The moods of the season

Hello boys and girls.  Can you believe the date?  I hope winter flies by as quickly as the last few months have. 

I haven't stitched.  My arthritic hand is still restricted after all the painting, sanding, waxing, so I tried a little decorating.  I don't know why I'm not in the mood to do so, but maybe the delays in completing these house projects is the culprit.  Sometimes I think we get more wrapped up in the decorating than the meaning. 

 

 My Italian aunts hung a single wreath and had a small indoor tree.  All their time was taken up with baking, entertaining, doing for others.  I think we spend more time decorating and shopping these days, but everything is so very different now. 

 

 

 

 

  

I have to tell you a story about my Polish

grandfather.  After his wife passed in 1959, he and a group of friends planned a trip to visit their home place for a few weeks.  First time back since immigrating to the US.  My mother and aunt met him at the airport upon his return and were in a panic.  They saw him exit the plane and as he stepped off the stairs, he went face down on the tarmac.  Didn't move.  They went running over to their elderly father in tears, thinking he had a heart attack.  When they got to him, he was sobbing and kissing the ground.  Further inspection showed he had no socks, no underwear, old torn pants and tee shirt, shoes with holes.  They then thought he was robbed.  No, he wasn't.  His old village that he visited was so poor, he left all his belongings, luggage, money, clothing, even his wedding ring, to his people, and wore their tattered clothing home.  He was so grateful for the US and although he had a very small house and no money, he felt like a king on our soil.  From then on, every extra penny he had went to Poland.  

 So what does that have to do with decorating?  I have no idea.  I'm just in an odd mood.  This morning, a woman in Aldi's was forced to leave some food and toys behind when she was short of cash.  We offered her extra money for the toys, and I started crying.  WHY???  She refused graciously and thanked us.  I came home to an email and was told that my cousin (my age) is being put into a nursing home because of early dementia and she is devastated, and rightfully so.  She was a home economics teacher and can do anything related to needlework, is a gourmet cook, traveled the world and visited almost every country.  Now I'm going to start rambling so I'll stop.

I bought another little milking stool.  And look at that baseboard!  Mark installed it and we may tackle the crown moulding next week.  I have final coats of paint to apply after filling the nail holes on the door trims and base.  Kitchen man #3 called and agreed to make my three cupboards - nothing else.  That's the best offer we can get so I took it and the kitchen will not be what I originally planned.  I thanked him and didn't even ask for an estimate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I received these old wooden thread spool Santas that are handcarved and painted by Carol Barnes of Back Porch Carver.  Sweet!!!  Thank you Carol!

 

  

Tomorrow I will stay home and sew the latest Santas, maybe decorate a little more, and watch the white crap fall.  We had very warm temps yesterday and I cleaned up the yard of leaves and limbs - again.  All that extra physical work has not changed my mound and I guess that's why they are called Mounds bars.  And here's something new - my sister's car broke down again.  What a surprise.  It would be cheaper to lease one for her.   I still haven't ordered the new charts I want and maybe will add online shopping to my list for tomorrow.  And I have to watch the brats closely.  Bud has decided to turn on Squeaky.

 

Enjoy your weekend, stay safe, kiss the ground, hug your cousin, call your friends, visit your family, hang your wreaths, and bake them cookies!

Thanks for visiting, and listening to my ups and downs.