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Breakfast ~ Scum

…and L. L. Bean

Wednesday, December 30

 Lydia was helping Hannah prepare breakfast when Elizabeth, Diane, and I got home from Curves. The breakfast preparers went to Curves after breakfast.

 The main course was an Egg Roll. This one was made with cubed venison bologna, and the other with bacon.

Left to right: Lydia, Josiah, Diane (hidden), Mark, Cerwin, me, Nathaniel (Abigail’s friend), Hezekiah (hidden), and Elizabeth. Hannah took the picture. Abigail was working, and the only one missing from this meal.

 After breakfast cleanup, we played several hands of Scum.

 Diane and Abigail

 We went to L. L. Bean in the middle of the afternoon. This was an interesting moose display.

 This attractive fish carving was in the hunting and fishing department.

Rainbow Trout

On the way back to the flagship section of the store, I stopped to watch the fish. 

 Eastern Brook Trout

Notice a section of the fish tank “bubble” to the left. You can crawl under the tank and stand up in the bubble to watch the fish.

 The landlocked salmon (I forget which species) hid under a branch formation, making it difficult for me to photograph it.

 L. L. Bean has almost become a small town. For this photo I am standing at the big boot looking toward the housewares store. The outlet store is a block away, and there is a separate store for biking, boating, and skiing.

 Their Christmas display this year was called Northern Lights.

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Tomorrow’s Entry: Lunch with Abby ~ Snow

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When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land. It’s God’s breath that forms the ice, it’s God’s breath that turns lakes and rivers solid.

Job 37:9-10 (The Message)

Traveling to Maine

…and going to Curves

Tuesday, December 29 & 30

Traveling to our daughter Diane’s family in Maine is a ten-hour drive, so we left home at 5:30 and enjoyed this pretty sunrise later in the morning.

The farther north we traveled, the colder it looked outside. I think we were in Massachusetts when we began seeing a bit of fresh snow along the edges of the road.

This was a scene in southern Maine.

By the time we got near our destination, we saw signs of the previous night’s snowfall. 

 I spent the entire day catching up on some much-needed sleep and relaxation.

Brrrr! I think we are going to be having cold weather during our visit.

~~~

We had a relaxing evening, and this morning I went to Curves with Diane and Elizabeth.  Hannah and Lydia went a few hours later.

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It was fun going to a new Curves. The one I go to is set up in a long rectangular room, this one is square.

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Tomorrow night: More pictures from today (Wednesday).

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Let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.

1 Peter 1:14 (The Message)

Christmas Sunday

Sunday, December 27

Cerwin’s mother ~ his Pennsylvania siblings ~ and their children ~ and their children.

This Christmas celebration is usually held at our place on Christmas evening. However, there were two surgeries earlier in the week Patti (left) had shoulder surgery and Mel (not pictured) had a repair done to an earlier surgery, so we all thought that it would be wise to give them a few extra days.

Our four Pennsylvania granddaughters were assigned to help the three oldest people (Mary Jane, Cerwin, and Mother) and Patti get their food at the buffet line.

 pi

It was warm in the garage, so someone opened the door a bit, but it blew open the whole way. Ian crawled under the table to shut it – and came back again.

We play Now-You-Have-It-Now-You-Don’t with wrapped presents. When my number was called, I asked Jesse to bring the large bag to me. It was so heavy that he had to drag it.

He enjoyed that job so much that almost everyone had him pick up their gift, and eventually open it. He thought that he had the best job in the house.

This game is for the adults – age twelve and above. For those under twelve, we played a similar game as the previous night – with open gifts.

Our newest family member, Peyton, quietly enjoyed the afternoon in her mother’s arms. She is the granddaughter of Cerwin’s brother, Elvin, and his wife Patti.

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Tomorrow night: Visiting Maine

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If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. [Jesus]

John 14:15 (The Message)

Our Christmas Celebration

Part 1

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was wonderfully quiet. With the exception of making this apple pastry for Christmas breakfast, I spent most of both days finishing a scrapbook for Cerwin’s mother. It was something I had been working on sporadically for the past two years, and determined to finish it before the end of 2009 – and it is finished. It was a summary of all the cards she received for her 90th birthday.

These three grandsons (Josh, Nathan, and Jordan) were the highlight of our Christmas Day when they arrived toward evening, trying to convince us that we would be privileged to have them stay overnight – and of course they did – with their parents permission.  On Saturday morning we took them to a local restaurant for a buffet breakfast. Oh, what fun!

Our children and several grandma’s were here for supper onSaturday night, and our gift exchange.  Left to right facing the camera: Chris, Jeff (hidden), Mother High, Mother Hershey, Diana. Back to camera: Lois, Betty, Mary Jane, Roy, Jana (hidden).

Facing the camera: Ian, Zachary, David, Jordan, Josh, Nathan

Jared, Jere, Kristen, Cerwin, Deb, Jesse (hidden) Jenna

Our centerpieces were made of fresh greens and items the girls didn’t use in decorating. I thought they turned out rather festive.

We began our gift exchange with a birthday cake for Jesus. Jesse had the honor of blowing out the candle. Our oldest son, Jeff, is holding the cake.

It is fun to have a two-year-old at Christmas time. Jesse was excited about presents, and you will notice that he was nearby everyone as they opened their gifts.

Jared

Ian

Jana giving a gift to Gloria. (Notice David back left – an “adopted” grandson. I missed getting a photo when he was opening a gift.)

Zachary, our other “adopted” grandson.

David and Zachary are children of our daughter Deb’s good friend Leslie.

Diana

Jenna.

The grandma’s (Mary Jane – Jeff & Chris’ neighbor and adopted grandma), Betty (Kristen’s mother), and Lois (Chris’ mother) admiring the personalized calendars that Deb made for them. Cerwin’s mother and my stepmother also received one. They are on the first meal photo, a few pictures earlier. Deb also designed one for us, Jeff’s, and Jere’s. The calendars included one photo per month.

We give our children and grandchildren money, then play “Now-You-Have-It-Now-You-Don’t” with open gifts.

I was delighted to receive a new bird feeder hanger, and three new feeders from our children. (Notice our snow is gone – after a few rainy days.)

After having new windows installed last spring, I have been wanting more feeders. Now you can look for bird pictures from new angles.

Cerwin received a gift certificate to the taxidermist where he took his buck to be mounted.

I also received birdseed and suet.

I am anxious to fill these, but am waiting for the wind to die down.

~~~

Tomorrow night: Christmas Sunday with Cerwin’s siblings

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   Study God and his strength, seek his presence day and night.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (The Message)

Getting Ready for Christmas

Tuesday & Wednesday, December 22 & 23

 After several busy weeks, Tuesday was the night we took time to get a few things for our Christmas celebration. I love traveling through Ephrata in December, because it is so beautifully decorated.

 Jenna and Cerwin

Our four local granddaughters came on Wednesday evening to decorate the garage for Christmas.

Gloria arranged the counted-cross-stitch things I made made many years ago. 

 She also dressed the Build-a-Bear critters and placed them on the small benches.

 Jana and Diana decorated the long benches

 Jenna was in charge of the manger table.

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Great job girls!

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 They even had time for some silliness before we took them home at bedtime.

Thanks, girls! You are a great joy and blessing to us!

Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we’ll never comprehend what he knows and does.

Psalm 147:5 (The Message)