Back Once Again

Boy  it sure has been a long time since I have blogged at all but here I am. 

Christmas  has been so different for us and so much has happened over the last several years, from the loss of both my parents and husbands mom, and brother to health problems with both George and I and total full retirement for us both.

We have gone from two great grandchildren since my last post to expecting our 17th on February 28th.   

My love of the Christmas Holiday has never wavered through I have slowed down a lot and have done some downsizing in my decorating. This year as I start tear down next week many more things will be set aside for the daughters or grand children to go through and take what they would like for their homes. It takes me a month to do the decorating I used to do in a week of my vacation I would take in November. 

We have gone from lights on all the front of the house and garage, bushes, and trees, handrails and porch to lights on the handrails, the large 5 foot lit Santa on the porch standing beside a decorated tree, and I do manage to add lights inside the house around the windows which can be seen from outside.   

 I do so miss all the outside lights but we no longer trust ourselves on the ladder. George has fallen twice in the last three years so no way will I let him on one anymore. Last year he carried a tote down stairs when I was working at bringing all the decorations down and managed to miss the last step somehow and fell breaking his wrist in 3 places involving 2 bones. Lucky he did not have to have surgery and he did his own therapy at home to get use back of the wrist.  

 

                                                   Santa on the porch before adding the tree. 

Now hope I can get back to blogging having more time on my hands. It has been so long since I did anything on my blogs I was not sure if I would even be able too. 

Hope I can get pictures of all my decorations before I take them down and will share the Holidays with all. I have new laptop and thus far have not figured out the photo program it sends my photos too so not done much in the line of taking picture.

Hope that all had a Merry Christmas and Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

A Christmas Start

Christmas is slowly showing up at the Cox Household. One tree is up and decorated and another one is up fluffed and half the lights are one it. This one I wanted white lights and thought I had brought all the LED lights over to the new house. Got 3/4 up the tree and guess what? Either the rest of the LEDs are at the old house or I may have them out in the shed here at the new house. We do not have electric run to our shed as of yet and when I discovered no more lights it was dark out.

The first of my trees was a new tree this year. I have actually bought three tree. Poor George keeps saying do you not think you have enough but out we go with another one.

 While cleaning out my dads place this summer I had brought a lot of Moms things home that neither of my sisters wanted. One was a sizable amount of Angel ornaments mom had collected for a small angel tree. This tree is a slim 7 foot tree so I needed lots of angels for it. I had not been able to find my angels till today so just added them tonight. Here is the tree before I added all mine to the tree.

I will have to get the tweaked tree later.
My angel tree I have done over the last few years was just a 3 foot tree. I did the first one the December after my mom passed away. Mom collected angels and I knew back then an angel tree was in order for our home in memory of her.

I lost my Dad in March of this year so now my tree is in memory of them both and so glad to have acquired many of their angels for my tree. 

We finely found the white lights I needed to match the strung ones on my large tree ( another new one)
 It is a larger 7 1/2 foot tree and larger around than the angel tree. This tree I decided to do in the red, green and gold I had done last year.

I used shatter proof ornaments and it really turned out well. We have a new fur baby and I was not sure how she would handle a tree of ornaments.

Here is Precious our new kitty.

She was really good about the first tree for 4-5 days then she turned into the She-Devil.
Seems she likes the bead garland. I do think she is doing better. I did not find it half down when I came home from work today.

She does like sleeping under the tree on the quilted tree skirt. Made me think of Tinker our kitty we had to have put down a year last May. He was at least 21 years old and was my granddaughters kitty we took in when she moved in with us about 11 years ago. He always could be found on the quilted tree skirt sleeping.

Well as for the second tree it is still standing and no beaded garland has been taken down but have to add that Precious has trid to climb this one. Swatted her with newspaper and she has not tried to do that again.

This tree I did by the sliding door  which goes to the deck.

The next tree I wanted up was my kitchen tree. George kept saying you have no place for your kitchen tree. But guess who won out. I have always used just a three of 4 foot tree in my kitchen which I had on the only cabinet that did not have an upper cabinet. I did not have this in our new home. They all have an upper cabinet. My idea was move the table away from the window and then there would be room to tuck it in the corner of in front of the window. I decided at the entrance to the hall going to my sewing/ craft room would work too but one problem there was that there was no electric plug there. Tomorrow I am moving the table out but for now the tree is safely tucked into the corner. George is eating on the other side of the table rather than where he normally set.

Tree number 3.

This tree is all done in gingerbread and candies.  .

We had our first snowstorm of the year so it really made the Holiday Season a bit more real.  Can you see the snow outside? So glad that we had done our outdoor lights last week before the weather decided to turn cold and dump 12 inches of snow on us. Yes 12 inches of the white stuff. Considering this was our first snow of the season that was a lot. Wish I could have gotten out early to get pictures of the house to send in my cards this year. It would have been the perfect picture all covered with white, with the wreaths hanging on the doors wand snow covered garland on the hand rails. The sun came out early and it looked like a million diamonds glistening throughout the neighborhood.

This is what our deck and front looked like from inside. This is about 5 in the afternoon and was still coming down hard.

My bird bath off the front steps of the house.

Looking across the front yard to the neighbors. Snow was coming down so fast at times you could hardly see the house . 

I do have to say it was very pretty out and sure do wish I had gotten out early the next morning for pictures of the house.

Now on to my 4th tree. Just got this one up last night. It is just a 4 foot but is a black tree. I put it in our master bedroom. Ornaments are silver, white and black. Was so excited to at last have a black tree. This is the third year I have done this tree.

I just brought another whole car load of Christmas from the old house so will be working hard to get it up I even sorted out a few things for grand kids to take.

In the morning I will be doing the main entrance way tree at the Adrian Senior Center so have several totes of things to take in there. This year I am doing a hand made Christmas tree theme and each ornament on the tree is a hand made ornament many of which I have received over the years in exchanges. I am excited to share my friends talents with our county seniors.

Then home to work more on our main floor level.

Going to be really busy after next week end as the basement walls will be a mudded and ready for the primer coat of paint. Then I have to paint them all before I can decorate the basement for our family Christmas. I am certainly looking forward to us all being able to eat all in one room and all having a spot at  table rather than some having to sit on the floor and use the coffee table as a dining table.

Everyone of our family will be here for Christmas other than the oldest granddaughter and her family. Military life keeps families apart for many holidays and this is the case with them. They will be missed for our first Christmas in the new house.

A Whole New Christmas for 2015

This year has flown by so fast that my head seems to be spinning.

Since Christmas of 2014 there have been so many changes in my life. Things from the death of my father to the arrival of 5 new babies in the family all within a 6 week period, a new home, a wedding and so much more. 

I lost my dad on March 22 very unexpectedly. It hit us all very hard. Never did I realize in January when dad went back to Florida that it was the last time I would see him. 

I never realized just what a kind and gracious father I had. Was always doing for others and never wanting in the limelight so to say. The stories told about dad at his funeral just blew me away with how private dad had been but also just how much he meant to other family, friends and yes even strangers. We learned  what a giving person he was throughout his life. We knew he was always there for us to lend a hand be it helping built our garage after ours burned down, to loaning us much needed cash during the hard times. We never realized just all the things he also did for friends and strangers who may have been down on their luck.

The last several days have really been hard for me. Dad would have turned 86 in just over a week from now. So many thoughts going through my mind. I so miss him and still find I have a hard time when I reach for the phone to call him and then think there is no phone to heaven. There have been a few times when I shed a few tears that a few minutes later I would look down and there would lay a penny and I then realize he is still with me just not in body. Yesterday I picked up 2 pennies from a parking lot laying side by side and thought wow mom is giving me signs too.

George and I had decided to remodel our home in May until George got to looking at a real estate magazine. He suggested we maybe rent our home to my youngest daughter and we buy a home. Talk about shocked. George had lived on the same corner for 67 years. I never ever thought in my wildest dreams he would want to move. 

This is the results of our home search. 

We are just two doors from the lake with access and docking rights. Love our new home and can hardly contain my excitment for Christmas decorating this year. 

A few more pictures of our home.

 Kitchen looking towards the laundry are and my craft/sewing/computer room. This is a bonus room over our two and a half car garage. 

Living room/ Dining room combination looking twoards the front door.

Eat in kitchen from the basement door looking towards, living /dining area.

Garage with bonus room above it. 

Start of our finished basement. The basement was plumed for bathroom and outside walls were dry walled. We are adding family room, another large bedroom/ office to the end. Large window overlooks the backyard and slider walks out to a brick patio under the deck. There will be a bar and kitchen to the right of this picture. Just picked up white cabinets today for the kitchen. There is also one large storage room and storage under the stairs. We hope to have everything but the ceiling done before Christmas. Ceiling we will wait on til spring . 

View from the deck. The other side of the trees is the lake. 

We have laughed as most of our friends who have visited us have made the statement most people our age down size. Not us we could fit 3 of the old houses into this home. We love all the room we have and are enjoying our home tremendously. 

I can hardly wait to start decorating for the Christmas season. We just went and bought 2 large trees today to add to my other trees. I plan on 5 large trees this year along with the several 4 foot ones I usually do.   George never batted an eyelash at me buying the trees. He even pointed out several he thought would be nice. 

My gingerbread tree has always been a 4 foot tree. We have a kitchen window where our kitchen table sits so we will center the table in the center of the room and I will use a 6 1/2 foot pencil tree for the gingerbread tree this year. 

We also needed a tall one for in front of the slider going to the deck so found a nice 7 1/2 foot for there. The old 7 1/2 foot tree will go in the family room in the basement.  My bonus room will have the white 7 foot tree and the 4 foot teal colored, The master bedroom I can use my black tree in. 

I brought 2 boxes from dad and moms place that were marked village. They were stored in the Christmas things. I did not open them but I am looking forward to seeing what mom had acquired. Funny I do not remember mom having a village.  

I have already bought several Christmas presents and hope to finish by the end of November. 

I am looking forward to getting the baking started. Lots of room for it in the new house. Sure can roll out lots of my lebkuchen cookies  on the island of the kitchen. We have already bought many baking ingredients. 

In June our two new Great Grandbabies arrived just 5 days apart. From late May to early July our family grew by 5 newborns. What a growth rate. Just sorry dad was not her as he was so excited over so many new babies in the family.  

The end of June our new 5th wheel arrived and we got it all set up. Seems like I spent the whole summer packing boxes moving them and unpacking them. 

By September we were waiting for George's new wood shop to arrive and be added to our property. He had to have a place for all his equipment. Let me say I have always wanted to see and Amish barn raising. We hirred Amish to build us a 16 by 20 shed which we could use for his wood shop. Three very young Amish men arrived at 2:30 with  walls built and laying on a truck bed with all framing and flooring laid in order of what they would build the shed.  By 7:30 that evening they were driving off and this is the shed fully built and painted.. 

After seeing them work I really want to see a barn raising by the Amish. 

October arrived and we had another surprise. Our oldest daughter and her boyfriend came over. Visited a while then Doug said. What I wanted to know is if you would give us your Blessing to Marry. Tears flowing I said I have just been wondering how long it would be  for you decide to marry. Problem we had three weeks to plan a wedding. Out door one at that. Now living in Michigan and by the 24th of October you may have snow but God was good and gave us beautiful weather. They we marred in a beautiful park in front of the covered bridge. Great day was had by all. 

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Miller. 

Now that my life is showing I am going to have time for blogging and hope that we may share some special holiday ideas here once again

The Christmas Countdown is on

 Well Christmas is less than two months away and here I sit looking for easy things to make for Christmas gifts. I love checking Pinterest for wonderful ideas for family and friends.

With several grandchildren to buy for I have been thinking of many ideas for home made that especially the Granddaughters could use. They are young adults as are most of the grandsons. 

Each year they all look forward to their mug and hot chocolate ( one grandson wants Russian spice tea instead of hot chocolate) so that is one thing I will do later in the season. 

Scarves seem to really be the in thing and in browsing Pinterest I find so many different scarves. I love the infiity scarves and think I like the idea of doing one in just 5 minutes. 

Courtney from Sweet C's Designs does just that. So I think I may have just found one of the gifts for the granddaughters. I know that two of them can really use nice warm scarves. One in Watertown New York  while her husband serves in the Army, and another in Marquette Michigan, way in the northern most part of the Upper Peninsula.

 http://sweetcsdesigns.com/give-great-gifts-5-minute-infinity-scarf/

Do you not think this is a great idea for the younger generations. I might even have to make a few for me. 

Today's Fabulous Finds 

  http://todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com/2010/12/15-gift-ideas-under-2.html   had some great ideas for friends and neighbors.. We are doing a secret Santa at work this year for the month of December and are to give a small gift each week with a larger gift for the last day we will be working . I had bought some candles to use and saw this. How appropriate to use for one week. 

I love the saying.

May your days be happy, your heart be light, your Christmas merry and the New Year bright! 

I have the forms for doing several wreaths and bought a lot of different rolls and colors of the Deco Mesh. I enjoy the wreaths so much and you can decorate them in so many ways. 

Next to find things for the men and boys in my life. Did get John Deere fleece this week end to do a blanket for our oldest great grandson. He loves anything John Deere and wants to be a farmer when he grows up. His daddy works on a farm and takes Cadyn with him. He loves riding the tractor. Just all the older ones are harder to buy for. 

I have bought a few small gifts but hope to get it all done within the next few weeks. Last year I did almost every bit of it by the 1st of December and hope to this year also. 

Christmas Is Less Than Two Months Away

The past year has again flown by and it has been a busy busy year for me. I have been so busy working two jobs that blogging was put on the back burner.

Yes I did say work "Two Jobs". And yes I sometimes wonder what I was thinking . I had been working on call as needed since retiring in Oct. of 2010. It was really nuts. I would get up and dressed in case I was needed at one of the Senior Centers to help cook and not get a call . If I did not get up and ready for work that would be the day I got a call. I went a month or two without working then would be called and work for several days.

One day last November I received a call to work at our Onsted Center. This was the center I had started out at in 2002. Worked there for 2 years and loved it there. I went in to work for the day and was floored at all the changes since their Center Director of 30 years had retired. And those were changes I did not like at all.I am a stickler for following health code regulations. And their cook was certainly not following the county regulations nor the standards demanded of the cooks in the other centers. Having been one of the head cooks I could see that they could very easily been shut down by the health department . I offered the new center director my advise as to what had to change.

 Well when he set his food down when the cook came back lets just say she was not a happy camper.I got a call on Sunday night that I was again needed at the center until they could find a new cook. Seems she walked out on Thursday and called Sunday night and said "I quit".

Needless to say I jumped at the chance to go back to work on a regular time schedule and the hours were perfect. I only work three days a week and just 5- 51/2 hours each of the days. I love being back around the seniors again and the best part is I am 5 minutes from work now.

Nation honor  Food Service Workers Week

Not to many places where you receive flowers and candy from your boss.

Now as to my second job. In the summer of 2013 George and I went camping about 12 miles from home for a long 4th of July week end. The campground owners were new and working the whole campground with no one to help. We were talking and I was telling her that when George and I first married were had a permanent site at another local campground and we had worked in the office in exchange for our lot rent. I mentioned that I missed camping each week end but was just not in our budget to do. 

The next thing I know she is saying  maybe we can work out a permanent site for you if you are interested. Along with that the second job  came along. I plan and do all the week end activities at the campground. Love what I am doing and now we camp every week and week end for the months the campground is opened. We just got all moved back home two weeks ago and I am now catching up at home. 

I am now working on a bigger and different schedule for next summer. What other type of job can you have so much fun at. Crafting with children and adults, lots of different games and celebrating different holidays . We did big week ends for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and two weeks ago celebrated the Fall and Halloween season. What fun.

 We even celebrated Christmas in July .It sure was different to decorate a Christmas tree in July and in 90 degree weather. We even had a visit from Santa Claus as he stopped by from his vacation in Hawaii. Oh what fun the kids had and the excitement in their eyes as Santa came around the corner of the office . One little boy was on his dads shoulders and I thought the poor dad was going to drop him as he tried jumping off when he saw Santa. Santa then went on a hayride with all the kids and received a small gift. They loved it and wondered if Santa would be back next summer too. 

 I sure do wish I could figure out how to get my pictures from the phone off to my computer so I could share a few of the Christmas in July ones with you. Nothing I have tried works and my phone does not have internet so guess they will stay stuck on the phone. 

I can share a few of the Halloween ones though. 

The kids love pumpkin painting.

This little girl was a shy one but her dad finely got her to look at me.

Face painting was so fun. This little one was just 3 but he sat so still all the time his face was being done.

Brother and sister puppies

Our face painters came from 6 hours away and had as much fun as all the little ones. April doing one of the teen campers. 

And Rick our other face painter concentrating very hard while doing  one of the younger campers into a puppy. 

Thank you to both April and Rick for adding a fun time to our celebration.

These were our ghosts used in pumpkin bowling. What fun the kids had trying to get those pins down with a pumpkin as a ball. 

This was the Ghost Nose knows game. They had to get all the cotton balls into a cup without using their hands. Just their nose . They had a dab of Vasoline on the tip of their noses for this game. 

And these were from the scarecrow decorating contest. What fun they had doing this as a family. 

I just have to share these last two pictures This was our reluctant puppy. He was like mom do I really have to have this done. 

And here is our reluctant puppy again having fun helping build a scarecrow. He had about as much straw on him as some of the scarecrows by the time he was done. 

So that has been my last year in a nutshell. Things are now getting back to normal and I am now able to get online more often . Be on the look out as I am reading to start blogging once again and share many of my Christmas treasures and crafts through out the Christmas Season. 

Been A Long Past Several Months

It seems like so long since I have been able to do any blogging. So much has happened over the last year. I was called in January of 2012 and asked to return to work to help at several of the County Senior Centers. There seemed to be lots of illness and the roving cook could not be in two places at once. So yes I did return as the On Call person and agreed to work all centers  in the county if needed. What was to be a few days here and there turned in at least 3 days or more a week until mid October.

It was about this time I got a call from my cardiologist after a few tests I had run. I needed to get right into them and they already had me scheduled for the next day. Now I had known for about 20 years that eventually I needed a pace maker so my thoughts of good they have finally decided that my heart rate has slowed enough that they wanted to give me one.

Husband George went in with me the next afternoon. And what a shock. It seems that my heart valves were beginning to fail and I needed open heart surgery to either replace or repair them. Nothing at all mentioned about a pace maker.

So started the long journey to surgery. Right after Christmas I went in for a double heart cathe. That showed no blockages and I was safe to have surgery . Then there were echos, lung and breathing tests, blood work and so much more. I have lost track of everything having to be done before surgery.  My surgery was finally scheduled for February 5th. On the 3rd. they called and delayed the date till the 11th and on the 10 received another call delaying till the 14th. So on Valentines Day I was getting a broken heart fixed.  Surgery went so well and I was recouping fast compared to many for the first few days. Then on the 17th the Dr. was removing pace wires and it threw me int Afib. Upper right chamber of my heart decided not to work. I came to surrounded by Dr. and Nurses and hooked to a temporary pacemaker with emergency surgery taking place early the morning of the 18th to install a permanent pace maker. I had been put first in surgery for the morning. No delaying this one.

I was released to come home on the afternoon of the 19th with a visiting nurse scheduled to come out each day for a week and then twice a week for the next month. I did very well and after the first few weeks was already noticing a big difference in my breathing. For the good I must say.

I am now able to do most things. Still no yard work or heavy lifting. Hope that will all change on the 14th of May and I will be able to do some gardening and things I so enjoy doing that the last few years have been very hard for me to do.

I did , before my surgery manage to put a few crafts on the cabinet in the basement so granddaughter or hubby could bring them up when I felt up to doing some crafting. I have managed to do a bit of embroidery and also some plastic canvas. This week I plan on getting back into my painting. Several ornament bird houses I want to do up for this years tree. Also have several ornaments George had cut out for me a few years ago that were not done up. So the rest of my recuperation will find me busy with crafting to my hearts content.

I started Cardiac Rehab last Monday and am enjoying the exercise. It has been way to many years since I have been able to do so much without getting so out of breath that I had to sit for a bit. I go three days a week and am using our machine here at home too.

Now that I am well on my way to better health I am looking forward to getting back to blogging and doing all the things I love doing.

I did manage even with all going on getting the house all decorated for the Holidays last year.   And I got it all down other than my village which I think I may be able to climb to this next week and get it down and wrapped. Just have to have George take it too the basement.

I also need my white tree dragged up so I can get it decorated in red, white, and blue. Big party here on the 4th. of May. Sort of a combination party. Granddaughter Ashley graduating from Grad. school, her fiance'  Ray graduating from college and a going away party for them as they leave for Georgia, Ft. Benning where he will be stationed in the Army. Planned on an outdoor party but it is two weeks away today we woke to snow on the ground and 26 degree weather.

This was my Red, White, and Blue tree last year up till Late November to honor my Grandson who at the time was in Afghanistan. He is home and been to Jordan for 3 months and now back in California.

I hope that you  will all have a wonderful week end and hope that you have some wonderful spring weather.

Can It Really Be Over

Wow where has this month gone. It does not seem possible that Christmas is over for another year. I guess as the saying goes " The older we get the faster time flies" I know that is sure holding true for me.

I do pray that you all had the most Wonderful Christmas Ever. We had a great time celebrating on Christmas Eve with family and friends. We were short just four members of the family. One daughter is suffering through a horrible bout of the flu and Grandson did not make it in time to get here so we will see him later before he must return to Camp Pendelton. My mother-in-law was not going to be home til yesterday from my sister-in-laws, and our youngest grandson has had the flu bug so he stayed home with the daughters boyfriend. But the house was full and everyone seems to enjoy themselves.I do not think one person could say they went away from the table hungry.

The late trip to town for the seasoning to inject in the turkey was well worth the time even if I did say I was not going into town on Christmas Eve Day at all. The turkey was so good. Thanks goes to my dear hubby George for deep frying it.The ham was done to perfection. And all the side dishes made for one great meal. Sure wish I had thought to take a few pictures of the table and all the good food. I guess I was more concerned in getting it all on so everyone could eat.

Did not take long to take care of the left overs and put the dishes to soak so the kids could open gifts. My dad was getting pretty tired so we gave him his as he was getting ready to leave.

He was a bit excited when he realized we had gotten him a big popcorn popper like ours. Dad loves his popcorn. It is now headed to Florida with him as of this morning. 

This is Ryleigh our Great Granddaughter checking out the Christmas Ornament on her package. Cadyn, her big brother is patiently waiting a gift from the tree. Also  in this picture is the kids mom Liz and dad Justin is in the plaid hat. Standing in the back though it is dark are my son-in-law Frank,  daughter Bridget, and friend of the family Shane. I was glad that Shane joined us. He just lost his dad in November and was not much in the Christmas spirit.Daughter Lisa is also sitting on the couch. She was rather tired out. Had to be to work early that day and the stores were busy with last minute shoppers. 

Three of the oldest of the Granddaughters are here. Holly, Brittany, and Kelsey. Holly and Kelsey are both Seniors this year and both been accepted to colleges . We are so proud of them. Brittany is a Junior and is studying at the Vo-Tec to become an EMT. She wants to go on to college to become and Ultra Sound Technician.

Behind the girls are son-in-law and daughter Cherrie, and stretched out relaxing hubby George. He was worn out from deep frying that turkey . 

This is Lisa again and grandson Brad. It sure does not take long for the Grandchildren to go up. Sometimes I really miss them as babies . But I am proud of what they are becoming. 

We had gotten the PJ's for Ryleigh and she stood right there upon opening then peeled off her pants and shirt and had to put on the PJ's. I never dreamed she would be so excited over a pair of pajamas. But here she is showing them off to us. Mom Liz and daddy Justin are laughing over her excitement of new PJ's.  

And as for the next picture. I think it tells it all.

George said he had to have a place to put his ribbon so here he is. We decorate it all around here. 

I hope your Christmas was as enjoyable as ours . 

And May I Wish You Each A Very "Happy New Year" May it be a year of rich blessing from above, love, luck and lots of laughter.