnect with all of you -my blogging friends who have held me up in prayer this year. I felt those prayers. 

I believe every day is a gift so I am resting these last few days of ‘25 in Auburn and heading back with a recharged battery for ‘25. 

Happy New Year Everyone,

Sandy

T'was the Week before Christmas

Back from the frame shop.

Trying to stay “not busy” during the month of December can be downright difficult. You can have all of your shopping done. I had all mine done when I decided today that I was going to get Mama something to wear even though she doesn’t need it. She has always loved new clothes, so I am going out this evening to find something. You can have all your presents wrapped. Yes, all of mine are wrapped … minus the one I plan to purchase this evening. Now, those presents are wrapped with pretty paper and all have a sticker label on them, but not one bow. I actually love wrapping presents and making them especially pretty for Lindsay and Katie who will notice, but this year hasn’t been normal and I am sort of feeling my age and stressed, so I figured wrapping was better as I bought the presents rather than one big long session when each of my days is subject to interruptions. I am doubting any bows are going to be added this year, but oh well. Maybe next year.

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On my last post I think there are lots of thoughts and we are all right on our thoughts. Some love it and like me enjoy the china, and there are those of you who don’t care for it and that is A OK too. My sister-in-law falls in that camp. 

*But, my 2 cents is ladies, we should use that stuff and enjoy it! Use it and don’t worry if it ends up at a thrift store. I read a blog post once where a lady found a full set of my Silver Pines pattern and was thrilled with her purchase of it. Check it out.

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Jeff and I went on a three day weekend trip to Auburn, Atlanta, Columbus, GA, and Calloway Gardens. If I am being truthful from the moment our good friends asked us to go I had strong reservations. Climbing stairs at a basketball game and walking the distances for the other activities sent me into panic mode for Jeff. But, he was determined we were going. When he said yes, he was having some really good weeks. I prayed and prayed and had to let it go. I prayed hat he would be able to do it and that if he was going to struggle that he would still be able to do this without complication. Days before our trip, I began to see a change in his gait again. Let’s say we made it through, but I don’t want to go to big cities anymore. Quieter activities will be best.  

I have one more thing planned going with friends. I bought tickets to see Sean of the South and Three on a String in Pensacola for the end of February. I will also not be so quick to go with friends in the future as well. I don’t want to friends to have to deal with us if he is having a bad time. We are blessed to have such good friends but I just don't want the unnecessary struggles. 

I have pictures that look like we are having the time of our life and while I did enjoy the festivities the truth is I was stressed to the max. 

Maybe at some point I can write about this new life I am in, but for now I just need to walk it a bit more.

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December has been a lovely month. It is usually one of my least favorite months because a typical December is cloudy all day with pea soup fog at night. It has been mostly sunny and warm. The fall season in north Florida has never been more beautiful. The leaves this year are super colorful.  I am enjoying my Christmas decorations this year. I haven’t gotten ready to take it all down which usually occurs about this time…well, not the tree. I always like the tree.

We will be doing our family Christmas on the 23rd to help the children visit the other side of their families. We will do a brunch out at Lindsay’s on Christmas Day. Gotta see what Santa brought,

Then I hope to sit all day Christmas Day and stitch or read. Wish me luck.

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One picture I wanted to share was my first year teaching school. For years I had heard they had built a big new school. While driving the back roads from Columbus to Calloway Gardens we happened upon it. Such a beautiful fall drive  BTW. I simply had to hop out and have a picture taken by the sign.

Which prompted a quick drive by the original school which is now a middle school. We drove around back to see the door that I used to go into. It was on the back of the school. Auto mechanics was to my left and I entered my home economics room right there...

We made it to an Auburn basketball game and to the Christmas lights at Calloway Gardens. In between all of this we have been attending flag football games and just one thing after another even though I have tried to keep it all low key.

I did enjoy it but it wasn't at all an easy weekend. Just truthful, but I am all good. Don't worry!!! I am blessed and looking forward to Christmas with my family.

The Memories of China Patterns

 Shall we talk about china patterns? I feel they are going out of vogue these days, but I have enjoyed many a celebratory meal on the china patterns I will share in this story.

My first pattern in this tale is that which belongs to Mother. I remember the day my mom first laid eyes on this pattern...

Crest Wood "Blossom Time" ---Ivory China made in Japan

The touch of green is so Mother.

We lived just above the Alabama/Florida line and did most of our big shopping in Pensacola. I honestly feel sometimes as if Pensacola is somehow a hometown since I spent so much time there. The store that was a go to for anyone in central Missippipi, Alabama, and Georgia as well as the Florida Panhandle was Gayfer's. Just speaking the name Gayfer's evokes strong emotions for people from the above areas. It began way back in the late 1800's in Mobile and was a regional store. Pensacola was my home store. 

I remember the day we walked in the Town and Country Plaza location in Pensacola, and Mother first caught a glimpse of the china on display. I will try not to let this become a Gayfer's post because that would deserve its own post, but to continue on with the theme of the importance of china in our southern homes as I remember. We had entered the front of the store and shopped for clothes first. It was time to go down the shiny wooden stairs to the lower level. It is hard to imagine a store in Pensacola with a natural lower level but somehow it had a lower level...much like a home with a walk out basement. Maybe there was a natural slope (again, hard to think of that along the coast). It was built in the late 1950's so I don't know about that, but walk downstairs you did. There was an entrance on the back of the store as well, but this day we had gone in the front. Housewares and such was downstairs and the china was on display right as you go to the bottom of the stairs. I think it was spring and for an upper elementary kid to notice your mother's reaction means it must have been quite noticeable. I remember a gasp and an immediate dash to the table. I remember thinking ---"Yea, those dishes are as good as bought." I was right, because she did put them on layaway.

Remember layaway?

She saved up until she had her 12 place settings and all the serving pieces. From then on, every celebratory meal at her house was eaten on those dishes. They were well preserved and when it was time to clear out her house over a year ago, not a piece was missing.

Y'all that was one of the hardest things I had to let go of!!!!

I know many of you will say, "Why didn't I keep them?" I had as much excitement for my own china pattern and this one absolutely was a "Gladys" pattern. I am trying to downsize myself and really have no place to store them, but I  couldn't just take them to Goodwill. 

They were almost the last thing I took out of her townhouse. A stroke of genius helped me to remember a thrift store here in town that I had visited and noticed how pretty they displayed several sets of china. I remember thinking on that day that I had seen them that people were getting rid of them and it made me sad. However, I love thrift shopping and I am know I am not the only one. I actually love a thrift store these days more than a big box store for the variety and uniqueness you can find. I prayed about it and I just couldn't help but hope and believe someone would drop in there and see such a beautiful set of dishes with all its parts and think they had hit jackpot.

I chose to key a cup and saucer because as I have shared before I love to drink my morning coffee from china. I also kept a small bowl to catch things on my desk. They remind me of the many meals on the dishes and how much my mom loved them and how she saved for them. I truly remember the day clearly, even though it was long ago that she saw them.

Because she served all those meals on china, I too have done the same. I really think my kids would be shocked if I one day I just brought out paper plates for say Christmas. I know they would feeling my forehead and checking to see if I had lost it.

We aren't fancy people and don't come from wealth...hence, the layaway, but we just started a tradition all those years ago.

Mother had a china pattern that I am sure she got while Dad was in service, but as I said her heart went pitter patter with this pattern and it became the one she used from then on.

I got my chance when I got married and I chose the patterns that I liked and matched my personality.

I chose Lenox Lexington which is very traditional. I have used it on many occasions.

I also chose as my everyday pattern Gorham Town and Country's Ariana. I probably did the same expression as Mom when I saw it.  I believe I first saw it in a Bride's magazine and then promptly went to Gayer's to see if they could get it. It will be the pattern no one will want, but when they look at it they will go that is the "Sandy" china."

I remember the excitement of choosing my patterns and the bridal showers where I received many pieces. I would get so excited about those pieces while Jeff was much more excited about the small appliances. 

I too collected numerous serving pieces and that platter has held a lot of meat and cookies:)

When Jeff's mom passed away, I did choose to keep her pattern called Silver Pine by Kent  because it looked Christmasy. We have used it for every Christmas since 2003. You can't open presents until it is all hand washed and stacked. That is part of the tradition too. Like I said, I am pretty sure my kids would think I was sick if it didn't come out for Christmas.

One day the china may end up given away and I will be in Heaven or getting closer, so I am thinking I might not care. I do know Mom fretted and I totally get it, but I say use it now and enjoy every memory made with the table all set and family gathered round. They won't forget any of those memories. I still remember what my grandma's table looked like.

One last new memory. Lindsay's in-laws came to Destin this year for Thanksgiving and Lindsay used her china for the first time I think. She sent a video with the boys and her table was so pretty. I missed her of course, but I loved seeing her use her china and starting traditions too. Her pattern is Waterford Lismore Lace Platinum and I think one day it would blend very nicely with mine. I will say this...This pattern is such a "Lindsay" pattern.

One day she can use my crystal with it. 

While china patterns are fading away, I thought my kids one day might like to read this about the history of the dishes they ate on at most all celebratory meals.

I have been meaning to record this for sometime, so now I can scratch that off my list of things I wanted to record for posterity's sake.

Catching Up

Catching Up can be seen in two different ways: one is that feeling I have of playing a game of "Catch UP" over the last 2.5 weeks or two, it could be just letting one know what is going on over here in Blog Land. 

I will go with what has been going on here in my little corner. I finished my third round of antibiotics. This time I am much better. Something just kept holding on to me keeping me coughing which is an exhausting thing in itself.

The Christmas tree was stood in its corner on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I have bought one from the same place now for three years. They are the freshest and it smells so good. It didn't get decorated until the Saturday after Thanksgiving which meant Miles saw it on two occasions all bare, so that when he arrived the Monday after Thanksgiving he admired it much. He said, "I love your ornaments, Mimi," which made Mimi very happy. Palmer has been by also and admired it. 

These days there seems to be a lot of fretting over getting Christmas up early. I will admit the tree is a wonderful addition to the long dark evenings, but I hate being in a rush any more. In fact, I have just downright put my foot down about being rushed. It is not easy folks, but I am trying. Now, when I share all the catching up post you may not think I have succeeded but I am trying. 

I saw a book mentioned on Instagram called, Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember by Barbara Rainey. A quote from the first few pages...

"Our national observance of Thanksgiving is unique. It is both distinctly Christian and exclusively American, a holiday for celebrating faith, family, and freedom."

She goes on to say it is a holiday of rest. "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessings"  is a line from the famous hymn sung at Thanksgiving when I was a child. I think it sums up Thanksgiving well and why I try to make sure it has its place before Christmas. 

Then however, this girl is ready for all the Christmas including the songs, the trees, the lights, the wonder of it all through the eyes of my grandsons.

As for Thanksgiving week....

there were beach visits...

Okaloosa Island the first part of that week.

There were 2 family gatherings at my house. The first was pizza on Tuesday night with the whole family. Kristan, our niece was here from Texas with her family. I didn't take one single picture. I don't know what that says about me!

Then we met again for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful feast. Again, I didn't take pictures, well one. My Lindsay was not here for the second meeting. She had her in-laws in town so I was supposed to send a picture of the spread.

On that day, I think I was just tired but happy. Lindsay usually coordinates pictures. She was missed on that account.

Let's just say, Kristin's twins will be unrecognizable to even long time readers the next time I post a picture of them. They are now freshmen in high school and are growing up fast.

There were more beach visits...

Gulf Islands National Seashore between Navarre and Pensacola.

Looking towards Pensacola. The Gulf was like glass two days later. Perhaps the most beautiful place on Earth.

The kids did come over for other times and loved fishing off the dock.

Miles tried to hand Tucker a shrimp to put on his hook, but Tucker said, "No way."

Palmer showed him how it is done. 

In the past couple of weeks, there have been lots of flag football games for Tucker. My goodness, these are fun too watch. 

There has been decorating.

Working on a few home repairs along the way. Remember all that water damage. I have been trying to restain the window sills and baseboards during nap times which means it is slow progress, but still it is progress. Nothing much to show yet. In fact, when I thought I had done such a good job, Jeff had the nerve to tell me it needed a second coat. Bah Humbug!

Fall is full peak in Fort Walton Beach. It always arrives in December and it is quite pretty, but most have moved on past thoughts of fall. I have been enjoying the walks and views though. Every tree is on fire. I didn't expect such a pretty fall since it has been dry this year, but it is showing off this year.

Again, no pics. What kind of blogger have I turned into?

December flew in here, but I have all the decorations up and the presents bought. I have one more to wrap so I am feeling quite good about that.

I am off to sell Mother's car on Thursday in Pensacola. That is a big deal and honestly will be a burden off my shoulders. That is all I will say there.

I will try to be back next week with more than just the diary of my life. I didn't mean to take a blog break, but I think I needed it. I am going to break a few more days and hopefully catch up with everyone midweek next week and become a more sociable blogger.

The end of year roses are sometimes some of the prettiest. This one is "Oklahoma." She was out there all by herself so I went down and clipped her so I could enjoy her on the counter.

Until next time,

Sandy