On the Seventh Day of Christmas......

Seven Christmas Stockings

Everyone in the family has a handmade Christmas stocking and they are all different. Dear Husband and I each have two stockings as we still have the stockings from our childhood. In random years the children would also hang stockings for various pets but this year our two-and four-footed friends got nothing. No treats, no coal, not even any snowman poop! Santa seems to have forgotten our Kona, Artemis, Nani Moana, and Kukuna. But on our last trip to the pet store we spent a small fortune on their food so I think they should just be thankful they still reside with us where life is easy, warm, and they have no chores.

On the Sixth Day of Christmas....

Six family members.
We don't have many opportunities for a "whole family photo" so I like to take advantage of any occasion when we are all gathered. We have a wide age-range with our children, spreading out over 18 years by birth and adoption. This photo is from a family reunion in Steamboat Springs andy we all made it! So, here are Middle Daughter, Youngest Daughter, Oldest Daughter, and Only Son with their parents.

On a side note, we are having problems with high winds and mountain lions this morning. Two headlines in this morning's paper:

Mountain lion snatches Boulder terrier

Hold on tight: High winds pound Boulder

With gusts this morning topping 70 MPH, I'm going to be watching out for the mountain lions being blown around our city today. That would be REALLY frightening!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas.........

Five house bows.

Saw the interesting decoration on this house near downtown while taking advantage of some warmer winter weather. I want some bows on my house now!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas.....

Four political buttons

Wow, what an exciting election for our country! This was the first election Dear Husband and I were politically active -- other than voting, which we always do but in the past we generally cancelled out each other's votes. This time we actually had a seriously pro-life candidate who is intelligent and such a peaceful man -- and both of us supported him whole-heartedly throughout the election and look forward to a wonderful future for the US . Yeah!!

On the Third Day of Christmas............

Three train-station arches.


Three Christmas Peace Doves.
I made these for friends this Christmas. I love the fabric -- and the tags came out nicely as well. Just three weeks before President Obama is sworn in -- I feel peace is on the way!

On the Second Day of Christmas......

Two cups of latte


AND two daughters assembling their dad's Christmas gift!


I remember a time, seems like just yesterday, when Dear Husband and I would stay up late on Christmas Eve, after the children had gone to sleep, to put the gifts under the tree. Occasionally we had bought something that needed assembling and we would pull our hair out trying to get it together-- while being SO TIRED. Ultimately everything was finished, looking quite beautiful under the tree and about an hour or two later the little ones would be tapping on our arms whispering, "Mommy, Daddy, Santa came!" The look of wonder in their eyes made it all worth while.

They still believe in Santa because they know that if they don't, they'll get underwear for Christmas. But now they are old enough to put their own toys together -- and to put daddy's toys together as well! Youngest Daughter and Middle Daughter spent a couple hours assembling Dear Husband's Wii and then we all played it the rest of the day. What fun! And we worked off some of the ham and chocolate candies. Of course, this morning I can just barely type as my shoulder is sore from so much Wii Bowling! We also heard Youngest Daughter say that she was considering transferring to a college closer to home now so she'd have access to her dad's Christmas gift!

And now -- a song we used to sing at Christmas Eve mass. It's so beautiful!

On the First Day of Christmas....

One 40-year-old Christmas Cookie.

Apparently, this cookie was baked and decorated by my late mother-in-law in about 1967. It even survived the move from Dallas to Washington a few years ago. My father-in-law showed it to my daughters last winter when they visited with him up in Washington. Daughters were quite impressed with their grandmother's decorating skills as they had no idea that one could decorate home-baked cookies. They had never seen anything like it in their own home! I, of course, was wondering why anyone would save a cookie for that long a time but then -- how could you throw it out now?

UPDATE: Father-in-law sent this email after reading this blog entry. So-- now we have the rest of the story as Paul Harvey says:

The Christmas cookie was one that Jo had given to Uncle Bill when they lived on Bonita Street in Dallas. Bill was never one to throw anything out. So when Gertrude was preparing to move to Boyd, Texas I helped her boxing things. So when I came across the cookie, my sis said she would give it to me, if I promised to keep it. So that is why I still have it. So when I move on someone else will have to decide what to do with it. On TV the other day they were showing a Fruit cake that was almost one hundred years old.

Unusual Gift Idea

While out shopping last week I found a gift that might just fit the bill for someone who has everything. Really.



Now, who already has a yodelling pickle??

Congratulations to Little Brother

I just found out that my little brother has been named college football's Wide Receivers Coach of the Year! He, of course, did not tell us as he's not one to toot his own horn. He is an incredible young man and apparently an incredible coach, too! Congrats, Bobby!!
Here's a picture from his visit to Boulder earlier this year when his 'Horns played -- and beat -- our Buffs:


And one with our adoring daughters a few years ago when he just beginning his coaching career:

We wish him, and his team, good luck in the Fiesta Bowl on January 5th, and hope that somehow they can become the National Champs again! Go 'Horns!

Happy Anniversary to Dear Husband

I have grown up with my birthday being a week after Christmas. The only good thing about this was that I could watch the college football games all day. Now I can't even do that what with the Bowl Championship Series. Granted, there will be some games on my day but not the big ones. I always wondered what it would be like to have a summer birthday, separating those celebratory events by a few months rather than one week. So...........what did I end up doing? I got married three days before Christmas! As both Dear Husband and I are the oldest in our families, the siblings who were in college/school would be able to come to the wedding. Made sense. So now I have THREE celebrations within ten days. But oh, how I love this man!

Here are three photos taken 29 years ago today:

Great Movie!

I am not much of a movie person. I'd much rather read a book. But when I heard about "Slumdog Millionaire" I made a note to see it. Dear Husband and I saw it yesterday. Wow! When was the last time you sat in a packed theater for an afternoon show and the audience applauded at the end of the movie? This movie is one of the best I have ever seen. Incredible beauty amidst some unspeakable horror. Good versus bad. Now, I admit to being partial to things Indian, having lived there for awhile as a youngster. I definitely left part of my heart on the sub-continent in 1965. And I'm a big fan of game shows, especially "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." So maybe I'm a bit biased. No -- I think not. It really is a fantastic movie! Go see for yourself.

Note to Dear Daughters: The leading young man (same age as Youngest Daughter) is adorable.

Father Terry has a Blog

Fr. Terry with his sister, Jane, at his most recent birthday party.


Many who know me also know Fr. Terry Ryan CSP, a Paulist priest who several years ago was living at St. Tom's in Boulder. The Paulists no longer have St. Tom's (insert tears here) but Fr. Terry often resides at Sacred Heart when he has missions or retreats scheduled in this area (insert cheers here). He now has his own blog, Father Terry's Spiritual Stuff, where you can read his homilies and other musings he might share! I've often told friends that my blog is "the quotidian, not the profound." Well, if you're looking for profound, check out Fr. Terry's blog!

A Playful Friend, A Pencil Case, and A Good Read

Yesterday, despite the below zero temps the sky was blue and I got to play with the neighbor's puppy, Shiloh. She is such a sweet gal with a never-ending supply of energy. After fetching the ball for about 20 minutes she decided to cool off a bit.



Here is something I recently unearthed in my "playroom."

What's under the cover?
Voila! A dinosaur of a sewing machine..............


I recently moved my "playroom" from one floor to another in our home and hadn't gotten it unpacked until last week. It was quite a project for Dear Husband, entailing several trips to Radio Shack, computer stores, and back to the sewing machine store. Seems if you want the updated program for my machine it will cost $700.00! Outrageous!! So, keep your fingers crossed that the old PS2 running Windows 95 holds on for awhile. It's such a great machine, but it seems the company would rather sell you a brand new machine rather than update the software for the old.

I made a couple of little birds last week but forgot to photograph them before I gave them away. After playing with the dog I decided to make something else so I decided on this:

Can you tell what it is?



And now for a good read......... I just LOVE this book!

An Ill Friend and Cold Temps

Yesterday, Dear Husband, a friend, and I visited another friend who has been hospitalized with a dissecting carotid artery/pseudoaneurysm. Wow, that's a mouthful. She's in the best of hands and will have a stent inserted into her artery this week. She's young and will probably be preparing for another marathon before too long, but say a prayer for her anyway!

We couldn't find her when we first arrived at the hospital. There was some serious renovating going on.

But after "following the black line" and then finding a working elevator -but waiting for one without a patient in it- (we never did find a stairwell) we got to her room.

Don't worry, R. You'll do just fine -- or we'll send Ella after the doc!

It was quite cold during our adventure but it's even colder now. Seems we've set a record for low temp today.

Brrrrrr..................
Sure hope it's warmer on January 21. That's Winter Bike to Work Day!

Downtown Boulder on Saturday

Saturday morning Dear Husband and I attended a talk by our favorite Boulder priest, Fr. Terry Ryan. The talk centered on Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (Anthony Bloom), his book, Beginning to Pray, and Centering Prayer. As usual, we learned a lot.

After the talk we walked downtown, enjoying the beautiful weather, and the Christmas sights and sounds of the Pearl Street Mall.

First up, a paver inscribed "Gracie."

Go Buffs! Well, better luck next year.

Double Peace Pole

Balloon Lady and Cupcake Gal


And a young man with a cool 'do.

And just what was the young man listening intently to?
A Boulder Tuba Christmas! Here is a bit of my favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night.

This morning we woke to about four inches of snow and news of below zero temps for tonight. It's 4 degrees right now -- at 9AM. Yuck!

A Pink and Orange Morning

The morning sky was multi-colored today. It was so beautiful that I had to snap some pictures.

In the back yard (looking towards the north/northwest), we had pink clouds:


And in the front yard (looking southeast)they were orange:

Snowy Thursday

An old (in years of knowing one another, NOT referring to her age!)homeschooling friend and I were to have lunch today to catch up on what we've been up to lately but several inches of snow and about 15 miles ruined our "best laid plans" so I stuck my head out the back door and snapped a few pictures. I particularly like the first one, as it looks like St. Francis has a beautiful white blanket wrapped around him.




We're hoping the good old Colorado sun comes out and takes care of the snow, at least the snow on the roads, by late tomorrow morning as we've made plans for lunch tomorrow.

Now, should I read or shovel?

Who buys gas at Safeway?

We do!
We traveled up to Ft. Collins today to visit middle daughter and realized we were low on gasoline. Knowing that we'd be driving near a Safeway gas station in Longmont on our way home we decided to use our Safeway points and fill up. How could we resist, after paying $4.50 per gallon this summer? I might just pack up my bicycle!


Yes, that's right! Just under 56 cents per gallon! Wish we had a bigger tank.
Actually, for anyone thinking I might start using the car more often, think again! I still despise driving --- and I love my bike!

Happy Thanksgiving

We have much to be thankful for this year -- we have enough.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye." ~Bob Perks

I'm also thankful that the daughter who made the turkey in the photo has grown into a fine young woman. Unfortunately, I don't know which daughter made the turkey as she didn't sign it, but since all my daughters are fine young women, I stand by what I wrote!

And our newspaper announced this morning that Forbes Magazine named our town The Best Educated Town in the US. "The most-educated city in America: Boulder, Colo., home to the University of Colorado with high-tech employers like IBM and Sun Microsystems to keep alumni in the area after they graduate." Impressive? Maybe, maybe not. Never really thought that having a degree (and yes, I do) makes one a better person. Or even a good person. And that's what we need more of -- good people! Nonetheless, Forbes has given us this title and incidentally, our neighbor to the north, Ft. Collins, was named the 10th Best Educated.

To the Rainbow Bridge

One of our sweet old cats went to the Rainbow Bridge last week. Do you know the story?

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

She began life over 14 years ago, down the block from us. Her mama, Rainbow, owned the family living in the corner house. Rainbow had a few kittens and the day we got to see them, this little black and white kitty looked at youngest daughter, age 4, and said, "I'm going home with her some day." A few weeks later she did just that and was known from then on as Pele, or Madam Pele in her later years. She was quite attached to youngest daughter right from the start and would do anything for or with her, including sitting in a doll highchair or being pushed through the house in a buggy.


She clearly owned this daughter.
Over the years, though, youngest daughter's temperament was just a bit too much for Pele, so Pele took up with middle daughter, appreciating her quieter attitude. Two of her particular loves were a pink Queen Anne chair, which she didn't mind sharing with all kinds of clutter in the art room

and her food, as evidenced by her size

And she also was quite fond of her brother, Artemis, often curling up with him to nap or giving him a bath.


Artemis has been looking for her, checking out the closet she sometimes slept in, or hopping up on the bed, hoping for someone to snuggle with, although he's delighted he doesn't have to worry about her eating his food! But I think he looks a bit sad.

We all miss you, Madam Pele. We'll meet you at the Rainbow Bridge.