Images

As our Pooh is submitting pics to express that inner self I thought I might join the fun. This one is "Self Portrait on an Unclear Day". Clarity is not always important to me. I sometimes see things better if there's a little fuzz (room) around the big picture that allows me to add my own understanding and therefore see the issue more clearly. Since we each live in our own 'reality' this gives me the opportunity to assimilate the information and then to act on it or not.

Christmas Eve Gift!

That has always started my Christmas Eve. Don't know if it was a Tucker or a Wilkins tradition but it became a West tradition.
So --- Christmas Eve Gift! Atcha!
Woke this morning eager to get out of bed. Not for any other reason than it hurt to stay in it. That, more than any other 'Age' issue troubles me. I used to be able to sleep for 12 or 14 hours uninterrupted no sweat. Now 7 with at least one pit stop in the middle.
Anywho -- When I got downstairs there remained 6 sleeping teenagers in the living room. The remains of Leland's Christmas gathering (Party is not a usable word). Brendan returned from his Christmas visit home last night & had to get to work by 9 AM. he usually goes in around 3 PM but today being Christmas Eve he gets off at 6PM and can be at church and here with us. To cool.
There's a bug in most apples or so it seems & the one in Brendans' this morning was the Ice storm that had been going on since the wee hours of the morning. Our road is a lane and a quarter wide dirt so after the first snow fall is usually difficult to travel to say the least. Add ice and Yippie! He made it out OK and there has been a coating of cinders applied since so gettin in n out will be easier.
Jacci has the day off & I'm taking one too. I'm going to put on a pot of Chili to slow cook. We'll go to the church for the Christmas pageant at 5 come home eat the Chili and go back to the church at 8 for the Candle Light/Communion service return and await the arrival of Santa.
Zippidee

Twas the Day before The Day before The Day before

Sunday & Sunday night I was working on some stained glass for Brendan & Caitlin. It was a rendition of her parents house that they asked me to do for them to give as a gift to her parents. Due to weather & schedule constraints it needed to be done by Monday morning. I finished it at 4:30 Monday morning. When I left my shop to go upstairs for some sleep there were geese honking and carrying on out on the lake. It was pitch black & -5 degrees, so crisp and cold. I got up about 8 and cleaned up the glass & framed it. Brendan was on the road by 9 or 10. I used up probably half of his time off that he could spend with Caitlin for Christmas & felt real bad about it but couldn't help it. I left at 1 PM to go to Kutztown to help Evan move the last of his stuff home. I got to bring "The Bay City Roller" back! An uneventful trip until I was about 10 miles from home. Up on I-84 there was a sudden lake effect snow squall and the road iced over. In a line of cars I was third. The cars in front of me successfully slowed without losing control but with my pickups light rear end I wasn't as lucky. I did manage through luck, skill, and the hand of Jesus, to regain control without leaving the road or bouncing off of one of the other cars. I wound up side ways in the left lane passing the cars before me. The fellow behind me wasn't as lucky. I saw in my rear view mirror that he lost it and after slamming the car I just missed left the road.
After getting home and having a 'Double Shot' Hot Toddy I cooked diner a relaxed on the sofa planning on hittin the sack early. Not according to Murphy's plans. The dishwasher quit discharging water after each cycle. After an hour & a half of every thing I could think of doing short of dismantling it (Yes I tried kicking it first)I gave up and went to bed. This morning I dismantled it. It now works. It had nothing to do with the machine. Turned out to be a clogged drain line under the house.
So when asked "What are you doin to get ready for Christmas?" People better be ready to spend some time with me 'cause I got stuff to say :~)
Hope all your preparations for his coming bring you closer to him. I almost mentioned him while working on the dishwasher this morning but it wouldn't have been in a good way so I let it go until I was done then I gave thanks.
Zipidee

Christmas Snow

Well this should get things 'White for Christmas'. It started snowing about 9:30. The snow is predicted to be 8 to 10 inches by 9 tonight. Course they predicted it would start around 2 or 3 this afternoon so maybe they'll get the amount wrong too. Lookin out the window the other side of the lake has disappeared but I can still see our beach. It'll have to come down at about an inch an hour to reach their predictions.
Heard from a friend in the Mobile area this morning. He was on his way to the water to fish from his Kayak. Isn't this a great country? I'll be shoveling fresh snow this evening & he'll be cleaning fresh caught fish.
Went down to the church this morning to get the pageant props & other seasonal props out of the shed. Won't be able to get to the shed tomorrow. Our food pantry opened early hoping the families could come early to get their groceries. We also set up a small toy store where they can pick out presents for their families. Price is the same on all items -- one smile.
Knowing things are tight for all this year I'm more than grateful for all that I have. There was a young couple standing outside as I left, he was obviously debating whether he was going in or not. There were pleading tears in her eyes. I started to pass by without interfering but something made me put my arm around his shoulder and say "Jesus put the food & toys in our basement for you & your family. Please come with me and accept his gift". I led them in, introduced them to to Pantry crew and left.
God is good. Always!
Zipidee!

State of Health

Jacci & I didn’t have medical insurance for the first 27 years of our marriage. We were lucky to have coverage for the boys. Then along came the ‘Tobacco Settlement’. Pennsylvania used it to subsidize insurance for households with qualifying incomes. Our incomes qualified.
Jacci immediately took advantage of our new insurance policy by having several test run. One was a colonoscopy that turned up an issue requiring a bowel resection. With out the insurance there would have been no test. We credit this state program with saving Jacci’s life.
I, being male, new that all was well with me insurance or no. Until a Dr. customer looked at the pimple on my nose and recommended I have it looked at. Though small the cancer was removed with little noticeable disfigurement. I credit this state program with saving my nose. Something that might not be important to my rugged features but does hold up my glasses.
Last month we received a letter from the state claiming our income no longer fell in their qualifying category. DEVASTION. Though I did make considerably more this year and last due to the house I built I don’t get that kind of job often and my income will drop to normal or below this coming year. Once you’re bounced you go to the back of a very long line and have to wait for an opening (others being bounced) before you’re reinstated.
We took advantage of a review that was offered and after submitting a letter we were contacted by phone. Seems when Rudy passed his business partner screwed up the inheritance thing with a late submission of taxable income that wound up being reported on our taxes instead of the estate taxes. Therefore the bump. Once explained the state lady said ‘Oh! Never mind then. You’re reinstated”. HALLELUIA!!
Well maybe. In my attempt to calm Jacci at the termination I pointed out that all of those years without insurance we were well and didn’t need it but when we did need it it was there and that the termination was confirmation that once again we were well. Now we got insurance again …I’m snifflin…I may just go lay down.

To Share

   Not a lot to blog about this morning but wanted to share one of those moments that God blessed us with this morning. It's my habit to get my coffee and sit at the computer overlooking the lake and read the online NY Times. Here's a picture of what I saw.






Jacci went down to the lake and took a better picture.








   We've had Eagles, Hawks, Loons, Herons,Geese, but this is our first swan

Lights of Christmas

There was a time in my life when the lights of the Dan River Mill were magic to me. Behind me were the Christmas lights of the Mill Village that my grandparents lived in. My Paw Paw’s lights were the most & brightest lights in the neighborhood.
At Christmas when we visited we were allowed to stay up ‘til Paw Paw’s shift was over at 10pm. At 9:55 we’d race from the house across the street to the main gate. Faces pressed against the chain link fence bettin who’d be first to make out his silhouette when he came through the door and shout “Paw Paw!” Maybe he’d bring out a 6 oz Coke with him and share with us maybe not, didn’t matter we’d all grab our share of him and hang on ‘til home.
While sittin out the first semester of 70/71 I worked at that Mill. Paw Paw & Maw Maw had retired by then but there were still some there that remembered me & my siblings at Christmas hanging on the fence.
Paw Paw used to put more lights on his house & yard than anyone in Clanton. One December a Tornado raced down his street rippin his roof off along with every light & decoration he owned. It also ripped the end off of the Mill. Paw Paw’s collection of lights never did recover.

Zipidee!

The weekend past.

Well the long weekend has past. Spent it with Jacci's family in Conn. Also attending the festivities was her brother Gene's significant other Wendy's family. Only fair since it was held at her house & prepared by her. Altogether there were 19 of us. We ate more than we should and enjoyed a day of feasting, family and new friends.
Jacci, Evan and Lee decided to head back home Thursday night about 9. The trip should have taken just under 3 hrs. With a missed intersection they managed to stretch it to 4 and a half. They laugh now but it's been reported to me that it wasn't pretty in that car at a few choice moments ;~)
I stayed Friday & Saturday to help Gene put laminate flooring in his daughters bedrooms. By the time we finished Sat evening I was to tired to do a long drive & after looking at the weather predictions (Wintry Mix late Sunday) decided to leave on Sunday morn. Woke to the Wintry Mix already upon us so had to delay the departure to 2 pm to make sure the roads were open. This also gave us time to install a fireplace insert.
It was again a 'White Knuckle Ride' back home but that's true of any trip East of here.
When I walked in the house the Christmas tree was up and decorated. I detest Christmas decorations, music, or advertisements before Thanksgiving so Jacci waste no time once the bird is off the table.
Here's to the coming season and to the reason for the season. Let's do for him that has done for us and spread his message as a light to those living in the dark.
Zipidee!!!!!