Amazing Grace

Yes, I consider it to be an incident of "Amazing Grace". The truck accident that Tim had in Connecticut in the early hours of December 21, resulted in our truck being "totalled".
Pictured looking forward to the front of the truck from the rear....guardrail and the front axle torn loose. Looking the other direction under the wheel well.....the guard rail that they could not get out from under the truck, so they just cut the guard rail off. Connecticut is missing about 200 feet of intact guard rail.


Tim is bruised, not broken. Spirits are very low but the way I look at it...we were very, very lucky. No one else involved. No other vehicles involved. Only our truck and Tim. He will recover and so will we. Everything looks better in the morning. Tomorrow the insurance company reopens, we will find out the results of their adjuster and we will be hopeful that we can replace the truck and proceed with our three year plan, such as it is. Retire in three years is our goal. We start working on that plan today!

Always enough room

Christmas dinner was very lovely. A large 8 lb.
sirloin of beef, medium rare, fresh green beans, au jus, individual Yorkshire Puddings, mashed potatoes, dill pickles, and birthday cake and cheesecake for dessert.

Friends Tom and Dee Donnelly, Nathan and Traci, Tim, Monica and me. The empty chair between Tom and Monica is in memory of Uncle Don. That spot at the table was always reserved for him.

We miss our friends and family who have gone on ahead to the heavenly table.

I know they wait, and we will join them some day.
Hopefully later than sooner. Until then, there will always
be a place in our home for the memories.

Merry Christmas!

Batteries not included!

Above photo: Daniel and Tim after donning the

stocking contents of "Animal Masks"!

Photos right and below: Santa brought Daniel the "Play Mobil" Pyramid! Assembly required but no

betteries required!

What fun for a Christmas morning!

HappyBirthday Jesus!

I asked Santa's helpers for Cake Decorating equipment.

Santa obliged!

I just completed the "Garage Cake" (Uncle Don's favorite) birthday cake for the Christmas Day celebration.

It will be served as dessert after Christmas
dinner, complete with lighted candle and the
singing of "Happy Birthday Jesus".

Amen and Merry Christmas!

I know where I'm going...

...and now I know how to get there!

My family hosted a birthday dinner
last night at Nathan and Traci's. Sarah and
Daniel came with us, and Kevin called to
wish me a Happy Birthday while we
were eating dinner.

Spaghetti, Bolognaise sauce, salad and all the
trimmings. Chocolate cake (which
boasted "Birthday" the "Happy" part
must have participated in someone
else's celebration) and two kinds of
ice cream.

The gift, as you can see is a Tom Tom
GPS, programable guidance system.

I love GPS! I especially love the part when
the voice says "recalculating" because you
missed the anticipated exit or turn for what
ever reason.

I can hardly wait to try it out.

If I show up at your doorstep, it's because I
was "practicing"!

A job well done!

Thank you to all of my associates, family and friends. We could not have done it without you.
This year's Salvation Army Christmas Stocking Stuffing Party just ended. We filled to overflowing 125 stockings for the local children, who need a hand.

A special thank you for those who wrote checks: Jo Ann Wingfield, Frieda DiStaulo, Cindy Steeb, Penny Burlinson, Sherry Stell and cash donations from Bruce and Linda Vaughn, Anita Weaver, Ann Reusch, Corrine, Jean Smeal and some others who want to remain ananomous. To Gerdi Schaeffer who relentless dove in and organized all of the donations from you all. Jean, Judy, Penny, Cindy and Bill, Debi, Barbara, Tim Rhodes for purchasing all of the stockings. Buehler's for the apples, Beriswell's Farm Market for the oranges and suckers, and all of you who found a place in your hearts for children young and older.
To my wonderful Howard Hanna elves, Tim, Mike, Mollie, Tina, Marie, Donna, Randy and Gerdi (head elf herself).

God's Blessings to you all. You know who you are. I remain so very, very grateful!
You have helped reinforce the true giving spirit of Christmas.

Blessings be to you who helped, and to you who wanted to help.

Just a simple reminder

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately... Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat.. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each.. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

An ordinary day......not!

This snow photo could be of my driveway yesterday.

I was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine at 6:15 yesterday morning when someone appeared on my patio and knocked on the door. It was our friend Barry, the man who plows our driveway when it snows. Yesterday was a "snow" day and often Barry will stop for coffee in the early hours of a snow day in between plowing neighbors' drives.

I let him in and he announced that his truck slide off of the drive next door and did we have a tractor. No, but I have a four-wheel drive pickup truck, maybe that would help. When I went out to look at the truck there it rested at an odd angle sliding into the ditch that ran alongside Pam and Jerry's asphalt driveway. Barry said there was sheet of ice under the snow and as soon as the truck started to slide he knew it was not going to be a pretty sight.

I almost had him pulled out with my truck, but his tow rope broke. He was dangerously close to the utility pole and guide wire so we decided not to continue with a new tow strap or chain.

He ended up calling his neighbor who owns a towing company. While Barry waited, I fixed him bacon, eggs and toast, and we sat and hashed over the weather and the real estate market.

Soon enough the tow truck came and Barry was back on the road again. Barry is always in a hurry in snowy weather as he has lots of driveways to clear. But, mention coffee and the possibility of breakfast at Tim and Judy's....well, he can spare a few extra minutes.

Glad to oblige!

My second chance

I know this may sound maudlin or morbid. But Daniel's birth
renewed my life.

All of the mistakes in my former life could easily be rectified
if I only got a second chance. This little boy has given me
an opportunity to evaluate things that I did raising my own
children, good things and not so good things.

This is his first formal visit to Santa. His Mom and Dad took
him to the Great Northern mall for this special first Santa
visit and Tim and I were so very lucky to witness this first
innocance.

As Christmas approaches, Daniel has asked me to tell him the story of the "First Christmas". I know he does not refer to "his" first Christmas, but that is what I thought of today.

I will tell him the simple story of the first Christmas and I am reminded of the story of the little boy who accompanied his mother to the local mall at Christmas time. He asked the lady elf who was assisting the children waiting to see Santa
this question.

"Where is the line to see Jesus"?

Hmmmm.

"Take Joy!"...

...is the title of a book given to me as a Christmas gift in 1970. It is the Tasha Tudor Christmas Book..Songs, stories, poems and things to do for a family Christmas.

This photo was taken last weekend at a private "Breakfast with Santa" that I have had the privilege of being invited to by Daniel's Grandparents, John and Charlene Vas. This breakfast is hosted by their long time family friend, financial advisor John Lorec (sp?).

A lovely affair held this year at the Clifton Club, and private members only club on the lake in Lakewood, Ohio.

On the drive to the location, Daniel and I drove past a lone Santa standing in a driveway. There was no car or vehicle in sight and Santa just waved at us, but he had a very forlorn look on his face. Daniel and I waved back and then we started wondering what Santa was doing out on the street all alone with no vehicle in sight.

Daniel decided that perhaps Santa had an accident and was waiting for the police. Perhaps..perhaps not. Daniel's concern was that maybe Santa would not be able to come to the breakfast. I remained positive and said I'm sure he would come.

We drove into Fairview Park and suddenly appeared a very large deer. He was standing on the lawn of a neighborhood home and he was limping. He was a very unusual deer in that three quarters of his body was totally white fur and his head, neck and front legs were the usual brown. He sported a very, very large rack of antlers, but his limp was bothersome. Sure enough there appeared to be a bloody wound on the inside of his right back leg. We slowed to a stop, but he proceeded to limp to the rear of the property and disappeared. Daniel was quite concerned. He decided that this was Santa's reindeer, and that there indeed had been an accident. He was even more concerned that Santa would not arrive at the breakfast. We drove on and I tried to distract him by singing "Jingle Bells". He was pretty quiet.

(I need to back up a bit and tell you that the previous evening Daniel stayed over so we could get an early start in the morning. When I picked him up his mother spoke with him about meeting with Santa the next day. She reminded him that he had indeed not be "good" as he should so he had to remind Santa of that fact.)

Gratefully, Santa did arrive and Daniel took his turn sitting on Santa's lap and when Santa asked Daniel what he wanted for Christmas, Daniel lowered his eyes and his voice and said "two bones for my two dogs". "Is that all you want for Christmas"? "Yes" said Daniel.

He was silent for a few seconds, and then Santa said he could have his picture taken, and that he needed to smile.

I hope Santa brings the two dogs some bones, but I hope Santa rewards Daniel for his soberness and not asking for something that he thought he did not deserve.

I think that this event qualifies for things to do for a family Christmas, don't you?

Try to go to this site.

www.thebeat.pegcentral.com
Or type it into your browser
This is the TV Interview I did on Wednesday
for the Salvation Army.
Hope I get a few calls to volunteer.

Are you kidding me?

FREE Personal Mobility Assessment Enclosed.

Yee Gads! This just came in the mail addressed to me.

I want to just sit down and cry!

Who are they and how did they get my name and address?

I'll tell you what, retirement is certainly not for sissies!

Everyday people

This is an excerp from a Mortgage Newsletter, Home Savings Bank Loan Officer, and my friend and client, Jim Priebe. My Red Kettle (yes I have assumed ownership after 11 years) Campaign is successful because of folks like Jim!

Give him a call and thank him!
(sad update, I spoke with Jim last evening and was told that his home had been broken into on Wed. and ransacked, all of his wife's jewelry taken, even the things that Jim had given her as gifts when they dated in high school. His precious guitars (he is an outstanding musician and teacher) were left intact, but all the drawers and file cabinets etc in the whole house were turned out onto the floors)


On a personal note:
For the third year in a row, I had the opportunity to be a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army this week. I can’t encourage you enough to volunteer for this worthwhile organization. From the little boy who asked me if I was poor, to the woman who tearfully told me she had nothing to drop in the kettle as she was fighting to keep her home, the experience of generosity I witnessed from everyday ordinary folks continues to remind me of those things that are most important in life. Please do yourself a favor and volunteer to ring the bell – even if it is only for an hour; you won’t regret it- perhaps you’ll never forget it!

If I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to call!

Jim Priebe, CMPS
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist
Home Savings and Loan
30700 Center Ridge Rd. Ste. C
Westlake, Ohio 44145
440-360-7771 office
440-781-9618 Cell

Betty Crocker I ain't!

Something jogged my memory yesterday and I had a flashback

of a cooking/baking incident when I was a young bride.

We moved to the farm in August of 1967. Well, it was not exactly

a "farm" perse. It was formerly a farm and what was left were the

house, bank barn, shed and small garage on a little over a acre.

All of the farm land had been sold off years before.

It was like "Mr Blandings Dream House" (an old movie that most

of you wouldn't remember). We bought the house on the hill while I looked at it through squinted eyes, much like you would envision an artist holding out a brush at arm's length and closing her eyes for whatever reason.

Anyway, I didn't even know if this house had running water or a bathroom. (there was still a pitcher pump attached to the tiny counter at the sink in the kitchen). It was a lovely old farmhouse (I later remembered that the blackberry bushes reached up to the second story windows).

The only electricity that was anywhere near where an appliance could be plugged in was an outlet on the back panel of the electric stove. Hence, if I needed to use the "hand mixer", since I had no stand mixer as a new bride, I had to plug it into the "stove". My hair was quite long (half way down my back) and very, very red. I was mixing up a box cake one fine day when I leaned over to examine my work. Zap! a large strand of my hair was instantly sucked up by the revolving blades and before I could blink an eye, the mixer's beaters were wound up to my head and were madly beating my face into a brown mush!

What to do? I unplugged the mixer's cord, ran out onto the side porch, yelled (I mean REALLY yelled) for Tim to come quick (all the while holding the weapon up to the side of my head where it seemed to be permanently attached).

Tim came running up from the barn and to his credit he did not laugh. He just stood there with a look of disbelief on his face.

I'll tell you folks. You ain't lived until you have had an appliance of some sort flayling about your personal space!

It took quite a long time and a lot of wincing and grimacing to detangle the beaters (Tim had the prescence of mind to eject them from the motorized hand held part of the mixer) from my temple.

Alas, my favorite box cake recipe now calls for:

One chocolate cake mix, add the required 3 eggs, and 1/2 oil, but instead of liquid, add one can of cherry pie filling and 1 teas. almond extract.

DO NOT USE A MIXER!

Just stir about 60 strokes with a wooden spoon like you would a brownie mix. Place into two round cake pans and bake.

Very, very yummy and a lot less wear and tear to your head!

Angels we have heard

below. That was Uncle Don. He was so cool!
I have a letter he wrote to Nathan for the occassion of Nathan's birth. One of the most beautiful group of words I have ever read. He was Nathan's God Father, and he loved that child.

He passed in January after a long confinement at
Parkview Villas in Middleburg Hts. He had a very severe stroke that broke his body, but not his mind or wit. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer last fall, his response was "Naw, I'm not doing any of that treatment". And he didn't.

As I prepare for the Christmas holiday festivities
my thoughts will go to the empty chair at the
dining room table. Uncle Don loved life and he
was a long time family member sitting second seat
from Tim on the left. It was he who taught the proper
way to carve a turkey, goose, duck, piglet etc. I will never
smell the scent of banana between the layers of chocolate
cake without thinking of Uncle Don. He loved that kind of
cake. He called it "Garage Cake". The smell of the bananas
reminded him of his youth when banana oil was used for
cleaning up tools in the garage.

This year when I bake the "Christmas Birthday Cake" (I always
bake a birthday cake for Jesus Birthday) I think it should be a
"Garage Cake" in memory of Uncle Don.

Photo shows the last Christmas celebration at our
house. Monica and her Santa hat leaning over
Don's shoulder. Loving to be with him until the
end.

Merry Christmas Uncle Don, we miss you so!

From Boys to Men

December, 2000 I received a phone call from a woman who lived in Valley City. She said she had two sons who needed, and I repeat "Needed" to ring the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign in Brunswick, Ohio.

I gladly signed them up to ring at the then Tops Supermarket store on a Saturday morning. It happened that I was in the store that morning to bring in more empty kettles, in the hopes that they would be filled by Saturday shoppers.

I saw these two teenage boys, brothers Jordan and Colin, and they did not look exceptionally happy to be there. They rang on several other occasions also, and the following fall, one of them wrote their college entrance essay on "ringing the bell".

Time has passed, and lo and behold, who should my wondering eyes fall on......Colin Vickers.
He is the manager of my PNC Branch right here in Valley City.

Today, he signed up to ring the bell for me at Buehler's in Brunswick. He and his new bride may ring the bell again on another day before the holiday. In addition, two of his tellers have signed up for multiple spots to ring, and also, he and the tellers have taken eight angels off of our angel tree, that is in the lobby of the Buehler's store and will purchase gifts for the children.

The tellers have spread the word and I received a call from a church group leader and will pass the word on for the bell ringing need as well as the angel tree.

Strong parents, bright kids, motivated adults.
Or in reverse order, either way the community is the beneficiary!
Thank you Irene Vickers for a job well done!


Collin Vickers’s Experience

Branch Manager
PNC
(Public Company; PNC; Financial Services industry)
July 2009 — Present (1 year 6 months)

Assistant Branch Manager
National City Bank
(Public Company; PNC; Banking industry)
June 2007 — June 2009 (2 years 1 month)
Collin Vickers’s Education
Cleveland State University
MBA , 2008 — 2011 (expected)
Baldwin-Wallace College
Bachelor of Arts , Economics, Finance, Management , 2003 — 2007

Totally timed perfectly!

A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard.

During the night the folks came across this scene.

An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep.

He chose baby Jesus as his comfort.

No one had the heart to send him away so he was there all night.

We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus' lap from time to time.

This is too sweet not to share.

No one mentioned that the dog's breed is a "Shepherd!"

Thanks to Elsie for sending this to me!

30 days hath September

April, June and NOVEMBER! Yikes, it's the last day of November! Now is the count down to the busiest and most hectic time of the year.

26 days until Christmas. Each year I know it is coming, I get lulled into an uncanny sense of timelessness as the New Year unfolds and proceeds through Spring, Summer and Fall.

The seasonal tasks that are connected with each month of the New Year fall into step and get done. Sometimes I don't know how they get done, but they get done all the same.

Please let it be so for this next 26 days.

No more complacent housewife for me....time to get into gear!

Christmas in the Colonies

has been changed to Christmas around the World.
But what it really is ... is a craft show. Nice crafts to be
sure, but still a craft show.

No colonial craftsmen hawking their wares, and certainly
no craftsmen demonstrating their skills.

Anyway, it was a nice little jaunt for a Sunday afternoon.

Linda, Daniel and I attended and we stayed about an hour.
The most fun was watching Daniel get his face painted by
a "colonial" garbed lady artist.

As you can see, the design he chose was of a
"Toy Soldier".

The face paint lasted a couple of hours before it started to
transfer to hands, pillows, shirt etc.

He had a great time and the passer's by smiled and pointed.

Cost: $8.00 for the face painting, $4.00 for the Santa Photo,
$2.00 for the Christmas craft (painting a small toy soldier)
Admission for Daniel: Free

Yup, it was a pretty nice couple of hours!

The best part of the Thanksgiving bird...

....is the sandwich! After the family and friends have gone home, I make myself a turkey sandwich. Just bread, turkey (white or dark) and mayo. A fresh plate, a few celery stalks and some green olives.

That is what I dream of when I prep for the Thanksgiving
cooking marathon.

Just the sandwich.

I imagine everyone else longs for a sandwich too....so that is why I cook two turkeys the day before Thanksgiving and have them all carved and cooled waiting for the "packing up of leftovers".

My guests appreciate the parcels they can take home as an extension of the holiday meal.

At least I hope they relish the sandwich after the feast as much as I do!

The glasses were placed on the table with care....

.....in hopes that the turkey soon would be there.

Sixteen family and friends gathered around this table soon to
be covered with bounty.

Sixteen people could not eat all that was on their plates.

The women cleared, packaged, washed and dried.

Most took packages of turkey and trimmings home for another
meal or sandwich and pie.

I am tired. But in a good way.
We are so blessed!

Two days and counting down..

Today is day four of prepping for the "Feast".

I love this particular holiday. I show "Love" with food and so this is my kind of gathering.

So far the prepping has included:

l. cutting and roasting three hubbard squash (baking with butter and brown sugar to come)

2. cutting, peeling and cooking five rutabaga to prepare braised with onion, bacon, sage and stock

3. cleaning and cooking four bags of cranberries and making into sauce

4. peeling, dicing and sauteing three lbs of onions and two bunches of celery in one pound of butter for stuffing

5. thawing three turkeys, (20 lbs, 24.9 lbs, 20.4 lbs)

6. polishing various and assorted silver tableware and silverware

7. shopping for cream to whip, pies to make (eight) green beans to casserole, sweet potatoes to roast and mash, corn to heat and butter, potatoes to mash, gravy to make, suttfing bread to dice,

8. vacuum and dust

9. table to set

10. Be Thankful and pray!

Thanksgiving Card I just received

Dr. Mark and I did a deal together this year. He worked really hard for his buyer.

It says :With all due respect to the visually impaired, herewith the traditional Ernberg Thanksgiving Card. The happiest Turkey Day to you and your family!



And the same to you!

The Mitten Tree

Yesterday I picked Daniel up from Daycare. In the foyer there is a small Christmas Tree, decorated with perhaps two dozen green and red paper cutouts of mittens. (Most images that I can picture of a mitten tree contain hats, gloves and mittens that are "brought" to the location and hung on the tree) Each mitten bears the name of a child, the child's age, gender, and ID number and a "Christmas Wish".

A couple of weeks ago I took a mitten off of the tree and tucked it into my pocket. When I was at Von Maur, I purchased a sweater, women's size small for a 12 year old girl. It was fun picking something out and I was fortunate to find a nice one on a sale rack. Yesterday before I picked Daniel up, I wrapped the gift with wrapping paper and ribbon, placed a tag with the proper identification written on it and returned it to the school. As I entered the lobby I glanced at the tree. There seemed to be the same number of mittens hanging on it as there were two weeks ago. Hmmmm.

When Daniel and I were ready to leave the school we stopped and looked at the tree together.

"Hey Daniel let's take another mitten off of the tree"

"Maybe we can find someone else to buy a gift for another child"

"Okay" said he.

On the short ride home he said "I know, maybe Linda can buy a present".

So, when we got out of the car at home, we walked across the driveway, across Linda's backyard and into her house. Her husband was in his recliner watching the news, her two grandchildren were completing a craft project on her kitchen table and Linda was in the office at the other end of the house gathering construction paper (I thought she looked a little harried as she was the hostess for Bridge in just a couple of hours, when eight ladies would arrive for cards, snacks, desserts and gabbing.) Daniel walked up to Linda and said "Would you buy a doll for this little girl for Christmas from the mitten tree?" A startled Linda paused what she was doing for a moment....and said "Sure".

Daniel left and walked back home, even though he wanted to stay and participate with Claire and Ethan in their "Teepee" making craft.

This was a warm moment for me .... and I'm sure for Linda too.

There are lots of mittens and angel cutouts bearing children's names hanging on trees in our communities today. Grocery stores, retail stores , schools and churches

Please stop and pick up a mitten or an angel or maybe two.

Warmth is what we all need at this time of year.

"Tradition".....not just something your Grandma did..

This is an excerp from my daughter-in-law Traci Purdum Von Duyke's blog, written for her landscape contractor client....

Guest blogger Traci Purdum

I love traditions. Traditions make you feel like a part of something bigger – something that will live on long after you’ve gone. For my family, my mother-in-law is the keeper of traditions, and this time of year she is busy ensuring the traditions don’t fall by the wayside. I’m certain she feels like no one really cares about the effort she puts forth – but I’m also certain that if she took the year off she’d soon realize she is the glue that holds the family together.

I first entered the family at Christmastime. That first Christmas introduced me to one of my favorite traditions – Trekking out to the horse barn on Christmas Eve to hear the horses talk. Legend has it that animals all over the world are given a voice for a very short time to chat it up before Santa arrives. In the 15 years with the family have I ever heard a horse speak? No – but that’s not the point. The point is that every Christmas Eve I spend on this Earth will remind me of that tradition – and of my mother-in-law.

The following is the legend...a tradition that I love to keep....

The Night The Animals Talked
In the frosty mountains and on the snowy fields of Norway, there is a legend that draws children to all kinds to stables and stalls throughout the country on each Christmas Eve night. They are hoping to hear a miracle. They are waiting to hear the animals talk.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. This was no abandoned place, but was a working stable, filled with animals of all kinds. Into these humble surroundings, encircled by the innocent creatures of God, the Savior of man came into the world. Now according to legend, at least, Christ's birth occurred at exactly midnight. Inside the stable, the animals watched in wonder as the new-born babe was lovingly wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. Suddenly, God gave voice to the animals and immediately they began to praise God for the miracle they had just seen. This went on for several minutes and, just before the entrance of the shepherds -- who had hurried to the stable because angels had told them the Christ had been born there -- the animals again fell silent. The only humans who had heard them were Mary, Joseph and, of course, the Christ child.

The legend of the talking animals persists to this day in Scandinavia. And every Christmas Eve, wide-eyed children creep into stables just before midnight to hear the animals praise God for the wondrous birth of His Son. Of course, adults scoff at this. "Old wives tales," they grump. "Those children should be home in bed, not out in the cold waiting for the family cow to preach a sermon."

But the children know -- or at least believe -- that animals really do praise God at midnight every Christmas Eve.

And who of us -- those who believe in an all-powerful God -- can say that it really doesn't happen?

That being said......

Rainbows can be observed whenever there are water drops in the air and sunlight shining from behind at a low altitude angle. The most spectacular rainbow displays happen when half the sky is still dark with raining clouds and the observer is at a spot with clear sky in the direction of the sun. The result is a luminous rainbow that contrasts with the darkened background.

My friend Ruthie is here from her home in Texas (well actually, "here" is her real home, she just lives in Texas). She and I had a great day yesterday. We drove to Polaris/Gemini north of Columbus and shopped at Von Maur for two hours. Then drove over to the Polaris Grill and had a late lunch. On the trip down we talked non-stop.

In the store we fell into our old routine of shopping a lot in a short period of time. Ruthie asking for my opinion on such things as "would the purple be better or the gray", I bought pajamas for Daniel to wear on Christmas Eve, some stocking stuffers, a pair of sweat pants and a sweater (for the girl whose name I picked off the Angel Tree at Daniel's pre-school) and marveled at Ruthie's purchases. Two pairs of shoes that were knock-out, (one animal print heels, and the other bright red patent flats) an elegant rain coat, two tops, some great Christmas wine glasses and a set of three ceramic Santa's (Ruthie collects Santa's) who depicted (tongue in cheek mind you) "See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil". (Hmmmm, what a great concept for the holidays) A couple of other things were thrown in but that about covers it.

Von Maur is our favorite department store. Genteel and refined. A live pianist sits at a baby grand and plays lovely music, the clerks are all from the school of "Miss Manners". For example..when you make a purchase and are standing at the counter. The clerk politely asks if you want your receipt in your hand or in the bag., The bag being a lovely red and white, good quality shopping bag with handles. She not only asks if you want a box (complete with Von Maur printed tissue) but she walks around the counter and hands the bag to you. Sigh, the rest of retail could take notice. Perhaps Nordstrom's does that little perk, but I can't remember.

We talked for the whole trip down, talked through lunch, and talked all the way home. It has only been four months since the death of Ruthie's youngest child, Clifford William, and she still grieves like it was yesterday. North of Mansfield, we were discussing the cemetary and headstone among other aspects of Cliff's life and death when we both exclaimed at the same time "Look at the Rainbow". I turned to Ruthie and said "It's a sign...a sign that Cliff is alright and looking down on you". "Yes it is" said Ruthie. We just looked at each other.

I don't pretend to know what she is going through, and I told her that. I hope that I never know what she is going through. I just know that if she ever needs me, I'll be ready.

We had an absolutely great day.

As we parted she said to me "This is the first day I haven't cried since he died".

Cliff knows.

My friend Ruthie Lowery and husband "G" are in town from Denton, Texas. She and G arrived last Monday to attend Ruthie's daughter Sonnie's second child's birth. Mason Cliffie arrived on Thursday, all 10 lbs., 2 ozs. of him.

The birth of a child is always a special and blessed event, but in the case of Mason, even more emotion was involved in his arrival.

Ruthie's youngest son Cliffie, 31 died in July of this year. Causes unknown. He had experienced demons in his young life, and the young man's life ended abruptly.

The pain and sorrow that Ruthie is experiencing has been almost unbearable for her. She has made a memorial in her garden in Texas to constantly remind her of his life and death.

I cannot imagine, nor do I wish to be able to do so, the pain and suffering she endures at the loss of her child.

In a very small way, this baby will have a soul watched over by his uncle Cliffie.

Ruthie and I are travelling to Columbus today to lunch and shop at Von Maur. A favorite passtime from our years of travelling together to participate in Women's Council of Realtor's functions. We miss these time spent together, sharing the innermost thoughts, joys and fears.

Today we will capture the time since we've been apart.

And Cliffie will watch.

Girlfriends!

Had a great day yesterday with my friend Jo Ann. We don't see each other often, but we communicate by "blog" and "email". Sometimes, you just need to rest your head on someone else's shoulder to get something off yours so you can go on.

Yesterday got the job done.

As always, Jo Ann listens and I feel better. Thanks Jo Ann!

Yea for Applebees!

I heard on the news the other day that the Applebees Restaurant chain is offering a free meal today, Vetern's Day to any active military or Vet.

I thank them for putting their money where their mouth is!

You can trust a nurse!

A motorcycle patrolman was rushed to the hospital with an inflamed appendix.
The doctors operated and advised him that all was well; however, the patrolman kept feeling something pulling at the hairs in his crotch.

Worried that it might be a second surgery and the doctors hadn't told him about it, he finally got enough energy to pull his hospital gown up enough so he could look at what was making him so uncomfortable.

Taped firmly across his pubic hair and private parts were three wide strips of adhesive tape, the kind that doesn't come off easily --- if at all.
Written on the tape in large black letters was the sentence,

'Get well soon . from the nurse in the Jeep you pulled over last week.'

Kinda brings tears to your eyes doesn't it?

Go ahead and nod your head in agreement!

YOU KNOW.... SHE'S RIGHT!

I haven't left my house in days.
I watch the news channels incessantly.
All the news stories are about the election;
All the commercials are for Viagra and Cialis.
Election, erection, election, erection --
either way we're getting screwed!'
-- Bette Midler.

Infinity and beyond!

Halloween 2010 at Uncle Nathan and Aunt

Traci's House. Preparing to blast off!

"Uncle Nathan, will you go with me?"

"You want me to go with you Daniel?"

"Sure"

And go they did. Nathan, Sarah and Daniel blasted off from the driveway pad into the North Ridgeville outer space.

One hour and 45 minutes later, returning to earth.

Mission accomplished!

The Flower Show

To my friends.......this could happen to us!

Two little old ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress.The thin one leaned over and said, 'Life is so boring. We never have any fun any more. For $10 I'd take my clothes off and streak through that stupid flower show!' 'You're on!' said the other old lady, holding up a $10 bill.




The first little old lady slowly fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked (as fast as
an old lady can) through the front door of the flower show.

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause and shrill whistling. Finally, the smiling and naked old lady came through the exit door surrounded by a cheering crowd.

'What happened?' asked her waiting friend.
'I won 1st prize as 'Best Dried Arrangement'.

Happy Halloween!

This is one of my favorite holidays. I love Halloween!
I mean, I really love Halloween!

So much so, that when my children were growing up, they and I participated in Halloween costumed to the hilt!

Even the year Nathan was born, (1970) we dressed him up in a little Devil costume and took him Trick or Treating!
He was only two and half weeks old!

The tradition of my dressing up and parading with the children has continued, and this year, I will dress as a witch, accompany Sarah and Daniel to Traci and Nathan's house for trick and treating. I will help Traci and Sarah pass out treats to the neighborhood children, while Nathan and Daniel go door to door and beg for treats!

What fun! This year Daniel will be dressed as an Astronaut, to go along with his current "I want to be an Astronaut when I grow up" theme!

Sarah dressed as the grundgy "Aunt Scurvy" Daniel's alledged pirate aunt, and she went to the
Day Care Halloween party. "That's Daniel's Mom" declared some little girl in the class. "She is not" said Daniel "she's my Aunt Scurvy"! "Sorry Mom"! he said.

May it never, never end!

(Photo, 2007 when Daniel and his Mom picked a pumpkin from the patch that Tim and I planted especially for the joy of this little boy!)

Even Eagles need a push..

Why does the the thrill of soaring begin
with the fear of falling?

Red and yellow, blue and green, purple and orange too!

Those were the words I remember from a song
about a rainbow.

Linda called me last night and told me to go out
and look to the east from our house. I couldn't
believe how beautiful it was. A complete semi-
circle of rainbow, double to boot.

A few minutes after looking at this wonder and
Daniel arrived. He came through the door and
shouted "Did you see the rainbow"? "It's
amazing"!

Yes it truly was!

October 23. 2010, 37 years later

October 23rd, 1973 Sarah Elizabeth Von Duyke
entered the world, breach with her heels down.
I suppose riding a horse in a show the day before
she was born was a contributing factor.

She was destined to be a horsewoman.
She is a horsewoman and I am so proud
of her talents and gifts.

This is her horse "Winfield Whizkid" doing
a trick that she taught him.....rearing on command.

They both enjoy this time together.

She is strong, a little wild and beautifully unique...
Happy Birthday Sis!

It's not what you gather

RED MARBLES

A woman was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes.
She noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,
hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.. She paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.
She's a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, she couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.' 'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red.
Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost..' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way,
let me look at that red marble,’ Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.' Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community.
All three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for
peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles,
and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home
with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one,
when they come on their next trip to the store.' She left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later she moved to Colorado , but never forgot the story of this man, the boys,
and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.

Just recently, she had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while
there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, she agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary, we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and
the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts....all very professional looking.
They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.
Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the casket.. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket.
Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. The lady told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's
bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.
They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them.
Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size--they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided,
'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.
Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.


IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED

You Light Up My Life!

I just saw Debby Boone on the Oprah Show. I know lots of you
don't like Oprah, but I do, and watch the show any chance I can
get.

Debby sang her single Grammy Award Winning Hit...You Light
Up My Life. I don't know anyone who didn't sing this song at
the top of their lungs whenever it played on the car radio. I know
I did.
It sounded just as beautiful this afternoon as it did 33 years ago
when she first sang it.

She is married (31 years) to Gabriel Ferrer, the son on
Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer and the mother of
four children.

She has a new CD out honoring her mother in law.....Reflections of Rosemary.

Good taste and a good voice!

Lessons, sometimes too late learned!

I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just
a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

-- angels have walked beside me all my life--and they still do.

This is to all of you who mean something to me, I pray for your happiness.

1959...the last time we were together!

We attended a clam bake yesterday at the home of new friends, Traci and Jeff Sampson. Their daughter Samantha "Sam" takes lessons from Sarah and Sam had ridden my mare last season in the COSCA Shows.

We were invited as a "thank you" for helping get Sam to horse shows with our truck and trailer.

Lovely people, and we had a lovely time. After a few hours of eating and visiting the crowd had started to dissapate, leaving a few of us saying our last "tales" to people we may not know... when something strange happend. Tim was talking with a few men, hunting stories and the like, when he stretched his hand out to a gentleman and said "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself, I'm Tim Von Duyke". Almost instantly the man responded "I'm Eddy Belkey"! Both men suddently embraced and hugged and jumped around saying "No way"!.

Tim and Eddy had been high school buddies, inseparable with four or five other guys through their high school years. 1959 was the last time they had seen each other.

Can you believe it? Eddy lives in Westlake and was at the clam bake with his daughter, who is engaged to the host's brother.

Not only is it a small world, but it seems to be getting smaller everyday!

Northeastern Ohio Live Steamers!

Saturday night at 6:30 we arrived at the Lester Road
Rail Trail to take a ride on the "Live Miniature Train".
What a hoot! Children were invited to wear Halloween
Costumes (with the exception of long and flowing ones)
for obvious reasons when you take a look at the size of the train, and the close proximity of your feet and the ground!
(see last photo)

The little train wound through a maze of over 150 Inflatable Halloween Spooks, Goblins, Witches, Spinders and all sorts
of affiliated sights and sounds. The ride took about 20 minutes to complete, and by the time we got on board it was very dark, so the sights and sounds were extra amplified!

Daniel wore his Airline Pilot Hat, but pretended he was a conductor. He said "All Aboard, saluted and presented you
with a pretend ticket to ride". (much like the conductor for the Polar Express).

We waited in line for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The lines spread out behind us with hundreds of parents and children. The three of us rode on the last car of our designated train and it was a totally, totally cool experience. One not to be forgotten, and looked forward to for next year!

How lucky are we!

"Yes, there are some answers that can't be answered by Google"!

I had to share these funny church signs! They are funny....yet true! That is if you believe.