Chillin' in Wisconsin

Here I am in Manitowoc, in the throes of a pending snowstorm. My sister recently informed me the predications for the area have been downgraded to ‘only’ 6” of snow from the original 9”. We thank God for small favors. Our concern includes the high winds expected which mean drifts and impassable roadways. Never a good situation, especially on a Sunday morning.

Well, my travel on Thursday was flawless, and the concerns for bad weather for the commute to Manitowoc were unfounded. Lynn picked me up at the airport, we stopped to have lunch at Perkins near the airport, and then headed for home. Got to my Mom’s before it was dark out (about 2:30 pm) and the fun began!

My sister, Kerry, was waiting with Mom, plus Jill came up later. We went to The Green Street Tavern to have perch (at least, I did!) with those mentioned plus my niece, Alayna, and friend, Jenna. Jill’s son, Danny, came too so we had a nice group. I got to see my friend, Wendy, there dining with her sister-in-law, Ellen, and she asked me to come to her house during my time in Manty. I hope we can make that work out!

Friday was spent with a morning of shopping for Kerry and I, hitting up the Festival Foods and Wal*Mart. Boy, was I worn out! Kerry and I met up with Jill, Mom, and Alayna at Culvers, where Linda joined us. Mom and Linda had hair cuts scheduled so Linda took charge of Mom while Kerry and I went home to unload our trunkful of groceries and purchases. Jill had some other errands to run herself. So very thankful to Linda for doing this monthly outing with and for my mom! Linda said she enjoys it very much so I won’t take that away from her.

Kerry and I stocked up lots of stuff Mom loves like soups and freezer meals, plus I got ingredients for meals to make while I am here visiting. We also got the stuff needed for our Christmas Eve feast which will be celebrated at the AmericInn where my sister, Lori, and family are staying for the holidays. I put on a lot of miles at the stores and spent a lot of smiles greeting people in the aisles. Got some other shopping done, as well, so I can say I am probably done. Won’t know that until it’s time to hand them out, I guess. Gulp!

I made a batch of sloppy joes for our dinner, and Jill, who lives in the building, too, brought up German potato salad and cole slaw left from her work party. Lynn came for dinner too and together we watched Jeopardy! My goodness, I just ached all over from our venture which means I am terribly out of shopping shape! Lynn comforted me with saying she can’t shop like she used to, either. I blame my heavy ‘winter’ shoes but I can’t imagine trudging through snow and slop in ballerina flats!

Saturday is the traditional ‘going for coffee day’ and though I don’t drink coffee, I was invited along. Lynn picked up Mom and me and off we went to Hardees where we sat and talked for a couple of hours. Very nice! Jill was taking Mom shopping to ShopKo and Lynn went home after bringing me home. I was being collected by Linda to join her for her nail appointment (great fun!!! at RoseColoredGlasses Salon where I was treated to a complimentary shoulder/neck,head massage!) and then joined her sister, Georgia, for lunch at Harborside. After I did my Facebook check-in, one of my friends asked me via Comments if I was going for 10 restaurants in 10 days. I replied that it’s more like 10 restaurants in 3 days!

Tomorrow is church, weather permitting, and I get to see many more people I know and love, and touch my Facebook friends in real life instead of with virtual hugs. Looking forward to worship and Bible study, and then home to make beer cheese soup to devour while the Packers beat the Steelers! Go, Pack, Go!

Excuse my absence, please

If you recall, I have limited access to the Internet when staying at my Mom's house. Please forgive  me for not posting as usual.  Thanks!! 

Cemetery flowers

On Monday, Justin and I took this floral arrangement to the cemetery. The arrangement I bought last year which was meant for repeated use did not hold up well and had to be disposed of, so we just used fresh cut flowers for the vase. 

Before that stop, however, we met my friend, Brenda, for lunch at Steak 'n Shake. The service was so slow that Brenda had to have her meal packed up to go! She called me today to report that she called the phone number on the receipt and issued a complaint, since this is not the first time it's happened to us. She is on limited time due to her working yet, so we can't have delays like that. We might have to try the next place down, Arby's, next time, and start saving those coupons!

We celebrated Christmas!

Justin took a photo of my mantel which is decorated with garland and my lovely Willow Tree nativity set, which was a gift from Laurie, my church friend, several years ago. Note how I have the magi standing on the far right side...

Here is our sumptuous feast prepared by Justin and me for our Christmas celebration. He made a beef roast using a special combination of dry salad dressing and gravy mixes plus onions. With that I served green bean casserole and we microwaved some potatoes as our sides. Plus, he made some yummy buttermilk biscuits. In the afternoon I had made sugar cookies and frosted them for our dessert, but we were too full to enjoy them! 

This stack is Justin's and includes a Clue game based on The Big Bang Theory, a chia pet of Willie from Duck Dynasty, two Packers items which report his being an Owner of the team, a gift certificate to Brookstone, a book called Mansfields' Book for Manly Men, a spring form cheesecake pan, plus the inevitable socks and underwear. Also I gave him a paper-thin wallet for which he had been in want. 

Justin stocked me up with anti-bacterial hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works which I keep in my purse (a new fragrance with cranberry scent is marvelous!), plus 6 bottles of foaming soaps for use in the bathroom. My stand-by favorites of vanilla plus some newer scents this season. He also got me plastic zipper totes to store my DVDs in, a set of two, which will hold 80 of my collection. This will free up the space on my TV dresser/stand for me to put books which are taking over my room! Justin also got me Glenn Beck's newest book, "Miracles and Massacres", a history book. 

He is having a gift sent to my Mom's for me which I will get up there, plus something for me to take along and open on Christmas Eve with the rest of the family. (Justin will be a guest with the Chappells on Christmas Day so he won't be all alone.)

Justin and I then watched "It's a Wonderful Life" before we went to bed, me ending up in tears at the end, as always. This is how Kim and Justin celebrate Christmas!

Waxing nostaglic (WARNING)

This evening I was wrapping Christmas presents, some of the rolls purchased when I still had two kids. In my gift wrapping bin there is a roll of ribbon with the name "T I M M Y" printed on it, in the handwriting of my former spouse. This was to help Timmy write his name on the gift tags for his mama. He gave me a pair of slippers that year, which I still have. I was told Timmy walked into the store and headed straight to the shoe department to get his mama a pair of slippers. I was also told that it never occurred to his father or Justin to check the size, because THAT was the pair Timmy wanted. Fortunately, he chose correctly. After he died, I put the slippers away for safe keeping.

I was thinking of Timmy today when I had to use the bathroom at Publix. Every time I use the bathroom at Publix I think of him!! He just HAD to go, so I parked the cart to the side and took him in. Every time something plunked into the potty, he'd lean forward to see it, and whoosh!---the toilet would flush and freak him out. After a couple times of this ritual, I decided we needed to go home for this 'job', so we paid for what we bought and headed home. (I know I've told this story before---indulge me)

                             

When he and I were at Publix that day, though, we did buy the green plastic cutlery which he really took a liking to. In fact, he carried around a plastic knife for days after our company Christmas party. When it was time for us to go shopping for his father, he took his knife along to SteinMart in order to match a shirt to that knife. The clerk was so kind to him, as Justin and I stood back to watch them look for the right shirt. Eventually they did find a close enough match. After Timmy died, his father put that shirt away for safe keeping....and I have the knife in his memory box.

*

As I wrapped I also thought of a time many, many moons ago when I was still working at Shady Lane Home. I had been feeling poorly and stayed home from work, but felt good enough that evening to wrap presents. My former spouse and I used one of our extra rooms for wrapping purposes, a card table set up upon which to do our work. Somehow we got on the subject of money and I mentioned how I didn't have any money in my wallet. He said to me, "Oh, if I don't have at least $5 in my wallet, I don't feel good..." Then we had a big laugh because, in fact, I did not feel good!! 

                                

Somehow that episode has stayed with me all these years and I even say that to Justin now and again. Of course, it's different these days with the more common use of debit/credit cards, but in those days, it was primarily cash on the barrel for smaller purchases. So, anyway, besides wrapping up my presents for Justin tonight, I wrapped up some memories, too.

More company!!

Stephanie, Erica, me, and Jean. The chandelier cast a glow on my forehead and shows up in this photo taken with Justin's cell phone camera

Saturday I rested up from Friday's soirre and readied my house for another gathering. I made a kettle of chicken 'n dumplings to serve my guests, plus served my reheated sweet/sour meatballs to go with the main dish. For dessert we had lemon pound cake with raspberry sauce scooped over the top of it. 

As soon as Erica told me that her grandma, Jean, was coming down for a visit, I booked them for dinner. Jean just moved from a smaller town back to Janesville, where she used to live. Her hubby had died two years ago, just before ThanksLiving, in his sleep, so she wanted to downsize a bit. Jean will be here in the Jax area until some time in late January or early February, staying with Stephanie and Erica. I will get to see her then at Bible study on Thursdays!!

I very much enjoy their company and hope I get to share more of their time when I get back from WI. Maybe Justin and I will travel over there to join them for Trivia some Tuesday night....

My Christmas gathering

Friday was spent getting things ready in my home and kitchen for the Christmas gathering I hosted that evening. As I had mentioned in the early fall, our group of pool friends agreed we should see each other once a month or so afterward to continue our conversations and fun, and so far, we are two for two! We had Lee's going away party last month and now this party at my house tonight. Who's up for January? I don't mind going again...

This is Nancy M. and Bill, the nice couple who bought a house next door to the mansion just off our property. He is the brave soul who used the pool last week Saturday.  

Here is a shot of Nancy again with Phyl, waving for the camera as a greeting to Lee, our absent friend. On the table behind us is a lovely bouquet of flowers which Bob brought for me. He was thrilled to see the nice vase I put them in, saying most people would just 'stick 'em in a jar or something'. No, I have this great Princess House vase just begging for an arrangement!

Here is Stephanie G. and Bob, both of whom live on the property in The Villas. Stephanie's husband, a Clay County cop, was working so could not join us. Bob would later walk Stephanie home, making sure she got there safely. Such a gentleman! (When my mom was here in the summer of 2012, he carried her sandles over to the steps of the pool so she wouldn't burn her feet on the hot pavement when she got out.) He came dressed up in his turtleneck and blue blazer complete with pocket square, while his good friend, Bill, came in shorts and a fleece pullover. 

This is Nancy W. and Cindy, both waving for Lee, as Stephanie looks on. Cindy is married to Phyl, seen in a previous photo. She was a teacher at St. Johns years ago when Justin was there, and also taught at OP High School. Our friends cross over between St. Johns and those of my friends who know her from OP High. Her hubby and she hosted the going away party for Lee in November. Of course, Nancy W. is my lady friend who November 1st moved onto the property and is dealing with getting her 3 homes taken care of---selling two of them and fixing up her new one! She is more than a little busy these days!

Here is a photo of Lee and me taken at The Club last March 

My menu consisted of a taco ring which Justin put together for me, since I didn't trust my skills of assembly. I think I could have done an okay job of it, but was glad he took on the responsibility of it. Tasted so good! I made sweet/sour meatballs, and served spinach dip with chips and crackers, plus bought a sausage and cheese tray. Thursday night Betty gave me a very nice tray of cookies so I served those as well some sweets I bought at Publix. Where would we be without Publix?