Peaches Prattlings











{December 25, 2015}   Merry Christmas!!

Are home made gifts the best or what!!

I promised to share what I got from Baby A and here it is! The two canvases are made by him,  red swirls with A’s underneath and…Mistle-toes! Do you love it! You know I do!

And in front…coffee filter butterflies made by Miss A!! You know I am just eating this stuff up!

Today started too early,  but Christmas starts early with little kids! I was still at JT’s house and for the 13 month old,  we started at 7am! There were slides and brooms and princesses and…and…

DT  made breakfast,  yum, A Christmas Story was on,  the beginning of the 24 hour run,  then we put on Its a Wonderful Life, eventually I took a shower and headed to my other favorite family to spend christmas with them.  SDL, Miss A, SDL’s sister DL, her parents, also known as Momom and Popop.

We opened presents, talked, laughed, cooked, opened presents, talked,  laughed, cooked and eventually sat down to eat.

It was fun opening presents, every family has their own traditions. In this family, Santa fills the stockings and everyone wonders just how Santa knew! Then we open the “regular” gifts and everyone knows who they are from. Lots of laughter and fun!

Dinner was grand…there was turkey, stuffing, veggies,  sweet potato, mashed potato, rolls, salad, oh my! Full bellies.

Then sitting and chatting for a long time.  Clean up,  talking,  eventually dessert, more talking and then all of a sudden,  it’s 11pm! Time flies!

So,  I have done my Christmas traditions, so far. Christmas Eve with JT’s family and Christmas Day with SDL’s, my life is complete.  I love these families dearly and I can’t imagine anywhere else I would rather be at this time and I’ll be back every year,  as long as they’ll have me!

To you and yours,  if you celebrate…Happy and Merry Christmas!!!

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Happy Christmas Eve to one and all!

Today is Christmas Eve and I got to continue a fabulous tradition, spending it with crazy friends.

I started my day seeing my grandson,  Baby A. What am I going to call him? I can’t keep calling him Baby A! He’s two and a half! I’ll think of something soon. I drove out to see him and his mom,  KAB, had a fabulous time and forgot to take a picture of what he made me, pure awesomeness! I will take a picture tomorrow and post it,  promise!

After a fabulous visit,  I headed back to JT’s house,  picked him up,  we went to the store and picked up stuff I could eat for dinner,  then back to his place.

People started arriving, including ST, who joined us because JT’s family graciously extended an invitation.  I told him how great JT’s family is and ST experienced it.

This year was a slightly different crowd,  since some of the usual suspects weren’t there.  Some of the same faces,  some new,  but as always, warm,  fun,  entertaining and amusing, loud, boisterous and fabulous.  What more could you want.

For those of you celebrating…Happy Christmas eve!!! I hope you are with the ones you want to be with and having a fabulous time!

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{December 23, 2015}   A new experience

Today,  I got a ride through the airport…in a wheelchair!

As I am recouping, I am not allowed to lift anything more than seven pounds for about four weeks, doing well, just moving a little slower.

That being said,  I decided to make my life a little easier today at the airport and I requested a wheelchair. I have to say,  it was different, being taken where I needed to go,  at a different level and weaving in and out between people “look out!” “Coming thru!”

It did alleviate some of the pressure of navigating the airports, having to carry or wheel things here and there, so much easier!

If you’re like me,  asking for help is not easy,  but people want to help, so ask!!

A new experience, what’s the next adventure?

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{December 22, 2015}   A first concert!

Tonight was my first foray into the world of grade school concerts…from the “parent” side.

EJS decided at the start of the school year that she wanted to play an instrument. Her decision was an interesting choice, the cello! It’s almost bigger than her!

When she was making the decision, I told her,  after I told her parents of course,  that I wanted to be her patron. Try explaining what a patron of the arts is to an eight year old!

She really likes The cello and tonight we got to witness the results of all the practicing and rehearsals.

We started with the beginner strings, this included EJS’ group, cello, violons, violas. These were the third graders. Then it was the advanced strings, fourth and fifth grade. Next was the wind instruments, beginner, then advanced. The winds include clarinet, which GES and I both played, flute, trombone. Then orchestra.

The beginner strings started with the traditional beginner piece, ‘Hot Cross Buns’, of course, then there was Martian Cross Buns, huh?

I have to say,  the beginner strings were better than we expected, fair thinking for a beginner concert.

Along with being very proud family members we,  GES, ACS and I realized we are now in the parental group that must attend and sit through not only their own child/family member’s performance,  but the entire school’s performances! Oh my!

A realization came to mind, how lucky we were as kids! Our parents did it for us and smiled the biggest smiles they could.

I looked at GES during one of the other group’s performances and said “Does this mean we need to call daddy and thank him?” Yes it does!

To our dad and mom, who sat through our concerts and to all those parents who sat through their child’s concerts, no matter how good or bad, we send a big collective “THANK YOU!!” You are now up for sainthood!

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{December 21, 2015}   Pouring gasoline

Are you graceful when you pour gasoline?

Why is it that when I pour gasoline, usually into a small gas can, or sometimes even filling the gas tank on a car, I will inadvertently get gasoline on my hand or clothing? It happens, maybe the connection wasn’t solid or when I pulled the hose out there is a little spatter. Does this every happen to you?

But…why is it that when I watch people in movies and on tv pouring gasoline, sometimes to start a fire, maybe an angry spouse piled all the stuff on the front lawn and lit it on fire, as it happens in the movies all the time. Why is it that they can pour gasoline until their hearts are content, light it on fire and never once spill a drop on themselves?

I was inspired today as I was watching something on tv and an angry wife, this time, piled all the husband’s stuff on the front lawn, poured gasoline on the pile and lit it on fire. No spillage or dripping or catching themselves on fire.

Hmmm. Yeah, that’s about it.

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{December 19, 2015}   Recuperating …what do you watch?

When your recuperating what do you watch?

I don’t know about everyone,  but aren’t you supposed to watch bad movies,  maybe some cheesey love story or bad holiday romance.

Here is am, lying on the sofa, recuperating and what am I watching? Crime dramas, huh? Midsomer Murders and Criminal Minds. 

Is this mindless? I ask you! No,  it’s not.  Do I enjoy it? Why yes,  yes I do!

What do you watch?

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{December 16, 2015}   Today, I had a P.P.O.E.

That sounds so official or ominous. So many acronyms in the world today, right?

It stands for a positive post office experience! How often can you say that?

I have packages to mail, as you can imagine,  some are going to places I am not and some are going to where I am going to be for Christmas and I won’t be able to carry them,  so ship them off.

There is a UPS office pretty close,  so I took a chance.  It was about 800 degrees in there and the girl helping me was moderately helpful, she had a lot of trouble reading my writing, the word yellow…”yellaw?” Really? Ok,  never mind that.

What irritated me was the cost! The first box,  $39.50 and it had to go 3 day, if I went ground,  no guarantee it would get anywhere by the 23rd. After two boxes of this, and an envelope, thin and light,  $9, really?

So,  boxes back in the car,  off to the post office.

I wrangled my large bag and three large boxes the few blocks,  after finding parking,  someone held the door open,  first good thing.  Then I waited, and waited, and waited, the boxes got heavier and heavier. A girl asked if she could help,  I asked her to pick up my sunglasses that had fallen, second nice thing.

It wad finally my turn and the woman behind the counter was pleasant and helpful. And my first package… $15.14 vs UPS’ $39, sold! And the $9 envelope? $3.14…hmmm.

Overall,  a pleasant experience,  everything should get where it needs to be,  on time,  I paid the extra .17 for one box, by golly!

I made two of the women behind the counter laugh a few times,  always a good thing.  Got out of there for a heck of a lot less than it would have been at UPS, go me!

I walked out with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.  Ha ha.

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{December 14, 2015}   Geek alert!!!

Geeking out tonight!!

I finally got my Samsung Gear S2 watch tonight!

Anyone who knows me knows I LA LA LA LOVE my smartwatch. I have had it for about four years, I’m on my second, the first I dropped on a driveway after about 3 years,  so sad, so I had to get another.

The technology is great, it’s just slowing down a bit,  I’m sorry to say,  part of the reason I had a fitbit as well. And if you know me,  you know I want the latest and greatest. I got a Samsung Galaxy Note 5, then I see the watch…ooh…

I researched and since they’re both Samsung,  they connect.  The other watch, Motorola, was great when I had a Motorola phone, connected easily.

This thing is magical! Apps, phone, fitness tracker,  emails,  music, video, you name it! It even comes with a charging stand!!! And yes, I already downloaded some apps including the winter watch face!

I’m in geek heaven! Sigh.

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{December 13, 2015}   Movie nostalgia

I want to watch them all!!

This has happened before. Wow,  it sounds like a problem!

I was making a spreadsheet of the movies on my portable hard drive,  after moving them around and I got nostalgic for them.  I wanted to watch them all..and all at once!

War Games, The Expendables, RED, Star Wars, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, Born Yesterday [birth versions], the list goes on and on.

I so love movies! I used to want to make movie trailers for a living,  I suppose part of me still does. I suppose I could,  who knows. 

For now,  I’ll just watch them all and sigh and enjoy myself.  That sounds good to me,  right?

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{December 12, 2015}   A Fabulous Friend Christmas Party

So much fun!

Tonight we went to a Christmas party hosted by PSM’s good friends A&KM.

The party was called for 4pm and we got there a little after,  but before other folks, so it was nice to have some time one on one with A&K before everyone else arrived.

The cool thing is that I knew almost everyone that was there and there was even one person who thought we had met because she had seen so many pictures of me on Facebook that PSM has posted,  kinda cool. And I made some new friends.

It’s great to see how many people care about PSM, they’ve all known each other for years, most of them having been in various ski houses together at one time or another.

They wanted to hear about our trip and all about Hawaii, even planning trips out there! Which is all PSM wants,  his friends and family to visit, that will make him happier than anything. Wink wink.

We laughed,  ate,  drank,  repeat. PSM even brought palinka, it was a hit with some and some agreed with me!

What a nice feeling,  to be with friends,  enjoying each other’s company,  being goofy and having a great time,  what more could you want?

Thanks A&K for including me in the festivities,  I had a blast! Ready for next time!

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et cetera