Ruminating

So, an impromptu poem...by me!

The house was hot and sticky, so what the heck.
I decided it was time to go sit on the deck.

It was so sweet, swinging in the shade.
I began to think that I had it made.

The sun was shining on the tops of the trees,
And I was enjoying the beautiful breeze.

The birds singing, the smell of newly mowed hay,
I thanked the Lord for this beautiful day.

So, I hope you weren't expecting fancy prose,
This is just from my heart, heaven knows.

If you are having a stressful day,
Join me on my deck and swing away!

Merry Christmas!

I hope all of you have very happy holidays!

Today I am going to share a "country" version of T'was the Night Before Christmas.  It was written by my dear friend, Alice Longaker for her Christmas message in 2008.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Twas the night before Christmas and across the wide plains,

The highways required snow tires and chains.

Wool socks were a dangling on a peg real neat

In hopes they’d be filled with something ‘sides feet.

The boys, under quilts, snored in their bunks--

Dreaming of fishing and puppies and skunks.

Ma decked in fleece--me in long underwear

We’d just closed our eyes after saying our payers.

When out in the pasture there arose such a ruckus,

We jumped from our blankets—thought tornados had struck us!

With pillows and slippers and covers all tossed,

I peered out the window and wiped off the frost.

The moon was fat as a fresh apple fritter,

And snow was a twinkling like holiday glitter.

But a glance at the sky revealed something queer

A flatbed trailer towed by eight John Deeres!

With a driver all burly and bundled in red

It was Santa with a cowboy hat perched on his head!

More rapid than rattlers, his curses—they came--

He whistled and hollered and called out bad names.

“Yo! Tractor, and Combine, Snow Plow, and Grader,

Hey! Mower, and Scraper, Cotton Picker, and Gator!”

Up over the fence posts--along the rock wall,

“Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, all!”

Like tumble weeds bouncing way up high

When winter winds howl north from the sky,

So all that machinery put down on the roof

Jolly Santa and bags all filled up with loot.

In a flash, I heard tires crunching on shingles

With rumbling, putt-putting, and spurs all a-jingle.

I backed from the window, my thoughts in a jumble,

When Santa came down the chimney a-tumble.

All zipped in red coveralls (flannel-lined to boot)

Though ash and engine oil covered that suit.

He flung a bag up over his back

Just like a burlap onion sack. 

He had a friendly face--sorta wrinkled and old,

And his nose and cheeks were red from the cold.

Under his mustache, his teeth had a grin,

And curly, white whiskers grew on his chin.

His cheek swelled a bit with a plug of chew,

And the back of his hand had a snowflake tattoo.

He had a big belly—he was a big fellow;

He shook all over like Ma’s Christmas Jell-O.

He was pure country--and no city slicker

All of a sudden, I started to laugh and snicker.

Ma punched me—I gasped, but Santa just winked;

He nibbled a cookie with milk for a drink.

He never said a word—just unloaded the treasure

Filled up the socks and a boot for good measure.

Scratching his belly, tying the bag in a knot,

And tipping his hat up the chimney he shot.

He climbed on his rig—with a shout--up they flew

Filling the skies like a harvesting crew.

 I heard him bellow, as he soared ‘cross the prairie,

“I hope this Christmas is happy and merry!”

©Alice Longaker

Christmas 2008

I Am Still Here!

I know it may seem like I dropped off the face of the earth, but nope.  Still here, thank God.  I have been missing due an accident.  I fell most of the way down a flight of stairs.  Yeah, pretty lame, I know!  Broke my left collar bone and ring finger on my right hand.  The shoulder is pretty good now.  My right hand is still in a cast, but I hope it will be off soon.

My stamping business has been on hold for a few weeks, but I am working on getting that back on track.  I even have a workshop scheduled for next month.  It will be really nice to stamp without this cast.

All of my children and grandchildren were home the weekend of the 9th.  We had so much fun!  We visited a local farm stand for pumpkins, Culver's for lunch (if you have never had a Culver's Butter Burger you are missing a wonderful burger), and then to the apple orchard by Baraboo. I will include a few photos here.

 Forgive me for not writing a whole lot tonight, but it gets tiring.

TTFN,
Ginny

High School Reunion

I recently attended my 40 year high school reunion. I went to Alameda High School in Lakewood, Colorado. There were about 40 classmates attending and it was AMAZING! I couldn't believe how I still recognized most of them. Some have hardly changed since we graduated! I had been corresponding with some people on Facebook, but it was nice to see them in person. 

I am the 3 person from the left in the seated row.  I was laughing so hard!  All the spouses were clicking away with cameras and making silly comments.

This week my dear daughter and the two youngest grandbabes are visiting.  They have been visiting various friends and relatives to pet lots of animals.  They have seen rabbits, sheep, chickens, horses, ponies and COWS!  They get so excited by it all.  We went to the town hall to play on the little playground, we have been to Madison, and the kids have had a chance to visit some of their "cousins" (dear daughter's cousins' children) to play.

My mom is in Arkansas at my uncles' home.  He had heart surgery about 3 weeks ago and she went down to help him during his recovery.  I got a call from her last night saying that my uncle is back in the hospital with a possible stroke or TIA.  He has been recovering remarkably well until last night.  My prayers are going out to him and his family.

TTFN,
Ginny

New Business!

Hi, everyone! I know it has been a long time since I posted, but I do have a bit of news to share.

Two of my favorite hobbies are stamping and scrapbooking. Once upon a time I was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, but I had to give it up as I was working full time and wasn't able to devote the time needed. Well, now I am retired and I have oodles of time. So I am once again a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! I have a new stamping blog and the address is: www.inkorswim-ginny.blogspot.com. Come and check it out. I will be posting projects, Stampin' Up! specials and more.

TTFN,
Ginny

Threes

They say bad things come in threes. I always kind of believed this but I think it was verified for me in the last two or three weeks. First, my husband's uncle passed away. He had a long and happy life and was 97 years old. I was ready to go to the funeral when my daughter called. Her father-in-law had reached the last days of his life. I headed down to help with her small children. Her FIL passed away two days after I arrived. Then, two days after his funeral I received a call that my aunt had passed away. I ended up flying down south then. I finally arrived back home this past Wednesday. Okay, enough for bad things.

We are going down to DS the elder's home tomorrow for my oldest granddaughter's birthday. I can't believe she is 9! I am looking forward to her party. It will be fun to see everyone. I have so much fun shopping for her. She is a very girly girl and I love buying her clothes. Her younger sister has declared herself a tom boy and doesn't want anything "girly" looking.

Done for now!

TTFN,
Ginny

I think I have it!

I think I finally have enough novelty prints to make the I Spy quilts I have been planning for so long. When I started collecting fabrics, I never realized that it would take so long or be so hard to find enough different prints. At least the quarter yard I bought of each will be enough to do several quilts in different sizes.

Lately, I have been in a bit of a slump. I have turned really, really lazy; even worse that usual. Not sure how I am going to get around it. I don't feel especially depressed, but I do feel lethargic. When I leave home it gets better, but when I am here...ugh! Maybe I actually miss Mom more than I thought. If that is the case it will be better next month. Mom is due home on April 3.

My youngest son and his lovely wife bought their first home and are due to move in at the end of this month. I am so happy for them!

They just did a report on the news about a driver killed recently. Turns out she was texting and driving and didn't notice the semi truck in front of her. Not a pretty sight and sad because it is so preventable.

I am getting over a really stupid cold. It really just affected my throat. My throat got scratchy; a little at first then quite a bit in the middle. It's so annoying because nothing helps it. But, it is getting better...I think.

Okay, just wanted to throw a couple of thoughts out here.

TTFN
Ginny