The Jokesters!

Without a flock of grandpunks around, decorating for Christmas just doesn't happen with the same enthusiasm. We hang a stocking on the elk antlers, plug in the fiber optic tree, put on the festive holly tablecloth, make a swag for the porch - that's about it...

I did finally find the wall hanging I made a few years back, so it went on the kitchen wall - looks like we're alllll ready for Christmas now.

Apparently the elves told on us. Some (ahem) friends seemed to think we are Scrooging it, so they decided to make our Christmas season a little more merry and bright. We found on our doorstep one evening, a large bag, a 20-pound turkey, and this note:

So we've been really good, no naughty here at all ('cept the CAT), only opening the one package designated for each day. Here's what has happened so far during our 12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS:

2nd day - 2 pounds of raisins (organic - HOW did they know?!); 3rd day - 3 pounds of almonds (RAW almonds, just the BEST!!);

4th day - four pencils; 5th day - five Golden Spaghetti (come on, sing along here, make it work!...); 6th day - 6 cans of veggies...

And that's as far as we got, that was all that was in that big sack. But wait! There's more!

Just a few minutes ago, a knock on the door, and SURPRISE! Another sack!

Now you are just going to have to wait, like we are, to see what the next day brings. Tomorrow is 7 pieces of fruit, came already in a lovely bowl. The rest - well, we didn't shake the fancy papered one TOO hard - sounds like a can of those scrumptious Danish butter cookies, hehe!

We have our suspicions as to who our merry Jokesters are, and just who they recruited as elves to do the deliveries. Part of the fun is not knowing, so we're not going to do much sleuthing.

Since we'll be in Salem for Christmas day, I decided to include the Santa below to finish off our adventure. He was the prize for a game I won at our Bay City Booster's annual Christmas party this week - pretty cool! Another decoration that doesn't require hanging or climbing!

OK, in the tradition of Paul Harvey, here's the REST of the story!

Before I came to stay with mom, she had told me about waking up in the middle of the night a couple of times by loud knocks on the front door, with no one there when she got up to check.

So this week when we had a LOUD knocking on the door while we were watching evening TV, I was a little jumpy about it. I called out, "Who's there?" No answer, of course. So I quickly locked the door, and also the back door. Peeked out the curtain - motion sensor light was on, but nothing to see. I wasn't about to open that door.

After a moment's thought, I called 911 - we have some rowdy, not-so-nice youngsters around our neighborhood, they had been pills all summer and I figured they were good candidates. I just requested a patrol drive through and see if the kids were out and about.

When I hung up, the phone rang almost immediately - it was a hang up. So I called 911 back, and reported it as suspicious. Five minutes later - another call, and hang up. I'm figuring they are getting a little more aggressive about harassing us, so - yep, called 911 again.

I'm on first name basis with the operator by now.

Another 20 minutes later, I'm knitting away, and the lightbulb goes on: what if it is our little neighbor family up the street who are so sweet to mom, bringing her flowers on May Day, etc. , and they've done a treat for us? So I carefully opened the door, and - there was the turkey and bag of packages!

Oh yeah. Another call to 911, to report the goody drop, and call the patrol off.

A bit later, we got a call from our two church missionaries: "Say, we were just driving by a bit ago and noticed you had something on your porch. Did you find it? Wouldn't want the coons to get into anything..." SOOOO subtle, eh? I'm pretty sure those two guys have pointy ears...

So tonight when the not-quite-so-loud knock came, I didn't hesitate to open the door. And retrieved the second half of our 12 Days of Christmas! We sure have fun friends!

We have been chuckling about what could have happened if the missionaries had been intercepted by the patrol - jokesters, indeed! We know they aren't the perpetrators, they are just the wheel men.

All in all, the joke really was on us - Merry Christmas, Tiny Tim!

Nondiscrimination Policy

Cats are not political creatures - and they have a unique nondiscrimination policy: they hassle whomever provides the most entertainment at any given moment.

Lest you think Birdie just picks on Mom while she is quilting, I offer evidence that my artistic endeavors are not without challenge. Furry challenge.

"ooo, look at this cool little sponge! Wonder why she calls it sea sponge - doesn't even smell like fish..."

"This water is even better than toilet water! Kinda painty, kinda minty..."

"I've seen her brush eraser crumbs off - see, I can be helpful!!"

"Ah well, a nap is a nap. Wait - hafta check out this brush thingy. Ummm! Smells like squirrel."

She packs off brushes, drinks the water, steals erasers - the only reason she hadn't left with the eraser this time was that she is LAYING on it.

Some days I get more done than others...

Usually when I shut her the bathroom.

Trouble

I don't know which one to blame...as you can see, mom eggs her on. Birdie gets into enough mischief all on her own, without any help at all.

She has a method - first you look all cute and innocent. Then you wiggle and slither, very subtly until in position. Then -

you pounce! In this case, the object of her kitty brain was the THREAD ball. Which SOMEONE had very conveniently put in her way, and showed her how much fun a dangling thread can be.

It's all fun and games from there...

Just let me say, trying to get a quilt tied around here can be a real labor of patience.

Can't complain too much, though. She IS dang cute. And entertaining. Which mom points out every time I'm ready to squirt the cat with the water bottle to further her education...

Deck the Halls...or walls...

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum...we don't lack for greenery in the northwest. Especially on the coast. Right in our yard, even! The back yard is a bit of an arboretum, thanks to mom planting a variety of baby trees over many years. So making a wreath, or a swag, for festive holiday decor, is just a matter of grabbing the loppers out of the garden shed, and talking a walk.

Today was 35 degrees COLD, but sunny - perfect for our evergreen hunt. We scored some nice branch ends off the Noble fir, and some long fronds of Sequoia. A jaunt across the steet yielded the holly sprigs. No red berries within reach of the loppers. Rats. A short drive up the hill and a roadside raid for some color. Back to the garage workbench, where the wire and pliers were stashed.

The first year we were married, while Dennis was off at boot camp in New Jersey, I worked most of November and December in Puyallup, Washington at a place that made wreaths and swags. I have seldom purchased one since, except to support the Scout troop a few times. Easy to make, and lovely to smell the resiny freshness as each branch is snipped and nipped. Puts me in a holiday mood like nothing else!

The berries and leaves match the door - how cool is that! No, I don't know what the berries are, I'll be finding out. I cut some from the same place last year; it's a prolific ornamental shrub, grows so rampant that the city crew cuts it back. I figured they wouldn't mind some help keeping it in check...

The swag may or may not get a red bow.

I have a couple more to make, smaller ones, which we put on Dennis' and Dad's gravesites each year. A labor of love - and a lovely time of year to remember past holidays with two great guys.

About the time of our third Christmas, with our first little punk on the way, Dad taught Den how to make his traditional buttery, creamy caramels, which have long been our family's favorite holiday treat. It's become the "guy thing" in our family. We always make several batches, because they are wonderful to share with special friends and neighbors.

Dennis' family loved popcorn balls. Over the years, Dennis became known as our Popcorn Ball expert - his contribution to our own family traditions. Even last year, I had friends asking for his recipe, once again! The popcorn balls are perfect for snacking, not too hard, not too soft - buttery, vanilla-y, salty, gooey perfection gluing the popped corn into shape. Oh my.

Making family traditional goodies will be next on the list of holiday things to enjoy...I think I need to put another pound or two of butter on the shopping list.

The WAVE

Cousin Carey M. has challenged us once again with a new quilt block pattern for the Biennial Mills Familly Quilt project. This one was a LOT easier than the last one - I've never been overly fond of detailed applique work, takes me toooooo long to do those itty bitty stitches. I'm all for quick and easy!

The pattern is called "Ocean Wave" - or Snail Trail, Monkey Wrench, Indian Puzzle, Journey to California (?), Whirley Gig (that one actually makes sense).

Cutting, piecing and sewing the first block took awhile, but with the help of Voodoo Bunny (AKA the pincushion), it was not difficult. In fact...

I enjoyed the pattern so much I scrounged into my fabric stash and came up with three more variations!

The dark one is supposed to be the moon over the ocean...OK, just use your imagination. And I actually appliqued that moon, so there!

Then I found a panel I had started putting together for another quilt project, and since it fit the theme of "Oregon Coast", I sent it off with the waves for Carey to piece together.

Several other family members are making various coast-themed blocks, and sending them along to Carey. The final quilt is always a surprise, and always beautiful. We will see it in all it's glory at the Mills reunion next August - where it will be raffled off. This quilt project was started about 16 years ago to promote quilting in our younger generations, learning and carrying on quilting skills in honor of Lydia Blum Mills - my greatgrandmother.

I particularly loved the verse around this panel...

While I'm not living THIS close to the sea, I can hear the roar of the surf at night, and breath salty ozone laden air any time I step out the door. A little bit of heaven, good for the soul.

I think that Adriondack chair is waiting for me..