A Gift You Can't Wrap

NO! I did not get a Harley for my birthday. I got something better. I got time with my Harley riding father-in-law. If you have been following my posts, you know it was my birthday Nov. 28. I am at the age where I think that life is too short not to have FUN. SERIOUS FUN! So I asked Howard if he would take me for a ride on his Harley. He LOVES to ride. These days he LIVES to ride. And he has so few people to ride with. There's his club of old guys that he rides with, but he would love his family members to join him. So my simple request brought a huge grin to his face. I had made his day. And it wasn't even his birthday.

It was 50*F., yesterday, December 2. The sun was shining, taking the edge off the crisp air. We figured this day would be the balmiest for the month of December and the further we got from my birthday, the less it would seem like a birthday present. Can you imagine planning a motorcycle joy ride in December? That was the POINT! A summery ride would have been fun, enjoyable. This was INVIGORATING, dang it! It was foolish, jumping off of the roof sort of high jinx. And I was niave. I was dressed in layers, but only had jeans on, no long underwear. A scarf bundled my throat and chin, because Howard said my chin would get cold. Do you remember as a kid playing outside in the snow (if you had snow when you were growing up) until you were stiff with cold, chilled to the bone and your wet clothing was threatening to freeze to your body? Remember how your mom would call you to come in because she could see that your lips were blue and your cheeks were chapped with cold and do you also remember your reply? "NO! I don't want to! I'M OKAY!" You were having too much fun. Being cold was just a small inconvenience.
THAT was THIS ride.
IT WAS A RUSH!!!

Five minutes into the ride down country roads, past open stubbly fields, my pampered middle aged body got shocked with cold as the wind penetrated the gaps around my thick suede gloves and cuffs of my jeans. I was 9 years old again, shushing down the sledding hill in Balduck Park on a wooden sled with no means of steering. Back to my middle aged reality of blasting horizontally through space on the back of a motorcycle, maniacal laughter was bubbling up under my scarf and threatening to spew out. OmyGosh! Was I insane? I was COLD! I was literally breathless as the wind whipped against my face. Then I realized that the visor on my helmet went all of the way down. AH! And then ha ha ha HA! That's SO much better! I could BREATHE again and my face thawed. And then I did laugh. HahahahaHAHAHAhahaHA! At my silliness of not knowing that I had face protection. HahaHA. At the incredible scenery whipping by. HaHA! At the sensation of being cold and enjoying every second of it. HA! At being ALIVE and being blessed with feeling cold and happy at the same time. Howard would reach back and give my hand or leg a squeeze every once in a while to make sure I was okay and I would give his ribs a squeeze to let him know that I was. We drove 28 miles on back roads to a larger small town to eat at Buxton Bar-B-Que. The brisket sandwiches and fries were good, but we were both disappointed that hot coffee wasn't available. Otherwise the day was perfect.

If the ride was cold on the way out, it was down right freezing on the way back with my full belly drawing blood from my extremities to aid digestion. You would think hot food would stoke you like a furnace. NOT! We took I-70 back for a quicker return trip since I had to pick Rebecca up from pre-school at 3:00pm. Driving on the interstate had its own thrills (I felt like we were more vulnerable). Back at my in-law's house, I got off the bike and gave Howard a big hug and kiss. "Same time next year?" I said with a wink in my grin. "Uh, lets try for one in the summer", was the cautious reply.

A few minutes later as I headed to town in my warm, enclosed car, I passed my father-in-law riding his smaller, lighter weight Honda. The one he had me sit on to "try on for size". The cute, cheery red one he would love for me to learn to ride so I could go riding with him. I chuckled. Howard loves riding his bikes too much to let a little winter weather slow him down. And I would happily join him again-- only next time I would plan on having long underwear(! ) And he would bring the coffee!

First Day of Snow!

Technically, first evening of snow. It rained all day, but turned into big, beautiful, bodacious, *snow*flakes. And the snowflakes even stuck! The Christmas lights on our house are shining brighter and there is a hush from the blanketing snow. All is calm, all is bright. We may have gotten an inch. Seth and Rebecca bundled up to go out and play, Rebecca squealing with glee (no other way to describe her joy!) at the fluffy stuff falling on her. The snow may melt tomorrow, but tonight it is magical. Beautiful. Ethereal. When I last looked outside, the snow had stopped, but now there is a soft shrouding fog as the cold air embraces the warm ground. The street lights are wearing halos.

I photographed more of my Moravian stars with a sprinkling of vintage pearl buttons. I glued buttons in the centers of the stars and plan to send these out in cards. This photo would make a lovely card, don't you think?

Happy Birthday....

To ME! Victoria made me a lovely breakfast in bed this morning (everything was HOT!- cheese omlette, dry toast and HOT India Spiced Chai) and the tray contained these clever Lego flowers from the kids (too cute!) The funny multi-colored bar thing is a "plane" from Rebecca. Everyone should have their own private plane!

Why am I not smiling in my photo? No one has given me a birthday crown yet! Otherwise it is shaping up to be a nice relaxing day for me. I can always do housework again tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Native American princess wishes you bountiful plates of home made cookies!

A Salute to Family

With Thanksgiving just a week away, I have had family a lot on my mind. My mom and siblings all live in other states so it is my in-laws I am closest to. I got a call from my brother-in-law a couple days ago that Thanksgiving will be at their house and Bob Evans is catering it so none of us have to cook. I was a little disappointed, because I love home cooking, but the best part will be to hang with the fam.

I am so thankful for my husband and kids. This year especially. We won't be having a big, extravagant Christmas, like some other years, so I am more sensitive to making it a more personal holiday. And it is starting with Thanksgiving. I am all for small gestures with big meanings this year. Maybe it's a good thing Bob is catering. I won't be in the kitchen fretting over green bean casserole or dinner rolls. I'll be squashed on the couch with my honey and kids as we watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV. A toast to family!

Happy Birthday Victoria!

Victoria is twelve today. She asked me last night, "what time was I born at?" I thought it was 11:30 pm, her dad said, no, it was around 8:00 pm. Suffice to say that since Victoria is a stickler for details, she is not considering herself a full twelve years old until this evening. I am making chicken and broccoli alfredo for dinner since that is her all time favorite dish. And a store bought vanilla cake with vanilla ice cream on the side.

Kind of nice to have ONE dinner planned this week! :)

Happy Birthday, Victoria. I don't tell you enough that I love you and am very proud of the beautiful young lady you are growing up to be. Right now you vex me more often than not (no one has ever told me a positive thing about the tween and teen years except that you just weather the storm), but I cherish the times we actually work together, whether it's cooking in the kitchen or putting a 500 piece puzzle together. I look forward to the days ahead watching as you bloom and grow. The transformation from baby to toddler to little girl to young lady has been amazing and frightening to watch and the best is yet to come. You are always a blessing, even when you bring out the worst in me, because it is only then when I realize where I still need to grow.

Happy Birthday Sweetie. Love, Mom

Do As I Say,...

...Not as I do. Hahaha! A little explaination. First off, I am pleased to see that I am NOT the only one who would like to savor that forgotten period between Halloween and Christmas. I call Thanksgiving "that speed bump holiday" on the way to Christmas. Funny thing is, that no sooner did I post my rant (previous post), than I fell into some Christmas making projects (yes, I am a hypocrite- shhhh, don't tell anyone!). The temperatures have been below 40*F. so I have been cocooning and crafting is my natural response to being stuck indoors.

So first, I created these hymnal paper Moravian stars (scroll down to Nov. 20 post) for an ornament swap with Christian Paper Artists. Only this year I played with adding a dangle thingy and discovered the no-glue method of embellishing with junk jewelry. Just punch a hole with the post of the earring and punch through, fastening with th earring's back. No jump rings required either since dangle earrings naturally come with a way to hang them (genius!!!)! I am very pleased with how my ornaments turned out.

Part two of "do as I say, not as I do" is, when you are in a swap, please complete the swap in a timely manner (speaking as a hostess who has waited on stuff to arrive)! The altered paint can pictured is my VERY late swap to Donna K. who is also hosting the ornament swap so I am trying to kill two birds with one stone (or pack two things in one box for mailing). I took part in an "altered item" swap, a year ago almost to the day, and failed to complete it in a timely manner. Donna sent me a gleaming silver paint can for me to alter and return to her and I suffered creative block, then procrastinated about dealing with it. I took part in other swaps and all the time carried the shame of not completing this one altered swap. Donna had said she understood and just figured I would get it done when I got it done. I'm sure she wasn't thinking she would have to wait a whole year though! I'm sure she has given up on ever seeing her paint can-- ever again. And I'm sure I hold the record for the latest swap ever turned in!