Debra LaValley's Blog

I am sitting here watching “I Dreamed a Dream – The Susan Boyle Story.” It doesn’t matter how many times hear her sing – I smile while tears fill my eyes. She is the modern-day Cinderella – an ordinary middle-aged woman – who took a chance to achieve her goal to be a professional singer. She did so in front of an audience who was laughing at her and figuring she was going to fall flat on her face … then she opened her mouth and sang. Her voice brought them all to their feet. She definitely has been given a great gift and her story warms your heart. It proves that if you believe in yourself and keep trying – you can achieve them. You are never too old to realize them. Pure Awesomeness! It also reminds us all not to be so judgemental. You “can’t judge a book by its cover.” Susan Boyle dreamed a dream and is living it! Continued success and joy to you Susan Boyle! May 2010 make your dreams come true. Happy New Year!

There is less than an hour left in 2009, as I write this. Tonight through the clouds, I caught a glimpse of the blue moon (second full moon this month). It is a rare event for it to happen on New Year’s Eve. It only happens every 19 years. I couldn’t get too good of a shot (I was too lazy to get the tripod) and the sky was cloudy. Maybe in 19 years it will be a clear night. 🙂

As I look to 2010, I think about how many times I have made the same resolutions (to eat healthier, exercise more, and to lose weight). I never quite turn over a new leaf – but I improve a little bit each year. So, I will not be hard on myself for not reaching my goal weight. I did exercise more and ate better most of the time and lost some weight (though a few pounds returned). I will continue the challenge my resolutions bring and welcome the new year with a smile and the wish that all of you Have a Happy and Healthy 2010!

I woke this morning to the sound of a deluge and freakishly warm weather for New Hampshire this time of year! I guess the midwest this year is getting the snow that we usually get hit with. It may reach 50 degrees today – practically summer weather! But alas – by Tuesday, we will be back in the arctic chill.

The Christmas celebration continues for our family as we wait for the arrival of two nephews who are driving here from other parts of the country. We only see them once or twice a year. I am sure that I will be snapping some photos. On Christmas Day, I got to meet my first great nephew! Lucian Gabriel is about 5 months old and looks just like his dad Christopher. My parents don’t have a huge house but we all meet and pack the place for the holidays. There is plenty of food and lots of love! I love spending time with the family – especially those we seldom see because they live so far away.

I can’t believe that 2009 is almost to an end! It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the new millenium! I hope this finds everyone well.

Christmas is just a few days away and memories of my grandmother LaValley and the cookies she baked (Cherry Winks were a favorite) and some of the crafts she did. She had sequined wreath pin that she made and she taught me. I made many and gave them to a bunch of my family and friends who still wear them. They were simple but time consuming. You cut two small donut shapes out of green felt. With one of these you sewed the sequins on by threading a sequin and a bead together. You went up through the sequin and bead and then went over and under the bead (the bead locks the sequin in). After you put all the sequins on – you sewed a small ribbon bow to the wreath – then sewed the second piece of felt to the beaded one (to hide all the stitching). The final step is to sew a safety pin to the back.

I am really enjoying high-speed cable. I cannot believe that I waited so long before I switched from dial-up to cable internet. It is the difference between night and day. One of the things I enjoy the most is being able to watch videos without waiting “days” for them to download. Youtube is really fun, and my newest enjoyment comes from http://www.hulu.com. I highly recommend Hulu. You can watch current programs or search the shows of your childhood. Many of my favorites from yesteryear are available. So far, I have watched SEA HUNT, LOST IN SPACE, NANNY and the PROFESSOR, and FLIPPER. I loved FLIPPER growing up. It also reminds me of my grandparents. Every once in a while, I would stay over on a Saturday night at their house on 98 Washington Street. I remember they would watch Lawrence Welk and I would watch FLIPPER (after Lawrence Welk, if I remember correctly). I also remember that my grandmother would serve me Patchwork Ice cream. It looked like a checker board. It came in strawberry/vanilla or chocolate/vanilla. Great memories! I noticed Hulu has LAND OF THE GIANTS, GUNSMOKE, THE RIFLEMAN, and many more older shows. I can’t wait to explore more of them!

Things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas. I had supper at CC Tomatoes with Tim and Dianne. After we ate – we drove around Penacook to look at some of the nice light displays. The lights look extra nice with the blanket of snow on the ground!

Well, we got about 8+ inches more snow today. What a messy commute! Later in the afternoon, it turned to rain. It currently is too warm to freeze on the roads – which is a good thing. When I arrived home today – the driveway hadn’t been plowed yet. I started to shovel the heavy snow carefully – then a neighbor came to help me. A younger couple who live above me also came out and shoveled all the paths. It was very nice of them. The older I get – the less I think I should shovel – unlike my father who today at 75 years old felt it was necessary to spend 3 1/2 hours outside snowblowing, shoveling and taking the snow off their camper. My mother was not pleased. They got a metal roof this summer so we wouldn’t have to worry about him taking the snow off the roof like we did the past 2 years. What can you do? He used to be ticked at my grandfather who did similar things at the same age! What can you do – short of removing every shovel and taking the ladders and snowblowers away?

Oh well . . . here is a photo of what my yard looked like when I got home today. It is “Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!”

We had our first measurable snow of the winter today! Yeah! We are supposed to be getting 2-4 inches of snow. It is looking very festive! I love it when it snows in the evening – especially when I can just watch it fall and not have to drive in it or shovel it. I took the photo tonight on my way back home from church.

It was another very mild day here in New Hampshire – very freaky. Tomorrow night, we are supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow. Extremes here in New Hampshire. I am actually looking forward to a little snow. It will freshen up the place. I have to get out my Christmas tree tomorrow. It will be nice decorating as the snow falls.

I watched the Monk series finale tonight. It was very well done! I am going to miss the series. At least it ended on a high note. Some series stay on the air too long and you can’t wait for them to end.

It has been a busy first week of December. My sister Jackie has been in the hospital for 2 days for cellulitis that she has on her cheeks and nose. The doctors are mystified. They don’t know what has caused it. She is doing better and should be released tomorrow. She is in good spirits.

Tonight, my dad, Uncle Bob and I enjoyed the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center’s Holiday Party. It was very nice. There was quite a crowd there which was good to see.

There was a mini crime wave yesterday in Concord. Someone robbed Sears and two local drug stores were also robbed. “Tis the Season!” Seems folks get more desperate for money, etc. this time of year. The most disturbing one was an armed robbery of the new Fisherville Drug Store right next to 30 Pines – very close by. The robber stole drugs. I think the only thief caught so far was the one at Sears. Hopefully, the other two will be found soon.