Good bye 2011--Hello 2012

Good bye 2011.  What a year you were.  You started out quietly.  There was time for me to work on my art.  My grandson got a dog--Biscuit--a lively addition to our household.  Then in June my daughter got married in Hawaii, and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend.  Three weeks of extreme sightseeing.  Ah, then back to reality.  Next on your calendar were three outpatient surgeries for me.  And you ended up with me spending Christmas Eve in ICU with my grandson after a traffic accident. The next few days living in ICU and rushing home to take care of needed chores.  But you ended with my grandson coming home, and his mom--my daughter spending a week.  So all in all it was a memorable year.

Now, I am ready to say hello to 2012.  And am expecting wonderful things.

Happy new year to all of you, my blogging friends.  I wish for you happiness and peace.

I've been tagged

I was tagged by Glo at GloSews.  Be sure and check out her blog.

These are the questions she asked.

1.     Do you know how to sew?

YES, When my kids were little, I sewed for extra money.  I made wedding dress, bridal outfits, clothes for those with fitting problems, and all my kids clothes.

2.     Do you go to the movies or wait for the DVD?

Wait for the DVD.

3.     What was your favorite gift you received this Holiday Season?

The life of my grandson, after his terrible traffic accident.

4.     If someone was going to prepare your favorite meal, what would it be?

Scallops, asparagus, Caesar salad, with a cheesecake mousse for dessert.

5.     How many brothers and/or sisters do you have?

3 of each. (one sister passed away)

6.     Do you live in a small or large city and do you like it?

Large city, it's o.k. but I prefer a small town.

7.     What is your fondest childhood memory?

My daddy playing with me

8.     What is your first childhood memory?

Picking flowers out of the sheriff's prize garden, and throwing them in the lily pond. (Lucky I was only 3 or so, or I would have been in jail.

9.     Do you cook breakfast or just east something quick like cereal?

Most of the time I have mini-shredded wheat.

10.   What, if any, resolutions have you made for the new year?

I don't make resolutions, I have goals.  To work on my book, to sew a project a month, to finish an art project a month.

11.   If you were going to write a book about your life, what would the title be?

I am writing a book about my life.  It's called "Logan Mountain Trail"

Friday

My favorite things this week are from great to amazing--granted not the usual things that happen in everyday life--put certainly things to make me happy.

Wonderful book that I received from Conny at The Life of an Ordinary Hausfrau, an enchanting Amish love story.

Praise God that my grandson survived this crash

Joy that little granddaughter showed over PJ's--Gramma scored.

Grandson is now sleeping in his own bed.  He was so ready to come home from the hospital.  His jaw is wired shut, so for the next 6-8 weeks he will be eating through a straw.

1. Lately, I have been feeling  a little__overwhelmed.  I have another surgery today, my grandson just got out of the hospital.

2. I am usually a ­­­­__easy going person, not one to worry

3. Tired with a sense of accomplishment_is always the best feeling at the end of the day

4. Brush my teeth, then get dressed_is the first thing I do in the morning

Thinking and Thanks

A couple quick cards, one a thank you the other a thinking of you card.

The "Hello" card is made with A Sunday International stamp--Psyco Friends--color and cut out.  Green card stock is stamped with a little green all over print, and then mounted on Ivory card stock.  The design and "Hello" are then pop-up mounted.


The Thanks a Bunch words, carrot and border are stamped on manila card stock, framed with solid orange stock,  and then mounted on green card stock that has been stamped with the carrot stems.


Both of these are cards are quick to make, so I mass produce a dozen or so and have them on hand whenever I need to remember one of my friends.


GREAT NEWS:  Grandson is home from the hospital.

Christmas Miracles

Grandson, his dog-Biscuit, girlfriend

You ask how was my Christmas this year?  Well, it was filled with miracles that I will remember forever, but not your usual, typical memories.
Early Christmas Eve morning, I received a call that my grandson had been hurt in a traffic accident.  I rushed to the scene--a country street in northwest Phoenix.  Although he doesn't remember, probably on his way home from visiting friends he fell asleep at the wheel.  His truck ran off the freeway, was airborne, flipped, and landed on it's nose on the other side of an 8 foot barrier fence just  below the crest of an embankment.  He was unconscious for several hours, his truck not visible from the freeway, not particularly noticeable from the country street.  Just after dawn, a man walked up to my grandson, who was just regaining consciousness and trying to call his mom. This stranger (an angel, I am convinced) spoke to his mom, called 911, and then disappeared.  

They air vac'd him to a trauma center, and found that his lower jaw was broken, and all the other bones in his face were pulverized, all except five molars gone.  e underwent surgery Christmas eve and a plate was put in his chin, and then Monday another five hour surgery to repair the rest of his face with plates.  He was taken off the ventilator yesterday, and moved out of ICU.


The doctor said he had no concussion, not another broken bone, and only a bruise on his shoulder from the seat belt.  He also said it was a miracle that he was not paralyzed at the least, or alive at all.


So, I had a Christmas of miracles--my grandson survived a potentially fatal accident, he was certainly helped by an angel, and will be home in a few days.

******

1. Share something you loved about your Christmas Day.

The above story about by grandson.

2. You get to put five items in a time capsule to be opened in 100 years, what items would you choose and why?

A picture of my family, my Bible, a copy of the book I am writing,  my recipe box, letters from my Mom

3. What do you like on a cracker?

Cheese 

4. Do you make resolutions at the start of a new year? How'd that work out for you this past year?

Yes, last years some lasted a month, a few a bit longer, and one I accomplished.

5. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2011?

Can't think of one.

6. How will you ring in the new year?

At home with my daughter and grandson.

7. What is something you look forward to in 2012?

Completing my book, getting my studio in order

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am so thankful that the hand of God was on my grandson.  I may have missed a couple of nights sleep being with him in ICU, but watching him, thinking of all the goofy things he does, and all his good points  make me so happy.

Born of Kings

My Prescott daughter has always expressed and interest in her heritage.  So this year, I made this memory book.  Using BoBunny Timepiece album, I created a book that traces her ancestory on my dad's side of the family back 70 generations.

Daddy was of Scottish/Irish descent.  The Scottish clans kept very detailed records of their generations, so this made the search for ancestors easier to follow.

His mother was a direct descendant of the Stewart of Scotland, from which the Kings of England are also descended.  My daughter's 22nd generation great grandfather was Robert II, King of Scotland Stewart--the first Stewart king.

I found this copy of the registry of the marriage of Daddy's mom and dad, the starting place on my quest through the years.

These are photos of me, my dad, his mother and a  distant relative--Leutwinus Bishop Of Treves (660 - 772)

Christmas Miracle.

Just a quick note.  On Christmas Eve early in the morning my grandson was involved in a traffic accident.  He rolled his truck and landed off the freeway, down a slight embankment, out of sight.  He was unconscious for at least three hours in the cold weather, before a man saw the truck up the hill and went to grandson and called 911 and then left.  I think that God had sent an angel.  He was air-vac ed to hospital with severe facial trauma.  He had surgery last night to repair his broken jaw, and tomorrow morning (Monday) will have more surgery to repair more broken facial bones.  He is in a lot of pain, but is good spirits, wishing all the nurses Merry Christmas (of course, that might be the morphine talking).


So say a prayer for him and his mom and dad, and me as we face this stressful time.

Christmas at the Ranch

For all us children this was an exciting time of year.  No school!! Playing in the snow, sledding down the hills, cross country skiing, making snowmen, and playing fox and geese.  If there was enough snow we would make an igloo. And of course, wait for Christmas.   All year long, Daddy would be on the lookout for just the right tree. 

Then the week before Christmas, he would saddle up his horse, and take a pack horse and his axe, and late that evening would return with the perfect tree. Christmas eve we would set it up and decorate it every ornament hung just so, Mom would put the tinsel put on strand by strand.  We would hang our stockings, Mom would read the Christmas story from Luke, and then off to bed. After we were safe asleep, Mom and Daddy would bring out those gifts she had worked on for so long.  There would be shirts for the boys, and dresses for the girls, and maybe handmade doll furniture for one girl, a cloth doll with a complete wardrobe for another.  A wooden puzzle for one boy, and stuffed animal for another, and if it was a good year, one store bought toy for each of us.  Although we were sure we wouldn't be able to sleep, before we knew it, it was morning.  The fragrance of coffee mingled with the pine scent from the tree.  Then like little jumping beans we all popped up, and ran to the living room to check to see if Santa had found his way to our mountain home. 

And sure enough there were brightly wrapped gifts, under the tree, and bulges in our stocking.  We were allowed to empty our stockings, which usually had an orange, a real treat for us, and maybe a small toy.  Some years we could open one present before breakfast.  The boys always chose the largest package, I the smallest.  Then we rushed through breakfast and chores, and then everyone was excitedly tearing gift wrap, and ooohing, and aaaahhhing over all the wonderful surprises.  The rest of the day was a time of pure joy.  We were the luckiest kids in the world.

Kissing the Face of God

My Favorite Things this Week

These are a few of my favorite things this week.

Gasoline prices under $3.00

Nativity scene in one of the major malls.

Lunch with a friend I hadn't seen in 50 years!

Grandson's Christmas Program at school--He is the cute one on the back row, third from right.

Watching little grands decorate their tree

Waiting for Santa--She says "I believe"

Each week, Hilary lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to me at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If I use them, I will add you as co-host to the hop! This week’s co-host is Brenda from Fiction with a purpose  She came up with the last two statement!

I would LOVE it if you could please help me spread the word about this hop…. So, please tweet, FaceBook share, and add the linky to your post…

This week’s statements:

1.       I have a love hate relationship with_my computer.  I am impatient and when it doesn't work right, I get very frustrated.

2.       I have been buying a lot of _baking supplies__ lately.  I am going to make treats for drop in visitors on Christmas day.

3.       If I hear _anyone worried about be so politically correct they won't say Merry Christmas _ anymore I swear I will _start wearing a sandwich board with "Merry Christmas" on it.

4.       Whenever I see_a baby_it makes me _think back when my children were young _ and then I _am so glad they are now grown.  I thoroughly enjoyed them and loved them, but all the problems they went through growing up was sad.

Holy City

Up the river from our ranch the North fork of the Shoshone River tumbles from the icy springs and glaciers of Yellowstone Park.  Through the years it has left behind in its path unusual rock formations.  One of these formations is named Holy City.  In stone it mirrors the city of Jerusalem.  A marvel in stone.

But an even greater marvel is that the King of Glory would come to earth and choose to be born in a stable.  No gold domed palace with fine silks and linens to line a luxurious bed;  no host of palace servants to care for Him.

Just 5 miles south of Jerusalem lies Bethlehem--the birthplace of our Lord. A stone stable for the animals, with a feed trough for a bed.  But a host of angels to announce Him, and lowly shepherds to welcome Him.  And so the King of Glory became Man and dwelt among us.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Are you cooking Christmas dinner? How many will be round your table this year? What are we having?

I am not cooking, I may go to my daughter's if I feel like it. Otherwise, I will probably have chips and salsa.

2. What is one must-have Christmas cookie in your house?
Mexican Wedding cookies, or sugar cookies, or snickerdoodles or....

3. Santa likes a glass of milk with his cookies. Do you? What kind of milk is on tap at your house-skim? almond? soy? full fat (Gasp!)
2%, but I like to dip my cookies in hot coffee.

4. Time magazine recently named their 'Person of the Year' for 2011. This is the person the editors believe had the greatest impact, for better or worse, in the past year. This year they chose 'The Protester'. Your thoughts? Who would you name Person of the Year for 2011?
Personally, I think that is the dumbest choice.  First of all there is no name, and suicide doesn't solve problems.  And what did it accomplish in the long run, not a whole lot that I can see.  Egypt is back in turmoil, other middle eastern countries are rioting, the "Occupy Wall street" movement just caused more problems.  Their whole list honored war-mongers, evil and depraved people for the most part.  What ever happened to looking for the good and celebrating achievers.  I guess that I should quit ranting.  I would have chosen a person like Steve Jobs-for his technology contributions, or one of our war heroes.

5. December 21st is National Flashlight Day... when was the last time you needed a flashlight and did you know right where to find one?
I used a flashlight this morning, and I have some in most every room with good batteries.  I hate walking in the dark.

6. candy canes...yum or yuck?
yum, especially pulverized and then put in hot cocoa or topping ice cream.

7. What Christmas carol lyric means the most to you?
I love "Away in a Manger"--the simple melody and touching words.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Tuesday I had lunch with my roommate when I lived in Denver.  This is the first time I've seen her since I left for France--50 years ago.  We have kept in touch with cards throughout the years.

Christmas Play

The quaint country school I attended was intent on providing a good education.We might be mountain kids, but we always scored high on scholastic tests. But for us students, the highlight of the school year was the Christmas play. Right after Halloween, we would start working on it.

Sometimes it was a traditional story, like Dickens’s Christmas Carol, or maybe a modern story, like Home for Christmas, or the Gift of the Magi.  On the last evening of school before Christmas holiday, folks from all over the valley would come for the program.  The classroom would be crowded with ranchers, and their families, cowhands all slicked up and fine young ladies who that very morning had been cooks and cabin maids. A canvas curtain as wide as the classroom separated the audience from the stage.  Advertisements from Cody Drug, The Irma Hotel and Shoshone Feed and Seed covered the audience side.  On the other side children scurried to get into their costumes and take their places.  As the curtain rolled up everyone watched as the children presented their play, weaving the story of the importance and meaning of Christmas.  

Following a brief intermission, the curtain went up again and the nativity story was presented.  Sometimes, Jesus was a real baby if one of the families had a young baby, otherwise it was a favorite doll. Every boy and girl looked forward to the time when they would be old enough to be Mary and Joseph.
After the final curtain and a rousing round of applause, there was community singing, lead by the school teacher playing a slightly out of tune old upright piano.  The evening always ended with singing Silent Night.  Even though it was just a bunch of mountain folks, the sound was like a heavenly choir.  Many a ranch hand had tears in their eyes as the last note ended.  But then it was time for cookies and punch in the library, visiting, catching up on the latest gossip, and plans for the holidays.  

Finally, everyone, tired and happy piled into their cars and trucks and headed home over the crisp snowy roads. The memory of that night filed away with nostalgia–one of the good things of life on the North Fork.

Monday

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I will use wrapping paper, mainly because a couple of years ago a store went out of business, and I got 50 rolls of Christmas gift wrap for $10.  It may take longer, but I love the look of wrapped presents under the tree.

2.Real or artificial tree?

Artificial.  Here in Phoenix it is so hot that a real tree only last a week, and I like to have mine up longer.

3.When do you put your tree up?

I usually put up the tree the week after Thanksgiving, but this year I didn't get it up until last week.

4.When do you take your tree down?

It comes down on 12th Night.

5.Do you like eggnog?

I LOVE eggnog.  When my grandson wants something, he will buy me some eggnog.  He knows that will earn him points.

6.Do you have a nativity scene?

I have several.  This year I put out my candle nativity.

7.Favorite Christmas Movie?

Its a Wonderful Life, or Charlie Brown Christmas, of Nativity.

8.Favorite Christmas cookie?

Mexican Wedding Cookies

9.Where will you eat Christmas dinner?

Either at home or with my youngest daughter.

10.Angel, bow or star on top of your tree?

This year a star

11.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

The stores playing Christmas music starting at Halloween.

12.Do you like Fruitcake?

As a rule no, but my MIL had a recipe with no candied fruit--instead hazelnuts, raisins, currents and it is good.

13.What are you most excited about the holidays?

Watching the grands tear through their presents, and the Candlelight Christmas service at church.

14.Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

Christmas Morning.

15.Will you still be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

No, I should be finished tomorrow--Everything has been made or purchased.