Warm Winter Wonderings and Wishes

From our house to your house---2025

 

During this entire year, my head has been bundled in stories from yesteryear. True, heartfelt, honest stories from adults reflecting on their childhood years attending Jefferson Elementary school in Norman. I could not ask for a better way to spend the year. I cannot wait for you to read the book and feel what I have been honored to feel with the lives of those who shared their personal stories. Finished copies arrived at Jefferson December 16. We sold thirty books in two days. In 2026 the book will be available at Jefferson, online, or contact me. (This story is on my blog The Picture That Told Three Stories.)

 

However, this bundled jumbled mind of mine encountered a few hitches and glitches along the way:

 * My Monday housecleaning chores nearly ceased. We bought a robot vacuum to help the cause.

  *Spring weather filled with rain gave our trees and plants a super-boost for growing and producing. The rain also kept me inside writing instead of playing golf. 

  *Last winter one set of pipes froze causing a messy flood in two rooms. With help we sucked up the water, dried the pads and carpet and a month later moved the furniture back. No company that month.

  *Jack is healthier now than last year thanks to a “Pacemaker.” My back is old and crooked, but I am still standing erect and plan to keep walking, gardening, and playing golf until my legs do not work.

  *Summer arrived gloriously. Jack and Murphy took long walks each morning. Murphy spent hours keeping the squirrels out of the back yard and keeping us safe. Volunteers helped collect, sort, and organize 130 years of school history.

  *Jack and I spent two weeks traveling this fall. One week in NYC with our son Matt, where we feed our souls on art and history, walked until our shoes wore out, and filled our stomachs with divine foods, from a yacht on the Hudson to the 60^th floor restaurant overlooking the financial district. Five days in WDC the second week of the shutdown, the weather was warm and sunny. The memorials humbled us and brought tears to our hearts. We recalled our dad’s battles in the Pacific and classmates who lost their lives in Vietnam. We felt blessed to live in America.

  *There were more beautiful days for walking Murphy, digging in the garden, and playing golf than we could count. Still, I collected stories and wrote them week after week. Murphy stayed with me when it was too hot to be outside. Our team of volunteers completed a half-dozen scrapbooks of our school history while I typed. Then they found time to help me edit.

 

  *Our grandson Isaac, attends ISU, so we added ISU football to our weekends along with OU games and texted family back and forth with thoughts about our teams. Mike and Ann live in Dodgeville, Wisconsin.

  *This fall our hot water tank gave out and we bought ourselves a new hot water tank that came with a red ribbon for a Christmas gift. However, two days later that we discovered the tank had leaked into our house. Once again, with neighborly help, we moved heavy dining room furniture and pulled up carpet. Fall weather gave us warm days with doors open for drying. We restored our dining room with new padding, then moved furniture back in place days before Thanksgiving.

  *Along with our daughter, Katy, we celebrated our birthdays with fresh seafood at Sedalia's in OKC on December 26.

  *My personal blog "Literally Letty" fell from the top spot in weekly writing to "If and when time allows."  

Our "Christmas Corner" 2025.

 
On December 24, 26, and 27 I played golf. It was 80 degrees and there was no book to write. No Christmas tree nor gifts under it graced our home this year. Instead, we spent our time rejoicing in our lives, our family, and our friends.

I thank you all who have faithfully read my stories. Warm Winter Wishes to each of you for a New Year filled with joy, good health, and adventures.