Reasons to love living up north in winter

My 4X4 truck

White Christmas is almost guaranteed
We can keep the beverages on the back deck and make more room in the fridge for the holiday food
Uggs go with just about everything
Static electricity hair (What? It's funny!)

It's a beautiful white Christmas in North Idaho!  I hope everyone got your wish lists filled this Christmas.  My house is bustling with activity, lots of Christmas paper crunching under the dogs feet, the smells of yummy holiday cooking coming from the kitchen and a cup of egg nog with a little extra nog *wink* . My new best friend and pound puppy Stanley has settled into a spoiled, comfy existence that makes me envy his life as a dog!

I had a lengthy Christmas day blog prepared filled with cheer and love and festivities of the season.  But...it's been a conflicting week.  The excitement of the holiday season has been tempered by news of yet another beautiful soul that is now a fallen Peacemaker.  A kind, caring, gentle, generous loving mom who we in the RCPM fan world knew as a lovely person.  My sadness for her passing and her grieving family left behind leaves me feeling almost guilty for having so much goodness in my life and things to be happy for.  It also reminds me to cherish every moment and take nothing for granted.  A perspective of life's problems that puts everything in proper order.  Love family, be thankful for loyal friendships as those are rare, and I'm blessed with a job that tolerates my physical shortcomings.  I'm thankful for it all and am trying to let go of transgressions I should forgive others, and myself, for.  It's hard, wounds don't heal easily, but I'll keep working on it. 

One thing I know Lucinda loved and spent many happy times with is Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers music as that's how we became acquainted.  I reviewed several videos to find one that would honor such a lovely woman and pay respects to her for a peaceful resting place and came up with this one.  I pray for your peace and painless hereafter, Lucinda.  

This is a beautiful song that talks of not compromising our principles and staying true to our roots.  Sometimes we need little reminders to be a little better grounded.

I hope you are all overwhelmed with hugs today! Hug back.  It'll warm the cockles of your heart.  (yes...I said cockles!)

Christmas cheerily yours,

~ K

Holiday shopping etiquette

Where is it written that when the frenzy of the holiday season is underway, that it's OK to be rude, pushy, and generally undesirable in a shopping environment?  It's supposed to be a time of year for coming together.  You know...peace on earth, good will toward men and all that jazz.  Where is the peace and good will? It has been scarce in my neck of the woods, that's for sure.  Out shopping yesterday, I encountered people blocking store isles without any regard for the backed up traffic behind them.  This is a normal occurrence in a shopping situation; however at this time of year with so many people out and about at the same time, it becomes even more frustrating.  Then there were those grabbing for the same items at the same time and being, well...just grabby!  It was rude and discouraging to encounter such inconsideration.  I remarked to the cashier that they need store police to keep people moving and give out citations for habitual offenders.  Like, the ones who drive their cart on the left side.  This isn't Europe, we drive to the right and all traffic whether it be by vehicle, on foot, or store cart, is always to the right! I don't understand why people don't get that concept.  When they drive their car to the store they drove on the right, of this I’m certain or there would have been many accidents on the streets along the way of people driving on the wrong side.  But when they get in the store...there are some poor unfortunate souls with some brain cells that just don't kick in when it comes to store cart navigation.  Please be kind.  Not just at Christmas, but all year.  It doesn't take any more effort.  It's simply a matter of attitude adjustment toward other people.  How would you want to be treated? That's how I try to see things and live accordingly. 

That ends my holiday frenzy rant.  Against my better judgment, I do have some more shopping to do.  I'm a last minute kind of person (I can't live without the aggravation) so I'm going to venture out again today to finish up my holiday shopping. I will be courteous and smiling through it all, I hope you will too.  Peace on earth, good will toward all.  

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Some Christmas trivia for you:

Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday in 1836.  The last state to declare Christmas as an official holiday was Oklahoma in 1907.

Animal Crackers are not really crackers, but cookies that were imported to the United States from England in the late 1800s. Barnum's circus-like boxes were designed with a string handle so that they could be hung on a Christmas tree.

Christmas trees are edible. Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition.

Hug somebody today! My sweet grandson will be here this evening to spend the holiday week with me and he will get lots of gramma hugs!  

Peacefully yours,
~ K