This time of year, for the holidays, I always try to do something "extra" in the spirit of things, so this year I got involved with "AnySoldier.com" to send a shoe box full of goodies to a soldier who is off in Afghanistan or Iran or Iraq and won't be home to enjoy the holidays. I put together 2 shoe boxes, one for a female soldier and one for a male, with all sorts of holiday items and food, candy, etc., and mailed them off.
Then, the local church has a "Samaritan's Purse" thing that you can donate shoe boxes of toys for children in poor countries, so I put together two of those, one for a boy and one for a girl. I just go to the Dollar Store and find things like coloring books and crayons, barbie dolls and hot wheels cars, and add some candy to it. It's not much, but it does help a little and that's really all a person can do.
Also, I am a daily addict of Freecycle, which is a recycling web site of free items that people no longer need or want who give it to others. So, I get these emails all the time, with people who have stuff they want to give away, or for people who need something they don't have. One person wrote that she's a single mother of two, who recently lost everything and is starting over, so she needs everything. I wrote to her, and said, "I've got a garage and basement full of stuff that I need to thin out and get rid of." So, I'm now gathering up some items for her, and her two kids.
This is one of those rare "win-win" situations, it helps ME by getting rid of excess stuff to prepare for our eventual move to a new house, and it helps her too. So, I have a dining room table and chairs sitting out in the garage that we're not using and don't need. My thought was, "I'll keep it, and create a fancy mosaic tile top and paint the legs and the chairs, and sell it." But, that was years ago, and I've never gotten around to doing that. So, out it goes. I tried to sell it at our yard sale this summer but it didn't get bought, so what the heck, I'll give it to this lady and her kids.
Then I decided to walk around the whole house, and get rid of stuff that she might need. We have a recliner chair, (one that I used to sleep in due to back problems), sitting out on our front porch, not being used. So, off it goes. This chick hit the "pay dirt" when she contacted me back to say "Yes, anything you have would be very helpful." Plus we also have another chair, which WE got from Freecycle in the summertime, to provide extra seating for our rehearsal dinner at our house, that is just cluttering up our living room. I need room to put up our Christmas tree! So, off it goes. She'll get some dishes, some kitchen items, and some bedroom and bathroom decorations too. I've got so much STUFF it's ridiculous.
But, that's what happens when you spend 20+ years working and deciding to upgrade from college type things, like a futon---that was something I had for years, but eventually got rid of to get my couch and love seat. But those are both used, and I've now had THEM for 15+ years, so it's time to upgrade again! Once we get our new house, we hope to buy some new furniture at that point.
Anyway, so those things have been keeping me busy. Plus decorating the house with holiday stuff, and making various craft items, baking and dealing with family stuff during Thanksgiving.
Well, I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday, with your family and friends, and I hope you will have something great planned for Christmas and the New Year holiday too. We're taking our mom's to go see the "Vatican Splendor" exhibit at a local museum, and then to the Holiday Pops Symphony concert with Marvin Hamlisch. They love doing that sort of stuff for Christmas, so what the heck. Last year, we took them to Washington DC to see the National Tree, which they enjoyed but it was a bit too much for his mom.
This is our mantel from last year, and it will look similar this year but with two smaller trees on either side and a fireplace screen. I love snowmen!! I know it's overkill, I know it's too much, and I know that "less is more." But, I just couldn't decide which ones to bring out, so I just used them all. I don't do the usual "red and green" Christmas stuff though, I go for the navy blue and silver. I LOVE THAT. I also love snowflakes, and my entire Christmas tree is decorated each year with a beach theme too!! Seashells, blue bulbs, star fish, etc. I'll add a photo here for you of our tree, next time.
Bye for now. Love, Rebecca
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