Steppin' Out on a Saturday Night Wearing Mystical Jewelry

 

Wow. The new year has begun and is already feeling better than last year. Signs of new beginnings are visible everywhere. Mother Nature is even showing off a bit of her talent by painting the skies.

As the sun was setting over Roseburg hills, I had to stop to collect some images of the artwork for us to view. I wasn't the only one either. There were several other people in a store parking lot, snapping their phone camera buttons as fast as they could. It was far too unique and beautiful to pass up the opportunity for a good photo of these brilliantly designed and colored skies. 

Scenery in yellows and grays were spotted in my driveway as well, as I returned home from the store. Not quite as many intricate designs, but the color was there, nonetheless. 

As I was on the final stretch toward home, I spotted a gorgeous sign from above over a hill in the distance. I tried to get a good photo, however; a camera can never do a remarkable view justice. I did what I could. 

This section of a rainbow poked through a fog bank forming over the hill, lighting the skies with brilliance and beauty. Sorry about the building tops and streetlights in the photo. I would love to remove them. Looking at the small rainbow sitting over the hill, fighting off the fogginess in the area, I felt as though this could be how bright our future may be this year. Maybe not, who really knows? But I like to think it may just be the brightness of things to come. 

***

January 1, 2026

We turned on ESPN early in the morning, to watch the Oregon Ducks vs the Texas Tech Red Raiders game. As we finished the win of that awesome game, we turned on the Indiana vs Alabama game to see what was up in various parts of the National Championship tournament. Both of us expected to see Alabama whip Indiana into submission like a dominatrix, but that just didn't happen. Rather it turned out to be the other way around, with Bama being the team taking the whippings. The game was very close at the end, with Bama being three small points behind. Everyone was believing this is how Bama would finally put this game into the history books, but Indiana had very different plans.   

I do believe we both drooled as the second game of our day was over, leaving us in complete disbelief, our jaws hanging open. Excitement was there, that's for sure, but a surreal feeling lingered. 

Next up? Ole Miss vs Georgia. Now, they are both great teams, but the bets were on Georgia because of their record. The Southern Belle had different ideas on how this game should play out. They fought, and fought hard, making some absolutely amazing, jaw-dropping plays in the record book. Stunning moves. Amazing game. Now, Georgia, that's how you treat a lady, giving her the way, and respecting all she does. 

Georgia vs Ole Miss left us at the edge of our seats in those final seconds, making the game one of the best games we have ever seen. Miraculously, Ole Miss came up five points over Georgia, with 39-34 as the final score. Congratulations to all of the teams who won and moved on toward the National Championship game coming soon. Thank you for the entertainment!

***

More Birthday Candles Than I Dare Count

It's January 2, 2026, already two days into January and the year of the horse. Speaking of horses, our goal for today is to load up the new car, pick up Mallory along the way, and drive ourselves to Eugene. Well, Springfield actually, where we will meet up with the family to have a pizza party. It's supposed to be to celebrate my birthday, but not to me. It's a chance to meet with family and to have fun. I'm hoping the trip goes smoothly, with a lot of laughter while traveling and when we get there. 

This is "Cutie." The name is derived from some lettering on the plates. 

***

Today is January 2 and we are on our way to meet up with family. Ah, our beautiful family. I love my daughters so much, and then there are the grandkids, and their children. All of them are beautiful people. 

We are a large group typically; however we have an entire section of the family who are sick. They had been traveling, coming home with some souvenirs, memories, and obviously they collected some germs along the way too. The rest of us are meeting up in Papa's Pizza to have some of the best taco pizza ever, at least in my opinion. I've never met anyone who did not love the refried beans, onion, taco sauce, cheese, tomatoes, and chips on a slice of pizza. 

Our trip went well. Not raining which does help. Pulling into the parking lot, we were met by several family members wanting to see the new car and greet us with hugs all the way around. Like I said, I do love my family. 

Mallory, Terry, and me walked into the pizza parlor and immediately saw the reserved section my daughter had saved for us. It was in a perfect spot, down by the fireplace. Awesome. We walked around the table and hugged everyone sitting at the table. With all the greeting complete, I was handed a large amount of gift bags and some single gifts. I guess I'm opening presents while we wait on the pizza. 

We had several members up and running around the place, so they're not in the photo. 

Oh, my did they ever give me gifts! They really over supplied me this year. I received a light jacket, a Christmas Story blanket with the leg lamp across the front, and an Oregon Duck blanket. I was showered with candles. I believe I received three of them. Plus, I got a set of candles on a charger. Each candle holder was black with silver elephants on the front. Tea candles come with the set. Love it!

A coffee mug with the letter V for Vicki, some sugar scrub for my face, a gorgeous Bear Paw purse, an absolutely amazing dreamcatcher, a shirt that says, "Dragonfly Inn, Gilmore Girls," a windchime that made me tear up. It says, "Grandma We hope that each time you listen to the wind blow, it reminds you of how much we love you." The chimes were from my granddaughter, Jess, and her family. I love them all so much that it meant a lot to read those words. 

Ah, but that wasn't all. I also received a tube of lip butter, a card with $60 inside, a super soft, luxurious hat and shawl-type scarf. But the hits kept coming with three bottles of Cody Musk perfume (my favorite), a large box of Russell Stover Sugar-Free candy, and three bottles of sleep mist in vanilla-rose, lavender-musk, and chamomile scents. 

Each of these gift bags began with some beautiful cards that meant so much. Just having my family at the table eating with me meant everything. I miss them quite often as now I'm an hour away after marrying Terry and moving to Roseburg. An hour doesn't seem like much to most people, but it is difficult to find time to travel there or for them to travel here. We do manage to gather fairly often, for holidays and birthdays, keeping the closeness of our family. 

 I looked around the room to look at my family members. The feeling of pure love and joy overwhelmed me. As if on cue, tears began to flow. I walked around behind each person and hugged them and told them all how very special they are to me. I love family.

We are traveling to Eugene again next weekend too. It's Zyrah's fourth birthday already! I cannot believe my great-granddaughter is already four. Enjoy time with those children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren as it moves too quickly. I know we hear it all the time, but once you experience their growth and childhood years, you really wonder how the time got away from you so quickly. We do all take it for granted at times. 

After munching on plenty of pizza, we did have time to chat for a while. It was so nice to actually visit with everyone and catch up on our everyday happenings. It seems everyone is either sick or just getting over their illnesses. There is so much going around. 

***

Later we took our stuffed selves out to the car, said our goodbyes to everyone, and began the trek back home. Upon arriving, we dropped Mallory off in Sutherlin and headed onward toward our home. Roseburg is only about 10 miles out from Sutherlin, so it's not too far. 

***

The Mystical, Magical Ring

Now, before I go on, I will reverse the clock for a bit. I woke up on Friday with the plans to go to Springfield for the birthday gathering, so I grabbed my wedding ring out of my jewelry drawer. I began to go through the rest of my rings, trying to choose one for my right hand that felt good for the day. Plucking each ring up, I would ponder the idea of wearing it and put it back down if it wasn't the one I wanted, as we all tend to do when choosing jewelry. 

Something was different this time. Something was very different. Looking through the rings in the drawer, I noticed one ring that was standing out more than the others. Not because it was special, but because I had never seen the ring before. But how could this be? 

I know my rings. Yesterday I went through my drawer and located the one I wanted to wear but the ring I am speaking of now was not in that drawer. The drawer is for my rings and my rings alone. There is nothing else in the top drawer of my small three-drawer storage bin on top of my bedside table. I cannot emphasize this enough, that ring was not in that drawer the day before. 

The ring seems to be sterling silver or at least a heavier metal, with four black faceted stones in the center, creating a cross-style design. Surrounding the black onyx or whatever stones they are, are zircon or maybe something else lining the black stones. 

I know you can call me crazy, but I have never seen this ring before in my life. No, I'm not losing my mind or forgetting things. That ring is not mine or was not mine before I saw it on Friday. On Thursday morning, I put my wedding ring back on and then searched through my seven or eight other rings to see what other piece I wanted to wear on my right hand. I picked each ring up separately, decided against it, and placed it back into the drawer. Rings are all I keep in that drawer, so there were no other items that could have hidden the ring in question. 

Friday morning, I went through the same ritual of picking each one up to see if it might be the "one" for the day. I lifted this ring out of the drawer and thus began the curiosity of where the ring had originated from. 

I took that ring to the pizza party in Eugene to ask if anyone may know whose ring it was. Nobody knew. Each daughter or granddaughter I showed the ring to find out nobody laid claim to it. I have had nobody else in my home since our move here except for my daughters. Mallory comes over quite often, although she did not claim the ring either. The only other woman I have had in this house is our landlord and her husband. Why would she take her ring off in my house and place it in my drawer? She has never stepped foot in my bedroom. 

The ring is a complicated and perplexing item. I guess that gives it more character. I have worn the ring since I found it, and nobody claimed it. Not knowing how it came into my life or what the meaning of that particular ring is, I guess I enjoy the jewelry and wait for some sort of answer as to how it came to be. Maybe I will never know. The Universe is a beautiful, mysterious thing. 

***

Well, readers, since I have been back on the road following our new car purchase, I have a few pictures of beautiful moments I encountered. Driving the eight miles to Winston to deliver some flowers, I came upon sights overlooking the Umpqua river. 

I caught a glimpse of something bobbing up and down, breaking up the rhythm of the top layer of water. Trying to catch it on camera, but it disappeared before I could snap the photo. Probably fish feeding on the surface. 

I believe the green on the top lefthand side of this photo is part of the Welcome to Winston sign. I do hope so anyway. Otherwise, something odd had appeared and I didn't even see it. Of course, with rings appearing in my life lately, who knows?

***

Mr. Swanky Pants

Feeling good this week, I took Mr. Swanky Pants, or Togo as he is typically known as, into Stewart Park to take a nice walk. We were able to walk for about an hour before the rain chased us out. 

We stopped to take a glimpse of the Umpqua River. 

Togo was biting at the bit to take me down to the river. Sorry big guy, not happening. 

***

Good Times

Mallory called me and asked what we were doing for the day. I was going to work, but the idea of having a day off to get the house in some array of picked up and clean was sounding very good. We sat and chatted for a while, and I found it to be very relaxing. Terry had a poetry group he meets with, so off he went, leaving Mallory and I to chat about what girls chat about. Basically, not much. 

Once my happy hubby returned home, he invited us to go out to eat at the local Mexican restaurant, or at least our favorite one, Hacienda Vieja. Mallory and I found joy in the idea since neither of us had eaten anything all day. 

As with most Mexican restaurants, Hacienda Vieja brought some fresh, warm tortilla chips with the house salsa. Yum. Terry and I dove into the appetizer, while Mallory held off for her dinner. 

Terry had a very determined look on his face with each dipping of the chip. He was happy to be here, and we were happy to be with him. 

***

Well, readers, this was our weekend. At least our weekend for last week. I'm behind. Sorry. Work gets in the way of life, doesn't it? 

Please take care of yourselves and until our next post, hugs, light, and love sent your way. 

Terry & Vicki Macrae

Partners in devouring chips