Violin & Cello Duo - Pachelbel Canon in D /AKG 220

Well.... The Tree Needs One...More... Day.

I had Hoped... to have The Tree Done.... today.

but...

I frittered my Morning away.

Today... was my Brother, Larry's... Birthday.

I can't remember when... in my life... 

I didn't call him... to Wish Him...

a 

Happy... Day. 

He's been on my mind... so much.

Thanksgiving... was ruff.

We didn't spend much time together... over the last few decades.

but....

I'll never... forget my First Thanksgiving... on my own.

He... was... kind of on his own...for the First time...too... that year.

We spent it... 'Shared' it... together.

oh my. 

Miss. Scarlett... helped me out today...

She worked on the bottom 3 feet... of The Tree...

{Thank God... for Little People! <3 <3 <3 }

I... worked on... the top...9.

oh my.

It should be done... tomorrow.

: )

Finishing Touches... 

and...

Clean Up. 

oh my. 

: ) 

Love, to ya...

Barb C. 

{We were listening... to Christmas Music... on the radio... as we worked.

The above song... came on.

I had to find a seat.

I...Love... that tune.

I sat...

and Stared... at that Beautiful... almost...done...

'Memory Tree'.

oh my.

oh...

my.

If... this... 'Addition'... John and I built... could play a tune...

It... would play The Above...

'Pachelbel... Canon in 'D'.

Year... Around. : ) <3 }

Maybe....

That's why... I Insisted... on The Cello... this year.

{Liz... So...Didn't want it... in The Tree. {it's not easy... putting a Cello... in a Tree.}

The Old Cello...seems to be the 'wink'... from our Surroundings.

or... maybe...

It's My Wink...

to...

Our Surroundings.

What a Gift...

Blessing....

Each.... and Every... 'Fragment'...

is.

<3 <3 <3

: )

oh my....
: )

ed being very naughty

The Tree... is 'Gettin' There'. oh my.

Liz, Miss. Scarlett and me... have worked on it... that last two days.

: )

We should... have it done... Sunday night.

There is Much... yet...to do. 

: )

We put the Old... Cello...John so carefully... repaired... back in... this year.

: )

along...

with a Horse...

 {an old... 'Spring Horse'... one... like I've never seen before.

His 'Likeness'... is soooo Pleasing... to the eye. : )

Reminds me... of my Shetland Pony... Stormy...

Dad bought... for me... when I was 5. 

oh my...

He was Full... of... : ) 'Energy'. : ) 

He 'Ditched'...me more times.... than I can count. : ) 

He taught me... to Never Give Up!!! <3 }

I bought the old spring horse fragment.. for very little.

A Farmer had found him.... in a Dump... and rescued him. 

I knew... when I bought him.. if... he didn't sell... by the time... the Tree went up...

He... was going to find a Spot... There. : )

Miss. Scarlett helped 'Adorn'... The Tree... this eve.

: )

We have Miles... to go. 

but.... it will be Beautiful... when we 'Git 'er Done'. : )

Love... to ya.

Barb C. 

{You Must... watch the above video... of 'Ed'... : )

Stormy... the Shetland Pony... my Dad bought me... when I was 5...

and had... until I was 20... yeah... 

: )

'Ed'... Must be His Grandson. : ) : ) : ) 

oh my...

I could Write a Book... on Stormy... and Our Adventures.

: )

Thanks, Janice... for posting that... video.

Nail...

Head.

MEMORIES!!!  

<3

People... send their kids to 'Boot Camp'... these days... when they can't handle 'em....

all they have to do...

is get them...a Shetland Pony.

They'll Teach 'em... Everything... they Need to Know. : ) : ) : )

{and.. folks worry about 4 Wheelers. Seriously.... hahahahaha.  }

'Stormy'...
: )

Me...and Stormy... showing in a 'Western Pleasure Class'...
when I was 5.
He looks 'harmless'... hahahahaha....
He'd Kick Any... of those Big Horse's Butts. <3
{along with their 'riders'... : ) }
He's dumped me.. dragged...me... more times... than any other Horse... in my life.
{along with MANY other Folk... <3 }
{He even walked across my back... after taking a Sharp Turn...towards The Gate... in a 'Pony Race'...
I was headed towards the Grandstand. Stormy... decided... 'Not'... oh dear. : ) }
{the very last... 'ditch'... in the video... would be 'The Pony Race'... memory. : )
Stormy had short little legs.... but... Oh My...
He could Fly... when he wanted to. : ) }
but...
out of all... of Those... Big and Small People...
{including my Dad... who was going to 'make him 'mind'... uh huh...}
I was the Only one... who kept Climbing back...On! : )
Yep... Stormy...was a Great...Teacher. : )
Like the Pony... in the video... he...never meant to hurt me...
I took Many... Tumbles... but... none... that 'hurt'... me.
{just... my 'pride'... : ) }
It was All... in Fun.
Smart...Little....Man. <3
Now... his 'likeness'... has found a Place....
in The Tree.
<3 <3 <3
Memories. : )

The First Ornament... Miss. Scarlett chose...
was one of the First Ornaments...
ever hung... on this... Tree. : )
I bought those... when I bought the Tree.
The First Year... we had Christmas... in our
New Addition...
that...
John and I... pulled together.
<3

The 'Rescued Pony'... <3

Merry Christmas, Darling - The Carpenters

The Tree goes Up... Today.

Liz is coming out....

and is helping me get 'The Tree'... Up.

: )

It's our Tradition.... to put The Tree Up....

the day after Thanksgiving....

and put it away.... 

New Years Day.

It was sooooo Difficult... last year.

I...didn't want to put it up.

John always helped me...We'd put it up...and light it.... then... he'd get outta here.

 hahahahaha.

He wanted no part... of the 'Bling'... : )

 Then, on New Years Day... he'd help me take everything down...and carefully put it away.

He had 'His Way'... of putting things 'back'... and wouldn't let me... Touch the Tree...

 He kept Everything... in a Certain... Order. : )

{Liz is like her Dad, that way. : ) }

I couldn't Bare... thinking... last year...we'd be unpacking the last 'Christmas'... his hands... touched.

Liz... kept pushing me... I'm glad she did.

If she hadn't.... I doubt... I could touch any of it...this year.... maybe... never...again.

It takes quite a while... getting it all put together. 

I'm ready.. to see that 'Tree'... : )

It holds... so many Memories. 

Good ones.

Great... ones.

Love...to ya...

Barb C.

This was the last... 'Tree'... John and I put up.

I had found a License Plate... with John's Birth Year... on it...
It had to go in The Tree. : )
The little Truck... reminded me... of my Dad...  and John.
so... It went in...too. <3

The Old Cello... was so fragile... John fixed it up... so it could hang in The Tree. : )
Liz found me 'The Hatter's Hat'... so, 2013... it went on The Top! 

The Old Horse... Weather Vane Directional... is for the Memory... of Our Beloved...
Horses.

After we'd get The Tree 'Up'...
{Big... Job... oh my. }
 John would find his way... to the Kitchen....
and Pile a Big Plate... Full... of Thanksgiving Leftovers....
then...
find his Recliner. : )
and the T.V. : )
I'd get the Ornaments.... Flyin'! <3
oh my.

This was taken the same year.... : ) Nicky... and Phil... {Kitty} were never far from John.

greensleeves piano and violin

Empty Platters... and remembering my First Thanksgiving... on my own.

All that's left.. of a Bountiful Thanksgiving Feast... tonight, 

is Empty Platters... 

and a Full Fridge... : ) 

The Kids took home a lot...

but...

we always make enough....to feed an Army. 

oh my.

I didn't get many pictures... too busy.

Liz got some... I'll share later. : ) 

Liz said something to me... yesterday, when she brought Miss. Scarlett out.... that...had 'haunted' me... throughout the day... and night.

She said... "I don't care what the house looks like... Nobody Cares... Don't worry about it." 

I thought... to myself, "I do."

Then... I got to thinking... 'why' do I care....?

Why... do I always make such a Fuss.... 

Drive Myself...Crazy.

?

I began walking though 'Holidays' past.

Where did this 'Obsessive' behavior... come from.

: )

It didn't take me long... to unravel. 

My early years... were different, from... most.... people I grew up with.

Holidays... were most of the time... difficult.

There was always... something... that would erupt.... 

between my Parents.

I remember... as a small child... being soooo Excited... for Thanksgiving... and Christmas!!!

Things would be smooth.... until.... 'The Day'...

Then... either Dad would disappear.... wouldn't come back from 'chores'...

or... worse... he'd be there....

and Mom... would get...pretty ornery... one thing led to another....

and...

all Hell would break loose. 

The times... we went to my Sister, Chery's... or, Brother, Larry's... with Wife, Marsha....

were great... sort of. : ) 

They had... what seemed to be a 'Picture Perfect'... Family Life.

but....

I never felt.... I was a part of that. 

I knew, my life was very different. 

I remember, visiting Chery's... when I was about 8.... at Christmas.

She always... always... created such a Beautiful... Homey... atmosphere.

{later, when I was an adult... she told me... she hated... Christmas.... any Holidays.

That... made me so sad.... for her. }

The Tree...she decorated was sooooo Beautiful. : )

There were Mountains... of Gifts... under it. 

Beautifully...wrapped. : )

The rest of the Family... was in the basement... I...couldn't leave that Tree.

: )

then... I realized... how Lucky... my Nephew was.

and... there weren't any gifts...for me, under that Beautiful Tree.

It made me... kind of sad... yet.... somehow... the Beauty... of it All...seemed to be what was most... important. : ) 

We rarely had a Christmas Tree... at home.

I dragged one home... from my 3rd grade class... Mrs. Riddle, my teacher.... said I could have it.

: )

Mom let me put it in the house... : ) 

I still remember the paper chain... that was on the little Tree.

All of us 3rd Graders... made it, in class. : ) 

{Yes... I dragged it home... with All of The Decorations... on it. about 4 blocks. of my. }

My Great Dane, Dolsey and I... moved into a 10x50 mobile home... in the Winter, after Christmas.... when I was 15.

then.... fixed it up.... sold it... and bought a Nice 14x60.... when I was 16.

It was that year... I had Thanksgiving, for the very first time. : ) 

My Dad, and Brother, Larry were there.... my Niece, Kari... helped me cook and Bake... the night before.... {she was 12 or 13... maybe. }

 I think... Mom was there... too. 

Larry was separated from his wife, Marsha. 

I remember, Dolsey being So Put Off.

Larry... after eating... was Lounging... Sprawled Out.... on the Love Seat. : )

That.... was Dolsey's... 'Throne'... : )

She walked over to him... as he snored....

sniffed him... from Head to Toe....

then...

just stood there... and Stared at him. : )

Nose...to Nose.

as he slept.

: )

oh my.

: )

There was no bickering... no... Drama. 

I think, even then... without saying a word... to anyone....

somehow...

they knew.

I wouldn't Tolerate... any Monkey...Business.

No Arguing. 

I fixed a HUGE... Meal. 

just... like today.

I wanted Everything.... to be... like I imagined... it Should be. 

: )

Our Kids... have never seen... the type of Holidays... I grew up with.

I won't allow it.

John, wouldn't either.

{Tho... I Know... I Made Him Crazy... watching me... Lose my Mind... seeking... Perfection... that, there never, really is. Bless His Heart!!! <3 }

I...always... try and make it... 'Good'.

: ) 

It's a Gift... to my Family... that... they don't really understand... they are receiving.

It's a Gift... for me... to 'Give'... it to them. : )

I told a Friend, the other day... if... the Kids... weren't here....

I'd volunteer... somewhere... and 'Give'... what I could... to others... who, like myself....as a Young person... so wanted to 'Feel'... just... for a little while.

: )

I have had 'The Holidays'... most of my life.

I... can't remember... any... Holidays... I didn't prepare... here, at Home. 

Last Christmas... when Nick... broke the window at Liz's... she was standing on the other side....

and got all cut up.... as did Nick.... 

She came here... covered in blood.

all... she kept saying... is how sorry... she was... that Christmas had been ruined.

no...

I assured her... it wasn't. 

: )

Christmas.... Thanksgiving.... 

Nothing... Steals That...Away... from our Family.

I won't allow it...

Not... in This House. 

Children... should Never... have these Family Times... Ruined...

Ever. 

and... tho.... the Kids... don't know it....

I've seen worse. 

We'll get through it. : ) 

I thought of that.... the other day.... as I was Blowing Kisses... to Miss. Scarlett.

It was a Bad... situation....

but...

By God.... I was going to do my Best... to not allow her.... to see...or Feel...

 how bad... it was.

I remember... one Thanksgiving... when I was her age... and having a Deputy Sheriff... take my Dad away.

I Begged... that Man... to "Please... don't".....

I hung on... to my Dad's Leg..... 

Mom...had to pry me off. 

: (

I... won't Allow... That.....

in our Home. 

Not... Ever. 

I Hope... you all... had a Wonderful... Thanksgiving.

<3

I counted my Blessings... all day... today.

{I do... most every day. I do...complain... sometimes, too. I'm tired... weary... and... 'forget' }

: )

My Family.... {Two and Four Legged : ) Here... and... in Heaven. }...

Friends.... Freedom... Health... 

Food... Clothes.... Roof... 

I've lived... without 'em...at times... throughout my life...

I am Thankful... for Everything... I Have... and Hold Dear... 

Today. 

I...am... Blessed. 

If you are reading this

You... are Too. 

You can 'see'... you...can 'read'. 

there's two. 

: ) 

Love, to you...

Barb C.

Zac Brown Band - Toes (Video)

Happy Thanksgiving.... Eve.

I have been trying to clean...

a years worth of dirt....in this house...

in a couple of days.

oh my.

: ) 

Had some dear Gals... want to come visit the rabbit hole...

this afternoon...

: )

oh my.

It's an Absolute MESS!

and...

the furnace won't kick in.

so...

It's Cold. 

: )

They all came... in their winter coats...and Shopped!

Bless Their Hearts!!!

: )

Miss. Scarlett came early....today...

She's Great! but....

it's difficult... cleaning and working....

and trying to entertain. : )

I had to get some things from the store...tonight.

Scarlett and I Braved the other Last Minute Shoppers...

Holy Smokes!!!

Got home... unloaded groceries...

as I was putting them away....

I noticed a gallon of milk... that was 'Beyond'.

took it to the sink...

carefully... opened the lid.

It Exploded!!!

all over the walls... windows... floor....plants... dishes....

and... me. : )

Gotta Love...that Sour Milk Stench!!!

reminded me of a dirty... 'baby burp towel'... : )

{that had been 'sitting in the laundry'...a bit...too long. 

: )

Then... Miss. Scarlett had an 'accident'... couldn't get to the potty... quite quick enough.

oh dear...

Got her all situated... 

Laundry...goin'...

and...

Polly...had an accident.

: ) 

oh my. 

{The Groceries... Milk...and accidents... all 'happened'... in a matter of minutes.}

hahahahaha. 

oh my.

The Vacuum is sitting next to me.

It's gonna sit right...there...

until Morn.

: )

I'll get the food goin'... trays... done.... and cleaning... finished....

then.

I'm Done.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, to ya....

Barb C. 

This is an image... from a couple of years ago.
It says... pretty much... how I feel... tonight.
I couldn't take an image... of how I Look... tonight.
It'd Scare The Hell Outta Ya!!! : )
oh dear. : )