LETTING GO

Without reservation I can say, "I am a collector." Over the years I've had many collections; carousels, dishes, crystal. bells, pottery, purses and compacts, just to name a few.  And of course there is a collection of fabric and sewing items.  I have also managed to accumulate a rather nice collection of vintage clothing. Recently it hit me that I've got to start making plans for all this stuff because it just doesn't seem fair to put that responsibility on someone else.  I started by taking photos of my home and it's contents, making a list of everything and then began the process of deciding who would enjoy what.  I even called a few people and asked them what they would like to have when I'm gone!  My close friends were not surprised by what might seem a strange question.  It is a well known fact that I am borderline eccentric.  But as I was going through some things, especially the vintage clothes and family heirlooms I decided that the time was now.  Why wait until I'm dead and gone?

So my first item, a 1950's mouton jacket,  that was boxed and shipped went to my niece, Tuesday, a 23 year old college student at the University of Arkansas. She loves vintage clothing and I know she will love this jacket and I hope she will think of her Aunt Lizzie every time she wears it.

Now Tuesday you need to send me a photo of you wearing the jacket.

DINNER IN PARIS

Last Friday night we celebrated Valentine's Day at home. Grace was spending the night with us and since she is so interested in France I decided to have a French meal. I thought it would be fun and educational too. I made Julia Child's Coq au Vin which I haven't made in years - probably because it uses 1 stick of butter. I used maps of Paris and a photo of the Eiffel Tower to decorate the table. While I cooked we talked about French food, fashion and lifestyle. And of course we dressed for dinner. Grace wore pearls, I wore a beret and she picked out a coat and tie for Papa.

For dessert I made our favorite molten chocolate cake and we toasted the evening with sparkling grape juice. Sweet Jim gave us a card and box of candy. He also paid me a very nice compliment and said it was one of the best meals he had ever eaten! It was a very nice evening.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

This year my table setting for dinner on Christmas Day was my favorite decoration. Grace helped me set the table and she wrote the placecards.

My favorite event was taking Grace to The Nutcracker. It is our annual event and we both love it. Jim thinks it is a bit too much dancing and I have to remind him it's a ballet! This year we weren't going until the last performance and we did not want to take a chance that they would be sold out of nutcrackers so we made a special trip on Friday after school to get her nutcracker, another tradition we have started. She couldn't decide which one she wanted so the perffect solution was to buy both. And then Papa saw another one at the mall later that evening - so three nutcrackers were added to the collection this year.

And my favorite gift was a pink 4-wheeler!

GRACE'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Each year I have a Christmas party for Grace and her friends. When Grace got here she put on her lipstick and gloves and checked out the table which I had decorated with carousels from my collection. We then discussed the proper way to greet guests, where to put their coats and a few house rules. As each girl arrived I took her picture with Grace and Mirabella, the snowgirl. They decorated a perma-coated plate and had dessert. Jim even got into the action when the girls decided he needed to wear the reindeer antlers!

AUGUST 25, 1979

at 7:00 in the evening I married the man I always dreamed about. A kind and gentle man, a man who would cherish me, pamper me, love me, treat me with respect, praise me, protect me, encourage me, provide for me, challenge me, understand me, excite me, die for me, teach me, laugh at me, listen to me, be proud of me.... me, me, me. The list goes on. This dear sweet man I married does all this and more. He's made me a better person, through his selfless ways he has shown me what it really means to love someone. I pray God gives me another 30 years with my sweetheart so I can give back to him just a little of the joy he has given me.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GIRLS AND BOYS

Yesterday I took Grace and her friend Gabe to the Discovery Center, a great hands-on, interactive science center for kids. I always enjoy time with Grace and her friends and like to watch how they play together and interact. As we pulled out of Gabe's driveway Grace said to Gabe "I can say all my ABC's now." And Gabe replied, "I can burp my ABC's." And thus I discovered the difference between boys and girls! Throughout the day their behaviors continued to remind me of the ABC's.

A New Generation of Hunters

On the last day of the season we went to the farm, rode the 4 wheelers and climbed the deer stands. On the way home we stopped by the processing center to pick up Jim's deer. Someone had just come in with the deer they had shot and it was in the back of their pickup. Grace was very curious and wanted to get a closer look. She said it was, "disgusting" but that it would not stop her from eating deer! Later she announced that she was going hunting next year. While we are at the farm we shot a pumpkin a couple of times so we could show her the power of a gun and what happens when something is shot. We want her to have a healthy respect and understanding of guns in hopes that she would never pick up a gun without supervision.

A Successful Hunt

For two years Jim did not get a deer but this year he got a 9 point buck within 10 minutes of getting in his stand. We always enjoy our vinison and this year I am determined to make some new recipes with cuts that we generally give away. It will be in keeping with our goal of eating foods that are organic and natural.

Grace and Brother (Aaron)

TWENTY NINE YEARS

No, I'm not 29 years old but on August 25th Jim and I celebrated our 29th anniversary. We had a quiet evening at home without any big fanfare. I believe two things about special occassions. I may be high maintenance when it comes to facials, pedicures and massages but I am very low maintenance on birthdays and anniversarys. I don't want waste money on cards or flowers. Infact, instead of buying each other cards we often go to Wal Mart and just read the cards there and save the $5.00 That started out as a joke but we thought it was fun so we continue. And secondly, I don't want to celebrate important life events just one day a year but rather celebrate
everyday. Jim was sweet, he said he would marry me all over again. And of course I would marry him again with perhaps a few minor contract changes. Seriously, he is a sweetheart and I did good with this one!