Birthday Week - January 2-4

Monday a crew of Trinity friends gathered to take down Christmas decorations in the sanctuary and store them away in the attic. Three new friends, Sarah, Barbara and Flo joined us to make a crew of 11. Mike and Terri are not quite old-timers but Deb, Wilma, Melanie, Walter, Ab & I certainly qualify. We had a good time working together then all except Ab went to Chili's for a late lunch. I wasn't hungry for supper so Bill said he could eat New Year's leftovers with ham. We won't take our decorations down until next weekend, after Epiphany.

with Flo

with me

Tuesday afternoon I took Claire to Knoxville for an infusion treatment.  I planned some shopping while I waited for her.  I'm trying to get a pair of New Balance walking shoes that actually fit, so I took back the 1st pair and took home another.  As soon as I came out of the New Balance store it started to sprinkle and quickly began in rain - the leading edge of a thunderstorm event.  I skipped the rest of my shopping and waited in the car for Claire.  The drive home was rough at first, but the line of storms passed and it began to clear before we got home.  I was ready for something different, so cooked a port tenderloin for supper and we finished off the leftover vegetables.

Wednesday morning we had another work session at church, but with a smaller group.  Four of us ended up at Donna's for lunch.  Wednesday afternoon I took Claire for another session, took the latest pair of shoes back to the store and ordered yet another pair.  Here's hoping!.  BiBimBap seemed a good way to use up leftover port tenderloin.  I haven't made it in a long time.

BiBimBap with Gochujang Sauce

Happy New Year - December 30 - January 1

Friday - time to get back to "real life" - groceries, cleaning, etc. We even found time for an afternoon walk.  It has been many weeks since we've gone walking across the river. It was the first time in 2 months that I exceeded my step goal of 7500 by logging 9800 steps. All day we were anticipating the big game - the Orange Bowl, UT vs Clemson.  We planned to go to the Brocks around 7:30 for the 8 pm start.  Kathy shared her Christmas prime rib for sandwiches. Because of the late start, we went home at half-time. Our Vols did not disappoint, coming away with a decisive win.  It was midnight by the time we turned the lights out.

Before the game started, I had to retell Mother's Orange Bowl story.  When she was still a teenagers, 16 or 17, she and her best friend Martha Sue travelled alone from Mississippi to Miami to visit a friend and go to the orange bowl.  That would have been post WWII, 1946 or 1947. If it was 1947, Tennessee would have been playing.  I don't know if they left from Indianola or Jackson. They had to change buses in the middle of the night in Birmingham, which also involved changing bus stations.  Fortunately they found a nice cab driver! I don't know how long the trip took, but at least 24 hours.  Even with today's interstate highways, the trip is 13-14 hours from Jackson to Miami.  Imagine what it must have been like in 1946! 

My grandfather Clark had taken a war-time job at the air-base in Sebring, Fl and took my grandmother and mother with him to Florida.  They lived there until the war was over, about a year. The Orange Bowl trip was to visit a dear friend mother had made during that year.

Saturday - the last day of 2022, started off gloomy, wet and foggy but not cold.  I had not planned to bake, but decided it would be a good day to use up bananas that the kids didn't eat.  I made 2 loaves.  I found time for my yoga routine for the 2nd day in a row. It occurred to me that I did not have to wait for the new year to actually begin to begin new practices.  I didn't practiced yoga much in 2022 because of a shoulder issue and just getting out of the habit.  I have noticed an increasing stiffness in my joints as a result of not stretching enough.  I also spent part of the gloomy afternoon prepping for Sunday School and then decided to call off our class because of the New Year holiday.

I'm reading a novel that Laura gifted me, "The Book of Longings," by Sue Monk Kidd.  She imagines Jesus marrying at age 18 and living as husband and wife until he takes up his ministry full time at age 30.  It is really her story, Ana, and is told with skill and imagination.  I'm delighted.

As I was in my favorite chair reading late in the afternoon, I noticed that the clouds had broken and a few rays of sun were streaming through the blinds.  I got up to refresh my tea and noticed a lovely red sky as the sun was setting.  I rushed to find my phone/camera and shoes to catch the image but I just missed it.  Sunset this time of year does not linger.  

The last day of the year has been representative of the whole year.  2022 began gloomily, with Covid still dominating so much of life.  But the year has ended on a bright note of hope.

Out with the old!

In with the new - Happy New Year!

New Year's Day - Instead of making resolutions about things I will do, I would like to meditate on what I can let go to make room for the new. Pastor Linda titled her sermon today "Searching, Searching." The text was for Epiphany, the "wise men" searching for and finding Jesus.  

Searching

I have long liked to think of myself as a Seeker, on searching for deeper meaning in the ordinary encounters of daily living.  In my search I have found peace, joy, hope and love.  Those words are so often repeated during the Christmas season that they almost lose their depth of meaning.  But they are the universal elements that make life meaningful.  The ancient greeks identified the four basic elements as earth, wind, fire and water.  That may seem simplistic to our scientific minds, but there is truth in their idea. These ingredients are essential to our existence - the earth that nurtures us and forms our material existence; the wind that is air we breathe; fire that is the energy that drives change; and water, about 70% of the earth's mass and of our body's mass, without which life as we know it would not be.   So too, the elements of peace, joy, hope and love are essential to our soul, to our spiritual self, to our sense of meaning and well-being.  What am I willing to let go of to make room for such as these - to make room for an afternoon walk with Bill, to make room for a visit with Laura, to make room for preparing a meal that nourishes instead of merely filling, to make room for being a friend, and most of all, to make room for nourishing my soul.

We welcomed the New Year with black-eyed peas and collard-green soup, cooked with the Christmas ham bone. Corn bread completed a nourishing start to a prosperous New Year.

New Year's Day

Perfect day for a walk

The eagles still nest in the pine tree, but we didn't see them today.

After Christmas but still Christmas - December 26-29

Monday

A few years ago I wrote a poem called "The Day After Christmas," styled after the classic, "The Night Before Christmas." You can read it at the link. This year, the day after is just the beginning.  We spent the morning and early afternoon getting ready for Round-2, David's family.  I made a grocery run and baked sweet potatoes for our favorite casserole.  The family got in about 4:30. A few flurries fell throughout the afternoon, but we thought nothing of it.  No snow predicted for the valley and only a dusting for the area. Laura's family came over and we feasted on ham, turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans and rolls, all set up for self-serve.  After eating, we had a round of gift opening.  There was something for everyone and lots for the young Whitakers.  We enjoyed the excited smiles and kids laughter.  What a joy!  Those flurries kept coming and before dark we had almost an inch on the ground.  The roads were frozen, so they were covered, too.

John David

Allison

Owen

Evangeline

Tuesday

The kids had not come prepared for snow.  It was a surprise for all of us.  So we stayed inside most of the day Tuesday.  There was plenty to do,  playing with new Christmas toys.  Laura braved the snowy roads and came over late morning.  Today, December 27, is John David's fourth birthday. I made chocolate cupcakes and Amanda made buttercream frosting.  I heard that they were delicious!  We had cupcakes and a few birthday gifts before lunch.

John David is ready to blow!

Lunch was leftovers.  After lunch, David and Trisha left for their Christmas Conference with Campus Outreach/Movement in Chattanooga.  David's SEMO (Southeast Missouri State Univ) Campus Outreach group has separated from the main organization to form their own independent group called Campus Movement. He is one of the leaders and devotes 2 or 3 days per week to that work.  

The children stayed with us.  We had planned to go to the Matzeks for late afternoon and supper, but we did not take a chance on their driveway in David's van. They watched a movie instead and played on.

Owen ventured out to fly his remote control helicopter in the snow.

 but I didn't catch him in the pic.

Wednesday

What a weather contrast, sunny and almost balmy today after so many cold dreary days.  We played inside all morning. Amanda and Claire came over for pancake lunch.  I've learned to make gluten-free pancakes that are pretty good.  After lunch, we all went outside to pick up sticks and branches that had blown down in the pre-Christmas storm.  Bill and the kids made a small bonfire.  Pretty soon we were shedding out coats and enjoying the warm sun and fresh air. Evangeline escaped by inside as soon as she could. Owen, Allison, John and I went exploring in the woods (the upper corner of our two acres).  Winter is the only time we can safely walk there.  We trekked through the woods all the way to the park road and up to the overlook.  They thought it was quite the adventure.  Later, I took them to Laura's house to play and I returned there later to share a pizza supper.

Anna called to tell us that today, Dec 28th, was their grandmother Gagi's birthday (Anna Jackson Renshaw, b 1879).  Today was also my mammaw's birthday (Emily Lucille Farrar Westmoreland, b 1902).  I had never made the connection.

Thursday morning we packed all the stuff and the kids too and set out for Chattanooga.  We met David and Trisha at Chuy's near Hamilton Place Mall for lunch.  After lunch we didn't tarry and were home mid-afternoon.  They were headed for a walk-about downtown near the Aquarium plaza and walking bridge.  Hope they had fun.  We surely did.  The time together was short but satisfying none-the-less.

Christmas Week - December 19-25

The plan for Monday was to finish the shopping and restock bird seed from Birds Unlimited in Knoxville.  I had even talked Bill into going along as my chauffeur.  So much for plans!  Bill woke up with a bad back and I knew he was in no shape to drive and shop, especially given the Christmas traffic and crowds.  I got a late start, was out for almost 4 hours and still didn't get finished. Fortunately, I had taken time to start some chicken & vegetable soup in the crock pot.  I didn't have much to do to get supper on.

Tuesday was the final Advent Bible study.  I really enjoy this group of folks and I missed two week because of Santa's Helper duties.  We bring different backgrounds and viewpoints to the discussion with positive, affirming attitudes.  The study has been "Angels at Christmas" and guided us to see angels in an expansive way, not limited to literal belief.  Bill was better today, so when I got home we set out to finish the shopping.  We started with lunch at Tomato Head, next door to Birds Unlimited, then made our way down Kingston Pike with what seemed like millions of others.  For all the time and effort we spent, we came home with bird feed and a puzzle for Claire.  I ordered new walking shoes from the New Balance store.  I'm glad we have chicken soup on hand which I will serve with pear salad.

I had set aside Wednesday morning for grocery shopping.  I spent the most I've ever spent in one session, almost $450.  Grocery inflation is a real thing and some things, especially eggs, are sometimes scarce.  Today is Claire's birthday.  She made it clear that she planned to spend the day on the couch doing nothing.  I stopped by, and I think she was having a good day.  It is also brother Park's birthday.  He was home, not at work, so I had a nice phone chat with him. He and Cindy were planning a dinner out with friends.  They have a great group of friends at Wolf Lake and socialize frequently.  A few weeks back I had an idea of gifting everyone who came to Christmas Eve service with a small ornament, which I ordered. I spent part of the afternoon tying the red ribbon on the wooden ornament.  There were 6 different designs, Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, Noel and Faith. I finished the day by going with Kathy to the choir Christmas Park at Lee and Tony Aikens' house (Mayor Aikens).  My offering was creamed spinach.

Thursday I went to church to help with getting the bulletins ready for 2 services, Christmas Even and New Year's Day and put the ornaments out in baskets to be given out by the ushers.  I invited Claire and Amanda to meet me for lunch and they chose Cracker Barrel.  We had a good time.  It was almost 3 pm by the time I got home.  I left again almost immediately with Bill to pick up a new microwave that we had ordered from Lowe's in Harriman.  When I was finally home, I finished the gift wrapping and got the front bedroom back in order (that is my gift-wrapping station.) Before supper I put the ham and turkey in the oven to be used for Christmas Dinner when David's family arrives on the 26th. I used the last package of Mississippi catfish for supper, pan-fired. Whew...what a busy day!

A big storm was expected to blow in overnight, dropping from mid-forties at midnight to single digits at dawn.  We prepared as well as we could.  It was raining, as predicted, when we turned out the lights.  We didn't know what we would wake up to find.

They got the storm a day earlier than we did

Friday, at our 3 am nature call, we heard a howling wind, had no power and a very cold bedroom.  Bill had the Little Buddy propane heater ready and we have the propane in the living room so we were okay.  The power started coming back on about 7:30, just as I was thinking about how to make coffee with a can of sterno and my fondue pot.  Fortunately it stayed on long enough to make coffee, went off, then came back on so I could fix breakfast.  All morning we had intermittent electricity.  We found quite a few pine limbs down around the house.  Two major tree pine tree limbs had cracked off and fallen across the road in front of the house.  We also had a huge cedar tree fall down toward the road and know another cedar over.  The Brocks were in worse shape because the power outage shut down their pump and their water pipes under the house froze.  Kathy braved the cold to come over for our small electric heaters and some jugs of water.  I called the county road department and by 11 am the road crew had cleared the street.  They left a big mess and our other driveway is blocked with a cedar log.

The blinking power was a problem all day, disrupting all our electronics.  We just turned everything off.  I de-boned the ham and the turkey breast, wrapped the meat and refrigerated it for Monday (or whenever), and froze the still meaty bones for soup later.

I'm glad we stocked up on bird seed.  The little ones really need it today! At the feeder are the usual crowd: mourning doves, house finches, cardinals, goldfinches, chickadees, bluejays, titmouses, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, white-throated sparrows, wrens and nuthatches.  Today for the first time this year I spotted the dark-eyed juncos and pine warblers.  A murder of crows gathered at the pan of ham fat I put out.

Christmas Eve - the presents are all wrapped and under the tree.  The refrigerator is overflowing.  All that remains is some light house-cleaning.  We had a phone visit with Anna, who was expecting Jeff to arrive soon and take her to Boston for Christmas with his family. The candlelight service at Trinity started at 5 pm with Michael Thomas at the piano for pre-service carols beginning at 4:45.  Mike and Amanda joined me as is their custom.  We were home before 7 for our traditional taco supper.  We haven't had the Matzeks for overnight on Christmas Even for the past two years because of COVID.  We were delighted that they wanted to be here with us.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day came in very cold, about 5 F when we got up for coffee at 7:30.  We were snug and warm enough in our little house with (thankfully) no more power interruptions.  Banana Bread and coffee, gifts to open, late breakfast of hash-brown casserole, bagel bits, sausage, fruit plate and mulled cider, more gifts, more coffee and cider. Our time together extended to mid-afternoon and cheese fondue.  Altogether a beautiful day. We look forward to the Missouri Whitakers tomorrow.

Christmas morning

Advent - Sunday, December 18

Today was my parents wedding anniversary.  They married December 18, 1949.  She was a lively and beautiful young woman; he, a handsome farmer/soldier.  Theirs was a passionate relationship of 45 years until their divorce. Even after, the passion remained and love, too. They just couldn't live together. He died in 2001 and she in 2020.

This 4th Sunday of Advent  celebrates LOVE.  We celebrated with the traditional "Lessons and Carols." Earlier this morning I stumbled across a poem on Facebook that I shared with my SS class. It was originally posted on the FB Blog "Dancing Faith" and entitles "Traveler.  It is not my original work, but I will share it at the end of this post. I wish I could express myself so simply and eloquently. Later today, our family will celebrate Claire Elise Matzek who will turn 20 on December 21.

Last Sunday, the Sunday for JOY, I led worship and give the morning message. Pastor Linda's father died, not unexpectedly, early Saturday morning, so I filled in.  My message, "Joy in the Desert," is posted under my list of Sermons at the right and the full video is on YouTube at https://youtu.be3Hts4dUuUDY

Between these two Sundays was a typically busy Christmas season. The gloomy rain of the previous two weeks finally lifted on Monday.  I spent most of Monday and Tuesday at Family Resource Center working with Santa's Helper. I shopped for kids, checked gift bags in and out, rearranged and organized the room more than once.

Trinity's offering for Santa's Helper. 
Christmas gifts for 5 children

 

FRC meeting room was

filled with bags like these, 

each filled with the gifts for 

one child.  More than 300 

children in Lenoir City were 

provided Christmas through 

the generosity of the 

community

Wednesday the rain returned in force and I was glad I could stay home, warm and dry indoors.  We got the Christmas tree up and decorated and our few other decorations placed.  I used the remainder of the day to begin wrapping gifts that had come via Prime delivery and ordering more.  

Thursday started early at the oral surgeon in Knoxville for a tooth extraction for Bill.  After I got him back home and settled, I drove to Loudon to meet my group from Trinity for Lunch at The Cafe.  Afterward, I had a short visit with Jim A at River Grove.  He is doing well enough.

Friday morning I talked Bill into shopping downtown Lenoir City with me.  He was surprised at the nice shops that have opened in recent years.  We found several gifts from our list.  I made a big pot of red beans for supper (no chewing required) and served them with rice (of course) and a pear salad.  A pound of dry beans made enough for several meals for us, plus some to share with Kathy.

More gift wrapping on Saturday as gifts continue to arrive by
delivery in addition to our Friday purchases.  I make gluten-free cupcakes for John David's birthday which we will celebrate on the 27th.  I'm glad to have them made ahead and in the freezer.

Happy Birthday, Claire
with Nathan

October 18

 

Morning glow, bright clear
Sunlight on October leaves
Hint of frosty grass.

Fall welcomed us back to our East Tennessee hill.  We sank into our familiar bed and into our familiar routines with gladness for going and gladness for coming home. The morning shadows were long when I awoke this morning, not to the gentle swish of surf, but to a nip in the air which promised a beautiful day.

Solitary Sanderling - Orange Beach 2022

 Solitary Sanderling
Skittering Silently
Scavenging Surf

I started composing Haiku on a beach vacation in March of 200?  I starting posting on this blog in 2010  I have been silent for a while as life resumed its busy-ness earlier this year.  I have continued to mentally compose my blog almost every day, but have not paused to properly reflect and write.  Here I am sharing a photo album of our family time at Wind Drift, Orange Beach, Alabama.  My younger grandchildren's energy, laughter and hugs have been my delight. My older grand-daughters conversations have been my treasure.  Time with my own children, their spouses and Bill has been precious.  We have 2 more nights before packing up and heading north toward home.  The sabbatical time has been restorative.

Photo Album link