Doings

 It's busy times this time of year. Our calendar is exhausted. It's all good stuff, all keeping in touch with friends and family and baking and wrapping (though I've gone to bags - much easier) and hoping it doesn't snow...much. 

Here are the books from this week's read to the first graders:

This one is an oldie.  First printed in 1963 it keeps on giving its charms.  Mr. Willowby has a huge tree installed in his house but the top bent at the ceiling so Mr. Butler cuts it off and delivers the cut piece to the upstairs maid for her room.  But it's still too big, the top gets cut and Bear takes it home. It's too big for their space so the top gets cut and on it goes, the journey of that tippy top of the tree.  It is a charmer.

I always ask the kids, "Have you ever heard someone say 'be careful what you wish for, you just might get it?' and 'do you really, really want everything you ask for?' "  Well, of course they do. They always look at me like I'm crazy for asking that.  After a couple of years of disappointments in not getting exactly what he wants, Joe finally does. So, yes, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

We've been doing our annual meeting with Friends Richard and Marilyn at the most holidayish place we know

We start with the pretzel and move on to the biggest burrito and tallest burgers around. There is no supper cooked after a lunch like this. 

We all have a rosy glow because every single inch of this place is decorated and lit and making some sort of noise.  The tables are all lined with dancing whatevers making noise, the televisions are playing Christmas movies - not the same ones at the same time, the animated characters are animated, there are swags, garlands, baubles, signs, lights, and one waitress for the whole place.  But we tell her we don't care, we are there to have fun so when she gets to us, she gets to us. Reservations start in September.  We go between the lunch service and dinner service so we can always get a seat and are ok to stay as long as we are gone by 6.  Not a problem. 

The next day we met Friends Marge and Harry at the Christkindl Market, new to Grand Rapids and in its second year.  PH and I went last year and thought it interesting and fun and different so this year asked M & H to meet up with us.  It was cold this year.  A storm was moving in later that day so we went early with all the other old people.  Last year it was a huge success so they expanded the vendors by double this year.  That kind of works in some ways but not others.  More vendors means sales are spread out more and one vendor said last year was busier because it was a new thing and people were interested but now they know.  It is expensive, too.  We had fun strolling and had a really good waffle sandwich for lunch.  PH chose a sausage sandwich.  

Today's lunch was postponed because that storm came through bringing high winds and very cold temperatures meaning icy roads. We didn't get but an inch of snow here but it's icy and every single school in West Michigan is closed.  

I finished Elizabeth's BA quilt top, I will layer and pin it today.  I can't believe I was able to keep to the schedule I had.  It's beautiful and makes me smile when I look at it.  I'm pretty sure she doesn't see this blog but I really can't take any chances.  I think I will maybe post for one day a photo of it and take it down just to be sure.  But not today.