Pearl Vision to the Rescue - Again!

I am sure there are many things worse than breaking your glasses. But yesterday, on the day of my re-retirement, when the frame snapped in my hands while I was cleaning them, I wasn't convinced. Now I know these frames are four years old. I also know, and freely confess, that I have not treated these glasses with tender loving care. You might even say that I've been quite rough on them. However, none of these facts helped much when I stood staring at the broken frames wondering how I was going to survive the day.

Before you ask about my "backup pair" (as my husband did), let me tell you that I don't exactly

have a backup pair. You see, when I purchased my last pair of glasses, and you could get another set of frames free, I chose to buy computer glasses. Never mind, that they drove me nuts and I NEVER used them. I still had these really funky glasses that laid on my desk every day looking cool.

So there I was. Luckily, my driver's license doesn't say "must wear corrective lenses" so I was able to drive myself to work. Did I mention it was my very last day of my temporary job? Oh, I guess I did. Anyway, I managed to get to Dunkin' Donuts, purchase a farewell/welcome back treat and get to the library on time.

I won't waste space here whining and moaning about how tough my day was or how much my head ached when I got home, or how I went to bed at 7:30 last night because there was nothing else I could do. I'd hate to bore you with my troubles. But I will tell you how great it was today when I went to my local Pearle Vision Center and they found a pair of frames that almost fit my lenses. I'm being very careful not to jostle them or the lenses might fall out.

Rachel, the receptionist, told me the chances of finding a pair of frames the right size were zero to slight, but Voila!, once again, Pearle Vision came through for me. My new lenses will be ready in a few days; in the meantime, I'm able to see clearly and I'm delighted.

I know I've referred to the fact that Pearle Vision has come to my rescue before - once in Vienna, Austria and once in Las Vegas. How, you may ask, is it that I manage to break my glasses when I travel? It isn't easy, it isn't easy.

Yummy! Yumm!

Thanksgiving is over and the leftovers are mostly gone. One of the best things about cooking at home for Thanksgiving is having plenty of leftovers. Jim was adamant about my making lots and lots of gravy. Making gravy isn't one of my strong suits, but with the help of an article from the local newspaper, I managed a pretty passable gravy - and lots of it.

Although the entire meal was pretty good, (Don't break your arm, patting yourself, Pam), I think the hit might have been the "pumpkin crisp". I thought I'd share the recipe with you, my blogger friends.

Pumpkin Crisp

1 29 oz. can pumpkin

1 can evaporated milk

3 eggs (beaten)

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box of cake mix ( I used spice, but yellow and gingerbread can also be used).

3/4 cup melted butter (or margarine)

1 c. toasted pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix first seven ingredients well, pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over the top and evenly drizzle with melted butter. Top with pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour.

I really like pumpkin pie, but this was a nice treat.

A cozy Thanksgiving for two

Although I am thankful every day for so many things, today is the day when we tend to verbalize those things that are in our hearts. Today I am especially thankful for being able to spend this day with my best friend, my husband. For reasons of geography, health, age and careers, we were unable to spend this Thanksgiving with family. And though we have been invited to share the day with many of our dear friends, we made a decision to spend this day together in our warm and cozy home.

I know our abilitly to be content in whatever state we find ourselves is a comfort to our children who cannot be with us for most holidays. As we talked with them today, we could hear the relief in their voices knowing that we are happy to be together. And together, we were. We cooked and carved.

Then sat down to eat. I really enjoyed setting the table and lighting candles. Perhaps this was such a special day to me because this is only the second time in 39 years of marriage that I have cooked and served a Thanksgiving dinner in my own home. And did I mention? "It has been snowing lightly all afternoon".

Now as we settle down to our Thanksgiving afternoon nap, in anticipation of having our dear friends, The Haaks, come for dessert and cards this evening, I wish you all a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. Before this day is over, please join me in praising God from whom all blessings flow.

Family Fun

We have felt blessed beyond belief having our children with us this past week. Being scattered about the country as we are, times together are so precious to us. When the girls were making their initial plans for this visit, they were very specific about the fact that they were coming to see their grandmother. After seeing her, they were also really anxious to see their cousins, aunts and uncles who live in the area.

It was a wonderful weekend of reunion beginning with dinner with my sister-in-law, Deb, and niece Kacy. The girls are much older than Kacy, but were delighted to see her. She's changed a lot in the four years since they were together.

Cousins

This is special to me because Deb & Kacy are all that remains of my side of the family.

After this evening together, Paige left to return to Chicago. The rest of the gang went on to Uncle Dale & Aunt Carolyn's for the night. We were all tired, but managed to stay awake long enough to reconnect.

Saturday found us visiting with Aunt Bets & Uncle Jimmy on the way to pick up Grandma for lunch. Lunch was such fun. Lots of laughing, singing, dancing and sharing. Oh yes, the singing and dancing came from the "little ones".

Hanging Out with Grandma

Having Andrew is like seeing his Dad at that age.

The Twins provided the singing and dancing.

The "Other" Cousins

If you look closely at Steph, you can see that "Wyatt" is

on his way

We ended the weekend with a stop at the Austin Dam Site. Jim and I grew up in the shadow of this landmark and never really paid much attention to it. Funny, isn't it, how it takes a visitor to show us the beauty of what is right under our noses?

Growing Older, but not Growing Up!!

My heart is overflowing with joy! My children are all under one roof - Our roof!! Joy of Joys. I can't remember when I have laughed and smiled as much as I have these past few days. The fact that we see our children so seldom hurts our hearts, but add to that that we almost never see them together and there is a sad place deep in our souls.

But this week, they are here. Paige drove in about noon on Tuesday and Brian and Gretchen arrived at the airport at 4:21 P.M. Ask me if we are ecstatic. The laughter started almost immediately, and is still going on. From eating favorite meals to playing games together, we are just simply revelling in each others' company.

Yesterday being Halloween only added to the fun. After lunch with our friend Claudia, they were off to explore what they called "religions founded in Western New York". First stop, the birthplace of Spiritualism.

In the 1800's on this exact spot, the Fox sisters claimed to have contacted the departed, thus beginning the movement of modern spiritualism. Our resident Rev. Paige is very interested in learning more about this religion. Says she is going to write a book.

Leaving Hydesville, they moved on to Palmyra and the Joseph Smith farm. Joseph Smith was the founder of the Mormon religion right here in Wayne County, NY. Although we drive by historic Hill Cumorah often, the girls had never visited the home of Joseph Smith. They had a tour with a young woman who is serving her missionary year in Palmyra. After visiting the homestead, they took a walk through the Sacred Grove.

Immediately upon arriving home from their adventures, they went out to the screen porch and began cutting pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. It has been years and years since we have had that activity in our house and it was as messy as I remembered.

Although it was messy, the end result was quite fantastic.

As the evening wore on, we had more trick or treater's than we ever have. Our girls thought their presence caused people to flock to our door. I'm not sure that is correct, but something drew people to us.

We then invaded our friends Jason and Linda in masks and deely boppers. They were happy to see us and offered us candy, but I wouldn't let my children have candy before they had their dinner.

What a delightful day - Made much better because I was the big winner in our family game of Bonanza. YIPPEE!!!