December 15th, 2001

I pick up the butterfly cane and make off to the Post Office with the last of the Grandchildren's  parcels.

On the way I pass the church and see Paul and Christine with a ladder to the roof, reaching to the bell tower where the old train bell is being very balky and needs greasing.  A few years ago our son, Sid, built a lovely new bell tower in his steel shop to replace the old, but decrepit original, and the tower was dedicated to God and to the memory of the two brothers Charles lost in World War 11.  I am warmed by what these young people are doing, as they look forward to hearing the bell on Christmas Day and ringing in the New Year, and I know that Charles will be so pleased.

I continue on to the Post Office, where the subject is the nippy weather, - but 'no snow yet, thank goodness', goes echoing around from one Christmas mailer to another!  I say nothing - to me, a prairie girl, it is not winter until it snows, and certainly not Christmas!

As I come from the P.O. I hear the bell!!  Tentative at first, but then pealing quite gloriously.....well, as gloriously as an old train bell can manage...

This morning we waken to snow!!!!!  Beautiful.....

Life is good.

ABC Wednesday
December 14th, 2011

V is the letter of the day.

V is for Victrola

When I was Very young we had a wind-up Victrola that lived downstairs next to my father's crystal radio.

When I was a little older we acquired a real radio, but we still went downstairs to wind up the Victrola, put on some old records and dance a bit.  The old Victrola was quite magical......

Now people read on Kindles, do amazing things with telephones, write blogs that the whole world can read, if they are so inclined, and I think how my mother would shake her head and say, 'My word, what next'!

For more V stories visit here at ABC Wednesday, with thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt and her Very Versatile aides.

Everything is copacetic!

Well, most things are copacetic......

The Amazon order arrived in the mail in time for my own mailing of parcels, as did the National Geographic envelope.

|Last evening I rummaged around in all the leftover wrappings and stickers and ribbons from last Christmas, weaseled my way through a cupboard filled with presents to reach the sturdy card table, set it up next to my computer and a nice source of music and went off to bed quite pleased with myself.

This morning I got up and made shortbread, some with almond bits and some with ginger, and they all baked beautifully and are ready to stuff into Christmas bags....

Sometimes life is just, well, - copacetic.  I am off to take a walk over town to look at some children's books as a last present purchase.....  I shall take my cane with the butterflies on it! And come home and pack boxes to mail tomorrow.