Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Christmas


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Send me some Christmas!

Penny here. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you all Happy Holidays! And I would have done that sooner except my mom holds the keys to this blog and she’s pretty stingy with them.

And it’s not just the laptop she’s stingy with. I noticed a pile of Christmas presents over by the fireplace last week. I just knew they were for me. After all, who else in this household deserves presents more than me?

So I was very excited as we approached the magic day to find out what was inside all those boxes.

And do you know what? Not one, not ONE was for me! They were all for mom and daddy. Can you believe that?

Mom said I didn’t need anything, that whenever I did need something they went right out and got it for me so I didn’t have to wait. Well, she’s not wrong about that.

Still….

Mom did take me to Katie’s park on the one day that the weather was nice and she and I had a wonderful time. Most of these images are from that walk.

Don’t tell mom, but that was a pretty good present, all in itself. I’m ready for another walk at one of my parks, but mom says we have to wait until the sun comes out to melt all the ice around here. She says she’s afraid of falling, and she’s not sure I’d do a Lassie and go for help.

Well. If I got Christmas presents I might. Mom doesn’t always think about the larger picture.

Anyway, I hope you had a wonderful time and lots and lots of presents from the people and pets you love. And I hope you have a wonderful New Year too!

I don’t suppose I can expect presents for New Years Eve…


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You know you’re from Michigan if…

This weekend, I guess that means yesterday, I was busy taking pictures of my backyard birds as they bounced around in the beech tree near our feeders.

This is a very polular location. You have to wait in line to get the best stuff.

I loved the colors, the tree still hanging onto her leaves even though we are well into November now.

Sometimes the little bird feeder is especially busy and the wait is long.

It wasn’t warm outside, not like it had been through most of October, but it was still a nice, if slightly dreary, day.

I was shooting the goldfinch, but look who dropped in below. (White-striped sparrow)

I spent some of the day on Saturday painting Christmas cards to be sent to folks in nursing homes. Nothing too complicated, just simple cards painted in the hope they made someone smile.

The ten.

The goal was to get 10 painted over the weekend and mailed on Monday. Christmas comes so early when you have to get your stuff off to folks who have to do their thing to get the cards to seniors in a timely manner.

Folded, I’ll write a little note inside each of them and then send them off to the card coordinator on Monday.

I haven’t felt very Christmas-y this fall. I procrastinated on painting the cards until it was almost too late. I thought maybe I’d skip the whole Christmas card thing this time.

People ignore us little brown birds all the time too.

I haven’t put the lights up outside either. I usually put lights on one tree, the smallest of the spruce trees we planted so many years ago, at the corner of our lot.

This chunky little woodpecker had a hard time fitting through the feeder cage.

I use the smallest tree so that I can get lights clear up to the top if I stand on a ladder and use a long pole. It’s a lot of work and I don’t know if I’m up to it anymore.

But eventually he got his lunch. Might want to consider a smaller portion than usual though.

Still, the neighbors tell me how much they enjoy that tree when it’s lit on our dark winter nights. I enjoy it too. Somehow it makes the winter go by a little faster, or at least be a little brighter. So maybe I’ll get the lights up the next nice day we have around here.

Probably not today though. This morning I woke to our first snow of the season. Penny is not at all sure she was good with this new development.

Hey lady! I’d like a berry special please. Pronto!

But I am happy to see the trees and shrubs begin to be covered by this new white blanket. Pen and I might even go out and play in it when I finish this post.

The cardinal was unflappable by the robin’s flight.

Some of the birds are not as happy as I am to see the change in weather. But the snow makes me think that maybe I can put the lights up. Maybe I can paint a few cards for the season. Maybe I can get into the Christmas mood.

A festive red and green image in my own back yard.

Maybe I can.

You know you’re in Michigan when one day you’re working in the garden and the next you’re laughing over bird antics in the snow.

You can do it lady, I have faith in you.

Happy holidays, everybody. They are upon us.


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Christmas in July

Remember when you were a kid and stores did the big Christmas in July sales? I don’t know if that happens anymore, but this 4th of July holiday weekend I was doing a lot of Christmas-y painting.

For our September silent auction at Truck Safety Coalition fundraiser.

The Truck Safety Coalition is getting ready to put on their 3rd annual fundraising dinner and silent auction. Both years we’ve done this I’ve donated 3 sets of cards, 5 in a set, to be auctioned off. This year I feel like I don’t have much new to give, though I suppose if I dig through my notes I have painted new stuff since last September.

Did these months ago and shipped them off to seniors at nursing homes.

Anyway I decide to paint at least one set of holiday cards, and I’ll be including stamps for all of the cards I donate. I don’t know that people are really sending cards and personal mail anymore, but I hope these find good homes.

Painted these this spring and sent off to seniors.

Now I’m debating. Should the next set of cards be whimsical cats and/or dogs? Or should I do flowers and birds like I usually do? Or, should I do a set of birthday cards? What do you think will get the best bids?

What’s your vote?


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Wishing you a Warm Holiday

Many of you will be celebrating Christmas or Hanukah today.

Penny and our family want to send you warm holiday wishes today and for the rest of the year.

And we’re linking this post to Karma’s blog, where she challenges us all to post images of warmth. We can’t think of a better way to express that concept than by sharing the holidays with all of you.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and thank you all so much for being part of our world. We’ll see you soon.


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Too early?

As you know, my community band played our holiday concert this past Thursday, exactly one week before the US Thanksgiving.

A snowy evening, perfect for holiday music.

I don’t know if we should blame Thanksgiving for being late or the Christmas Spirit for being early.

Waiting for his big entrance.

But I suggest we don’t blame at all but instead just sit back and enjoy the wash of holidays as they swirl around us.

Decorating the hall before our guests arrive.

The concert was fun to play. The audience was appreciative, the children were impressed with Santa (well, who isn’t impressed with Santa?).

The music flowed, the applause filled the hall, and cookies awaited in the lobby after.

Santa conducted “Sleigh Ride”

You can’t ask for a better way to begin the holiday season.

Some cookies and conversation after the music.

And as I drove home, humming holiday music, as often happens, Sleigh Ride began playing on the radio.

Happy holidays, everybody. May we all find a little bit of time to enjoy the music.


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Another year flies by

Somehow we’re headed toward the new year already. Day after tomorrow will be the first day of 2024, and nothing I can do will stop it.

Time is moving so quickly, it’s all a blur.

It hasn’t been easy, 2023, and part of me is happy enough to see it go. But it’s all moving so fast I wonder, if in a week or so, I’ll be welcoming 2025. 

We all need to spend more time sitting still and listening.

It seems I blink and whole months have evaporated. I’m almost afraid to blink again.

Here’s hoping 2024, an election year in the US, encourages us to work together rather than against each other, helps us find new ways to connect with each other, and highlights the good inside so many of us.

Santa has headed back to the North Pole, now it’s on each of us to find our own joy.

I am hoping. But maybe I should just blink us into 2025.

We can hope.

Happy New Year everyone. I’ll see you in 2024. 


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I’ve been busy!

Hi there, it’s me, Penny!

Boy I bet you’ve been wondering where I’ve been! I know I’m probably the most important concern on your minds all the time, and in the interest of getting you to relax, I’ll bring you up to date on my adventures.

Me in my chariot.

There have been plenty.

Since it’s the holiday season I guess I should start out with my walk a week or so ago. I got to go to a park with my friend Whisky and his mom. (And my mom came too.) There were Christmas lights everywhere!

My friend Whisky-Roo and his mom.

There were lots of people and their dogs walking around and I was a pretty good girl about not barking at stuff. Even when people came out of the dark and startled me.

Sometimes I get worried that Mom isn’t paying attention to all the people walking by when she’s taking pictures.

Mom said it was pretty hard to get pictures of me looking at her cause there was so much other stuff for me to look at!

We spend way too much time sitting in front of stuff when we should be walking, Mom!

Then this week mom took me to Davis Lake Overlook Park, which is near my house. I’ve only been there one time before, and that time we walked in a different part of the park.

I think we should go down the yellow trail, Mom.

So on this walk everything was new to me. Boy I had fun sniffing. I’d go from one side of the trail to the other, nose always to the ground.

I feel like I’m wearing camouflage, Mom! I blend right in!

Mom said I did very good not being scared of being in the woods. When I was a little girl the big trees kinda scared me, but I’m a big girl now, and a lot braver.

Mom asks me to sit in front of stuff all the time. I think she needs to have an intervention.

Then guess what? My Uncle P. came to visit us! It was his first visit since I moved in. He’s so much fun! I liked him right away. A couple days ago he and Mom took me back to Davis Lake Overlook and we walked on a completely different trail there. 

My Uncle Paul. 

Part of it even Mom had never been on before! Mom says she might rename this park Penny’s Park. I think that’s an excellent idea.

I stay very focused on mom. When she says “OK!” I’m going in for my treat, yes sirree!

Mom says she’s still thinking about it. She says change is hard.

I think this is an excellent park and should definitely be named for me.

Anyway, we had a great walk even though it was foggy and cold. I didn’t mind that a bit of course. 

I gave her my best pose down by this little pond. It’s my Christmas present to her.

I loved walking with Mom and Uncle P. They thought they’d be wearing me out so I’d be calmer when we got home. But the joke was on them - I wanted to play, play, PLAY when we got back. 

They, on the other hand, needed a nap.

Never underestimate a Penny.

Silly people. They should know by now you can’t wear an Unstoppable Pretty Penny out!

Hee, hee.

Well, I might have taken a LITTLE nap.

Talk later, it’s time for me to go open my Christmas present, your Unstoppable Girl, Penny.


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Holiday music is everywhere

My mom used to say she wished the radio stations continued to play Christmas music after Christmas day. Back then you had to be in the same room as the radio in order to hear and she didn’t have time to listen before Christmas morning. She had four kids to shop and wrap for and a big holiday dinner to prepare. 

She didn’t have time to enjoy the season until it was over.

The Clarkston Community Band, pictures from the audience perspective taken by my husband.

I wish she could have attended the concert our Clarkston Community Band played last Friday evening. Pretty lights and lush music shaped our theme of “Let there be Peace.” 

“Bugler’s’Holiday by Leroy Anderson

I don’t think there’s a better way to get in the spirit of the season than to go to a live concert, right in your own community, performed by your friends and neighbors. The musicians might not be professionals (though sometimes they are) and the performance might not be perfect (though sometimes it is) but the spirit is real and the motivation is pure.

Friday night songs like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, “White Christmas” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas” got us all into the right mood. When the audience sang along on a medley of Christmas carols I had to stop playing for a moment and just listen to all those voices joined together. 

Pure magic.

Santa waits in the wings

Yep, Friday night we filled that auditorium with love. Toward the end of the show lots of children came up on stage to ring jingle bells as we played “Here Comes Santa Claus” in the hope they could convince Santa to stop in for a visit.  These kids were very convincing, and Santa showed up right on cue. Their faces, when they realized he was standing right behind them, were priceless. 

More magic.

Excitement builds as they hope for the big guy to arrive.

And then Santa conducted our last piece of music, “Sleigh Ride,” because it’ can’t be a holiday concert without a ride through the snow behind prancing horses, even if it’s all only in our imaginations. 

A perfect ending to a perfect evening.

Friday night we all came together for a moment of celebration and peace, even knowing the world is filled with unrest. We all left that night smiling and you can too. This season, check your local high school’s web page. There’s likely a holiday concert or two near you this very week. Please take time from your preparations to support those musicians. They’d love to see a full house and you’ll be glad you went.

I guarantee there will be magic bouncing off those walls.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Penny and I wish you all a peaceful holiday!