Monday, December 10th

[karlinann]

Can you smell my blueberry muffins?

DH has a Foot Specialist appt. this morning and I'm going with. Not to drive, but for companionship and support. I used to drive him, but no longer able to hoist that right leg into the drivers seat.

I watched a Pavlo concert on PBS last evening and it was so good. Wow! You can count on PBS to deliver. I was upset when they took Endeavor off, but I know they will continue to produce some wonderful programs in the future.

The muffins are done and I'm going to go have some and a second cup of coffee. Have a great day everyone.

[bethina]

Good morning...I slept a lot the last 2 days...I am feeling a little better...work and groceries today..

Mom and Dad are here and have left already. Dad is having a melanoma biopsy today on his ear. We aren't worried...caught it very early.

[boffler]

Good Morning to all...read some of the happenings with everyone, God Bless Elaine!! Was nice at least hearing from her, grief is dealt with differently by everyone, no one size fits all...

Which is the same with holiday time, I use to love this time of year, had so much to look forward to, now it's nothing but stress, more stress, anger, and losing sleep...lots of prayers for me to be less stressed & angry.

Today will be the last day for cookie baking and such, I have cookies to frost and then I will be finished, after that and they are set I will start putting that basket together..I have had my hands in water so much and washing them all the time that they are red and cracker, can't keep lotion on them when you are baking and making...I say to this profession NO THANKS!! Donna can have it..

If I am not around very much it is because I am just not in the mood for much talking or socializing...sorry, this too shall pass it always does...Thankful for all the friendships here so don't take this the wrong way...it's not the happiest time of the year...

[Paula A]

Hugs to you! I am so thankful for this group and our connection! Family comes to us in all sorts of ways today! Cyber cousins are great!

[karlinann]

Kudos what Paula said.

[Paula A]

Good morning! It rained during the night but I didn't hear it. Saw all the wet ground when I let the dogs out this morning.

JoG, I read your comments you added yesterday. I must have said Wow! out loud about every sentence...The final out loud comment was good when I read the two horrible men were expelled by the head pastor.

I got on the scales this morning and a good thing I did. One weekend plus a Friday night of eating goodies can make a big difference and I got a dose of reality this morning. So, back to clean eating and being more mindful of what I am putting in my mouth.

ON the other side of the US my FL brother did a triathalon this weekend at Daytona. Running, biking and swimming. Or something like that.
I have a tablecloth to clean today. It got some mustard on it (after this I will make sure to use the church cloths on the food table) and I spotted it and will wash it now. It has tiny holly leaves and red berries on it and is one of my favorites. It is huge and I rarely have my table with the leaves in it to use here so I was happy to use it for Dallin's funeral.

Have a good start to the week, Everyone.

[maxie]

Good Morning. Good very cold but sunny morning. Last couple of mornings have been in the teens and the days not warming much but it is suppose to be back to normal temps this week.

We saw the Christmas train yesterday but did not see it arrive. It was there already and we had to drive and park along the interstate to see the entire train. Wow! We were not interested in the last 6 cars of the Christmas part but

the front of the train was 3 vintage engines and a set of passenger cars. Old but not steam engine era. Beautiful train. You cannot get a time for when it runs through the crossings to see it on the tracks because it is at the mercy of the normal train traffic and we have a lot of train traffic through here with freight and Amtrak. But we joined the line of train enthusiast parked on the overpass looking down at it. Impressive to train lovers. Bet Santa was nice to see too!

No plans for today. Bought a new mini blinds for Andrew's room but they need to be rehung and we are taking them back to find the one just to slide into the original hooks. These are cordless. Big deal. I have cordless plantation blinds in the living room and never use them. They are either open of closed...who raises them all the time? Hope I can find the old cheap one with easy install. Washed his curtain but to darn cold out to wash the window even though they tip in. Windex would freeze!

Need to find something to fix tonight and tomorrow is Drew's Christmas program at school so need something fast for tomorrow.

Glad you are feeling better Beth and Karlinann, maybe riding along means lunch out? Have a great day all of you!

[karlinann]

Girl, I like the way you think and don't think I didn't think about lunch out, but unfortunately he was finished by 9 am and all the good places open at 11. Two muffins does not stay with me long and I had to eat as soon as I got home. I usually eat an early lunch anyway because I get up so early.

[JoGee]

Good morning.
Those muffins smell so good!

I rode with E to SV yesterday. But I stayed in the hotel while he had dinner with his buddy. His buddy has only disguised his symptoms, and doesn’t realize he is still spreading his germs. His buddy doesn’t know I’m here, and that is fine. I ordered pizza at the hotel....their kitchen is closed for whatever reason.

Sharon, a lot of people get stressed and angry at this time of year. Most have reached the age and stage in life that what used to be fun when we were young and energetic, now presses us for time and energy when we shouldn’t have to.
Many spend more time and money that they can’t really afford, which doesn’t help being jolly with the holly.
You will remain in my heartfelt thoughts this season.

Well, time for breakfast and meds.
I wish you all a beautiful day. Do take an hour or so for just yourself. Be nice to yourself, you deserve it!

[cookielady]

Good Morning! It's a cold dreary one, but there is a bit of snow on the ground which brightens the atmosphere a little and it's not windy, which helps too.

It was a busy weekend. Friday evening the Pastor called & said they upped the amount of people coming to the funeral dinner from maybe 30 to possibly 40. Well I had enough lasagna for 32 and luckily I had sauce in the freezer already made up, extra noodles & cheese too, so I could whip up another pan of lasagna pretty quick. There was 35 people but several of them were small children, so I really didn't NEED that extra pan, but better safe than sorry. It all got used though with seconds and people taking some home, including myself. The family was thrilled with it, and it was an easy dinner to make & serve. My helper was also named Donna & we work great together. We had everything (Italian bread, salad, & plate of homemade cookies) on the table except for the piece of lasagna, and we served that once they sat down & gave them a change to eat salad. Easy clean up too. Got home by 2pm and took a nice long nap. Was up and rearing to go by 4pm. Dinner was each on their own. I iced 18-20 doz sugar cookies...easy ones.

Yesterday we only went to church. Blaise was coughing & blowing his nose, so I figured we'd skip SS. I came home and started in on icing the last shape of sugar cookies. Got them done & then took a nice nap. I'm getting good at that nap thing. Dinner was each for his own again. Believe me, they aren't starving & I don't totally ignore the guys. I spent the evening baking off a couple kinds of cookie dough and making a double batch of Chex Mix. I could eat my weight in that stuff, and that's a lot! LOL! Now I only nibbles a little of it, then packaged the rest up for one of my orders. Still need to make a couple more double batches.

This morning I went grocery shopping. Didn't get a whole lot at Sharp Shopper, but did my fair share at Aldi's. Lots of pwd sugar for all the icings & fillings I have to make this week. Then it was onto Giant Eagle for the 50 bags of sugar I had set aside for me. It's $.99/bag this week, and I was stocking up. They also have their whole hams for $.99/lb, so I got a 14lb one. Will have the family over for dinner sometime in the next few weeks.

Aunt J is coming over this afternoon after lunch to scoop grease balls. She's finally feeling well enough to do that. I'll roll dough & bake while she does that. I warned Cork he may have to be doing driving duty to take Blaise to karate this week. It's crunch time. Sue wasn't feeling good yesterday, so I hope she'll be OK to come & work the rest of this week.

It was wonderful hearing for Elaine. Once life slows down, I hope to call her & several other friends.

Have a good one all!