Category: Front Porch Musings

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On Christmas Day

I had, what I consider to be, idyllic childhood Christmas Days.

For a time, as a young adult…I tried to recapture those.

But, now, as a middle-aged …almost SENIOR adult (how did that happen???), I have found that I absolutely love some of my own traditions along with the memories.

The current traditions have their foundation in the idyllic traditions of my childhood. It is the best of both times!

Yes, my childhood Christmas mornings were about the magic…the gifts, the full stocking…but they were also about a wonderful sweet roll and a scrumptious breakfast.

My sweet this year is kolache dough filled with almond paste (homemade which took about 3 minutes), given the “Christmas Bagel” treatment along with a marachino cherry for color.

I LOVE the sweet kolache dough. It has the flavor of a flaky pastry without the flakes. It worked wonderfully in this Christmas sweet and it is a versatile dough that freezes well.

Color me happy with my 2012 Christmas Sweet!

I made green chile gravy two days ago.

I made red chile gravy yesterday.

I made corn tortillas yesterday.

This morning I made stacked cheese and onion enchiladas with Christmas (red and green) chile gravy.

Southwest tradition would put a fried egg on top of the enchilada stack but I am a poached egg girl so poached it was.

My own refried black beans and sprouted brown rice…slightly off Mex-TexMex, but good!

The day was beautiful for all reasons: the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, a day of good celebratory food, a day shared with Bear and Bob…and sunshine and snow and beauty.

My preferred Christmas Day tradition is to snowshoe through the woods, but the snow was a bit light and Bear is recovering.

Still.

Bear and I hopped in the Jeep and headed down the road. We had a good walk just a bit north, drove through town and returned home…

The Road Home on Christmas Day 2012.

The sun, blue sky, Christmas Day…the front porch called.

But not to Bear :) !

Bob was my front porch buddy.

An eye was kept on Bear via the “baby” monitor.

Photos were taken via wireless remote. …so much fun with gadgets…a part of Christmas Day!!

24F but it felt warmer.

A dear friend gave me a beautiful calendar. The illustrations are Monet-like impressionist style watercolors and the quotes fit me and my life perfectly. I perused the pages this afternoon as I enjoyed a blue cheese-rosemary lavash treat…afternoon delight!

I hope all who venture here have also had a day filled with faith, love and tradition and good food.

Happy, Happy Christmas Day to all.

The video below…I took several snippets of Bear and I walking so that I could look at how things are progressing with his leg. I am happy! It is a little hard to compare the surgery leg to the non-surgery leg as the surgery leg was shaved… But compared to how the surgery knee was bowed out and now it is in alignment…I am happy. It is early days but I think all is going very well.

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On the eve of Christmas Eve

I saw the moon in the clear sky as Bear and I walked through the woods on our last daylight outing.

I stepped out a bit after to look again and take a photo.

It is a bit of an uncomfortable Christmas…Newtown on my mind…a local family whose 17 year old daugher succumbed to cancer 2 weeks ago, my own house a bit not quite normal. All bring to mind many in the world that face a first Christmas without someone loved.

I looked at the moon tonight and remembered those I love that are not with me this Christmas. I lift up those that face a first Christmas without someone and pray for some peace in their sorrow.

I am grateful for this day with Bear and Bob, for my folks, for my dear friends…on the eve of Christmas Eve, I am glad for this night.

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Look for the light

Whatever is true, whatever is noble

Whatever is right, whatever is pure,

Whatever is lovely, think on these things

Philippians 4:8

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Isaiah 40: on wings like eagles.

I write this Wednesday evening. We are close to finishing week 1 post TPLO surgery. Bear is doing very well! Mostly, he moves with caution. He waits for me to get the Gingerlead on and also “helps” when I lift him in and out of the Jeep by lifting his legs. He gives me lots of kisses when he’s in…Thanks for the lift! Thanks for taking me! I love you!

If he has any pain or discomfort he is not showing it although he is still on some pain medication. I am so grateful this first week has gone well.

I’m adjusting to a different routine and struggling a bit. It always takes me some time to change gears, drop some things that just do not need doing and stick to the absolute priorities. Walks are not really a break for me at the moment as it is physically and mentally demanding to support Bear as well as keep my footing in what is now ice and slush. A few new muscles are making themselves known :)!

This morning, I sat at the kitchen table with my first cup of coffee and just enjoyed the light, the snow, the smell of a pot of beans simmering…

Bear sleeping peacefully. Bob is around the corner on his bed.

After a bit, I listened to today’s Pray as you go. The reading was Isaiah 40. It is a favorite of mine. The subtitle in my NIV Bible is “Comfort for God’s people”. This chapter describes God’s majesty and his goodness and a directive to trust and draw strength from Him.

40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary
they will walk and not be faint.

Amen :) !

Hearing those words, sitting quietly, letting go of worry and fear and tiredness and knowing I have all of the strength and time that I need.

Today’s work day went well. Not quite a full day but close and all got done that had to get done.

Along the line of resting…much as I liked the comfort of sleeping near Bear, particulary those first nights, I knew I had to get back to my own bed. Bob was trying to sleep with Bear. Bear was not 100% with that program and so would move. I would wake up. Etc. And I was hovering over Bear a bit. I know the best I can do for all of us is to keep calm and peaceful in my mind.

I bought a tool to help all of us… (I am SO grateful for Amazon Prime!)

A baby monitor :) !! BTW, this is a very inexpensive one and it was plug and play and works great. And I am not the only one using it for pets per the Amazon reviews. One person wanted to try it to keep an eye on their chickens.

Anyway, it keeps an eye on Bear and I can both see and hear from the bedroom so I’m not jumping up to check on him.

I have the camera set to get a view of the room. It has infrared for nighttime. I am so pleased with the darn thing.

The first night, I waited until I woke about 2:45 and moved to my bed with Bob for a half-night trial. All good. Last night, I went to bed in my bed for a full night. All good. I think we all had a more restful night. Bear was asleep every time I woke. If his eyes are open the infrared makes them glow white. Before I fell asleep, I heard a bit of clanging – he was getting a drink of water and the camera/monitor picked up the water dish bumping the frame it sits in. I watched on the monitor as he got his drink and went back to his bed.

Ultimately, a lot of peace of mind for me and slightly more normal for all of us. Bear wants to go to the chairs he normally sleeps in but that is two steps up to get in them, so we are waiting at least another week – we’ll see how the 2 week post-op checkup goes.

This is one reason the sunroom was the recuperative room of choice: it is the one room in the house that allows Bear to see outside from the floor.

But then…he later chose one of the few spots with no rug. Funny boy!

Week 2 – onward…on wings like eagles!