Dec. 31, 2005- Jan. 5, 2006

I met my friend at the Huntington Library in Oneonta and then we took off for Countryside Care Center in Delhi. Barb Thomas was waiting for us and we had a very nice Christmas visit. She was happy and her voice seems much stronger now. An hour went quickly and we had to leave. A hug and kiss was in order and our next trip will be in January 2006.

Another packet from Dodger Bob graced my mailbox with all kinds of New York City holiday clippings. I am hoping that he will look me up on his holiday trip to New York.

A holiday email from Kay Bouton related that she will close the Sage Center for the first week in January to do inventory, but will reopen Jan. 9 with winter hours-Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 5:30pm. Thanks for the greeting and enjoy your Mondays off. What joy we have gotten from the two Amarillus bulbs we cared for since early November. I regreted that the eight beautiful flowers were gone before Chritmas and the other had two full blooms with just one left, which did not totally open. Needless to say, we will cut them back and put them in a safe place to start up again for next Christmas. Perhaps this time, we can get them to St. Matthrew's altar for Chritmas 2006.

"Terry and Maureen are on their way up," my brother, Bruce, told me last Thursday. They managed to get away a little earlier then expected and that was GREAT! I called later in the afternoon and Maureen said," Come for dinner Friday evening and let Andy and Laura know that they are invited too" I told her that would bake a large, deep, apple and raisen pie. It would be one less thing she would have to do. As it was , she used the time to clean and get the house looking like the Christmas Season. You can't hold her down. Even Terry jumped in and helped.

Joe and I arrived about 6:30pm and the house was buzzing with activity. and the aroma of baked ham filled the house. We were greeted by Bosco, their dog, who was still very leary of Joe, but as the evening wore on, he became more tolerent.

Lester Ghent, an old friend of the family, came as did one of Maureen's friends, Emma. Lester's birthday is Nov 19, when he turned 76?. That was the same as my mother's, Andy and Laura came and soon after, Jim McGrath popped in to wish all a MERRY CHRIsTMAS! Ernie and his family arrived just about the time we had given up on him. He drove up from Fort Lee, NJ and had been held up by an accident for 45 minutes. What a shame-there were people killed! It was a 6 hour trip for them.

Dinner consisted of one of Maureen delicious salads, sliced pineapple baked ham, fluffy mashed potatoes, simmered onions and a wonderful sautee'd green bean dish with poppy seed and garlic seasoning. When we had our fill, everyone chipped in and cleaned up. Later the apple pie and a grand holiday white cake brought the experience to an end. We were all happy to be together and celebrate the birth of CHRIST. Lumpy and Ellen stopped by and invited all to thier New Year's Eve party the following night at their beautiful new barn. My the time went fast. We were the first to leave as it was getting cold and the roads were icy. "See you tomorrow". . .

The following day was one in which I called Irwin's brother and family in Salt Lake City, Utah and found that they were experiencing the same weather. Their Christmas was a busy one. They have 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren!

An email from Val McAllister brought the news and a photo of her as she looks a month after her surgery. She looks great! A new hair do and her slimming bod, makes you take a double take. Keep it up gal. . . My daughter, Wendy said they had breakfast out and decided to stay home for New Year's Eve as their son, Kenny was planning too.. Andy and Laura would be stopping at a friend and going back home to celebrate quietly at home.

Nature's Scene: A little red squirrel is among the vistors to the feeders. He runs so quickly that you have to watch carefully. He discovered the cracked corn under the snow. . .The suet has been a life saver for the little birds and they nibble at it every chance they can. We have seen many deer, unlike during hunting season, all shapes and sizes. A few have been killed on the highway. Be careful and keep an eagle eye when driving.

Thought for the Week: Remember to tell everyone you love, that you love them. You may not see them tomorrow. . .

PS-Just as I arrived back home, I raced to answer the phone. It was Betty Barnes. . . She told me that Barb Thomas was in a bad way and might not last the night. I immediately left a message for a mutual friend and asked him to return the call. It came with the news that Barbara Thomas had passed away on Sunday afternoon. Arrnagments are not yet made so watch the obituaries. I think this is it for me tonight. Barb fought the good fight for 5 years and now she is at rest in the arms of her savior, who took her home to be with those who have gone before her. Rest well, my good friend.