WHEW !!!!! THAT IS OVER

I am referring to my annual physical. It took forever because of computer down and slow workers.  But my visit with Dr. Beall was so good.  He always makes me feel better and eases my fears.  Everything checked out pretty good for a 87 year old.  Of courses I will have to wait for results to several tests, but I am not real worried about any of it.  Bless my sweet Amy who took me at 8 this morning and put up with the delays that made my visit last till 11.  We ate lunch there in the Belhaven building at what else--The Belhaven.  Enjoyed it.  Then on to  home and a nap. 

Dinner with my usual table of friends.  We always eat together on Monday's.  Enjoyed it.  I will  read till bedtime and call it a successful day and look forward to tomorrow.

Sleep tight  and pleasant dreams.
Betty Boop

DAY AFTER

What a wonderful two days of celebration we have had.  It is time to come down and I don't mean that in a bad way.  Being with so much of our family is such a blessing.  Brody was the center with opening gifts.  He caught on fast.  He is so cute.  The food center was the leg-of-lamb.  A new "tradition" for us.  M. G. and Ryan prepared it and it was so good.  Of course the traditional turkey and dressing was prepared by Amy and such a good job she did.  The best ever.  Everyone outdid themselves with all the sides and desserts.  Now it will be hard to come down off that high and eat simple again for me. 

Tommy kept the fire going so nice and I loved sitting in the corner and watching my wonderful off springs enjoy catching up with each other.  You hear my doings from day to day so I had little to add, but I really enjoyed hearing from all of you.  I am so proud of you all.--------------------So here is to a very HAPPY NEW YEAR-------------and new adventures and much Joy. Use your days well and as always===Make Memories that are good.

Betty Boop

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!!!!

Got  you?  Old tradition that we may as well put to bed.  No Jack to catch.  Hey the sun is shinning, crazy weather.  Christmas Eve and I am as ready as I can be. 

Betty Boop

LET'S GET ON WITH IT

I  have this feeling every year. Do you?  I have heard and sang the beautiful Christmas music, exchanged greeting and sometime gifts \, with dear friends and planned and bought food, and attended some very meaningful programs, missed Truman every time I turn around and laughed and smiled and cried too, and read and studied the real meaning of Christmas--I am now as ready as I will be.  I usually trim my list of things to prepare and everything usually turn out O. K.  So I am there now.  Granted, my list is now not as full, but full for me.  I came in contact with two "Angels" yesterday, I know they were Angels because they helped me when they did not even know me.  Just little acts of kindness.  I felt moved to pass it on.  That is one way it works.  So thank you Lord for your Angels and don't anyone dare to tell me they are not all around us.  I may have played the part myself and so have you. 

Breakfast alone but it was good.  They have started serving breakfast all day in the Cyber in addition to lunch type food too.  I love breakfast food.  I guess this is one "suggestion" they honored.  I think I will use it often. 

Well I must do a little laundry and some catch up phone calls and who knows what else.  I love washing on a "rainy" day.  and that is promised--rain.  So let's get on with it,

Betty Boop

GOOD and RAINY DAY

Call me crazy but I do love a rainy day.  I get pleasure out of a little gloom.  Now what does that say for me?  Maybe I did not phrase that right.  There is a poem title in there somewhere with two others that have been chasing each other.  Maybe they will come out--maybe not. 
My friends have bombarded me with little gifts for Christmas.  I declare this is a wonderful place.  Maybe you have to reach above 80 to "love one another."  There is a little truth in that.  The reasons I will not go into. Just you wait a see for yourself.  I got a caramel dipped apple rolled is chocolate and nuts.  It came to my door last night and I found it before bedtime.  YES!!  I did have a couple of bites.  Oh My was it good.  I heard this morning on the news a warning not to eat these apple on a stick!!  Recalled for salmonella.  It did not say where or which ones.  But if it were the bites I ate, I guess I would be sick by now.  I feel O. K. but I think I wont eat any more or mention it to the giver.  She would be upset and I love her.  I have been cheating a little on my sugarless diet and I am going to back off a little.  It is hard. 

Jan and Tommy are coming for lunch.  Yeah!!  

Betty Boop

NEXT CHAPTER

Well on to Christmas.  Of course I have been planning for a while.  Amy took me shopping yesterday.  Bless her.  She not only drives me but helps me out of car and into stores but also helps me find things and most of all helps me make up my mind.  Now what could be better.  Daughters of Amy, take note--she will need you this way someday too.  We plan to go again today as we did not get finished.  It is supposed to rain but maybe it will not dampen out spirits.  The Christmas plans for get-togethers sound  so wonderful.  Once again we gather together and enjoy each other's company.  How blessed we are. 

Betty Boop

DONE AND DONE

I had trouble sleeping last night.  I kept singing in my mind.  The Christmas concert went well.  The music was very special and I really enjoyed myself.  Thanks to you that came and it means so much for you to support me and my efforts.  And I have really tried to make a new life for myself.  I think I am at peace with everything and am so thankful for all my blessings.

Breakfast with my friends plus two more.  Too much politics were discussed.  I hate that.  I remember as a child --  grownups would say "politics are dirty"  I could not imagine what they were talking about.  Now I know.  Not good breakfast conversation either.  But the omelet with tomato, cheese and mushrooms was delightful.  Now I will start this "do nothing" day by doing my laundry and changing the bed linens.  After that?  Whatever.

Betty (Merry Christmas) Boop

ALL GONE (but not forgotten)

I was glad to see the rest of the mighty men march off.  I enjoyed them but was tired of them looking at me all the time.  I made extra and delivered 47 and one left over to watch me.  I will probably give him when I remember someone else.  People loved them and I was pleased.  Enough of that.  

On to something else.  Church was good.  Terry is concentrating on the children and I think she is right.  They are our future in the Church.  We have new babies and a lot of young children.  As she said, they will be our Youth soon and it will be back close to what it used to be when we were raising our children in the church.  Start them off with a good religious education and you will have done your best. 

The Lunch Bunch had fun and enjoyed each other.  Amy, Ryan, M. G., Paul, Sophia and Me.  They all use chopsticks--I can't keep up with that.  Do not have to.          Our Choir is singing our Christmas music here at SCV tomorrow.  Wish us luck.  As I have said already, we have worked hard.  Not many "pros" in the group, but all together we sound pretty good for what we are.  Anyway, we all enjoy it.  

Betty Boop 

BE GONE, PLEASE

Delivering these little "men" has been a real chore.  I still have about a dozen left.  I keep thinking of someone else who might need a chuckle.  But the comments have been priceless.  I am glad I did them,

We have a lock down in Siena because of flu.  Even though we have all had flu shots, we now know we are not completely covered.  I hope they get it under control soon.  They canceled the party for employees where we were to give out the gift checks.  Going between the sections is risky and we do appreciate the thoughtfulness of those in charge.  We don't want it to spread here in our wing.  Hope the Christmas Choir program can go on Monday.  We will see.  We have worked so hard. 

Off to lunch.

Betty Boop

AND AWAY THEY GO

Twelve little quaint men left my apartment last night.  The went up and down my hall and landed at the entrance of my close neighbors.  I am sure they were a surprise to all and I hope they got at least a smile and maybe a chuckle.  Another group will get the courage to run out today.  I am glad to see them go, yet a little sad.  They have given me a few smiles and some burned fingers too.  I have had too many things to do this season and have had to cut some out.  The days of "doing it all" are over and it is a peaceful feeling to realize that.  I am only doing what I really want to do.  And making my friends smile is top of the list. Just hope they wont think me crazy.  I am already getting presents of "sweets".  I guess that is what most people think of at Christmas.  I did get a hand made ornament from a friend and I appreciated that. 

Well another beautiful yet cold day is starting.  I saw the sunrise and it was beautiful.  The most beautiful shades of blue and pink  that only God could create.  Thank you Lord.

Betty Boop

GETTING THERE

Well, the "merry little" men are  finished except now they must find their way down and around the HALLS of St Catherine.  That is going to be time consuming.  Not today.     Yesterday at church, three generations  of Ellis' lit the Advent candle ,  Sophia  read (and so beautifully) Amy lit the candle and I stood and watched.  I was just glad I did not stumble off the altar.  Truman would have loved his girls doing a good job.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Betty Boop 

MUST HAVE BEEN CRAZY

You know I am a sucker for punishment. What made me think I could pull off these crazy little elves made from pinecones  for as many friends that I have.  Well some will have to be pretty good friend to get one.  I guess my eyes and my fingers are not what they used to be because I am struggling.  They  are cute but not that cute. All these little wooden heads waiting for a body. their eyes following me around.  Kind of creepy.  They are about half done.  I will make it bet never again.  If I  did not have other things to do. I am a Trustee on the Christmas Fund Committee.  I signed 300 checks today and helped stuff them in envelopes. My arm and fingers are beginning to hurt.  I had a poem due this week and I came up with it today also.  The  January theme is Be Upbeat.  Here is what I wrote.




                                                                            BE UPBEAT


There are many paths  to take,
Each day of our lives.
Some make-----Some break.
Hope you choose wise.

I think to be "upbeat" is the best.
Be positive each and every day.
Eliminate all the rest.
Everything will be O. K.

I know I sound like Pollyanna.
But try it for a while.
Make happiness your banner,
And give the world a smile.

O. K. for an hour's work?  I know my poems are not as good as they used to be when I wrote so many for my family.  Maybe I had a better subject then.  Next week is just as full and if I don't get a haircut sometime soon, I will need a collar. 

But I am glad to have work to do--and strength to do it.  Thank you Lord.

Betty Boop

PINE CONE ELVES

Visions of little pine cone men with sassy smiles and little cone hats and I don't know yet what else. danced through my dreams last night.  I almost got up to work on them.  They come to life right in my hands and seem to mock me and tease me.  I almost give them names.  I have made them before for my Christmas lunch I used to host at CCC. for my church circle.  Every year I made favors which were part of decorations for the luncheon.  It has been years since I made these little devils.  They haunt me till I am done.  I think I will make 35 plus this year for my new friends here at SCV.  Amy took me to buy supplies and it was a mad house at MICHAEL'S  I could not have done it without her.  She knows  so much more than I do about supplies.

Our theme for the Villager for January is UPBEAT.  No New Year resolutions.  They don't work.  We agreed what we need here it to be upbeat and positive.  How do I write a poem about this subject?  I am expected to  write a poem/  O boy. What a curse and what an honor .  Make sense?  I will "get it all done"  and I will enjoy it. 

Betty Boop