Christmas Memories

~Remembering Christmas Eves from decades ago when we would gather at Grandma and Grandpa Loveless’s home on Madison Street in Ithaca to celebrate. I think I remember carols on the television - because they lived in the city they only received one channel, 12 out of Binghamton. I don’t remember any food as this was after Dinner. I do remember their tree, one of those shiny aluminum affairs and the rotating color wheel on the floor. I remember bubble candles at some point,too. We were allowed to bring one present from home to open and there was always the money cards for each child with a crisp five dollar bill from the grandparents. ~Our tree at home was always a real cut tree, usually a scotch pine from Agway. The bottom round of lights were the large C9s, multicolored. Upper branches held the small C7s, also multicolored. The ornaments were a mix of new plastic balls and old glass from Mom’s childhood. And tinsel, the real aluminum stuff, not plastic. Dinner was usually at our house, with family joining some years. Turkey and all the trimmings. My mother was the BEST cook. ~Once David and I relocated to Maine, our Christmases were often spent with brother Paul's family in Topsham. You never knew which members of Cookie's family would show up and it was always colorful. After my neice Kattie returned home the gatherings got noisier - she makes her bossy presence known wherever! We don't participate as often - it was too noisy and too crowded because of the hoarding that has taken over their house. This year Kattie hosted at her apartment just around the corner from Paul & Cookie's - sorry to say the hoarding has moved there now. David and I used to joke when my mother was still living there that going to visit her in her room was like going to a different house - one where you could see the baseboards and you didn't need to move 18 things off the couch to sit down. It must have been torture for her to live there at times. But, hopefully that will get resolved with the ongoing mold remediation as much of that stuff cannot go back in the house. Not sure what will happen to it. I have offered to help in the coming year but we'll see if that happens.

Preparations almost finished!

The tree is decorated and so is the house. 3 of 4 cookies are finished and the last one is ready to be rolled, baked and decorated today. Gifts are all purchased and await wrapping. I need to make cranberry bread for Sunday family dinner. And Kattie requested a batch of Molasses cookies for Paul, so I'll do those tomorrow. And catch up on the lanundry, too. The cards will have to wait until next week when I will have more time. ~ As for the business, I need to finish my bookkeeping and figure my sales tax and file my return on the 31st. And I have several items to photograph and add to the website, not that anyone is buying anything from it, but it puts on a show. And then get to work on 2025 inventory. And take the new Pfaff to Tyler for service. ~ We had a heat pump installed this past Monday. Garrett's firn (Breathable Home) did the work and I was impressed with their work and work ethics. Nice guys who were professional in their manners and cleaned up scrupulously after themselves. So far it has made the living room more comfortable. I'm looking forward to the summer most, though. ~ Even though he doesn't take office for another month, Trump is creating chaos already. The House had worked out a compromise bill to extend funding the government for the next X days but President Musk torpedoed it with a single post on his bullhorn. The replacement bill stripped some necesssary funding for chidhood cancer research and other things and also did not pass. Musk of course is blaming the Democrats, most of whom did not support this mess. In actuality, many Republicans did not either and since they are the majority now, it's on them, despite the efforts to own the libs. And old Elon claims the replacement ideas were not his but Trump's. I see a crack in the armor already. Perhaps we can rid ourselves of this power-hungry ketamine-fueled demon sooner than later. We certainly don't need yet another agent of chaos in DC. ~ I attended a memorial service on Wednesday for Lil Stresser, who was one of the ladies of Ladies' Weekend fame at the Lowe's camp on East Grand Lake. A lovely, caring woman who will be missed. It was a warm ceremony with rememberances from family and a guitar solo from a grandson. Gabriella was there with a group of CODA chorus members who performed. Lil was a member of that group and also the Winthrop Handbell Ringers with Ginny Foster. It made me reflect on all the people we;ve lost this year - Ginny, Veloice Huck, the Puglieses, my brother John, Bob Bragg. Bob's service is the 29th. ~ Brenda and I checked out the monthly offerings at the Freckles Salvage Vault this past Sunday. Not impressed but perhaps it was more fully stocked on Saturday. Just seemed to be a bunch of yard sale/flea market finds. The permanenet store has more interesting offerings and I did buy 2 ornaments for the tree. But that was it. It was good to see Jeff Toothaker, former UMC treassurer out there selling his wife's books.

Exhale....

The 2024 craft show season has come to an end for LeafLady Quilts. Last weekend's UMC Holiday show also marked the end of United Maine Craftsmen as an organization. While there are still some hoops to jump through, Ts to be crossed and Is to be dotted, the public activities have ceased. So far, the comments on Facebook have been positive and understanding. A sad time but the organization could not continue with fewer than 50 members, 3 shows that did not fill and 2 others that were cancelled before the season started. I stayed in Portland Saturday night - a good decision as there was a moderate snow storm early Sunday morning. Only a couple of inches but it was enough that I would not have wanted to drive down from home. Susan and Carolyn from Forever Clean were at the same hotel so we did dinner together at Sebago Brewing. Good salad which was large enough for me to have the remainder for lunch on Sunday. The attendance was very disappointing - no where near last year's or years past. I did not meet my goal to reach the magical $3K mark this year, but so what? 2025 is another (and the last) year. So the quilted goodness has all been inventoried and repacked, stowed in the closet. The show accountrments are all tucked in their cubbies downstairs and all that remains is to deep clean the studio and get to work again. ~ I have been playing catch up since Monday: banking done, scones baked, Party Mix made, tree set up (D. procurred the tree on Sunday) and lights installed, outside lights installed just today. We took a day off yesterday to tour the Blaine House, the governor's home in Augusta. Lovely example of historic Maine architecture and fascinating furnishings. I was a tad disappointed in the holiday decor, remembering all the fuss the KV Garden Club ladies would create each year when I worked at Longfellow's, but they were appropriate for the theme of Winter Sports. - I'm having a very difficult time understanding all the support for the guy who seemingly shot another in the back at point blank range. All the evidence so far points to guilty and yet a certin element of society is painting him as some sort of folk hero for eliminating the CEO of a major insurance company. I know the US health care insurance system is not the best but good God! Someone was murdered! A planned murder. Get over it and get to a place where we can work to change the systems we don't like. And I've got news for those who think the President-elect and his richy rich pals will work for you...THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR THEMSELVES! THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU!