Just discovered a new food and recipe site: Smitten Kitchen. With the link provided by my daughter-in-law, I went there to check out "kale chips." It appears as though it has many interesting recipes. Can't wait to explore it.

Today's post is fairly mundane. It's about TV remote controls. The saga began a couple of days ago when our longtime remote control showed signs of "aging" - not wanting to turn on either the TV or the cable box, not wanting to change the channel or the sound, etc. So, we bid it "goodbye," and Butch returned it to the cable company. Does the new one work? Yes! Do all of the features work? No! We've fiddled with it, but we can't get the "sound" to switch from the TV remote to the cable remote. But, I assured Butch that Maria could "fix" it. :-) And, we declared our "techiness" or lack thereof finished for the day.

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT FATHER'S DAY * My dad * My father-in-law * My son * My son-in-law * Caring men I observe everywhere! The many dads, both in my family and my extended family and many friends through the years, that I have observed showering love & care on their children and grandchildren and their children's friends.

Things I Love About Christmastime

Each day I remember with a smile fun times and stories from Christmas celebrations through the years. I still laugh about a friend of my parents who nailed his family's Christmas tree to the floor one night after it fell over 4 times while they were all sleeping. Obviously, it woke him up each time! We still have some small glass ornaments that we bought our first Christmas in New Haven. That's the year I broke my leg when I slipped on the icy snow. In Texas we had to put the live tree in the garage because Butch was so allergic to it. That's when we moved into "permanent" artificial land where trees were concerned. One year Butch told me he didn't think he was going to get all of the Santa gifts put together before the kids woke up. You know, that Hot Wheels track worked just as well with a "short" rather than "long" run. The kids finally told us about sneaking quietly down the stairs in Kansas, checking out the presents, coming back upstairs, and pretending still to be asleep when I got them up to go downstairs. What a treat it is to see some of the grandkids celebrate what Santa brought them! It's fun to hear those who live far away say how much they love their gifts, too. Phone calls from family bring us all closer during the holidays. The Christmas Eve Services at churches through the years bring many dear faces to mind, along with smiles and laughs and tears. The music of Christmas is always a highlight and faces and places flash through my mind as I sing carols or listen to special favorites. These memories are listed here as they come to mind. What a collage they all create!

The Flurry of Life At Christmastime

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the whole year. Not only do I love the decorating, I love being with family and friends as we celebrate the joy of the holidays. The special events at church and in the community add to the whole festive experience. It is always so much fun to wrap gifts that have been selected with particular people in mind and to anticipate their pleasure when they open the presents. The memories that come "out" with the decorations bring smiles and a flood of feelings and the re-experiencing of some special moments. The Christmas tree always warms my heart when I look at it and I do love the singing Hallmark snowmen every bit as much as the grandkids do. :-) It's a time for remembering and celebrating and sharing and rejoicing. Merry Christmas to one and all!

Poinsettias

This gorgeous flower with the myriad of reds, pinks, and whites, is such a delightful addition to a home at Christmas. It is a treat to give AND a treat to receive.

"A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

'I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes,' said Pedro consolingly.

Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.

As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro's kind words: 'Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes.' She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!"

Thanksgiving Sunday

Today was the Annual Thanksgiving Celebration and Dinner at our church. The beautiful cornucopia on the altar, the traditional Thanksgiving music, the new members, and the feast we all shared at the beautiful tables in the Refectory combined for a delightful celebration that even the rain couldn't dampen. Thanks to everyone who made this happen for all of the rest of us! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!