Happy Holidays

 

I'm going to be offline for awhile celebrating with the fam. My daughter and SIL are coming in from PA the 24th, leaving the 27th. My brother and SIL from FL are coming in the 26th and leaving the 1st or thereabouts. My sister from IL is coming in the 29th and leaving the 4th. 

I'll be back online sometime in January. Until then may your holidays be wondrous.

Tuesday

What we've been doing in the garden:

And just for fun, I've added 'gem' stones:)

AND

From a clinician on the frontlines.  I can't mentally stop drafting my obituary. This article was written by a relative that we hold near and dear. 

AND

I decided to make navy beans and cornbread the other night. The beans were bitter so I added some baking soda. Remember the volcano in the school science projects? That was my beans in their pot.  And in case you're wondering, after the eruption subsided, it did take care of the bitter:)

AND

More family factoids. We have new grandparents in the family that will go by the grandparent handles of: Loli and Poppi.  I love it:)

AND

Got masks?

AND

For a limited time: a freebie, where offered, for the moms, front liners, essential workers, stay-at-homers and mask wearers.

Get it here.

I Am Back and Happy New Year

It has been awhile.
While offline, we traveled over two thousand miles in a week. We went from North Carolina to Southern Illinois to Central Illinois to Philly then home again.
In Southern IL we visited with my ninety year old aunt.  Lookin' good, Norma Jean.

While in Metropolis we saw Cinderella's carriage, all decked out for Christmas, sitting in front of a B and B.  Do you think Cinderella was inside the B and B waiting for Prince Charming and her glass slipper?

From there we traveled to Central Illinois to attend the visitation and funeral of our brother-in-law. Last year we lost a brother-in-law in November. The funeral held on the HH's birthday.
Fred, who passed in December, was only sixty-two and though he had some health issues his passing was unexpected. He was first and foremost a family man. His wife and children adored him. He was a scout leader and was buried in his uniform. He was also active in his church. The visitation was packed with a wait line of two hours that curved through the building.
After the funeral we said our good-byes and headed for Philly to spend an early Christmas with our daughter and dear SIL.

While there, we toured the South Side, went through the Italian market and a cheese shop that had folks patiently waiting on the sidewalk to get in and place their orders.
Saw the Christmas Light Show at Macy's.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner out and celebrated our anniversary. On Christmas Eve, the kids fixed a mouthwatering dinner.

And yes, this dessert is as good as it looks.

Of course, you have to have Christmas Cookies at Christmas:)

Their cat Holly spent her time watching projections on the wall.

We drove home Christmas day. It actually turned out to be a good travel day as most folks were tucked up with their families. Arrived safe, sound and oh so happy to be home.
And that was our whirlwind holiday. How was yours? Wondrous, I hope.

If  I haven't been round to your place yet, I'm on my way.