Susan Says . . .

The first month of 2010 is almost gone and over a month of winter is behind us. January has given us a mixed bag of weather; even this last week offered quite a variety. The ground was white with frost early in the week but by Friday we had sunshine and rather mild temperatures. Rain on Thursday and Saturday kept the drive to the garden shop muddy but if the forecast is correct it will soon be frozen again. Next week the old groundhog will pop out in his annual attempt to predict the length of Old Man Winter’s reign.

Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, one of those postal holidays when there’s no mail delivery, but I checked the mailbox twice before it dawned on me why there was nothing there. The afternoon was booked up with Mama’s checkup at the clinic. We spent some time waiting for lab work and more time waiting in the doctor’s office so we barely made it to the bank in time to sign some paperwork on our way home.

I spent a productive day at home Wednesday, catching up on some chores and finishing the book I was reading. I made a tuna pasta salad for lunch and when Jim came in from work that afternoon paid a short visit to Leta and Kay. Uncle Holland called that night to check on his sisters in Gravette and report on his household andAunt Merle in Tulsa.

Rain was falling when we awoke Thursday morning so Jim had to change his plans to go to work. We enjoyed a good breakfast and watched “The Price is Right” together that morning. Daughter-in-law Heather dropped by with recipes and ingredients to make Paula Deen’s taco chili and 5-layer bars and we had a visit from Holly Higgins, a nurse with Care Network, who examined Mama and evaluated her for services from that agency.

Sister Nancy came to stay with Mama while I went to work for a few hours Friday morning. When I had finished at the office I dropped by the library to return a couple of books and visit with the library manager about plans for this year’s Easter celebration. Joe and grandson Matthew dropped by that evening to bring Jim a set of CDs with episodes from Stargate, one of his favorite TV shows. He began watching them that night.

Rain returned on Saturday morning so I got a bit damp when I ventured out to pick up our Angel Food order. We had a visitor who took a crate full of coffee jars from the cellar and after she left I fixed a late breakfast. It was still drizzling when I went to the dollar store in the afternoon to replenish our supply of chicken broth and get Jim some shaving cream. I also found some holiday items at clearance prices and purchased a few Valentine party supplies.We ordered burgers, French fries and onion rings for supper, a treat we hadn’t indulged in for some time.

We made a trip to Southwest City Sunday morning and enjoyed a late breakfast after we returned. We did a load of laundry in early afternoon and I folded the clothes later while we watched the football playoff game. I clipped the coupons from the Sunday paper and wrote my column while the second game was played.

It’s only a couple of weeks until Valentine’s Day and time to start thinking about how you’ll treat your loved ones. The stores are filled with flowers, candy and other goodies but to add a personal touch you might add some homemade gifts. It’s Sunday morning so how about serving heart-shaped pancakes or even eggs? Homemade sweets can be packaged in recycled plastic takeout containers decorated with paper doilies and hearts cut from self-adhesive shelf liner, then tied with ribbon. Use your imagination, unleash your creative side and make other gifts or homemade cards. I have a handmade card, made by a friend several years ago. I treasure it, get it out and use it in myValentine decor.

-Susan Holland

Look for Susan’s observations every Wednesday in The News Herald

Opinion, Pages 4 on 01/27/2010