A KIndergarten Tea

 This was my third kindergarten tea at Gladwyne Elementary School.  Today we were Henry’s guests in Mr. Brown’s kindergarten.  

We left home at 8:29–with plenty of time to get to Gladwyne, a one hour drive as scheduled.  However, there was lots of rain and we came to a complete standstill two times on I-276.  It was clear we were not going to make it by 10:00 am and I was so sad to be disappointing Henry.  He did ask why we were late! 

We found a parking spot and it was a long walk with my walker on a bumpy path through a field to the school entrance.  A guard greeted us and had us sign in and show our ID.  I’m glad schools are so conscious of safety.  He told us how to get to the classroom.

  Mr. Brown was reading a book to the class and grandparents.  It appeared to be on a theme of memories and he said that we were all making memories today.  I was very happy to see some grown-up folding chairs because I thought if I had to sit in a kindergarten chair, I was going to have a very hard time getting up.

Our assignment was to fill in a little booklet comparing our time in kindergarten with Henry’s time—focusing on snacks, favorite activities, places to visit, TV shows. Henry really enjoyed filling in each page with Jim and me trying our best to remember so long ago!  There was no scheduled time to show the toy we were asked to bring along, but Jim took Henry aside to a place where there was enough room and demonstrated the yo-yo we had purchased from Amazon a week or so ago.  Henry made sure that Mr. Brown saw Grandpa and his yo-yo.  

We stopped at the Conway estate on our way home for a bathroom break and a sandwich.  We were able to greet Jasper who is home from college and a very successful first semester.  The trip home was much less stressful.  I found the December 14 broadcast of “With Heart and Voice” on my phone and we listened to lovely Advent music all the way home.

With my walker and cane, it was not easy to get to places and find my way in crowded rooms, but with Jim’s help, I did it and was so glad we could see Henry in his environment.  I do think we were the oldest grandparents there with my giving birth to Laura at age 32 and Laura giving birth to Henry at age 42. 

The First Snow of the Year

 

We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland.  We do not get much snow here in New Jersey, not like it was in Indiana or Michigan.  The 9:15 church service was cancelled so we had to wait for the 11:00 service to be live-streamed.  There were not many folks there!  

It is beautiful looking out our living room window.  It looks like we live in a forest instead of a 225 unit apartment complex.  We live on the very end—a fortunate but unplanned choice.  

I may even find my boots and mittens and attempt a walk.  The roads and sidewalks are cleaned thanks to the New Dawn folks who maintain the grounds here.  We could hear the plows before 9 am.  

Princeton Public Library, my Library

I read just one of these books. 

This afternoon Jim dropped me off at the entrance to the library and I carefully walked in with my cane.  We had accidentally left my walker at the top of the stairs at home and using it makes me feel more secure.  Jim had reminded me to take a bag for my books and I grabbed an orange one from the garage.

At the library, a young library staffer named Zach told me he liked my bag—and I noticed it said “Stonebridge.”  He said he used to work there and it was a great place.  I told him we had heard that from many residents and were considering it.  Then he said many folks from his church went there—Nassau Presbyterian. I told him that was our church too!  I wish I had gotten his last name.  At least I could tell him I loved my library!

And I do!  I keep a list of books on their website “For Later.”  They let me know which are available and I make a list of a few to find on the shelves.  I usually have a requested book waiting for me —either a brand new mystery or a book from the second floor where I find it difficult to find books.  I often ask for help in checking out because my library card can be a problem at the self check out kiosks.  

I have asked the library to buy a few books when I have heard of new ones.  Maybe I should ask them to get Laura Vanderkam’s newest book coming out soon—Big Time to be published in May 2026.  

Because we do not live in the Princeton itself (even though our postal address is Princeton), I have to pay a fee every July.  It’s a senior rate and worth every penny!  I am so grateful for our public library and the way it enriches my life. 

Notre Dame Sports

 

Last night Notre Dame’s football team played its last game of the regular season at Stanford with the opening kickoff at 10:30 pm for us.  We watched the first half when they were ahead 35 to 3.  At 12:25 we decided to turn it off and go to bed.  I checked the score later on my phone when I was awake and it was 42 to 6.  I look forward to watching the Irish and was sorry to miss so much of the game.  A decisive victory could mean a bid to the college playoffs.  Jeremiyah Love put on a show that might help him get the Heisman trophy. His spin moves are wonderful—even in a crowd.  But when he went out with an injury to his rib, Jadarian Price took his place and immediately ran for two touchdowns.  And then when he went out, the third man in, Williams I think, also ran for a touchdown.  So ND is not just one star or two.  Their freshman quarterback, CJ Carr, is from a legendary football family and is doing very well showing poise on a big stage in front of thousands of screaming fans.  And we like Marcus Freeman, a coach who stays calm and positive and has led his team from rough start of two losses to eight victories in a row.  

I have written before about enjoying Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team with its star Hannah Hidalgo.  In one game this year, she had an NCAA record of 16 steals along with 44 points.  It’s fun to watch her because she seems to be having so much fun herself.  After one very close game in which she made a crucial last minute bucket, she leaped up into the stands with the fans after the game and took a selfie.

I try to watch Notre Dame’s men too but they are not as consistent in their winnings.  They beat Rutgers in a close game in a Las Vegas tournament but then lost to Kansas.  Marcus Burton is an Indiana native.  It’s great to have a local fellow at ND.  Braedon Shrewsbury is the coach’s son and that can’t be easy to play for your dad.  Apparently another son Nicholas is going to join the team next year.

We watch a lot of sports and are happy when we can get ND games via NBC and ESPN and the ACC network.  

Thanksgiving 2025

It’s the day after Thanksgiving.  Susan rescued the turkey carcass for me and I have just finished making broth.  We will have turkey soup for supper and there are three containers of broth ready to go into the freezer for soup stock some other day.  I remembered that I need to skim some fat from the top of them once they cool.  I had almost forgotten the process.  

There were 17 of us at 231 State Road.   Two tables were set in the dining room.  We used the best china and silver.   There was an abundance of food and laughter.  What a lot of work for Susan—in charge of the turkey and dressing and mashed potatoes—and several pies.  We all contributed something to the feast.  I made fudge—a tradition that goes back to my mother’s making fudge for Thanksgiving dinners.  And it turned out well—it was not fudge soup as sometimes happens.  I also made a corn casserole which may not be enjoyed by all, but I like it and we will have that with our soup for supper.

Dan made a “festive” sourdough bread with cranberries mixed in.  Alex made a beautifully plated butternut squash dish.  Laura made cranberry sauce and I think Michael made a pie.  There was a break between dinner and dessert for football and frisbee throwing outside—also a tradition.  And there was time for TV football too. No one read Psalm 100 this year but our patriarch said grace and gave thanks for family and food.

As always, I am so thankful for family—and also afterwards, thankful to sit quietly in our living room just with my husband.  I am aware of two families who are missing loved ones this year and hope and pray our circle stays unbroken.  May we not have to be thankful in the midst of sorrow as a prayer that I saved from years ago at SBCRC states.  

————Black Friday?  We made a trip to Dollar Tree where all items were $1.25 except for one that was $1.50!  But it is always a good shopping adventure.  We might do some Amazon shopping too—for a vacuum cleaner.  And then there is Black Friday football well underway at 3:30 pm.  

 

A Plan

 

This morning, Jim and I saw Dr. Culp, the orthopedic surgeon who did my left hip replacement surgery on May 1 and we scheduled the right hip replacement surgery for January 29, the first time he had open. 

Jim had suggested we write out my concerns for Dr. Culp and print it up.  We did so and handed it to him to read.  He answered all my questions and did not seem offended by them.  It was good to have some of the processes clarified.  For example, glucose goes up because they give you an IV dextrose solution as a matter of course.  So they need to check glucose regularly after surgery.  That was a matter of routine. The urinary retention is a side effect of spinal anaesthetic and he could specify doing fewer bladder scans.  But at least I will know why they are doing them and can question so many next time.  

My memory of what happened in surgery is selective, he said, because of the drugs given that cause amnesia.  I find that disturbing. He said they could cut back on them but I wouldn’t want to wake up during surgery and hear a saw buzz. No, that is true.  But I don’t like the thought of possible bad things happening and I have no memory of them.  Another option is more sedation  He would make a note of it for the anaesthesiologist and I guess I could ask those questions too when I have Pre-Admission Testing or see the anaesthesiologist in the pre-surgery room. He assured me there were people in the operating room with me even if I saw no one or remembered seeing no one.   He did say I would not need the extensive heart testing again.  

I wish I did not have to go through this again.  I wish I did not have to dread it again.  But I want relief from my daily pain and lack of mobility.  I would like to walk without a walker or cane again.  I’d like to walk greater distances.  So I shall just have to find some courage and hope that “the year of the hip” is over by March 3, 2026, one year after the initial x-ray that said “severe osteoarthritis.”  

Christmas Shopping

 

I have been unhappy with folks who post on Facebook or elsewhere that their Christmas shopping is all done well before Christmas.  Shopping for those I love always causes me stress because I want to give them all the perfect gifts and I don’t know what those should be.  I have lead adult church school classes three times over the last many years on Simplifying Christmas.  I know my dear daughter takes another attitude about this and was always concerned that we would simplify too much!

But…this year I have started shopping before Thanksgiving and I have a plan for the rest of my shopping.  Jim has suggested gift certificates for years and this year I think that along with the usual chocolate letters we will give the grandchildren cash.  Two of them will get Skittles instead due to allergies and preferences.  A highlight for me last year was little Henry unwrapping his chocolate letter and with sheer delight saying, “It’s the first letter of my name!”  Laura’s comment was,  “That’s why we send him to that expensive preschool!”  So what about the adults?  Because some of them may read this blog, I will keep that a secret for now.  And our oldest granddaughter and her fiancée?  I think they qualify for chocolate letters and the adult gift.

I can do all the needed purchases online and I have already purchased the gift bags for the adults at Michael’s.    This may all prove to be a very needed process if I schedule my second hip replacement surgery yet before Christmas.  

I will not brag on Facebook however.  And now the next big question.  Do we buy almond paste and make banket again?  Every year I say this is the last time we will do this and then I remember how much people enjoy our special Dutch treat and we do it again.  I might still have a pound of almond paste in the freezer from last year.  Stay tuned.  No decision on that needs to be made today.