There is a tradition here in my community. The Sunday after Thanksgiving women gather at a local church and make wreaths. Real ones. I don't much like doing this. I bellieve that you can buy a nice wreath at K-Mart, or, if you like a real wreath, McTighes. But alas, every year I am made to feel guilty and end up making a wreath. This year was no exception. ST buys the greens for our group. Does a wonderful job of it, they are fresh and full of sap. This year, again, Bean came along. Thank goodness! She ended up pretty much making my wreath.
Usually there is a woman playing the piano. She plays Christmas carols, just to get us in the mood. She wasn't there this year, and one can only imagine where she was. This year they had CD's.
The older women in the church make cookies and tea. I don't much like tea. The young girls in the church serve the cookies and tea. I do like the brownies.
My goal is to cut the greens, wire them together, throw them on the form and go home. Oh, yes, and to wash all the sticky sap off my hands.
Some of these wreaths are quite elaborate. And beautiful. One woman's job is just to make the bows for everyone. Luckily, I saved mine from years past.
Ginger made it a point to tell everyone that I didn't want to be there. Mippy made me the most annoying nametag. Bean was the only one who understood my reticence and made most of my wreath for me.
One year Monkeyboy went with us. He decided he would be in charge of the broom and do the cleanup. The broom was larger that he, and he had somewhat of a difficult time maneuvering with all of the ladies. While sweeping, he hit a woman on the head with the broom much to Mippy's chagrin. She claimed it was a former teacher who never liked her anyway. That was the last year Monkeyboy came. Don't know how he gets out of it every year.
I got my Christmas cards ready to go. Most of my shopping is done, so see...I am not a scrooge.
Thanksgiving was wonderful...hope yours was also. So very much to be grateful for...health, family, chocolate chip cookies. The turkey was actually cooked this year, to perfection, if I may add. The kids decorated the tree and my house, so that is done also.
Things are going well at Phipps. We have a great group of people there that are fun to work with and who make the days pass quickly. Well, for the most part.
Pitt lost the conference game yesterday. It was a nail-biter. Hopefully, the Steelers will do better today. Ben is playing, so we can hope. It's cold, Tim, so wear something warm to cheer.
On a more serious note, my friend, Linda, had her surgery and needs follow up treatment. Please keep her in your positive thoughts and prayers.
Have a great Sunday.
21 comments:
What a great tradition, Mia! And Bean, good job. I, too, am done with my shopping. I know, it's awful to be organized, but I just can't fight the malls and stores! I loved the post, Mia.
Tim, we are counting on you, we can't count on Ben, that's for sure! Sorry about your friend, mia, she is in our prayers. The wreath is spectacular, Bean. My wife complains about all that has to be done before Christmas. I don't understand it. I say, put up a tree, get gifts for the kids and forget about the rest. I don't remember all this craziness when I was a kid. Just enjoy the time together.
Go Steelers!!!
It's the most wonderful time of the year. I get to spend soooo much time at the mall and shop till I drop! Traditions, Bill, are about memories and creating them as they were created for us while we were growing up. I think the problem is we start more and more traditions every year. So this year it will be decorating the tree, making cookies and SHOPPING. My prayers for your friend, mia. I hope she is okay.
I have my leg warmers on and I will do the best that I can. Hope Ben does the best that he can.
Last year we tried to pick our favorite traditions. Too much to do and we all get stressed out. Each person got to pick what they liked most about Christmas. Decorating tree, making cookies for us only, church on Christmas Eve after preparing the dinner for the homeless, walking through the neighborhood on Christmas night to see the lights. We try to keep it as simple as possible, works best for us that way.
I never thought much about traditions, but I am now thinking that there actually are some things that my family does every Christmas. We decorate the tree after the kids go to bed. They are still fairly young, and we like to surprise them on Christmas morning. My family did that when I was young and we have done it too. My husband and I ALWAYS go out together for a quiet dinner the Saturday before Christmas. Just the two of us and we go to a small restaurant in a town near ours. It's a time to relax for just the two of us. The kids spend the night at Grandma's, so it works out very nicely.
My thoughts are with your friend, Linda. I hope things go well for her.
I put the tree in the stand. The rest gets magically done while I sleep watching football. Thank goodness for those elves.
There had better be a very, large present under the tree for each of those little elves.
Yes, the wreath making can be a chore but I do it because my daughter does every year and she needs company. I guess that's our new tradition.
My old tradition as a kid was going to Grandma's house on Christmas Eve, having Grandpap carry in a birthday cake for Jesus, while all of us kids made noises like animals in the stable. Also, the meal was meatless and those of us who dared, ate raw garlic dipped in honey to keep the gypsies away and it worked. Never saw one at Grandma's.
Well, it's Sunday night and you know what happened with the Steelers. Defense failed us again.
Sorry, Tim, all the cheering didn't help.
We always celebrate Christmas with the family on Christmas Eve. Christmas day is just for our family. After the presents are open, the kids play and I collapse! Love the story about the wreaths, and I'm sorry about your friend.
That was a bad game today. Team just can't get it together. Gave it your best, Tim, but the team let us down. Mia, are those hurricane lamps beside that wreath? Very pretty. Nice job on the wreath, Bean. We all go to my sister's on Christmas, it's where the kids are and there is nothing like Christmas with kids! And, they aren't even mine! Bad sports weekend here. Best of thoughts to your friend.
I don't have a lot of family, and what family I have live 2500 miles away. So, I don't do much celebrating except some lights on the tree in my yard. We used to wake quite early in the morning and rush down to see what "Santa" had left under the tree, then cousins, aunts and uncles would come and go all day. Pretty tree, Mia.
I am so glad to see your post, I have no life. I check it every single day and am delighted when there is a new one. Did I mention that I have no life. I do, really, I am at work and checking it here. Sorry about your friend, hope things go well. Isn't it awful when we get stuck in a tradition that isn't so much fun for us, but it is for someone else? The wreath looks very nice, Bean, so I think it was worth it.
The Steelers need Troy back. Their defense and special teams are just not cutting it.
Dear Tigger, despite my extravagant lifestyle, I too look for Mia's posts. Today, I made homemade chicken soup. I know, I know, the excitement can be overwhelming. Dear Mia, I used to make wildflower bouquets until I was run out of the house when the bugs started crawling around. Took me years to overcome that trauma but I finally enjoy making holiday floral arrangements again. Soon, you will too. Post was very funny. But made me ponder. Hate when that happens. This time of the year makes me very wistful. Hard to awaken the magic as seen through my child's eyes. Creating memories for children to reflect upon in their later years is priceless.
Our only tradition that we never miss is opening gifts! Love the story, Mia. How funny! Nice wreath, Bean! We decorated our front yard yesterday. Looks like the Griswalds.
I agree, Christmas Kitty, there is something about this time of the year that makes me sad. I like decorating, I like baking, but it also makes me sad. Your posts cheer me up, Mia, they make me laugh. Thanks.
"More fun with walkie talkies" (Mia is spotted sneaking towards a church exit) Church lady "1" to church lady "2" come in.....i read you church lady "1" send your traffic! Roger...we have a code red!..I repeat code red. I copy code red! (church lady 2 then hits the giant red button on the wall..locking all points of escape..and the Christmas music is turned up while Mia is escorted back to her wreath making station without further incident.
Bean, that is hysterical! It's a good thing that you talked her into the wreath thing, because the one you made for her is very pretty. I like the walkie talkie thing. It reminds me of the CB thing that was going on when I was a kid. What's your 20? Over and out.
Oh my gosh, I remember CB's. I had one in my bedroom and listened to it for hours! Breaker 19, Breaker 19. Smokey up ahead at mile marker 203. So, Bean, do you use walkie talkies much when you play? What goes around, comes around. Kind of. Nice pictures, Mia. Hope the Steelers do something tonight, they are really struggling.
We had a one in our car and had to listen to it on very long, long, trips. It was awful, sorry Nate, I do not share your excitement. Now it is Garmin's! My dad was so enthralled with talking to the truckers, made him act like one in our Chevette.
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