About Me

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I am a retired English teacher and department head, the mother of three grand mother of four, and have been married to the same man for 52 years. I subscribe to Dr. PM Forni's concept of Civility. I was born in South Philadelphia and grew up in the 'burbs. I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks, the Phillies, the Eagles, and San Diego. I love being Mom, Aunt Kathy, Nona Kathy, and Teacher. I spend a lot of time in my gardens in the spring and summer, and in the winter I plan what I'm going to plant. I also am an avid reader and photographer.

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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Beware the Curmudgeon Among Us

My last post was kind of 'dark' and I really expected no one would comment.  I was surprised at the number and at the profundity of the comments.  I thank you for this.  Wish we could all sit around a table, have some tea and cookies and share thoughts with each other.

I get so excited about Christmas...the lights, cutting down the tree, the music, the decorations, the schmaltzy stories on Hallmark and Lifetime channels... I love it all.  And then  just like "that" it's over and we plunge into a gray January and the chores of removing browned pine roping, dead wreaths, and needle-dropping trees.  In dealing with "Resolutioners" who take up precious parking spaces at the gym and inside on MY machines.

Maybe it's time to make like the bears and frogs and turtles, and burrow down and get 'cozy-warm'.  It's time to drink hot tea with lemon and honey, make soup with little meatballs, bake loaves of breads dripping with sweet butter...It's time to plan a few small get-togethers with neighbors and perhaps friends we haven't seen in a while.  We'll all make chili and share...maybe get together for that highest of holy days: Super Bowl Sunday. And maybe it's not so gray afterall.

10 comments:

Linda Reeder said...

I have the itch to get Christmas put away. I think I will spend New Years Day doing just that. Then I'm ready for a whole house cleaning. I have been losing things lately and I am going to try to find them.
I have to keep moving because I have holiday pounds to take off, so no bread dripping with butter for me. but I can take pleasure in others baking and eating and sharing.

Mage said...

Yes, these are wonderful things to do. I am getting a good start on all of them. Wonderful things.

Forsythia said...

I think it's not so gray.I love your images of winter coziness.

Kay said...

Hey, that's a wonderful idea even though it doesn't get all that cold over here in Hawaii. :-)
Happy New Year!

cri said...

Dear Kathy, I received your chrstmas postcard. I'm so happy! Thank you very much, I love to receive it every year. I wait for it!
Kisses, Cristina!

Gilly said...

I often think hibernation would be a good idea! I don't like January or February. By March, signs of Spring and coming warmth are out, but the winter months - well, words fail me! And I imagine you are now snowed up!

A Happy new Year to you and your family, I hope 2014 is a better year for you.

Cobalt Violet said...

Happy New Year to you!
My tree went into to garden bin but my ornaments are in the corner, waiting to go into the garage.
Soup is a good idea … maybe I'll get some makings at the farmer's market today. Sky is blue today but who knows what tomorrow will bring!

Mage said...

Did I say I drink tea with honey anyway. As far as I am concerned this year, as long as I am warm, life is good. Hugs at ya.

Barb said...

Kathy, Happy 2014! Is it cold there in PA? It's been frigid here in Breckenridge, but we've been getting some decent snow which is great. My Grands are here with me for the weekend. It's cozy inside. (Grammy is staying home with Sam while the others ski.) Hope you're keeping warm. Stay well.

Sally Wessely said...

We were gone for the holidays. We flew to see our children in Utah on Christmas Day and came home on New Year's Day. I loved being there, but the trip convinced me that I really just want to stay home for Christmas from now on. I missed enjoying my own Christmas decorations. I missed the New Year tradition of reflection that I usually do. It added another week to taking down decorations and etc. I feel I started the year a little off kilter.

Happy New Year to you. I hope you are staying warm and making those soups and breads and reading lots of good books.