Blog announcement

We interrupt your blog reading for a public announcement.....

As you may have surmised from the increasing length of time between my blog posts- it's been hard for me to carve out time to blog recently.

Like many women my age, I am finding that there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything I'd like to do. As a result of trying to keep up, I find I'm in a constant panic to cover all the bases with a decreasing energy level.

It's time to evaluate and prioritize the activities that fill my days.

As I've mentioned in past posts, there are all the things I must do - house keeping, cooking, laundry, garden and office work. And then there are the things I love to do - travel, spend time with grandkids and friends, make cards and scrapbook, read, cook and entertain.

One thing that's become very evident is that I'm spending too much time on the computer. There's office work, posts for Mennonite Girls Can Cook, keeping up with friends, reading other blogs, bill paying and on-line photo books, to name a few.

So one of the first things I've chosen to do to reduce computer time is to declare a hiatus on writing my personal blog.

I've really enjoyed blogging and hope to return to it again but for now, I'll be leaving this on the back burner until further notice.

Many thanks to all of you for your interest and comments. You've been a real encouragement to me. I look forward to resuming this when I'm working less and have accomplished some of the things on my long "Must do" list.

Thanks again for your interest and now...back to your regular scheduled blogs......

And all around the house –

     glimpses of Christmas

 

   

  

    

 

Christmas Activities with the Grandkids–

In the middle of December, we spent a weekend with our Grandkids in Seattle.

We met in Everett at the Children’s Museum and while Harv and the boys explored the museum,

 

   

 

   

Dulci , Ella and I went to a special children’s performance of the Nutcracker.  The (mostly) young performers did an excellent job and Ella was entranced by the costumes, music and dance.

 

 

  

After we all had lunch together, we headed to their house to make gingerbread houses.  It was harder than anticipated so PopPop came and demonstrated his architectural and structural knowledge..    

The kids kept PopPop well grounded while waiting for the gingerbread “mortar” to dry.

                                                                                      

Mom and Dad took a mini retreat on Whidby Island, so we stayed with the kids for the night

The next morning we took the grandkids shopping for gifts for their mom and Dad and to have their picture taken with Santa as a special surprise. 

By the time the gingerbread houses where dry enough to decorate, Dad and Mom were back and we had a special dinner of Raclette.

   

It was a wonderful way to celebrate the coming of Christmas and spend precious time building memories with the grandchildren.

Christmas is Coming –

It’s been very busy around here.  There was lots to catch up on after our holiday.

One thing we chose to make time for when we got home  was  a weekend in Seattle to see the grandkids.

We went shopping for an Advent wreath – .

 

of course PopPop found something that interested the children more than wreaths and candles!

Nana and Ella made Christmas ornaments for the tree.

 

  

Back at home, I had fun making up some outdoor arrangements.

I love the red berries, and varied shades of the different evergreens.

Some, pine, spruce and fir, and some huge red ornaments and glittered mesh ribbon and the front entry looked like Christmas.

 

Meanwhile Harv was stringing lights outside.    He loves doing this and we have a standing joke about how he buys more lights every year.

The result  of his creativity are impressive – we have a  winter wonderland around the house.

The lights brighten the dark night reminding us how Christ’s coming brightens our dark world.