A New Year 2019

Getting back to the usual day to day.

As I removed all the holiday fare,

and got down to the simple look I now prefer,

 I knew a lot of the holiday

 had to go, as "the purge" continues.

Howie photo bombing 

See my new porch light?

After several years of a black and white 

tree for our main tree, I decided it 

could move on to another home.

I will return to my mercury glass and shiny brites,

and/or my House of Hatten.

After years of avoiding traditional reds,

I'm finding I like them again.

So the un-decorating continued,

and the piles for sale began to accrue.

I sent a photo last night to a pal 

showing her what I was up to;

she then bought all the ornaments.

Well, that was easy.

Now to find a home for all the buffalo check.

Those of you who have been around 

this oldgreymare awhile

 know that I practice what I preach.

In these very uncertain times,

we all need to pause and assess

what we are choosing to do with our lives.

How do we wish to live out our days,

and how are we affecting our planet?

What are the issues we need to address,

 and what appropriate actions will we take.

Who are we able to help?

This is the time of year when I select

my charitable contributions in five categories. 

I'm hoping to still manage my 10% of income,

but medical bills may take a bite, we'll see.

Children's Medical

Wildlife/Animal Rescue

Environmental

Medical Research

Local women/children's Facility

It's time to work my friends.

Need some Ideas? 
(link)

Ben and I will be finishing up my new website

very soon. I'm excited and nervous, 

but he assures me it is as easy as blogger. 

I'm not sure how many items 

I can have in the shop by then, but I'll 

be up in the studio giving it a go.

Stay tuned and I hope you'll follow me over.

Z

News FLASH 

Ben and Helene just called me today - Saturday:
They're engaged!
This mama is thrilled

From my phone as they told me..

Grateful and Glorious

(Ben and Helene on the second half of their holiday in NYC)

I have stared at this white space for awhile now; usually it

just pours out without filter.

Fully describing the Christmas holiday

 is nearly impossible

for me this year.

The kids and grand-dogs arrived a few hours before 

my brother and SIL and we all began the festivities

on Friday the 21st around noon.

It did not stop until the last car and flight left.

Remember I have not spent a Christmas 

with my brother Scott since I was 21, 

and there were often 10 years between any visits.

 Many of those were trips home for me

 when my folks were quite ill.

As adults we had very little interaction,

or time together. 

There simply are no words.

My kids loved them, they loved my kids.

We cooked and cooked and did dishes 

and started it all over, each and every day.

We played games and looked 

at vintage Rennie family photos. 

Scott told them stories that I had forgotten,

and reminded them what their grandparents were like,

since my kids barely knew them.

He helped them understand 

where their Mom came from,

since Ben was only in PA when he was 5 

and Hannah was in utero.

I became a weeping willie, 

tears flowing at the drop of a hat.

I was/am so grateful for these days.

My SIL Crystal and I were sorority sisters, 

we've known each other since we were 17.

Lots of memories and drinking stories there. ahem

These two knew me as a child, a teen. 

They were there as my life

unfolded long before my children's births.

Important stuff.

I know I'm typing words here,

but I keep stopping as the images flow.

Scott fell in love with grand-dog David 

and the feeling was mutual as you can see.

They are cat people but maybe?

I had a list of repairs needed and Ben, Tom and Scott

fixed everything and installed electronics. 

What an incredible gift that was.

One was an exterior light that had been broken for 20 years!

Another was my microwave handle, broken off years ago, 

glued and re-glued till it was hopeless,

and since then I had opened it with a spatula 

stuck up into the bottom of the door!

Tom and Scott working on the door

Aunt Crystal made this cross stitch for Hannah's birth. 

We took a pic to reminisce 28 years later.

Darling daughter painted an old barn on canvas for me,

and Dearest son Ben gave me my 

own oldgreymare website, which will be up and running 

as soon as I learn how. I will be able to have a shop on line,

yahoo, so stay tuned.

Scott and Crystal gave my kids mementos from my folks,

such precious memories.

By now it all had me full out bawling.

I love all these folks so much.

I am blessed beyond imagination,

and so grateful for this family.

Happy New Year to all of you.