Beneath the Wraps

I'm really not much of a decorator.   I do put more thought into decorating for Christmas.   It is always so hard for me to take down the decorations - especially the tree.   Jenna must take after me as she is also having a hard time with it. This year I have decided to make it just a bit easier on myself by taking down something just a bit at a time.   On Tuesday I packed up the books that I had only attempted to look at.   I don't think anyone else did.   On Wednesday I removed the cards from the door.   On Thursday I took down the plush toys that hung around the frame of the mirror.   And each day I would also remove ornaments from the tree. Last night Jenna went to Roseburg with Roland and I decided to remove the remaining ornaments while they were gone.   I should have waited until daylight.   What was I thinking?   And why has every house I've lived in had such poor lighting in the front room? The decorations fro...

I haven't been sleeping well and I somehow seem to remember more detail about my dreams - though I don't fully understand why I would dream them. The house across the street really is for sale.   Earlier this month I had a dream that my sister-in-law's sister moved in with her daughter and that Jenna and Alex became really good friends.   I knew that Deb would need a job and remembered that they are always looking for teachers but then remember Deb had not gone into teaching but had gone to beauty school and helped her to get a job at a local salon.   I have no idea why I dreamed it. The dream I had this morning made more sense - except for one part. But I could understand why I had dreamed it as Biff and his living situation has been on my mind and I had just recently   looked at photos that his girlfriend had posted. I was having lunch with his girlfriend Clarissa and a friend from her photos - I'm guessing her sister. I asked Clarissa to tell me mo...

top is white chocolate, bottom is actual chocolate even before taste, sight can figure out the difference.             Those who enjoy a great martini or daiquiri may think that taking the alcohol out and calling it "Virgin" does not make it worthy of calling the drink by its alcoholic name.   I don't know as I have never had an alcoholic beverage on purpose.   I had been invited to a cocktail gala once.   I had ordered a mocktail pina colada I believe. When my glass looked empty, a waitress had asked if I would like a refill.   She hadn't realized my drink was alcoholic free nor did I figure out right away that my second drink had rum.   I didn't like it nor did I finish it.   The first had tasted so much better.   That was my opinion anyway. I cannot tell a mocktail from a cocktail by sight             The word "white" in "white chocolate" must mean the same as mock or virgi...

                When I first joined my family I believed Tony was pretty much a holiday Scrooge.   He said his favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, but he seemed to hate Christmas.   He made no effort to hide his negative emotions.   Fortunately that changed sometime after Jenna was born.   His feelings toward Christmas seem to become more positive with each passing year - or at least that is what I hear in his voice.   It is so awesome to have him enjoying that again.                 Rochelle and Tony's original plans this year were to send their gifts with their brothers who had planned to visit us during the holidays.   Only "when" turned into "if' and then "not this year".   Tony called the day the package was mailed and said that it would be late.   I am glad it didn't come before Christmas as I knew their gift to Jenna would pu...

                I don't remember having met Shelly's mother before, but   she seemed to recognize me.   Many of our town's citizens had gathered downtown for the lighting of the tree on December 2nd.   I was making my up 2nd Ave. to the library annex when she spotted me and waved as though we had been buddies for quite some time but seemed to have lost touch.   She asked about Jenna and mentioned the desire for getting Shelly and Jenna together.           Shelly and her mom had moved to Myrtle Creek last year.   I don't know what time of the year Jenna had been invited to her birthday party, but I know we were already living in Tri City at the time.   It was the first time I had dropped Jenna off at a friend's house without meeting a parent first.   Shelly was attending the same middle school as Jenna but did not return. She has decided to do her schooling online in...

I saw this sweater in Wal-Mart.   I made a comment that I thought it was cute.   It made me think of my brother, Corey.   It's actually not a sweater that I would wear and the more times I saw it, the tackier I thought it was.   Evidently, I had not said that aloud – or at least loud enough that either Jenna nor Roland heard.   I don't mean to complain or sound ungrateful.   It's what one would wear for an ugly sweater contest.   If I put it away for next year, would I actually be able to find it?  Fortunately the Spirit for me lives in giving and not receiving - though I was surprised with one of Jenna's gifts.            I don't think Roland often listens to my desires or my non-desires rather.   For example, there was one year I told him that I did not want a quad (four books of scripture in one book) but that I preferred having the Bible separate to compare two scriptu...

Initially Roland and I had agreed on purchasing only 3 gifts for Jenna to open.   I had forgotten about the 5 books we had purchased in September.   Roland also went haywire one day when he wanted to go to Roseburg and neither Jenna nor I wished to go with him.   He returned with some Pokémon cards and some other things.   We had also given a stuffed toy of Snoopy that shakes his head to the “Lucy and Linus theme” I think there were at least twelve gifts for Jenna. She said her favorite gift was the snoopy 

            Roland's first gift came in the mail.  It was from his boss.  She sent him a melted snowman kit.  Jenna has been playing with it ever since, and enjoying it immensely.            I didn't realize how many ties Roland has or may have not purchased any - though it came at his request.   He did ask for a more subtle or blended design than what we had purchased, but I think he was pleased just the same.  all of the rings are full - some with more than  one tie each.  I counted 7 Christmas ties these are the ties he received for Christmas He was hoping the design would be subtle as these here are the ones he didn't receive (I have to call)             In addition to the ties, we had given him fruitcake and snowballs.   Roland of...

          We sent hats to all of our kids for Christmas this year.   They are Oregon Duck hats.   Many people here are avid Duck fans.   I have no preference, though I do like the "Duck" colors better than the "Beaver" colors.   I thought Biff might like the orange, but we didn't see any Beaver sock hats.               We've made and received many sweets this year.   Roland had wanted to make gingerbread men but we ran out of time before we could purchase all ingredients, so he purchased a tin of butter pecan meltaways instead.  I will always think of them as "Mexican Wedding Cookies" as I had learned that is what they were called - but the name probably is not a best seller at Christmas time - possibly? Next year I am giving out Queso and chips as I felt burnt out on sweets this year (as I'm certain many others did).         ...

I believe we decorated the trees outside before we brought our Christmas tree into the house.   Roland had started out with the lights and gradually we added large ornaments and bows. We also purchased a starlight system to save ourselves from having to hang lights        Jenna framed our mirror with the sock toys that Corey had given us years before and put out many decorations that we have used in previous years. Aunt Julie sent us this when we first moved to West Valley middle tree pop up from a card from Ooki (son) and  back tree gift from Salad Master, Nativity to my mom her last Christmas also from Aunt Julie.  It was designed as  a door hanged.  But we have moved it to chain on screen door and added a few new ones as well Santa is really a tree topper and a stocking Jenna colored not a great picture.  Jenna received this fragile piece ...