Christmas Eve 2016

[ladyebug]

[jgarcia]

Good morning, Elaine and all who follow.

For some strange reason, I woke up at 1:30 this morning and absolutely could not go back to sleep. I've been puttering around with some graphics...

We have no plans for the day. I have no Christmas spirit this year... didn't even put up a tree or dig out a decoration. I really wanted to go back down to Las Vegas to spend Christmas with Dominique and her family. I miss them tremendously... especially my great grands. Ralph hasn't even met little Tommy, who will be 3 months old on Monday. Hopefully we'll be able to get down there after the first of the year...

For those of you who asked about a pattern for the Christmas mice I posted about yesterday. I KNOW I have the pattern somewhere, but I haven't gotten everything organized since the move, so it may take me a while to dig it out of hiding. However, if you are interested in it when I find it, please send me an email (judy@garcia19.com) with your mailing address, and I'll send it along when I find it.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve... and a marvelous Christmas Day.

[sassygirl01]

Good morning everyone..

Rise and shine..

Another wet day..

Everyone have nice Christmas eve,,

[cookielady]

Oh but I can be mad. Btw the cats & a particular 6 yr old, I can still get mad. LOL!

[sassygirl01]

Cookielady...Look at him..He is turn on his cute "Factor"..awww..

[BarbCA108]

Ah! I remember it well. My Frosty cat did this every year in his very short life. I didn't get mad, either.

[cookielady]

Good DREARY Morning! If it's going to be dreary, we need a little light snow to go with it, but none of that is in the forecast.

Yesterday was good. People in & out all day picking up their cookies. Nice chats. Got a few pies baked, fruit pie fillings made, and shells all in pans ready to be filled. Cork finally got a string of lights on the tree. I bought all new lights several years ago. Ones that weren't suppose to have all the lights go out if one light didn't work. Guess what? I have many sets of lights that do not light up. Guess where they are now? IN THE GARBAGE. One set of lights works. I'm going to buy two and only two sets of lights at the sales next week. Maybe next year we'll have a set of lights that work. I also want to buy an artificial tree maybe strung with lights so that we can have a tree up and decorated before Christmas Eve.

This morning is all about pie baking. The filling is in the crusts & I'm just waiting for them to warm up a bit so I can crimp the edges without them falling apart. Have to make one coconut cream pie. Suppose to be all picked up by noon and then I'm DONE with other people. Then it's onto my own thing. Laundry. I need laundry done & a tree decorated. Becca will be Home around 6:30 and then we are going to church together. Invited Kathy but that's not happening.

Oh...she informed my yesterday that it'll only be her coming tomorrow morning. Sounds like they are on their way to breaking up. Not that Jimmy will be missed, but it tells me she's probably onto someone else. I told her she WASN'T moving back here. I actually told her to GROW UP. Remind me....Let go & let God take care of it.

Looking forward to seeing Becca & enjoying the candle light service this evening. One of my favorite church services of the year. Silent Night.

Blessings all & have a WONDERFUL day!

[karlinann]

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! Ladyebug I love the graphics.

We are just hanging out today and enjoying the tree. It will get up to 80º and I'm doing a load of laundry while it's cool.

We started a different jigsaw puzzle by Charles Wysocki and it's neat. I love his puzzles.

Yesterday I gathered more Zinnia seeds from the garden and sowed some in my new flower bed that I had dug. One of my tomatoes is starting to get a blush of ripeness on it. Can't wait to eat some fresh ripe tomatoes from the garden.

Last night I managed to sleep all through the night which has not happened for awhile.

Have a good day. Fa, La, La!

[Mayebarnes]

good morning and I'm surprised it still is in the morning category ...have been up since 4am.. thanks to David... and once I wake, had too much on my mind to go back to sleep.

so...... the pies are baked. .the soup has been moved to the basement kitchen .. ( a big pot of soup weights a ton).. and dishes are cleaned up from that messing around... now to shower.. and then start setting out what needs to go to basement .. Bethany will be here to help ???? sometime.. ...I have a dear hubby who sets in a recliner and tells me how to organize... and declares there is not enough seating !... as far as I can tell.. he hasn't done........... anything. ... yeap . folks this is the LAST traditional party for me.. My get and go. left me permanently!...

Sassy , yeap ,thats my K.D.Kat.. and she did tip the tree over.. before it was decorated and I have to watch her carefully or she would be trying to do it again!!!!>after Sunday ,,I don't care!.

its ycky outside. but unlike Donna , I do not want snow.. or ice.. to many family members out on the roads tonight..

better get back to work..

I also love the Christmas Eve...church service.. .feels so peaceful and full of hope..

[sassygirl01]

maye,Mine do that too..They like to climb it..

[JoGee]

Good morning, and Merry Christmas Eve.
I all but fell out of bed this morning. I still have just a bit of trouble getting out of bed, but I'm doing that on my own anyway.
We have 100% chance of rain later today. Anywhere else it would be snow and we'd see a White Christmas. 😃
Anyway, it won't be a good evening to drive around to see the holiday lights.

I have a haircut/style appointment for New Years Eve. I'm surprised to get one that soon.
Other than that, there's nothing much on my/our agenda.

My relatives are emailing about the big traditional holiday meals...Polish foods.....that they're having tonight.
I'm sure my brother is having one, too, as his lady is Austrian and very traditional as well, but he's not rubbing it in. 😃
Not that I have much of an appetite back yet.

I have a grandson in CA who has just settled his family into a simple life atop a mountain. He promised to send pictures of the breathtaking views and of his family. I do look forward to that.

Well, I think I want a bite of breakfast now.
Have a beautiful day. I hope Santa is good to all of you. 🎅

[Paula A]

Where is the mountain? Hope you can post pictures here.

[BarbCA108]

I was about to post the same question as Paula. Where is this mountain?

[JoS]

Good morning! The Grinch has arrived. I am not in the holiday spirit at all. Between missing those who have passed and the loveless marriage I am in, I don't feel much like celebrating. I know, its not about me, its about Jesus and I do love him......just wish he would intervene here a little bit. 2 yrs. of this is enough. Sorry to be a grump....just don't enjoy anything anymore! Hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. I'm going to begin my prayers for a better year next year. Hugs to all!

[sassygirl01]

JoG..I am Grinch too..
It is so hard to be into the Christmas spirit..When you lost loved one in the family..A close one too..
I have some great friends..What they say..This year will be the hardest on you..Next year will be better...

[Paula A]

Jo, I hope it helps a little to know you have friends here who are praying for you, too.
Merry Christmas and praying for Peace.

[JoS]

Thank you ladies. Yes, if it weren't for my friends, I'd sure be lonley!

[maxie]

It is Christmas morning here and everything has been opened and most of the trash picked up. Scott is laying on the couch resting up after being up late and then again early this morning. Sierra has the beginnings of a cold and I think a stress factor with her mother so went back to bed and Jon and Andrew are in the cave working on legos. The boys watch that Gold Rush program on tv and he wanted the dredger lego for Christmas. That will take a few days to put together! I have the ham heating in the crock pot and will get up to fix dinner in earnest soon. It is warmer than it has been but it is a gloomy day. Seems we have more gloomy days that any other and it just plays into my mood. Last night the kids played games...I finished my participation early and went to bed but could hear them until late. By evening everyone will be gone and Jon and I will have a bunch of leftovers and retire early. Some days we only cross paths in the kitchen and I only do meals when the kids are here now. And no, my news years resolution is not to cook more...but I will admit those pork steaks and baked potatoes were a hit last night! even in all the excitement Andrew ate like a pig. Santa forgot to pick up the elf so he needs to silently disappear today. Think I will get another cup of coffee and enjoy the quiet before heading into the kitchen to cook. I will be in my brand new jams very early this evening. Our small celebration will be over soon but to those of you still anticipating Christmas have a great one. Our big family gathering will not be until New Year's Eve so still have a week to go but I may come home to the tree already down and a summer wreath on the door telling Mother Nature that I am ready for warm and sun. Merry Christmas Everyone!!

[Paula A]

Good Christmas Eve, rounders. It is a quieter one here, too. the last few years Becky has wanted her gifts to just be money that she uses for the homeless shelter.
Yesterday I was able to make cookie dough while the kids were right next to me; I kept bringing the ingredients to the table while they were making a tent and using everything I usually say No to...I told them since it was just two of them and they were making good choices we would do some things differently.
I even got all the cookies baked during the day except for one last batch of sugar cookies that got finished right after daycare. today I have to mix up different colors of frosting and then the cookies will be ready for Becky to take them to the shelter when she goes at 4:00 for her regular Saturday volunteering. Seeing how much fun the kids had decorating cookies on Thursday I got the idea to do it for the shelter guests.
BEsides buying the food for tomorrow (!) we have just a few things left to buy for the shelter. Hot cocoa mixes and popcorn (microwave kind) .
Elaine, is that a line from Bill Murray in Scrooged? I can watch almost any version of The Christmas Carol. We own that one, but haven't watched it this year...yet.
Hugs and Wishes for all of you to be happy and healthy and safe.

[JoGee]

Paula, the mountain is in Big Bend CA? I haven't looked it up yet.

[bethina]

Hello i,am,just making it here...am in,Illinois at my,par3nts just hanging out relaxing waiting for lunch. Then presents,the a nap and,food again

[BarbCA108]

Happy Christmas Eve to all. Sun is coming and going here but no rain or snow expected. To me a sunny Christmas day is the way I like it best. Remember my girls riding the new bikes we had got them for Christmas. We didn't put them under the tree but left then in the garage
when it was time to open gifts we sent them to the garage so they could bring in wood for the fireplace. I still remember hearing Karen's little voice yelling, "Holy Toledo!" when she the the bikes.
So many good Christmas memories.

Everyone enjoy your Christmas.

[JoGee]

Big Bend CA is where the mountain is.
I am surprised to find it's close to Oregon.
Moreover, it has a marker on it that says it has a ToH Cafe! 🤗

[cookielady]

Whew....the last of all the orders is out the door. Laundry is done. Tree decorated. I guess Christmas can come now. Becca is on her way home & then we'll go to church.