Warm Welcome

I am slowly but surely recovering from the process of moving from one end of Phoenix to the other. The move - from a two-bedroom home to two rooms in my son's home - required a lot of decisions about what could come with me and what had to be given away, either to family or the Salvation Army. I probably brought too much with me, but I'll know more as I get settled in.

My commute to visit/babysit grandchildren has tripled, but the trip isn't too bad. Good thing I like to drive!

My son and daughter-in-law (and their five dogs!) welcomed me with open arms, always a plus. I'm getting acquainted with my new neighborhood and I plan to go on a photo safari soon.

The beautiful sunset shown above greeted me on the night I moved in. I took it as a sign that all will be well. So far, so good.

Until next time,

Bubble Wrap and Boxes and Tape, Oh My!

My son James is making a huge batch of gruel for me, which is all I'll be allowed when I move in with him and his lovely wife Aubrie. I will be limited to one bowl per day and will not be allowed more, even if I say, "Please, sir" like Oliver Twist. You see, I will become part of their household by the end of this month. I think he's kidding about the gruel.

I'm actually doing something smart, which is an extremely rare occurrence. No matter how much I enjoy living on my own, I simply can't afford to live on my Social Security income and my present health concerns, while not major, don't make looking for a supplemental job a good idea.

So when James and Aubrie lovingly invited me to live with them and their dogs, I hemmed and hawed and finally accepted. There was no mention of gruel at that time.

They have a lovely, two-story house on the opposite end of Phoenix from my present home. My bedroom will be on the ground floor, but it is tiny, so I have also been given a large office/sewing room on the second floor. I love the area, and I'm looking forward to decorating my new digs.

This will probably be (unless I win the lottery) my last move. Of course, I said that when I  moved into this place a little over a year ago. And the place before that.

I have listed my home for sale and am busy packing. I've moved so many times that I'm quite expert, but that doesn't mean I like it. Because I'll have much less space for my stuff, I am purging like crazy and trying to be practical, which is not one of my best attributes. I think the Salvation Army will be pleased.

One thing that kept me from leaping at the offer is the distance from my grandkids. I babysit three of them two or three days a week and have the other two spend the night, go to movies, etc. fairly often. But I think the increase in my gas costs will be more than offset by the expenses I will no longer have.

It seems like a win-win at the moment. I'll be with people I love and who love me, and I'll still have plenty of my things about me. I'll let you know how it goes and how much weight I lose on my gruel-only diet. Now back to packing before I take a break to watch The Golden Globes.

Till next time,

I Won!

Just before Christmas, I was notified that I was one of the winners of a LoveFeast Coffee Cake giveaway hosted by Pizzazzerie!

I chose (wisely, it turns out) the Triple Berry version. They also offered their Signature version, along with Pumpkin or Chocolate Chip. I'm sure they all would have been delicious, but I doubt they could top this berry-loaded treat, which featured raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

Colorful and delicious, this coffee cake would be a great family brunch addition. Or pop it in the freezer and warm up a slice to go with your morning coffee or tea. Go to LoveFeast to try it for yourself!

Till next time,

Welcome, 2012!

Currier & Ives print courtesy of The Stock Solution

Every new year seems to sneak up on me, and 2012 is no exception. I saw the old year out with a snore rather than a bang, which may have something to do with it. My granddaughter spent the previous night with me and I stayed up till 1:00 a.m.(!), but two nights in a row was more than this old bod could take.

But 2012 arrived before I had even made my New Year's Resolutions, so I had to scramble to come up with these:

1. Be more appreciative of what I have
2. Take better care of myself
3. Find a cure for procrastination, the bane of my existence
4. Reorganize my priorities
5. Love more, laugh more, live more, blog more

I think that just about covers it. It all boils down to wanting to be a better person when I go to bed each night than I was when I woke up that morning.

I wish you all a healthy and happy new year!

Till next time,

A Good Time Was Had By All

My grandchildren (and granddog) enjoy some Christmas fun. We had a wonderful time, with good food (fried ham, eggs and waffles for breakfast, then baked ham with the trimmings for dinner).

We didn't have any snow, of course, but we did enjoy a beautiful fire in the "fireplace." Santa was very generous, especially for the little ones.

Now the mess is cleaned up, for the most part, and another batch of happy Christmas memories are safely stored away. Can't wait for next year!

Till next time,

Finally!

It took awhile, but I finally got 'er done (with a little help). Please ignore the less-than-stellar photos! This is what my tree looks like almost every year. I've had most of the ornaments for years and there's no particular color scheme or theme. This year I added the vertical beads - just wish I had more of them.

I know a lot of people put their Christmas tree up right after Thanksgiving, but when I was growing up the tree went up a week before Christmas and came down a week after. Now I'll add a week at the beginning. I prefer a real tree, Douglas fir from Oregon if possible, and I don't want it to dry out too much before the big day.

On New Year's Day I will follow childhood tradition and take the tree down while watching the Rose Parade.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Till next time,

A Hopeful Sign

I was waiting to pick up my granddaughter from school when Mother Nature obligingly presented this dramatic sky shot to me. I only had my iPhone, but I think it did a pretty good job!

I'm sharing at Skywatch Friday. Stop by to see some really great photos from all over the world.

Till next time,