Tree Farm

I rested this morning so that we could go to the tree farm today and get our Christmas tree.  It is sitting in our front yard tonight......and hopefully, my energy that is still sitting in the big green chair will come home tomorrow and decorate our tree!

On the way home, I was getting a little weak and shaky, and Rick asked if an ice cream cone would make me feel better......of course it would!  So, to celebrate the season I had 

a red velvet ice cream cone......it was rather tasty.

The meteor showers are tonight, around midnight and later......since it was cloudy and we missed the ones in the summer, hoping we get a chance to see these.  We'll have to set the clock and  climb out of bed, but I know it will be worth it.

I thought about Christmases past today, how crazy and stressed out I use to get........I think most of the time now, I really have learned to live in the moment.......I try to encourage my nieces and nephews to not get caught up in the craziness.   I do understand that the blending of families and different traditions is fuel to the flame.....so sad that it takes years to work it all out.

All that fresh air, and the hard work of choosing a tree has worn me out, my nice warm bed is calling.

Wishing that we all take time out to look at the stars, blessings of peace to one and all. 

Treatment #11

So here I sit in the mighty green chair, drip attached for five long hours......it's ok, I had nice warm blankets, and those three blue angels hovering  around me.

Not many in the infusion room today, I take that as a good sign......it was rather quiet, we all seemed subdued.  For one young woman it was her first time in the big green chairs, but her mom and best friend were with her, and when she left she was smiling......she knew she was loved.

I am very tired tonight, the drip has been slowed even more, since last time.......hopefully it will help with the nausea and other side effects.  Sitting in those green chairs is not for wussies......and the folks that come with you, well they are not wussies either. Those green chairs show you the stuff you're made of.....or not.
As Rick and I topped one of the hills coming home tonight, we saw one of the most brilliant sunsets.
He kept asking what color is that, the only color I could name..... vermilion......it was magical.
Maybe this whole 12-12-12 thing was a day of magic.

So how many more treatments, still open-ended.......it is what it is.....and this too shall pass.
But I saw a magical sunset today, I saw a young woman understand that she was truly loved,
and once again, I got to tell those blue angels thank you.

Goodnight Sweet dreams

Mrs. Santa Claus

Leaving work in the dark tonight, I was thinking that  I  seemed to  be missing  quite a few sunsets......but then I started to take notice.  There are beautiful Christmas lights everywhere on this winding country road.  Some are thoughtful, well planned, color and theme driven.......others are
lights spread with wild abandon, like a Georgia O'Keeffe painting......brilliant in color, but you have to look to see the subject.

Even on the dead-end road where we live, Christmas lights have sprung up like mushrooms the past few days.  Just like on the drive home, some are well-planned and others seem to be tossed into trees and bushes with joy and enthusiasm.

We will do a tree and a little outside illumination toward the end of the week.  We always get a "living tree" to plant after the holidays......you can walk around our yard and visit all our Christmas trees.
This past  weekend I did hang the wreath on the door, and the Christmas flag.  This weekend I will paint Christmas cards, yes each one individually painted......how many?   some years as many as 100, most of the time around 50.  I know some get crazy with decorations, I get crazy painting cards.

I made a fruitcake this weekend ( and I actually let Rick help, usually I try to keep him out of the
kitchen, but there was so much fruit and nuts) I had to have help!  It feels like Christmas tonight, cold and cloudy.  Oh yes, there will some meteor showers tomorrow night and Thursday, hoping for clear skies.  Isn't that rather magical, to think about a sky full of shooting stars at Christmas time?

Tomorrow is treatment day, I am wearing a red sweater, so that sitting in that big green chair I will look like Mrs. Santa Claus!
Good night, Sweet dreams!

Growing Old

"Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years.  People grow old by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair."  - Douglas MacArthur

I have known young eighty year olds, and old fifty year olds.......it is true age is just a number.
When my mom was eighty-five she announced one day, that she felt twenty-five and the only way she knew she was old......when she looked in the mirror.  Honestly, there are few days when I think about my age anymore.

Here's to forgetting about numbers, and just living our lives to their fullest.  Hang on to your ideals,
and laugh out loud daily.   Sing loudly, walk in the sun and never miss a chance to eat ice cream.
Spend time with dogs and children, read a good book, and tell someone every day you love them.
That is my personal advice for staying young.

Goodnight, Sweet dreams.

Sunday Musings

Our songwriter's group got together this afternoon.  Each time I am around them, I am left breathless by their talents.  I looked around the room today, and thought how can I be this lucky?  One of the most unique attributes of this group is their lack of ego........trust me, with artistic talented musicians...that is not always the norm.

We have several projects that we are working on, including more concerts, a book, and a weekend writing get-away.  I need this group.......as much as I love my job as a yoga therapist......I too, need yin and yang......balance.  The music is personal, it is me time......an expression of who I am, all facets.

It is still so warm here, near 70.  No Christmas tree yet, very hard to get in the spirit of things, when I am walking around barefoot.  I hear change is coming but only for a few days........but at least if it gets cold again, I'll go get a tree!  Cold cider is not nearly as Christmasey as hot, spiced!

This week is treatment week, there have been bouts of nausea this weekend, but not nearly as bad as last month.....keeping my fingers crossed.

Wishing you all a magical week, full of celebrations, joy and peace!

A Charlie Brown Tree

Jordan and his mom have had the flu this week......today was his first day without fever, so to celebrate we did his
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.  It is a tradition that I did with his mom, Samantha when she was his age.

We walked through the woods behind the barn, he could not decide on a tree.  They were so much bigger than him.....finally, we saw this one and he liked it.
We had made the ornaments in early fall, out of playdough.
The string of lights wrapped around the little sapling several times........we think it is the perfect Charlie Brown tree.  He was so excited about his ornaments......I have to admit I thought they were beautiful too.

We mixed all colors of play dough, rolled it out, cut it with Christmas cookie cutters......stars, trees, bells......all tied with gold and silver ribbons.  Even though it has been in the 70's today, the Christmas spirit visited.
There is nothing like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and a four year old boy!  What a great day!

Don't Let Them Forget

A friend of mine who teaches at a nearby college posted something so sad on FB this morning......he had cancelled classes for today and had casually mentioned to his students to remember how important this day was.......December 7.  He had students that had no idea why this day was special.

I cannot imagine any college student in this country not knowing the importance of December 7, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked.  It is a date that changed this country, that changed the world.
And now I'm wondering do they even teach history anymore?.......maybe if they had the students at least watch Tora, Tora, Tora?

My dad was a medic during WWII .......he refused to talk to any of us about the war.  We never even knew that he had been awarded medals until several years after his death......I had gone to the VA office to talk about possible benefits for my mom when she was ill.  The woman told me the battles,
and the awards he had been given.  No one in the family knows what happened to them.  The war changed my dad, it changed everyone involved in every way.......thousands died......and to think that there are college students that do not know what this day is about......is just not acceptable.

For those of you reading this tonight, teach your children, your grandchildren......remind them of the incredible sacrifices that were made all over the world, don't let them forget.