Lloyd and I are taking it slow...not that we intended to, but that's how it's coming down. He wasn't feeling well on New Year's Eve but rallied enough to fool our party guests. However the next day, New Year's Day, he was out for the count and didn't come out of it until this morning....a quick flu bug that hopefully didn't jump into my system.
Yesterday Emily came upstairs to cook breakfast for us and greeted me with the news that the hot water heater was spraying water all over the laundry room. So we put towels around the faulty valve, a bucket under the leak and attempted to drain what was left of the 40 gallons of water. Meanwhile I got on the phone to find a plumber who was working on New Year's Day. (I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that we're 'diamond customers' at the plumbing and heating company we use.) Anyway, we were bumped to the head of the list (I think we were the only ones on the list that day) and pretty soon a young man was here with a new 50 gallon hot water heater and three hours later he left us a considerable sum poorer but with plenty of hot water. Our first crisis of the year, and our first major expense. I guess we're off to a running start after all.
Emily and Allan left yesterday morning so we're missing them, but it was fun having them here for a week. My baby girl and her husband are fun people to hang out with.
Today I put Christmas away. Why is it that it always takes so much longer to untrim the tree and house than it does to put it all up in the first place? And things never go back into the boxes the same way they were before. No matter how much I like having my Christmas decorations out, the tree up, the rooms decorated, it's always a relief to get things back to normal for another year.
When we were kids our family's tradition was to put the tree up (always a real tree) on Christmas Eve and take it down on New Year's Day. I guess it stems from our grandparent's time (or maybe their grandparents time - anyway, a long time ago) when candles were put on trees and the real trees were a fire hazard. I still try to take the tree down on New Year's Day but over the years we've changed the Christmas Eve tradition and put it up anytime after our daughter Mary's birthday on December 4. It used to be so exciting to come downstairs on Christmas Day when we were kids and see the tree, fresh and new, and the presents under it. So many great traditions from our childhood.
But I digress.
Now all the excitement of the holidays is over and stores are decorating for Valentine's Day, daughter Amy's birthday. Another three months of snow and cold and we'll be enjoying spring weather and the year is well on it's way.
Hope you're having a good one so far.
Pat
7 comments:
There were many years....that the beginning of the year ...taking Christmas down...was so depressing for me... it always seemed like the end...I don't know why... lately... I enjoy the fresh feeling of the clutter put away... sorry about your water...so are you living in Lethbridge now?
Snow has it's beautiful moments though. I wish we'd gotten more here on the East Coast than it has done. I've heard Phoenix is all sunshine. When's your next visit there?
Did not experience the sadness of taking down Christmas this year because I never put it up. I am so happy we don't have all that snow...but I better not brag because it is still winter.
I hope that the worst is over now at your house and the rest of this new year will be much better, both health wise and expense wise too. Hot water heaters have become very expensive. I've heard what others pay and am hoping my old one lasts a few more years.
very good thing the hot water heater problem happened when you were there! What a mess you would have gone home to. I mostly have Christmas down here except my cute new tree. Not ready yet!
very good thing the hot water heater problem happened when you were there! What a mess you would have gone home to. I mostly have Christmas down here except my cute new tree. Not ready yet!
Wishing you and yours a very happy, healthy and blessed new year, Pat. When I was a little girl, the tree never went up until Christmas eve. It all seemed so magical then, but I guess it feels just the same these days to the little ones. I agree with you, that putting the decorations away always seems like such a chore, and never seem to go into the right boxes!! Take care.
Post a Comment