My Reading List 2020

I was going to do one of those year in review type of posts, but I decided against it.  I don't think anyone really needs to review this year.  From starting the year with prison riots, to historic flooding of the Pearl River, to a record setting tornado which left a scar visible from space, 

to a record setting hurricane season -- all while in the midst of a global pandemic, it's not likely to be a year we'll soon forget. 

Still, one of the things I was going to try to do was spend less time on screens and more time reading.  I got quite a few books read, but not as many as I'd hoped.  I'll try to do better next year. So, without further ado, here is my reading list for 2020:

Thank You For My Service -- Mat Best

Island Of The Blue Dolphins -- Scott O'Dell

Julie Of The Wolves -- Jean Craighead George

Gentle Ben -- Walt Morey

The Golden Compass -- Philip Pullman

My Side Of The Mountain -- Jean Craighead George

Graceling -- Kristin Cashore

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets -- JK Rowling

Jacob Have I Loved -- Katherine Patterson

Declanii -- Nathan Daniel Davini (Don't bother with this one.  It's pretty bad.)

Before The Broken Star -- Emily R. King

DragonFlight -- Anne McCafferey

DragonQuest -- Anne McCafferey

Dragonsong -- Anne McCafferey

Dragonsinger -- Anne McCafferey

Dragondrums -- Anne McCafferey

The White Dragon -- Anne McCafferey

The Way I Heard It -- Mike Rowe

As Old As Time -- Liz Brazwell

Random Thoughts Of The Second To Last Day Of The Year

 1.  The last Christmas presents I ordered have finally arrived!  Cody's hat came yesterday, and Brennan's candle got here today.  I messaged Cody and he said he'd get up with Bren and see when they can come down.   He also said she really liked the tool kit I got her.  I'm glad she liked it.  Every woman needs her own set of household tools. 

2.  I finally hit the clearance sales today, but there wasn't much left.  Pretty much all the good stuff had already been picked over, and I didn't really see anything I absolutely had to have.  I did get another box of cards, and some more tissue paper, but that's it. 

3.  I also found a flannel shirt on clearance, and in the women's section, too!  

Between that one, and the one my sister sent me, I've got a good start.  It's nice to have some feminine clothes again.  Honestly, I don't really like wearing men's clothes, but they're usually a lot cheaper and sturdier than women's clothes, and more importantly, they have functional pockets. I don't know who in the world decided that women don't need pockets, but I wish they'd get over it and give us pockets.  

4.  While I was in Texas, I found out that two more people I know have died of the COVID, including one who was kin to me.  OK, he was a distant cousin, but he was still kin.  His mother was a Winfree.  The other was the piano player at the church I'd gone to before I went into the Navy.  Her kids are all around my age, and I know them pretty well. 

5.  Lookit!  I posted one of my full moon photos on a local (OK, he's in Jackson) meteorologist's Facebook page, and he shared it!  

And, as if that weren't enough, the local news station posted it on their page, too!

I feel like I've made the big time!  My dad would be so geeked out over this.  

6.  I've been watching piano lesson videos on YouTube, and have decided my practice time needs to be more organized.  Taking the advice of my favorite online piano teacher, I've divided my practice time up into the following segments:  

a) Warm ups and finger strengthening exercises (i.e. Hanons and scales) -- 10 minutes

b) Sight reading exercises -- 5 minutes

c) Something that teaches new skills or concepts (i.e. my Alfred's book) -- 10 minutes

d) Playing just for fun -- 10 minutes

So far, it's going pretty well.  I'm hoping to keep it up after I go back to work next week.  I still want to someday take real lessons from a real person.  

7.  I started watching Home Town on HGTV.  It's another one of those shows where they renovate old homes.  This one is set in Laurel, MS.  I'd love to buy some of the old houses here in Grenada and renovate them, but that just wouldn't work in this town.  We have absolutely the wrong political climate to rejuvenate this town.   Still, I love the architecture on these old homes around the square. 

8.  After I posted photos of our town's tree lighting, one of my friends asked if I lived in one of those towns where they film Hallmark movies.  I laughed and said they'd have to truck in too much fake snow.  But since they do most of the actual filming in the middle of summer, they'd have to do that anyway.  

9.  I guess that's all I have for today.  See you tomorrow. 

Suzette's Big Adventure -- A Photo Essay

 We're going to Texas for Christmas!  Heading South...

Stopping in Canton, MS for gas. 

Suzette isn't impressed with the obelisk. 

Suzette wants no part of driving through Jackson. 

Whew!  We're past Jackson.  

Bienvenue en Louisiane!  (Can you spot Suzette?)

Suzette took one look at the Mississippi River Bridge and fainted dead away!

Past Baton Rouge and headed West.  We're pretty much home free now. 

Good grief!  Another bridge?  How many more are there?  

Suzette said, "What happened here?  It looks like a bomb went off."  This is what a high end category 4 hurricane can do.  

One more bridge, and then...

We're home!!

Suzette posing in the cutout, since she wasn't sure you'd be able to see her in the other photo.  She is there, really. 

After a nice -- but all too short --  visit, it was time to come back.  We headed out bright and early Sunday morning.

Crossing the Sabine River bridge, leaving Texas.  My fondest hello, and my hardest goodbye...

Approaching the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, Suzette said, "I will be brave this time...

I will be brave this time...

...nope, not brave!"  

About the time we got to Bass Pro Shop in Denham Springs, Suzette had fully recovered from her faint.  However, after discovering what was lurking in the pond inside BPS,  she decided to stay in the car.  She was afraid the alligator snapper would get her.  (That's a penny on his back for scale.)

After a long, long haul, we were back in Mississippi. 

Suzette wanted no part of driving through Jackson in the Northbound lane, either, and said, "Wake me up when we're past it." 

Suzette thinks the obelisk looks much better from this direction. 

And finally, home again. 

Home again, jiggety jig.  

And that was the end of Suzette's first big adventure.  Hopefully there will be many more in the future. 

*For those of you new to the blog, I lost my dear, dear friend Suzie back in April.  Because her health had prohibited her from traveling, when I went to the Fiber Fun In The 'Sip last year, I'd fixed her up a care package.  In that care package was a little alpaca, complete with fur.  When Suzie's sibs started going through her things, I asked if I could have the alpaca back.  I named her Suzette, after my friend Suzie, and once the pandemic is over and I stop being a recluse (in the interest of full disclosure, I was a recluse even before the pandemic) we'll be going on all sorts of adventures.  

I Got Frustrated

I had a nice, long post all mentally composed for you about my trip to Texas.  It was a wonderful post.  It would have made you laugh.  It would have made you cry.  It would have moved you.

Alas, when I was trying to download my photos from my camera, for some reason, my computer decided to act like a butt head.  I'm not sure what was going on.  I plugged my camera in with the USB cable as usual, and the computer kept saying "Device Not Found."  I finally got them to download by hunting down my external card reader -- an exercise in frustration in its own right -- but by then, I was too aggravated to edit all the photos and get them ready to upload to the blog.  Oh, you're still getting a post, just not the one I originally intended for you to have.  

While we're on the subject of me being a doofus, I actually published a post on Christmas Day.  I'd written it before hand, and scheduled it to post itself that morning.  Which it did.  Just like it was supposed to.  I was halfway to Texas before I remembered I don't have that thing that automatically shares my posts to FB and Twitter any more.  So, even thought I posted, if you come here from a link on some other site, you wouldn't have known it. 

A bit of good news -- all but one of the packages I've been waiting on have finally arrived.  The one that is still missing is a little something I'd ordered for Cody's girlfriend.  It's been wandering around somewhere between here and Oxford for 8 days now.  Oxford is less than 50 miles away.  A turtle could have carried it on his back and it would have gotten here sooner.  I know the post office has gotten behind and all, but that's just ridiculous.  

One of the things that did arrive was some yarn.  I was kind of hoping it would get here in time for me to take it on my road trip, but I really wasn't in that big of a hurry for this.  I've got plenty of other knitting projects going.  

Anyway, if you'll recall, I'd cast on a scarf, and quickly realized I wouldn't have enough yarn to make it an even halfway decent length, so I'd ordered more.  I figured it wouldn't be the same dye lot or anything, but honestly, I didn't expect that big of a difference.  It doesn't even look like the same yarn.  You can clearly see how much darker the first ball (on the far left) is.  Even the labels are different. 

I may just make a couple of hats out of the odd ball, and use the new ones for the scarf I'd planned on knitting. The pattern I'd originally cast on was Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf, but it seems the yarn doesn't want to be this scarf.    I might have to find it something else to be. 

So, I'd gone to Texas for Christmas, and my cousin Judy surprised me with a little gift:  

My other cousin Beverly gave me this:  a china teacup and matching saucer. 

Isn't that  beautiful?  

What made it so special is that it is part of a set that once belonged to my great-great grandmother Adeline Winfree.  

Her son Joseph was my Mammaw's father.  It may not be worth much monetarily, but to me, it's priceless.  The sad part is, I don't have a safe place in which to display it, so it's going to stay wrapped up and tucked away in the back of the closet.  Maybe someday, I'll find me a sugar daddy and actually have a nice house with nice things.  

Speaking of, I deleted my dating profile.  I decided I wasn't quite ready to sacrifice myself and who I am, just for a little financial security. But that's neither here nor there...

In other news, I used my new light and book clips when I practiced my piano today.  

It was so nice not having to turn on that big, overhead light and heat up the whole room just so I could see my music.  It's going to be even nicer when summer comes and it's already unbearably warm, even without the light. And with the clip to hold my book open, I actually practiced my dexterity exercises.  

Oh, and I took a better photo of my Navy ornament, which was a gift from my sister and her family.

Speaking of ornaments, I found these two on Etsy. 

I thought they were highly appropriate for this year. 

I'd planned on giving them as gifts, but I think I might be selfish and keep them.  Especially the one showing the Land Mass -- which was in the cone just as much as Louisiana, but nobody even noticed.

Finally, I tried to watch the new show on Food Network called Candy Land, but Kristen Chenowith was like fingernails on a chalkboard.  Seriously, that yodeling thing she was doing...if I'd been a contestant on that show, I'd probably have slapped the mess out of her.  

It would have totally been worth the jail time. 

Christmas 2020

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

 

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2: 1-20

Christmas Eve

The house seems very quiet without Rylea.  I miss her so.  I thank all of you for your kind words and prayers.  Today was even worse, because I had to take Jesse to the dog hotel early.  They were closing at noon, so their employees could spend the holiday with their families, so he wasn't even here to keep me company.  

I can neither confirm nor deny that when I went to go get some more firewood, I stood at the back door calling, "Jesse, I'm going to go get more wood. You coming?  Jesse?  Jesse?"  Then I remembered, and felt like a doofus.  

OK, moving right along...

I hadn't planned on making the big spread we usually have for Christmas Eve, since it was just going to be the two of us -- Cody and me -- and I really didn't feel like doing a bunch of cooking anyway.  It's been a rough week, you know.  I wanted to have something, though, so  I made the the perennial favorite snickerdoodles, 

and chocolate chip.  I cheated on them, though.  My sister had sent this big tub of scoop and score -- um, I mean scoop and bake -- dough home with me when we went to Texas back in July.  

I'd stuck it up in the freezer, and decided this was a good time to get it out and use it.   Honestly, they weren't as good as the ones I make, but eh, they'll do.  So, we had those two, and I thought it'd be enough, but lo and behold, I found some gumdrops that I'd vacuum sealed and froze!  

Naturally, I had to make gumdrop cookies.  It just isn't Christmas without gumdrop cookies.  Except that it is, because that's not what Christmas is all about.  I just like them, and wanted to make them. 

Since we're going to head out pretty early tomorrow, we opened our gifts tonight, so we wouldn't have to rush through it in the morning.  I think this might be Cody's favorite.  

He put it on as soon as I finished taking pictures and didn't take it off until he went to bed.  I jokingly asked him if he were going to sleep in it.  He said no, but I'm not sure I believe him. 

Anyway, here is my loot:  

New baking pans from Cody and Brennan -- good heavy Wilton pans, a US Navy Christmas ornament from my sister and her family, a weather radio from the completely and totally awesome Kristine, blueberry jelly from my sister, a book clip (to hold my music books open) also from my sister's family, a mess kit for my bug out bag from my older brother and sister in law, a new shirt from my sister, a music light from my younger brother, and a new Texas flag, also from my older brother and sister in law.  

And here is Cody's loot:

The socks and fireweed jelly are from my sister, but the rest is from me.  His main gift is lost somewhere in shipping limbo, so I printed out a photo of it and wrapped it up, which Cody totally got a kick out of.  It's the hat, in case you couldn't figure that out.  His other hat got soaked in Hurricane Harvey, so he needed a new one. 

By the way, Brennan's gift didn't arrive, either.  It's been in Oxford since the 20th, but can't seem to make it the 42 miles down the way to Grenada.  I know the post office is behind, but that's just ridiculous.  I could have walked up there and gotten it faster.  

Well, I'm going to head for bed now, but before I go, I'm going to leave you with this statement from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency:  

“Director Michel was released from the hospital Wednesday night. He’s now at home resting and wants to thank everyone that has prayed for him and checked on him during his illness. He can’t thank his medical team enough for all their efforts in his recovery. Mr. Michel looks forward to being back at work as soon as he can. In the meantime, he’ll be spending a restful Christmas at home.” - Malary White, MEMA Director of External Affairs

Thank you to all of you who said a quick prayer for Director Michel.  He has worked his tail off for this state this year, and I know he appreciates all of your prayers.  

Since I won't see you tomorrow, or likely Sunday, either, I'll just wish you all a 

Happy Christmas, and good night. 

Rylea

She never once backed down from a fight.  But there is one opponent that will defeat even the stoutest heart.

Time.

It stalks us all, relentless and unyielding.  Eventually, it catches up to everyone.  Today, it caught up to her.  

Farewell, my problem child.  I will miss you. 

Rylea

May-ish 2007 - December 22, 2020

*She came from the pound, so I don't know her exact birth date.  It was late April to early May, 2007. 

Change Of Plans

After giving it a bit of thought, I went back and got that pink tool bag for Cody's girlfriend after all. 

The plan was to take all the tools out of the bag and put the ones I'd bough into it, but again, after thinking it over, I decided not to do that, either.  I'll just put them all into a big box and wrap it all up.  Now, I really am done shopping, because I'm not going back to the store before Christmas if I can possibly help it. 

One day last week, I forgot to tell you, I found out one of my coworkers had a stroke.  Someone found him unconscious in his house last Sunday, and they had to airlift him to Jackson.  My first thought was, "I hope they had a bed available for him."  I haven't heard how he's doing, but I'll be sure and let you know if I do.  For now, I'm still going with the no news is good news philosophy. 

That's one thing state health officer Dr. Dobbs has been emphasizing throughout this whole pandemic.  He says it's not just about COVID patients filling up the hospitals.   He says if you have a heart attack or a stroke, they want to be able to provide quality care to you, too.  I know over the last few months, they've had to send patients as far away as Georgia and Florida to find available ICU beds.  

I found out another friend -- this one a church friend-- who has tested positive.  I'm not sure of all the details, but they had to rush her to the ER sometime yesterday.  She's doing better now, though.  

Also, MEMA director Michel was admitted to the hospital with COVID pneumonia.  We've had a rough year, here in MS.  From devastating flooding, to killer tornadoes, to hurricane after hurricane after hurricane...and all in the midst of a global pandemic.  Through all this, Director Michel has held the line, and has become one of my real life heroes.  Please, if you feel led, to lift him up in prayer. 

More bad news, Rylea has started chugging water like it's going out of style -- which leads to her peeing like it's going out of style as well.  I first noticed it Friday, and it's only gotten worse since then.  I ran to the store today, and wasn't gone but maybe an hour and a half, and she had an accident in the house -- after I'd let her out right before I left.  I've decided a trip to the vet is in order.  Of course, the biggest concern is her age.  She's almost 14, and every little thing that happens, I think it might be her time.  I'm not quite ready -- but then are you ever ready to make that call?  We'll just wait and see what the vet says. 

In more pleasant news, tonight was the Great Conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter, and wonder of wonders, it was clear and I got to see it!  I took lots of photos, but this is probably the best one.

I took this one through my telescope, but with the naked eye, they did look like they were right on top of one another.  If you look closely, you can see three of  Jupiter's moons.  

While I was waiting for the planets to become visible, I took a few moon shots as well.

I'm really enjoying that telescope, but the tripod sure leaves a lot to be desired.  What I really want is one you can program in what you want to see, and the smart tripod will find it for you.  That would be so cool, but they are definitely high dollar. 

And finally, in knitting news, I've been working on this scarf off and on for a few weeks.  

It was at this point I realized, even as narrow as this scarf is, I wouldn't have enough to make it a decent length.  Naturally, I did what any red blooded American would do.  I got online and ordered three more balls.  They're supposed to arrive Wednesday, then I'll decide if I still want to make a scarf, or maybe a stole or throw.  

I guess that's about it for tonight.  There was something else I was going to tell you, but right now, I can't remember what it was.  Maybe I'll think of it and put it into tomorrow's blog.

But for now, I'll bid you adieu.  

Finished, For Real This Time

 I've finished my Christmas shopping for real this time.  I hadn't really planned on going to Walmart today.  I hadn't wanted to go into town at all, but I needed to go to the post office.  Since Walmart is right there, I ran in for a gallon of milk -- and ended up spending $150.  

I was able to use the gift card from work to cover part of that, but still...

Yeah, they actually gave us a gift card at work, which I was totally not expecting.  And last week, we got our first attendance bonus since they stopped all the bonuses back in April.  It wasn't as much as I was getting before, but at least it's something. 

Speaking of work, I am officially off on Christmas vacation until January 4th!  I'm not sure what is going on with work, or how they got so far behind, but they were passing around a list for people to sign up to work the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.  Nope, I didn't put my name down.  I work hard all year, saving up my vacation, just to take this time off.  It's usually the only vacation I get, and I'm taking it.  By golly.  

But I digress.

I'd pretty much finished my Christmas shopping last week.  I'm still waiting on one of Cody's gifts to arrive, but for the most part, I'm done.  Or so I thought...

Then a box from my sister arrived.  She'd sent Cody's girlfriend more gifts than I'd gotten her!  OK, it was just one, but still...I hadn't really planned on getting Brennan much, because I know she's a college student and doesn't have a whole lot of money.  I'd worried that if I got her too much, she'd feel she needed to reciprocate.  But I can't let my sister out do me!  I had to get her something else.  Just a little something, but something.

As I was wandering through Walmart, I looked at the bath sets, the lotion sets, all the girly type things...wondering what Brennan would like.  Then it hit me.  I'd get her what every girl needs...

tools!

And of course, a nifty tool box to keep them in. 

They had a little tool set in a pink bag, but it was a bunch of stuff she'd probably never need, like different size sockets and nut driver bits, so I decided to put one together myself with just the basics that everyone needs to have around the house.  Now that I think about it, I probably should have gotten a tape measure as well.  Maybe I will if I go back to the store before Christmas.  

That girl probably thinks I'm out of my mind.  

One more Christmas decoration made its way home with me, as well.  

It's small, maybe 4"x6", but fits in the space between my front door and window as if it were made for it.  The paint even matches my curtain.  I was kind of afraid it would blend in with the walls too much, but it doesn't.  It looks right nice there. 

And look at this!  A week before Christmas, they finally get some mint truffle kisses in!

The hot cocoa kisses are pretty good, too.  They're just milk chocolate with a marshmallow center.  

Well, I think I may have done a very foolish thing.  I signed up for Facebook dating.  I'd posted, asking if it would make me look like a total pathetic loser, and not one of you said yes.  Not one.  You were supposed to, but you didn't.  Some of you even had the audacity to tell me I deserved love or happiness.  

I don't know about that, but like a doofus, in a fit of insomnia, I made out a profile.  By the time I woke up, I had 30+ likes.  I think I may have made a mistake, because my first thought was, "Oh, great.  Thirty new stalkers."  

Then I put on Beethoven's 7th Symphony, and all was right in my world again.

Because Beethoven makes everything better...even questionable late night choices during a global pandemic.