Family Feast

Christmas is Christmas when the kids are all here together.  This year Michelle's parents, who retired to the west coast, returned home to West Virginia too.  Greg and Michelle treated us to Christmas Eve hors' deouvres and we all helped in Christmas Dinner preparation.  Michelle made the pies with Chris and Greg doing the chopping.  The menu included:
    

Peppered Herb Beef Tenderloin with Gravy

Homemade BBQ Buns

Mexicana Shrimp Kabobs with Colorful Peppers, Onions and Butternut Squash

Maple Roasted Carrots

Long Grain and Brown Rice

Tomato-Mozzarella-Basil Salad

Apple Cranberry Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Warm Cranberry Wassail

Our little house with one great room was comfortable and full of love.

Many of the recipes are on my food blog:

cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com

So life doesn't take a toll

On Bob's new job driving a flag car, he drives on new roads and spots places where he wants to take me.  That makes us both happy.  The Searight Toll House on Rt. 40 (the National Pike) was 35 miles from home, west of Uniontown, Pa.  We'll go back this summer when the house is open.  The cost is only $2.00-the same toll charged to the smallest wagon in 1830.

This is my word 2015

This is my word for 2015.  When I will observe my surroundings, watch the birds, pet the cat, play the piano and enjoy every minute of my retirement.

"Relax"

Holiday Haircut

Mom really wanted a haircut before Christmas as she felt like a "shaggy dog".  So on the Sunday before the holiday we stopped at the Mall on the way home from the nursing home, where she had the stylist cut her pretty hair real short.  It isn't easy navigating a walker in the holiday crowd but this helped her feel good and looked adorable.

December 2014

 

Legit

Hard to believe our son Christopher graduated WVU Friday.  He's such a fine, caring young man.  We're so proud of him.

His cousin Sara decorated the hat:  "Too Legit to Quit".  I love it and the outline of West Virginia.

12-13-14

Bob and Chris help me get in the spirit of Christmas by taking me to a farm to cut down our own little tree.  Chris (who's now 21) brings a bottle of Heston Farm Wine which made decorating fun too!

Sleepy Hollow Road  12-13-14

Somehow

My Dad is failing and my Mom and brother can no longer take care of him in their home.  Mom and Dad have been married for 68 years.  Last Friday, he fell on her and was readmitted into the hospital the day after Thanksgiving.  (She is ok).  Dad will go to a home for rehab and perhaps make it home again.

This picture was taken Wednesday when I made the trip home and took Mom to see him.  The aide had shaved him and he was eating pretty good.  The aide said she wanted to take him home with her.  Even when he was taken to the hospital in the ambulance, he had to have his New York Yankee hat on.

This post is not to make anyone feel sad, though I'll put the page away for a while myself.  Dad and I spent several hours together in the ER last Friday.  He is scared.  The post is to ask for your prayers for Dad and Mom and yes, the family.  I'm 80 miles from home myself.

On the trip over Wednesday, I played Christmas CDs.  Judy Garland sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and these words are from that.  We'll muddle through somehow.

I'm on my way home, then to the hospital.  Mom doesn't want to go today as she knows Dad would rather be home.  Good thoughts are appreciated.