December 2005

It's been a fun and busy month decorating my home, doll house, two church windows, and the FOP Hall for Christmas.  Tom and I took our grandchildren to the FOP Children's Christmas party which was a hit.  Loretta and I enjoyed a red hat luncheon at Five Oaks (the Massillon Women's Club).  Tom, Melanie, and I enjoyed Jacob's Christmas program at his school.  Now, my gift shopping is done and my Christmas cards have been mailed.  I'm now ready to settle my brain for a long winter's nap.  But what to my wondering mind should occur?  I must go to the grocery store to get ready to prepare Christmas Eve dinner and dishes for Christmas day.  God willing, when the holidays are over, I will be able to nestle in for the winter.     

November 2005

What a month!  It started out great and ended with a big bang. 

Early in the month, the weather was warm and the autumn color was lovely.  Ohio had a late and long autumn this year.  Tom visited Jacob's kindergarten and took some canine cops with him.  Jacob thought it was awesome. 

Later that month it got cold and began to snow.  Then Bob fell off a ladder while cutting down his BIG elm tree.  I quickly called 911 and went to the hospital with Loretta.  He broke all the ribs on his right side and punctured his lung.  He was in the ICU for pain management for many days.  Tom helped bring him home from the hospital the day before Thanksgiving.  The doctor said that it is a miracle that he is alive.  It will take him several months to heal, but he is doing better. 

My brother Tim and his family flew in from Arizona and stayed at our house before the Thanksgiving gathering at the cabins.  It was very cold and we got lots of snow.  Tim & Dawn were a great help to me and I enjoyed seeing my nephews who I had not seen in 5 years.  They enjoyed seeing the snow.  I prepared my dishes for the Thanksgiving gathering and sent them and my mom to the cabins with Tim & Dawn.  Although they all live far away, God seems to send me my brothers when they are needed.  Tom and I enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving dinner which we took over and shared with Bob and Loretta.  It was the first time that we ever missed the family Thanksgiving gathering at the cabins.  After Thankgiving, my mom, Melanie, and I visited with Aunt LaVonne.  My mom took her a scarf that Aunt Charlene made for her.  On the 30th, I took my mom to the airport and saw her off to Florida for the winter.  God willing, we will all be together next year.          

Late October

Jake & Abby modeled their Halloween costumes for us.  I watched the kids for a week while Shawn & Sondra went to Las Vegas for their 10th wedding anniversary.  Abby wore her halloween costume to pre-school and practiced singing her song "ITSY BITSY SPIDER" for us.  However, her teacher informed us that she was too shy to sing it for her classmates.  After school, I helped Jacob with his homework.  It's hard to believe that kids have homework in kindergarten!  Shawn and Sondra had to go to calling hours for Sondra's aunt and picked up the kids on their way home.  It's fun to be grandparents!

Red Hat outing at DUTCH VALLEY

Tuesday:  October 18, 2005

Our Red Hat group went to DUTCH VALLEY for lunch.  It was a lovely autumn day for a drive to Amish Country. 

Grandparent's Day at Abby's school

Yesterday, Abby performed in the show at her pre-school.  She is so cute!

Melanie's Master's Degree

Last Saturday, Tom & I visited Melanie on campus.  She is working hard for her Master's degree.

BLUEBIRD FARM

August 16, 2005: 

Twelve members of our red hat group went to Bluebird Farm in Carollton, Ohio.  The third floor Victorian Tea Room was full of lovely antique pictures, china, and clothing.  The bathroom was very interesting because it had a life sized stuffed gorilla in the old tub taking a bubble bath.  It scared Abby.  After lunching on the second floor we toured the gardens and doll museum.  Abby, Aunt Patsy and I hiked up the hill to the airport and visited with a nice lady and her great dane who live right by the airport.  Abby liked the big dog and enjoyed seeing an airplane take off.  I bought a table, 2 chairs and hutch for the dining room of her two-story center hall southern colonial style doll house.  I can't wait to furnish the other rooms.  I think I like this project more then she; however, I am sure that she will appreciate it when she is older.  :)            

Shawn & Jacob's DC trip

Shawn took two fellow employees from China on a trip to Washington DC.  Jacob got to go along.  What an adventure!  There is so much to see in our nation's lovely capitol.  Thank God that fourth plane did not get to it's destination on 911.  May the heroes on that fatal flight rest in peace and glory for doing what they did.  It's so wonderful to know that we still have brave people who do not give in to fear and do what must be done.  God blessed America in so many ways and I'm thankful that I was born here.      

Lazar's Book and Picture Signing

August 11, 2005

Marcia had a book signing for her second book "Creative Watercolor" at Lazar's on August 11th.  She also presented Dave with the framed original watercolor of him that will be featured in her third book which will come out next year.  It was great to be surrounded by all the interesting artists, family, and friends that were there.  The art objects in the gallery were very interesting to look at.  Jan bought a print for Jenny and Grandma bought Jenny and Sam each a beautiful bracelet.  Samantha was so excited because she plans to major in art and was a student of Marcia's.  After the signing, we all went to Taggart's to enjoy food, fellowship, and bittners.  The perfect ending to a perfect day.

Amish Country & Pizza Party

Dave, Jan, Jenny, Tom and I visited Amish Country and had a wonderful time.  Tom, Eric, and Dave went golfing the next day and then we all had a pizza party at my house.

Let's Mango

My red hat group went to Canal Fulton for lunch at a tea room called LET'S MANGO.  I wore my latest creation, a purple hat with red trim.  The tea plate was very unusual!  Melanie and Missy decided it wasn't their "cup of tea" (that's to be expected of a pink hatter).  All in all, we (old bats in red hats) enjoyed having them dine with us and Queen Wanda Jean was in her glory.   

HIGH TEA with the QUEEN

Today we traveled back in time to Victorian days as we enjoyed "HIGH TEA" at the Russell House in downtown Massillon.  After tea, we all went outside to parade up and down the bricks of 4th Street to wave and flirt with the crowd so that they could pick the best hat and the best dressed.  The best hat was awarded to the lady in pink (browse through the pictures to see it).  Five men and women in genuine vintage attire were selected as finalists for the best dressed, and one was a rebel soldier.  What a charming and romantic time; but alas, how wonderful it was to return to the air conditioning of today (because it was so hot and humid that I was getting the 'vapors').      

Red Hat hatting ceremony

HALL of FAME DAMES Queen Wanda Jean (my mom) of our Red Hat Society chapter "hatted" (knighted/named) the members of her court with the touch of a rose during our luncheon at SAMANTHA'S yesterday.  My royal name is PRINCESS PATRICA; however, I am also called the DUCHESS of DOODLE because I am the keeper of the journal or the RED SNAPPER because I am the royal court photographer.  It's fun to be old and silly!