IN Carmel

 That's all that's left of another Thanksgiving trip to Georgia.  Memories and there are plenty of them...all good.  So there will be some pictures on this post.  Once again the monastery visit was a good one.  The only thing that would make that better is if more of the family could have been with us.  But we'll take what we can and it's good.  Saturday was our last day together.  Rick left in the morning to visit with his son and family who live in Nashville Tenn.  Jared and family left EARLY Sunday morning on their race to Michigan.  That's a very, very long trip to make in a day.  We left Conyers around 9 and Worshiped at Rossville UMC.  A church that took North UMC confirmation youth and adults in at least 30 years ago with leadership given by Nancy Baxter for a week of work and fun in the Atlanta area.  Sunday's visit brought back many good memories.   The church seats over 2000 people.  Covid impacted...

  The internet at the monastery is very slow.  Slower than molasses in January or any other phrase you might know that means the same thing.  You have learned that postings are slim or next to nothing.   Today there is a picture of the three "elder" Russell boys.  There are a whole lot of other Russell boys in this family but these are the first R boys.  Dee, now Father Cassian, then Doug and last but certainly not least Rick who is the middle brother.  So...it would appear that we have had Thanksgiving in Georgia now at least 16 years.   The weather is cooler than usual but certainly no snow as is seen in Michigan.  That's where the youngest family of Russells will be heading back to around 4 am tomorrow morning, ready for work and school Monday morning.   We've played cards, talked a whole lot, put a very difficult puzzle together with the grandsons, watched I Love Lucy videos, ate and laughed a whole lot.   Me...

 As Dee said or known as Father Cassian to others.  I missed a day.  The road got in the way and I was to lazy to sign on at the motel.  We arrived yesterday at the guest house mid afternoon.  Rick rolled in just a bit later and the evening was spent as brothers by birth along with me as a sidekick.  Lots to catch up with.  3/13 game played with Rick since we couldn't seem to get the tv working.  Humm...the batteries were in backward!  Dah.  This morning all together again with more family time talk.  How fortunate to be together again.   Friendship soup fixings finished, 5 pie crusts are in the freezer waiting for the Michigan fillings to come.  Michigan family is on their way arriving in 2 hrs. around 3 PM.  Their trip is the longest and way to long for old folks to do at the speed needed.  Cookies are disappearing and all seems to be in the grove we have created for ourselves more than 13 years in the mak...

 On to something new this morning with that car ride out of Indiana.  There will be strange little round hills in northern Kentucky, horse farms in Tenn as well as a mountain ride, and other seasonal changes along the way.  I love the window ride.  The bags are packed.  Some things went to the car last night and the rest will be packed this morning.  Russell family time is coming.  It's been two years since we saw Doug's two brothers.  Rick will arrive from Dallas on Tuesday.  There will be lots to talk about.  I'm sure that the Michigan grandsons have changed a whole lot for their uncles to take note  Their 2-year of growth is impressive even for their grandma.  There should be nine of us together for the week.  Michigan family arrives Wed.  Dee, Brother, Father Cassion will be with us more this visit only sleeping at the big house and eating all his meals with us.  yahoo!   Love it..  He will qua...

 On Facebook this morning from Nicci G,  Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds.  You can plant flowers or you can plant weeds.  Now keeping that in mind every day would make a huge difference in so many ways.   So today I choose to plant flowers.  Really?  I wish it wasn't Nov.  I would have my hands in the dirt immediately. That will be a big celebration when the sun warms the soil again. I am not a garden glove person.  I love the feeling of dirt!  So I propose to plant flower thoughts until that time.   I'm dressed for work and it's church day.  Humm...Interesting thought what that choir robe covers.  I've seen just about everything.  Yes.  It's Advent decorating at 12:15 with what I hope is a host of friends wanting to make a difference.  We are just about as ready as one could ever be. So bring it on!   I know there will arrive a feeling of relief when returning home kn...

 A message to Adam this morning which he might have read by now or not.  Adam is an early riser.  We'll see if a message comes through.  I love to text all my grandsons.  For an unknown reason,  I'll take it,  lots of sleep last night.  Woo...that's really a new thing for me.  All the morning stuff has been finished including removing the ice from the birdbath. The birdbath this year is just outside the kitchen window.   It's interesting to see how many birds come for a drink and even a bath on a freezing morning.  The bluebird lets me know in uncertain terms that the ice needs to go.  Smart bird.   Votives are finished, all 30 are ready to go back to church to use in the huge advent candles.  I wanted a few more glass holders so shopping I went.  They tend to get broken over time.  I couldn't find one at Hobby Lobby where I bought what we have a few years ago.  Not one.  Same at Joann's ...

 It's early.  Should we say 6 am.  That's early for me to be thinking about words.  So there may be a few less. I can report that last night's preparation for Sunday's decorating went swimmingly.  99.9% of what needed to be placed in areas was placed.  I'm still thinking and the .1 percent means a pole forgot to be moved to the office.   Today's work includes more votive candle pouring.  These little candles need thicker wicks than one finds in purchased votives.  Thicker wicks support a more robust flame that is more visible to the congregation.  Years of decorating have taught a lot about what people can see and can't see.  They let us know.  And finally, I'm fixing the pink Mary candle used on the third Sunday of the month.  Sometimes the how can I fix this candle comes after years of trying just about everything but failing.  I could write a book about candle-making experiences in my kitchen.  The family...