Though we were far from our friends and children, we had a good Christmas this year, I think, because of all the Christmas spirit we experienced. For one, we started early! Mid November I started making lists of things to make, and then making them. By the first week of December we were ready to begin sending out the first of several Christmas boxes. It was fun planning them, and thinking about what kinds of sweets and treats the kids had enjoyed over the years. Sending a box a week kept the Christmas fun going for 3 weeks!
Secondly, having the living room decorated from top to bottom was also a boost and playing Pandora's wide variety of continuous Christmas music contributed greatly!
In addition, over the course of the three weeks leading to Christmas day we watched every Christmas movie that we have--and even those which have a Christmas scene or two in them.
We attended the ward Christmas Party, where Aunt Grace dressed up as Mrs. Claus and helped Santa hand out treats to the little kids. It also helped that they served grilled steak and had an abundance of salads and desserts! The two weeks before Christmas brought the postman and the UPS guy to the door with presents from our family! I wrapped those that weren't wrapped, and placed them all under the tree. That was so nice!
Our Christmas tree was very pretty and lifelike. So much so, that one morning when I went to plug in the Christmas lights I thought about how I had forgotten to water the tree. And then I remembered that this tree didn't need watering! The day before Christmas Dad and I went to Cody to shop for each other. I bought Dad a digital indoor outdoor thermometer and he bought me a webcam for my computer. We naturally wrapped them and put them under the tree.
We cooked a Turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Eve day. We would have spent the day with Grace and Jeff if they hadn't decided to drive down to SLC and surprise their kids and grandkids!
And so, we spent Christmas morning the way we began-- just the 2 of us. Upon contemplation of such a thing, we realized that it had been 37 years since we had spent a Christmas alone. Chicago, 1974. Little did we know what lay ahead--so many Christmases with so many wonderful memories!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Hot and Cold: A Thermopolis Adventure!
Tuesday, December 20th, Marsha invited me to go with her and two friends to Thermopolis. Do you remember Thermopolis? We drove through it on our way to Grandma's house many times. It's about 2 1/2 hours south of Lovell.
Marsha, Karen, Judy and I went swimming at the Thermopolis Hot Springs Teepee Pool. They keep the indoor and outdoor pools at about 97 degrees. They also have hotter, smaller pools which are at 102 , 104 and 106 degrees. We tried them all! Besides their being hot, these pools are natural mineral springs. Marsha swears that they have medicinal benefits.
Marsha's probably reacting to that cold ladder! The metal is so cold, and it has little icicles hanging from bottom. It might have been easier to jump in, but we didn't want to lose our sunglasses! It was so bright out! A beautiful, crisp 27 degree day!.
You can see the steam rising from the pool. The water temp is 97 degrees. The air is 27 degrees. Hence, the steam!
The outdoor pool is just out that bright spot on the left which is the doorway. We went back and forth a few times. But, believe me, the indoors wasn't much warmer than the outdoors--it was the water you were always aiming for. The slide was a nice bit of fun though. You climb up nearly 2 flights of stairs, lie flat and push off, and you get a nice whoosh of a ride with a big splash at the end!
Another view--I tried for a more comprehensive view...but the brightness of the day and the darkness of the pool area made it difficult to capture.
We spent a couple of hours there, between the jacuzzis, the sauna, the steam room, indoor and outdoor pools and the slide, of course. We all had a great time. Lunch downtown was pleasant, and the ride home made us drowsy. Poor Marsha! She had to stay awake to drive us all home. She's such a good sport!
Marsha, Karen, Judy and I went swimming at the Thermopolis Hot Springs Teepee Pool. They keep the indoor and outdoor pools at about 97 degrees. They also have hotter, smaller pools which are at 102 , 104 and 106 degrees. We tried them all! Besides their being hot, these pools are natural mineral springs. Marsha swears that they have medicinal benefits.
Marsha's probably reacting to that cold ladder! The metal is so cold, and it has little icicles hanging from bottom. It might have been easier to jump in, but we didn't want to lose our sunglasses! It was so bright out! A beautiful, crisp 27 degree day!.
You can see the steam rising from the pool. The water temp is 97 degrees. The air is 27 degrees. Hence, the steam!
The outdoor pool is just out that bright spot on the left which is the doorway. We went back and forth a few times. But, believe me, the indoors wasn't much warmer than the outdoors--it was the water you were always aiming for. The slide was a nice bit of fun though. You climb up nearly 2 flights of stairs, lie flat and push off, and you get a nice whoosh of a ride with a big splash at the end!
Another view--I tried for a more comprehensive view...but the brightness of the day and the darkness of the pool area made it difficult to capture.
We spent a couple of hours there, between the jacuzzis, the sauna, the steam room, indoor and outdoor pools and the slide, of course. We all had a great time. Lunch downtown was pleasant, and the ride home made us drowsy. Poor Marsha! She had to stay awake to drive us all home. She's such a good sport!
Monday, December 12, 2011
New Cows for Xmas
Dad has been shopping for cows this week....all week at the Billings Public Auction Yard, i.e. the stockyards,while I have been out in real stores buying Xmas stuff. On his 4th day of shopping (Saturday) he finally found some worth bidding on...... 24 pregnant Hereford Cows. Buying them required patience and long-suffering. Four days of sitting in on auctions like this one:
But it was worth it. We arrived Saturday at Billings Livestock at 9 a.m. and at 5:45 p.m. (I'll do the math--nearly 9 hours later) the cows he wanted came into the ring. Nine Hereford (brown with a white wooly face) pregnant cows. We nervously bid on them, listening to the auctioneer announce a higher bid, and then bidding again and again until we won!
In March these cows will calve out and we will have 48 new cows! Way to double your investment, Sweetie!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Oh Howe I Love to Decorate!
I could hardly wait to start decorating for Christmas. We are using the artificial tree I had in Ventura, so I didn't have to wait to buy a tree! That was great! I put it together and strung all the lights. I hung all of the old ornaments, and thought of past Christmases.
I covered the pictures hanging on the walls with wrapping paper, so they look like gifts and add Christmas color to the room. Here's the one above our fireplace stove. Can you see the Santa Band? And the cottage and silo that Jack and Vicky gave us one Christmas?
I hung garlands and white lights --the ones I always used on the bannisters at the Oneida house--across the big picture window in the kitchen. So it looks festive in there as well. Some of my Santas are on the window sill.
The next thing I did was hang the garland across the front of the big bookcase and Rachel's blue lights.
I still have them. "Pardon me, Miss. Do you have any blue Christmas lights?"
Then I arranged the Christmas tins and trays on top.
It looks very festive in here now!
When I went out to the office to photograph the wreath and the bear I thought I might have to decorate out there. It looks drab, and Dad spends a lot of time out there. We can't have him in an undecorated space! So, I see I have some more decorating to do!
Once I find the Christmas CDS, play some music, hang the wreaths, and decorate the office, it will be complete.
PS. Did you know if you click on the pictures they are fullscreen? I thought you might, but Dad says you might not. So now you know.
I covered the pictures hanging on the walls with wrapping paper, so they look like gifts and add Christmas color to the room. Here's the one above our fireplace stove. Can you see the Santa Band? And the cottage and silo that Jack and Vicky gave us one Christmas?
I hung garlands and white lights --the ones I always used on the bannisters at the Oneida house--across the big picture window in the kitchen. So it looks festive in there as well. Some of my Santas are on the window sill.
I still have them. "Pardon me, Miss. Do you have any blue Christmas lights?"
Then I arranged the Christmas tins and trays on top.
It looks very festive in here now!
When I went out to the office to photograph the wreath and the bear I thought I might have to decorate out there. It looks drab, and Dad spends a lot of time out there. We can't have him in an undecorated space! So, I see I have some more decorating to do!
Once I find the Christmas CDS, play some music, hang the wreaths, and decorate the office, it will be complete.
PS. Did you know if you click on the pictures they are fullscreen? I thought you might, but Dad says you might not. So now you know.
Baby, It's Cold Outside!
It snowed again last night. And in spite of the fact that it is wet and cold, I have a particularly uncommon urge to go outside and take photos of the snow, and of all the things I have been promising pictures of that are out in the garage or outside of the bounds of my nice warm and cozy living room. Absurd! Because it means I have to layer and think about my feet. Currently I am in my long nightgown and have nice long johns covering my legs and Martha's warm and fuzzy slippers. Perfectly comfortable. The fire is glowing and the room is Xmas cozy and my hot cocoa is gone.
I guess it is inevitable. Here come more layers: the HSS sweatshirt, the sweats, the pea coat, the scarf and the boots. And the pics.....
Up close and personal.
The views outside my back door. See the dog's water bowl on the step? The water is ice!
I guess it is inevitable. Here come more layers: the HSS sweatshirt, the sweats, the pea coat, the scarf and the boots. And the pics.....
Up close and personal.
The views outside my back door. See the dog's water bowl on the step? The water is ice!
Xmas is Coming!
November 15, 2011
For the last 2 weeks I have been cleaning the garage. That venture included taking down the Xmas boxes from the loft where we put them 5 1/2 years ago! I haven't decorated for Xmas in 5 1/2 years! Can you believe it???? Well, anyway....I was looking at the garlands I had, and wishing I had more of the nice draping type of garland instead of the Michael's garlands which are all wire and poke out everywhere. And amidst it all I was counting how many doors I had that could have wreaths...when I realized I didn't have enough wreaths and the wired garland could be formed into a circle nearly 3 times to make a perfectly lovely wreath. I found some wire and some ribbon and in no time at all I had a very lovely wreath. I added a festive pinecone and more ribbon.
Now, why am I telling you this long story? Well, I was genuinely surprised at how easy it was to make something so lovely, and HOW SATISFYING it was to do it. I had forgotten. And I was actually kind of stunned. And PLEASED.
I was telling Sharon (another pool buddy of mine), who is very insightful and she suggested that perhaps the reason this creation was different than say, my many quilts this summer, was that I completed it in one day. I have given that some thought...and have been on a quest for 1 day creative ventures! Immediate gratification.
The other day I thought about a gift for Fallie for Xmas. Without cash, or nearby stores, I naturally went to my stockpile of fabrics and the internet for ideas. I found a darling bear pattern, and I had a 1/2 yard of fake fur left from a bear I sewed for Emily soooo many years ago. So, I cut out the pattern, and sewed up the bear. It is adorable and it cost me nada! And the lovely part was I did it in one day! I would take a picture for you, but I put it into a box and mailed it to her last week.
That was so easy that I decided to do it again, and again, and again--but this time in different sizes with fleece. I made a mid-size bear for Jayce, aand Dahlia, and a baby bear for Audrey. Fallie's bear and Audrey's bear are the same size, so here is a pic of Audrey's bear.
For the last 2 weeks I have been cleaning the garage. That venture included taking down the Xmas boxes from the loft where we put them 5 1/2 years ago! I haven't decorated for Xmas in 5 1/2 years! Can you believe it???? Well, anyway....I was looking at the garlands I had, and wishing I had more of the nice draping type of garland instead of the Michael's garlands which are all wire and poke out everywhere. And amidst it all I was counting how many doors I had that could have wreaths...when I realized I didn't have enough wreaths and the wired garland could be formed into a circle nearly 3 times to make a perfectly lovely wreath. I found some wire and some ribbon and in no time at all I had a very lovely wreath. I added a festive pinecone and more ribbon.
Now, why am I telling you this long story? Well, I was genuinely surprised at how easy it was to make something so lovely, and HOW SATISFYING it was to do it. I had forgotten. And I was actually kind of stunned. And PLEASED.
I was telling Sharon (another pool buddy of mine), who is very insightful and she suggested that perhaps the reason this creation was different than say, my many quilts this summer, was that I completed it in one day. I have given that some thought...and have been on a quest for 1 day creative ventures! Immediate gratification.
The other day I thought about a gift for Fallie for Xmas. Without cash, or nearby stores, I naturally went to my stockpile of fabrics and the internet for ideas. I found a darling bear pattern, and I had a 1/2 yard of fake fur left from a bear I sewed for Emily soooo many years ago. So, I cut out the pattern, and sewed up the bear. It is adorable and it cost me nada! And the lovely part was I did it in one day! I would take a picture for you, but I put it into a box and mailed it to her last week.
That was so easy that I decided to do it again, and again, and again--but this time in different sizes with fleece. I made a mid-size bear for Jayce, aand Dahlia, and a baby bear for Audrey. Fallie's bear and Audrey's bear are the same size, so here is a pic of Audrey's bear.
Julia Child Inspired
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Hi Everyone. I think you all know I fell in love with Julia Childs and cooking this summer. I had a great time cooking and sharing all the recipes, tips, and treats with you when I was in CA. The last part of that adventure was reworking my kitchen.
We put up the pegboard I have been talking about since July this weekend. Dad did most of the work, sawing the board, and attaching it to the wall in the space above the stove. I did the spray painting and held up my end of the board and handed him the hammer and the nails, and the electric screw driver and the screws. Yesterday I placed the pots and pans and misc kitchen tools! Doesn't it look great! I love it!
Hi Everyone. I think you all know I fell in love with Julia Childs and cooking this summer. I had a great time cooking and sharing all the recipes, tips, and treats with you when I was in CA. The last part of that adventure was reworking my kitchen.
We put up the pegboard I have been talking about since July this weekend. Dad did most of the work, sawing the board, and attaching it to the wall in the space above the stove. I did the spray painting and held up my end of the board and handed him the hammer and the nails, and the electric screw driver and the screws. Yesterday I placed the pots and pans and misc kitchen tools! Doesn't it look great! I love it!
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