Look Through Any Window

 When I thought about starting this post, the title of The Hollies' song (1965) came to mind. If you are of my era, you may recall it.

Of course, now I have an "earworm" . That song is on instant replay in my head!

But, this post isn't really about looking through a window...it's about my former window, now a frame for some sort of painting. 

I am still not thrilled with the work, but, it'll do for now. 

It's all a learning curve!

The Lull Before the ... Party

As I mentioned previously, we invite neighbors and friends for Christmas breakfast. Unbelievably, EVERY neighbor did RSVP! It seems that in the past folks often didn't bother. We will have 27 guests...and I am providing breakfast for all of them! 

Here are a few pics from 2024:

What makes this a bit easier is that over the years I have kept a spreadsheet with all kinds of notes. Some of the tabs on the spreadsheet include:

Invitations - with a check off when I send one, or hand deliver one

Menu - this sheet is broken down into basic categories, like finger foods, egg dishes, etc. I also have a column for recipes and notes from previous years, like, "don't bother" or "folks liked this" or "double the recipe"

Shopping - as I review each recipe I list items I need to get, in columns by grocery type; frozen foods, dairy, and so on.

To Do - of course I have this one... listing all of the basic party prep things

 

and the most important sheet....

Timing! Here I break down things I need to do beginning about 5 days before Christmas. I try to cook as much in advance as I can, or prep things by chopping and sautéing ingredients and sticking them in the fridge for a day so I just need to pull out a baggie or

A Mahjong Blessing

 I penned a Mahjong Blessing for my friends. (It's fun to say "penned", but can one really say that when a computer was used to write it?!) 

A few days ago I had an opportunity to play Mahjong with three ladies from the "Branches" group, a subset of a newcomers group that I joined.  The Branches seem to be an active group of women, 

("older" women,  I guess I am one!),

 in the development in which I live.  

I gave each player a copy of the blessing:

Sadly, my blessing brought no luck my way. 

I was almost to the point where I needed to pull the quarter off to pay my debts. 

As in my recent BINGO (BING-NO) experience...

my Mahjong games were a bust!

Maybe next time!

Proverbs

 Do you have personal proverbs that guide your life? (Or perhaps there are adages that irritate you?) My dad constantly told me, as well as my brother and sister, (and probably my mom) that we should always be doing something constructive...and that we must finish what we start.

These sayings certainly have shaped my life. But, maybe not always in a good way! If/when I don't finish something, I shoulder a bundle of guilt and carry it around until I get that project that is nagging me completed. 

As a quilter and crafter, I have many UFO's - unfinished objects. See the two stacks of  bins on the bottom of my shelves? Those are just some of my projects-in-waiting! There are more projects scattered elsewhere in different stages of completion... as well as pictures with ideas for projects on my phone, and my head is full of ideas as well!

For some twisted reason, in my mind, I have decided that my dad would feel that sitting and reading a book is not constructive use of my time. Therefore, I find it extremely difficult to enjoy reading during the day! Well, it's not just the constructive thing weighing in, I also just see so many things around me that I want to do! Just yesterday I was raking up some leaves and cleaning up my back garden. As I swept the pea gravel off the stepping stones I realized that the large stone was begging to be made into a compass rose! Bam! Another constructive thing to add to my list!

I could paint something like this on that stepping stone...dontcha think?!

Sweet Memories

I had a conversation with Mom today. I unpacked Christmas bins and memories came flooding back. Mom gave me these candles as a Christmas gift...some time around the turn of the century! When I chatted with her today I told her how pretty they still are, and how I wish she was here to enjoy them.  Christmas was her favorite time of the year - I inherited that from her! 

They have always been too pretty to burn!

I'll find a way to gently heat them and correct their candle scoliosis!

Maybe this year I'll actually light their wicks.

Maybe not!

Love you, Mom and Dad 💕

You are here this Christmas,

...in my heart.

BING-NO

We belong to the Civic Association, which runs a monthly dinner and BINGO.  Neither of us are huge BINGO aficionados, but it gets us out to see other folks and have an inexpensive evening of fun(?)!

Dinner and BINGO cost the princely sum of $11 each.

This month's dinner was 2 hot dogs, a bowl of beans, chips and ice cream for dessert.

You can't argue with that price!  

After dinner our certified BINGO caller steps up to the mic, and things get serious...

well, maybe not!

Daubers are at the ready.

I silently appeal to the BINGO Gods to announce a number I can use.

It rarely works. 

Another month /year of not being able to call out "BINGO"!

For me, it was definitely BING-NO!

 

Horse Show

 Our community Equestrian Association had a fun-time horse show on Saturday.  It began with a costume parade that was fun to watch. 

This sweet pony was very fuzzy.

This stocky horse seemed to have a marvelously calm disposition.

This was another calm horse, and he seemed to like showing off is decorations

The donkey was my favorite equine.

The horse behind the donkey later decided he wanted to roll in the sand, and plopped down before the rider really knew what he was doing. Luckily, she got him back up before he flopped on his side.

Santa came to visit as well. He was a grateful, jovial guy, just like a Santa should be.

But, not everyone wanted a picture taken with the big, red elf! 

I did not stay to see any of the other competitions, but it looked like they had a fun line-up of classes that would appeal to beginners as well as advanced riders, as well as both English and Western riders.