A Blog to Print Book

 I wanted to take advantage of a coupon I saw in my gmail so today I put together my 2025 book.  I didin’t edit the last 2/3 of it.  I didn’t make any changes in the blog.  And it will end with the post just before this one.  That’s OK.  I was having trouble dealing with the technology and just went with saying “check out.”  So it is done and I can start a new book with this post and our Christmas festivities.  The site was ‘intorealpages.com.  

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.