Winter's Snow

As I was maneuvering down the road this morning through the
unplowed snowy roads, my mind drifted back many years to my
hometown and the heavy snow storms we used to get. I haven't
seen snow storms and depths of snow like we had as a child in
years. Probably the worst storm I can recall was back in the
1980's. Yet driving down Main Street at 7:00 a.m. in the heavy
snowfall and unplowed roads it seemed almost as bad.

The years 1948-49 and 1951-52 were winters we were pounded
with snow so frequent and heavy that the plows couldn't keep up.
The snowbanks were so high we couldn't see the road from the
house and the road itself was barely wide enough for one car.
(Note the "trail" leading from the road, up the snowbank and
to the front door)

Shoveling was quite a feat as one tried to decide just where to pile
the snow. Many times the snow had to be hauled away and
dumped. However, it made for great snow time fun!

The pile of snow from the roof of our home made for a great
slide. Boots, my Border Collie, loved sitting on top of the snow
and would even run up and down the roof much to my parents
dismay.

The field between our home and my grandparents home soon
became the favorite spot for kids in the neighborhood as we
stomped out a circle to play "Fox and Geese". I even loved
donning by father's snowshoes and walking over the top of the
fence posts and around the field.

Walking on top of the snowbanks to school felt like you were
walking on top of the world unless you sank up to your
hips in the snow. It was one way to see what was going on
around you as sometimes the snow was so deep we couldn't
see out to the road and barely out the windows because the
icicles were so long and thick. Often Jack Frost painted
delicate frosted scenes on the windows that lasted for days
especially in the utility room and my bedroom upstairs.

Such a difference in the storm today. The roads, though not
plowed, are certainly wide enough for two cars to pass and
there are barely any snowbanks.

The house is easily accessible and the driveway is somewhat
cleared.

The homes and yards surrounding us are a beautiful snowy
site, especially the pines as the snow lays upon the
branches.



The temperatures are probably a little warmer now than then.
It is a balmy 23 degrees F. Many times growing up we were in
the single digits or below zero for the high's. Buckets filled
with coal and kindling kept the old coal stove pumping out the
heat as well as a small oil heater in the front room. No central
heating like today.

As I look out my family room window the snow is starting to fall
once again. The break only lasted a short time. But now that I
don't have to go out in it the rest of the day, I can say it is
"Beautiful"! And, it can snow all it wants--that is until work
calls me again in the morning.

Added Gifts

Thought I would add a few more gifts that I am
grateful for:

56. Doctors on call Christmas Day
57. Doctors available today
58. Medicine for my grandsons who have croup and
pneumonia
59. Christmas snow
60. Christmas Elves
61. Wonderful Christmas TV movies
62. The delight that comes from watching everyone
open Christmas gifts
63. Sharing Christmas traditions
64. Making cookies for Santa Christmas Eve
65. Being invited to my son's home Christmas morning
66. Christmas Eve Phone Call
67. Twinkling Christmas lights
68. A warm home when the temperature outside is 23 degrees
69. Gingerbread houses
70. Kleenex

Thankful Gifts

I was reminded once again today of the gift of life I have been given
as I spoke with a life-long friend whose son has been diagnosed
with cancer and has had his first treatment. They are very hopeful
that all will be alright. But as we talked and she asked questions
that were concerning her and as I answered them the best I could,
I couldn't help but once again express gratitude for my life, for
good doctors and family. One never knows from minute to minute
what lays in store for us or our loved ones. So, I need to express
gratitude for more gifts I enjoy.

31. Attendance at Sunday Church Meetings
32. Renewing covenants made
33. Being taught the gospel by humble teachers
34. Being inside a warm house as a snowstorm pounds the
outside
35. My former "Beehives"
36. Uplifting emails
37. Nimble fingers
38. Eyelashes
39. Clear skies encasing a bright full moon at 6:00 a.m.
40. Being able to share financially with others, even if it
isn't much
41. Freedom
42. United States of America
43. Our current prophet
44. Always having food on my table
45. Uplifting books
46. Yummy cinnamon rolls from my daughter
47. Thanksgiving phone call from my son
48. Special "book" from my grandson
49. The "Spirit of Christmas" in my home
50. Holiday get-together's with family and friends
51. Making "cherry chocolates" with my daughter
52. Christmas music
53. Twinkling Christmas lights
54. The "smells" of Christmas
55. Christmas books

THANKSGIVING

(Daddy, me, Mother, Carol--1952)

I remember Thanksgiving as a little girl living in Midway and the
wonderful accompanying smells. Mother was up at the crack of
dawn to prepare the turkey and homemade stuffing which was
always cooked inside the turkey. The turkey was cooked in an
roasting oven that sat next to the kitchen cupboard.
Dough for her yummy Parker House Rolls was raising and pies
made the day before were "cooling" in the utility room.
Mother made her own mincemeat for pies using deer roasts and
it was to die for. That is something I really miss. REAL mince-
meat, not the kind you can buy now or that I get from our
meat department at work.

How I loved being able to help "roll" out the dough for the
rolls, cut them in circles, brush them with melted butter,
slice the center, fold them and place them on cookie sheets to
raise. They were always light as a feather and baked to a
light golden brown. I have tried for years, but have never been
able to make them like she did even though I helped. Mine seem
to always pop open. But they were the best for those turkey sandwiches
later in the day or even the next day.

I don't think we often had company. At least I don't think we did.
But, it didn't matter. We just enjoyed Mother's good cooking and
always laughed when she said she wish she had a zipper down
the front of her that she could unzip when she had eaten too
much. Why do we always eat too much dinner?

I remember a couple of years when we went with Daddy to the
turkey shoots where he would always win us our Thanksgiving
turkey. It was pretty exciting and there were always lots of
men participating. Dad even shot a goose one year. It wasn't
too bad. Of course, Mother always had a gift when it came to
cooking wild meat.

Dinner was always served in the early afternoon. While my sister
and I helped Mother clean up the kitchen after, Dad always stretched
out on the couch to sleep off his meal and whatever else he had been
into. But, we didn't allow him to rest very long because my sister
and I were anxious to don our snow pants, coats, boots and
gloves and head out to Deer Creek or Pine Creek to cut our
Christmas tree.


(Christmas trees waiting to be loaded onto jeep)

What fun it was wading through the snow searching for just
the right tree. We often took the Holmes with us and sometimes
Daddy would cut an extra tree or to for others. Then they
were loaded onto the jeep and home to be kept in the chicken
coop until the middle of December. Seems like our tree
could never be put up until around the 15th of the month.

I remember one year while tramping around the hills we
spotted a bear. Dad got so excited and so frustrated because
he didn't have his gun. We had to make a rush trip home for his
gun but by the time we returned the bear was nowhere to be found.
How disappointed Dad was, how relieved I was! It was a little
unnerving to a little girl.

Christmas music was turned on in the evening while we munched
on left overs. That was the beginning of the Christmas season for
our family.

Now today as I sit here reminiscing, I'm grateful that we always
had enough, that our table was never empty. I'm grateful that
I had a sister even though we were not especially close growing
up---six years apart makes a difference. I'm grateful to parents
for providing for us and making sure we never went without.
I'm grateful for the good times--yes there were some good times!
I'm grateful for my rich heritage and those who have gone before
me. I'm grateful we have a special day set aside when we can
focus on our blessings for we surely do have much to be
grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

More Gratitude Thoughts

I was reading some posts on Face Book from friends who
share daily things they are grateful for and it got me to
thinking that I am grateful we have this "season" of the
year that calls attention to all that we have to be thankful
for. But, I wish I'd be more consistent in expressing
"gratitude" throughout the year. We are commanded to
thank Heavenly Father AT ALL TIMES. Perhaps by the time
I complete my 1,000 Gifts I will
have formed a habit of more easily expressing gratitude to others
through the spoken or written word and will also express my
gratitude through my actions.

17. A wonderful Mother
18. Hand drawn pictures from Ian
19. "You Who's" coming from the front door
20. The "honking" of Canadian Geese flying overhead
morning and night
21. Long distance phone calls
22. Breathtaking sunsets
23. Heidi helping me clean up dropped leaves
24. Dana taking my bags of leaves for her garden
25. Comfy P.J.'s after a long day
26. Basket of freshly picked red delicious apples
27. Caring Visiting Teachers
28. Sleeping In
29. Qualifying for a current recommend
30. Birthday party invitations

Four Years

Today would have been my Mother's 94th Birthday. But, alas
she's been gone four years. It doesn't seem possible. Wasn't
it just yesterday we were saying "goodbye"? I miss her so
much, but know that she is in a better place and free from
all her earthly struggles.

As I was walking this morning I reflected on the fun times
we had celebrating hers, Rob's and Ian's birthday's together.
How she loved being with her family. We all loved that
$1.00 bill she'd tuck into our birthday cards and now I
carry on that tradition.

I'm grateful for the legacy she left, for the wonderful
Mother she was and still is. There is seldom a day goes by
that her influence is not felt in some way.

So, Happy Birthday, Mother. I love you!

Found--New Projects!

I never knew, well perhaps I did, that there were so many wonderful
websites for free patterns for stitching and quilting. I guess that
it's just that this morning I took time to check some out after
printing off some adorable patterns for a BOM quilt that could
be appliqued or done in redwork.

I am so excited to see what wonderful things are being done by
everyday people. I want to do everything! If I just had 48 hours
in a day--but since I don't I'll have to be rather choosy in what
I do. Printed off patterns and instructions for a couple of things
and will put them in a looseleaf and try to work on them in
the coming year.

Even found a great idea for printing patterns on freezer paper,
adhering them to your fabric and tracing them. Can't wait to
try it. Where do people come up with these ideas?

My ribbon or wrapping paper Halloween quilt is coming along.
It was such fun to have JoAnn here for two days and start this
quick and easy project. I hope to finish sewing it this week and
then I'll post pictures.

Did do my BOM for first Saturday class yesterday and it took
forever! But, at least it is out of the way. Coming along nicely on
my Sister's Christmas present, so perhaps I can start one of the
cute Christmas stitcheries I printed off.