A Nod to One of my Favorite Poets

                                                                  WINTER
                                                  by Sarah Teasdale

I watch the great clear twilight
Veiling the ice-bowed trees;
Their branches tinkle faintly
With crystal melodies.

The larches bend their silver
Over the hush of snow;
One star is lighted in the west,
Two in the zenith glow.

For a moment I have forgotten
Wars and women who mourn -
I think of the mother who bore me
And thank her that I was born.

In Defense of Winter

In all of the places I've been this new year,
And all of the persons I've encountered there,
I hear, over and over wherever I go,
"I hate this winter. I hate this snow!"
But, wait just a minute, is it really a bummer?
I'm doing pretty much what I do all summer.
I stay inside with climate control,
And Don drives me to the door wherever I go.

The sun has shone brightly all of today.
I squint my eyes and pretend it is May.
My blankets and bed keep me comfy and warm,
I sleep like Mama Bear in hibernating form.

I love my chenille robe , my flannel gown
And my bootie slippers filled with down.
There is a bottomless cookie jar, a bottomless cup,
And a cake holder that fills magically up.

I'm thankful for the furnace we purchased last Spring,
That 24/7 keeps doing its thing.
I'm thankful for cable, game shows, HGTV,
And Kindle books, most of them free

I am thankful for the garage that protects freezer and car.
Both have kept working perfectly so far.
So, really, I just can't complain,
Even though Winter should be a real pain.
At least I'm not sweating or swatting mosquitoes,
Or worrying that rainstorms might turn into tornadoes.

Blue Journal for January 22 - How to Brighten a Dismal Day

Again today, it has been VERY cold, snowy, and blowy.  So, of course, this afternoon we got into the car and went out to run around and do some errands.  Crazy, maybe, but we made it back home in one piece.
And we are no longer stir crazy.
We went to the license branch for a handicapped placard that will never expire.  Then we went to Hoosier Park so that I could claim my 2014 calendar full of bonus coupons. After my  bonus free cash of $10.00 turned into $25.00, we took our profit and ran!  However it was a little bit too early to get the supper sandwich that we had planned on.  So Don dropped me off at Goodwill.  It was senior citizen discount day, so I planned to spend some of my winnings.  Don went to Walmart, his preferred place to plunder.
I'll have to give you a little background information so you can understand how I spent my money at Goodwill.
Back a few years ago when Don's mother lived with us,  we ate many of our meals at home,  And, so she would come from her room and eat with us, we ate most of those meals at our dining table.  She was so cute and happy, and she would always tell me how  pretty the table looked!
So, just for her and just for fun, I started changing the table colors and decor to suit the month - whatever holiday or season it was.  For variety I would go to Goodwill and find a two or three dollar flower arrangement, then find place mats or table cover to match.  Sometimes I even bought 4 new plates or maybe some cloth napkins.
Well, it has become so much fun that I have never stopped, even though we no longer have the joy of having Mother with us.
So, today, I decided to get a foot up on February and looked for something colorful for our February table.
I know lime green isn't exactly winter or valentine, but I just like the color.  And it is the color of our kitchen walls.  Then I found a table runner with pinks and greens.  Perfect!  The silk flowers all left a bit, rather a lot to be desired.  So I bought the above pictured candleabra that had a soft green and pink candle ring entwined.  Total spent was $5.57.
This evening I enjoyed spending TV time cutting out pink and green hearts, and you can see I customized the centerpiece.
We may not eat at the table all that many times this coming month, but we walk by the table hundreds of times in a month.  So we shall enjoy the new colors!

Blue Journal - Jan. 19 - A Happy Football Day!

Just like everyone else in the Western World, I watched football today.......two games.  Well to be really truthful I watched one and one half, or almost all of one and one half games.
I was very happy that Peyton Manning and the Broncos won, and that they will be in the Super Bowl.
Like most every Colts fan, I still love Peyton.  And they played an almost perfect game, and beat the
hated Patriots.  Now what could be better than that!
I tried to be interested in the Seattle/49ers game.  I was a little bit for San Fran because of coach Jim Harbaugh.  And I thought the Seattle team looked like the evil villains in their dark, skin tight evil villain uniforms.  But, I am happy for daughter-in-law, Debra, that her Seattle team won.......I guess.
Actually, I had to slip away from that game so that I could go to the other TV and watch Downton Abbey.
It was very good tonight.  It is amazing how the authors can introduce so many story lines into one hour!
And I tried to watch Sherlock season two.  But, I must confess, I fell sound asleep after about fifteen minutes.  So I am guessing that it is not as spellbinding as a mystery should be.
Either that, or I am suffering from too much football.
Last word:  ironic that two teams from beautiful, scenic cities in the Western half of the United States, will be playing in the Super Bowl at an outdoor field house in New Jersey in frigid February.  What is wrong with this picture?

A Perfect Snow Day: Tea, Talk, and Knitting

Today I enjoyed a lovely surprise visit from niece, Liz.  Liz came with all her knitting!  So we had a good chat while her needles clicked away!  As you can see Frank like the knitting better than yesterday's bears.
He had fun playing with the yarn and climbing into her sacks!  What a great way to spend a winter afternoon:
tea, talk, knitting, and watching a cat play!
I think I will talk Liz into teaching me how to knit so we can enjoy other such afternoons.  This one was cut short because the snow started falling at an alarming speed.  Liz decided she must hurry home while it was still safe.
And, oh yes, I am now the PROUD owner of one of Liz's beautiful knitted blankets.

Aren't the colors just perfect?  Thank you, Elizabeth, I shall treasure it always.

Blue Journal # 17 - It Was a Beary Cold Day

I spent most of the day Friday hand sewing all the features on Love Bears.  It was a terrific way to
spend a very cold day.  I had a good time, but Frank the Cat resented sharing my lap with all those bears.

He was, however, very interested in trying to climb into the sack full of bears.  What is it with cats and their fascination with sacks?
Frank and I hope that our sack full of Love Bears help ease the stress of children during their visits to the
Emergency Room .

Blue Journal Entry #16 - To Cursive or Not to Cursive

This is a copy of a little "Newsletter"  that our sister-in-law, Janie, received from a friend.  She gets one of these each month from a friend named Rosemary Browne Beck.  I believe that this friend is an accomplished artist and lives in Indianapolis or Carmel.
By sending these letters to her friends she is able to express her opinion on many and various topics that she finds currently of interest.  Hers is a kind of blog in the old non-electronic kind of way.
I just thought that her idea about cursive writing being an art from, and ,as such, should be taught as an art class was quite interesting.
Being a teacher who used to teach cursive writing, I still feel that it is an important skill that has a place in our educational process.
I remember  during my 5th and 6th grade years, that our school principal, Mary E. Spice, came into our classroom and taught our cursive writing lessons.  Miss Spice had the most beautiful cursive writing I have ever seen.  I have been searching for an old report card of mine, but so far haven't found any examples of her writing.

Blue Journal January 14, 2014 - Like Spring in Cammack

It was so much like spring today that, right after lunch, we drove to Muncie and did some shopping.  It was very sunshiney and so warm in the car that I had to shed my jacket.
As you can see from the pictures you just can't drive that close to Cammack, Indiana, without stopping at the Cammack Station.  Of course, it was not a meal time, but we still had to stop.  So we just had a coffee and a cookie.
We really enjoyed the afternoon, squinted our eyes, and pretended it was April or May.
Alas, by the time supper time came around and we were back in Anderson.  Clouds, wind, rain, and the cold were back in town.  We did, however, get all our errands run, and were safely back home in time to snuggle warmly in our jams for an evening of TV.

Blue Journal Jan. 13 - Back to Work

Today I went back to work at St. Vincent Hospital (St John's to all of us old-timers).  It was my first day to work in 2014, since last week the entire world was snowed-in.  It is always good to get back to the information desk, since it is definitely front and center.  I get to see and talk with many people.
This is an old picture, but the only one I have of the Information Desk.  This was taken while my best buddy, Elaine, was still working.
I do miss Elaine, and so sorry that her health caused her to give up her volunteer job.  However, last night I talked with her on the phone and we caught up on all the news.  We have always talked by phone every Sunday night, even back in the days when we were working together on Mondays.  Only now we talk much longer because we have so much news to catch up.
Now I work with a young man named Billy.  Billy is my "runner".  He really enjoys escorting people to their various destinations, delivering flowers, and pushing folks in wheel chairs.  And that is precisely what we need at the desk.  It is a wonderful help to me.
Elaine and I always marveled that it didn't matter how many years one volunteered at that desk, every Monday we were asked a question that we had never been asked before.  And I have volunteered since 1995.
Well, Billy and I had a new question today.  A very pleasant young women came smiling up to our desk, and when I asked, "May I help you?"
She said, "Yes, I would like some Holy Water."
Neither Billy nor I are Catholic, and I could just feel him looking at me and wondering what I was going to say.
So I just smiled and said, "Of course, just a moment.  I've never been asked that before."
So I called the Center for Spiritual Care and relayed the request to Myra, the secretary there.
Myra paused and said, "Oooooookay......I will send one of our chaplains right down."
I had the nice lady sit down in the lobby and soon Sister Elizabeth came down to meet her.  They went into the chapel I breathed a sigh of relief.
 A little later the nice lady came back to thank us for our help.
"Were you able to get your Holy Water?"  I asked.
"Oh, yes Sister got some from an urn in the chapel and put it into a specimen bottle for me.
It will just add a little extra to any blessing, you know."
So then I said, " We are glad we could help.  So do you use this when you visit the ill and bless them?"
"Oh no,  you know,"  she said, "you can bless anything,   your dog, your socks......"
Like I said, we hear something new every Monday.

Blue Journal #11 - How Did This Happen, Eggzactly?

Today I needed an afternoon-filling job to pass the time until the ball.......well, maybe I shouldn't mention the football game.  So I decided to take all of my egg collection out of the cabinet, clean the eggs, clean the shelves and doors, and rearrange all the eggs into a more pleasing arrangement.
This egg collection began back in the late 1970's or early 1980's.  One weekend when Don was away busy doing athletic director duties, Don's mother and step-dad (or Grandma Madge and Grandpa Corky as we always called them)  invited me to go along with them to an antique show at the Indianapolis state fair grounds.
So I happily went along and was enjoying looking at all the booths, when I decided that maybe I should start collecting something, so that my shopping trips like this one would have a purpose. Grandpa C. collected oriental pottery so we were visiting a lot of oriental dealer booths.  It was also a week or so before Easter so that there were a lot of collectible eggs displayed in all the booths.  Eggs?  Collect eggs?  Well, why not.  Many of them were very beautifully decorated, many were quite inexpensive, and they were small.  It seemed like all the important criteria for my new hobby collection.
These were two of the first eggs I bought:  pretty color, a bit oriental, inexpensive.

Then Grandma M. and Grandpa C.  bought me a few to add to my collection.

Grandpa actually made the little twig egg stand to go with the hand-blown glass egg on the left.
Well, it seemed like no time at all, just as most collections do, this one had grown all out of
hand.
POW...It looked like THIS!

I often think that I need to sort out and get rid of some of these....make the collection more manageable.  But then there comes the days just like today when I take each one out, clean it, admire it, and they remind me of all these things:

The love of family who have lovingly selected a beautiful egg to add to my collection.

All the exotic places family have visited, and the talented artisans who have created such unusual works of art.

Why, the silver one actually plays a chime that is hidden in side when it is shaken.  
I think of good friends who have so thoughtfully selected just the right beautiful egg as a gift.

And I think of all the many trips we have taken where I have brought back just the right egg to remind me of a perfect time.  Some trips were far away like Disney World or that little German Village area in Columbus, Ohio, or Holmes County Amish Area.  
But many were just our little day trips to antique malls, flea markets, or sales. But those little eggs always remind me of happy times.

I guess that is a great paying dividend earned from such a little hobby. 

Blue Journal #10

Today is a much warmer day than we have had for about the last 10 days.  So all these lovely big piles of snow are trying to turn to slush.  This one is piled on top of the drain in our cul-de-sac and is blocking said drain.  So after the rain which is supposed to start falling tonight this cul-de-sac should be thoroughly flooded.  So on top of the piles of snow still left, rain storms will be bringing on flooding, and the warmer temperatures have created dense fog.  So, let's see, is there anything else that Mother Nature can
throw at us?  So far 2014 has been an interesting year.
Don and Chuck were able to meet at Hoosier Park this afternoon, for an afternoon of playing the horses.
Ginny and I stayed home at our own houses.  Ginny wasn't feeling well.  I dusted, did some laundry,
cleaned the bathroom, and, I guess, wore myself out doing that puny amount of work.  Because this evening I was very tired and content to watch TV.  I almost went to bed without writing my journal page.
But, there, it is finished.  And now to bed!

Blue Journal Entry # 7 A Day When I Missed Writing

This blog entry was written out of order.  I am afraid I was too sleepy to write on January 7th before I went to bed.  So now I am trying to recall what we did on that fairly uneventful day.

This is Tuesday, and is a day when most of the world is still snowed in and the temperatures are below zero.
It is the third or fourth day that we have stayed hunkered down inside.  So, as I recall, I was not a very lively, vivacious person all day.  To say the least.
Don, however, had traveled over to Judy Lighty's house as soon as he was  shoveled out at all.  Judy is in Florida taking care of daughter, Keena, who had back surgery in December.  We have been watching her house.  Don wanted to check her water and be sure that her pipes didn't freeze and burst.  He did discover that the water wasn't flowing.
So Don turned up the heat in the house, put books on the registers to force the warm air down to the pipes.
He kept going back over to Judy's to check, but nothing was happening....no water from the faucets.
So Don called our local handyman, Dale, who was to come and check things out.
When Dale finally came he discovered that part of her heat tape was no longer working.
It would be Wednesday before Dale would be able to find and install new heat tape.  And then on
Thursday when he "bled" the water heater connection to remove a vacuum block.  Then, finally, the water flowed and all was well.
Don and I did play a little Racko early evening, and ate some good chili from the crock pot all day.

Blue Journal # 9 - The Once-A-Year Thing

Today we slogged through the snow to our family doctor's office.  I had my once a year physical which always happens in January.
There are a few things that I really appreciate about our doctor's office.  The first thing is that they strictly adhere to the "no patient waits in the waiting room more than 20 minutes."  And I have never waited more than 10 minutes.  You also never see more than 2 or 3 people waiting, in spite of the fact that there are multiple doctors sharing the practice space.
The next thing I appreciate is that I have finally discovered one of the few perks of my advanced age.
We started with this doctor when our old family doctor retired.  I suppose it was at least twenty years ago.
Our present doctor was young, newly-married, and just out of school.  He used to routinely lecture me about losing weight.  Now he says that after his patients reach a certain advanced age they only lose muscle, so he no longer lectures.  Also, he is no longer young and thin.  He is now pleasantly middle-aged and chubby.
Another perk is that every year medicare recommends that certain parts of the examination may be skipped unless there is a problem.  So now I can have a complete senior citizen examination and not remove one item of clothing.
I really like our doctor.  He takes time to talk with me, listen to my concerns, and gladly makes recommendations.  He grits his teeth and tries to smile while fulfilling all the regulations that Medicare requires.  He tries to make it easier for patients as we fill out the questionnaires the are required, and only grumbles a bit while trying to type everything into his computer.  "I don't have to be a good doctor, only a good typist," he grumbles while managing to keep a smile on his face.
He did make good arguments for going ahead with my knee replacements.  So next month I will be off to my orthopedist.

Blue Journal # 8 - How I Decided to Skip My Next Class Reunion

It has been great sitting home by the cozy fire all warm and toasty all this week.  But I have to tell you that I was absolutely giddy with excitement that I was able to get out of the house and do something exciting today........like go to the beauty shop!

I have never looked at going to the beauty shop with excitement.  Until today.  It just goes to show you what being snowbound can do to a person.

But let me tell you what led to my sudden decision to skip my next class reunion.  Our high school class of 1954 will be holding its 60th reunion next summer.  Don and I have always been involved in the planning of our reunions, and DON had already decided that we should not take part in the planning.  And now I have decided that perhaps we should just skip it all together.

Now the following may sound like a Rodney Dangerfield comedy routine, but sadly this is all true.

At the beauty shop this morning I sat and visited with a much older lady who was also getting her white hair done.  We started talking because we were comparing our orthopedic shoes which were the same brand.
Something must have rung a bell in her brain, because suddenly she asked, "Did you go to Anderson High School, and what class were you in?"
When I said yes and 1954.  She exclaimed, "What was your maiden name?"
When I said that I was a Green, she yelled incredulously,  "Are you Phyllis?"  like she couldn't believe that this old person sitting before her was Phyllis.
So I asked this older lady how she knew me and what was her name?  Well, can you believe it, that older lady was in my class in high school, and I didn't recognize her, either.

She had never been back to a class reunion, so she started asking me about all these people that were in our class.  She asked me about six or seven different class mates, and every time I had to tell her that they had died some time ago.

When I got home and told Don about my morning, I decided to skip that class reunion.

Are We Crazy Yet?

Another day when it is absolutely too dangerous to step outside.  And yet the world looks like a magic crystal wonderland.  It is like having a beautifully frosted, delicious-looking cake and not being allowed to eat it.

However, the day went surprisingly fast, especially when you consider the fact that the morning paper did not arrive until evening, and there was no mail delivery today....no diversions whatsoever.
This afternoon we were forced to consider the last time-passing resort, we played Racko!  Don won.
Then I forced him to play the "Crazy Cat Lady Game."  I thought I could surely win a game that was named after me.  But, no, Don ended up with the most cats.  Notice on the box that this game is recommended for ages 8 and above.  We really pushed the envelope.
This evening I dabbled  with water colors, painting two tiny miniature pictures.  Maybe tomorrow I will try to frame them

Don foresees only one more day of confinement.  He promises that I will get to the Beauty Shop on Wednesday.

Blue Journal # 5 - Shhhh - Don't Say the "S" Word

Oh, I wish very much to not mention the word "snow."  But, I'm afraid that I must.  You see, it is such a very big and dangerous thing that is lurking right outside the window.

The snow is beautiful and awesome........a magnificent snow this time!  I would love it very much, but every news person on the television has driven one idea into my mind this entire day....this snow storm is a very dangerous thing.

I know that this is true.  But I am just not accustomed to feeling threatened by the world that surrounds me, right outside my door.  But, right outside our door tonight lurks an awesomely beautiful, hostile world.
I know that with one misdirected gust of wind, our life sustaining power can vanish and we would have to seek a safe, warm place. And would it be possible to find one.. or .to reach that safe haven?

It has made me think, really think about the safe world that I fail to appreciate every day.  Tonight I think about the millions of people in this world who must live everyday with a hostile world outside their doors.
I must give thanks every day for my usual safe world, and pray that everywhere on this planet, someday,
all God's children can know that peace.

Blue Journal - #4 -Who Is This Person? And What Have You Done With Phyllis?

My body time clock has always functioned on the late shift.  I get on the computer at midnight,  I read for an hour or so after going to bed,  then I sleep LATE in the mornings.  I can get more done after midnight than a lot of people accomplish all day.  Retirement is wonderful..  My time clock was always at odds with my work life....well....with life in general.
But things have changed lately.  I don't know why.  I have been waking very early in the mornings...really early.  Then late afternoon I need a nap.  After supper I tend to doze off and on through all the evening TV shows.  Who did win on Jeopardy?  I missed it.
Last night I slept soundly through most of the PBS British dramas.  I was so sleepy that I had to skip my usual late night computer time.
Hence, I am writing yesterday's Blue Journal entry this morning.  We shall just have to wait and see when and if I get today's entry written today.
But, here we are, all hunkered down, heeding the many, many TV warnings about snowing, blowing, and sub-zero temperatures.  Right now, it is quite picturesque.
We are all warm and safe, and we pray that all our friends and family stay warm and safe, also.

Blue Journal Day 3 Our Very Own Starbucks

I had just about decided that I would buy a Keurig hot drink maker for Don for Christmas.  But I wasn't sure that he would like it.  He is, after all, the one who loads the coffee maker every night and turns it on first thing every morning.  But friends and family had been telling me how much they enjoyed theirs.

So for about a month before Christmas I had been asking Don little subtle questions about whether or not we might like a Keurig.  And he was kind of ignoring my questions.......so I just wasn't sure.  But Christmas was about one week away, and I was ready to send Cheryl to pick up the  Keurig so I could get it wrapped and ready for the big day.

But that evening we went out to a Christmas party buffet.  During dinner Don came back to the table with a hot chocolate that they were serving.  "You know, I think you might like a Keurig.  My friend, Heather, says that they make wonderful hot chocolate."  Still, there was not an enthusiastic response from Don.

But, on the way home, he says,  "How would you like to open your Christmas gift a little early?"
Well, I would never object to that!  I'm sure, dear reader, you have already figured out what my
gift was.   So we decided that we simply got the Keurig as a gift for each other!

Just look at Don's little Starbucks.  We are really enjoying our gift!

Blue journal- Day 2 - One Word "Snow"

Blown East by noisy winds as we sleep,
The snow arrived: soft, white, and deep.

It hides the fields, the creek, the sky,
The houses on the other side..

Where are the little birds so busy and merry
Who hide in the bushes and eat the berries?
Where are the berries?

The mail is late, no car engines roar,
No one comes knocking at our door.

We warm the leftovers, make peppermint tea,
And gather around the glowing TV.

We speak of missing activity.....
But actually revel in the privacy.

The Blue Journal - Day One

This is my new blue journal...a lovely hand made Christmas gift from a most beloved daughter.
It has inspired me to start journaling again in this new year of 2014.

This has been the first day of this brand new year.  And it has been the 77th time that I have begun a
brand new year.  As I look back, I believe that today has been one of the happiest, most satisfying
New Years Days of my life.  We did no remarkable things today.  It has caused me to wonder
what made the day so satisfying, and could I repeat these satisfying elements to enhance the other days of 2014.

Well, first of all.  I had a most refreshing ,good night's sleep last night, and woke up quite rested.  I
Think the good night's sleep was the result of all that New Years Eve activity.  I was really tired last night!
So I must remember.....try to walk a little more each day of 2014.

And breakfast was an unhurried muffin and coffee with plenty of time to read the newspaper  from cover to cover, and finish all five of the puzzles.  Even Sudoku seemed to solve itself  Unhurried breakfasts are the way to start the day.  Reminder to self:  schedule nothing until afternoons during 2014.

Being rested and with time to spare, I decided to dig an apple pie from the freezer and put it in the oven for a special New Years Day treat.  It takes almost 2 hours to bake from its frozen state, but we had plenty of time.  While in the freezer, I also pulled out a chicken casserole and some mashed potatoes.  Wow, an easy plan for a delicious dinner.  After all, sister-in-law, Janie, has said she will visit us late afternoon.  So she can stay for supper.

Don fixed lunch and we discovered that it was ready just as the Rose Bowl Parade started.  What fun.
And we even watched the HGTV version without commercials.  I love TV without commercials.  I simply must send a contribution to PBS so that they will continue to air all those British shows that I love.  And they are all aired without commercials.

I called Cheryl to see how the Hollomans were doing.  I asked if they would like to bring Lacey dog over to see Janie, and they could stay for supper, too.  So Lacey came to see Janie and they did indeed stay for
supper.

Then Debra and Rod stopped in and surprised us.  So we just had a super fun New Years Day Party.
I must remember this all year, that the best celebrations are impromptu and totally relaxed.

And Lacey and Aunt Janie were happy because Janie is the best animal lover in the world, and Lacey dog realizes this.  She always climbs right into Janie's lap!  I must remember...always include a loving dog and a
dog lover at all parties.