Christmas-check! New Years-check! Spring....

Proof that it does occasionally snow in northeast Texas!

I never grow weary of the reason for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I do, however, grow weary of the season. Before Thanksgiving has even arrived, Santa and all the other Christmas decorations pop up in the stores and neighbors' yards. All the planning of gifts and meals and kitchen goodies, the extra cleaning and shopping and wrapping....it all gets to be a bit much. By New Year's day, I'm glad to put it all behind me and concentrate on the new year.

I don't really sit down and make a list of resolutions, but I do have thoughts, ideas, and goals in my head of what I'd like to achieve in the coming year. It's funny how those goals change as we get older. When I was in my 20's, I don't recall thinking "my goal this year is to get healthier". I do remember thinking I'd like to lose weight so I'd 'look' better. You really take your health for granted when you're young. When you've passed the 50 mark like me, you can't afford to take that attitude any longer. In my 20's, looking good was my goal, and if I felt better too, that was a fringe benefit. Now, feeling good is my goal, and if I look better too, well glory hallelujah, but that's not my motive.

Christmas cactus, blooming right on time!

Every year, I declare I'm going to quit procratinating. Obviously that hasn't yet happened (made evident by my just now posting a draft I wrote weeks ago), hence my need to keep declaring it each year. Last year for Christmas, I knit my niece a scarf. It's very long to accommodate her height. It's warm and wooly to combat the cold of the DC area. How much good she'd be getting out of it if it weren't still in my house. All I lacked to finish it was putting on the fringe (which I did recently). I also knit her matching fingerless mitts, as well as a neck gator (gater? or gator?) and fingerless mitts for her boyfriend. He's blind and uses a cane. Mandi, who also uses a cane to teach cane travel to the sight impaired, has told me fingerless mitts work really well for cane travel. She's loved the ones I've knit her in the past, and requested I knit them in dark colors as her palms get quite dirty using the cane. I also knit her a pair of them to match her scarf. All of it, the scarf, the gaitor, the mitts, they are all here at my house. What am I going to do with me??

That brings me to my next goal, or resolution if you must call it that. I guess I should call it a resolution after all, as I have resolved to finish all partially knitted projects this year. They are many. Another more short term goal I've set is to go on a food-diet. No, I don't mean denying myself food (though goodness knows I should!), but I'm forcing myself to cook more at home, and therefore not buy more food until I've used up what we have. My pantry and freezers are full. There's plenty here to eat, but it doesn't usually get eaten because it's not cooked. I wish I was one of those who loves to cook. I'm not, but I'm forcing myself to do more of it. It's healthier than eating out, and it's cheaper. There's been no eating out since before the holidays. Yea me!

John & Nikki, Christmas 2010

My daughter, Nikki, flew in from Colorado Springs for three days at Christmas. Since she left home 6 years ago, this past Christmas, and a couple or so years ago (when she and her boyfriend drove from Minneapolis, all day and night through terrible snowstorms, to surprise us on Christmas even morning) are the only ones she's been able to spend at home with us. We loved having her here. For some reason, all the inside pictures I took were bad. I was using my son's camera, which takes great pictures, but I guess I had the settings wrong. Picture me sad faced.

I have done some knitting, and will post pictures of it in my next post, which hopefully will be before next Christmas.

PS-Don't hate me, but we've had 70'ish weather with lots of sunshine the past couple of days.

Be blessed!

Proof that I do occasionally knit! Boho Beret, ravelled here

UPdate-Mandi's package of assorted knitwear has been shipped!

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
~Galations 5:15 Amplified Bible

'Tis the Season

Somewhere near Woodland Park and Divide, CO

I blog in my head all the time. Obviously, what's in my head rarely makes it here. When I began blogging, it was a fun challenge. I had other friends doing it, who encouraged me to join in the fun. You're jumping off the cliff into a lake? Sure, I'll do it (am suddenly hearing my mother's voice in my head). Seriously, it's not that I'm a follow-the-crowd sort of person. Quite the contrary, I'm generally a day late and a dollar short when it comes to jumping on the bandwagon of what's 'in'. I did want a place to chronicle my knitting, if for no one but myself, and to keep up with my knitting accomplishments (clearly little, it would seem). It's also a good means of sharing what's going on in the family with family, except no one in my family actually reads my blog. C'est la vie.

My early blog posts embarrass me. I've shared that before, but feel it bears repeating. As I began to write better (not saying 'good', but better, so don't think I'm bragging, please), it had an upside and a downside. The upside is obviously better blog posts. Comments and compliments I've received are another upside....and a downside. As I received comments or e-mails complimenting me, I suddenly felt pressure to perform. I consider myself a discouraged perfectionist. I am a perfectionist, but I'm also lazy. If I don't feel up to putting in the time and effort to do something 'just so', I don't bother to do anything at all (it shows, in the state of my house). I began feeling like I had to really "write". I couldn't risk those who complimented me regretting they'd done so. Arg, the pressures I put on myself!

I can hear you now (the maybe two readers left who've not unsubscribed to my blog feed), GET OVER YOURSELF! You're right, I should, and I am, by golly! I'm going to write when I feel like it, and say what I feel like saying, and if no one reads but me, so be it. I was reading a friend's blog, Grey-Haired Geek, recently, and I knew Kel was describing exactly as I felt, only she said it so much better than me.

"I’m resurrecting my blog, with a difference.
As a beginner, I used a “Masterpiece of the Month” approach to blogging. I spent a lot of time getting each entry “just right”, so I didn’t blog very often. Unfortunately, I’m one of those “If I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all” kind of people."

Kel, I hope you don't mind me quoting you. If you don't, then, thank you! If you do, then oops!

Roasted vine-ripened tomatoes topped with thick slices of fresh water-packed mozzarella, drizzled with balsamic vinegar glaze, and sprinkled with rock salt; Sweet potato soup; and a really good wine. Fresh baked ciabatta bread not in picture

Mr. Studley and I visited our daughter in Colorado Springs, for Thanksgiving. For you who remember she was living in England, she's back in the states as of this past fall. I love that she's had the experience of living in European countries, but as a mom, I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to know she's back on American soil (at least for now). Not that I have anything against foreign soil, but I like knowing she's within a day or so drive, or a short plane trip away, in the event that she should need her family. The food shown above was only one of the many fantastic meals prepared for us during our time spent there. We were treated like royalty on our visit.

One of the ladies restrooms in the Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO. No paper towels or hand blow-dryers here. Baskets laden with fresh, white cloths were provided for hand drying/face washing. A large basket sat below the sink for tossing cloths when finished using. Classy, eh?

Mr. Studley and I toured the Broadmoor Hotel one afternoon while in Colorado Springs. Fabulous doesn't describe that place. It would take a long string of adjectives, and then wouldn't do it justice. Seeing is believing. It's massive, it's opulent, it's old world, it's elegant. It's so many things. The rooms range from $275-$2,000 per night, a little rich for our blood. I hear they do have a special rate/package around Valentine's Day. Maybe some day. We thoroughly enjoyed walking about the place, snapping pictures, ooing and ahhing, with mouths gaping. When I go into a place such as that, I tend to feel like a country bumpkin. I get intimidated, feeling surrounded by people who are clearly in a different social class than me. What surprised me was the genuine niceness of the hotel staff. From those who park your car (free valet parking for those there just to look around), to those who hold open the door, to the hotel guest clerk, to anyone with an employee tag who makes eye-contact with you, they bent over backwards to be exceedingly nice. If you're ever visiting the Colorado Springs area, I strongly urge you to take a gander around the Broadmoor Hotel!

This was Leyna, our last night at Nikki's house. I suspect she knew we were leaving, and was already missing all that extra loving and play she gets from Nikki, who adores her almost as much as I do.

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

~Philippians 4:4-5 The Message

Christmas Past & Present

I've been in a blogging funk lately. Isn't it funny how many new words there are in our vocabulary that our grandparents didn't have in their's? I can't imagine my Nanny, God rest her soul, using words like "blog funk". Of course, I can't imagine Nanny saying things like GPS, or having a cell phone, or knowing what Tivo is, either. The explosion in technology in the last twenty-five years blows my mind. Daniel prophesied in the bible that knowledge would be increased in the last days.

Between my blogging funk, and my efforts to provide some handmade Christmas gifts this year, I've been very busy. I have commented on a blog here and there, but for the most part, I'm so far behind in my blog reading, I fear I shall never catch up. I may just mark you all as read on January first, and start fresh. I would appreciate it if you didn't post anything too exciting or too funny until then. Speaking of January first, that is my one year blogiversary. The year has flown by, and it's been fun! I look back at some of my early posts and I cringe with embarrassment at how goofy I sounded. Of course, I do the same thing with my current posts, so that's not sayin' much.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I'll likely be on haitus until after Christmas. If I don't manage to post again before then, I wish you all a very merry Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

***

Last year at this time, my daughter, Nikki, and her boyfriend, Jim, were living in Minneapolis. Prior to Christmas day, they spent a few days in the Wiscconsin Dells, making merry with Jim's (very merry) family. Their plans were to stay home for Christmas, since Nikki couldn't take more than a day or so off from work. However, when they got back to Minneapolis from visiting Jim's family, Nikki got very sad, thinking of her family back in Texas. Having just moved back from Germany earlier that year, she'd already missed three Christmases at home.

Jim, sensing the quiet mood in someone who is rarely quiet, and being the thoughtful and sensitive guy he is, suggested they make a whirlwind trip to Texas. Taking just enough time to shower and repack their bags, they hit the road and drove all day (in heavy snow through Iowa), and all night, arriving on our doorstep Christmas Eve morning. They didn't call, as Nikki wished to surprise us, and surprised, we were! My shrieks of delight could have shattered glass. Their plans were to leave the very next day, but we convinced them to stay and leave the morning after Christmas. Nikki called and managed to clear it with her boss. It was a wonderful Christmas!

That's Nikki holding our dog, Leyna, and Thing on the left.

Oh, look, Thing grew a body!

Seriously, that's Jim and Nikki, laughing at John's (her bubba) reaction to a comical gift they bought him. That ugly looking unidentifiable spot on the wall in the background? Don't ask.

Those happy memories will have to do me this year, as there's positively no chance they'll show up on our doorstep this Christmas Eve. Though I didn't figure they'd return to the states this soon after their move to England (last September), I had hoped they'd come home next year for the holidays. That won't likely happen. Since going to work at the daycare on base (which she loves!), Nikki's learned they have a drawing each June to see who gets to take time off at Christmas. Of course, Nikki wasn't even there yet this past June. She'll get off for Christmas and the day after, but that's it. At least we'll be able to talk to them on the phone while watching them on the webcam. I can just hear my Nanny's reaction at watching someone on a webcam who's thousands of miles across an ocean. My Swaaaaaaan, she'd say, with her voice rising at the end. I sure miss my Nanny. And I sure miss my Nikki. I thank God for modern technology.

Merry Christmas, and God bless you all!

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

~Luke 2:10-14

Red, White & Blue ...and YELLOW?

Mr.Studley and I went to the local farmer's market this week for fresh fruit and veggies. A friend at church gave us a bag full of huge onions from his garden. Plus, Yankee Neighbor gave us a bag full of big tomatoes from his garden. I tell you, we've been eatin' gooood in the neighborhood!

Yankee Neighbor isn't a derogatory term. I have nothing against Yankees. Some of my relatives are Yanks. I can just never remember the guy's name. His northern accent really stands out among those of us with an east Texas twang to our talk. That, and the colorful expletives he often uses to pepper his speech. Sheesh! The guy could make a sailor blush. He is a nice guy, though, and he grows a great garden every year, and often shares the bounty with our family and others in the 'hood.

The "yellow meater" watermelon above, or rather what's left of it, was one Mr.Studley picked out at the farmer's market. Since I'd never eaten yellow watermelon before, he'd suggested last week that we should get one soon. Only he didn't call it a 'yellow watermelon', he referred to it as a 'yellow meater', or truth be told, it came out sounding more like "yella meater". I've been teasing him about that, assuring him no one calls them that. Lo and behold, as we were paying for our purchases at the market, the lady taking our money asked "you do know that's a yeller meater, don't you?".

I stand corrected.

That's my son flipping burgers for our cookout last night. The weiners were to follow. I love eating food that someone else cooks. I love eating food cooked outdoors because there's so little clean up involved in the kitchen. For that matter, I love food. I love eating. My mirror mocks me with that fact each time I look it's way. Stupid mirror.

While dinner was being cooked, I called my mom to get my dad's homemade ice-cream recipe. I'm sure I could've found one to use, but I wanted it to be his. I mixed it up, then Hubs froze it in the ice-cream maker. It turned out delicious, just like my dad's. As I was eating it last night, I thought about him and how much he'd enjoy being here partaking, which made me a bit sad. Then, it was as if I saw him sitting there in Heaven, eating a huge bowl of the stuff (and not having to worry about what it was doing to his blood sugar), and he tipped his bowl to me, as if to say "cheers". He was smiling and laughing and the image of it made me cry and smile all at the same time.

I know what the meaning behind July 4th is and I don't mean to take away from that at all. For me, at this age and stage of my life, it was about memories. All day long yesterday, I found myself looking back on various July 4th activities I spent as a child. I remember many summers that our family spent at the lake. My mom and dad made it such a fun time. Mom would fry up at least three or four chickens ahead of time, which she'd bring in the cooler along with a huge bowl of her potato salad. Oh, and there was her famous Coke-A-Cola cake. My mouth is watering just thinking of it.We'd have coolers of drinks, cold watermelons, ice-cream freezers full of ice-cream, and family and friends. It all just seemed ordinary to me as a kid. I didn't have a clue how much work my folks put into making those fun times happen. I guess that's because they didn't make it look like work. It was fun. Good family fun...which I thought would go on forever.

My Offspring

This was taken of my kids, last Christmas. My daughter had been living in Germany for three years, working on an Air Force base there. She moved back to the states last April, to Minnesota, but didn't feel she could afford to take off work long enough to come home for Christmas. She was feeling so low at being so far from her family that her sweet boyfriend suggested they drive all day and all night, through all sorts of bad weather and snowstorms, to surpise us on Christmas eve morning. What a surprise it was!

This is the first pictures I've had of the kids together in several years. Notice in the picture above that you cannot see Nikki's left hand? Notice that her Bubba (yes, we're in Texas and my son is a Bubba) has just a tad of a grin on his face?

He's trying to retain his composure, but when your little sister is a Tickle Monster, it's hard to do.

She vowed not to stop until he "squealed like a girl"...which he did. It was so good to see them all grown up and acting like kids again.

2008-A year of new beginnings!

I don't usually do new year's resolutions. It's not that I'm against them, but keeping commitments has always been a weak area for me. I figured, why begin a new year setting myself up for failure?













Now that I'm a half century (plus some) old, I'm beginning to mature in some areas. Yes, it's high time. If I don't start making some changes, years from now, I'll be plowing along no differently than I am now, with nothing new to show for the years spent. Most importantly, I feel God's Spirit leading me to press into Him and to submit more of me to Him. Of course, He wants me to submit all of me. Why is it so hard to let loose of that last bit of control? I mean, after all, He's my very Creator, and yet I struggle with giving Him charge of 100% of my life. Do I really think I can do a better job of running things?

I resolve to.....

Spend more time studying God's Word (the bible).
Spend more time in prayer to develop a greater intimacy with my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Make myself more available to minister to those in need.
Stick with my knitting projects until they're complete, dig out the recipe books and become a better cook, clean through the mountain of clutter which has become our garage (can't blame hubby-I'm the slob), and try and be a better wife.

Sheesh! Now I remember another reason I don't like new year's resolutions. They sound like work!

I think I'll start with a nap. Happy new year to you and your's.