Photos from past holidays are fascinating and amusing to look at; there are stories about each one, some of them funny and others poignant. Everything is so different now. Sigh. The Memories feature is one of the (lately) few reasons why I stay on Facebook. This picture was from 1995, and Ashley was wearing the Thanksgiving outfit that she had picked out; adult Ashley now claims that the material looks like couch upholstery, and how could I have let her wear such an atrocity? :) 5 year old Alison, my willful child, also had a pretty dress for the holiday, but she insisted on wearing her Halloween costume again. I guess she loved being a princess. (or tormenting her mother?) You can see by her smirk that she won this "discussion." I REALLY had to pick my battles with her, and this wasn't worth fighting over. I laughed when this old photo came through my Facebook memories, although I wasn't laughing in 1995.
I love the freshness of my new paint job, but now want a different dining room chandelier. When I see the piano, I also wish Alison were here instead of thousands of miles away. She has a gift for music and used to play numerous pieces completely from memory. One evening when my husband was close to dying and trying to rest, she was downstairs on the piano, and I started to call out to her to stop, but he said, "No, I want her to play. I want to listen to her."
After I had redecorated, gotten rid of a few things, and destroyed a wreath by dropping it, I thought about the history of each one of my wall hangings. I bought the photos behind the recliner in Homer, Alaska where I had many adventures with my friend, Becky. The scenery was spectacular and we met some strange unique people. I found my second Mountain Men of Alaska calendar in a Homer hardware store. (another fascinating slice of Alaskan culture) Several of the paintings in these rooms are originals by my extremely artistic older daughter, and there are stories behind each one.
I enjoyed my car coffee date today, and tried to "Carry the Merry." It was my first holiday cup of 2020! Do you remember the 2015 controversy over the Starbucks plain red cup and how it was anti-Christmas/Christian? I guess there were wackadoodles back then too, but possibly not as many as now? It definitely helped my not very festive mood to chat with a friend while sipping my grande non-fat 190 degree mocha with no whip or foam. Even if she's in her car and I'm in mine, we could still rant about politics and other frustrations, discuss our families, and talk about books... while showing off our Covid coiffures. ;) However, both of us were also keeping tabs on a sketchy guy wandering aimlessly around the parking lot with his back pack. He tried to climb a tree!
I was very thankful for my high quality painter when I saw this striped house. Even I know that you have to brush between the siding, in particular when the original color was beige and now it's dark blue. Oops.
This little guy brings me joy every day. Isn't he sweet? Too bad he's 2,800 miles away. But December is coming..
Very sweet photo of your daughters up there, had a good chuckle over Ashley's lament her dress resembled upholstery! Haha, it didn't! And Alison's princess dress was equally smile-worthy :)
Anyway, glad you're getting out & about, your home (and the new paint) looks better than ever and I always enjoy seeing your handsome little grandson--he sure is a happy little guy :)
Posted by: Doug M | November 22, 2020 at 04:37 AM
Is your painting done now? Kitchen, too? It sure does look great, the rooms I've seen in your pictures.
Yeah, it sure is hard to feel particularly merry.
Posted by: Tonya | November 22, 2020 at 12:22 PM
That house painting job is a shame! Makes me wonder if the owners aren't back from vacation, yet.
Posted by: Joanne Noragon | November 22, 2020 at 03:57 PM
That is the cutest baby photo blanket (as well as the cutest baby!). I like how your paint makes your frame stand out behind your couch. The coffee date was very much needed, even with the weird guy!
Posted by: Marie K | November 22, 2020 at 04:00 PM
I'm glad you like your new wall color. I'm not surprised you want to change your chandeliers. In my experience you change your wall color, you slowly change everything else in the room. Painting is just the beginning...
Posted by: Ally Bean | November 23, 2020 at 06:14 AM
On the last day that my mom was awake before she slipped into that final coma, my daughter played her violin and then piano in the neighboring room while I saw by mom's bedside. Though she was by that point largely speechless, I did see the relaxed smile across her face as she listened. I hope someday when it is my turn to go, someone, perhaps a grandchild, will be there playing some music in the next room.
Posted by: Ed | November 23, 2020 at 07:10 AM
My daughter when looking back at pictures says to me, WHY would you let me even out of the house looking like that? haha! I said because it wasn't worth fighting over your clothes or hair.
Your painted walls look so nice. It's so nice to have that done I am sure. I would look for a different light fixture too now.
Oh my goodness, that striped house is pretty bad. Maybe they tried to save money and did it themselves? Ooops!
Your baby grandson is so cute. I know you can hardly wait to get out there to see him again. My littlest grandson is 4 months old today, smiles so big, coo's and carries on a good conversation :-) rolls over as soon as he is laid on his back. Loves his belly.
Posted by: Wendy | November 23, 2020 at 12:05 PM
That was touching about your husband wanting to listen to your daughter playing the piano.
Posted by: AC | November 25, 2020 at 05:20 AM
Cutie pie photo. He's very photogenic! When I see the blue house, I wonder if they wanted it to look like that? Pinstriped?? haha
Posted by: Liora | November 27, 2020 at 02:20 AM