The Little White Tree!

Dear me, it's been quite some time since I've written and now that I'm writing, Widow-World...I've missed you!

Since HC Baker died, November and December are not my favorite months of the year.  This November was especially difficult because my dear friend Pat died.  I flew to Louisville for the funeral and it was truly a celebration of Pat including some of her favorite hymns and scriptures.  The service was at Highland Baptist Church, my home church where I was baptized and married (twice actually but the first one didn't "take").  My father was an Honor Deacon there and mother worked in the "Cradle Roll" department (long-time Baptists will remember).  So in addition to remembering Pat, I was remembering so much more.  Pat's daughter Ashley spoke at her celebration and as she spoke, I was listening to a strong and courageous young Pat.  It was beautiful.  Burial was at Cave Hill and it could not have been a more perfect day to be there.  The fall colors, the sunshine, and the stillness and warmth of God's presence surrounded us all.  After the graveside service, my sister Linda and I drove a few rows over where mother and dad are buried.  It was the kind of day Cave Hill gives you when you need it most.  Please continue to pray for Ashley and Stephen as they learn to live without their Mother.

The same week I was in Louisville, TR Baker was at a UPS training seminar in Grand Rapids, quite an honor for him to be chosen.  So Nutty had to go to the kennel.  TR Baker picked her up on Friday as I did not return until Saturday.  Oh my goodness!  Isn't it wonderful dogs can greet you with so much happiness, it helps you forget the sadness in the world?  The kennel folks were so great to her.  They called me to tell me she was doing fine and a wonderful friend stopped by the kennel each day I was gone to visit Nutty!  Dogs...they bring good things to your life!!!!!

Because it's a lonely month for me, I have tried to fill it with lots of activities.  A dear new friend has a Christmas Show each year in her home (she says this is her last one).  Anyway, she makes the most beautiful wreaths, garlands, tabletop arrangements and other decorations, then she opens her incredible home and people come from all over to see and buy!  I helped her for the 3-day event along with other friends.  I had a great time and made more new friends.

Also this month was election day.  Locally, in my very small part of the universe, a new friend was elected Mullet Township (Topinabee) Supervisor.  Mary Anne has incredible energy, a wonderful vision for the area, and a giving heart!  On November 20th, several of us joined Mary Anne and her husband for a pre-inauguration dinner at our local bar and grill "Breakers" and then went to the "swearing in"!  No motorcade, although we tried!!!  What fun!

Thanksgiving Day here was snowy!  Surprise!!!!  Emily prepared a delicious traditional Thanksgiving meal and of course, we all ate until we couldn't move!  (A great American tradition!)  That evening we went to the movies!  That's a new tradition for me and have enjoyed it for the past years I've been here.  Emily, Gracie and I saw Life of Pi ( the guys saw something else).  Emily had read the book and her middle school was bringing 7th graders to see it the next week.  So there we were.  WOW!  That's some movie.  Not at all what I expected or Gracie either.  She's 10 and kept her coat over her eyes much of the time.  I guess I should have read the book too (although sometimes that doesn't work out too well!).  Lots of things to think about at the end.  And I'm still thinking.  I haven't had a chance to ask Emily what the students thought about it.  I'll get back to you on that!

Thanksgiving weekend also includes Christmas in Indian River!  The Friday after Thanksgiving, there is a HUGE craft show at the high school in Indian River.  Gracie and I always go and check it out!  It was packed with people and we saw everything they had to offer and left.  Had a better time at lunch at Subway!!!!!  Did you know they make pizza?  Then starting at 5pm, the shops open their doors to offer treats of the season to shoppers.  It was snowing and VERY cold.  The candy store offered flavored coffee and chocolate covered potato chips!!!!  At other shops you could find soup, hot chocolate, hot cider, hot dogs, and plenty of cookies.  The highway is closed of at both ends of town and people walk down the middle of the road.  Then at 6pm, the Christmas parade begins.  The end of the parade brings Santa!!!!!!!  The parade was almost 5 entries short (and there's not more than 10 entries!) because there was an accident on the interstate and the fire engines and rescue vehicles had to respond!  But not to fear, they made it back in time!  THEN...(there's more), on Saturday night, there is the tree lighting and carol sing in Topinabee!!!!!  The Library Committee sponsors this and I volunteered to bring cookies.  So Gracie and I made iced cut-out cookies and took them to the library for the event.  About 50 people met outside the library for the party!  Hot chocolate, hot cider and cookies were served, the tree lit, carols sung and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived!  All of this was outside and it was...snowing!  Small town life is EVERYTHING it's cracked up to be!!!!!

Now we're at the last day of November.  At what age exactly does the time begin to pass so quickly?  Tomorrow is December 1st and it seems like just yesterday it was New Year's Eve 2000 and we were all worried all of our "web" stuff would be wiped out?  (Maybe it should have been!)  TR Baker has a young family as friends, mother, father and nearly 2 year old precious little girl.  The mother and father have worked hard to keep the little princess unaware of computers, cell phones, and all the technology small children today experience.  The child is precious, very creative, wonderful talker, happy and well cared for.  The parents are doing an excellent job.  Remember those days?  God bless the little children and their parents.  May we all experience the wonders of Christmas and be thankful for the lives we have.

So, the little white tree!  Some of you know for years I have had my ballet Christmas tree.  It's always fun to unwrap each ornament and remember where it came from (person or place), how long I've had it and what memories it stirs.  About 8 years ago, HC Baker bought me a white metal tree with white lights permanently attached.  It's about 4 feet tall, and I love it because it's open through the branches and I can see all the ornaments.  Last Monday, TR Baker brought all the Christmas decorations to the living room so I could begin decorating.  When I opened the little white tree box, put it together and plugged it in, the lights did not light!  I fiddled with each bulb, jiggled every wire but all to no avail.  No lights!  TR Baker said buy a new tree.  Yes, I could replace the tree but not with the same little white tree.  While shopping last week, I actually did buy another tree, 3 foot green with white lights.  I brought it home and put it together and plugged it in.  Not the same and just wouldn't do.  So I spent hours with wire cutters removing the non-working lights, then bought new white stranded lights and Viola'!!!! Not perfect but very close.  I just could not part with what I will now call HC Baker's little white tree.

Hope your decorating is nearly done or at least started!!!!  Don't you love your decorations?  I believe my Christmas decorations hold some of my most favorite memories.  It's nearly the story of my life.  Wait...Christmas IS the beginning of the story of our lives.

Happy Holidays!  Love, Love, Love to each of you!  xxoo