Home again, home again

After living "on the road" for the past year and a half, we decided to have a home base again.
Part of the purpose of our traveling and workamping was to find an area we liked to settle down.  Working at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement for the past year has given us the opportunity to learn the area.  Get a feel for the type of folks, see what services are available, was it somewhere we could call home.
Once we decided on this area, the hunt began for our new home.  We looked at many, many places.  We have truly seen the good, the bad, and the ugly!
The housing market here in the panhandle has been interesting, to say the least.
After Hurricane Michael hit, many folks lost their homes or decided that they never wanted to go through a storm like that again.  Most homes suffered some level of damage.....roofs partially blown off, damage from trees falling on their homes..all meaning water damage.  With water damage comes black mold.  Having dealt with that in New York, we were vigilant about storm damage to any house we considered.
Besides the mold issue, there are termites.  Hungry little buggers. One house we put a bid on looked great.  Then we had inspections done.  Termites had been snacking on that house for quite awhile.  (They managed to compromise the whole main carrying beam!) So, we withdrew our bid.
Another home looked nice in the pictures.  Then we went to see it in person.  Oh my.... those pictures had been taken years ago!!  (You could tell from the outside vines that we're now growing inside the house!)
I'm pretty sure that each home buyer goes through trials and tribulations until they find THE house.
Having found the house and land we wanted, we now had to wade through all of the bureaucratic red tape.  We were blessed with a great real estate team.  They not only worked with us, but they worked for us.  They advocated for us every step of the way.  I'm pretty sure it would have been a very different experience without Ashley & Joey.
Okay, we bought a house!  Now its time to get all of our treasures, that have been patiently waiting for us, from New York to Florida.  Years ago, we would have simply rented a U-Haul, loaded it up and headed south.  Not so much anymore.  While we would have had tons of help to load up, the unloading would have been a different matter.  We decided to go the smarter route and hire a moving company.  Side note to anyone thinking of doing this; pack everything better than you would if you knew there was going to be a major earthquake.  While all of our belongings that were loaded on the truck made the trip, not everything made it unscathed.  But, who's to say they would have traveled any better if we had moved it ourselves.
Moving forward, now came the unpacking.  Oh the boxes!  Oh the overwhelming number of boxes, totes, bags, etc.  Oh the humanity!  Oh wait......got carried away there for a moment.
Opening each box was like Christmas morning.  Finding my favorite coffee mugs (that didn't make the jump to the camper).  Clothes that I haven't seen in almost two years (sure hope they still fit!)
Pictures and knick-knacks that chronicled our children through the years.  All the things that make a house a home.
Now that we've found a place for everything it's feeling like home. Old memories will now blend with new.
When we set out on this journey, our motto was "Adventure 18".  Two years later, the adventures continue.  Here's to many, many more.

Diary of a road dog~ guest author, Chauncey

My hoomans call me a road dog.  I'm not really sure what that means.  If it means riding in the truck and doing a lot of nothing, then I guess I'm a road dog.
This is day seven.  I'm not sure what we're doing, but I know my yard is different every other day!  My house is the same, my toys are the same, even my food is the same, then they open the door.
The smells are all different.  The dogs are all different.  I made friends with a cute little french girl named Bri yesterday.  She was fun to run around with. 
I've noticed that there are lots of dogs that are bigger than me.  Some of them want to play and some of them growl and bark at me (kinda mean like).  I don't know why.  I really do like everyone!  And, don't get me started on other hoomans.  I'm a pretty cute guy.  Lots of people say so.  I just don't understand why, when I'm working the cute card, some folks completely ignore me!
But I guess if they don't know cute when it's right in front of them, that's their loss.
For now it's me, my hoomans, and my big comfy seat in the truck. Every night I sleep in my own bed, in my own house.
If that's what a road dog is, then I'll take the title.  Well, maybe add "cute".  Yeah, CUTE road dog.  Has a good ring to it.
See you down the road.

I'm a Mom??

To all of you moms out there, do you remember the day your first born came into the world? (No offense to the dads in the audience!) Remember thinking "I can't wait to see my toes again"? "I can't wait to wear normal clothes again"? "I can't wait to sleep on my stomach again!" Or any of the other "I can't waits" that may have been your mantra.
I remember that day vividly.  I'm sure most moms do.  It's the day that changes your life forever.
Today is the day, many, many years ago, that I stepped on to the motherhood train. The day that I set off on my greatest adventure.
Mind you, I have six amazing children.  Some I brought into the world, others I was blessed with. But the first one you carry, the first one you witness this miracle with, holds an important place in your life.
Your first born is the "trial run".  Regardless of how many people share all of their tips and tricks, you're clueless!  Should I do this? Should I do that?  Your brain is full of do's and don't.  And you're exhausted.  Sleep deprived. And so afraid that you will fail at being the mother that this tiny human being requires.
Fast forward 38 years. (Where in heaven did THAT time go???)
You're watching that little boy, all grown now, marry the love of his life.  You're sitting there, listening to these two beautiful children pledge their lives to each other.
All the while, your brain is remembering so many moments in his life.  First words, first steps.  First stitches to first heartbreaks.
And your heart is overflowing with love.
This baby, this little boy, this amazing man, stands before you. For he is all those things.
Today we celebrate his birthday.  I celebrate his birth, and all the moments since that day.
I couldn't have asked for a better "trial run".  Thank you Matt, for being you.

We never would have guessed...

We never would have guessed when we started on this adventure how many experiences and new friends would come our way.
We started last fall to head to our first gig in the Texas hill country. A beautiful area.  A different beauty than what we were used to, but beautiful in it's own way.
While working there, we became neighbors with John and Barb Eppler, another workamper couple.

Christmas day, we started heading to our next gig in the Florida panhandle.

Taking a few days to decompress before starting our new job, we made a stop in New Orleans to see Matt and Carrie, the nearly weds!  As always, time with them was too short.

We arrived in Blountstown Florida to such devastation from Hurricane Michael.

If you've never seen how destructive the force of a hurricane can be, it will take your breath away.  Trees toppled every direction you looked.  Homes and businesses blown apart. Blue tarps covering almost every roof you see.

We knew that we would be needed at the Pioneer Settlement.  Not for the skills we thought they would need, but for other skills we possessed.

This collection of historic buildings, had literally, been blown to bits by the hurricane.  They too, were part of the "blue tarp nation".  Walls blown out, roofs ripped off, buildings off kilter.  And the trees!  Once, when you walked into the settlement, the proud southern pines stood sentinel over this idyllic location.  Now they were gone.  Snapped like toothpicks. Littering every part of the settlement.  Some blocking your path.  Some through roofs.  Some laying down like the wounded.  The smell of pine pitch permeated the air.

The work to be done was overwhelming. There was not one building that didn't need fixing.  But, the man " upstairs" knew who would be needed to bring the settlement back to life.  Roofers, carpenters, electricians, office people, computer people, groundskeepers, gardeners, cleaners, the list goes on.

Each of the workampers brought a skill that was needed to see past the destruction, see to the future.

We learned what everyone's skill set was and how best to utilize those skills.

Below you will see pictures of these people that we proudly call friends.  

The founders of the settlement (who are in their 80's!) were there, working alongside those of us who wanted to see hope, once again, in their eyes.

God speed to these amazing people.  See you in the fall.

Everything old is new again

We've been here at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement for almost three weeks.
When we signed up for this volunteer job, we thought it would be a nice fit for us.  I would get to "dress up" and do tours and living history.  Rick would be able to lend a hand with the maintenance end of things.  A good fit for us.
Then Hurricane Michael came along and walloped the Florida Panhandle.  Since the Settlement is about forty miles away from the Gulf Coast, flooding wasn't a big concern.  The destruction here was from the wind.  A category 4 storm packs a powerful punch. And punch it did.  From trees uprooted to roofs blown off to whole homes destroyed. Pictures don't do justice to the aftermath of the storm.
Seeing pictures posted by the Settlement, we weren't sure we would have a place to come to!  When we called, they assured us that yes, they needed our help, now more than ever.
When we arrived, we were overwhelmed by the destruction from the storm.  Every mile that brought us closer showed just how powerful Mother Nature is.
As we walked around the Settlement the day we arrived, we wondered how it would ever be able to come back to the wonderful place it was. A gathering place for the community.  A learning experience for visitors.  Pieces of history preserved for the future.
But a force greater than a hurricane has been at work here.
We, and our fellow workampers, were supposed to be at this place, at this time.
We have six couples currently working.  Everyone brings a certain skill set to the table.  Every one of those skills are needed to bring the Settlement back to life.
As volunteers, we're only required to work ten hours a week to "pay" for our site.  We all laugh at that....we put in many more hours.  But none of us are complaining.  We have a job to do.  We have to see this wonderful place back up and running.
Each day, we can see the difference that we're making.  Is it a slow process? Oh yes it is.  But we close our eyes each night knowing that we're a little bit closer (and a little bit sorer than we were that morning).
It's the most rewarding job we've ever had.

It's that time of year again.  Normally, I'm posting about Christmas preparations, looking forward to having my family around, and all of the cooking and baking that needs to be done.
Not this year.  This year is quite a bit different.  This year, for the first time in almost 40 years (😲), our family Christmas will just be Rick and me!
Christmas traditions are still being upheld.  Special cookies baked.  A loaf of yulekaka (a traditional Norwegian holiday bread), made by my wonderful sister-in-law.  Eating our way through Christmas Eve.
But, it just feels weird. 
This year, there won't be any children or grandchildren scurrying around the house.  The noise level will be turned way down.
We'll miss seeing their faces as they open their gifts.  Hearing the squeals of joy or seeing that look of "oh.  Thanks.  Socks."
We knew when we headed out on our adventure that some things would be different. And they have been.  Not in a bad way, by any means. But definitely an adjustment to the way we had lived our lives. 
This Christmas, we'll literally be on the road, heading towards our next destination.
Rest assured, we'll be thinking of each of you with much love in our hearts.
Life is all about change.  We're experiencing that change every day. We chose to have this adventure, and we're glad we did.
But just remember, even though you're not sitting at our table, each and every one of you are with us.  Not just at Christmas, but every day.
Much love and good wishes to you all!

"Ringling Ringling, slipping away..  only forty people living there today.  The streets are dusty and the bank has been torn down...it's a dying little town."~Jimmy Buffett
In our travels we have been through major cities, small towns, and everything in between.  If you want to see the real life part of our country, get off of the interstate.
Some of the small towns are picturesque.  A Norman Rockwell painting come to life.  People passing on the sidewalk, stopping for conversation, purchasing something from a small Mom and Pop business.
This seems to be more prevalent in the Northeastern part of the country.
As we've traveled through the Southern Plains, the towns are farther apart.  There doesn't seem to be much industry, or much of anything to employ the folks in these towns.  And, truth be told, there isn't.
So many of these small towns are dying.  The town that was once booming has now gone bust.
Folks who can,  have moved on to bigger/better places.  Those who chose to stay watch their town die a bit more every day.
The part of Oklahoma we are in right now was once part of the mighty Chisholm Trail. Ranchers drove their cattle through here to get it to market or to the railroad to ship them back east.  While cattle still seems to be the main economic factor, the means of transporting said cattle no longer requires weeks of a cattle drive.
Now these small towns, once an important link, are nothing but a shell of what they once were.
Someday...the whole town will be nothing but a memory.  Alive only in tales and memories.
Perhaps we were lucky to see them before they're gone forever.

Campgrounds are the same, right?

One thing that we have discovered during our travels is that campgrounds are as varied the folks you meet.
Some are crowded... campers close enough to each other you can join in on your neighbors conversation without ever leaving your camper.  Those campgrounds are usually the "chain" campgrounds.  Think KOA, Good Sam, etc.
In defense of these places, they usually have nice amenities.  Swimming pools, laundry, playgrounds, bikes or kayaks to rent, and a social director who keeps things hopping.
We stay at these types of places if we're not staying very long.
If you're looking for a bit more room to spread out, try looking up your destination on "Recreation.gov".  The Army Corp of Engineers have fabulous sites.  For an average price of $22 a night (as opposed to $45-60 per night at the chains), you get a large site, room between you and your neighbors, and peace and quiet.  If you happen to have a National Park Senior Pass, your price drops to $11 a night!
For us, (turtles who drag their house with them) the COE sites are fabulous.
Now, we realize that some folks idea of camping in staying at a hotel with no room service....and that's fine! But we would rather have our own bed to sleep in each night.  Coffee just the way we like it in the morning.  The sounds of nature lulling us to sleep at night, or birdsong to wake us in the morning.
Creature comforts are wonderful.  We are of an age that tent camping isn't what it used to be for us (think old bones and hard ground!)
Whatever your idea of "getting out there" may be, just get out there!

Wild and Wonderful

Traveling when you're retired is a whole different animal.
When you're employed, you have a limited block of time to get out of town and relax.  We jump in our cars, hop on a plane, or cruise to parts unknown.... knowing that our time is limited.
Traveling, when retired, is a whole different outlook.
Normally, we would have packed up and hit the road.  Driving about eight hours a day. ( If we weren't towing a camper, the day was even longer!). You hurry to where you want to be to relax.  You need the stress of the drive to wash away. 
Our travels, this time, are completely different.  Is there still the stress of driving?  Of course.  There are a lot of stupid people on the road.  But, this time around, our travel days are four to five hours long.  You don't feel that "hurry up and go" that you've known for years.
I guess it's safe to say that we're trying to get used to the "stop and smell the roses" mentality.  It takes some getting used to!
This time, we get to stop and visit with friends and family along the way.  We get to visit places we've always driven past saying "I'd love to stop there someday."
It seems that we've reached that magical "someday"!
We're learning, slowly but surely, to enjoy the ride.

See ya later, alligator!

Tomorrow is the day.  New sights.  New experiences. New chapter in life.
All I can say is "oh boy".
That phrase can be taken many ways.  "Oh boy!!!" Like you're so excited...like Christmas morning or a trip to Disney.
Then there is the "oh boy" when you see flashing red or blue lights in your rear view mirror.
I'm stuck somewhere between the two.  I'm really excited about starting this new chapter.  I'm also terrified.  But, I'm not the first to ever experience these emotions.
Imagine a few hundred years ago.  You pack all you worldly goods into a wagon and head off.  Or perhaps you boarded a ship and travelled across the ocean.  Leaving everything and everyone you knew behind. You have a destination planned, yet it's the stretch from point A to point B that may be a challenge.
Are we up to the challenge?  You bet! 
Of course, like our ancestors, there will undoubtedly be "surprises" along the way.
This is a whole new way of doing things. 
As long as you "expect the unexpected" and keep a good sense of humor, anything is possible!

We're in!

Well, it's official.  We are full time RV'ers.
No....we haven't left the property yet, but our home is now portable!
As you can see, things aren't quite settled.  There are miscellaneous boxes, bags, and totes scattered around the place.  Eventually everything will have a designated spot.  Or items won't make the cut and will be relagated to a box in storage.
We're excited about hitting the road and seeing sights across the country.
We hope you'll all travel along with us on this journey!

Use it, pack it or pass it along?

Downsizing.  Oh the images that word conjures!  Everything you've ever heard about the process is true.  It's hard, it's painful, it's time consuming, it's overwhelming.

We're in the process of this right now.  But, we have an added glitch in the system.  We will be living in our 5th wheel camper for the next few years.  Setting off for new adventures.  Traveling the country. Seeing the sights.  Very exciting, right?  Yes.  Yes it is.  However, we now have to clear out a three bedroom house and a three bay garage.
Not only do we have our own belongings, we have inherited stuff from my parents.  We've inherited stuff from Rick's Mom.  We're "holding" stuff for our children.  Bottom line?  Oh boy, do we have stuff!

This is where the hard and overwhelming comes into play.  Making the truly hard decisions.  Deciding what goes into the camper (with very limited space), what just gets packed to go to our next house (wherever that may be), or what moves on to live with someone else.  Over the course of a lifetime, we gather treasures.  Mementos.  Things we just have to have.  Now is the time to weed everything out.

I probably have over 50 cookbooks.  Seriously, who needs (or uses) 50 cookbooks?  But I've got `em.
Scroll saws...….at last count, we had 4.  4?? Really?? Yup.

My Dad's motto was always "if someone offers you something, and you don't have to feed it or clean up after it, take it.  You never know when you might need it."  He had quite the collection.  We now have to clean out his collection.  My Mom was a great "record keeper".  A skill that I sorely lack.  But I doubt I need a receipt for some kitchen appliance that she bought over 30 years ago. It's a challenge.

While this task is daunting, every box packed, every decision made is a good one.

And the treasures that one finds evoke memories from a time gone by. Artwork drawn by one of the kids.  Programs from concerts, old family photographs.  The list goes on.

By the time we're done, everything will have fallen into a category...use it, pack it, or pass it along.

Hidden treasures

Are there any other folks out there who still have a recipe box?  I am blessed to have two such treasures.  The one pictured above belonged to my mother.
Oh the things I've found while sorting through this piece of history.
History?  You bet!
Like so many women of her day, you shared recipes with family and friends. You added notes with ingredients you changed or with a critique of it's "worthy-ness".  You made sure that the name of the person who gave you the recipe was also on it....if the results were tasty, you could praise them.  If not, you knew not to ask for any more recipes.
There was no Pinterest!  You read the newspaper and cut out recipes or articles that were interesting to you. 
Besides tasty food, you could find handy household tips.  Did you know that an ordinary light bulb can be used for darning socks?  Oh ..... that's right.... that's a lost art.  Does it count that I have a darning egg?  Those who know me shouldn't be surprised.
As I went through this simple little box, so many memories returned. 
Pictured above is also one of my grandmother's recipes.  She love to bake sweets, and always made sure the cookie jars in the pantry were full when we would visit.
Some of the recipes have ingredients some wouldn't recognize.  Anyone remember Spry?  How about Fluffo?  Lucky for me, I took every chance I could get to bake with my grandma.  I can still use her recipes because I know what modern equivalent to use.
There are some of these recipes that I may never make.  Yet I find that I cannot throw away any of these snippets of history.  These glimpses of yesteryear.  So back into the little green box they will go.  Sitting quietly until the next generation decides to open the treasure trove.

Food for thought

Food for thought

So, the "old school" in me came out today as I watched Rachel Ray on television this morning.  Her show today was all about teaching a family (Mom, Dad and two children aged 7 & 9, how to cook and eat at home.While interviewing this Mom, she said " I wish I had time to cook, but we both work and the girls are into many activities."  

Uh-huh, I thought.  Most families today are in the same boat.  Then, I actually THOUGHT about what she said.  To me, she was saying that she couldn't be bothered to MAKE dinner for her family.  That it was easier to just make a phone call or hit the drive through. 

While I don't deny that choosing that route is much easier, two things came to mind.  First, by eating that way, are you teaching your family the importance of eating right?  Are you teaching your children the life skills of cooking?  Are you enjoying time together, as a family, for a few minutes in your hectic day?

When our kids were growing up, our household was as crazy as anyone's could be.  When the kids were little, it was four of us for dinner every night, and eight of us every other weekend.  When Rick's kids moved in, cooking for a crowd was a normal, every day thing.

Yes, Rick and I both had jobs.  Yes, the kids were into after school activities.  There were days that Rick and I would pass each other on the road while taking or picking up kids from one event or another.  BUT, dinner was made for them every night.  You were expected to sit down at the table and enjoy a meal with the whole family.  

Did it always work out that way?  Sure, in a perfect world.  But the reality was far from perfect.  That being said, the majority of our meals were as a family.  They were moments that I now look back on and cherish.

As we all know, children grow up so quickly.  One day it's play rehearsals and basketball games. In the blink of an eye, you're at their graduation.

These fleeting moments of simply sharing a home cooked meal, around the table go by in the blink of an eye.

I don't understand why families today don't indulge in this simple practice.

Is it easy?  Heck no.  Is it "required"? Nope.  Is it worth it, in the long run? More than you know.

If you're a fast food/take-out family, try a dinner at home this week.  Buy the ingredients.  If your children are old enough, enlist their help.  Then, sit down and enjoy a meal together.  The time spent is more precious than you realize.

Tools of the Trade/Making memories

( This photo is of our dear friend, Ed, or crazy Uncle Ed, as our kids call him, helping the grands decorate  Christmas cookies.)

This time of year, lots of baking is going on in houses all over the world. Everyone has their own favorites to make during the holiday season.  Perhaps its a recipe that has been in your family for as long as you can remember.  Perhaps you're starting new traditions with your family and want special foods to be a big part of the celebrations.

Whichever applies to you, you need the right tools to pull it off.  There are wonderful, time saving tools on the market today.  Mixers that do everything but the dishes, chopper-dicers to save you the time consuming task of chopping up nuts, fruits or what-evers.  Aren't they amazing?  Well, yes they are, but they're not for me.  I have a lovely stand mixer, a fancy little chopper-dicer, a bread making machine, all those time saving appliances.  And, I use them throughout the year.  But, you know what?  I find I don't use them this time of year.

During the crazy hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I find myself going "old school".  I have found that the simple act of kneading bread, sifting flour (yes, I still do that!), or chopping nuts is therapeutic. It forces you to slow down and enjoy the tactile sensation of hands on baking.

Now, before anyone starts saying "What?? Are you crazy?? I don't have that kind of time!  I have kids!  I have a job!  I have a life!"  Precisely why you should take the time to do things the old way.  Invite your children into the kitchen, have them help!  Will is be messy?  You bet it will.  Everyone may be covered in flour or powdered sugar before you're done. (Heck...I'M covered with flour and powdered sugar and I'm baking by myself!)  But guess what....it will be a memory that each of you will carry throughout your lives.

I too, had a full time job.  I too, had children.  I too, had a life.  To my regret, I didn't take the time that I should have to include the young ones very often.  You only get one shot at their growing up.  Don't waste it on things, make memories instead.

So dig out your mixing bowls, your wooden spoons, and your pudding steamers.  Dig out your elbow grease and DIG IN!

This time of year is special for so many reasons.  We each have the power to make it even more special and more memorable just by taking the time.  The time to slow down for a while, the time to feel, the time to engage with each other and enjoy each others company.

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas.

They say that your home is your castle.  It's where you reign with absolute authority.  Sure, right.
It seems that lately, our house has been the one calling the shots.  You see, this winter, part of the ceiling in the girls bedroom collapsed.  Bad enough, but it was covered with back mold.  (Side note; my hubby is extremely allergic to black mold.)  Within three days, his vertigo reared its ugly head.  We contacted our insurance company, only to find out that they don't cover the type of damage we sustained.  "So sorry" they said.  We had a few choice words to say.  (Alright, ALOT of choice words).  But the bottom line was, what were we to do about the situation?
We were renting out my parents house to a couple that were in the process of going their separate ways.  So we made the decision to move into my parents house.  All it needs is some cosmetic work right?  A little paint, a little elbow grease and it should be good to go!
Oh, the life of a naive person. 
Little did we realize that time had taken its toll on that house too.  We still had to do the paint and elbow grease parts, but there were buckets of elbow grease needed.  We've replaced floors, sections of ceiling, ripped out carpets, repaired water damage, patched holes, and  re-sheetrocked.  And painted......and primed and painted some more.
When you move into a new house, you want the colors and "feel" to reflect your taste or lifestyle.  That doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with another person's choices, they're just not YOUR choices.  The wall coverings had originally been selected with my Mother in mind.  Not bad, but not us.  Our tenants had changed up some of the colors.  Again, not bad, but not our taste.  So we get to pick and choose.  Something as simple as "How about yellow for the kitchen?"  turns into a maze of color chips, samples and lots of praying.  For example.....I had selected a color for the master bathroom that I thought would compliment both the bedroom colors and the existing dusty rose colored countertop.  (Remember dusty rose and country blue?)  So we primed and we painted.  When we finished, I stood there looking at the finished product and said  "Oh no.....I can't live with this color!".  It didn't turn out at all like I had envisioned it.  My Mom probably would have loved it, but me?  Not so much.  So, plan B.  Back to the store, new paint and let's try this again.  Luckily, I was happy with how it turned out.  (You all know the old adage....."if Momma ain't happy..." )
We're still working on getting our new "castle" finished.  There's still lots to do, but at least I feel like progress is being made. 
The photo for this blog is sort of how our castle looks at the moment....a bit rundown and surrounded by water (thanks to all the rain for the past few weeks) but, it's our castle and once in residence, we shall reign with absolute authority.  (Unless you ask the dogs......)

Another Christmas rolls around.  Today, the snow is falling gently outside my window, setting the perfect Christmas card scene.  Colored lights twinkle on trees and in windows.  The smell of holiday baking fills the house with wonderful aromas.  Friends and families begin to gather together to celebrate this most magical time of the year.

We each have family traditions that we proudly carry on.  Perhaps it's an orange in the toe of your stocking.  Candy canes that Santa hangs on the Christmas tree.  Certain cookies or baked goods that, while they would taste wonderful any time of year, are only made this time of year.

Christmas, for me, is all of those things.  Is it crazy?  Sure is.  Is it hectic?  Very much so! Will it be crowded in your kitchen,  or around your tree?  I do hope so!

As we prepare, we remember.  The Christmases past, spent with the people (and critters) that we hold so dear. The very people who gave us the traditions we carry on today.  Now, that's not to say that we haven't added a few new traditions to the list, but these are our foundation.  Our roots.  Our beginnings.

This year will be difficult for many.  They will be spending their first holiday without an important ingredient to their family equation.  In our family, it will be no different.  While we celebrated many wonderful moments this year, we also grieved for the loss of  dear ones.  For some of us, this year is bittersweet.  Yet, as you uphold your family traditions, take a moment to "talk" with your loved ones who won't be sitting at your table.  They will be there with you, heart and soul.  I know that we'll have a gathering of very special angels at our house.  We remember each of them with our little traditions, quiet reminders of Christmases past.

If you have a moment during this season of hustle and bustle, try to listen to a beautiful song, "Christmas in Heaven" by Scotty McCreery.  Be sure to have a kleenex or three with you.  It is a heartwarming song that sums up todays blog perfectly.

Take the time, this year, to hold close those that you hold dear.  Welcome them in, welcome them home and carry on the traditions that make this time of year so special.

May you each have a magical, beautiful and blessed Christmas.

Shall we dance?

"Stifling an urge to dance is bad for your health — it rusts your spirit and your hips." ~Terri Guillemets.

That being said, we've been keeping our hips "rust free" for a few months now. Why did we embark on this journey?  What made us decide to forgo any sense of rational thought?

Because we wanted to!!

Rick and I have always loved to dance.   We both come from families that love to dance. Maybe we weren't the snazziest couple on the dancefloor, but we always had fun.  When the "happy feet" urge would strike, we'd head out to find a place that played music we could dance to.  Not the grinding, dance club type music, but the classics.  You know, Frank, Bing, 40's style big band.  It suited us just fine.  We used to joke, while dancing on a crowded dance floor, that we had to watch out for the movers and shakers.  Those couples that had obviously taken ballroom dance classes.  The ones that would run you over if you got in their way.  We would laugh and move away accordingly, all the while thinking "That could be us".

So, for Christmas, our son Josh gave us a gift of ballroom dance classes at the local Fred Astaire studio.  Fred Astaire.....they must be good, right?  Wow.  Little did we know the first time we walked into the studio that we would be having so much fun.  

Has it been easy?  Not always.  Many is the evening when our brain is overflowing with new dance moves.  The hardest part is remembering which dance those steps go to!  Was the "grapevine" in the foxtrot or was that the rumba?  Do we do a "twinkle" in the waltz?  Does this dance have a heel lead or are we on the balls of our feet?

"Muscle memory" is the term our instructors use.  Eventually, it will become second nature.  For now we practice, practice, practice.

The classes are private, meaning it's us and our instructor for 45 minutes.  That's not to say that there's no one else in the ballroom.  Sometimes it's a bit like 690 at rush hour!  But that's part of learning.  How to be a mover & shaker without any major crashes!

 We have seen our dancing improve. We have watched while friends of ours have made great strides in the ballroom.  (No pun intended!)

Bottom line?  If you enjoy dancing, go dance!  There's no need to take lessons, just go dance.  If you want to learn more, find a class.  It can be a locally sponsored class, like at the "Just Dance" studio in Chittenango.  Those classes give you a taste for all different dances and is fun.  I'm sure wherever you are, there are classes like that available.

But if you want to take it to the next level, find a Fred Astaire Studio near you.  the instructors are phenomenal.   They make you the best dancer you can be, all while you're having fun!  And for us, fun is the bottom line. 

The photo on this blog says it all...dance is enormously entertaining, irresistible, we give it two thumbs up and when we dance, it can be a charming comedy!

Will we ever be as good as the professionals you see on Dancing with the Stars?  Ummmmm....probably not.  But, that's okay!  I could hold my own if Maks or Tristan ever shows up and ask me to dance.  And since the likelihood of that happening is pretty slim, I'm not too worried.

Rites of passage

The summer of busy, crazy, wonderful is waning.  The main event for this year was our son Joshua's wedding.  As in life, he (and his lovely bride, Tori) decided to do things their way.  To say that their nuptials were "outside the box" would be an understatement.  They completely blew up the box!
Now, don't get me wrong.  That's NOT a bad thing.   Many people have beautiful weddings.  They follow the prescribed wedding agenda .  We have attended many, many of these weddings and have enjoyed the beauty and pageantry of each and every one.  That being said, I must admit that Josh & Tori's wedding was so "them".  There was beauty, pageantry and a sword-fight.  Not what you'd normally expect, but if you know these two amazing people, you wouldn't have been surprised.
While Mother Nature had different plans  than they did for the day, everyone rolled with it like seasoned pros.  A little rain was not about to put a damper on this celebration.  Eventually, even Mother Nature decided that she would grant them a boon on their wedding day, and stopped the rain.
Perhaps those raindrops were the tears of joy from loved ones, no longer with us.  Their way of saying "We're watching, we wish you could see our happiness for you.  We love you."
Whatever the reason, the day was beautiful.  Not in the sunshiny way, but in the dreamy, dewy, "soft focus" sort of way.

As a parent, you wish for your children to be happy, whatever or whomever they pursue in life.  The happiness and love that shone in Josh & Tori's eyes on that special day is a testament to their happiness.  And, in the end, that's all a parent could want.

Our wish for them is that they continue to be the team that amazes the world every step of the way.

Happy trails to you......

The title of today's blog is a reference to a song by Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans. For the youngsters in the audience, just Google them. For the rest of us, we know who they are and can probably all sing that song. And sing we did.
Tuesday we celebrated the passing of my Aunt Eva. She had lived for 100 incredible years. (Yet any of us would tell you she's gone too soon!) Eva was my fathers oldest sister. The family matriarch for many, many years.
As with any passing, family gathers together to share the grief and the love. With our family, we also share the stories and the laughter. Maybe that is what makes our family so special. We have a difficult time staying somber for very long. That's not to say we can't.....we just don't! Many things in life can be depressing. Many things can get you down. Our family has always had the ability to look on the bright side. No matter how bad, there's always a bit of blue sky to celebrate. Something good to bring us out of our funk.
Aunt Eva summed it up best. "Life is beautiful" was not just her signature saying, it was the core of her belief. And we all believed. We still do.
It's for that very reason that when we all gathered graveside to bid our final farewells, we gathered close, held each other and sang "Happy Trails".
The memories, the stories, the life lessons will live on. Most importantly, the love lives on. It runs through each of us, connecting us by a golden thread. Our family tapestry is beautiful to behold. Thank you, Aunt Eva for helping us to weave. We love you. Until we meet again, happy trails.