Sadly, I do not have a cheerful post this time. My older brother, Pat, was diagnosed last week with terminal esophageal cancer plus diabetes. This along with a failing heart valve that he has been living with for 3 years. So my posts will be far and few between for a while.
I have been in Spokane while he has been hospitalized, and will return tomorrow to move him to a family home north of Spokane. It is sad and stressful, but I find some redeeming moments in all of it. And my other brother, Mike, and I simply want whatever will give Pat comfort and solace. Please keep us in your prayers.
We had reservations to fly to Idaho yesterday to spend a few pre-Christmas days with Brian and Sheila, but cancelled that. And I could end up spending Christmas in Spokane with Pat. I am holding on to the thought that we will have Gary and Carolyn and Jeff and Bev here for a few days after Christmas. After that, we will see if we are able to leave to go south with the Ouseys.
I had completed most of my Christmas shopping, and Ken, Colleen and Craig are perfectly capable of creating a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for themselves.
Last Saturday was fun after I returned from Spokane. Colleen had several of her college friends here for an overnight along with a massage specialist and a foot masseuse. Ummm Ummm. I could get used to a massage once a week.
In case I don't post for a while, a merry and blessed Christmas to all.
Ciao, Helen
Monday, December 20, 2004
Saturday, December 11, 2004
At last!! Some progress to report after the more recent postings about nothing getting done. Most of the Christmas decorations are up, and that just leaves the tree - yet to be claimed from a nearby tree lot. I even addressed envelopes for Christmas cards yesterday so that effor is also underway. I have done a small amount of baking, plus made a batch of crepes to put in the freezer, so I feel as if I have made headway. Truth be known, I quite like all of these projects which I did not even attempt when I was working.
The walls and ceiling for the upstairs shower were installed yesterday, and we can use it by this evening!!! It doesn't look like real marble or stone, but it does look new and shiny, and after all this time; I'll take it. Of course there is all the remaining stuff to be done such as taking up the old flooring and installing new, and installling a new sink, etc. etc. etc.
Colleen and I joined Curves last month, and I have been faithful about getting there, although joining an exercise/fitness program the week before Thanksgiving is not very smart. I figure I am just now catching up for all the eating and drinking I did while in Maryland. I do like the Curves concept as compared to a regular gym. It is for women only, so I don't have to deal with the macho men and muscle-bound trainers. Curves provides a circuit of machines with music and voice-over that lets you keep a rhythm as well as tells you when to change to the next piece of equipment, thus eliminating the need to even count. And there are no settings to wrestle with. All the equipment is designed for women and it all works on hydraulics, so again, a no-brainer. To be continued.
We are invited to a Christmas open house tomorrow afternoon and that, along with an open house given by our investment counselor pretty much sums up the social scene for us. We are looking forward to our visitors arrival after Christmas which will be our party time.
Ciao
The walls and ceiling for the upstairs shower were installed yesterday, and we can use it by this evening!!! It doesn't look like real marble or stone, but it does look new and shiny, and after all this time; I'll take it. Of course there is all the remaining stuff to be done such as taking up the old flooring and installing new, and installling a new sink, etc. etc. etc.
Colleen and I joined Curves last month, and I have been faithful about getting there, although joining an exercise/fitness program the week before Thanksgiving is not very smart. I figure I am just now catching up for all the eating and drinking I did while in Maryland. I do like the Curves concept as compared to a regular gym. It is for women only, so I don't have to deal with the macho men and muscle-bound trainers. Curves provides a circuit of machines with music and voice-over that lets you keep a rhythm as well as tells you when to change to the next piece of equipment, thus eliminating the need to even count. And there are no settings to wrestle with. All the equipment is designed for women and it all works on hydraulics, so again, a no-brainer. To be continued.
We are invited to a Christmas open house tomorrow afternoon and that, along with an open house given by our investment counselor pretty much sums up the social scene for us. We are looking forward to our visitors arrival after Christmas which will be our party time.
Ciao
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Here it is Saturday and not a decoration to be seen. By the time we did a little shopping, cooking, and whatever else, we decided to postpone. Now Colleen is on her way to Colorado for 4 days to visit friends, so more time will pass. I'm thinking I will get started while she is gone. All of this decorating requires a fair amount of labor, but I won't have to do any of the dismantling since we will be leaving right after the first. Colleen gets that fun job.
We are hoping Brian and Sheila might have a few days available between now and the first of the year when we might meet halfway for a gift exchange and some Christmas cheer. He is pretty tied down with his job, so it is difficult to find a block of time to be away.
Ken spent the better part of yesterday with the motor home in and out of service sites. ....with nothing fixed. A new radio and speaker and shower head are being ordered from Winnebago. As for the Chevy/Workhorse problems: The instrument cluster (our second one) needs to be replaced, and there is such a run on those as a result of a recall, that we might get one by the time we get to Arizona, and the overdrive switch problem requires a trip to Allison which is located near SeaTac Airport. Our last MH was a Ford, and we never even darkened the doorstep of the Ford service center. Aargh. But we did buy chains for both the MH and the Jetta so we are ready to hit the road.
The shower pan for our upstairs shower was installed yesterday. Now Ken will put up the green board to be ready for next Friday when the walls are installed. Lesson learned: Never, never, never, build an over-sized shower, if you don't want to tile it. Our only other option, short of a natural stone such as marble or granite, was fiberglass that looks like marble. It is expensive and heavy!!
Sarah tells us that the University of Washington application went in the mail this week. We would be thrilled to have her going to school in Seattle. She is also applying at two or three schools in the east; all in Maryland I believe. She is a strong student and has been involved in band and volleyball, so I can't imagine why all those schools wouldn't want her!! Can it be true that we have a grandaughter old enough to be going to college?
It is 6:15 a.m. and I've been up since 4:00 a.m. to take Colleen to the airport, so now I have to decide if I want to go back to bed or want to wait for the newspaper to arrive! Probably read the paper first and then go back to bed.
Ciao
We are hoping Brian and Sheila might have a few days available between now and the first of the year when we might meet halfway for a gift exchange and some Christmas cheer. He is pretty tied down with his job, so it is difficult to find a block of time to be away.
Ken spent the better part of yesterday with the motor home in and out of service sites. ....with nothing fixed. A new radio and speaker and shower head are being ordered from Winnebago. As for the Chevy/Workhorse problems: The instrument cluster (our second one) needs to be replaced, and there is such a run on those as a result of a recall, that we might get one by the time we get to Arizona, and the overdrive switch problem requires a trip to Allison which is located near SeaTac Airport. Our last MH was a Ford, and we never even darkened the doorstep of the Ford service center. Aargh. But we did buy chains for both the MH and the Jetta so we are ready to hit the road.
The shower pan for our upstairs shower was installed yesterday. Now Ken will put up the green board to be ready for next Friday when the walls are installed. Lesson learned: Never, never, never, build an over-sized shower, if you don't want to tile it. Our only other option, short of a natural stone such as marble or granite, was fiberglass that looks like marble. It is expensive and heavy!!
Sarah tells us that the University of Washington application went in the mail this week. We would be thrilled to have her going to school in Seattle. She is also applying at two or three schools in the east; all in Maryland I believe. She is a strong student and has been involved in band and volleyball, so I can't imagine why all those schools wouldn't want her!! Can it be true that we have a grandaughter old enough to be going to college?
It is 6:15 a.m. and I've been up since 4:00 a.m. to take Colleen to the airport, so now I have to decide if I want to go back to bed or want to wait for the newspaper to arrive! Probably read the paper first and then go back to bed.
Ciao
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Home again. We had an uneventful trip other than sitting on the tarmac at BWI for an hour while the mechanics worked on the cooling system for the avionics. We arrived home to a warming trend, so we missed the cold days.
Now it is full speed ahead for Christmas and all related fun stuff. Colleen and I are going to start decorating tonight, and finish up on Friday which is a day off for her. The tree will wait for a while so it won't dry out by Christmas.
We used to bundle up the four kids, and along with the dog, load up the station wagon to drive to a tree farm to cut a fresh tree. Now Ken and I leave the house and stop at the closest tree lot. If there is nothing to our satisfaction we drive to the next closest, and so on, until we happen on the perfect tree. Then we cash in some of our stocks and bonds to pay for it (I thought we lived in the Evergreen State) and bring it home.
And the really fun stuff this year will be company and an eggnog party. Gary and Carolyn will be here on the 29th and Jeff and Bev Schuler usually arrive around the 27th. So Friday, the 30th will probably be the annual eggnog open house. I must say that my eggnog recipe has been praised by even those who thought they didn't like eggnog. It is from a military officers' wives cookbook from the 60's:
Eggnog Supreme
12 eggs, separated
1 1/2 c sugar (I have been known to use less)
1 quart whiskey (rye for you Canadians)
2 qt milk
1 pint half and half
1 pint heavy cream
Nutmeg
Blend egg yolks with sugar. Add whiskey. Add milk and half & half. Beat egg whites to a soft peak. Whip heavy cream until fluffy. Fold egg whites and whipped cream into yolk mixture. Chill. Serve sprinkled with nutmeg. 40 small servings.
Helen's method:
Blend egg yolks, sugar, milk and half & half and chill. When ready to serve, place half in punch bowl, beat half the egg whites and half the cream and fold in. For drama, take your bottle of rye to the punch bowl which you have now placed on the table or buffet, and pour it in (with flair and all to see). I place a shaker of nutmeg beside the punch bowl. This method keeps the punch bowl looking more attractive, and you have a second batch at the ready for the late arrivals.
And then after the party, we won't care what we do for the next day or two!!
New Year's Eve has been a tradition with the Schulers and us since 1981. We girls go out on the 31st to shop for dinner for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We enjoy a nice dinner, and then attempt to stay awake until midnight to enjoy a kiss and a sip of champagne as we watch the ball drop in Times Square. Then by 12:15 we are in bed!! Gary and Carolyn; take notes!
Ciao
Now it is full speed ahead for Christmas and all related fun stuff. Colleen and I are going to start decorating tonight, and finish up on Friday which is a day off for her. The tree will wait for a while so it won't dry out by Christmas.
We used to bundle up the four kids, and along with the dog, load up the station wagon to drive to a tree farm to cut a fresh tree. Now Ken and I leave the house and stop at the closest tree lot. If there is nothing to our satisfaction we drive to the next closest, and so on, until we happen on the perfect tree. Then we cash in some of our stocks and bonds to pay for it (I thought we lived in the Evergreen State) and bring it home.
And the really fun stuff this year will be company and an eggnog party. Gary and Carolyn will be here on the 29th and Jeff and Bev Schuler usually arrive around the 27th. So Friday, the 30th will probably be the annual eggnog open house. I must say that my eggnog recipe has been praised by even those who thought they didn't like eggnog. It is from a military officers' wives cookbook from the 60's:
Eggnog Supreme
12 eggs, separated
1 1/2 c sugar (I have been known to use less)
1 quart whiskey (rye for you Canadians)
2 qt milk
1 pint half and half
1 pint heavy cream
Nutmeg
Blend egg yolks with sugar. Add whiskey. Add milk and half & half. Beat egg whites to a soft peak. Whip heavy cream until fluffy. Fold egg whites and whipped cream into yolk mixture. Chill. Serve sprinkled with nutmeg. 40 small servings.
Helen's method:
Blend egg yolks, sugar, milk and half & half and chill. When ready to serve, place half in punch bowl, beat half the egg whites and half the cream and fold in. For drama, take your bottle of rye to the punch bowl which you have now placed on the table or buffet, and pour it in (with flair and all to see). I place a shaker of nutmeg beside the punch bowl. This method keeps the punch bowl looking more attractive, and you have a second batch at the ready for the late arrivals.
And then after the party, we won't care what we do for the next day or two!!
New Year's Eve has been a tradition with the Schulers and us since 1981. We girls go out on the 31st to shop for dinner for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We enjoy a nice dinner, and then attempt to stay awake until midnight to enjoy a kiss and a sip of champagne as we watch the ball drop in Times Square. Then by 12:15 we are in bed!! Gary and Carolyn; take notes!
Ciao
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