Another Year's Done

Let's let the classic sounds of Bing Crosby bring 2015 to an end.



Five years ago today: What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

It's A Real Mess Out There

Hubby Tony and I are invited to an engagement party tonight, and then tomorrow night our New Year's Eve plans will take us in the same general direction.  However, we won't be using the most direct route to get there; it's under water.

KMOV

2015 is turning out to be the wettest December on record for the metropolitan St. Louis area.  The storm that put us over the edge started late Friday night, and the deluge kept going until Monday. As a result of the rain we're projected to have some of the worst flooding in the past 20 years.  Creeks and rivers have been overflowing their banks, and some levees have been overtopped.

The intersection in the picture is Highway 141, which goes under Interstate 44.  That's water from the Meramec River you see swirling around.  Since this photo was taken the water has risen even more, closing the interstate completely.  There are several surface road detours that are available, but not surprisingly they're congested.  When Tony took one of them to meet some friends last night he reported it was stop and go the whole way.  This morning I got stuck in more traffic (and what should have been a five minute trip took 20 minutes).  We're already talking about how we need to modify our plans for the next few days.

The good news is that this mess won't last forever.  The rivers in the area are supposed to crest today, and the roads are projected to be cleaned and ready to use by the weekend. 

Five years ago today: For All My Super Mom Friends

Wanna Escape?

What a whirlwind couple of weeks we've had!  Our out-of-town children arrived, then Christmas came. Fortunately the company stayed around a little longer after the holiday.  However, all good things have to come to an end.  Son Brian and DIL Nicole left mid-afternoon today for a trip to Columbia to see college friends (they'll come back and stay here Saturday, then fly home early Sunday morning).  Tonight I took Son Tony to the airport for his flight.  Now it's down to just me, Hubby Tony, Son Donald, and the cats in the house.

While everyone was here, time passed quickly.  Every day was filled with eating, talking, more eating, shopping, seeing a movie, playing games, watching TV, and more eating.  We had planned one big family activity--an escape room challenge, which was new to all of us.  If you're not familiar with escape rooms, Wikipedia describes them this way:

Real-life room escape games are a type of physical adventure game in which people are locked in a room with other participants and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles, find clues, and escape the room within a set time limit.

The facility we went to, Escape from St. Louis, offered two different room scenarios. We chose one called A Ghost Story, where we had to figure out who murdered a teenager twenty-five years ago.

When we arrived at the facility  we were escorted to the door of our room.  After some short directions our team got a walkie-talkie (to communicate with the front desk or ask for clues, which would add to our final time), flashlights, and a dry erase marker to write on a laminated board in he room.  The door opened, we stepped in, and our hour of puzzle-solving started.

The adventure was a lot of fun, and I'm proud to say that we succeeded in escaping from the room before the time expired.  We asked for two clues, which added ten minutes to our final time of 62 minutes and 30 seconds.

Five years ago today: Cold Winter Coming (I'm Concerned About You)

Merry Christmas 2015

A Christmas Wish

I'd like a stocking made for a giant,
And a meeting house full of toys,
Then I'd go out in a happy hunt
For the poor little girls and boys;
Up the street and down the street,
And across and over the town,
I'd search and find them everyone,
Before the sun went down.

                            ~~Eugene Field

One More Sleep!

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

As we'd tel the kids when they were little, there's only one more sleep until Christmas. Today when I was at church installing this week's slides on the three electronic bulletin boards I hung the last ornament from the box on a leafless bush in the church courtyard.

Five years ago today: If Mary and Joseph Had Facebook...

Good Timing

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Today I was with Hubby Tony when he stopped to fill his car tank up.  While he pumped the gas I jumped out of the car and ran over to a nearby tree and placed the day's ornament. I was able to hang, admire, and photograph the result in the time it took him to finish his job.

Five years ago today: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Holiday Cheer

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Today on the way home from the gym I stopped and hung an ornament on a tree next to a bus shelter.  I hope the splash of red brings a smile to anyone who's sitting there.

Five years ago today: Do-Over

WHAT Season Is It?

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

So far 2015 is the third warmest December on record for the metropolitan area.  On the first day of winter here we had a high temperature of 67 degrees. (The average is 41 degrees).  This afternoon the neighbor kids were out blowing their leaves, and I think I heard someone a couple of streets over using a lawn mower!

Today I've been so busy cooking and getting ready for Christmas I haven't even left the house.  I did take a couple of minutes to step outside to enjoy the weather and hang an ornament on the tree in our 'tree yard' between the sidewalk and the street.  I'm confident that with the weather we're having someone will walk by and see it.

Five years ago today: Blossoming

Hostess Herbs

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

This afternoon I've been invited to a holiday brunch.  I wanted to bring the hostess a thank you gift but I know she's trying to eat healthy, so a box of candy or a traditional Christmas sweet didn't seem appropriate.  I was looking around at a store that specializes in natural and organic groceries, where I found a potted 'holiday bouquet' that contains small rosemary, sage, and thyme plants.  It seemed perfect; my friend can either use it as a house plant or in her cooking.

On the way out of the store's parking lot I hung the day's ornament on the tree next to my car.

Five years ago today: A (Very) Short History of Christmas

Another Day, Another Tree, Another Ornament

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Looking back through all the photos I've taken this month, it struck me that quite a few of them look similar, which I guess is the result of placing my ornaments in leafless deciduous trees. You'll have to trust that today's (yet again) leafless deciduous tree is new and different.  Hubby Tony and I were out taking a walk on a brisk but sunny late autumn day.  Before we left I told him he was in charge of picking the location.  I think he did a good job.

Five years ago today: If My Feet Are Happy, Then I'm Happy

Christmas Thank You

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

For the past eight years I've attended a meeting at a nearby church on Friday morning.  I enjoy going there; the staff is welcoming and the facilities are always clean.  Today on my way out of the parking lot I decided to offer them a little Christmas Thank You by hanging an ornament in a forsythia bush.

Five years ago today: Light Up The Night

Where Did It Go?

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Yesterday I drove by one of the places I put an ornament earlier in the month and noticed that the tree was still adorned.  Today the ornament was gone.  We didn't have any severe weather overnight that would have blown it off, so I'm not sure what happened to it.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone who didn't have ornaments for their personal tree saw it and gave it a new home (or passed it on to someone else who needed it)?

My last stop today was at a county park with a nice paved walking trail.  The mature tree branches by the trail were too tall for me to reach, but I found a newly-planted tree next to the parking lot that I think was improved with a splash of red. 

Five years ago today: Oh, What Fun

This Is When It Starts Getting Interesting

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Christmas is still ten days from now, but this afternoon I'm picking Son Tony up at the airport.   He had a business trip this week that took him to Chicago (from his home in Phoenix) and decided to come straight here instead of flying back and forth across the country.  Then next Wednesday we'll be back at the airport to pick up Son Brian and DIL Nicole.  After that everyone will be here through the end of the year.

I've tried to get things done ahead of time and clear my calendar as much as possible, but I'm determined to finish my daily ornament distributing   Can't stop now!

My area of West St. Louis County has several athletic associations baseball fields, some of which date back to the turn of the 19th century.  Back int he day groups of men would play each other for the sake of city pride.  Now the fields cater to teams of all ages.  During the summer you can find a game going on most nights and weekends. 

As you can imagine, the fields aren't in use in December, but the one I visited today has a parking lot that's next to a school. The lot gets used for overflow traffic, so I bet someone will see my red globe hanging in the tree.

Five years ago today: Treelight

You Just Never Know

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

When I was going to the gym yesterday I drove past the wrap-up of what looked like a serious accident.  I saw a car facing the wrong way on Manchester, the driver's side completely smashed in.  Two patrol cars were parked such that the oncoming traffic was funneled into one lane, away from the accident.  A police officer was sweeping broken glass off the road. 

I said a prayer as I went past, and soon forgot about the whole thing until this morning, when I read in the newspaper that the car's driver, who was waiting to pull out from a restaurant parking lot, was fatally injured when a vehicle ran off the road and hit her car.

This afternoon I drove to the Women's Center of a local hospital for my annual mammogram.  This facility is tucked back off the road, and has a strip of restored prairie between it and the road.  I like the contrast between the lawn grass and native plants behind it, and I think the ornament on the tree lends an extra festive touch.

Five years ago today: What's In Your Kettle?

A Windy December Day

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Last nigh a cold front came through the area, taking the above-average temperatures with it. Today it felt like December.  When I left the house after breakfast I underestimated just how cold and windy it was. The fleece I wore wasn't warm enough, so I had to hustle in and out of my car at every stop I made.

One of the things I had to do today is return some wall decor that hadn't looked as good on the wall as it had in the store. Coincidentally, the return was at the same place where I got my supply of ornaments just a couple of weeks ago.  I wondered--if I hung an ornament there would someone from the store would recognize it as some of their merchandise?  When I came out the wind was whipping everything around big time.  I chose a tree close to the building so the ornament wouldn't blow off.

Five years ago today: All God's Creatures

Third Time's The Charm

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

The temperature today was still above average, but today was accompanied by rain, which made it feel more like April outside than December.  Mid-afternoon Hubby Tony had to go to Aldi to pick up a couple of things he needed to prepare dinner and I asked if I could go with him to run one additional errand.  He agreed.

My plan was to hang an ornament in a tree at the first strip mall we stopped in, but the steady stream of rain changed that plan.  It was still raining when we went into and came out of Aldi.  I wondered how I could take care of my mission without getting wet.  Tony realized there was one thing he couldn't get at Aldi, so I recommended a different grocery store that was on the way home.  I remembered that this store has a row of euonymus bushes just off the parking lot and I could stand under the covered store walkway to stay dry while I hung my ornament.

However, when we pulled into the store's parking lot I noticed the bushes had been trimmed.  Instead of standing five feet tall, they were now half that size.  No one would see an ornament placed down that low.  So, while Tony headed inside to get his item I stood in a steady drizzle and decorated a small tree close to the car.

Five years ago today: Sing-Along

No Jacket Needed

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

What do you do when the temperature is 20 degrees above average in late fall? You get outside!  The forecasted high temperature for today was 71 degrees.  When I went outside mid-morning to dump coffee grounds in the compost pile it was already warm enough turn off the furnace and open some windows. My inside plans for the day quickly changed.  I made lunch and Hubby Tony and I drove to a nearby park for an impromptu picnic. 

Thanks to a combination of high humidity and dewpoint there was a sheen of wet on every outside surface.  The table we chose underneath a pavilion needed to be wiped off before we could sit down.  Before we set out the food I hung an ornament in a honeysuckle bush so I could see it while I ate.  

It was awesome to hear the birds chirp and squirrels rustle the fallen leaves.  Unfortunately, after 20 minutes reality and the To-Do list set back in.  We gathered up our things and headed back to the car. 

My lunch view

Five years ago today: Once A Bad Kitty, Always A Bad Kitty

'Tis The Season For Ornaments

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

There are several small church cemeteries within five miles of my house in Manchester, most dating back to the city's founding as a rest stop on the journey west from St. Louis in the mid 1800s.  Today I stopped at one of them and hung the day's ornament.

It was a gloomy, dreary day, appropriate for hanging out in a cemetery.  The section I chose was still in use, with most of the graves from the last decade.  Many of them were decorated for the season.  After I added my additional cheer I looked around a little bit, then left.

Five years ago today: Smells Like Christmas

Instant Healthy Dessert

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Tonight Hubby Tony and I are going to a potluck dinner.  Our section of the alphabet was asked to bring a dessert.  I decided to go with something easy, healthy, and (based on past experience) popular.  All I did was stop in a grocery store and pick up packages of blackberries.  When I came home I washed them, dried them, and poured them into a festive bowl.  At the party I'll set the bowl down among the cakes, cookies, and candy, stick a serving spoon in it, and call it done.

Before I made it to the grocery store I hung today's ornament in a nearby city park/municipal center.  As I was taking the picture a woman walked by and asked me, "Are you doing a photography project?"  I answered, "Something like that."

Five years ago today: Mmmm.........

It Shouldn't Be This Hard!

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

This morning I visited the chiropractor for a 'tune up' appointment, which whips my creaky back into shape for another four to six weeks.  When I entered the office he asked if I had any special issues.  As it turns out, I did.  For the past month my right heel has been hurting off and on.  After consulting with Dr. Google I determined it was a plantar fasciitis issue.  The next week during a visit with my primary care doctor I ran the symptoms by him.  He agreed with me, and gave me some exercises to do.  Today's visit gave me even more suggestions, and an exercise demonstration.  I left the office feeling great.

My original plan was to hang my ornament in one of the trees on the street next to the chiropractor's, but the branches had been trimmed too high for me to reach.  I left the parking lot and turned onto a street that runs behind a strip mall.  The street had No Parking signs posted every 200 feet, so I kept driving until I reached the end of the strip mall.  Right by the road that led to the mall's parking lot were several large sweetgum trees.  I parked the car, then walked back and placed my red ball on a branch. Random cheer delivered for the day

Five years ago today: Some Types of Stealing Are OK!

Enhance An Evergreen

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

After breakfast this morning I laced up my walking shoes and headed for church for Mass to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  In the Catholic church, the day celebrates the Virgin Mary's  conceivement in her mother's womb without original sin.

Over the weekend Hubby Tony and I were walking along the same route when he pointed out an evergreen tree that would look great with a red ornament on it.  On the way home from church, I did just that.

Five years ago today: Tree

Stop And Look

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Today was all about getting stuff done and crossed off my To Do list. First was a trip to the gym for a piyoga class, then five different errands as I made my way back home,  Once I made it home there was a pile of paperwork to tackle and multiple phone calls to make. To get ready for my busy day, after breakfast I made myself a lunch to eat on the road, then started piling the things I'd need while I was out on top of my purse so I wouldn't forget them.

I lost track of the time and had to scramble to get out of the house and to the gym on time.  I grabbed an armful of things off the island, threw it in the car, and zoomed out of the driveway.  Thanks to some great stoplight timing I pulled into a gym parking space right on time,  I reached down to grab my yoga mat, but it wasn't there.  In my rush I'd left it sitting on the island.  (I borrowed a group exercise mat, which made an acceptable substitute.)

Fortunately, I did not forget my bag of ornaments, so on the way out of the parking lot I stopped to hang one on a tree next to a stop sign.  I wonder how many people will look over that way when they stop?

Five years ago today: The Gift of Giving

Elemental

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

When I started making a list of places to hang an ornament a school immediately came to mind.  However, I figured if I did it while classes were in session I would draw some negative attention.

So, on my way out of the neighborhood this afternoon I detoured to a nearby elementary school, where I hung an ornament on a tree close to the sidewalk.

I hope someone will see it tomorrow.

Five years ago today: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

The First Holiday Festivities Of The Season

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Today Hubby Tony and I drove just across the Missouri River to the historic downtown area of St. Charles, drawn by their Christmas Traditions Festival and a beautifully brisk, sunny day.  Over the course of three house we window shopped (and bought a couple of things), visited with some friends, and browsed through some artist's studios.

Before our adventure started, though, we stopped at a park along the river, where I hung an ornament on a small branch of a large tree.

Five years ago today:Deck The Halls

Successful Fear Facing

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

Today I did a new-to-me project that involved organizing and restocking three specific brands of toys at a local big box store.  When I found out everything that was involved in the task I almost backed out, but I decided to face my fear head on.  After lunch today I pulled into the store parking lot and hung an ornament first.

The job wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, but I wasn't able to perform it according to my written instructions. The department manager had only been on the job for two days and had no idea where things were.  He unsuccessfully attempted to contact the previous manager (the person was at lunch).  Finally, someone came with a note scribbled on the back of an envelope indicating several trailers parked out back that might have the products I needed.  I followed that person out to the trailers, where we searched unsuccessfully for ten minutes before giving up and returning inside with no merchandise. 

I straightened the areas to the best of my ability,  took some photos to document what I did, and had the manager sign a form saying I had been there.  We'll see what the company says about my efforts.

Five years ago today: Something Old, Something New

Adorning The Grounds

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

On the way home from the gym today I stopped at a nearby municipal park and hung an ornament on a tree by the playground. There was no one on the equipment, but over the weekend the temperatures are supposed to be in the 50s. I bet the nice weather will bring families out.

Five years ago today: Tea, Anyone?

Job And Joy

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

This morning I was pleasantly surprised to see a $10 coupon to one of my favorite stores show up in my email. I'd already scheduled work for today at a mall that had a branch of this store; now I could conserve time and gas and take care of two things at the same place.

Before I headed into the mall I stopped and hung an ornament on a tree close to one of the main mall doors.

Five years ago today: What's the Hurry?

The First Of December

Every day from December 1st until Christmas I'm hanging an ornament in an outside public place as a Random Act of Christmas Cheer.

When I left the house to go to the gym, do some work, and run errands this morning I carried the box of ornaments out to the car so I'd be ready when inspiration hit.  The inspiration happened at my last stop for the morning, a big-box hardware store.  As I pulled in, I noticed that each of the crab apple trees in the parking lot islands were already decorated with strands of lights.  (I made a mental note to remember to stop back there once the sun went down.)

My red ornament blended in with the crab apples, but if someone looks closely they'll see it.  Do you?

Can you see it?

Five years ago today: The Countdown's Begun...