Peeking In While It is Still January

Hello, Dear One. Did I scare you being away so long? Goodness, I just thought that I would have all kinds of time in January. Yet here it went skipping off like a mountain goat just as every other month does. I freely confess that coming up with blog fodder grows more difficult for me all the time. 

What is that? Well sometimes I take photos based on pattern or textural interest. I think I was hoping that taking a picture would spur me on. Sometimes that works.

Just a few short weeks ago, I thought that God had blessed me and all Mainers with a mild winter and, in fact, He had up to that point. Then winter arrived. I try not to be annoyed with the cold and ice since all children I know seem to enjoy snow. This is Emmanuel and Anneke and Sprocket the Rocket. He is a Tamaskan. He is big. He is still a puppy. I imagine that he will be huge when grown.

Laurel knocking off the icicles. Sam has done it since and so has Adam. Thanks be for helpers! Every member of the family, including my sister, has helped with so much around here.

Adam and Jake in negotiations. Jake was ready to split. Laurel and I had the January birthday boys over for pizza and cake and ice cream and gifts. It was just one of many birthday parties for them. 

Sam looked out at the luge and said it would be ready for sledding in another storm or two. I was surprised that he still thinks of the luge fondly now that he is 17. Jake is 16. John sure made it fun for them.

Here they are in younger years....perhaps 5 and 6 or 6 and 7. I would ask their mom, but then I would have to confess that I stole this picture from her FB page. 

Can you believe the price of groceries? Eggs!

May February be sweet... thanks for stopping by...

Love,

Vee

Thanksgiving 2022 in Oakland

Oh my! Yes, Laurel more than surprised both her brother and me. Everything was so lovely, smelled so good, and tasted so fine. I was especially pleased that I did not have to prepare anything more than a pecan pie. Adam made his famous dinner rolls while Michelle baked a pumpkin pie and bought a chocolate cream pie from the library's annual sale. 

(We were down by one as Jake has declared himself a hunter who will no longer be attending our Thanksgivings. 😢)

This was Laurel's table theme with the sweet table runner that I first saw at Betsy's right *here.* When I saw that runner, I thought it would be perfect for Laurel's riverside cabin up in the semi-north woods. I had no idea that she would be moving to a new home closer to civilization. I also purchased one for Michelle and one for my sister. Both Laurel and Kim have enjoyed theirs. 

Michelle has hers packed away because she thought it was a pillow cover. It might be especially appreciated by Jake at their home these days. 🦌 Laurel bought her table and chairs new for our holiday. It was very nice seating...no one was crowded.

Speaking of table runners, Betsy has many beautiful tablescapes from which to gather ideas. Her blog, named after her grandmother, is simply beautiful and, if you don't already, you would certainly love it there. Also, she has the best recipes. I have several on speed dial. 

Okay, back to Thanksgiving. Alas, I took hardly any photos. You know how my family is not a fan of picture taking. My grandkitty has no problems with it. He has a ghost cat visit regularly who asks the same question, "Can Charlie come out to play?" 

Here's Laurel preparing me a cup of peppermint tea. Yes, into every lovely time a clinker must fall. 😏

Don't worry, though, because when Laurel was taking me home Friday afternoon, she found a lovely lake side restaurant called Lintonia. It had the added bonus of an eagle in a tree just beside the restaurant. 

We had the best cup of coffee and delicious tacos. Laurel just found out that they closed for good the day after we were there. So sad all the businesses that are closing. It was a fabulous little restaurant. My sister and I had already made plans to visit soon.

Thank you for reading my simple Thanksgiving record. I have been enjoying reading yours.

Love,

Vee

Bigfoot?

A sigh of relief is always breathed November 1st. I am so glad that the entire end of October scene has finished for another year. I am happily moving on to the next big holiday (not Veterans Day). We'll chat about that toward the end of this post, yet let's tidy up on the big day just past—

She arrived on her grandmother's hip wide-eyed and a little breathless. "I scare-t of Bigfoot." I look at my sister questioning this comment and am told that the children saw Bigfoot at my house last week as they were leaving. What? Who knew?! For a moment I think that I have gone down the rabbit hole and landed in Brenda's world.

Big Foot Country

I say, "There is no such thing as Bigfoot." At which point, Anneke's brother, who is playing with the rotary phone, run on imagination alone, says, "Bigfoot? Is that you? Ackkkk! It's Bigfoot!" Anneke's eyes grow even wider and she clings a little tighter to Grammie. 

I may have dialed Bigfoot

So I have no idea how this story ultimately unfolded. My sister agrees with me and says that they will ask their mommy and daddy because parents tell the truth. I am hoping that mommy and daddy didn't decide instead to crank Anneke's chain. One of them can be a bit of a prankster. I just happen to know that for.a.fact. ッ

Peach and Mario

Aren't they cute? Peach and Mario...aka Anneke and Emmanuel.

Now I do have news about my own grandchildren. Sam received his driver's license last week. Doesn't he look happy? So proud of him! 

Jake got his first deer on Saturday. I'll be careful with that picture because I'd not like to offend those who might keel over. I am thrilled that there will be extra food in the freezer and that Jake is happy too.

A few weeks ago, when sickness hit, we had to postpone plans to see Laurel for her birthday. She graciously joined us a couple of weeks later at a local restaurant where my family made plans for Thanksgiving. I saw a bit of eye-rolling, heard some comments. It boils down to this: I have messed up Thanksgiving dinner one too many times. Instead, we shall celebrate at Laurel's. She's in for the roller coaster ride that is Thanksgiving preparations. Should be fun! 

To my American brethren and sistren, have your plans for Thanksgiving firmed up? 

I want a nice sweet ending so I am sharing what I am making this week. I had to check for ingredients and found that I have them all. Yippee! 

Now I found this recipe somewhere in the last week or so. I have not named that source because my mind is a sieve. If it was yours or you know whose, let me know so I can include it.

It was *here* with a nice photo of what it should look like, too. My mind really is a sieve.🤦🏻‍♀️

 

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
• 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (the original recipe called for 1/2 cup)
• 1 cup butter, melted

*Heat oven to 350° F. 

*Grease bottom of 9 x 13″ pan.  

*Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. 

*Pour mixture into greased pan. 

*Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and top with pecans.

*Drizzle melted butter over pecans.

*Bake 50-55 minutes.

Source: https://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2008/11/22/pumpkin-crunch-cake/

Thank you for reading. You're good sports. 

Love,
Vee

A Brief Hello

It's now or never—last day of February and, if I hope to keep up with this break neck speed of one post a month, I need to put a word or two down. I think I'll close comments, though, because I don't want anyone to try coming up with something when I am offering so little. 

February was quite cold and snowy. "It's Maine, it's winter," says my sister if I dare mention that it is cold or snowy. We did have a wonderful hint of spring a week or more ago with temps warming to 60° for a few days. Lots of snow melted. Now it is frigid and there's been more snow so the incessant dripping will happen all over again. Probably three times. 

Usually on Wednesdays I have visitors. They climb my snow mountains and linger for lunch. My sister has become a covid grandmother like thousands of others. God bless them. Here are a few pics IF the platform will upload them. We'll see. 

Thanks for stopping in. I will try to do better in March. Maybe. 

Love,

Vee

Honoring the Days

 Last Friday, I decided that the world was beckoning so I struck off looking for foliage and two mums. 

I had no sooner left my driveway when I saw this poor, struggling tree right on my neighbor's lawn. It was putting its all into perhaps its last autumn season.

I can sit right on my deck and see it from my own backyard. 

I was going to prove it, but the tree has already faded in just three short days. Plus, it has rained and taken a lot of leaves.

Just before peak and heading out of the neighborhood...

Looking for mums and I found them! This was not as easy as it had been last week when every single farmstand from here to there had mums. Not any more!

I placed my selections on the hood of the car so I didn't have to drip them through the store to the counter and back. It pleased me to find them because my sister, brother-in-law, and I were traveling the next day to my grandparents' hometown well north of Bangor.

A good chauffeur

Pleased to honor our grandparents once again...

Just to the right was a graveside service. My step-uncle passed away in Florida at the age of 92. He was the last one standing of his generation on my mother's side of the family. He lived a wonderful life and enjoyed many travels and work assignments with the railroad all around the world. My sister and I wanted to honor him and to see his sons once again. It has been such a long time. They live from California to Georgia to Ontario, Canada. You may remember that we are one of those families that spans both sides of the Canada~US border.

 

It was very surprising to me that the youngest son from Ontario was even allowed to attend his father's service in this time of you know. He, like my sister, is a dual citizen. He said that that was the only thing that got him in. On return, he must quarantine for two weeks. He jokingly said that he'd be living in a tent on his back lawn.

I have happy memories of my uncle and aunt. He was the uncle spoken of *here* where we discussed genealogy. He was the one who got me most interested in the search.

As we stood there, a beautiful September day with temps in the high 70s, we were listening to the bagpipes and drums behind us when we heard the familiar chug of a train engine. How perfect. Few trains rumble by these days. It was all so symbolic.

We wished that we had been able to join them for a family supper at a restaurant in Bangor, but Steve and Kim were leaving early the next morning for Iowa. As I type this, they are in the process of driving back to Maine with a U-haul. They are bringing Steve's mother home to live with them.

We said goodbye to this small town in middle Maine. The railroad left a decade or so ago taking all the jobs with it. Even the grocery store is gone.  My grandparents' home sits empty and looking so sad. The garage is falling down and the home will be soon at this rate...the windows gone. I refused to even take a photo preferring to remember better days. My cousins said that they had driven around and were equally dismayed. 

Saying goodbye to Brownville Junction... Hope to see it again one day.

Thanks for reading...

Love,

Vee

 

And a Fun Day Was Had by All

<So the new blogger was rolled out I see. A minute in and I already see problems. Okay, Vee, calm down, carry on.>

If I get any further behind, I'll never catch up. I want to document, for myself, the wonderful Labor Day we enjoyed at my daughter's home on the river. I have made a little movie and I hope that it will show the shape of the day, but the movie is a little out of focus so I am also adding photos.

That beautiful September day, I drove to my sister's home and from there we went further north to Laurel's. Laurel was mowing when we arrived, but soon gave the job over to my grandson Sam...

because she and her brother had to get the grill going.

There was a bit of color...

There was time spent chatting and eating, but it was a remarkably active crowd.

Time at the River...

And time in the wiffle ball field...

where big boys and little boys played happily together. (Girls, too, of course!)

My sister's grandson spent some happy times in the middle of the field. At one point, when she had a hit and was running bases, he watched surprised as she sped right on by him. "Grammie," he said in an accusing tone. "I can't stop, Emmanuel, I'm playing a game." ツ

And that was not all...Laurel remembered Streamer Tag which captured Emmanuel's imagination completely.

Emmanuel arrived at my knee because I had the nice cold drink he was making short work of. It was a lovely day and I am grateful for it.  

Adam meets Anneke for the first time...

Since then, I have been stuck in the garage trying to reclaim some much needed space. Perhaps, if I get more brave, I'll share. 

Yup, it's been an adventure posting. Hope it flies.

Thanks for your visit.

Running Late

If I don't get crackin,' it'll be September and I have only one post for August. Unacceptable. I'm taking this opportunity to thank those bloggers who are blogging regularly and those of you who are blogging nearly every day deserve a gold star.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The most excitement I've had lately was heading to the coast to visit Abby a couple of weeks ago. She was given a last minute yelp and responded with a "sure." Amazing how quickly things can come together if everyone is willing. My sister Kim suggested the day, I agreed, and Abby did as well.

 It was great to see Abby again after all these months, eight to be exact. I was feeling so bad the last time I saw her that I felt as if it might be our final visit. Just keeping it real. This time, I was feeling ever so much better. God is good all the time, no matter how I'm feeling.

left to right: me, Kim, Abby

Abby gifted us with the masks. I wore mine because I wanted to eat and I wanted ice cream. ☺ I didn't want the extra drama of going rogue and making everyone nervous. I am almost to the place where I am not going to be wearing them anymore. I don't know why I have allowed myself to play the game in the first place. My sister, a nurse, told me from the beginning that masks wouldn't work. Now that that has been proven, I don't see the point of them anymore. I don't fault those who feel better wearing a mask, but already.oxygen. deprived.me feels better without one. Further, Sunday's news reveals the new CDC information rolled out quietly. I'm not here to connect dots so will leave it at that. I am not saying that covid isn't real, it is; I am saying that Ignorance made us all respond in excessive ways. We just didn't know. 

On our way home, we stopped by Kim's daughter's because how can one drive right by without a quick visit? 

Anneke tested out the sweet dress that Abby sent for her. It is so cute! Anneke really liked it. 

They live on a lake...wonderful spot to grow up. That's Pencil the cat. 

Here she is peeking in the window. In my world, that's an automatic win. 

Pencil likes to play fetch. Hopefully, blooger will allow me to upload a video proving it.

Enjoy this final day of August! I'm going to let you scoot. Comments are closed today...feeling lazy and tired of dealing with bad comments.