MAG 2019 Christmas Tea

The family  (including Dad) is eating ice cream. I will hide in the nook and blog and pray I don't give in - because I really don't want to start metFormin.

I will focus instead on yesterday's  fun Tea. Jennifer did a great job with planning and pulling off this year's tea. Originally,  we had thought it would be at her new Lakeside home....but her home isn't finished. We moved locations to our home.

Carl stopped by while we were setting up and starting. He and Michael have all the words done on the float....the message is on both sides so it can be seen equally from either side of the parade.

Some women I have come to love deeply in the past couple of years.

Yasinta and Bonnie

Nora and Nani

Stacey  - she's stocking tiered tray - not eating a plate
of raspberries by herself.

Britney & Donna 

Sandy & Jennifer

 We had 3 tables in my living room, 2 in the dining room and the big table we normally use - it was impossible to get a photo of everyone all at once. LOL

F - Britney & me
Rose, Nora, Nani
Yasinta, Bonnie, Stacie, Ameilee

We had a wonderful selection of savory and sweet food.  Jennifer and Donna picked the recipes and various ones of us prepared them to share. We have about 4 women doing the Keto diet, and 3 - 4  of us avoiding sugar due to diabetes....there was one or two full sugar treats, several low carb and several keto treats. I had no trouble at all filling up without eating sugar or tyramine (allergy).  I appreciated the care Jennifer gave to making sure there was something for everyone....for the most part the recipe make-overs are easy ones which are part several of our ladies lifestyles. For instance, I made low carb chicken salad....basically switched out cashews for pecans, skipped the grapes and put in Romaine leaves instead of croissants, and I used Best Food vegan as I was making it and I still watch my cholesterol very carefully with my hyper-cholesterol whatever they call it syndrome. Wala - still tasted good and no one busted their eating plan. ::snort::  I was skeptical of skipping the cashews and grapes - but after making this with non fat Greek yogurt and no nuts - this tasted like a treat. LOL 

All the tea cups were from Mom's collection or ones I had purchased. We will have MANY MORE when I actually unpack the part of Mom's collection which she didn't sneak into the trailer when we moved up here. ::snort::  I hope I have a few of her crystal platters. I discovered all mine must have been given away when we downsized to move to Japan. LOL 

Donna made these lovely 3-tiered serving trays. I plan to buy the pieces and make some for myself. Donna graciously suggested I keep a few trays to use for the two tea parties I will be hosting before Christmas. I had vague thoughts of getting one made this week - but I think Donna's plan is much saner. 

Sandy spoke to us about peace - and it was a word for the moment. 

At some point during the day Michael needed to leave. He and Nolan went to pick up Alex, grab lunch, and go watch Midway....this meant he and Nolan grabbed keys and played a giant game of tetras on our icy lot. LOL 

Photo via Krista

I didn't sleep well Friday night. I got home around 10:45 or so....it takes a bit of time to unwind....Alex needed to be up early and I was driving him to work....honestly, I mostly was up thinking about Mom and missing her. 

I was very tired this evening. Stacia and I settled down to watch a Christmas Movie with Dad. Dad spotted Home Alone and it seems he and Mom watched this one alot. He could quote the lines to us. We were a bit shocked at the dysfunction in the family....but enjoyed zoning out....the boys came home and finally accomplished our annual viewing of The Muppets Christmas Carol. Benny snuggled in to watch...

Sharing traditions with a new generation - Priceless. 

Serious Playing Going On....

Working in the garage...its coming together. Carl is great and Michael is a good assistant.

I realized I've not had photos on the blog for quite some time of Bella and Gideon. I watch them weekly, during the prep and services of Alive Alaska. I'm always focused on them and forget to grab photos...but tonight I made a point of taking photos. LOL

The high point of today is watching Bella and Gideon. 

I scored scored serious Grandma points when I showed up with Mickey.

We have  6 1/2 hours to play... so we got busy.

Be still my heart! That smile is captivating. 

Sweet eyes! She liked the "candy popcorn." 

We colored, and played super heroes...

We cut out cookies, baked them, cooked and ate dinner, and decorated cookies.

Bella is the QUEEN of the Sprinkles. 

Next up was drawing...Bella told me this is the lights. We agreed  it's the Northern Lights. 

It's 10:20pm and Bre texted they are on their way home.....we've had a full night. 

14 Winter Lessons from an Alaskan Transplant

This Alaskan transplant - raised in the tropics - is learning a few things about winter.

1.  Nose hairs freeze at 3 degrees.
2.  Michael's truck is fun to drive in 4wd.
3.  When opening the library door at 6* one SHOULD WEAR GLOVES.
4.  Chicken latches freeze - chickens don't like not being able to get out.
5.  HOWEVER, once you get the latch open, chickens don't want to come OUT         when it's 6*!

6.  Eggs freeze!
7.  Chickens should be taught to lay eggs in cartons to make it easier for all.

 

8.  Our chickens have decided it's fun to lay eggs ALL OVER in order to get             more time with US as we search for their eggs. Nesting boxes are blase'.

Michael found all these eggs OUTSIDE the nesting boxes

9.  When stopping in the road to take a photo, one may get stuck in the                        snow....see #2. 

THIS is not where I got stuck - but it was the better photo LOL 

10. Life is much easier if one wears gloves in single digit weather...see #3 and 4.     
11. There are a lot of pieces to remember when getting properly attired for 3*            weather.  Some Alaskans dispense with such wisdom. 

Some Alaskans are CRAZY
Alex insists he is wearing shorts until there 1' of snow

12. Some adults NEED gloves on a string threaded through their coat                          sleeves...see #11.

13. Christmas yard signs don't work well in Alaska. The ground is frozen. I                suppose I'll need to put them up in October next year and leave them up until        spring. 

14. Grandblessings work wonders to stave off winter doldrums. 

Papa ordered a gyroscope - cuz he knew it would entertain the grands

Other news of the day - Kim Sensei likes the new computer for the kids' Japanese classes. She reports the video is much better and the kids say the speed is nicer.

Life Group met after our Thanksgiving break. It seemed like we had been "off" forever. LOL I find that a weekly commitment to host a group of people in our home greatly improves the cleanliness of our home. LOL  We are watching and discussing some video clips from "A City on the Hill" at RightNow media.

Alaska is DROP DOWN DEAD GORGEOUS in the winter! Our little corner of Alaska shines this time of year.

See? There IS sun in Alaska in the winter....11:30 a.m. I love to watch the sun hit the mountains....used to be at 10:00 p.m.  I DO love SEASONS and we certainly do have changes in seasons in Alaska. 

It is TIME to get a winter survival kit in the cars - just in case one runs out of gas, has a flat tire or accident - all things I've done in previous years. Just today Michael's truck said to "check the tire, pressure is low." I got out of the truck, slid around to the other side and noted that, "Yep! That's a tire. Check." 

What do you put in an automobile's winter survival kit? At this point my van's consists of a bag of gravel. 

Just Living Life

UNGODLY noise last night. I began to rethink EVER getting a puppy. A puppy was yipping, screaming really. Number 2 puppy joined in. Benny joined in......

Photo by Arielle

Kimber, white pup, got her paw caught in the kennel latch. Shew....this isn't the norm.

This happened this morning.....A package of Alaskan Happy Hats ready to mail to Japan.  Go Stacia!

Benny went to work with Arielle and the puppies this morning. Stacia, Michael and I visited Freddies.....I'm trying to rework an Advent wreath and NEED those little cups which hold candles....one got lost in one of our moves. I never guessed this would be a hard item to find locally. I should have as I don't know what to call them. LOL

We got home and Benny materialized at my side, in the cold snow and informed me, "Brrrr Baachan - cold!" 

Arielle reports that is his summary on our winter wonderland!  "Brrr - cold pur ti."  They had arrived just before us and she knew where he was.

Photo by Arielle 

 A stop at the mailbox revealed a salmon-colored, package pick-up slip for Arielle. We offered to play with Benny so she could run back to town....the package was too exciting to wait for a future trip to town. 

Arielle leaves the gate open when she doesn't care if Benny comes upstairs to visit his people - us. We are used to Benny coming up the stairs....today we had two new visitors upstairs. They made GG's day. 

This way puppies. 

 When the kids were young I amassed quite a respectable collection of Christmas books. I wrapped them each year and sometime during the day the kids would pick a book to unwrap and we'd read it together.  We greatly downsized when we retired, but we kept a few books with an eye to reading them to grands in the future. Benny has snuggled next to me on the couch and read a couple...but today.... Arielle's package was brand new Christmas books from a book party she attended online.  She wrapped them - and they are so cute! I love to see tradition AND a love of books being passed on.....

Photo by Arielle

I raced to have dinner ready. Alex and Stacia had youth and we got to meet with a sweet couple who will be married in one short month....fun to remember those days nearly 36 years ago.....

A sad winter photo. I used to look at the greenhouse last winter and dream of spring. I'm not so sure at this point. LOL 

I can't end the post without sharing a couple puppy love photos. 

It was a pretty hohum day.....but a good day lived well together.

Progress on Several Fronts

I realize it doesn't make for riveting blog reading, BUT I MADE CONTACT WITH AN INSURANCE AGENT and will hopefully have a new Medicare Supplement on line for Dad by tomorrow. It is HUGE to me to have that process finished. I am going to call a couple of local dental offices tomorrow. I've heard they have a plan for uninsured where they provide two cleanings and a set of x-rays for around $300 and then a discount for any work that needs to be done. There is no Medicare advantage in Alaska and none of the supplements offer dental. I did find one with vision after being told none would offer vision. I am not sure if it's best to try to buy a stand alone dental plan or to sign up with one of these other offices. Progress!

Carl and Michael continued working on the upcoming float. It doesn't LOOK like a lot was done today, but a verse was agreed on, the lettering for both the verse and the church's info is penciled in.....on both sides of each panel. We are hoping it warms up enough to take the main section with the stable outside to spray paint the rest of it..... Progress!

Stacia began the process of building a sledding hill. Progress! I know it made her a bit melancholy to do it alone. Both "boys" were off making money.  She slid down a couple of times. I needed the real camera to catch her and the battery was dead. HOW does that happen????? I leave it sitting and the battery dies. This really makes little sense.

I did laundry, cleaned up a bit, made dinner, and then Michael headed for an elder meeting at church. Progress!

Nolan is struggling with a migraine and headed for bed after dinner. I folded the mountain of laundry I washed today. I also kept working on Christmas decor. I need to go to the store for tacks and a few other bits and pieces....Michael doesn't think I should drive the car with a flat tire. Go figure!!! ::snort::

Arielle had a Monat call and so Benny came up and discovered me unpacking the yard nativity. I'm perplexed! WE have a big blow up stable scene....my guess is the blow up will go the way of the greenhouse....or end up floating down the mountain into town like a giant hot air balloon.

This set was Mom's. Dad was excited when he saw them tonight. I WILL find a way to use them. I thought I'd stake them down in the yard....they are a bit heavier...but they could soon be reduced to snow mounds.....

Benny was VERY excited when I pulled Joseph out of the box. "Jamin!!! Baachan, Jamin." Um....Jamin has a shaved head...and is blonde...but he does have a beard. I'm not really seeing it. ::wink::

I set them up out on the front porch for now. I'm not sure where to plug them in - but this gets them out of the entry way.

Benny kept snatching the baby. He alternately called him Baby Jesus and Baby Jamin. 

Note the Farkle players in the background. I hear tell that Krista won. Benny was insistent "Baby" be in the rocker.

I finally convinced him the baby would want to be with his Daddy and Mommy. I laid him down, Benny stood him up. I turned to deal with the next thing and turned back to see Benny giving the baby straw.... I left it. You have to love his heart for the Baby. Progress!

Stacia and I stopped in the basement for a bit of Puppy Love. 

Dad and I stayed up and read a bit after the "kids" went to their rooms. Dad woke with a back ache this a.m. He couldn't figure it out until he found the remote to his select number bed. He thinks Benny lowered the number to 0....it's possible.

With Dad in bed,  I set about filling out a W9 and paperwork needed for the Travis chapel to approve the purchase request for my travel and honorarium. Progress!

I'm ready to curl up with a mystery and call it a day - but first I DO need to put our laundry away....or maybe I'll leave it in the basket for tomorrow.