Ah, the last post of 2015! It's time to look back on the year and see what was what. Or who was who. Or who was what... Oh, forget it! First off, thanks to Jenipurr and Richard for hosting Holidailies! Even though I didn't post everyday, I had a great time writing and reading. Anyway, I've been looking at the Spark Notebook/Planner blog lately -- because I bought a Spark Planner, if you remember --... Read more →
Christmas! Here are 10 things about that: Rather than do battle with I-95, we took the train to Baltimore. I even sprang for business class! That car was practically empty, so we had our choice of seats far from the proletariat. We also got free coffee - bonus! This ride was a great present to ourselves; arriving rested and happy beats arriving stressed out and grouchy every time. We even took a cab to 30th... Read more →
It's eleven o'clock, the night before Christmas Eve. Joe has gone to bed, because he has to be at work at eight o'clock. I've turned off the lights and the TV, so the only sounds are the ticking clock, the clicking keys, and the trilling cat. Occasionally, I hear a train pulling into the yard across the river -- the cars crashing gently into each other as it maneuvers along the tracks. It's also pouring... Read more →
The Holidailies Random Promptinator suggests: Post a personal photo and tell us a story about it. Here you go -- the three-ring big top of the George Matthews Great London Circus. I took this photo in spring, 1976; I can't remember where we were, but it looks like a pretty nice lot. George Matthews Great London Circus Big Top What a great big top it was! Those beat-up trucks in the foreground are seat-wagon trucks.... Read more →
Tonight is the Winter Solstice, when the night is dark and long. And usually cold, but not this year -- ruining my poetic opening for this post. Anyhow, on my short commute home from work, I drive past Valley Forge National Park. When the stars align and the traffic cooperates, I can get a picture like this one. Valley Forge Sunset I hate these long, long nights, for many reasons. But as of tonight, little... Read more →
Somehow Saturday got away from me. I had good intentions, but I suppose I just laid another paving stone on my own personal Road to Hell. Weekends at our house follow a lovely ritual. Saturday is Pancake Day - Joe gets up first and makes coffee and pancakes. I stagger out shortly after smelling the fragrant and inspiring aroma of the life-giving beverage. We eat our cakes while reading the part of the Sunday New... Read more →
When I saw this meme on Facebook, I suddenly thought "AHA! A perfect Holidailies post!" So here we go! (I did do a little editing on the Facebook instructions. Sue me.) Everything is so serious on Facebook these days. Let's have a little fun... Three names I go by 1. Mary 2. Mom 3. Baby Three places I lived 1. In a van while I was on the road 2. Burtonsville, Maryland 3. Eagleville, Pennsylvania... Read more →
I was hunting through the photos looking for an appropriate Christmas-themed shot when I found this one. It made me smile! So, without further ado, here are my Mom and Pop, Christmas Eve, 1984. Mom was 73; Pop was 76. When Mom and Pop moved to their retirement community, our traditional Apres-Midnight Mass breakfast morphed into a Christmas Eve dinner and present opening extravaganza. Apparently the wine was flowing on this particular Christmas Eve and... Read more →
We have this chair. It's a dark green leather recliner in a mission style frame. We bought it years and years ago and put it in the basement (aka Joe's inner sanctum). When we moved up here to Pennsylvania, the chair got a featured place in the living room, because it is an amazing chair. I have realized that if I am to make it over to the fitness center in the evening, I must... Read more →
Mellificent and Pearl have done this Christmas quiz, so I have decided to jump on the bandwagon too! 1. Do you know what you want for Christmas already? All I want is peace in this house! Okay, I actually want whatever I happen to get. I confess that I did drop a couple of hints. 2. Have you done any Christmas shopping yet? Yes, I'm done! I just waiting for one more shipment to arrive.... Read more →