Hubby is continuing to get better.  He's on several new meds or increased doses of old ones, and that takes time to get used to.

I've been busy getting ready for Christmas.  Went to the grocery store Sat.  Boy, was it crowded!  I knew it would be, but that was the best time for me to go.  Tomorrow I will babysit a couple of grand-daughters.  I'm having 3 of the older grand-kids come over to help amuse them.  I have some paper plates and stuff for them to make Christmas wreaths.  Also, I want us to practice some songs to sing for and with the adults.  Other years we've done Christmas plays, but that is too much work for me this year.  Not sure what I will fix them for lunch.  2 of them won't eat sandwiches.  They love mac n cheese, but eat so much of it, I'm surprised it's not coming out their ears.  I wonder who first said that?

We don't have any snow yet, and it looks like we won't except for possibly a few flurries Christmas day.  That's good for those who are driving, but also kind of sad.  Not that I grew up with snow.  I didn't.  One time when I was little we woke up to white stuff on the ground (but not at Christmas-time,)  We called it snow, but it was more like heavy frost.   We lived in the same rented house for 16 years.  It had a large front window with smaller panes of glass in it.  Every Christmas my mother would spray something white that looked like snow in the corner of each pane.

I think I posted on the old Xanga about tinsel.  "Tinsel back then was made of tin, not plastic.  It didn't reach out and grab you and stick to your clothes like modern tinsel does.  We put the strands on one at a time, (except my brother tried to take handfuls and throw them on. Little brothers can be so annoying.)   When Christmas was over we took the tinsel off one at a time, and wrapped it around a piece of cardboard.  We lived in the city, so after Christmas everyone threw their trees away and the city came and picked them up.  One lady in our neighborhood threw her tree out with the tinsel still on it.  We were shocked!  We thought it was very wasteful.   When she wasn't looking we went out and took the tinsel off her tree too and kept it.

I really don't remember much about individual Christmases, except the year I got a child-size roll-top desk.  I wish I still had it.  I think my mother sold it before we moved.  We always went to my grandma and grandpa's house in the late afternoon.  I don't remember if we ate there, but we sat in the living room with the big oriental rug.  Grandma took the plastic off the chairs before we came.  They didn't usually use the living room, but kept it as kind of a showroom for their store.  She sometimes would sell a rug or a piece of furniture from the living room.  The rug store was attached at the front of the house.  Our aunt would be there, and our cousin, Carol Ann.  We always felt sorry for her because she had to wait until we got there to open our presents.  We opened ours at our house in the morning, as soon as we could get the grown-ups out of bed.  One time I woke my mother up at 7:15.  She sent me back to bed because she thought it was 3:35.  We were allowed to get our stockings before they got up.

Well, that's enough rambling.  What are some of your Christmas memories.  What do you have left to do to get ready?

Sorry, no pictures this time.  I am having a problem with pictures.  I'd better go wrap a few more presents now before I go to bed.

Oh, I do remember that I usually got a Raggedy Ann book and a Storybook doll.  I still have the books and most of the dolls.  I also have an original "Rudolph" book........the ones they gave out at Montgomery Wards.  I don't know what year that was.  I'll have to google it.

Tom came home this afternoon.  He is doing well, we think.  Right now he's watching the Grinch on TV.

Tomorrow we have to go to the pharmacy and get some prescriptions filled.  Also to the coumadin clinic.

Maybe sometime tomorrow I will have time to do a real post.  Tonight I'm going to go to bed early.

For those of you not on F.B.  Tom will probably be able to come home tomorrow.  He was better today.  Thank you all so much for your prayers, and your concern.  I really appreciate all of you!

Hubby is still in the hospital.  Now he has fluid in his lungs.  I don't know if it is related to the blood clots in the lungs, or (as the nurse put it) an underlying cause.  I am looking up mesothelioma on google, because when he was young he used to blow the asbestos out of brake linings.  I do hope it's not that.  They are giving him diuretics to try and get rid of the fluid.  He doesn't have any pain, so I'm thankful for that.  I am tired, of course, but otherwise OK.  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

Hubby has been well since his open-heart surgery in March.  Saturday evening he started having trouble breathing.  Monday I took him to the Dr. who sent us to emergency.  They found clots in his lungs, so they are keeping him until at least Thurs.  They're giving him blood thinners, and blood pressure meds.  They are guessing that the clots formed in his legs during our trip to TX.   (Like a lot of men,  he doesn't like to stop once he starts driving.)  I will try to read and catch up when I am not so tired.  Thanks in advance for all your prayers.

When I go to the library I try to pick out books written by authors that I know I like.  Lately I've brought home several, and when I started reading, realize I've already read them.  The last time I went I brought home 3 books.  2 of them were by familiar authors and I had already read them.  One of them I reread because it was short and funny, and I had enjoyed it the first time.  Today I started reading the one by an unfamiliar author (to me).  So far I'm enjoying it.  It's called "A Miracle for St. Cecilia's" by Katherine Valentine.  Here is a quote from the book "Spend more time thanking the Lord for your blessings than reminding Him of your needs, and you'll always be a happy man."  This was Father James' father's favorite saying.

Our newest great-grand-daughter is a blessing.  Her name is Sadie Kaylin.  Her mom is recovering from a C-section because Sadie kept doing acrobatics and not cooperating with the proper position for being born.  I hope we get to go see her Saturday, but I don't know yet.  The family lives about an hour from here.  Big brother is only 2, so life will be a bit different for him.

I went to the cemetery today, and changed the fall flowers for Christmas ones.  That makes my mother happy.  Last night we attended our oldest son's choir concert.  He sings bass in the community choir.  Tues. evening I went to the Christmas meeting of our church ladies' group.  The closest I've gotten to decorating is having the box with the tree brought upstairs.  However, most of my presents are bought, and I feel good about that.  The 3 Christian radio stations we can get are playing only Christmas music.  I may be tired of it by the time Christmas comes.

Thanksgiving was good. The next day, yesterday, I babysat 2 grand-daughters while their mom worked. The first thing the younger one said when she came in the door was "Grandma, can I play 'puter?" I told her no, she had to wait awhile. About the 30th time she asked, I gave in and said OK. We set the timer and she played PBS Kids for 10 minutes, then it was her sister's turn. They took turns for awhile, until I decided that was enough. The day went well. I even got a nap while they went next door to play with their 13 year old cousin. While they were gone, youngest son who is visiting from Rochester, N.Y. constructed a complex marble run, using every piece available. When the girls came back Evie went right to the 'puter.

Big sister went downstairs to see the marble run.

Part of it was too high for her to reach. She must have played with it for an hour or more.

Then it was time for supper. After supper their mama came (she had had to work late) and took them home. She wasn't feeling good, and today has a fever and cold. There's a lot of that going around. I hope she'll be better by Monday when she has to go back to work. We're going to pick up the girls for Sunday School tomorrow.
You know a toy is good when it's challenging enough for an adult, and a child can still enjoy it.  Thanksgiving evening, our 2 year old grandson was playing with it, with the help of his dad and grand-dad, with his mom and grandma watching to make sure he didn't try to eat any marbles.  I first bought the set from Discovery Toys several years ago.  The next year I bought some more pieces.  Through the years I've found some at garage sales too.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all. I'll be back Friday or Sat.

Remember cloth diapers and plastic pants? Remember hanging wet wash on the clothesline to dry?  One of our girls just hated to bring in the dry clothes and fold them.  She said she was afraid she'd find a spider in them.
Remember when mom changed all the diapers? There were no arguments about whose turn it was. Sometimes new ways are better. At least this mom thinks so.
Remember washing dishes by hand? Or, almost worse, making your children wash them by hand? We had one son who preferred to sit on a stool to dry dishes. One evening we went out for a short while. Before we left. his sister was told to wash the dishes and he was told to dry them. When we got home, he was still sitting on the stool drying dishes.

My first child was born in 1959, and the last was born in 1984, so I've seen a lot of changes.  When the first three were born my husband wasn't allowed in the delivery room.   The next 2 were born in Africa, so of course he could stay with me.  The last 2 were born in the U.S.   and he was able to stay with me.  Today  anyone the parents want can stay if the Dr. and Hospital allow it, and most of them do.  Which reminds me of a friend who had her babies at home.  She wanted the kids in the room with her to welcome their new sibling.  The first 2 times they were excited.  The next time they were too busy watching TV to care.    I think she eventually had 10, and gave up on having the older ones watch.

Isn't there a Little House on the Prairie book called "The Long Winter"?  Or is it "The Long, Long Winter"?   I think we may have it this year.  At least we have heaters, and cars, and hot running water,  and indoor bathrooms.  Lots of blessings that people in other times and other places didn't have and maybe still don't.  I had to run errands today, and had forgotten how annoying it is to try to remember my coat, scarf, hat, gloves, purse, and keys.  I'm not sure what the temp was today, but the wind made it feel a lot colder.

My daughter is still crocheting hats and other things. Now a grand-daughter is doing it too. It amazes me to see what they create.

A friend made this snowman for me for Christmas a couple of years ago. He lost the scarf last year. Guess I'll have to find him a new one. Actually this is an old picture. He's still in a box of Christmas stuff in the basement. I refuse to put up any Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. I do have most of my Christmas shopping done though. When you have as many descendants as I do you have to start early. I made some peanut butter fudge tonight. It's my friend's fault. She posted the picture and recipe on FB. I wonder if it will freeze? Or keep in the frig until Thanksgiving? The trouble with the frig is........it's too easy for me to eat.  I don't need that much sugar.