A NEW RESOLVE in a NEW YEAR

 

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN

Good Riddance to 2020.

And welcome the endless possibilities

of the New Year 2021.

I wish all my friends, family and blog buddies

a renewed sense of hope. 

And pray each of you, 

has an abundance of good health...

as we move the clock forward.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR  

STAY SAFE & TAKE CARE

CHRISTMAS, COVID & MAKING THE BEST OF IT

 

Christmas arrived at long last. We had a quiet celebration. Just my hubby and I. On Christmas Eve we watched Pope Frank celebrate Midnight Mass and saw that interesting Sci-Fi creche.  Then went to bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads. In the morning, we woke up to a new day. Breakfast was a piece of stollen. YUM YUM. And an avocado with salsa. Also a hard boiled egg and banana. Nothing fancy. We kept in touch with the rest of the family, via the computer and phone, throughout the day. We  sang Christmas carols and opened presents from the family. Later,  as the sun began to set... we appreciated all the good we’ve got, instead of focusing on the bad.  We made a rotisserie chicken with herb roasted potatoes and cranberry salad for dinner. Just keeping it simple as possible,  because it was far from normal this year, and we didn’t want a big mess to clean up. Our youngest daughter out in Colorado, has recently recovered from Covid, sort of. She's what they call a long hauler with symptoms that have lingered.  Only to have a tooth break off,  eating a piece of Naan,  earlier in the week. It caused extreme pain and must be removed.  But can’t be operated on until Monday. Needless to say, she has been miserable. She has been putting cold compresses on her cheek and taking meds to  handle the pain, until then. Meanwhile, our oldest in Ohio is also sick. She can’t smell or taste a thing. Feels difficulty when she breathes. Fever coming and going. And she’s fatigued, sleeping as much as 18 hours  at a time. The first diagnosis was Covid. She began to quarantine. Her test came back negative. They now think it’s pneumonia. She may get fired for calling off work. Do you believe that? HEARTLESS at this time of year.  She's sick. Really sick. (We are worried the Covid test yielded a false negative result and what happens if it was incorrect? She’s missing valuable time to be treated. unfortunately it WAS Covid, like we suspected, according to her doctor ) So… she spent Christmas Day snuggled under the covers trying to keep the chills, and coughing...  at bay, until she sees her doc next week.  It is hard to see your children suffer, whatever their age. But at the holidays it’s especially difficult, especially when you are at a distance. Both daughters in recent days have given us their final wishes, if they were to pass. This is something no mother or father wants to hear. So there was little joy to be found in our homes  because of the dire need for them to do that. Unfortunately, my hubby and I are much in the same boat as our daughters, though. Seriously, our health problems are too numerous to mention. BUT… they are causing grave concern, as many of mine are getting worse not better. As are my husband’s. We could wallow in self pity. But that wouldn’t help. You play the hand you are dealt and make the best of it. And on Christmas Day we did just that. No more bleak forecasts about the future. I will be grateful when 2020 is a distant memory.  Only a week to go…. 

Christmas Cookies and a Song

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

to all my friends, family and blog buddies. 

Tonight Santa will be sneaking

down the chimney, to fill the stockings 

and leave packages under the tree...

It would be nice if we left him 

a plate of homemade cookies 

using nana's secret recipe. 

And a big tall glass of milk.

Then, maybe if we're lucky, 

we'll catch a glimpse of Santa

before he leaves.

 

Thought you'd like to hear  

this 'original' song 

about baking cookies to do just that.

ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIJl4dAavgo

(Click on the above link. I guarantee you'll love this video)

Winter, Gloves & Christmas

 

Winter is here. The neuropathy in my hands worsens with very cold weather. So I need something warm to comfort them. None of us wants frostbite. So we bundle up. I usually buy my gloves from antique or thrift stores. I prefer the selections there. They have character and are quite stylish, not to mention extremely affordable. And you never see yourself coming and going, the  gloves are unique. It’s been a while since I sought to purchase a new pair. But there was a large slit in my current ones that make them un-wearable. Because my mobility is limited, meandering through stores without scooters is difficult at best. So I tend to stick with the places that cater to the mobility impaired. As a result I was recently in Meijers. (Think Target or a fancier Walmart, clothing and groceries in one stop.)  Scooting past the accessories in the women’s department, I saw a pair of gloves that spoke to me. They literally called my name and yanked me right out of my seat. I was immediately smitten. I gingerly removed them from the rack and held them in my hands. I let them linger there for a few minutes. I visualized myself wearing them out and about. They were lovely. They were classic. It wasn’t a hard sell. These precious babies were coming home with me. Mark them SOLD. However, after I put them in my cart and headed to the register, it dawned on me to look at the price tag. Unfortunately the sticker price was a bit of a shock. They cost about $20. I then debated, whether or not to put them back. We live on Social Security. And, I’ve got medical bills piling up into next year. I really shouldn’t splurge. But all the family presents have been bought and delivered. Loved ones were taken care of. And so were the charities we love to contribute to. A local food bank, Heifer International, Juvenile Diabetes, the Arthritis Foundation, Red Cross and Rolling Dog Farm. My hubby and I typically just buy what we need at this time of year, instead of trying to find something for each other. So why I was thinking of denying myself this guilty pleasure… I didn’t understand? Truth be told gloves are a necessity. These were special, not utilitarian, though. Why not spoil myself? Then… a line I heard from a friend years ago, suddenly came to mind. She used to say, “If you don’t indulge yourself, every now and then, who will?” So… I took those words to heart with Christmas here. The gloves were mine. I won’t wrap them up and put them under the tree. But… I’ll immediately put them to good use, to embrace the cold, crisp air of the season… and give my poor hands some much needed relief. A special gift indeed.

I hope each and every one of you plays Santa to yourself, allowing a simple pleasure or two. It has been a difficult year for all of us. The sacrifice of not traveling or being with our loved ones is enormous. Especially regarding elderly relatives… who may not get another chance to hug and kiss us. So just close your eyes and think of home and you’ll be there together. Stay Safe. Take care. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Have a cup of CHEER. 

I think this song is perfect for 2020

and Looking forward to the New Year. 

CLICK on link & ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m--gZZ-Tdo

A Handbag and Toilet Paper

 

Talk about awkward. I was in the grocery store searching for toilet paper. Stores here have empty shelves again. Frustrating for sure. Unsuccessful, I heaved my purse out of the cart and then it happened. Another 2020 moment of horror. My purse strap broke. I had no way to hold onto it, so it fell through my fingers crashing onto the floor. Things fell out scattering everywhere. It was so embarrassing. I scooped up what I could and skedaddled out of there as fast as I could. Fortunately the car was close by, so I sought refuge there, trying to figure out what to do next. The answer was right in front of me. A Goodwill store. I knew inside I could find a temporary handbag to hold my stuff. Taking my wallet inside, I scoured the walls looking for the purse rack. I couldn’t find it. I finally asked a worker where it was and she pointed me in the right direction. There appeared to be quite a selection. All marked $5.98 and some $2.98. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw two BRAND NEW, name brand, handbags in the mix, with tags. I grabbed them and headed to the checkout. They both were filled with compartments which is a prerequisite for any purse I buy. So I had hit pay dirt. For less than $10 I was back in business. I sat in the front seat of the van transferring everything from the broken purse into one of the new ones. And left the spare in the Goodwill bag. I was so relieved. Mission accomplished. But… this wasn’t the first time this happened to me. Years before… I had lost a strap on my purse when visiting the Biltmore Estate. Had to jerry rig it to get through the tour. It was very frustrating for sure. Have you ever had an embarrassing moment from a clothing or accessory malfunction?

The NEW handbags

Lots of compartments in both

Broken strap on old  one

A Few Weeks Before Christmas

 

             T'was a few weeks before Christmas,

And all through the town,

People wore masks,

That covered their frown.

 The frown had begun

Way back in the Spring,

When a global pandemic

Changed everything.

 They called it corona,

But unlike the beer,

It didn't bring good times,

It didn't bring cheer.

Contagious and deadly,

This virus spread fast,

Like a wildfire that starts

When fueled by gas.

 Airplanes were grounded,

Travel was banned.

Borders were closed

Across air, sea and land.

 

As the world entered lockdown

To flatten the curve,

The economy halted,

And folks lost their verve.

 

From March to July

We rode the first wave,

People stayed home,

They tried to behave.

 

When summer emerged

The lockdown was lifted.

But away from caution,

Many folks drifted.

 

Now it's December

And cases are spiking,

Wave two has arrived,

Much to our disliking.

 

Frontline workers,

Doctors and nurses,

Try to save people,

From riding in hearses.

 

This virus is awful,

This COVID-19.

There isn't a cure.

But, there is now a vaccine.

 

It's true that this year

Has had sadness a plenty,

We'll never forget

The year 2020.

 

And now-

The holiday season,

But why be merry?

Is there even one reason?

 

To decorate the house

And put up the tree,

When no one will see it,

No-one but me.

 

But outside my window

The snow gently falls,

And I think to myself,

Let's deck the halls!

 

So, I gather the ribbon,

The garland and bows,

As I play those old carols,

My happiness grows.

 

Christmas ain't cancelled

And neither is HOPE.

If we lean on each other,

I know we can COPE.

(wear your mask  & lets kick Covid19 outta of here)

I found this poem online. I had to tweak a few lines to make it current.

Author is unknown