Morning coffee and morning exercises: a good way to start the Day 😊
We need to walk daily, and we needed to go after bread; so Holland drove the loop drive 🚘 to Coalinga (up the freeway and country road back home); this is a long way to go & there is not much to see but various sizes of oil pump jacks along the Coalinga side of Hwy #198 - but I like it because it's quiet open country … it's greening up nicely following the recent rainfall. And I appreciate my husband's indulgence 👩❤️💋👨😘
Loop Drive from W Jayne, up Freeway to #198 to Coalinga; and back to W Jayne.
Main Road to Coalinga off Freeway. I like this country drive.
Of course we always come home with more 🙄 than we went to the store for 💸, but at least we got our daily walk in 👌
Back home, purchases were put away in 'fridge & pantries, the fireplace was lit & the Christmas Box was pulled out of hiding 👍 and I spread a bit of Christmas joy around our humble abode … nothing fancy … just enough to be festive, laundry was done, and Holland's cousin Bruce called to say he'd arrived in CA - he and Holland made plans to get together 🤝 when Bruce's schedule loosens enough to set time aside to shoot the breeze for catch up chit chat. I hope it works out this time - they talk quite a bit on the phone, it's the face-to-face that is hit and miss.
Electric Fireplace - warmth & ambiance.
Bruce is in CA; plans being laid to meet up.
Garland hung & candy canes set out.
Garlands & beads, hung.
MOD Crochet plant pot cover made with sparkly holiday yarn.
I usually start getting my December Holiday stuff in place as soon as the Thanksgiving stuff is cleared away … but this year, I've been dragging my feet; the Grim Reaper has been making collections this year (me = a beloved friend, a younger brother, and a cousin; my husband = an older brother). It is hard to be merry & jolly when the heart is dealing with so much heaviness.
Holland must be needing a little of December's special vibes because he's all of a sudden going soft 💞 about Christmas - the other day actually suggesting "a little Christmas tree"; and tonight wanting a little more of Christmas vibe than I skimpily spread around throughout our small spaces. Hmmm: I like this ... I'm already thinking ahead 🧐 to what I can add to the Christmas Box ✅ for Christmas 2026 👏
I'm a snow baby, born December 29th; Christmas is my favorite time of year 😁
Country Christmas Albums...Plus!
But this year the December excitement has been tempered with losses 😔 - as well as gains 🦋 This Christmas 🎄, we'll spend some time on the introspective simplicity of reflective memories of those who have passed on; and work on ourselves 💝, enjoying each other 💖 & rediscovering the friendship ✌️ that got sidelined 🤦🏻♀️😒🤷♀️🤔 in the shuffle of melding 🥰 2 totally different lives into 1.
The month of December holds so much for me: my birth month, the month my life with Bob permanently ended … and the month Elohim blessed me with a new love. Where once sorrow reigned - hope now makes big gains.
There is something so blessed in December's special vibe, so tonight if you’re feeling stretched thin, tired, or a little heart bruised; I hope December's soft joy wraps around you like a warm blanket, and reminds you to walk gently with yourself - we are all doing the best we can with the cards we've been dealt, and grace goes a long way.
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