End of 2021

 I started the year wanting to take the blog in a different direction.  Yeah, that didn't happen.  Same direction, just less of it.  And yet I had over 8000 page views this year.  That is pretty amazing.  So I am just going to keep on keeping on in the direction the blog wants to go. That is more of a diary and history of doings.  

This year saw more travel.  I drove to Indiana twice.  I flew to Indiana four times.  The kids came back with me for almost a month.  Jodi and I went to Hawaii and to Mexico.  

I made a small pretty unsuccessful garden.  I started work on a fish wall for Pat.  I have read some good books and saw a few movies in the theater.  Went to one concert.  Did a lot of yardwork and pruning of old plants.  And started my healthier journey.  Lots and lots of walking, including the Bubble run.  Living.  

All in all it was a pretty good year even with the strife that developed.  I've enjoyed watching my kids grow and mature.  And that said it is time to close 2021.

Chompy

 

The kids are all excited to have a new pet.  She is a snapping turtle and her name is Chompy.  I'm not too sure how good of a pet she will be when she is older...since snapping turtles chomp.  It's fun watching them doing research like finding out that Chompy is a girl.  

Christmas Doings

 Christmas Eve was a pajama party with cousins.  We all played a card game that David's sister brought over.  David bbqed steaks for us.  We got to see the babies, who are now really toddlers.  Cousins ranged in ages from 1 to 17.  Nine altogether.  We even got a nighttime walk in after the festivities.  

We had a visit from Cam, the dog.  Berlioz did not quite know what to make of him.  Guess he no longer remembered Cam from when he was a little kitten.  

Christmas day was filled with gifts, prime rib and roasted veggies, pierogis, and time together.  There was some playing of catch in the empty lot across the street, a sewing lesson, one figured out how to be cool with an apple pen, and lots of kinetic sand.  It was a very relaxing time for me.  

I believe everyone was happy with the time and the gifts.  I'll have another little celebration, when I return, with Pat.  

Solstice Reflections

 As the sun came up, we got a beautiful view of the moon.  It is the winter solstice today.  Shortest day, longest night.  And we will have hot cocoa tonight.  

I tend to suffer from the seasonal affective disorder.  Not always, but I have noticed it for the last decade or so. Not while I'm in it, but as I come out of it.  I will realize that I have forgotten to do something that I never forgot before.  Like renewing tags for a vehicle or my driver's license. I believe that seasonal is caused by less sun and less activity in the winter.  

The solstice, this year, reminded me that I suffer this. In 2020 I think I actually had depression the whole year.  Circumstances caused a lot of that and it took me awhile to come out of it.  2021 has been a different year.  I have felt the freedom that my life has attained.  And I started taking care of myself since I am no longer anyone else's caretaker.  I had that role my whole adult life and it feels freeing to not have it be a primary role.  

This morning with the moon I realized that I have had the best holiday season so far.  No stress.  We have done activities, but not too much.  We have shopped, but not too much.  We have decorated, but not too much.  We have loved and it is never too much.  I am right where I want to be and content in this moment.  I'm thrilled to not be sad.  

The weather has been mostly sunny since I have been here.  We are walking every day so getting our exercise and outside in the sun.  I have no clue if it is circumstances or taking better care this year.

Will I have it next year?  We will have to wait and see, but what a delightful change this year.  

In the Kitchen

                                                 

We have been doing a lot of cooking and baking.  I try to find things to do one on one and it never seems to work out.  Although we did make the peppermint patties with just me and one grandchild.  

My girl asked that we make the peppermint patties again.  Maybe I'll make them with just her, if possible.  No one likes to be left out.

We've been doing a lot of activities that are not food related.  And then we have done some that are.  But when we do, we have tried to keep the amount smaller as no one needs tons of cookies.  Doing my small part to include them but also to give them a sense of treats are not food but treats.  And we shouldn't eat too much of them.  Better to learn it now than when they are grown up.  

And the one who likes to peel veggies amazes me. She doesn't eat them, but she sure likes to peel them.

Bridges Christmas Party

The last event of Bridges for the year was their Christmas party.  It was quite a production.  There were activities like making ornaments and decorating cookies.  There was a cake walk and they had holiday bingo.  We were fed pizza.  And the Bridges kids all got a gift.  

I am so appreciative of all the support that Bridges has given my girl.  I don't know if it helps her anxiety or not, but I notice she never misses an after-school event.  And on the day she said she didn't like it; I think her anxiety was talking.  

They do so many activities besides the after-school sessions.  My girl doesn't do all of them, but she sure enjoys the ones she does.  The last one that wasn't a family activity was zip-lining.  I was so amazed that she did it.  My girl who is very nervous about new things is doing new things this year.  Again, my heart is happy.  

Fun on the Ice

 

Blogger insisted that the pictures had to go in the wrong order.  

Bridges, which is a support group for kids afterschool, sponsored a family group skating event at the Frozen Sandlot.  Turned out Bridges sponsors the Frozen Sandlot as a fundraiser for the group.  We took all the kids.

Now I am the only one in our group of seven who has ever been on skates.  And yet, I opt not to skate anymore.  David took to it like a duck to water. The oldest two needed help and instruction.  The littlest man gave up and was allowed along with Cassie.  Which left one who was not far behind David.  I'm sure that if the littlest one would have stayed on the ice he would have had it the next time around.  He could walk in skates no problem.  

This had the feel of roller skating.  The ones on the rink had a great time and if we could have stayed to the end, my girl would have stayed on the ice the whole time.  Cassie had to work so we had to leave after an hour and a half.  And that is a pretty respectable amount of time on the ice for a first time.  The biggest three definitely want to do it again.  

Winter Band Concert

 

Middle school is usually very tough for kids.  And yet, my girl, is thriving.  Band was offered and she decided she wanted to do that.  Cassie let her pick her instrument and she went with the flute.  It was a rocky start.  Right about the time band was beginning there was some covid exposures which kept her home. And then the household did catch covid, including her.  So she started behind.  But she picked it right up.

I missed the first concert.  I am grateful to have made this one.  The beginning band played a couple of songs and then the second-year band played a few more.  They really did a good job.  My girl was a bit nervous because something was changed the week before (she dislikes change) and she was afraid she would forget her notes.  She did not.  She was a trooper.  

I find it amazing and awesome when she has no problem being in front of the crowd.  I think her anxiety comes from being part of the crowd and maybe that is the difference.  

Anyway, my heart is happy.

Photography

 

My girl pops off with the desire to be a wildlife photographer. I'm sure it is a fleeting thing, but I never discourage.  I told her she should ask Gabe for some pointers or lessons.  I didn't expect that conversation to turn into a lesson the following day, but it did.  They spent about an hour just taking pictures.  I'm sure she got a lot out of it and still says she wants to do that.  

Me, I take a lot of pictures.  I don't consider myself a photographer.  I am a picture taker.  I use my pictures to tell stories. I've done that for a long time.  I take a lot of pictures after the elusive good ones.  I have no skillset for photography.  I just know when I get a good one.  And I also know that good photographers are taking just as many pictures as me looking for the elusive good one.  The difference is they have a skillset that allows them to set things up better than me.  

We shall see what my girl becomes.  I figure anytime you learn something, do something, or be something, you are growing, and it is all good.  

No time For Pink

 

We finally found some time to work on another bedroom.  It was quite a bright pink.  There was a lot of talk as to what color should be used.  I cringed when white was an option.  I could not imagine how many coats it would take to go over the pink.  

David again did the edges and then he did a quick paint lesson.  We are all for the child helping when it is their room and they wanted it painted.  Regaled red is the color, and it did a wonderful job of covering the pink.  And it is a totally different color of red from her brother's room.  

After the paint was dried the room got put back together including putting the bed Papa made back together.  The other bed got put together also and the bunkbeds dismantled and put away.  There are lights to yet be installed.  It is looking so much better.  And everyone is happy that the pink is gone.  

Seiberling Mansion

 

Every year here in Kokomo they decorate up the Seiberling Mansion.  They have some free days to visit it.  We took advantage of that and made a family outing.  Each room is decorated and then they have a contest for the best room.  Three stories full of trees and decorations. 

The mansion was built in 1890-1891 at the beginning of the natural gas boom here.  I was amazed at the building itself.  Wondered how many people it took to maintain that house.  I guess there is no good answer, and they think there was only one room devoted to a servant's quarter.  I was amazed at wallpaper on the ceiling that is at least twelve feet up.  Absolute beautiful woodwork that you just don't see anymore.  It was fabulous.

All the kids behaved pretty well, and we were given cupcakes on the way out.  Another family activity that went over well.  

Decorating Family Style

Once we got the tree home it didn't take long for the decorating to commence.  It truly is a family affair here.  And I have got to say I am so happy that Cassie isn't one of those moms who have to 'fix' the tree after the  kids decorate it.  And to be fair...the kids did a wonderful job.  We also keep working on the mantle and it is looking very nice.  My heart is just happy.