Blessings of the day to ALL …
I am writing this week’s blog ahead of time but will take time after presents to get it posted. The entire California family, all seven of us, are going to the movie to see the latest Star Wars film. Might be the start of a new tradition … a movie with the family after Christmas dinner, even if it isn’t a Star Wars film.
Last week was a mixed lot. Some days full to overflowing. And a couple of laid back days at home. All in all an interesting balance.
It started with the annual radio club holiday party at the clubhouse wednesday evening. It is a fairly small building so it was loaded with the fourteen of us.
A couple of members had decorated and it looked quite nice. The usual array of food was available … Stephen’s bean salad, John’s vegetarian linguini, Michael’s Thai pork with pineapple, Bruce and Bonnie’s butternut soup, Linda’s crudities plate, Ken and Linda’s beef marinara pasta, Art’s tossed greens plus sparkling drinks and Starbuck’s coffee. It ended, as usual, with Martin’s homemade pie. He makes the most fantastic crusts. This year it was blackberry made with homegrown berries. I had two slices (they were small).
The games went well. The winners of the first game found 89 words in AMATEUR RADIO FREQUENCY, one of which was nine letters long. Everyone seemed to have fun with the challenge in spite of the ban on profanity which was worth a few muffled giggles on its own. And the word search got stuck because one of the required words wasn’t in the square. I thought I had checked it, but somehow I missed that. The word was “light” and the closest to that was “laght” which seemed to translate as who-the-heck-knows? I’ll pay closer attention to preparations next year.
My ego was stroked since the homemade herbal salves were well received, as was the scarf. I need to start next year’s planning while I am still in the mindset. I already have one game in mind and some thoughts for prizes.
Mark, Kamille, and Paul weren’t there. Two new members of their church were giving a party so they went there. Mark had been joking with one of the hosts about the Gorey take on fruitcake and how one might be perennial, i.e. A gifts it to B one year, the next year B gifts it to C, followed the next year by C gifting it to D … and the guesses as to how long it would take to show up under A’s tree. So Mark baked a fruitcake to take to the party and gave it to Kevin. We’ll see how long it takes to get back to Mark.
Wouldn’t it be a hoot if someone ate it?
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It had been raining and snowing off and on all week. One day it had snowed, then rained so it was slush, and just before I was on my way home from packing the Holiday take-homes for the county kids the temperature dropped and even though I’m pretty good at driving in snow or rain, I had the opportunity to practice my skill at hydroplaning on ice as I came around the curve on our hill with a steep up slope on one side and a steep slope down on the other. All those years of practice kicked in and all was well. Maybe from now until warmer weather I’ll put it in 4-wheel to come up our hill … regardless.
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Friday was a minimum day for Paul, last day before winter recess. As a result, our afternoon together was extended. We had extra time at the library after delivering a gift to a friend before he left for the holidays in Sacramento with his children.
This was our Mexican dinner week so we got beef tamales (I haven’t made my own since George died but we found some from Texas which are acceptable and gluten free) as well as some pollo asada and chili verde for burritos and served them with mixed greens, sour cream, tomatoes, chopped green onions, and guacamole.
I do seem to talk a lot about food. I guess it is one of the enjoyments still in my life. Oh well …
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Saturday afternoon I went to a 20th Anniversary party for a couple of friends. It had been a second marriage for both when they were in their late forties. She said that when they married the guess was it would last about two years, and here they are … a full 20 years later. They spend their time between two homes … one here in Mt Shasta and the other in Haifa. His children are here. Her daughter is there.
Those who were invited to the party were those who had been at their wedding, except for three others and me. I didn’t even know them twenty years ago. We have become fast friends however, starting with amateur radio. I didn’t know a lot of those at the party since they were families and old friends of the celebrants, but I met some. My circle is expanding.
Atara and Paul shared photos of their Israeli places and of their meeting and courtship. The food served was a mix of western and eastern Mediterrean. I had thought we might all dance the hora, but it didn’t happen. Instead, Atara said they had not danced at their wedding and she wanted to dance to a song she remembered from then … “The Tennessee Waltz”. As a result, I had an earworm for a full two days.
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Beginning sunday, this week had been full of preparations and secrets. I got into the habit of giving George a steam train calendar every year. I have now transferred that to Mark and Tyler and Paul, although Paul’s is exclusively the 4449. Kamille doesn’t use a paper calendar, so for her there was a scarf in shades of orange, brown, green, blue, beige, purple, and rust. Sounds gaudy but is rather subdued and really quite attractive.
I also spent time making holiday cards to mail just after Christmas. This year I decided to do New Year’s cards, which I will probably do every year from now on. That way everyone is included, not just those who celebrate Christmas. And I am using another picture of the Mountain, of course. I do so appreciate Her.
As I have mentioned before, this year I made herbal concoctions to share. For several years I have used a foot salve which helps during those times when I wake up anxious or have trouble going to sleep. I rub it on the bottom of my feet and somehow it settles me. The original recipe called it “Dream-y Foot Salve”.
I had given a jar to Kamille some time past, but had not had feedback until a month or so ago. She said it works the same for her and asked that I make more saying old remedies do seem to be effective.
That was pleasant and, as I was making the new batch, I decided to make extra and share as holiday gifts. So far, all the reports have been good. I don’t know if it is the belief that it works… or the action of a foot massage … or knowing I make it with loving intent … or even what effect the essential oils create (although I have used herbs and essential oils for a lot of home remedies over the years) … but it doesn’t matter. It works.
Next up … a new batch of BooBoo cream. The herbs have been steeping in oil for a couple of weeks and are ready to be strained. The new batch will be ready to be jarred next week after thickeners are added to the herb oil.
It seems I’ve told you some (or most) of this before. Oh well …
And the week ended with Christmas Eve Service. It was interesting this year since one of the local 12-Step programs regularly meets in the church’s community room on tuesday evenings, so there were two events going on at the same time.
And it was snowing as we left the church.
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I finished the book about the Kaintuck Book Woman. It was quite a read. I learned a lot about the hill people of that area back in the 30s. Their life was much like my family’s had been during Depression years … lots of beans and reusing everything … just a little less of everything in those mountains. The new thing to me was information about the “blue” people. Their skin actually appeared blue and as a result they were shunned and segregated, as were the negroes, because of their colour. In the 50s, a researcher discovered the blueness was the result of a genetic mutation first noted in France, which caused an anomaly in hemoglobin. I got the impression it has been bred out and there are no more blue people. Much as Tay-Sachs is no longer the problem it once was.
Now I am back to reading mysteries. They are my “comfortable” reads. I enjoy the challenge of trying to out-think the author. This new one is set in London in 1940. It is called “Mr. Churchill’s Secretary”.
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When next I write to you it will be a new year. It will do us all well to remember a quote from a Rebbe whose thoughts I read … “The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent conversation. Do no harm. Practice compassion. And do not gossip – not even a seemingly innocent remark! The words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space. One person’s pain will hurt us all and one person’s joy will make everyone smile.”
And from a close friend … Celebrate each other. Be kind to one another for we are not as different or separate as you may have been taught.
Blessed Solstice … Merry Christmas … Joyous Kwanzaa …
So … ‘til next year …