Happy Thanksgiving (a Bit Early)

I think I'm going to be a bit busy, so Happy Thanksgiving early! Deb and Paul have arrived in Palm Springs and they get to assemble the high chair tomorrow. So far we have extended our large table with two card tables and the linens are waiting for the dishes. It's fun planning for a houseful and it makes me realize how blessed we are. We have family, food, friends, and a good life.

I have been busy besides going to the gym and playing pickle ball.

I actually finished a scarf!! Okay, so it does have a nose on the side -- apparently I'm not good at fixing a dropped stitch. But at least it will be warm for LeeAnne when she takes her (LONG) morning walk. This California girl is freezing when it's 40 degrees F.

Chanukah Pot Holders or Table Trivet

Anybody recognize the pin cushion? Yes, it's left over from the bubble quilt of old.

The one above has different machine stitching. I haven't finished hand sewing the binding on the corners of this one. All of the potholders above can be used on a table. They have thinsulate inside, so a hot dish shouldn't mar your table.

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Lee Anne and I nearly broke ourselves at the gym yesterday, but we laughed a lot so it's o.k. The Planet Fitness here in Cathedral City is HUGE and I discovered a whole section for abs that I had never seen before. There were different instruments of torture than on the other circuit. (There are a bunch er of pieces of equipment and when the green light is on, you use that machine. You switch machines when the red light comes on.) 

I would read the instructions and LeeAnne would try a machine. We had a lot of, "You want me to do WHAT?" moments and after a while, you get silly. (Well, at least we did.) Somebody I know overdid it on a couple of machines. It was pretty funny listening to our grunts and groans as we got into her giant SUV. Her car always makes me feel short. Or like I should bring a step stool ... 

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I started this yesterday, so today, after the gym I am now spending some time with you.

We are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

 Above is a quote from Edward Winslow, one of the original Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was telling a backer in Holland about their Thanksgiving celebration wherein they invited 90 Indians to partake. The Indians were so grateful, they contributed four deer to the feast which lasted a week. As Theresa Hanafin, Editor of the Boston Globe's Fast Forward newsletter pointed out, even though the merry band of Pilgrims had been decimated by the long ocean crossing and illness, when they had a decent harvest, their first inclination was to share with their neighbors, the Indians. 

All of this is to say, I wish I could share with you in person, however, I can certainly share my wishes for you to have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And I also want to share that I have reached "enough." I have enough food, shelter, and material things. I'm still collecting love and good wishes, however.

So it is true that Mom and Deb are only showing us how big the apple pie from Costco is. However, it occurred to them that they needed to be sure that it tasted o.k. for Thanksgiving. Besides, we thought Deb deserved a reward for assembling the high chair and pack and play (crib). Apparently, the pie was good because nobody left it on their plates.
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Just a few more quilting stitches and Jay's new blanket will be ready. Animals on top and dinosaurs on the bottom for when he's older.

It's time for me to put on more suitable clothes for lunch. I'll try to take pictures of the light show at the Living Desert for you. Cheers!

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

Thank you, Charles Dickens.

Yes, it was sad to say goodbye to Aunt Lorraine in Fall River. (She was 94 years young.) But the services were uplifting, celebrating Lorraine's life. When her husband passed away in his early 50s, she was left with 4 children and a clothing factory to run. She took on all challenges with humor and grace. Her volunteering and good deeds were enumerated and we realized that many people loved her, not just us. Rest in peace.

And it was "Hats Off to Lorraine," which was a sweet remembrance of her.




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Last Thursday I went to hear the a cappella singing by a UMass group called Wicked Pitch. I managed to get a video of a few seconds of their singing -- but the picture is upside down! And I don't think it will let me post it here.

Afterward, there was a program on The Black Cats which was a World War I group of ambulance drivers. A little over half of them were "Amherst College Boys."  They were sent on a ship to France and when they got there, they had to assemble the Model T Ford ambulances that they brought with them (in pieces). Jim Hamilton (also a graduate of Amherst College) gave a very engaging presentation. His grandfather, Hugh Hamilton, had been a Black Cat. Mr. Hamilton has written a book on The Black Cats after doing extensive research.

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And we had Halloween!

Brownie (above) was not at all happy with his costume, but he greeted me with his usual exuberance. The Ameen-McCabes were nice enough to let me 'help' give out candy so I only had to answer the door half of the time. Jon was supposed to be playing creepy music on their electric piano (it sounded like an organ), but the kids weren't impressed at all. We had a lot fewer kids than usual and I was surprised.

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And now for the joyous part of our reporting:

Matron of Honor, Big Sister Julie

Flower Girl, Vera, daughter of Julie and David

Here Comes the Bride!

Tomi (MOB) and David (FOB)

I was so thrilled that Tomi invited me! I had a great time. The service was at Grace Church (where the girls and I attended for many years) and the dinner was at the Lord Jeffery Amherst Inn. Although I think they recently changed the name to the Inn at Boltwood. 

Some of the residents have become squeamish because it's rumored that Lord Jeffery Amherst tried to eradicate the local Native Americans by giving them smallpox infected blankets. He was the British commanding general during the French and Indian war, and there was a smallpox epidemic among the Indians. But it's not known if he personally handed out blankets, condoned the practice, or the epidemic was started by a sick soldier. At any rate, some current people want to drop the name of Amherst altogether. 

"The town of Amherst, Massachusetts, was named for Lord Jeff even before he became a Lord. Amherst College was later named after the town. It is said the local inhabitants who formed the town preferred another name, Norwottuck, after the Indians whose land it had been; the colonial governor substituted his choice for theirs. Frank Prentice Rand, in his book, The Village of Amherst: A Landmark of Light[Amherst, MA: Amherst Historical Society, 1958], says that at the time of the naming, Amherst was "the most glamorous military hero in the New World. ... ...the name was so obvious in 1759 as to be almost inevitable." [p. 15]" From Wikipedia

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We finally got some sun today after what seemed like many days of rain. It's currently 33.3 F. at 9:12 p.m. Yes, Mom, I have a sweater on.  I even put the heat up to 66, lol. 

Well, I have to put batteries in the bedroom universal remote. I sure hope that works! I couldn't shut the TV off at all. I had to use the TV remote. Oh, the angst!

Cheers! Have a great week.