12 Oakdale

 

It wasn’t a white Christmas like in most of the rest of the country, but it was dang cold. Three nights in the 30s this weekend. Something seemed odd when I brought in my orchids, then I realized there were no lizards jumping around inside like always happened in South Florida. I’m still not quite used to living here. Per tradition, we started the day with oyster stew. Annie and Grace each got a tablespoon of broth, which they lapped right up, or would that be right down? Afterwards, both took long baths, then withdrew to their respective sleeping areas. Neither are interested in going to their kitty litter boxes on the porch. Several times we pitched them out our bedroom door, and each time, they raced over to their cat door and come right back in. One time, Annie stopped for a peek into the little cave I made William by hanging a towel to cover the doorway of his shelter. She’s too big to get all the way in, so she hustled on. I am pleased that the heating pad in the roof of his area...

Spaulding and Molly have come to Orlando, combining a work trip for him with a visit with us. They are staying in Melbourne, but Sunday night we got together for dinner after walking to the end of our block to watch the Windermere golf cart Christmas parade. Grant served his vegetarian bean and corn chili with my fougasse herb bread and green salad. I made a chocolate pound cake and bought Santa’s White Christmas ice cream at Publix. I resisted serving the SWC coffee I have.  Patten and Ryann brought their dogs, which sent both our cats to ground: Annie into her preferred closet,  Gracie under the down comforter on our bed. For a few minutes, Mimi wandered around, looking for, but not finding them. Since pit Bobby would eat them without out pause, we closed the bedroom doors. Bobby is a sweet dog, but genes are genes. Of course, one of the boys had to rearrange my “Merry Christmas “ blocks.  I am so delighted that my children enjoy each other’s company and our’s. If I cou...

We are on a Christmas roll. I wrote our annual newsletter and had it printed by the end of November, so I was able to use a coupon for cheap color printing. Our Christmas cards are several designs of Santa with flamingos from a small American company. Grant signed cards and stuck on the labels I’d printed. Cards were in the mail December 1st.  We have lights out front and in the lanai; fairy lights shine in the trees. I set up decorations along the buffet and hung our stockings on the bookcase. The little battery operated lights now come with timers: 6 hours on,18 off. What a great invention. No tree, but I ordered a made-in-Maine balsam wreath that I hung inside and which makes the house smell like a forest in the morning and evenings. I am really enjoying that mixed with the gingerbread house’s aroma. This morning, I baked Santa Lucia buns, so the house smells delicious. Grant’s kimchi sandwiches sometimes overwhelm the holiday scents, but the weather is still warm enough that I ...

I keep claiming I want to move stuff out. This morning, when I started putting out our Christmas decorations, I’ve had a chance to see if that’s true. I guess a box got set down too hard, because the bottom of my “Wee fish ewe a mare egret moose…”  mug, the edge of a crystal snowball candle holder, and the base of my ceramic Christmas tree were broken. The mug is gone, the candle holder is good enough to use, but what to do about my tree?  Steve and I made it in 1970 or there about for my father. It has the little plastic ornaments that are lit up from a large bulb in the base. Stephanie inherited the one we made for his mother. We sold others for a little income. Now, what to do? I already had one, well, I was going to say, disaster this morning, but does buttercream icing that failed, really count as a disaster? Not when I think about the Ukrainians suffering this winter. I’ll change it to disappointment that can be remedied. Grant has gone to the store for more butter. I ha...