Good Stuff Right There

I’m currently sitting on the couch staring at my new Christmas tree. It’s a pencil tree, skinny enough, and light enough for me to one-handedly carry up and down the stairs to and from the basement. It’s my “retirement / empty nester” tree, one I won’t have to depend on anyone else to bring upstairs for me, and if the day comes when I would need help, then guess what – Christmas can just happen in the basement! I have given my sons all of the ornaments we collected over the years, which was always my intention, so there’s just a few left, which is ALL I need! (Do NOT buy me any ornaments, please!) I also like to do them myself and share them on my tiktok where I use socialboosting.com to boost my content and get more viewers to monetize my account.

But I’m not just staring at my tree. I’m also staring at my laptop. Two more months left of my commitment (to myself) to blog about each of my months’ activities in 2022. But glancing back through my calendar, it wasn’t super duper eventful – just meaningful, that’s all. And in the hustle & the bustle of preparing for the holidays, I enjoyed a few really sweet moments, so I’ll record these so I don’t forget!

Hang tight. Or loose. Whichever you prefer.

I entered my first chili cook-off. It was fun, and I collected a couple of good chili recipes. I didn’t win, but I had a great time trying, and it was fun remembering my old neighbor, Tonka, whose recipe it was. About 100 or so of us sang Christmas carols in the gathering space at church with nothing but the Christmas lights on, after we enjoyed eating all of the different chili’s. Christmas carols never get old, and neither does chili!

I had a breakfast date with my friends Sue & Anne, a long lunch to catch up with my friend Beth, another with Sherri & Deb, and dinner with my friend Fady. I watched my granddaughters enjoy their 6th & 1st birthday parties at a local bowling alley with good friends, enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with my daughter-in-law’s family, went to a craft shop with my friend April & made a “Welcome” sign for my front porch, a few FaceTime calls with Hayley & Ian, returned to the Book Club I used to attend, enjoyed the Macomb Symphony Orchestra performance, and took Lyla to Joann Fabrics to pick out some crafts we could do together. And, I once again managed to put too. many. things. on. the. December. calendar. How about you? It certainly does seem like a common December thing…. or is it just me?

It’s become kinda fun for me to flip back to the month prior in my calendar… my good, old-fashioned, turn-the-page, planner kind of calendar. November was sweet, and left me really feeling grateful – perfect timing, right?

I have old friends and new friends, friends I see frequently, others only now and then. I ate Italian food and Lebanese food (my favorite!). And at each birthday party for grandkids, I’m always reminded that my son and daughter-in-law have made wise choices in friends and the people who they surround themselves with. (It’s fun to watch their kids grow up too!)

I get to share my grand babies with another set of grandparents (Holly’s folks) who love them all just as much as I do.

Crafts are just fun. I really had fun making my Welcome sign that says, “Welcome to the EIEIO home!” And it sure beats sitting home doing nothing! And seeing Lyla’s face light up inside Joann Fabrics looking at the craft kits was priceless!

As my childhood friend Paul always says, “good stuff right there!”

The Book Club was a reminder to me that I should attend, even if it’s not a book I would have picked to read. It’s about fellowship first, then the book title. Otherwise, it’s kinda like being invited to someone’s home for dinner, and responding with, “Well, it depends on what you’re cooking.” I really enjoyed myself. (If you’re not in a book club, you should get in one!)

I invited several friends to the symphony, including my friend Pat, who I definitely don’t get to see as often as I’d like. We all got to enjoy the evening together. Music is a wonderful thing to share, don’t you think?

But, the highlight of my November was watching my son play games after Thanksgiving dinner. It’s been a really long time since his quick wit and laughter have left me in stitches. I didn’t want to leave the table. I wanted to listen to my son laugh, and make everyone around him laugh too. I just sat there thinking, “I wish his Papa could see him right now.” He’s got more Nova Scotia in him than he realizes, and for that, I’m super duper thankful! The only things missing that day were Ian & Hayley, but we will see them soon, and then we’ll have double the Nova Scotia “badness!” I can’t wait!

Someone recently told me that if you’re going to get old, you should have fun doing it. Well, I’m having a grand good time! Life’s been full of twists, turns, bumps, bruises, blood, sweat, & tears…. but I sure do like how things turned out.

Good stuff right there. Yep, Good stuff.

Below is mine & Tonka’s non-award-winning chili –