Christmas at Home...

Have I ever gone this long without posting before? Not that I can remember. No excuses......just lazy.

Christmas decorating for work has ended for me, and I am still trying to locate my Christmas stuff so I can decorate here. When we moved, I was so anxious to get the rooms and garage free of boxes, that I stuffed everything in and shut the doors - guaranteeing that I would have trouble finding stuff when I needed it. 

Suffice it to say that even though I got rid of a lot before we moved, I still have too much stuff and Christmas decor is included. Our big tree got smushed up against the back of the garage  (by my car) and it now suffers from limb drop and a decided left-leaning toward the top. The lights don't work, so I cut them off as much as possible, and decorated the tree as usual. My heart wasn't in it, though, so I shouldn't say "as usual." I have decided that when we take the decor down, this tree will be slated for the dump.

The wreath on the front door is all gold, and since it doesn't show up well under the stoop overhang, I need to make a red one. Haven't done that yet; it is too cold to stand in the garage and make it. 

The small tree sits on a ledge in our foyer, and when that ledge is finished, it will hold some part of our Christmas village houses and shops. There is not enough room here for all of them either. 

The dining room table holds this set of three trees and on the base is the creche my mom bought in 1940, the year I was born. I don't still have every piece that came with the set; some of the animals and one of the wise men broke long ago. 

The mantel is really the focus of the room. I had to figure out how to hang all the stockings without putting 14 nails in the wood, so I got the idea to hang them from the garland. I think it turned out well. The flocked garland certainly looks better here than it did in our old house, against dark wood and peach-colored walls. Makes me shudder now, to think of it!  

This wreath hangs on the inside of our front door:

I am almost done....

Christmas Decor 2013

Working with Mel Day of Dogwood Tree Floral, I helped decorate the NC Governor's Mansion again this year; the 11th year in a row and 13th time I have been fortunate enough to be involved in working at the mansion during the Christmas season. It is the best place in NC to work and we love doing it.  When a new administration is voted into office, you never know what will happen - or whether you will even be chosen to do the mansion again. Mel has been fortunate to decorate the Governor's Mansion for Gov's. Hunt, Easley, Purdue and now Gov. McCrory, and I worked during the time of Governor Martin and Gov. Hunt's first term ( under the aegis of Grady Wheeler), as well as all the rest. It is a blessing and we are very fortunate to have been allowed to do it. 

Every year I relate how well they treat us and make us feel welcome and appreciated. The new staff did not shirk their duties in that respect and we enjoyed meeting them and learning more about them during the 3-4 days we were there. The food is good too; they are nice enough to feed us lunch every day while we work there. On Monday we had pot roast with carrots, onions and potatoes. Tuesday we had grilled chicken breasts with potatoes and al dente green beans. Wednesday they served blackened catfish with cheesy polenta and collards cooked with ham, and cornbread. The desserts were excellent: chocolate sundaes, carrot cake with cream cheese icing and angel food cake with blueberry sauce. An added attraction were the chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls right out of the oven......to die for!! Sweet tea and fresh lemonade are available all day. Do you blame me for loving that place?!

The trees are all set up and lit before we get there. The staff gardener selects the trees himself from a tree farm in the NC mountains, brings them back to Raleigh and supervises the setting up and lighting of the trees. The fellows who light the trees for us are workers at the mansion from the local prison, called trustees.  They always do a good job putting on the lights, and that is the foundation for a wonderful looking Christmas tree. They also help to decorate the trees, as few of our women volunteers want to climb the 15 feet tall ladders in order to place the bows atop the tall trees. 

They set up our work area in the mansion's gorgeous ballroom - didn't I say it was a great place to work?! Tarps cover the beautiful, shiny wood floors, tables are set up for us and all of the previous years supplies and ornaments are brought down from the attic. The gardener cuts greenery and branches from the mansion grounds, and we order a few things that are not available there, such as flat cedar and boxwood. In previous years, we have also used dried hydrangea from the mansion grounds. 

Many of our previous Governor's and/or their wives (and husband) have liked a lot of glitz and glitter, but the current couple prefer natural elements; fresh greenery, garlands and berries to make up the bulk of the decor. It was a refreshing change after so many years of metallics, glitter and crystals, and to be truthful, it is more in keeping with the Victorian architecture of our Governor's Mansion. 

I am posting the photos in no particular order - there are too many of them to get them in the proper order. 

I Mourned Too Soon

It is a good idea not to count your chickens before they hatch, and sometimes it is good not to mourn something until you know it is truly gone. In my last post, I lamented that due to the death of the sausage maker's wife, we would no longer get fresh, NC made sausage. I spoke too soon. 

Sandra and Billy Day  (my benefactors in the realm of sausage), have informed me that there is another hog-slaughterer/sausage maker in Person Co., NC, and we have already tried out some of his sausage and "Lo, it is GOOD!"  In fact, I can't tell any difference between it and the sausage we have been eating for the last 3-4 years. Perhaps the sausage maker's wives exchanged recipes?  Whatever the reason, the new guy's sausage is just as tasty as the last - and I am very happy!! My turkey dressing would not be the same without it, and my sausage biscuits would not be nearly as good! Thanks again to Billy and Sandra. And lest you think this is a one-sided gifting, it is not. I make apple pies for Billy and Sandra several times a year and don't tell them I said so, but I would do that even if I didn't get sausage!! 

Life is gooooooooooood!

And I Am Thankful.....

Every year for the past 6-7, we have received fresh, NC-made sausage from our friends Billy Day and his wife Sandra,  (brother to my employer, Mel). It is the main highlight of many breakfasts  (sausage biscuits, dontcha' know!) and I use it to make dressing for the turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Alas, I just received word that owing to the recent death of the sausage man's wife, he will no longer be making sausage.  I am in mourning. We have never had such good sausage; it was perfectly seasoned and always tasty, no matter how it was used. I am sorry for the sausage man's loss, but I confess to being sorrier that we won't have it any longer. 

And yet, I am thankful for the pounds of it that we have consumed for the last few years and will (must) be content with the memories of those times.

At home today, basking in the warmth of my recliner and my laptop, I am very thankful that I am not out in the melee known as Black Friday. We have haircuts later this morning and I will gladly go out for that and perhaps pedicures afterward. I am always thankful for a pedicure!

We  (Mel Day and the gang) start Christmas decorating tomorrow; Sullivan's restaurant and the Hampton Inn at Brier Creek first and the NC Governor's Mansion on Monday. I am always exhausted after doing it, but I would not miss it for the world and I am ever thankful to have the God-given the talents I have that make it possible.

Our family  (sans son and his family) gathered together yesterday at our younger daughters home, along with son-in-law's parents, sister, brother-in-law and assorted children and girlfriends. We are so blessed to have them in our family and our lives. I can truly say a good time was had by all, and of course, some excellent food passed through our lips  (as well as laughter.) Beef tenderloin, baked ham, turkey breasts, dressing, potatoes, beans, mac and cheese, gravy, rolls - I'm sure to be leaving something out. Then came desserts:  apple pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate chess pie and bread pudding; the latter two made by my son-in-law. He has a newly discovered fondness for baking delectable treats - and we approve!!  And I am thankful.

Lastly, among the many treasures in my life, I am grateful for my blog and Facebook friends. You bring me many hours of pleasure each week  (who am I kidding?  Every day!!) Thanks for all your posts, comments, asides, jokes, cartoons and yes, even the inspirational sayings and photos. I am grateful for it all.

Happy Thanksgiving

(A repost from 2005)

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! Here's hoping you will have bounteous tables, full of turkey and all the trimmings (or your family's favorites) and a good time had by everyone. For those of you who are missing a loved one this year, may your good memories sustain you through the holidays, and help to fill the emptiness.

I drew this pilgrim while in elementary school, probably 6th grade, at a time in my life when I had little knowledge of what gratitude was, or whether I had anything for which to be grateful other than the latest toy or a new pair of shoes.

As the years passed and I matured, the realization of all that I should be deeply grateful for sunk in and remains:

My family (all generations), my home, my talents, the opportunities I have been given in this life to grow and prosper, my friends (on-line as well as real-time) and mentors, the animals I have cared for and loved, for the beauty of our planet, for my daily bread, and for whatever is my lot afterward.

Take some time, this Thanksgiving, to reflect on those whom you are thankful for - and tell them. Tell your Maker also. Tomorrow may be too late.

Thanks to all of you who frequent these pages, both lurkers and commentors, and know that you are appreciated beyond measure. Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Christmas decor begins Saturday and runs through the end of next week. I'll see you when it's over!

A Funeral Anecdote

When my son graduated from college, he worked in an office, where he met and formed a friendship with an African-American guy who was about his age. They have remained close friends over a 25 + year period, even though both have moved from that area, until that guy was killed in a car wreck, last week. 

My son wanted to attend the funeral, and he drove 40+ miles to get there. He didn't know what to expect, but after the minister spoke about the deceased, one by one, friends and family members got up to say a few words about the guy  (whom I will call "C".)  There were over 200 people there and quite a few wished to speak. 

Sonny Boy had not written out what he planned to say, but he had given it some thought beforehand. Apparently, C was a wonderful guy, who would do most anything for anyone, but he was a bit disorganized. He told my son a story about something he did once - and Sonny Boy thought they should all know about it. 

C was asked by an acquaintance if he would be an usher in his wedding, and true to form, C agreed. He was given the details of the wedding location and about the tux rental. On the day of the wedding, C set off to find the church and once in that neighborhood, he saw an open church where it was obvious a wedding was about to begin. He parked and rushed in, and noticed that his cummerbund was not quite the same color as the other men, but before he could question it, the wedding director handed the mother of the bride to him and said...."Here, walk her down the aisle." He did, and when he got back to the vestibule, the bride appeared in a doorway. He then knew that he was at the wrong wedding. He rushed out of that church and drove around the neighborhood, looking for another church that appeared to have a wedding that day. Sure enough, he found it, a bit late but just in time to discharge his duties. 

The funny part was this:  while he was walking the mother of the bride down the aisle, the photographer was taking photos of the two. All C could think of afterward was to wonder what the bride, groom and their parents would say when they saw their wedding photos and realized that the mother's escort was someone unknown to any of them!    

My son said the whole congregation erupted in laughter and it helped to change the funeral from a sad occasion to a true "celebration of the life of C. " 

There was a bit of synchronicity with a photo too. About 3 weeks before the guy died, my son's wife was looking at some old photos. They found a photo of C, dandling his then baby daughter on his knee, dressed in a Halloween costume. Sonny boy put that one on his dresser, lest it get lost. After he got word of the guy's passing, he decided to give that photo to C's now 22 year old daughter. She had few photos of herself with her dad, and now this one will be especially dear to her. Wasn't it good luck that they found that photo when they did?!

It Has Been a Very Busy Week.....

here at Casa Kenju and I am happy to have at least one day to relax and do as little as I can possibly manage. 

On Monday I went to physical therapy, on Tuesday I took mr. kenju to the doc and to his pipe smoker's club and spent the day in-between by cleaning the house because, on Wednesday, I hosted my book club here  (along with the author of the book we read) and on Thursday, I had to prepare for a weekend wedding, and on Friday, I did the wedding flowers and delivered them on Saturday.  Whew!   When am I going to start remembering that I am in my 70's?  I often bite off more than I ought to be chewing, but I thank God for the ability to do what I do - no matter what it is. 

All members of a book club ought to be able to experience the presence of an author they have just read at the discussion meeting. I cannot explain how immeasurably it adds to the experience of reading when you are able to ask questions and discuss the novel with the author. The book we read was titled "Sister India"; written by local author Peggy Payne. This was her second book; the first was "Revelation" and the third is "Cobalt Blue." Peggy is delightful and she was a great addition to our meeting - no matter what was discussed. Of course, we all shared food and beverages, as usual, and it was all delicious. I got to show off my new home as well, and it seems to be a hit with the ladies. 

The wedding flowers were for an old friend I have known for almost 30 years. This is the third wedding I have done for her family, and I was very pleased to be asked to help with this one. I learned, however, that I should never attempt to do another one by myself - no matter how small it is. They all involve filling, lifting and carrying 5 gallon buckets of water - something I should not be doing any longer. I did enjoy the actual designing, though, especially the wrist corsages I made for their grand daughters. My bride asked for something fun, wild and crazy and I had a good time choosing ribbons and accessories for them. The wristlets are three stretchy pearl bracelets, so I added some pearl buttons to the base of two ribbons on each corsage. The colors she chose were orange, lime, magenta and cobalt blue  (a synchronicity, that....lol) and bright, happy colors are so much better  (in MHO)  than baby pink and white - which we see in so many weddings. She asked for orange lilies, blue delphinium, roses and something to cascade - and I used Hawaiian lime green dendrobium orchids - my favorites.

She wanted to carry her bouquet atop a clutch purse that one of her granddaughters had made for her with duct tape. The bouquet had to be somewhat flat for that purpose, as well as the fact that they wanted to be able to lay it on the table at the reception, and use it as a centerpiece  (but with no vase.) My "flat on the bottom" tear-drop-shaped bouquet filled that order.

I made six boutonnieres, all somewhat different and four wrist corsages with wild and crazy colored ribbons to match the colorful flowers. How fun it was!! Advance photos on Facebook brought lovely comments from the bride's daughter and others. 

The altar vases were filled with all the wild colors too. It is probably a good thing that the chapel is mostly white. The red carpet is reflected in the brass vases. 

I did not see the bride before the ceremony and I always hope to be able to, if for nothing else than to get her approval on the flowers. If something is wrong, there is always the possibility of correcting it before the wedding. Additional comments on Facebook indicate that she was well pleased, so I am happy with a job well done. That is always a good feeling!