Goodbye, Old Year...

2009 is closing. Who'd 'a' thought it? I guess, emotionally, I live somewhere in the 1960s or '70s; haven't caught up to the years, yet. Yet I have completed 75 years of my journey here. I hope I can make at least spiritual progress in each one that I have left, the Dear knows how many that may be. If I can improve spiritually, any other improvements will be gravy. Eleemosynary, one of Mark Twain's favorite words.

Yesterday and today I re-set my eBay account, and have listed one item for sale. In the New Year, I hope to rid my home of a lot of flotsam and jetsam, without acquiring any more nonessentials. I've probably got enough clothes (except shoes and underclothes), furniture and books to last me about a hundred years; one cat, after whom I don't want any more; and a home in this wonderful house without having to make a huge house payment every month. My cup runneth over, truly.

2009 was a sad year for the Three Ramey Sisters, in different ways, yet we share the losses and reverses in our hearts, and are thankful that we have each other. December, the month of Christmas and my birthday, was so wonderful! I don't have the words to express my love and gratitude to my family and friends who made it so.

Is anyone else reminded of Gordy Ramey's grin?

The fifth day of Christmas

Yesterday morning I started reading Dave Ramsey's book, The Total Money Makeover. Jed left in the afternoon, I lay down on the sofa and slept until about 9:00 p.m. Then I woke up and read for a couple of hours, fell asleep again and slept until nearly 8:00 this morning. So I'm feeling rested and ready to face life again. I finished the book and believe that I can follow at least parts of it to improve my financial situation. I think everyone who doesn't have a budget, or even a job if they need one, should read this book.

On the Feast of Stephen

No snow lies round about here. The sun shines bright. I haven't poked my head out the door yet, so I don't know how cold it is. Jed has gone to the park to run.

This is my favorite gift received, a 2010 calendar from Jed; each page has a large Native American portrait, with identification at the bottom of the page. He also gave me a new scanner, but I haven't got a photo of it yet.

Below is one of my gifts to Jed. It's a Rod McIver water-color print which I ordered from Heron Dance. It didn't arrive until Christmas Eve, but I had a couple of little things wrapped for him, just in case it was late.

Our Christmas dinner guests were Susan, Pat, India, and Buffy. Suze brought one of her out-of-this-world rum cakes, and I over-ate, as usual. I had set two tables, for eight people, but Andy, Jesse, Jason and Reed didn't come. We missed them.

Here's Pat holding up the quilt I finally finished and gave her. She wouldn't show her face. It was one of the best Christmases I've ever had. But I missed Jack. We also missed Vann, Mama and Jenny. Someday, we'll all be together.

"...faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." -- Hebrews 11:1

The Hebrews is a wonderful book to read. It also says, "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb. 13:1).

In 2010, I want to read the whole Bible through again, from beginning to end.

Snow Delivered To Wrong Address?

Today 50 per cent of the United States is covered with snow. I thought I had put in my order early enough, but no! I mean, Noooooh! Not here. Not now. Maybe in March or April, as a sort of anticlimax to winter.

Susan's soup supper last evening was mighty good. Suze made Santa Fe soup, and Andy made Italian wedding soup, and both were delicious. As was the enormous carrot cake, and the salad that Jed provided.

I rose before the sun this morning. Matter of fact, the sun hasn't even got here yet. Anyway, I got all my cooking done, and now I'm resting before setting the tables and so forth.

Where did I mislay that Christmas spirit?

I kept thinking it would come upon me suddenly, but now it's Christmas Eve! The gifts on the hall chest are about the only signs of the season in my house. I'll try to add some stuff today, if I ever get through DUSTING!

Tonight is Soup Night at Sister Susie's Yellow House, and I can't wait. Jed is supposed to arrive sometime today, and the weather is fine. 9:30 a.m. and all is well. But I think it's supposed to rain and turn cold tomorrow.

Today I'm going to make potato salad, which is always better when it rests overnight, and a sweet potato pie. Will cook the vegetables and other stuff tomorrow morning. I may have to make two s.p. pies, because--do you think I can let sweet potato pie alone for 24 hours without devouring a significant portion of it?

I feel like celebrating!

My shopping is done, I tell you, done! D-o-n-e! Done! Done! Done! And my house is almost as cleaned-up as it's going to get. Of course, I have to start all over again, but it'll be easier than it was before I cleaned it last week. She said.

Now to make a list of the chores I've been saving for Jed. Lemme see....

The St. John's Bible

From an article by Jason Byassee, pastor of Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Providence. North Carolina. and a Ph.D. candidate in theology at Duke Divinity School. This article appeared in The Christian Century, August 9, 2005, pp.20-23. Copyright by the Christian Century Foundation; used by permission.
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The St. John’s Bible is being produced by dozens of scholars and artists who have been laboring for almost a decade, at a cost of about $4 million, to create the first handwritten, illuminated Bible in five centuries. Chief calligrapher Donald Jackson and his colleagues are producing something priceless -- a Bible beautiful enough to make readers want to keep reading, and even want to praise God.
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The project began with a decision by St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, to commemorate the second millennium of Christ’s birth in grand fashion. The Benedictine order has long been devoted to manuscript preservation. In the Middle Ages the order copied precious books that would otherwise have been lost.
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St. John’s decided to produce a Bible with all the trappings of the greatest editions of the past -- using gold leaf, calfskin pages, quill pens and so on. But the project would also draw on modern resources, such as computers to plot out the spacing and provide schemata for the calligraphers. To oversee the work they tapped Jackson, chief calligrapher for the queen of England, whose life ambition was to produce a handwritten Bible. St. John’s allowed him to choose a team of assistants. A committee of theologians and biblical scholars directs the project from Minnesota.
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The St. John’s Bible has been called "America’s Book of Kells" by Newsweek. It may be far more important than that, for this text is meant not only to be beautiful, like a museum object, but to inspire a renewed love of scripture. It is meant to be read at home and used in liturgy.

Snow?

First we have to dreen off all this flood water. Passing by the big park yesterday, I noticed the creek was overflowing. This morning we still have puddles in the back yard, but it's mostly OK.

Scarlett came from Ebay about 2001, in her original dress, socks and pantalets, but they were in woeful condition, as was her hair. I bleached the dress twice to make it white again. She had no shoes, so last night I made her a very quick and temporary pair of sandals.

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So today the preparations for Christmas dinner begin in earnest. Monday I'll finish shopping for the ingredients, Wednesday query Jed regarding the turkey, and cook all day Thursday.

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Right now I need me another cup of coffee.

Morning's almost gone

And I spent all of it packing THE book I've sold in December. It's a paperback that weighs about three pounds, and of course I had no box it would fit in. Anyway, I think it'll be OK with my extra pound of bubble wrap, cardboard, kraft paper and tape. I think I'll quit this business. Some buyers will use every trick in the book to get a refund or a freebie. If they can't think of anything else, they'll say it smells bad, and what can you do? I left this book outside in the wind for several hours yesterday, then stood it up on the table and sprayed above it with room deodorizer. Not to mention cleaning the covers with Windex. If I sold more books, I would worry less about each one, but currently it's more work and worry than it's worth.

Trying to make haste slowly

My right hand looks like it's beginning to turn into 300-grit sandpaper. So this morning I decided to wear an acrylic glove on it all day while I'm cleaning the microwave and refrigerator, washing dishes and trash cans, picking up trash out of the yard. There's what looks like a bundle of packing material in one of the trees in back, but I couldn't reach it with the rake, which is the longest-handled tool I've got. I've worked on the house some today, but not frantically. I think I'm done with frantic.

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Joyce Earle called me yesterday and said that we'd lost another classmate, Jerry R. He didn't graduate with us but we've always considered him a classmate for some reason. I don't even remember his being in any classes with us. Anyway, that's a sad note.

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Another Elvis dream. I feel like Blanche Devereaux, dreaming about "George." These aren't romantic dreams, just sometimes sweet and usually funny.

Christmas Time's A-Comin'!

And I've got more to do in the next few days than I can--or will--possibly get done. I tell myself I've got it all under control, but myself says, "Yeah, right." But I've got one day set aside for shopping and one day for cooking, so at least we'll eat. I mean shopping for food; I've got the gifts wrapped, all but one that I haven't got a box that'll fit.

At the right in the photo is my same old Father Christmas that I made goodness knows how long ago

A beautiful day?

Every time I look outside, I expect to see snow falling. It's that kind of a day, but only a few tiny raindrops or something occasionally. It feels good to pop out onto the deck or porch for a few breaths of clear cold air, and then back into the warm house.

Our book club Christmas party yesterday was really great. I took some nuts, wine, (store-bought) pecan shortbread cookies, paper plates and plastic utensils to leave for later, and my bag of ornaments that (I hope) everyone liked. I kept this one -

and gave the 3-4 leftovers to Ramey because she has put up her Christmas tree. Mary Anne, Nell, and our new member (whose name I forget, as I haven't met her) were absent. Carol, Peggy and Chris have been not-attending for a long time, for various good reasons.
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We talked about a few books, anyway, although it was just a party, and made donations to the library in honor of the late Jane Culbreth for whom the library is named. Susan mentioned Shape of Illusion and the new Stephen King book, Under the Dome, that she's reading. Of course, Betty and I had to go over Shantaram again; I think it was her and my favorite book in 2009. Also, someone mentioned The Awakening Land, by Conrad Richter, which we read in (I think) 2007.
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We also signed up for hosting book club in the months of 2010. I chose April, and have to find a good book for that month. Betty chose January, and the book she recommended is Nancy Swimmer, by Clyde Bolton.

Get cracking!

Still sitting here in my pajamas, with only two hours before book club meeting. I did finish the ornaments this morning. Here they are, front side and back side:

The front view will enlarge on my quilting blog. Gotta get moving!

Ah! West and wewaxation at wast!

I've been making Christmas ornaments all day. Still have a few to finish, but had to quit because I couldn't see the thread or needle, due to eye strain. So I'm just resting, with my after-dinner cup of coffee. If it weren't so near bedtime, I would take a nap.

While I was sewing, I watched President Obama's Nobel award speech. I hope (and believe) that he believes everything he said, and that it wasn't just some speechwriter's hype. It was a humble but dignified speech, and I would challenge anyone to find one word of it that was wrong or unworthy of a Christian, an American, and the president of the United States.

We have Book Club meeting at the library tomorrow, and I'm making these ornaments as favors. I hope I get enough finished to give one to each member who's present. We didn't have to read a book this time; we're supposed to bring refreshments, and money to donate to the library.

Light show over Norway--What is it?

The North Wind Doth Blow

Actually, I think it's the west wind. Yesterday evening I sat here and listened to the garbage cans flailing the neighborhood, and was glad I had got my cart in behind the house before dark. Today I'm trying to wrap Christmas gifts, but I need to get more Scotch tape and stuff. It's always something.

In February and March, July and August, time drags; a day seems to take a week, and a month is a long time passing. But come the last quarter of the year, the wheels speed up and days are gone before you can get started. Is today really the 9th of December?

I've got three projects going--one on the kitchen table, one on the dining room table, and one on the sewing machine. None of them can be finished until I go to the store(s). So here I sit. I'd like to be outside in the sunshine and wind, sneezing or not. In a little while, I'm going out. Or back to bed.

A Headache Remedy

I've got a mild sinus headache, the first headache of any kind I've had in many years--more than ten, I'm sure. If I press on the bone under my left eyebrow, the pain goes away for a few minutes. That's how I know it's a sinus headache--or, that's why I think it's a sinus headache. And every time I go outside, I start sneezing. And that reminds me, I've got to replace the furnace filter.
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I am so excited about Christmas! First time I've really had the Christmas Spirit in a long time. All my shopping is done. I think. I started stockpiling gifts about in July or August, and I herewith issue a general apology for the unevenness of the quality/expense of them. Now I've got to wrap them--which is one of the most fun parts.
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The first week in November, I sold five books, but not one since then. Curious.
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These pictures (yesterday and today) are from Christmases Past, which I guess is why they won't enlarge when you click on them. At least, they won't for me.
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You don't have to read Random Harvest.

I really don't demand that everyone read the books I mention. I just get carried away talking about them. And that movie might make you not want to read the book. So don't watch it. I mean, in my opinion, you shouldn't watch it, at least not until you've read the book.

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When/if it comes my turn as Book Club host in 2010, I may choose Random Harvest. But I've lost, donated or sold my copy.

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Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Movie and Book Comments

Random Harvest (1942)

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Stars
Ronald Colman, Greer Garson and Susan Peters.

Based on the Novel by James Hilton

TCM showed this movie last night. It's pretty good, but not one one-thousandth as good as the book. So Please Don't Watch It until after you've read the book, which is one of my favorite novels of all time.

Greer Garson was beautiful, but looked about 40 years old, and Ronald Colman looked every bit of an ill-preserved 65. The movie was mostly doom-and-gloom, except for the mushy hearts and flowers and gingerbread cottages. The book isn't like that at all.

The movie begins in 1917, the day that World War I ended. A veteran is in a mental hospital in England because he was wounded and lost his memory and all his identification. He doesn't know who he is, but he knows he isn't insane, so one night he just walks away from the hospital.

The book begins years afterward, and much of the background story is told in flashbacks. In contrast to the movie, there is at least one event in this book that is so funny, I laughed like a crazy person the first time I read it. And the romances are so poignant as to add touches of sadness. There's a priest who is a perverse and delightful character, but he wasn't in the movie.

Please don't read the Reader's Digest condensed version. The real thing isn't a big book. James Hilton also wrote Good-Bye, Mr. Chips and Lost Horizon. Random Harvest is better than both of those put together.

I have to say it.

I'm very proud that the Crimson Tide beat the Florida Gators 32-13 for the SEC championship. The cheering was sort of dampered for me, though, watching that Florida quarterback cry. I felt sorry for him, but it put me in mind of seeing Martina Navratilova crying when she got beaten. At that time, I thought, "Can you imagine Chrissie Evert crying because she lost a tennis match?" And I didn't feel a bit sorry for Navratilova. It's different, though, seeing a big cute boy shed tears, gave me sort of a sick feeling. They need to teach 'em sportsmanship as well as football. After all, Florida won it last year, and did you see any Bama guys crying?

Anyway, today I saw Nick Saban smile for once.

The White Stuff That Fell To Earth

We did get some snow last night. At 8:30, when I woke up and looked outside, each post on my deck had a little mound of snow on top. The deck looked like a skating rink, with ice and frozen snow all over.
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Tomorrow my great-nephew Reed Agan will be four years old, and I hear there's a birthday party on the agenda. (Uh oh, if it's a surprise party, I hope Reed doesn't read this! I wouldn't be surprised if he did--you never know what that guy can do until he does it.)

Pinky-Promise: This is ab-so-lute-ly my last purchase in 2009. Don't know what I'll do with all the money I saved on it! I hope to have my kitchen refurbished by Christmas, and this is the new color combination.

Today and tomorrow, I plan to give Miss Sylvia a makeover and finish her Christmas outfit. I don't know how old this doll is, but I would guess 1950s.
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Speaking of makeovers, next week my car is going to get a new battery and a new tire or two, and inside-out cleaning and polishing and all that. "But right now, I need me a ri-ide! My uncle used to love me, but she died--" It won't start again, so I guess I'll get Murray's to come start it one more time, and I'll just stay in it and drive it around until the new cables we ordered arrive.

Do Guardian Angels Like Their Job?

I was thinking about the times I believe my guardian angel has rescued me from peril. For some reason, it occurred to me that the heavenly creature may not even like me, but keeps an eye out for me anyway. I know that I don't have the most comfortable and inviting personality in the world, and I was a wicked, wicked child. If I were convinced that I'm a sore trial to my angel, I might be wondering, with Robert Frost, "how to take the curse, tragic or comic."

I think I would just apologize and try to mend myself: be more sensible, sociable, practical, farsighted, industrious, brave, pious, and so forth.

Hoping to make his/their job a bit easier.

Four Days To Read a Book?

I finally finished it today: The Cloister and the Hearth, by Charles Reade. If your heart can break over and over, this book can do it to it. So I don't recommend it. It's a historical novel, about the mother and father of Erasmus. Who was Erasmus? Who were his mother and father? Ancient history. Courage, comrade! le diable est mort!