Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008

Christmas day was very special as I got to cook Christmas dinner for part of the family for the first time in ages. What a blessing to have Beth and all of her family that was around for the day. Sara is of course doing her duty in the Peace Corps in Macedonia and Ethan and Ann were with her parents in Kentucky. That left Molly and Archie to hold down the fort.

We expected to be picking up Charles and his family at the airport tonight, but at the last minute as they were about to board the plane, it was discovered that Luz Maria and Ignacio's visas were not in order. What a disappointment for all of us. But with some last minute planning it was decided that all, including Peter, who was supposed to come from Indiana would meet here during Peter's spring break in March. It looks like the tree and house decorations will need dusting a few times before March, but they will stay put. I managed to freeze most of the food for their visit. Tom and I will just eat the rest.

Beth, Molly and Archie came over yesterday to clean the house so it would be nice for our Chilean family. Now I have a clean house to look at.

We did have a white Christmas and we actually made it to our church Christmas Eve Program. It was getting home that was scary. The roads were covered in black ice and Tom drove about 5 miles an hour. When we finally did get home, the usual 15 minute trip took nearly an hour. We had two calls from Pastor asking us to call as soon as we got in as they were so worried about the roads. Praise God everyone got home. The Congo church canceled their program, but God was with us.

We have had very cold weather, but Beth, Molly and I walked all the way to our large pine tree beyond the cabin. We have submitted it's statistics to the State of Maine so maybe it will get in the register of large trees.

Ice Storm December 2008

I"m sure you've heard the news about the ice storm to hit New England last Friday night. Actually, our town was spared the worst. We lost power around 3 in the morning Friday night . Our outside generator clicked on and we were happy, momentarily. Then I realized that though the generator was running, I still didn't see my clock, night nights, etc. I nudged Tom and said, we aren't getting any power.

He dutifully got up, found a flashlight (which should have been by our bed, but wasn't) and made his way to the basement to look at the breaker box. Everything looked okay at that end. He knew there was also a breaker on the generator, but in order to get to it, he had to go outside in the freezing rain and that meant getting dressed.

I watched him from the front until he was around the corner, then went to the guest bedroom where I could look out the window. He was still standing. He clicked the switch and didn't think anything happened. I'm relaying info through the winter sealed window, but he doesn't have on his ears. Finally I got the message through that we had power.

He climbed back in bed and we slept snugly knowing the house would stay warm. (That is if you consider my 60 degree setting warm.) We got power around 9 the next morning. We were the lucky ones.

South of Portland had the worst storm they could remember. Over 200,000 people were without power. Tom was called on Saturday to go and relieve Emergency workers who had been working shelters and phones since Friday night. He was picked up at 4 pm by two other emergency workers and they drove to York County. They worked all night answering emergency calls and he got home around 9 Sunday morning. This gave him just enough time to get a nap before our two Cantata performances Sunday afternoon and evening.

Here is a photo of our birch tree by the driveway. He had to cut one tree out of the driveway, but all of these limbs straightened right up the next day.

Cold weather has come

Yes, cold weather has arrived in Maine and I believe this is the coldest we have seen in a December since we have been living here which is now 10 years. We had wind chill of 20 below this morning with a reading of 4 on the thermometer. I just looked out and noticed that it was already 4 degrees. This prompted me to bring a few orchids into the house from the sun porch. I believe tomorrow will be devoted to bringing in most of the warmer loving orchids.

I have finally recovered from my interesting Sunday. After reading over that blog I realized I never identified my new 93 year old friend's instrument. It was a stand up bass, and that was why I was worried about him getting tired. I hope he has as fond a memory of last night as I do.
I don't know where he played in his younger days, but that would be an interesting story to find out. I don't think he can communicate that to me, but I'm sure a relative can.

Pete is in an assisted living apartment in a nursing home. I plan to arrange to go over one day and play with him at the home. According to his sitter, he has stacks of music. I know he doesn't read music, but maybe he did when he was younger. Anyway, we shall see if we can liven up that place one day!!!

Interesting Sunday

Sunday started out like every other Sunday except I woke at 5:00 instead of waiting for the alarm at 7:00. That wasn't good because it was going to be a big day. I didn't know how big it would be!

I helped Tom set up for Communion, practiced with the soloist and played Christmas arrangements on the piano for preludes and then switched to the organ.
The deacon forgot me at the organ, so I only got half of the rite, but not to worry, the Congo church I play for across the street would have communion too, so I would be alright.

After playing for the communion service, I dashed across the street, nibbling a cracker on the way as I was running low on gas. I did a nice arrangement of O Little Town in a Sonatina setting, then did a nice arrangement of Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, played the hymns, including the candlelighting, which I forgotten the week before and had gone to my seat in the pew too soon and had to be reminded, and finally I did a pepped up arrangement of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus as an offertory. (Are you dizzy yet?)

Tom and I grabbed a bite at the corner store, so I could go back into our church and practice last minute passages for our Cantata, Emmanuel.

We then drove to Paris Hill Baptist for a 1:30 warm up and presentation at 2:00 which went fairly well for a first performance. We have two more next Sunday.

I couldn't wait for that afternon nap because Pastor Bruce had asked me to play at North Paris Church for their annual Christmas singalong. Sometime during my nap, the phone rang, which Tom answered. When I woke up, he said one of the ladies of the church who is taking care of a ninely three year old man wanted him to come and play along with me if it wouldn't bother me. What the heck, it's Christmas. I'm not that good anyway, so maybe he can cover my mistakes.

We got to the church and there was this wonderful, alert looking gentleman smiling at me. "Okay", I thought. "Let's see how it goes." I cranked up a few hymns for us to experiment with and he said, "Do you have anything with a little zip?"

Hmmmmmm. "Okay, lets go. How about the Battle Hymn?" and off we went. All I had to tell him was the key and he was right there with me.

I worried that he might get tired standing there playing away. It seems I was the tired one.
I had planned to do The Little Drummer Boy as a special in the setting of Mozart's Night Music.
I asked Pete, my new ninety year old friend, if he would like to play along. He said he didn't knw it, but by now I wasn't worried. I told him the key and off we went.

Jane, his caretaker, phoned his daughter while we were playing and she said the daughter hung onto the phone crying up a storm!! Did I get a Christmas present last night? You bet I did.
Not only did it bring back memories of playing piano with my Charlie as he was growing up, but I saw the miracles that God performs with aging people. He lets some of them keep the precious gift of music. Pete will not know me the next time he sees me, but Jane tells me to remind him of playing at the Christmas party and he will remember. May I be so fortunate as to retain a little of my ability through the years, though I certainly won't bank on making it to ninety three. I forgot to mention that we played for an hour!!!

The Day after Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving was a great one for Tom and me.

In days of yore, it was always a trip to the Grands house in Kentucky over snowy highways, little kids in the car and lots of family fun during the 12 hour trip from Massachusetts.
We would leave right after school was out and drive all night. One snowy night we were snowed in at a rest stop on the New York turnpike. We made it to Kentucky, but not for Thanksgiving day. It was the day after for that year as it was this year for us.

Yesterday, the real Thanksgiving Day, we cooked for and served thirty nine people at our church, some members and some needy. It was a different kind of family day.
We have learned not to dwell on family times gone past, but to accept and adapt new holiday activities. The activities may not always be the same, but it will be a holiday observed.

Beth was in Ireland, but she made Thanksgiving dinner the Sunday before. Charles was in Mexico, but when he was here in October, we had Thanksgiving dinner at Beth's house again. She is a great entertainer and cook.

Soooo today it was my turn for a new tradition. Grandson Ethan and wife Anne and granddaughter Molly came over for after Thanksgiving soup. I always make turkey/noodle soup out of the carcass bones and since I cooked one of the turkeys for church, I had that available. Then as I was drinking my coffee this morning, I saw a turkey stew being made on my favorite morning channel. I got on their site and whipped up a second soup for lunch along with Cole slaw which I had made for the church dinner, and the usual pecan pie.

I must say, all agreed that it was a great after Thanksgiving dinner for a cold day and one that I may be repeating for hopefully several more years.

I hope that each of you had a great memory for this Thanksgiving. We had much to be thankful for this year as always.

First snow 11-25--08

The first snow November 25, 2008

Well, it has finally happened. We have our first snow. It didn't look too bad this morning and since we have all wheel drive on the Buick, we started out to take care of groceries and some doctor visits. We made it about 2 miles before Tom gave up. Now when he gives up, it is bad!! I'm the one who rolled over a few years back!!

So now we are safely back at home. I could say to our toasty warm home, but we keep the temperature at 60 degrees. I can't really say the house is cozy. Tom puts a portable heater in his office and I turn on the gas logs when I'm in the kitchen. As you can see, the cat stays warm!!

(Later in the day)

The snow turned to rain but not before there was enough out there for the plow truck to come do the driveway. Then we decided to go to Mexico for the groceries and made it there easily enough. On the way home Tom wiped out the road but fortunately he got the car under control before we wiped out the trees on the sides. It got his attention anyway, but God is good and we are once again safe at home.

The manger figures got a real coating of snow, so here are a couple of snow scenes for you southern people.

Forbodings of winter

It looks like this week will be the beginning of cold weather and there are still many things that should be done, many of which won't get done. However, the ones that really matter have been taken care of.

Yesterday while working in my sunroom, I decided the screens had to come off and the windows had to be cleaned so all available sun from our short days could shine on the plants.

I took my elongated handle squeegie and a pail of hot sudsy water

and proceeded to knock off the dust.The streaks that I left may disappear with the next rain, but at least it looks cleaner. Taking the screens off was a big help as well.

Tom tied the deck table and chairs to the railing as we get awesome winds from the north which are strong enough to send heavy chairs moving into the glass doors. The blue tarp covers the snowmobile in readiness for that first snowfall. Last year the snow came so fast and deep that Tom only bogged down when he tried to get the thing moving and only succeeded in burying it in snow which is where it stayed until spring. This year we hope to fare better.

Our apple tree out front has shed all of the leaves leaving a few bright red apples for the deer to eat. However, they don't seem to be hungry. This is also evidenced by the tracks in my daylily bed, but no missing foliage, as yet. They also didn't cross over the bridge!!
Another sign that winter is approaching comes from the rhododemdrum leaves. They shrivel up when the temperature drops below 35 degrees in an effort to prevent moisture loss from the leaves. Isn't our wonderful creation awesome? And some say there is no divine creator!!