Our 2017 Tree

More Tree Dec Pix

We Decorate Our Tree

Michael, Megan and Katherine came by and decorated the tree, along with Jamie and Nick. It's a really nice, fat tree with lots of branches.

Goodbye, Mom

Mike and I went to Ohio for the weekend for Mom's funeral. It was really a nice service and Mom would be happy to hear all the praise people had for her. She was part of so many organizations that helped others! The priest told a nice story. When he went to offer her last rites, she did not recognize him. But as he spoke, she said, "you sound just like Father ___. I like him!" I could almost hear her saying that. My sister Martha gave a nice eulogy and mentioned many of the dishes Mom was famous for--pies, vegetable soup, chicken noodle soup. She said Mom's holiday decorations would make Martha Stewart proud, and mentioned how everything at Christmas had a big, red bow! My sister almost started crying a few times but held it together. Ladies at the church had a lunch prepared for us afterwards, and I sat with Mike and my Mom's good friend Cathy Crosby. When Mom first moved to Columbus, she didn't know anyone, and it was Cathy who helped her get settled and introduced her to others. Cathy is so nice. Saw my Uncle Bob and Aunt Mubby (Marilyn), my mother's surviving siblings. There were various cousins there, too. My mother was very loved.

Eye Doctor

I went to Mike's eye doctor today, who did his Lasik surgery, to see if I'm a candidate. I'm NOT (at this time, anyway) but I am going to have cataract surgery. It doesn't sound like too big a deal, except a get knocked out so I have to have pre-surgery approval from my regular doctor. What a pain. Well, at least it isn't until February. I knew I had difficulty seeing things in sharp focus, but was told before that my cataracts were 'mild.' This doctor said they should have told me I needed surgery. I wish Dr. Harris was still around. He never would have steered me wrong! We have decided to fly to Ohio this weekend. We take an early afternoon flight tomorrow and get to Columbus around 5, with a layover in Philadelphia. The road conditions in Pennsylvania were just too dangerous, black ice and all. We fly home on Sunday. I keep thinking 'there is no more Dee McNally" walking the earth and it seems so strange. But then I imagine her walking around in heaven, healthy and happy and laughing with my Dad and brothers!

Obit

My sister Susan wrote this very accurate obit. It really describes my mother! Dee McNally 1923 – 2017 Dee McNally passed peacefully into heaven on December 10, 2017 to join her family members there. Dee leaves behind her brother, Robert Hoffer, and sister, Marilyn Hupp and surviving children Bill, Susan, Clare and Martha, their spouses and their families. She loved her grandchildren and great-grands. Dee was a very active member of St. Agatha Church, singing in the choir, baking for the Newcomer’s and Bereavement luncheons, crafting for Christ Child society and praying for everyone’s special intentions to Our Lady. Her career spanned fifty years as an Avon lady. She hung with the much younger “birthday bunch” whom she considered family. She made the best apple pies, loved to shop for bargains for “next to nothing.” She truly loved life. The family is so grateful to the staff at National Church Residences at Mill Run for lovingly caring for her in her final years. She is with the angels. A Mass will be celebrated at ten a.m. on Saturday, December 16th at St. Agatha Church in Upper Arlington. Nightie night, sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.

Taking Care of Business

At least as far as I could. I called Calverton today rather than waiting to go there. Listened to a long and drawn-out recording and gave up. Called later and remembered it is best to press "0". I got a live person but he only gave me another number to call. I did and got a message that I need Dad's DOB, SSN and branch of service (if we don't find his discharge papers) before I can talk to anyone about interring Mom's ashes. I, frankly, would prefer to have a funeral director take care of all of this. Mike thinks the people in Ohio could do it, but I am not so sure. Being as how she was cremated, at least there is no terrible rush to get her into Calverton. I really don't want to do this until after the holidays. The kids can't get off from work (busiest time of year) and I want them there. It's just Mike and me going to Ohio. We leave Friday and return Sunday. The funeral mass is Saturday morning. I bought myself a decent-looking pair of dress pants to wear. I don't have any since losing all this weight. I wanted to get dark-colored shoes but they were either too high-heeled or expensive. My mom would have fits if she knew I spent $65 on shoes, so I didn't. I might have some casual, non-sneaker shoes in my closet, but if not, the sneakers will have to do. I have enough on my mind (I was up and down all night, unable to sleep well) without exacerbating my back pain. Alas, if only Mom had been able to enjoy just one more Christmas, but it wasn't meant to be. She will celebrate with my brothers, my Dad and her own parents, I'm sure.

Mom is gone

My mother passed away in her sleep earlier today, just about a month shy of her 95th birthday. A volunteer came to visit her and played "When the Saints Go Marching In" on a harp. Mom was out of it, but maybe on some level she heard the music and thought angels were welcoming her into Heaven. I wouldn't be surprised!

My sister Martha called to tell me. She also said Sue already has hotel rooms booked for us for next weekend. However, she still has to square this with the church. Mike suggested me flying, but there is no way I would do it a week before Christmas. I told him I would pay for a hotel if we get stuck halfway across Pennsylvania due to snow. I hope that doesn't happen, though.

I have to go to Calverton on Wednesday to discuss how to get her there. I'll be carrying her ashes back--another reason I don't want to fly.

I am sad but more nervous about getting there and doing the Calverton thing right. I have grieved off and on for months now--don't even get me started when I hear "Send in the Clowns," one of Mom's favorite songs!

First Snow

And it isn't even winter yet!

Mike made sure the birds and squirrels were fed.

Good news: my check for the movie option came today! We put it right in the bank. I took out $100 cash but the rest will go in money market until I call Uni (who does our taxes) to see how much estimated I should pay on it. I knew it was coming eventually but they are soooo slow that I figured I wouldn't see it until  next year. Yay, money!

Surgery Follow Up Today

I had my six-month follow-up today from my surgery. Just an upper GI, which was very much like one of the tests I had before surgery: drink white stuff and swallow while they take a picture. Took about an hour. The only thing I didn't like was when they asked me to swallow these things that are like tiny pop-rocks. It's like when you have too much soda in your mouth. Needless to say, too many bubbles! I just spit it out into the cup I had. Glad what I did manage to swallow was enough.

Also glad it looks like I don't have to do this again for 2 years!

Now I can concentrate on my baking. I made Rum Balls the other day and finished making the spritz cookies. I'm making chocolate cherry thumbprints tomorrow.

Cookies

We came home from tree shopping and made a few batches of spritz cookies.

They'll go into the freezer. So far I've made 2 batches--spritz and peanut butter cookies. Tomorrow, I'll make the dough for another type of cookie.

Also made a 'pretzel-rolo' sandwich treat where you melt a Rolo candy on a square pretzel then top it with another pretzel. Really, really good!

Tree Night

Michael and Katherine came for Sunday sauce, then afterwards we went to Home Depot to pick out our tree. I pretty much liked the first one we found, but then I liked a second one better.

Mike kept pulling out other trees but I kept going back to the one I liked.

Katherine is always such a goof.

Decorating

Now that the rat adventure is pretty much behind us, I have started to get more serious with my holiday decorating.

I kept out some of my woodland creatures. You can see Snoopies at the top, then deer (inc. Rudolph), woodland animals and snowmen. I have a small table with snow globes and nutcrackers. Mom Pastore's tree is on the table next to the couch. She made it many years ago.

Still have to put up the manger but I've spent today  mostly prepping cookies and candy. I might gain 10 pounds if I'm not careful of the cookie dough.