Take Time

Much like everyone else at this time of year we could all use a day or two between Sunday and Monday, especially when it comes time for decorating our homes. I know last year by the time my mother's home was sold and she established in her new residence I was pooped.That was December 19th. I can't believe that it's been a whole year. In spite of the multitude of boxes and stuff everywhere, I hauled out the Christmas Tree and ornaments,not all the ornaments made it to the tree that year, as a matter of fact I think I went out and bought a dozen roses and babies breath and the lights that my son Daniel helped me put on (on Christmas Eve) it got up there. It was stressful. Along with the tree out come my Christmas coffee table books. Most of which are favorites from my sons childhood days. These two however, are books they bought for me. I thought of them the other day when Leslie and Lennie and I stopped off at the TEA SHOPPE in Bloor West Village. A customer came in to buy a lb. of Christmas Blend. Who knew there was such a thing? Anyway, when I take the time to re-read these two short books, I settle down, and enjoy my preparations for the most Blessed Time of the year.

Synopsis:
If you find you have some time, how wonderful if we could have a little chat and share a cup of Christmas tea." A man receives an invitation from his elderly, ailing aunt and doesn't want to go. It's the midst of the Christmas rush, and who needs the aggravation? The depression? The strain? Driven by guilt, he visits her anyway, and rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas. Tom Hegg wrote A Cup of Christmas Tea in 1981, when his pastor asked him to write something for his church's 125th anniversary. Drawing on childhood memories, he composed a straightforward, sentimental poem that brought tears to his audience's eyes. First published in 1982, it's been a seasonal best-seller ever since. A Memory of Christmas Tea, published in 1999, is the heartwarming sequel. Revisiting the themes of A Cup of Christmas Tea, it gently reminds us of the important things in life such as taking time for loved ones.

The distractions of a busy holiday season are swept away by the memory of a frail but strong great aunt and her legacy of love. Sequel to the beloved classic A Cup of Christmas Tea.


When Daniel was quite young he didn't like to go to bed, and one of his negotiating elements was a cup of tea at bedtime. He knew I always had one at the end of the day, that was always the last thing he'd want to do at the end of the day. I'm so glad I usually gave in and had tea with him. Daniel doesn't live at home anymore, and I'm quite sure he's not drinking tea so I guess I'll just have that memory. I loved these books when the boys bought them for me, back then, but I'm liking them even more now.

There must be something wrong with me...

There must be something wrong with me. I had a short discussion with someone yesterday regarding taking a vacation. I'm really not interested. I found over the last three years the school year is so mixed up with the boys on different schedules, a husband who holds three or more part time jobs and my own obligations we hardly warm a spot in our home. A number of years ago when the boys were younger, we asked them what they would like to do for vacation. Well of course Daniel or Dan as he is now being called, wanted to go on a dig, and Sasha wanted to eat pizza in bed and watch television. So off we headed to Midland, there was a dig going on at one of the forts used by the early French missionaries and the public was welcome to join in. We then got a hotel room, ordered pizza and watched a rented movie in bed. How easy was that. We did a couple of other touristy things, and drove home quite satisfied to have spent the week together without interruption of the rest of our lives . Then in May of 2001 a group from our parish was going to Washington, and again that's what they wanted to do. So the boys and I went with a bunch of very senior members of our congregation and did a really touristy thing in Washington, we separated from the group a day and went to the Smithsonian, and took public transit from there to "Springfield" where we were staying. Even though I was bus sick the whole way there, it once again proved to be a rewarding vacation. I can't think of a block of time at present where we would all be available. That's the only thing that makes me sad. I can however, and just fake it. Stay home with my home boys and do some eating of pizza in bed, and dig in the garden. Sounds like a plan.

HAPPY CANADA DAY

I don't have many childhood memories of Canada Day Celebrtions I don't think we ever bought fireworks and set them off around our neighborhood. I think I remember hearing them being set off at Battlefield Park, in Stoney Creek, but I'm sure we never attended. When we moved to Mississauga fireworks were set off here at City Hall. Daniel was a little more than a year old, my husband was working and the dog was terrified. So I sat in my basement, where the widows were smaller, and the sound muffled with the baby crying in my arms and the dog trembling between my legs. The following year, the dog had died, and the baby watched out the window at the display. For a number of years after that our neighbors would have a little party and invite us and we would all enjoy a little neighborhood display. At this point the city decided not to do the big display at the center, so we often had spectators at the gates watching us do it as well. We don't do that anymore, partly because the kids have all grown up and go to Ashbridges Bay or Wonderland . But my little baby, now 22, is an aspiring Piro Technician. He invites his own little clan to view his masterful display, and I suppose someone quite enjoyed it and took this great picture. (Obviously a well trained scrapper) He is seen here setting off Allen Gardens. He keeps quoting Apu "what better way to celebrate the birth of your country, than by blowing a little piece of it up." Happy Canada Day eh! do sing along.

Holiday Monday

I know many of us bloggers are stumped on Monday and even though it is not a holiday until tomorrow, I always feel sort discombobulated on these days. You know no plans just a whole list of things to do. I usually wash windows, well that has now been put off until tomorrow. I did some gardening. I cleaned the garage, around the car parts. I seem to have a lot more garbage on long weekends. But otherwise it's only another Monday.

Good Night

I often can't sleep at night. I'm not sure if it's the guy next to me snoring, the kid who is coming home late, or is it my age. When my boys were little if they couldn't sleep I would just stroke their heads, or tickle gently their backs, and eventually they would relax and dose off. My niece Andrea loved to have you run your fingers through her hair and she would be fast asleep. Now her niece is enjoying much the same pre-beditme treatment. My niece has gone back to work after her maternity leave, and the baby is having to break in a new caregiver. Her Grandmother. Sleep is one of those things that can be elusive. I don't think I've had a good night sleep since I became a mom. Daniel was such a procrastinator at bed time. First there would be the negotiation of what time he could stay up till, then he would need more than one story, of course he needed to brush his teeth again, they still felt dirty, then there would be the "I need a drink". Then you would have to go to the bathroom. By then I would be so tired of going up and down the stairs, that I would just lie down with him to keep him there. Often times when my husband would come home from afternoon shift I would be fast asleep and Daniel would still be sitting there talking at me. I would then have to get up and go to my own bed, and before you know it Daniel would need something again. He grew out of the routine when he was about 4 but, continues to come into my room to tell me just one more thing. So you see if I fall asleep, my other self thinks this is all wrong you need to be awake, or ready to wake up. So you see when I sit down in the afternoon, I just crash. I just never get enough. We've talked about getting just the right bed, having your own room, dark, cool or warm enough depending on what you prefer. But is that really the right formula. My assignment today is to research the perfect bed mate. I'm sure this part will be complete fiction. Good Night, sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite.

Que Sera Sera

I was born in the early 50's. In my profile you'll see that I love to listen to Doris Day Weird huh! I'm nothing if not weird. I just felt like listening to Que Sera Sera the other day and when I Googled it, I got all kinds of interesting facts about Doris. I have a dear friend named Doris. Haven't seen her for awhile, but she always puts things in perspective for me re: my boys. Being the mother of 3 adult boys she is so calm I sometimes want to shake her up and say get mad. I'm sure she does. I met Doris during World Youth Day. Doris and I volunteered at our Parish. We were then permitted to attend many of the attractions, of course I was on the security committee, (I don't know why, but people assume your a cops wife, you must know everything there is to know about security)anyway, I arranged a security pass for Sasha since he was too young to participate, and Daniel was working and off Doris, Sasha and I went downtown, on the bus. She nearly died when I suggested it, having driven everywhere all the time. Well when we got off the subway at Parliament, it was very crowded, and I was not sure about the direction, so I went to ask one of our boys in blue, (leaving Sasha with Doris, you know Sasha often wears orange so I thought no problem I'll find them even in a crowd>) Well! when I got my directions straightened out I got turned around and panic set in, here I was a responsible mom, leaving my child with a woman I hardly knew and she TOOK him, (did I mention Doris isn't very big, and if push came to shove Sasha could beat her up if need be.) Anyway that orange head and shirt came through and I found them, my heart jumping out of my chest, they were just where I left them waiting patiently. We had a wonderful evening together and Doris has been my friend since, and both my boys have grown to really care for her.

See how easily I am distracted. Back to Doris Day. I'm sick of my hair. So I thought I'm going to look for a new do. I love the way Doris Day always had her hair so groomed. We don't see that in our young actors anymore. Look at Jennifer Aniston, a lovely young lady, but don't you just want to comb her hair. So I'm checking out Doris hairdos for inspiration. I even think I'm going back to being a blond, I truly think I have more fun. Sometimes I don't recognize myself in the mirror with this brownish tone.

What does this have to do with my romance novel you ask? I'm trying to do a physical profile of my heroine. Doris Day it's you! Maybe a little spicier, but definitely with combed hair. ().

For the First Time

I have a lot of friends that blog, and I really love reading everything they think about, their past life experiences and their present thoughts. So..... I have jumped on the band wagon and have launched my blog today. I feel well rested after the long weekend. I love when everything is closed. My boys are home and we generally watch crap on T.V. but we watch together. And I love it. So for the first time in my blog, I'd like to say that I love long weekends. I really hated it when our Provincial government did away with most P.D. Days, I enjoyed them too. So after reading the recent articles in the Toronto Star about getting rid of Victoria Day I though I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this one. I hope you'll visit my blog frequently as I try to learn all the cool things you can do on a blog. I will most probably be talking about things I love to do, and people who inspire me. Have a wonderful day, I sure did.