We got home about 11:30 p.m. last night, after a quick visit to the kids in Arvada, some 4 1/2 hours away. But the Brick did it in 3 1/2 hours last night. If you have to travel, make it on a holiday when there's no snow, and people are still 'snug in their wee little beds.' (Yes, except for a little on the mountains, Colorado is brown right now.)
The house temp? 53 degrees. The furnace is still broken, but a roaring fire in the woodstove helped.
Now it's on to a church supper tonight. I have mashed potatoes and a blueberry crisp to make -- had better get to it.
Oh, and it's also our 44th anniversary!
Hopefully you can take a few days off before your schedule begins again.
'Whaddya mean, it's four days to Christmas?!?' Somehow I thought one extra day was in there before our festivities. It's not.
Hopefully I can be excused for my absentmindedness. I've been trying to jam in more reports, dealing with the flu (we both have it now), wrapping presents -- and setting up the Christmas tree. I still have to make a Sachertorte, while I'm at it.
The scariest roads to drive on during winter in Colorado. Needless to say, they're passes... literally!
What the Trump family enjoys eating. No real surprises here -- your basic American he-man stuff, mostly. (Maybe it's even saving the American taxpayer some!)
I thought you'd enjoy this apt reminder about jumping to conclusions. (I'm reminding myself, too.)
I live in a very, very small house. And have a simple lifestyle.
When I started a job in a nearby office, a lady from another department (let's call her Mrs Snob) asked me where I lived.
"Oh, you poor dear!" She says,"Maybe one day you will be able to afford a proper home!"
After this, every time I met her, Mrs Snob would come out with snide little digs at me and how poor and common I am. And how lucky I was to work with "quality" people like her.
I chose to ignore it, though it did rather grind my gears.
Then, one day, we were both having lunch at work. Another colleague asked me if I knew whether "Lord X was doing a local history talk in the near future".
Mrs Snob instantly butted in, "Lord X? He and I are great friends, you know, I could ask him if you like. "
"I don't know," I said, "He usually does them in the warmer months, so he is probably starting them again soon. "
"I can call him tonight to ask!" Mrs Snob says, glaring at me, "Seeing as I actually know him. "
My colleague laughed, and Mrs Snob looked confused.
"What's so funny?" She asks.
"That.." my colleague says, pointing to me, "is his daughter. "
And from then on, Mrs Snob tried to be super nice to me!
Oh, and yes, my dad did know her. He described her as "that snobby cow" :)
If you're stressed out, behind, nursing the flu...or just plain feeling sorry for yourself during the holidays --
Try this classic Christmas tale from Harvest Lane Cottage. I try to share it every year, too.
A Christmas Miracle on the Frontier
I remember a day one winter that stands out like a boulder in my life. The weather was unusually cold; our salary had not been regularly paid and it did not meet our needs when it was. My husband was away much of the time, traveling from one district to another. Our boys were well, but my little Ruth was ailing and at best none of us were decently clothed. I patched and re-patched, with spirits sinking to the lowest ebb. The water gave out in the well and the wind blew through the cracks in the floor.
The people in the parish were kind, and generous too, but the settlement was new and each family was struggling for itself. Little by little, at the time I needed it most, my faith began to waver. Early in life I was taught to take God at His word, and I thought my lesson was well learned. I had lived upon the promises in dark times until I knew, as David did, who was my Fortress and my Deliverer. Now a daily prayer for forgiveness was all that I could offer.
My husband’s overcoat was hardly thick enough for October, and he was often obliged to ride miles to attend some meeting or funeral. Christmas was coming; the children always expected their presents. I remember the ice was thick and smooth and the boys were each craving a pair of skates. Ruth, in some unaccountable way, had taken a fancy that the dolls I had made were no longer suitable; she wanted a nice large one, and insisted on praying for it.
I knew it was impossible, but, oh! how I wanted to give each child his present. It seemed as if God had deserted us. But I did not tell my husband all this. He worked so earnestly and heartily, I supposed him to be as hopeful as ever. I kept the sitting room cheerful with an open fire, and I tried to serve our scanty meals as invitingly as I could.
That morning before Christmas, James was called to see a sick man. I put up a piece of bread for his lunch–it was the best I could do–wrapped my plaid shawl around his neck and then tried to whisper a promise as I often had, but the words died away upon my lips. I let him go without it. That was a dark, hopeless day. I coaxed the children to bed early, for I could not bear their talk. When Ruth went, I listened for her prayer. She asked for the last time most explicitly for her doll and for skates for her brothers. Her bright face looked so lovely when she whispered to me, “You know I think they’ll be here early tomorrow morning, Mama” that I thought I could move Heaven and earth to save her from disappointment. I sat down alone and gave way to the most bitter tears.
Before long James returned, chilled and exhausted. He drew off his boots. The thin stockings clipped off with them and his feet were red with cold. “I wouldn’t treat a dog that way; let alone a faithful servant,” I said. Then as I glanced up and saw the hard lines in his face and the look of despair, it flashed across me that James had let go too.
I brought him a cup of tea, feeling sick and dizzy at the very thought. He took my hand and we sat for an hour without a word. I wanted to die and meet God and tell Him His promise wasn’t true–my soul was so full of rebellious despair.
There came a sound of bells, a quick step and a loud knock at the door. James sprang to open it. There stood Deacon White. “A box came by express just before dark. I brought it around as soon as I could get away. Reckoned it might be for Christmas. ‘At any rate’ I said, ‘they shall have it tonight.’ Here is a turkey my wife asked me to fetch along and these other things I believe belong to you.” There were a basket of potatoes, and a bag of flour. Talking all the time, he hurried in the box and then with a hearty good night, he rode away.
Still without speaking, James found a chisel and opened the box. He drew out first a thick red blanket and we saw that beneath it, the box was full of clothing. It seemed at that moment as if Christ fastened upon me a look of reproach. James sat down and covered his face with his hands. “I can’t touch them,” he explained. “I haven’t been true, just when God was trying me to see if I could hold out. Do you think I could not see how you were suffering? And I had no word of comfort to offer. I know now how to preach the awfulness of turning away from God.”
“James,” I said, clinging to him, “don’t take it to heart like this. I am to blame. I ought to have helped you. We will ask Him together to forgive us.” We poured out words of praise–Bible words, for nothing else could express our thanksgiving. It was eleven o’ clock; the fire was low and there was the great box with nothing touched but the warm blanket we needed. We piled on some fresh logs, lighted two candles and began to examine our treasures.
We drew out an overcoat. I made James try it on–just the right size–and I danced around him, for all my lightheartedness had returned. There was a cloak and he insisted on seeing me in it. My spirits always infected him and we both laughed like foolish children.
There was a warm suit of clothes also and three pairs of woolen hose. There were a dress for me and yards of flannel, a pair of arctic overshoes for each of us and in mine a slip of paper. I have it now and mean to hand it down to my children. It was Jacob’s blessing to Asher: “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days so shall thy strength be.”
In the gloves, evidently for James, the same dear hand had written: “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” It was a wonderful box and packed with thoughtful care. There were a suit of clothes for each of the boys and a little red gown for Ruth. There were mittens, scarf, and hood, and down in the center–a box. We opened it and there was a great wax doll!! I burst into tears again and James wept with me for joy. It was too much! And then we both exclaimed again, for close behind it came two pairs of skates. There were books for us to read–some of them I had wished to see–stories for the children to read, aprons and underclothing, knots of ribbon, a gay little tidy, a lovely photograph, needles, buttons, and thread, a muff, and an envelope containing a ten dollar gold piece.
At last we cried over everything we took up. It was past midnight and we were faint and exhausted even with happiness. I made a cup of tea, cut a fresh loaf of bread and James boiled some eggs. We drew up the table before the fire. How we enjoyed our supper! And then we sat talking over our life and how sure a help God always proved.
You should have seen the children the next morning! The boys raised a shout at the sight of their skates–Ruth caught up her doll and hugged it tightly without a word; then she went into her room and knelt by her bed. When she came back she whispered to me, “I knew it would be here Mama, but I wanted to thank God just the same, you know.”
“Look here, Wife, see the difference!” We went to the window and there were the boys out of the house already and skating on the crust with all their might. My husband and I both tried to return thanks to the church in the East that sent us the box–and have tried to return thanks unto God every day since.
Hard times have come again and again, but we have trusted in Him–dreading nothing so much as a doubt of His protecting care. “They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
~~~~~
Reprinted by permission from Lizzie at A Dusty Frame. She typed it up from a very old book, The Sword Book of Treasures by Dr. John R. Rice, published in 1946 gem.
From the 'Animals in Art Through History' FB page:
Tokuhiro Kawai’s “Ode to Sleep,” 2025, oil tempera and gold leaf on panel
The work is part of his solo exhibition "Altarpiece of Cat Adoration."
Kawai used the style of early Renaissance religious altarpieces to celebrate cats, reflecting his deep empathy as a cat lover.
The artist uses cats, who have been his lifelong companions, to explore universal themes such as connection, peace, and empathy that transcend ideological and racial divides in the modern world.
the new laptop. Let's put it this way: I'm not in Kansas anymore. (Nor is my name Dorothy, but I already knew that.) BUT -- the Brick says I know more than I think I do, computerwise. We'll see.
I haven't had access to my appraisal reports area -- or photos -- for nearly three weeks. Now I'm way behind, but at least there's an opportunity to catch up.
The San Luis Valley, on a very cold morning in December.
Photo by Erik Schneider
(who says he got up early, barefoot and in pajamas, to take it.)
Meanwhile:
Ohio State lost its final college football game to Indiana?!? Poor babies. I feel so sorry for them. (Snort)
A Pearl Harbor attack survivor remembers. Another article said there are 10 survivors left, each past 100 years old...but none could attend the ceremony this year in Honolulu. Did you realize it's been 84 years??
The Winter Egg is one such example. A 1913 Easter gift from Nicholas II to his mother, Maria Feodorovna, it’s a chilly, serene scene formed of rock crystal, platinum, and rose-cut diamonds. For the third time in the past 30 years, the Winter Egg was auctioned...
The Brick has been putting in hours and hours on the new laptop, loading decades' worth of appraisal reports, plus my regular files. He has been a champ about this.
I am trying hard not to be impatient...but I do have reports just waiting until I can get back on. Meanwhile, I've been finishing up restoring a baby quilt that is years overdue. So that's good.
We got at least 7" of snow yesterday. (I think more, up to almost a foot.) That meant we weren't going anywhere -- which was probably a good thing.
I'll finish off the quilt today or tomorrow -- then it's back to finishing up the reports. Hang in there, clients!
November marks two years we've been living in the San Luis Valley. Two years? It feels like forever. We love this place and its peacefulness. However, I'm not a big fan of living three hours from our kids, and an hour or so from restaurants and stores we used to rely on when living in Sedalia and Castle Rock. Red Robin, Sam's Club or Costco? More than an hour's drive, or even further. My favorite thrift shop in Castle Rock? Two and a half hours. (My favorite one down here is in Monte Vista -- an hour away.) Even Alamosa, our nearest 'big town,' is 45 minutes drive. We do have a Walmart, plus Safeway and City Market. Even a Little Caesar's and a Chili's.
The plus side on this is that if we're going somewhere for one purpose, we tack on several errands -- like a stop at our favorite Amish grocery, only about 15-20 min. from Alamosa. And we don't go out to eat very much, which has saved a surprising amount of money. If milk becomes an important issue, the dollar store in Fort Garland (15 min. away) is just a hop, skip and jump away from the post office.
Our Mexican restaurants and everyday-type diners are terrific here, too.
I wrote a post about a trip to Utah to pick up our latest purchase -- a 2012 Highlander hybrid. Unfortunately, most of you never got to read it -- for some reason, Google thought I was... evil? Selling a Highlander? Making it up?? They deleted it. I have no idea why.
Finally, after months of saving, we've got a car that's comfortable, quiet and good at saving gas. (27-30 mpg, so far.) It was 7 1/2 hours each way to pick it up, but we saved nearly $1000 on the price we would have had to pay in the Denver area. Unfortunately, we also had to deal with some pooping and vomit episodes, puppywise, in the truck on the way there-- and the truck needed a small repair before we could leave again. This meant staying overnight. We had enough to cover the hotel bill and meals...but no clean clothes. And the truck needed scrubbing out when we got home.
Tiger feels much better, by the way.
============================================
(More photos will be added when I get my computer back)
FRUGAL HITS
*Son #1 got a buck! The venison will come in handy, and he has a beautiful European mount from the head.
*A one dollar pizza from Papa Murphy's, thanks to a free membership. Okay, I broke the Maximum Hollander award by putting a buck in the tip jar. (The pizza was delicious. Thank you, Katy from the Nonconsumer Advocate, for mentioning this! The special might still be going -- you should check. Update: I did -- it expired 11/30. Sorry.)
*Loaded the woodrack several times. Our woodpile is gradually diminishing, but we have plenty more stacked behind the house. Heating with wood really helps us stretch our propane out. It's pleasant to have this cheerful glow and warmth at night, too. We bank it before going to bed, and the Brick builds a fire from the coals the next morning. It works for us, and is much better thanthe alternative.
*The candlelight concert was a success. We used last year's electric candles, and a friend loaned her set, as well. I bought a lit house/trees display at the Castle Rock thrift shop; it looked lovely, but not TOO Christmasy, considering it was Nov. 22.
Two bottles of apple juice became mulled cider. I made a batch of shortbread, and other friends contributed chocolate chip cookies and homemade chocolate pops. A good time was had by all.
*Free lunch after a meeting, and a thank-you supper with friends. (The Brick helped fix their washer.) I made chili (one hamburger patty, beans and tomatoes) for the church's monthly potluck -- and took some chips and a sale container of ice cream, as well.
*Found money: $1.13 from the truck's front seat, and another crisp dollar bill from Nielsen. Not one cent from the change machine at Safeway though, darn it.
*Got to borrow a skidsteer and trailer free of charge -- just a tankful of gas, and the time to go get it in Evergreen, about 4 hours away. (We needed it to move the fifth-wheel, after the truck got stuck. More on this shortly.)
*The Brickworks website is back up and running, thanks to Daughter #2. I am so grateful!
*Ordered a 10-ream box of paper, plus some markers -- and got a $15 discount. Thanks, Staples.
*The Brick found more ways to watch free Michigan football games -- hooray! When we couldn't see the game, we could at least listen to it. Youtube has 'full game highlights,' as well, after the game is done. Not that it helped Michigan, after losing 9-27 to Ohio State...
*The Brick cleaned out the stovepipe. He also fixed the printer, and restacked burnables by the woodstove (Good man.) A shop vac purchase (on sale) really helped with the flue cleanout.
*Furniture fix: I used a black marker, sketching lightly, then smearing with a finger, to hide marks on the sofa back. This works surprisingly well for darker wood. (I tried the 'normal' stuff for this, but it just wiped off.) A cushion on the sofa was also repaired. (See below.)
*Gave two final coats of paint to the Little Free Library, then filled it with books. (Yes, it's up and in business!) Planted a pack of daffodil bulbs underneath the sign, before the ground froze.
*A trip to Denver for multiple reasons: eye appointment; stocking up on flour, sugar and other essentials at Walmart; a Lord & Richards 'fahncy' night; and two appraisal sessions. I also spent time with Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #1, which was wonderful. Missed out on the Lord & Richards event (too much traffic), but the kids fed me -- which was even better. And dear friends bought me a burger at Red Robin. Thank you!
*Spent Thanksgiving with our kids -- all of them. At our house. This hasn't happened for years. Son #1 smoked one turkey, and deep-fried a second; Adopted Son #1 made stuffing, cranberry sauce, and Daughter #1 made a squash soup, as well as her traditional kale-beet salad. I contributed pay-kan and pumpkin pis, veggies plus appetizer, and last-minute mashed potatoes. We had a grand time, and spent the evening going through boxes of photos we'd brought back from The Mama's estate. We love our kids so much!
*Our Christmas decorations are gently used this year. The thrift shop in Monte Vista was full of wonderful Christmas stuff -- I had fun looking, but other than books, a few 25-cent cups and some dishtowels, I didn't get many holiday goodies. The Castle Rock thrift shop was much the same: Christmas videos and an armload of holiday paper napkins, plus a hanging, a few placemats...and a glass-covered display used for the candlelight concert. Lots of fun, and I spent about what I would have at Dollar Tree.
*Extra beefsteak and broccoli went into the freezer. (I stocked up, in case of poor weather.) Marked-down snow peas, spinach greens and cauliflower joined them, along with a free 40-oz pkg of chicken breast, thanks to Safeway's reward program.
*No books ordered on Ebay -- even if they were cheap. (This was difficult for me.) All the Christmas presents are purchased, too, including stocking stuffers.
*Renewed Brickworks' sales tax license. The Brick renewed his P.E. license, too.
*Pinto beans: $20 for 25 pounds...purchased locally from a farmer. I love doing this.
*Thrift shop bargains: kids Christmas books for 50 cents - dollar (for the Little Free Library; adult books for $1-2 each; holiday coffee cups, 25 cents each; holiday dishtowels, 75 cents - $1.50, plus a 5% discount for cash (Nazarene Thrift Shop/Monte Vista). Half-price kids and adult books and videos -- less even than Nazarene! Also a $38 dog kennel, a half-priced sweater and shirts. All for an additional 10% off (Treasures in the Park/Castle Rock).
*I finally found a half-slip! ($8.24 from Walmart.com) Do you know how difficult it is right now to find ANY kind of slip, unless you pay big bucks for it? Maybe I should take the Sydney Sweeney approach, instead.
*Walked away from a "free $10" voucher -- when Michael's larded on the shipping costs, instead.
*No discounts or free meals on Veterans Day -- the Brick changed the oil on the truck, instead. (He didn't feel well, anyways.)
*A set of bubble lights for each girlie/son's Christmas tree. I love these, but they're difficult to find. They also got some of the holiday dishtowels and an Advent calendar apiece.
*Now that the Highlander is part of our world, we were able to start saving again in our higher-interest (4.25%) account. We couldn't put a lot away -- the yearly insurance bill was due this month -- but it still felt great. Interestingly, the registration fees will be lower, because it's a 'used' vehicle. And instead of paying more for insurance, we actually saved about $600 yearly, because of the 'multiple vehicle' clause. (We'll keep the truck, but it's on liability only.)
A helpful note here: you can really save money if you purchase your vehicle in another state -- especially if yours, like Colorado, is expensive. It takes research, but it's worth it. We learned that with the truck.
*Ordered new business cards, plus a few signs and an envelope stamper -- 25% off. (Thanks, Vistaprint!) I also got a 3% boost from ordering them through my old pal, Swagbucks -- then used those extra points to order a giftcard for the Brick's Christmas stocking. (You can do this, too...just click on this link to get started.)
*Grocery deals: Onion bagels 6 for $1.25; hor dog buns for a quarter; a small cake for $2.40 (King Soopers/City Market). Marked-down kale (Walmart). Extra-large shrimp, about $6/lb; 99-cent/pound turkey; $1.27/lb ham; Marie Callender apple pie ($4.97); free turkey for spending $100+; free celery (Safeway). BOGO cranberry sauce (about 40 cents each); barbecue sauce and salad dressing, 99 cents each; mixed nuts $1.79 for 10 oz.; ground turkey, $1.57/lb; Lindt thin candy bars for 20 cents each (SLV Amish grocery). Campbell's Chunky chicken and dumplings soup, plus chicken potpie soup, for $1.02 each; KIND bars, 61 cents each; chicken a la king for $1.21 each...and tins of smoked sardines for a buck each! (Amazon, mostly Warehouse Deals)
True to form, Safeway shorted me considerably on the bill -- which meant a special trip back to Safeway to get my money refunded: nearly $45. (They charged full price for the 'free' turkey, among other things.)
*Used up leftovers, including turkey breast and our share of the Thanksgiving turkeys. (I'm doing better in this area, though there were a few misses, including a mushy pkg of carrots forgotten from the Utah trip.) Didn't always heat the house, even when it got down to the low 60s. (Sweaters work wonders. So does the woodstove.)
*Planted 400 more flower bulbs -- a 75% off-free-shipping special the Brick found. Adding thedaffodil bulbsI put in the ground last month, this makes 600 bulbs planted this fall... whew!
*A $10.06 Quora payment. and a $36.73 class action Facebook settlement.
*A few new appraisals. Mostly just working on current reports.
*Watched our granddog Freya, while her parents were working rock shows.
*Sold some books -- and gave away some, too.
FRUGAL MISSES
*$40 for keeping the dogs at the the hotel in Utah, $20 for each. (Fortunately, our part of the bill was reasonably priced --$50 and change == and included a good breakfast. Don't miss out staying at the Sleep Inn in Draper, UT; it's a bargain, not counting dog-related $$. And yes, they behaved themselves. (We did, too. I did nab a few cream cheese packets and some lovely-smelling body lotion samples.)
For some weird reason, the hotel refunded $20 a few weeks later -- apparently because we have Good Doggos?? Ahem.
*Paid the inevitable insurance bill for the new car...but at least it was lower than feared. Ditto for registration.
*More dents, scratches and bangs on the truck, after moving the fifth-wheel we used to live in. (resigned sigh) The back gate is hard to open, but we're dealing with it. At least it can rest some, since the Highlander is also in use. We still haven't figured out how to bring the dogs, except in the truck. Maybe a crate in the back of the Highlander, to protect it?
Freya redecorated a sofa cushion, but she wasn't the only one....Bo helped with other items. And, of course:
*Latest snacks for Tiger: one of the Brick's flannel shirts (a sleeve), a ball of string, heavy rubber glove, the coating on a pair of pliers, and a selection of winter and work gloves. (With one exception, always the right hand, not the left. Being lefthanded myself, this is intriguing.) Other than the Utah trip, no escape attempts (but some from Bo), a few pooping disasters...and only a few pee incidents. (He got scared.) So things are improving. Sort of. Then again, maybe not. ("Puppies are puppies," the Brick reminds me regularly.)
Note to you poor souls: black duct tape works wonders.
*Still learning the bells and whistles on the new car -- nearly caused an accident in Denver, because I didn't realize the headlights didn't go on automatically. (They do now, thanks to the Brick.)
*Bought myself a few things, including a flannel nightgown ($12), sweater ($3.50) and nice leather purse ($24, plus 10% senior discount on all). Yes, they were at the thrift store. Yes, they were WAY under what they would have cost on Amazon or elsewhere. (I checked. The nightgown's best price on Amazon: $28.) So why do I feel a little strange about this...and a bit guilty?
*Got a new laptop! And since we bought it on a Black Friday sale, we saved $300, with free shipping. Why isn't this in 'Hits,' rather than 'Misses?' Because we hadn't planned to do it. But when your screen cracks, you don't have much choice.
*No access to my e-mail and other websites, my photos, etc. And thanks to differences between the Brick's WORD and mine, reports are going a LOT slower. Frustrating. I've used the slow weeks to do other work, but still...
