CLOSING 2009, In OHIO Snow, A GOOD YEAR - with a few surprises!

As the year 2009 comes to a close, the weather here in Ohio goes from colder to COLD !!! We have had more snow than I remember from early November to December 31st, but we have braved it out. We did not go out and buy winter coats either, just layered more!! But we did buy a snow shovel and ice melt as we have twenty open steps to navigate up to the apartment. But the beauty of it is great !! We would rather enjoy it from afar though!

In preparation for the holidays our scrapbooking group had a cookie exchange. With seventeen of us participating, it gave us seventeen different kinds (recipes included). So I used that batch of varieties for our Thanksgiving dinner at Victor's house. There were nine of us there for the day, and it was most enjoyable. I did much of the food preparation the day before, even the turkey!! Gary's sister, brother and sister-in-law joined us, also bringing food to share. That sure makes it easier and less frazzling for me. But I do enjoy cooking!!

But the cookies, put me in the mood to do a variety of my own for Christmas. They were used for Christmas Day at Victor's again and for trays to take to our former places of employment and boxes for the boys!! A friend, Cindy, joined me in the endeavor and it made for much faster work. But I burned ,up one portable mixer and ruined the beaters on the second one!! We wished we had someone with us who could have taken a picture of us when we stopped to eat our turkey sandwiches for lunch. We had a two foot by four foot table that we were using to work on and we just parted the stuff in the middle and sat down with our lunch. I am sure that it was a site!! We did not break for long and with two days working together and some evenings on my own, we had twelve varieties to share (and eat). The Lord knows that we did not need them though!! It will be months before Gary and I get back to the weight we were in the summer.

We had a little tree of our own , but we did not stay at home! We began Christmas day at one son's where I fixed them a breakfast and we all gathered to watch them open and enjoy their Christmas gifts. The grand kids enjoyed their Wii games for a while and we now know a little more about the Wii. We kept hearing that we should play with one, but had no clue. We can't say that any longer!!

We then went on to our other son's for dinner and the rest of the day. Our friend, Rick, was able to join us for the day also. When we got home we were tired enough that we just relaxed a bit and then called it a day. We opened our few gifts the next morning. We enjoy the relaxed atmosphere!!

Before Christmas, we got to enjoy our grandson's Christmas program at school. It was nice to be here for that. He did well with percussion, playing three different instruments, and seems to enjoy it . We are hoping that he will stay with it through out his school years.

Leading up to the holidays we went to a few concerts in the area. We always enjoy this. We did not get pictures of The Keelings who performed at our own church. This is the second year that they were at First Friends and I doubt that it was the last. They are exceptionally good and you can check them out at http://www.thekeelings.org/ to see and hear them, since I did not have my camera with us that night. We also went to see the Allegheny Wesleyan College choir who did their concert at United Local High School. They do such a good job under the direction of Don Quales, and we have enjoyed them for several years.

We also went to a program at a Grange in Minerva where they had cloggers , and a variety of community singers , as well as the Stockdales from near Canton OH . The Stockdales were also performing at First Night Salem. If you get a chance to see them, you will enjoy it! And before that we went to a small church in northwest Alliance OH for another concert. This also was local talent.

The year is now coming to a close and hopefully the result will be that we can return south to warmer weather. Audrey experienced health issues this year that delayed our September 1st departure for the south west, which had been our plan. After surgery and radiation for a non-invasive breast cancer , she is doing very well and we are hoping to get back on the road. The last treatment will be January 4th and when they decide that all is clear with her lungs we will start south. We hope to stop to visit friends in SC and will then go on to the Florida panhandle to pick up out motorhome before going on down into central Florida where it is warmer. Audrey has follow-up exams that have to be done in mid-March and again in mid-September. For this reason we will just tour the east in most of 2010. And with good reports, we will then head west for a few seasons. We are anxious to visit those beautiful National Parks in the west!

God has been good in caring for all of our needs, and has answered many prayers!! We are so fortunate to have our Faith to sustain us!! We pray for a joyous, safe, peaceful and healthy New Year for all of you, our dear friends and relatives!! Hope to see you soon.

From OHIO, Halloween and Birthday, Going into much "Cooler" weather, but keeping busy!!

After a nice Retiree's luncheon today with friends, Norma and Janet, at Rusty's in Boardman, we got to listen to a local celebrity, Stan Boney of Channel 33 in Youngstown share his experiences in change when this TV network was bought out by another network. He is an interesting speaker and ended his speech with question and answer interaction with the audience. Last Sunday evening was the second time this month that we went to another little area church to attend an evening concert. You know that we always enjoy these and it is amazing to see the talent out there. The Glick Family from Wooster, Ohio was such a pleasure the first time we heard them, that we went back for more the next weekend. They not only are a very talented family with musical instruments, but several are talented singers, as well. But to top it off was the one female vocalist with the violin, who also treated us to her ability to yodel! Such beautiful music, but even more than that, is the praise and worship! We took friends with us the second time and they enjoyed it also. If you ever get an opportunity to hear them, I am sure you would be blessed! Our past month has been filled with many outings including the birthdays, one that included skating . Even Gary got in to the fun, and no broken bones! Our church also has MRVA (Miniature Race Vehicle Association) which holds competition for the young and old, male and female alike. The group is growing in numbers as well as ideas. One of the original competitors was showing a car that he designed and constructed from a soap bottle ! So it is definitely something that can be fun as well as inexpensive. Rich, your ingenuity is great as well as your narrating voice! Keep up the good work! Gary also checked out our church's Halloween "Trunk or Treat" held in the parking lot to keep the children off of the streets, out of harms way! There were hundreds attending with candy left over! These pictures show some of the enjoyment for the kids!

I believe this is our Scrapbooking groups fearless leaders, Elana and Rebecca ! And last but most of all not least! Our MRVA leader's wife, Hope, as the race driver for the "Car" with her sidekick, Gordon, all from our Sunday School class. Hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as I did!

We still have two months of doctor's care here in Ohio before we can leave this cold weather. Hopefully, the snow and ice will held off!! Gary has our reservations made in Florida for mid January and also mapped out our summer trip for returning north in warm weather. We are hoping to do a lot of the east coast that we missed last year on our trip south.

I also made another trip to Cleveland to spend a day with my brother. He is doing well and getting out on foot as often was he can and keeps up the puzzles at the Retirement Center where he lives.

We will keep you posted on our progress in these plans! Keep checking in.

OHIO's Fall Beauty and Christmas In The Woods, Shaker Woods that is !!

I would like to make a border for the Blog of Fall Foliage photos, but I would not know how. So will do my usual. We have been taking some photos of the leaves changing when weather permits. There has been so much rainy and cloudy days, that it has been difficult. I still have not any brilliant orange or red photos. We have seen them but either do not have the camera or the driver does not stop the car! In the past year and a half of travel, we still think that Ohio's sugar maple country is the most colorful when leaves start to change! And that is compared to the northeast states. Could be we are just a little prejudiced. Even the beauty looking out from our door over the back yard here at the apartment is just beautiful!! We love it! Then going down our steps we found this beauty! Beauty, you say? Yes, no activity there now!! It is amazing looking at the structure. And Wayne, you thought the one near the power pole going on to Rt. 90 was unique !! And we thought the bird nest on top of a power pole going on to Wellesley Island in New York was unique!! Guess they will build anywhere to avoid us humans! Also thought this truck that we followed down from Rt. 90 was interesting , but could be dangerous also. Amazing that there are vehicles using such huge tires!! We have been wondering for a couple years what this house is being renovated for, is as we drive through Sebring, Ohio. Gary has heard recently that it is supposed to be a Bed and Breakfast. It sure is beautiful and has been enlarged during the renovation process. I think that I would love to try it out!! It would have to be grand inside also! Yesterday we braved the elements and went to Columbiana to Shaker Woods to go through the booths for Christmas in the Woods that is held every year in October. It is fun but much of the same stuff. There is one booth that sells all forms of Santas. Each year she always has a new style Santa, probably 24 to 30 inches high, that sells for $115 this year. I had heard that she has put all of her children through college with this income. People come from the states around us to buy these each year! So she sure has a good market for them. They did not want her booth photographed, so I heeded the request. The rest of the booths are more crafts of all kinds, as well as good art. Gary had a booth there for about three years, for his pencil art, but the majority of the people going through are looking mostly at crafts to buy. This year we went so Gary could find a blacksmith working with iron to have a tool made to use when winching the straps on the car while putting it on the tow dolly. And we came away with one!! But we are paying today with hurting joints from the dampness and SLOW walking. There is even a little chapel for church services on Sunday morning for the crafters!! And Christmas carolers for the shoppers ! A booth for Dulcimer enthusiasts !

Booth after booth and many people making trips to their cars and coming back for more! Sandy, you would just love this place!! My favorite is the Boswell's booth of Dips and Sauces. I have to get my supply refilled. I have even ordered from them by mail and had it shipped ahead to wherever I would be for the Holidays. I find it the easiest way to make dips of any kind.

And my most favorite is sitting on benches listening to B E Taylor playing and singing !! I would like to see him sometime with a larger variety of his music. He has his own twist to the traditional Christmas music and it is great! The season will be upon us before we know it. I am getting ready to begin some cookie baking. The boys and my daughter-in-law are looking forward to it. It may be the last year for a while if we get to go west next year, so they had better savor it!

And updating on my health; surgery is over and only radiation, as a precaution, to go. Actually, I have been feeling very well. You wouldn't know that I had surgery, unless you lived with me.

So we are looking forward to getting out of the cold! This coming week is promising some warmer temps, but I am sure it will not last long. I just hope the freezing and snow holds off!!

We will try to keep you updated more through the Blog! Try!

Take care and God Bless you all!!