Happy Tuesday all. Yesterday I had my get together with grade school friends - and to celebrate the holidays. Such fun was had.
I told the gals - we are officially senior citizens, like it or not - we had our luncheon at MCL Cafeteria! LOL
FUN thing happened. We all played flutophones (recorder) in grade school. Many brought theirs yesterday and played Jingle Bells!!!! Directed by Mrs. Meyer, the music teacher!!
There were patrons in the restaurant recording it as well as well as some of our friends! It was a hoot.
(I observed and didn't play!)
We had a gift exchange of $5 gifts or homemade. You all wondered what there might be.
It was pretty neat. There was candy of course, home baked bread (yeast), homemade banana bread and buckeyes, kitchen towels, jar candles, amaryllis bulbs, fancy little snow globes, bath items, homemade decorations (some very lovely ones), fancy Christmas bulbs, just so many neat things. People got very creative. It was really a fun event.
We had a classmate drive 2 hours to get there and had one from another state (was here for the weekend). It is such a joy to keep friends from years back and to reacquaint ourselves, and to meet new people. It keeps us young.
Life is short. We all need some laughter in our lives. I so enjoyed this - laughs, smiles and a bond that has never broken.
Just a little fun on a VERY cold and windy day. It snowed like crazy yesterday while we were there - we were surrounded by windows and could see. Gladly, it didn't stick - so drives home were safe. But it did add to the atmosphere!
So another Christmas adventure down, and a couple more to go.
May you all have a lovely day and a share a smile and a laugh!
So glad you all had a wonderful time!
ReplyDelete--Frances
Thank you - old friends are great!
DeleteI'm so happy to hear you had a wonderful time. Events like that bring happiness for days. It was cold and very windy here but no snow.
ReplyDeleteThanks - it sure was fun to laugh so much! I am still smiling!
DeleteSounds like a wonderful event. How nice that one of your teachers was able to be there too.
ReplyDeleteWe played recorders in elementary school and I remember if one forgot their recorder at home, they had to pretend to play it using a ruler. I often forgot mine. :p
Our music teacher generally come - I have no idea her age - but she isn't young (years wise).
DeleteOh that is funny. I was surprised how many gals still had theirs from school!
That looks like so much fun! You look great in that pic too. : )
ReplyDeleteWe have some old friends, a couple we met in church years ago and their kids are similar in age to ours. There daughter is still friends with our girls. Anyhoo, it is fun to laugh and talk with this couple still, so much in common, we don't get to see them all that often though, once we happened to meet up with them at the downtown old, old Methodist when they had their yearly free Handel's Messiah done with part of the city symphony, (a family of means donated that the church could do this yearly) the real stuff with their choir. I'll always remember that night, it was dark with some downtown lights and they were in line, it was a wonderful Christmas surprise.
I bet that meet-up was so fulfilling and you went home with a skip and a hop! Oh and the snow just added to the special Gift of the day too! And no snow driving, such a God thing! PTL That is so awesome, Cheryl. I just love the sounds of the gifts, and yes, $5.00 is a wonderfully sensible amount. The cafeteria sounds wonderful too! So great. : D
I would like to see that recording of the recorders playing Jingle Bells but I know you were probably enjoying the moment and not worrying with recording. (I don't blame you). : )
You had mentioned those undergarments a while back? OT here but I saw them at the nice uso town wally, everyone must love those because there was only size 5 left. lol They truly were soft as I was able to touch the fabric, the poly blend would be fine in cool weather. I was going to pick up some but maybe they will get more in later. I like to give credit where credit is due. : )
I sure hope you have a wonderful day, Cheryl. I hope the little family across the street is doing okay as well as the lady seeking prayer.
You have a wonderful group there, Cheryl! That is a Blessing and Gift as you already know. Thank you for sharing this special day! God is good. ~Amelia
And OT question for you, Amelia, because I'm sure you'd know. One of our neighbors raises goats for milk. The wife told Hubs yesterday she's learned how to make 3 kinds of goat cheese and goat butter. FYI, Hubs grew up on (canned) goat milk and really doesn't like it, but when I tried their fresh milk before BIL arrived (he drinks goat milk), it tasted fine. What's your experience with goat cheese? Have you ever had/used goat butter? Thanks in advance! --Elise
DeleteP.S. In college I sang in the choir and we did Handel's Messiah. Does your old Methodist church still do that every year?
It was fun and yes the snow added to spirit of the day - just glad it didn't stick around.
DeleteThere is a recording on the school FB site - I will try and see how to transfer it here. It was so funny and cute! The people in the restaurant probably thought what a crazy bunch of old ladies!!
Your event you mentioned sounds lovely. It sure is lovely to meet up with old friends, by choice or by accident.
I bet they will get more undies in after the holiday. They sure are soft and comfy.
The gal across the street and her children seem to be doing pretty well. Thanks for asking.
Thank you!
Hi Elise, Yes, I do have a strong liking for goat's cheese! My favorite is from Trader Joes and comes in slices but the blocks are just as good. Sam's Wholesale has a big block of sheep's milk cheese too. Aldi has the soft goat's milke cheese like cream cheese. It's good and I like it, it's good in dots on pizza but it's a *teensy* bit more distinct than the slices or chunks. You can get goat's milk cheese in cheddar etc. and I cannot tell the difference. A lot of gals feed their babies with homemade goat's milk formula. I do know how the canned tastes because I used to use that and it's quite different than fresh. : ) Fresh is better for sure. : ) I haven't used goat's butter but I bet it's good! We have a farm in the next town that sells the special A2 grass fed pasture raised humanely raised cow's milk and our daughter drinks that milk and I can actually tolerate a little of that and the butter was just as tasty as Kerrygold humane free range cow's milk butter that I use. I can also tolerate Kerrygold humane free range grass fed cheese from Sam's in the sharp flavor. I know that bottom line you are asking about your neighbor's goat's milk cheese and I bet it's very good! Maybe see what flavors she has? Get the flavor your husband likes, cheddar etc.
DeleteI hope this helps! ~Amelia
~Amelia
Elise, yes, that old historical church (cathedral) does the complete Handel's Messiah every year with part of the symphony! The choir of the church sings and many people from other churches will go to that. A family of means donated money to the church who knows when so the church could do that every Christmas season. The church has a new young minister who is trying to get the church stabilized, the minister who married Zuzu, a wonderful Christian man around late 60s or early 70s age left (I think there was somebody behind it) because a very liberal young man took his place and it was shameful. The attendance dropped hugely and now there is a youngish man with little children who seems to be doing *much* better.
DeleteCheryl, maybe you could put a link to the fb page if it's public?
DeleteI'm so glad your neighbors are doing okay, I think of that little family many times especially with Christmas time. I hope you are doing okay too my friend. I thought of Glen today because I thought of making his kidney bean salad one day. Did Glenn like Christmas?
I bet the people at the restaurant wished they were a part of your party! *big smile*
Take care now, ~Amelia
Thank you, Amelia. That *does* help. We keep Lactaid milk in our fridge at all times and some cheeses. Also butter, though we use little of that and it lasts a long time. Hubs won't drink any kind of goat milk--even fresh. I'd wondered about the cheese and butter, though. He was surprised she could make butter from the milk her goats produce.
DeleteI love that the old Methodist church still does Handel's Messiah. God bless that wealthy family all those years ago who made sure it would continue! --Elise
P.S. The last of the gift bags of cookies were delivered today. I'm officially *done* with cookies for quite awhile, figuring about 20 dozen were baked this season. Whew!
I know so many people were blessed by your labor of love, Elise! I think that is so great. It really is... And to think you delivered them too!? Wow, Elise, I can't get over that! I know your cookies were wonderfully received.
DeleteYes, that church is very special to me. My parents were married in the chapel years ago. When you walk in the place you can feel the Holy Spirit, the stained glass are huge and pictures of Jesus with his Lambs. When Zuzu got married, people were saying how incredible the church was with the huge pipe organ and balcony etc. We need to go visit again, we haven't been in a long time because it is so far but I watch on youtube. And pardon my grammatical error, the older pastor didn't marry Zuzu, lol He married, (performed the ceremony for) Zuzu and her husband! I'm sure you figured but I make quite a few grammatical mistakes just by getting in a hurry, last week I made one to Cheryl, saying something was uncalled for but it looked like it was aimed at her personally. Gah.
The old Methodist church is one of the last places where you can have street people sitting next to a person of means, the homeless know the steps are a safe place to sleep. The church feeds them more than several times a week for lunch. Pretty special place if they can keep good old fashioned Biblical leadership. : )
ELISE - I am sure the cookies and goodies were appreciated.
DeleteAMELIA - Glen loved buying and giving! He wasn't all that into the decorations and such - but he had such a giving spirit. No matter what I bought - it wasn't enough!!! He just loved to give. ALL THE TIME. I will see if I can figure out something on the video.
It sure made a lot of people smile - not sure if they enjoyed or were laughing at all the 'old ladies'. Doesn't matter - they smiled!
What a blessing to visit with your classmates and even a teacher! Flutophones! I learned on one of those and the music teacher suggested that I take piano lessons. They are actually still made and used in schools. Your towels are very pretty. Towels and potholders are always welcome.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I made a crust less quiche with eggs, sweet potatoes, spinach, onion, turkey bacon and turkey sausage with spices and cheese on top. Pretty good but I think next time we'll use some fresh thyme, maybe some rosemary salt and asiago cheese.
Sunny today! Cold but we will bundle up to run some errands.
Great minds think alike, Donna! I have bacon and spinach quiche planned on our menu this week. Haven't made quiche in many months. It just sounded GOOD. One more batch of cookies to bake and then I'm done. Yesterday was butter pecan. Today? Who knows?
DeleteOne neighbor was thrilled with the ginger cookies and gave Hubs a tour of their homestead, complete with chickens, meat rabbits and goats. They suggested the four of us get together for dinner after the holidays. :-D --Elise
Yes, you can actually buy them at WM and the Dollar Tree from what I understand. One gal bought one from WM for $8 and another the DT for 1.25. Some things are just basics in schools. Kind of nice to see something that hasn't changed.
DeleteThe quiche sound yummy.
Yep, it is chilly but at least the sun is shining and the wind isn't blowing!
Cheryl, our little grandson got one of those little 'recorder' "flutes" at dt, he loved it, it's what he picked out that day. A wonderful deal.
DeleteHow very special, Cheryl! Thank you for sharing! It's wonderful that you all get together still, with some new ladies added.
ReplyDeleteOne of the downsides of moving so much in my life is there aren't old friends nearby, but who knows? 2024 might be the year I make new ones here. When my mom's last husband died, and she moved to AR to my Sis's town, she was invited to--and eventually became part of--two special groups: The Lunch Bunch met at a restaurant every Wednesday, and The Wild Bunch went together to dinner on Friday evenings, playing games or doing puzzles at someone's house after dinner. Those groups were important to a newly widowed woman that had moved to a state she'd never lived in. Many of those women are still good friends to mom and Sis.
--Elise
Thanks. Yes, you can make NEW old friends! You may have to join a group or two to get to know some new folks. Crafting, cooking, reading, gardening....... Lots of ways to meet.
DeleteThat is nice you mom joined in some clubs and met new ladies. We all need friends around.
That is so wonderful, Elise. That's so nice they are still good friends too. Those groups sound so sweet. The puzzle thing sounds fun, just brew some coffee or tea and leisurely put together a puzzle while you visit. That's great.
DeleteMy highschool was not a sweet place, the people were about as warm as a witches behind, many NASA engineeers and astronaut's kids, just enough to mess the grade curve up. Just a very sterile strange state of the art place with a whiff of pot floating through the air. So I don't have too many old friends from that, nope. Hahaha.
I can sympathize, Elise. I wish we had some nice groups here because that really is, as Cheryl writes a good place to make some sweet friends.
Hello Cheryl, I am hoping this will post for me. I am still reading all your posts. Please tell me which one is you…the 2nd to my left?
ReplyDeleteToday in NI is dry. It’s a change from all our rain this past 6 weeks. Our local town was completely flooded. A lot lost their businesses. A sad Christmas for them.
I go to my daughters both days for dinner.
Hope you have a lovely holiday.
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia - yes, I am the 2nd from the left in the pic.
DeleteGlad it is dry today - all that rain sounds horrible. Oh my goodness, that is just so sad for those business owners. I hope you and yours are all OK. You have a wonderful time with your daughter. I bet that will be just lovely!
Thank you. You as well.
Cheryl,the get together sounds like it was so much fun and quite amazing that your music teacher was there. The limits on the gift exchange really encourages creativity. Hard to believe that Christmas is now less than a week away. Cookie
ReplyDeleteIt really was a fun time. Yes, she is quite a special lady, and it shows how she truly enjoyed her students - then and now! We sure enjoy her being there.
DeleteI loved the gift exchange - it was pretty neat to see the variety.
Oh I know - this year has just flown by!
LOVE, LOVE LOVE!!!
ReplyDeleteI recently saw on FB that the son and family of one of the girls who was in our wedding have moved from 500 miles away to our town. I am going to make sure we get in touch and see each other sometime when she is up visiting. Such a small world!
Oh, please do try and reach out to them. Those are such treasured moments from the past - and we need to keep those happy days alive in our minds and hearts. It is such a joy to stay in contact and find people again - I wish we had all done this earlier. But then I figure THIS was our time.
DeleteReconnecting is so much fun! I did that some years ago - and it turned out my old friend had cancer. We resumed our friendship until the end, and it was wonderful for both of us. Her poor hubs spent hours talking with me about her after her death, I guess I was not threatening! I'm *so* glad I reached out to her.
DeleteHope Blackie and Bits are staying warm in this winter weather.
Yes, what is the news of the little family across the street?
MaryB
MARY - It is fun. Some of us have lost spouses and we seem to help each other, by talking. Others are going through illness with spouses, and they ask questions. It is helpful as well as fun. I am just so happy we all reconnected after all these years. It is helpful in many ways!
DeleteThe kitties seem to be enjoying staying in and warm.
The family across the street seem to be doing well. The kids are active and I see them going and coming from school each day, some days mom drives them. She stays busy. She really decorated outside for the kids!
Nice to see you ladies enjoying a get together. Music teachers seem to have good genes. My gradeschool music teacher lived to a ripe old age as well. She was a feisty gal.
ReplyDeleteWe only had voices when I was in grade school but I have my daughter's recorder, still. I played it (Swan Lake) while my husband paddled the canoe many years ago on a 3 day canoe adventure.
Amazing how simple and cheap instruments can give pleasure.
The gifts sound so practical; you are a sensible crew! Happy for you all.
Thanks. Yes indeed, she must have good genes. Such a sweet little lady.
DeleteOh, how sweet to serenade your hubby on the boat ride!! Isn't that something? Yes, a simple little thing, considered maybe a toy by some, started a lot of people into music. I remember we had to play as a group at the Easter Sunrise Service! Boy, that had to be a rude wake-up for some!!!
Yes, I think we came from that generation and area that taught a lot of sensibilities! Thanks
Reunions like that are so much fun! We moved so much when I was a child, I only know two people from then and both live very far away. One I've not seen in 50 years! She married an Australian and moved there. We stay in touch by email now. I love MCL! Haven't been to one in many years now.
ReplyDeleteYes, this was even better to me than the 50 year high school reunion. We got to talk more, more intimate, and LOL - NO BOYS!
DeleteI am glad you have at least kept in touch with each other. That is nice. It sure is nice to reconnect.
My first MCL meal in years! It was good but very pricey!
Wow, how wonderful that so many came. Glad that all of you had a blast.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Pretty cool, I agree. Thanks - look forward to the next luncheon.
DeleteThat is SO great you got to catch up with your classmates and former teacher! I love y'all's energy! I, too, think it's important to get together when you can with old friends. It reminds you of the good times, for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks - I think it is pretty neat too. No one there sure acted their age! No one was OLDER - if you know what I mean. SO many young at heart gals. Fun, fun!
Delete25 sounds like an excellent turnout. I love that you gals do this. Happiest of Holidays to you.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great turn-out. Just about the right size. It is fun, and keeps us active and laughing!!!! Thank you!!!!
DeleteLaughing is THE BEST!
DeleteThat sounded like fun! Seeing snow the whole time would make it special for me.
ReplyDeleteIt really did make it seem like Christmas. That will be our only snow for the holiday - so it is funny it happened that day! It was a lot of fun.
DeleteGreat you ladies still get together, sounds like fun.
ReplyDelete