My Week

The last time I had snow for Christmas was 2010.  I guess I worry about travelers.  I think we had about 2 inches.  Don't laugh.

So this week I was worried about my ride.  My Murano was leaving little oil drops.  I had to wait till Monday and after my morning appointment with the Therapy Dog Visit.  I went to One Stop Auto.   Seems there was a cracked seal and it was replaced for free where I get my car serviced.

I picked up my colonoscopy prep prescription at the County Market.  I thanked them for putting it in a brown paper bag and said "Really?  If you put it on the shelf, nobody would buy the stuff".  After a long sleepless night and many soiled towels, Mary K. drove me to my appointment.  Everything went smooth and 5 pol lips were removed.  I did get a seam ripping project finished over my dryer which was near the toilet. Ha! After the procedure, I was fine until I tried to walk around and felt light headed.  They gave me Lorna Done cookies and coffee as I waited for the doctor.  I came home and had soup and took a nice long nap. 
I couldn't drive and there were a couple of evening events I missed.  I was fortunate to see a lost cat reunited with its owner in the neighborhood while walking my dog in the evening. I had been keeping an eye out since he told me a week ago.  He was kept a 1/2 a block away from home.
It was also Sophie's 5th birthday.

I replaced her Christmas outfit with her birthday shirt.  I got a birthday email for her from AKC Reunite (her chip registration).

Friday was a good slow day.  I was going to help out at the Lincoln Tomb but it was canceled and closed due to a water main break.  It was open on Saturday though and I helped then.

I wrapped a box of chocolates for my postal delivery and for my trash collector.  The trash collector left a smiley sticker on my trash lid.  :) 

Saturday morning I woke to our first snow on the ground.  It wasn't much but the grass was white and cars will need cleared off.  Driveway was just damp so no shoveling.  I really worry because Lake Springfield is so low that some of the piers extend to dry land.  The floating piers just lay on the ground.  I volunteered at the Lincoln Tomb. 

I usually don't bring up the images in the marble but Saturday there were families with various levels of interest and it's nice to pull out of the back pocket. 

There was a big family (seem like India decent) so I showed the rambunctious little one, Old Bob,  Family seemed amused so I showed them the virgin.  After a few moments of staring, the ladies told me it looked more like Mother Teresa with the stripe in her veil.   They are right!

Sunday's walking with Sophie in the Winter morning snow this a man (name drop) opens the door and said "Do you thing we ought to clean it up?" I thought he was referring to the snow so I said no since it was slight. Then he follows up with "Think we should let it turn to fertilizer or clean up the fuckin' mess in the yard?" I said we didn't do anything in your fucking yard, while holding a full plastic bag. What a jerk!

Wish I threw my bag at him. Oh well, afterthoughts.  I took my emotion to church which I was badly in need of shaking it off.  During the Mass, I noticed Lynn Connley, upset while we sang "Our Father".  I didn't know what it meant until after Mass when I offered her an unconditional hug.  She whispered that her father died last night and he's in a good place for Christmas.  So sad.

Alan arrived about 4pm on Christmas Eve. Sean came around 6.  We went to Church around 9:30 to hear the pre-service music.  Our church only had an indoor Nativity scene so I was surprised to see this one.  I was told that it was donated by Fr Morlock but the wind kept knocking them over.  This year special rebar supports were added.  Still, the wind knocked one of the animals over.  The church was beautifully decorated for Christmas.  I wore my nativity shirt that I bought on Collections.
  
I must admit I get emotional at Christmas Mass. The music and atmosphere really accomplish the spirit.   It's especially nice to have my sons next to me in my pew. Woke up Christmas morning to 15 degrees.  Hank and Sophie romped in the back yard.  I climbed the ladder to the attic and retrieved the Christmas tree plates that I had bought as seconds in a market square when we were stationed in England.
We went to see the new Star  Wars movie.  I would have loved to have worn my sand dress but not with these temperatures.
Our family photo (Sean didn't had to scrunch down to be in the picture)

 Moe got an American Flag sweater from his brother.

 That because Moe is an American Stafordshire terrier, the legal name for pit bull.

 All candles on the Advent wreath are lit and ready to burn down to nothing.  I'll get new ones next year.  I climbed up in the attic and got the Christmas plates down that I had bought as seconds in the market while stationed in England a long long time ago.

 Ah the cheese tray.  I picked up some mango cheese and loved it.  It doesn't cut well but oh how tasty.  I got a jar of fig spread that said it goes well with cheese.  Jar is still unopened,

They seemed to agree that this Christmas meal was even better than our Thanksgiving dinner.  Alan has expressed an interest in the Paleo diet.  I gave them both a dog poop catcher that attaches to the tail with a bag.  They had been teasing about these so I thought it would be cute if they worked.  Sean needed a new couch cover so that was given. Alan gave Sean this Christmas Vaction shirt that is funny but will need to be selective where he wears it to.

I got a couple of hooded sweat shirts and a cutting board for the sink.  I also got a trunk organizer basket.  I also got a magnetic kitchen gadget.  Sophie got another little dog mat.
We watched AD on Netflix.We had our family photo taken but Sean seems to think he's too tall.  I wore my Grinch pants (but not to church or the movie).

My sister gave me a knit cap.

My brother sent me a Walmart card.  My sister sent me a variety pack of health and beauty aids.

We saw the "Last Jedi" on  I Max and it was reserved seating but the folks in the middle came last minute when I was trying to read the "long time ago in a galaxy..." part and missed the preface.  Sometimes it was a little confusing.  It was loud enough that I took my hearing aids out but put them pack in for dialog scenes.  Afterward I took Alan for a quick ride through the Chatham Jaycee's "Light Up the Park".   When we got home, we discovered that Hank finished the macaroons and the wrapper was on the floor.  I never vacuum before dogs come over.  I find stuffed animals for them to tear up so picture that. 

My Week

Wow, three Christmas parties in one week: Womens Overseas Service League, AmVets and Catholic War Veterans all had Christmas gatherings.  Here's a picture of our Womens Overseas Service League:

Here's a picture at the Catholic War Veterans Christmas party taken at Chesapeake Seafood House.

 Commander Pat Noel and his wife Bettie being served.  She banged her finger in the car door just earlier.  Somehow it seems funny when it happens to her because Pat is missing part of his finger (can sort of see a short pointer there in the picture in the red shirt).  Oh that fresh bread with honey butter!!!!

Friday I went to St Louis to see Message at Midnight. 
   

Saturday was busy.  It started with Wreaths Across America at Camp Butler at 11.  I left early knowing that parking might be a challenge on a nice mild day.  Then there was the long train on Camp Butler road.  I turned around to take an alternate route when I noticed the long train between me and Camp Butler move in reverse.  However, as I'm re-routing on a parallel road, I saw the train move and the time savings was a draw.
Here is Dave Mcknelly, the location leader for the event.  Some of you may recall that he was at my side when Frank past away.  He and his partner, Cher, helped drive me home when Frank died.


Oh, and since I'll be buried off to the right, I stomped on that space.

Afterward I went to Edwards Place for the Holiday Tea.  I accompanied Mary Disller.  She wore her curtain dress provided I assure her that she wouldn't dress up alone.  I told her she looked more like Fiona.  I wore my bustle dress knowing I'd be wearing it later in the evening at the candle light tour at the Elijah Iles House.   The four rooms were decorated with different time period styles.  I interpreted the kitchen decorated in 1910 look.  That made for a long day.  The weather was so nice that people came.



Sunday I was the first reader at Mass.  Each week a new addition to our our decor gets added for Advent without the big display yet.   Sean and Moe did their usual Sunday laundry and I made shepherds pie.

My Week

The weather had changed this week and the cold finally came. Shiver! I've been slowly getting ready for St Nick.  The glue that kept his miter on needed redone and the chain on the incense burner was off.  Not sure where it was originally so I guessed.

 The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.  I even found a stocking for a dog at the Dollar Tree.

Monday night I went to an executive board meeting at the VFW.  I rarely make this meeting because of the Legion meeting on the same night.  Legion didn't have a meeting for December because of the post Christmas party so I was free to go.  I gave the commander and quartermaster a card and a gift for all they do.

Wednesday I had my pre-op interview for an upcoming colonoscopy on Dec 21.  Colonoscopy prep is fearsome.  More so since I have an afternoon appointment and have to resist my ravenous apatite. 

It sure was nice to hear the governor read the proclamation declaring the day as Pearl Harbor Day in the State of Illinois. God Bless the Temple family.

 Line up of the speakers.

Here's the newspaper article on the event:
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171207/pearl-harbor-veterans-remembered-during-annual-lake-springfield-ceremony
Well they had a cameo of my head on the news. Of all the heads why mine?
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/springfield-remembers-the-lives-lost-during-the-attack-on-pearl-harbor

Sophie has been getting a lot of attention this week.  Thursday she went to the "Paw Wash" and had a visit in the afternoon.  On the road to the Paw Wash, I noticed that the scarecrow figure had been dressed for the holidays
   
Friday she had her veterinarian annual check up.  The waiting room looked like a "little white dog" day for scheduling...until we left and the trend was broken by having a brown and white pitti in the wait area.  Sophie peed in the waiting room after 3 walks. Why? Because she wanted to show her scent off!!!  There's a bit of paperwork that needs submitted to Therapy Dog Int and I asked the assistant to fax it.  I had a picture taken with Dr Boyce.  He showed me a picture of his daughter and grand daughter.  He also had the privilege of vetting a sloth so he showed me pictures and video on his cell. That picture was interesting.  He said she was friendly.

Then afterward I went to the Dept of Public Health to get Sophie's dog license.  They had just put a sign on the door the day before saying "no pets".  Sophie and I got stopped by the door by the officer so they called the clerk to the front desk for the license.
In the afternoon I got received a FedEx case of wine.  My son probably didn't read the fine print on my birthday gift of wine that it was a subscription service.  He fixed that.
 In the evening I went to Mass for the Holy Day.

 Since the park was near to church and the Lights in the Park were open, I did my drive through.  Funny thing.... friends were posting on Facebook that they went to the Lights in the Park too.  I should have hitched with someone since the recommended donation was $5 per carload and I went alone.

Saturday I helped out with our Historic Christmas at the Elijah Iles House.  This is an artificial horse. The wind blew it over just before this photo hence being held at the bit. Later it was moved further back to the side of the house away from the wind.

 

The shrubbery left little stickies on my wool cape.
Afterward I went to the 1850s caroling at the First Presbyterian Church. Here is Troy from the State Historic Sites, along with Mary and Abraham Lincoln at the service.
  
Best part is the Mary Lincoln white cake with jam afterward.  My friend Mary D and I getting our slice of cake and punch.

Sunday I fixed scalloped potatoes and ham for lunch.  I haven't made that in a long time.
Next week  ~ Christmas parties for Womens Overseas Service League, AMVETS and Catholic War Veterans.  Hope I'm not missing anything.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

My Week

How about this mild weather we've had this week for a post Thanksgiving/first of December!  It's been in the 50s-60s.  Of course that changes when the sun goes down.  Now we'll be in for a shock the coming week as the temperature drops and snow is in the forecast.

Tuesday I had a minor part in the dedication of the Illinois Capitol's Nativity Scene ceremony.

When I got home I quickly got Sophie over to her Therapy Dog visit.

 Thursday was a board of directors meeting of the Lincoln Monument Association.  We had been asked to merge with the Old State Capitol Foundation but we voted to just disband since they are not interested in our few life members or funds to turn over.

I watched a movie called "The Sleeping Room"

Thursday evening we had a board meeting of the Lincoln Monument Association. We voted to dissolve the organization.  Technically duties will be merged with the Old State Capitol Foundation.  LMA just can't keep going in the direction it's going financially.

Friday I volunteered at the Lincoln Tomb.  Afterward I went to the Nativity Festival.  I took pictures of some belonging to people I know

 Above belongs to Peggy.  She goes to my church.

 These belong to Dan and Anita.  Note that the little one foreground right is from Poland and I was with Paula when she bought it for him.

 These belongs to Mary.  She's in our reenactment group.

Saturday I was at the Old State Capitol with our Soldiers Aid Society.  Our topic was Civil War Toys.

Afterward I picked up a few donations on the way home and brought them to the Legion Christmas party.  They were accepting donations for the Homeless veterans shelter.

Sunday morning was our monthly memorial Mass of the Catholic War Veterans at St Jude in Rochester.  It was nice to see Kathy Smith, a WW2 veteran, since she doesn't get to many of our gatherings but St Jude is her home parish.

You can see Kathy's interview for the Illinois Veterans History Project here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyUNDTzkM94

Now that it is Advent, I must prepare for the coming.  Things will get wild and crazy on the schedule.