We got up at the normal time this morning, and I headed straight for the treadmill. I wanted to be sure to get an exercise session in today, because I'll probably skip it tomorrow.
Once I was ready for the day, I spent the rest of the morning in the kitchen making another batch of fruit salad for our New Year's Day meal, a recipe of baked fruited popcorn for Hubbie (the last for this season), and another batch of dog biscuits for Shih Tzu. We left the last batch out on the counter, and some of them got moldy before they could be used. This time, we put a few of them in the fridge to be used over the next couple of days, and the rest in the freezer to keep them fresh until they're needed.
After lunch, I baked another loaf of lemon bread. I made this because there was a lemon in the fridge that needed to be used. I'd bought two in anticipation of making two loaves of lemon bread...one for Mother, as one of her twelve days of Christmas gifts, and one for a friend. But I didn't get around to the second loaf for the friend, so I gave her something else, and baked the other loaf today for the freezer.
After that, we started the process of putting away Christmas decorations, except for the Christmas village, which we'll leave on the mantel through January. We'll leave the trees up until New Year's Day. Taking those down will be our job for Friday.
After a week-in-review supper, I made a big bowl of trail mix from whatever I could find in the kitchen...Cheerios, Corn Chex, walnuts, dark chocolate chips, Craisins, golden raisins, and stick pretzles...as our New Year's Eve party snack.
We enjoyed the munchies as we played Exactica, which is a bidding and trick-taking game. At the beginning of the game, players declare how many tricks they can take, based on the eight cards they are dealt that are numbered anywhere from four to twelve and contain multiple suit symbols (cones, balls, stars, and cubes).
Once players declare the number of tricks they can take, they have to hope they get the exact number, because any tricks they take over or under their bid declaration count against them. The first player starts by laying down a number card and calling out a symbol number (like "nine, three cubes). Everyone else has to match that card number and symbol, or play any other card if they don't have that one. If no one can match the card, the first player catches the trick.
If someone else matches the card, they catch the trick, or if someone else can match the symbol and has a higher numbered card, they catch the trick. This game is partly guess work, partly skill in determining what order to play your cards to either catch tricks, or avoid catching them.
We played nine games...I won four, Mother three, and Hubbie two. We quit playing just before 11 p.m., when Hubbie poured Golden Spumante wine for the two of us, and made a wine spritzer for Mother. We toasted the New Year as the ball in Times Square in New York lit up. After that, Mother went home, and Hubbie and I stayed up until midnight. I saw the New Year in, but Hubbie dropped off to sleep and didn't rouse until two minutes after.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30
We got up early today, so I could get my treadmill session in before Mother and I went to the beauty shop for haircuts. Our appointments were at 10:30 a.m.
We were back before lunch. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands, again, this time to the pharmacy, and back to the store that has a sale every weekend to return the other hair trimmer. This time, I took it back to the men's department, where I got a cash refund, because I'd paid cash for this one. Live and learn. I'll be more careful from now on in choosing which mode of payment to use.
I'll also be careful of what I'm buying. Instead of an electric shaver for Hubbie for Christmas, I ended up with two useless hair trimmers that had to be returned. That's what I get for being in a hurry. I got the first one because I was trying to hurry and make the purchase before Hubbie sought me out, thereby not noticing that I had a hair trimmer and not an electric shaver, and also forgetting to use a $10 coupon.
And I got the second hair trimmer in a rush on Christmas Eve. This time, I decided that instead of returning the first purchase for a refund and then buying a second one to use the coupon, I'd just buy another one, and return one of them after Christmas. Instead, I had to return both of them, since neither was an electric shaver.
Of course, no day is complete without a run to the WDCS, so that's where we went next. From there, we stopped by the veterinary clinic to order a case of dog food for Shih Tzu, and to the health store to get fish oil gels for me. I got two big boxes today, because they were priced at buy one, get the second one half price.
After that, we came back home, and Mother and I heated the leftover "who hash" to have with eggs and toast. After supper, we played several games of Duo, a card game Hubbie usually wins. Tonight, though, Mother won four, I won five and Hubbie won only one. After several rounds that he did not win, I said, "It's time that one won one." So he did. But he didn't win any more.
Mother went home around 8:30 p.m., and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team win over a very strong, experienced, and virtually unbeaten team, that our young team was predicted to lose to by a wide margin. It was an exciting game.
We were back before lunch. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands, again, this time to the pharmacy, and back to the store that has a sale every weekend to return the other hair trimmer. This time, I took it back to the men's department, where I got a cash refund, because I'd paid cash for this one. Live and learn. I'll be more careful from now on in choosing which mode of payment to use.
I'll also be careful of what I'm buying. Instead of an electric shaver for Hubbie for Christmas, I ended up with two useless hair trimmers that had to be returned. That's what I get for being in a hurry. I got the first one because I was trying to hurry and make the purchase before Hubbie sought me out, thereby not noticing that I had a hair trimmer and not an electric shaver, and also forgetting to use a $10 coupon.
And I got the second hair trimmer in a rush on Christmas Eve. This time, I decided that instead of returning the first purchase for a refund and then buying a second one to use the coupon, I'd just buy another one, and return one of them after Christmas. Instead, I had to return both of them, since neither was an electric shaver.
Of course, no day is complete without a run to the WDCS, so that's where we went next. From there, we stopped by the veterinary clinic to order a case of dog food for Shih Tzu, and to the health store to get fish oil gels for me. I got two big boxes today, because they were priced at buy one, get the second one half price.
After that, we came back home, and Mother and I heated the leftover "who hash" to have with eggs and toast. After supper, we played several games of Duo, a card game Hubbie usually wins. Tonight, though, Mother won four, I won five and Hubbie won only one. After several rounds that he did not win, I said, "It's time that one won one." So he did. But he didn't win any more.
Mother went home around 8:30 p.m., and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team win over a very strong, experienced, and virtually unbeaten team, that our young team was predicted to lose to by a wide margin. It was an exciting game.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
December 29
We got up earlier this morning, so I could get a treadmill session in before Niece and her family arrived. After my exercises, Mother came over and put color in my hair in anticipation of hair cut appointments tomorrow.
Niece and family came shortly after I was ready for the day. They stayed until around 1 p.m., but declined lunch, since they were due to have a meal at Nephew-in-Law's parent's house mid-afternoon. So we just brought out the dips, Italian cream cheese ball and crackers for them to munch on.
The two great nephews and great niece performed for us while they were here. Fifteen-year-old Great-Nephew played violin and banjo for us. He is quite talented and skilled with these and other instruments, and we enjoyed hearing him play. Twelve-year-old Great Nephew is just beginning to learn to play his saxophone, but he did very well playing a couple of tunes he has learned. Thirteen-year-old Great-Niece, who plays piano, sang for us. She has a clear, sweet voice, and she sang a number that she performed in "Sweeney Todd," which was recently produced in her hometown.
Niece gave Mother a small digital photo viewer for Christmas. It can hold up to 60 snapshots, and can run as a slideshow. Niece had already loaded the viewer with several shots of her family, and I can download more to it from my computer. It is simple to operate, so it won't be a problem teaching Mother how to use it.
Niece gave me a music CD of "Adele: 19". We played the CD while Niece was here, and I enjoy this performer. In exchange, I gave Niece a Christmas ornament/sun catcher from the art gallery.
After Niece and family left, Hubbie and I ran errands...to banks to deliver notices of an upcoming Master Gardener training program that they'll run on their electronic marquees, to the art gallery, to the store that has a sale every weekend to take back one of the electric hair trimmers for a refund, and to the WDCS for groceries.
I was disappointed that at the store that has a sale every weekend, we got a gift card instead of cash for the hair trimmer...their policy is, if you purchase with the store credit card, you get gift cards for returns .
We got back home around 4 p.m., in time to prepare new potatoes and zucchini squash for the steamer. We had these yummy veggies with corn-on-the-cob for supper.
Later, Hubbie and I went to the movie theater to see "Valkyrie." This is a very good movie, starring Tom Cruise. Rated PG-13, for violence and some language, this film is based on a true incident of a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler during WWII.
Once again, there was no ticket taker anywhere to be found to give our complimentary tickets to. We tried as we entered the theater, and we tried as we left. No dice.
In fact, when time wore on and the film didn't begin, we wondered if there was an insurmountable problem that would mean the theater would have to issue more complimentary tickets.
Finally, one of the audience members went out and alerted someone to the problem (probably the one person who was manning the concession stand, since there was no one else around). The staff member said the films are supposed to begin automatically, but he called the manager to figure out what was wrong.
After a while, the house lights dimmed, and the the film began...and then stuck. Up came the house lights. Someone called out, "Boy, that was a good movie!" We all laughed. At last, the lights dimmed again, and this time the movie began...about 30 minutes late.
Niece and family came shortly after I was ready for the day. They stayed until around 1 p.m., but declined lunch, since they were due to have a meal at Nephew-in-Law's parent's house mid-afternoon. So we just brought out the dips, Italian cream cheese ball and crackers for them to munch on.
The two great nephews and great niece performed for us while they were here. Fifteen-year-old Great-Nephew played violin and banjo for us. He is quite talented and skilled with these and other instruments, and we enjoyed hearing him play. Twelve-year-old Great Nephew is just beginning to learn to play his saxophone, but he did very well playing a couple of tunes he has learned. Thirteen-year-old Great-Niece, who plays piano, sang for us. She has a clear, sweet voice, and she sang a number that she performed in "Sweeney Todd," which was recently produced in her hometown.
Niece gave Mother a small digital photo viewer for Christmas. It can hold up to 60 snapshots, and can run as a slideshow. Niece had already loaded the viewer with several shots of her family, and I can download more to it from my computer. It is simple to operate, so it won't be a problem teaching Mother how to use it.
Niece gave me a music CD of "Adele: 19". We played the CD while Niece was here, and I enjoy this performer. In exchange, I gave Niece a Christmas ornament/sun catcher from the art gallery.
After Niece and family left, Hubbie and I ran errands...to banks to deliver notices of an upcoming Master Gardener training program that they'll run on their electronic marquees, to the art gallery, to the store that has a sale every weekend to take back one of the electric hair trimmers for a refund, and to the WDCS for groceries.
I was disappointed that at the store that has a sale every weekend, we got a gift card instead of cash for the hair trimmer...their policy is, if you purchase with the store credit card, you get gift cards for returns .
We got back home around 4 p.m., in time to prepare new potatoes and zucchini squash for the steamer. We had these yummy veggies with corn-on-the-cob for supper.
Later, Hubbie and I went to the movie theater to see "Valkyrie." This is a very good movie, starring Tom Cruise. Rated PG-13, for violence and some language, this film is based on a true incident of a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler during WWII.
Once again, there was no ticket taker anywhere to be found to give our complimentary tickets to. We tried as we entered the theater, and we tried as we left. No dice.
In fact, when time wore on and the film didn't begin, we wondered if there was an insurmountable problem that would mean the theater would have to issue more complimentary tickets.
Finally, one of the audience members went out and alerted someone to the problem (probably the one person who was manning the concession stand, since there was no one else around). The staff member said the films are supposed to begin automatically, but he called the manager to figure out what was wrong.
After a while, the house lights dimmed, and the the film began...and then stuck. Up came the house lights. Someone called out, "Boy, that was a good movie!" We all laughed. At last, the lights dimmed again, and this time the movie began...about 30 minutes late.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
December 28
Started the day, as usual, on the treadmill. Mother came over as I was getting ready for the day and completed the jigsaw puzzle.
I was pleased this morning to find that four of my photos of the graham cracker mini-Christmas houses were featured in today's regional newspaper. A small snapshot of one of my great-granddaughters appeared on the front page. Even though the photo is tiny, the black and blue bump on Great-Granddaughter's head is still visible. Great-Granddaughter got the bump when two-and-a-half-year-old Great-Grandson whacked her in the head with something.
This is the second year in a row that Great-Granddaughter's face has not been camera-ready at Christmas. Last year, her mouth, including the area above and below her lips, was chapped violently red.
We relaxed for the morning, and then enjoyed a lunch of "who hash," made with leftover "roast beast." Afterward, we played three games of Skipbo. I won two games, and Mother won one. Hubbie was left out in the cold, but tomorrow we'll play his best game...Duo.
Mother went home around 3 p.m.
For the rest of the afternoon, I read the rest of the Sunday newspaper, while Hubbie read a novel. For supper, we made sandwiches with the remainder of the beef roast, and had these with celery sticks stuffed with Italian cream cheese ball, followed by fresh fruit for dessert.
I was pleased this morning to find that four of my photos of the graham cracker mini-Christmas houses were featured in today's regional newspaper. A small snapshot of one of my great-granddaughters appeared on the front page. Even though the photo is tiny, the black and blue bump on Great-Granddaughter's head is still visible. Great-Granddaughter got the bump when two-and-a-half-year-old Great-Grandson whacked her in the head with something.
This is the second year in a row that Great-Granddaughter's face has not been camera-ready at Christmas. Last year, her mouth, including the area above and below her lips, was chapped violently red.
We relaxed for the morning, and then enjoyed a lunch of "who hash," made with leftover "roast beast." Afterward, we played three games of Skipbo. I won two games, and Mother won one. Hubbie was left out in the cold, but tomorrow we'll play his best game...Duo.
Mother went home around 3 p.m.
For the rest of the afternoon, I read the rest of the Sunday newspaper, while Hubbie read a novel. For supper, we made sandwiches with the remainder of the beef roast, and had these with celery sticks stuffed with Italian cream cheese ball, followed by fresh fruit for dessert.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
December 27
We slept really late this morning, but it didn't keep me from doing a treadmill session and resistance workout. While I was getting ready for the day, Mother came over and continued working on her jigsaw puzzle.
It was a dicey weather day. After a temp of 13 degrees last Monday, we saw mid-70s today, with the threat of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. But, thankfully, nothing more than a brief torrential rain happened in our town. In fact, the whole state dodged the bullet this time, and now the storms have moved to a state east of us.
Nothing exciting happened today, beyond tracking the storms. After lunch, I joined Mother in working the jigsaw. The puzzle only has 400 pieces, but they are oddly shaped, and the motif is difficult...a plate of gingerbread men...so it'll take at least another day to complete it.
We opted for a simple supper of egg omelets (egg substitute for Mother and me, and regular eggs for Hubbie), filled with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and shredded mozzarella cheese, and served with potato pancakes, cottage cheese, bagels with muscadine jelly, and fruit for dessert.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to a wide-margin win.
It was a dicey weather day. After a temp of 13 degrees last Monday, we saw mid-70s today, with the threat of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. But, thankfully, nothing more than a brief torrential rain happened in our town. In fact, the whole state dodged the bullet this time, and now the storms have moved to a state east of us.
Nothing exciting happened today, beyond tracking the storms. After lunch, I joined Mother in working the jigsaw. The puzzle only has 400 pieces, but they are oddly shaped, and the motif is difficult...a plate of gingerbread men...so it'll take at least another day to complete it.
We opted for a simple supper of egg omelets (egg substitute for Mother and me, and regular eggs for Hubbie), filled with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and shredded mozzarella cheese, and served with potato pancakes, cottage cheese, bagels with muscadine jelly, and fruit for dessert.
Mother went home after supper, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team play to a wide-margin win.
Friday, December 26, 2008
December 26
I woke up in the middle of the night last night, and had trouble going back to sleep. So I got up late. Hubbie was already up, but I think he'd only been up a few minutes. I hit the treadmill first thing, before breakfast. After a couple of days hiatus, I needed a workout, and it felt good to get my heart pumping and my blood stirring again.
Mother came over after I was ready for the day and began work on one of her new Christmas jigsaw puzzles, while Hubbie and I went to a few stores looking for after-Christmas bargains. The mark-downs were mainly on Christmas cards, trim, wrapping paper, gift bags, etc. I picked up several boxes of cards, as well as a stack of gift bags at the WDCS. I did the same at the everything's a dollar store, where Christmas stuff was fifty cents. All I found at the other discount chain store was some ribbon marked half price. I bought four rolls of that in colors like gold that I think I can use throughout the year.
At the other store that has a sale every weekend, Hubbie found an inexpensive pair of khaki pants, and I found a pair of black dress slacks. The tag on the dress slacks declared that they were marked fifty percent off, but I'm convinced clothing stores often jack up prices, then mark them down in an attempt to make customers believe they're getting a bargain.
A lot of times, merchandise offered on the sale and clearance racks is stuff I've never even seen in the store before. It's stuff they've brought it in from other stores, with new jacked-up price tags that are then marked down (SALE...50 % Off!! original ticket price ) .
Last year, for instance, I bought a sweater at full price at the beginning of the season. And then at an after-Christmas sale, I saw the very same sweater at another of their stores with the price tag marked up to twice what I originally paid, with a red sticker that declared it was now on sale at half price.
Another thing that Hubbie and I have encountered lately is that the WDCS registers do not always reflect stated sale prices. Several times, after checking our cash register receipt, we've had to return to the store to demand a refund on an item for which we'd been overcharged. Today is an example. The stated placard price for red grapes was $1.98 per pound, but the receipt registered over $3 a pound, bringing the bag of grapes to over $7!
Since we needed to run a couple of errands this afternoon, we stopped back by the store and got a refund on the overcharge. This seems picky, but if that store overcharges hundreds of customers in their various stores this way, they are profiting nicely through unaware customers. They are counting on customers not bothering to challenge them for a mere dollar or two. In most cases, I'd venture to guess that many folks don't even check their receipts. But we do. A dollar here and a dollar there can add up to lots of dollars in the course of a year.
Back home, I went upstairs to work on my computer, and while I was up there, someone came to the door. Later, Hubbie explained that the visitor was the brother of the man who was injured in an accident last month, just before Thanksgiving, when he was hit as he crossed the highway without stopping at the intersection, and was catapulted into our yard, slamming against a tree.
Hubbie learned that the 38-year-old man, who had to be extricated from his wrecked truck with the jaws of life, is married and has a little girl. He has been in a trauma unit of a hospital in another state ever since, and has undergone several surgeries. But, the brother said, he will never be the same again.
The reason the brother stopped by was to ask if we'd found a gun that had been in his brother's truck. Hubbie has found no gun in our yard. He speculates that it might have been flung out of the truck and buried somewhere in the the undergrowth of the ditch, or is under water, which means that by now it would probably be rusted beyond repair. We figure the wife of the injured man wants to list the gun in an insurance claim.
Mother came over after I was ready for the day and began work on one of her new Christmas jigsaw puzzles, while Hubbie and I went to a few stores looking for after-Christmas bargains. The mark-downs were mainly on Christmas cards, trim, wrapping paper, gift bags, etc. I picked up several boxes of cards, as well as a stack of gift bags at the WDCS. I did the same at the everything's a dollar store, where Christmas stuff was fifty cents. All I found at the other discount chain store was some ribbon marked half price. I bought four rolls of that in colors like gold that I think I can use throughout the year.
At the other store that has a sale every weekend, Hubbie found an inexpensive pair of khaki pants, and I found a pair of black dress slacks. The tag on the dress slacks declared that they were marked fifty percent off, but I'm convinced clothing stores often jack up prices, then mark them down in an attempt to make customers believe they're getting a bargain.
A lot of times, merchandise offered on the sale and clearance racks is stuff I've never even seen in the store before. It's stuff they've brought it in from other stores, with new jacked-up price tags that are then marked down (SALE...50 % Off!! original ticket price ) .
Last year, for instance, I bought a sweater at full price at the beginning of the season. And then at an after-Christmas sale, I saw the very same sweater at another of their stores with the price tag marked up to twice what I originally paid, with a red sticker that declared it was now on sale at half price.
Another thing that Hubbie and I have encountered lately is that the WDCS registers do not always reflect stated sale prices. Several times, after checking our cash register receipt, we've had to return to the store to demand a refund on an item for which we'd been overcharged. Today is an example. The stated placard price for red grapes was $1.98 per pound, but the receipt registered over $3 a pound, bringing the bag of grapes to over $7!
Since we needed to run a couple of errands this afternoon, we stopped back by the store and got a refund on the overcharge. This seems picky, but if that store overcharges hundreds of customers in their various stores this way, they are profiting nicely through unaware customers. They are counting on customers not bothering to challenge them for a mere dollar or two. In most cases, I'd venture to guess that many folks don't even check their receipts. But we do. A dollar here and a dollar there can add up to lots of dollars in the course of a year.
Back home, I went upstairs to work on my computer, and while I was up there, someone came to the door. Later, Hubbie explained that the visitor was the brother of the man who was injured in an accident last month, just before Thanksgiving, when he was hit as he crossed the highway without stopping at the intersection, and was catapulted into our yard, slamming against a tree.
Hubbie learned that the 38-year-old man, who had to be extricated from his wrecked truck with the jaws of life, is married and has a little girl. He has been in a trauma unit of a hospital in another state ever since, and has undergone several surgeries. But, the brother said, he will never be the same again.
The reason the brother stopped by was to ask if we'd found a gun that had been in his brother's truck. Hubbie has found no gun in our yard. He speculates that it might have been flung out of the truck and buried somewhere in the the undergrowth of the ditch, or is under water, which means that by now it would probably be rusted beyond repair. We figure the wife of the injured man wants to list the gun in an insurance claim.
Christmas Lights
These are two of the houses that are covered in Christmas lights in our community. For sharper photos, I'd recommend a tripod for night shots like these, but in order not to get in the way of other drivers, I hopped out of our van and quickly snapped these, hand holding the camera, which was set at a high ASA speed.
The lighting display at the home in the top photo is done each year by a gentleman in his 70s. This year, he is 77, in fact. But he was still able to climb on the roof of his house to place strings of lights criss-cross on it, and set up the many displays in his yard. In a newspaper article last week, he said he begins the lighting project in September.
I like the photos in black and white, which seems to make them look more wintry.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Day
I skipped my exercises again today. After breakfast, while I got ready for the day, Mother came over and put a beef roast in the slow cooker with carrots and onions. Hubbie peeled potatoes. After that, we spent the rest of the morning watching Christmas programs..."Scrooge," with Alastair Sim, and the Christmas parade from Disney World.
By this time it was close to noon. I mashed the potatoes, heated the canned asparagus, and put the fruit salad on the table, and we sat down to our traditional Christmas dinner. Afterward, we continued our movie marathon, with "Miracle on 34th Street, "It's a Wonderful Life," and a Holiday at the Pops program that I recorded several years ago.
We finished our programs about 5:30 p.m., and Mother went home. Around 6:30, Hubbie and I had a supper of cold roast beef sandwiches, and celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese dips. I had a Little Cutie tangerine for dessert, and Hubbie had a slice of rum cake.
After supper, Hubbie's sister and my daughter called to wish us a Merry Christmas, and we chatted with them for quite a while. That was our day, other than watching normal TV fare for the evening.
By this time it was close to noon. I mashed the potatoes, heated the canned asparagus, and put the fruit salad on the table, and we sat down to our traditional Christmas dinner. Afterward, we continued our movie marathon, with "Miracle on 34th Street, "It's a Wonderful Life," and a Holiday at the Pops program that I recorded several years ago.
We finished our programs about 5:30 p.m., and Mother went home. Around 6:30, Hubbie and I had a supper of cold roast beef sandwiches, and celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese dips. I had a Little Cutie tangerine for dessert, and Hubbie had a slice of rum cake.
After supper, Hubbie's sister and my daughter called to wish us a Merry Christmas, and we chatted with them for quite a while. That was our day, other than watching normal TV fare for the evening.
Christmas Eve
I skipped my exercises this morning so I could go shopping before Hubbie's daughter arrived. After a day cold enough to wear my "Nanook of the North" suede and fleece-lined coat with hood to go shopping yesterday, I left the house today in a knit turtleneck shirt, with a Christmas vest, but no coat, because it was sunny and positively balmy.
I stopped by the store that has a sale every weekend first to pick up another gift for Hubbie, plus a white knit turtleneck shirt for Mother. With these two items, I was able to use the other $10 coupon.
From there, I went to the WDCS to get a gift card for Hubbie, plus liquid bandage for his winter-dry fingers that are developing cracks. Then I stopped by a farm supply store to get another gift card for him.
Hubbie's daughter was already here at 10 a.m., when I got back home. We had a nice visit. For lunch, we had 11-bean soup and chicken noodle soup, with deli turkey and cheese sandwiches, along with crackers and various dips and Italian cheese ball. For dessert, there was a choice of lemon bread, rum cake, and a heart-healthy recipe of chocolate chewy cookies.
Daughter remarked that she would be entertaining grandchildren this weekend, and she wanted to help them make graham cookie mini-Christmas houses, using half-pint milk cartons. But since school is out, she wasn't sure she could find milk cartons. So we went down to the art gallery to see if any were left from the workshop a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, the arts council director had already disposed of them.
Daughter left about 1:30 p.m., taking with her a recipe of baked fruited popcorn, a hunk of rum cake, some lemon bread, and an Italian cream cheese ball, plus the recipe for the chocolate chewy cookies.
For the rest of the afternoon, we watched Christmas movies...a musical version of "A Christmas Carol," starring Kelsey Grammer, and the classic, "A Christmas Story."
After a supper of bagel pizzas, served with cottage cheese and grape tomatoes, I made a double recipe of fruit salad (which Hubbie loves), and then we set out to tour Christmas lights around town. We were out about 30 minutes, when Shih Tzu begged for water, which of course, we had failed to bring with us. So we came back home to let her get a drink and fetch her jar of water and bowl to take with us.
We set out again, listening to Christmas carols as we traveled to the historic downtown district, to the park at the river, and to various residential areas. This year, the city has done a bang-up job of lighting the downtown area, and the park at the river, and there are some homes that are just dripping in lights and light displays. At one residence, the owners have cleverly projected a scene of Santa and his airborne sleigh on their white garage door.
We toured for about two hours, and then returned home to open gifts, as is our custom on Christmas Eve. Interestingly, the two gift cards I gave Hubbie exactly matched the amount of cash that he gave me, so our gifts cancelled each other out. Also, the gift I bought him at the store that has a sale every weekend was not what I thought I was getting. Instead of an electric shaver with various attachments, I had grabbed a hair trimming kit. So we'll be taking that back for a refund in a day or two.
One gift I gave Hubbie was sort of a silly one. "It's something to take care of your needs when I'm not here," I explained, as he was unwrapping it.
He looked at me in surprise. "An inflatable doll??" he asked.
Mother and I burst into laughter as he finished unwrapping the gift...a long-handled wooden back scratcher.
I was pretty surprised, too, when I opened one of my gifts from him, and found a four-roll pack of bathroom tissue. "Toilet paper?" I asked. "Look further," he said. So I peered into the tubes and found a small plastic bag containing a pretty brown polished stone pendant tucked into one. That was one of two polished stone pendants he gave me, besides a chunky necklace and earrings, and a small, sparkling diamond-like pendant. On the practical side, he gave me a small electric food processor that I'll use mainly to chop nuts.
Hubbie got a new billfold from Mother. And I gave him Enya's newest CD. Enya is one of his favorite performers, so we have a collection of most of her works. I also gave him a big bag of homemade peanut brittle (which he loves). I didn't make the peanut brittle. I bought it at my beauty salon, where the hairdressers were selling it for a friend.
Mother got things for her new cat, plus clothing, jigsaw puzzles, puzzle books, a jar of lemon curd, calendars, and a "Chicken Soup" book about cats, among other things. Of course, she had received gifts each day for the twelve days leading up to Christmas. Among those gifts was a Christmas apron, Christmas village pieces, scrapbooking supplies, word search books, a loaf of lemon bread, canned peaches and pears, a watering can floral arrangement, Jelly Belly jelly beans (her favorite), and lunch at a new soup and sandwich shop.
Following the gift exchange, we enjoyed cups of hot chocolate and Christmas goodies. After that, Mother went home, and we watched TV news before heading to bed.
I stopped by the store that has a sale every weekend first to pick up another gift for Hubbie, plus a white knit turtleneck shirt for Mother. With these two items, I was able to use the other $10 coupon.
From there, I went to the WDCS to get a gift card for Hubbie, plus liquid bandage for his winter-dry fingers that are developing cracks. Then I stopped by a farm supply store to get another gift card for him.
Hubbie's daughter was already here at 10 a.m., when I got back home. We had a nice visit. For lunch, we had 11-bean soup and chicken noodle soup, with deli turkey and cheese sandwiches, along with crackers and various dips and Italian cheese ball. For dessert, there was a choice of lemon bread, rum cake, and a heart-healthy recipe of chocolate chewy cookies.
Daughter remarked that she would be entertaining grandchildren this weekend, and she wanted to help them make graham cookie mini-Christmas houses, using half-pint milk cartons. But since school is out, she wasn't sure she could find milk cartons. So we went down to the art gallery to see if any were left from the workshop a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, the arts council director had already disposed of them.
Daughter left about 1:30 p.m., taking with her a recipe of baked fruited popcorn, a hunk of rum cake, some lemon bread, and an Italian cream cheese ball, plus the recipe for the chocolate chewy cookies.
For the rest of the afternoon, we watched Christmas movies...a musical version of "A Christmas Carol," starring Kelsey Grammer, and the classic, "A Christmas Story."
After a supper of bagel pizzas, served with cottage cheese and grape tomatoes, I made a double recipe of fruit salad (which Hubbie loves), and then we set out to tour Christmas lights around town. We were out about 30 minutes, when Shih Tzu begged for water, which of course, we had failed to bring with us. So we came back home to let her get a drink and fetch her jar of water and bowl to take with us.
We set out again, listening to Christmas carols as we traveled to the historic downtown district, to the park at the river, and to various residential areas. This year, the city has done a bang-up job of lighting the downtown area, and the park at the river, and there are some homes that are just dripping in lights and light displays. At one residence, the owners have cleverly projected a scene of Santa and his airborne sleigh on their white garage door.
We toured for about two hours, and then returned home to open gifts, as is our custom on Christmas Eve. Interestingly, the two gift cards I gave Hubbie exactly matched the amount of cash that he gave me, so our gifts cancelled each other out. Also, the gift I bought him at the store that has a sale every weekend was not what I thought I was getting. Instead of an electric shaver with various attachments, I had grabbed a hair trimming kit. So we'll be taking that back for a refund in a day or two.
One gift I gave Hubbie was sort of a silly one. "It's something to take care of your needs when I'm not here," I explained, as he was unwrapping it.
He looked at me in surprise. "An inflatable doll??" he asked.
Mother and I burst into laughter as he finished unwrapping the gift...a long-handled wooden back scratcher.
I was pretty surprised, too, when I opened one of my gifts from him, and found a four-roll pack of bathroom tissue. "Toilet paper?" I asked. "Look further," he said. So I peered into the tubes and found a small plastic bag containing a pretty brown polished stone pendant tucked into one. That was one of two polished stone pendants he gave me, besides a chunky necklace and earrings, and a small, sparkling diamond-like pendant. On the practical side, he gave me a small electric food processor that I'll use mainly to chop nuts.
Hubbie got a new billfold from Mother. And I gave him Enya's newest CD. Enya is one of his favorite performers, so we have a collection of most of her works. I also gave him a big bag of homemade peanut brittle (which he loves). I didn't make the peanut brittle. I bought it at my beauty salon, where the hairdressers were selling it for a friend.
Mother got things for her new cat, plus clothing, jigsaw puzzles, puzzle books, a jar of lemon curd, calendars, and a "Chicken Soup" book about cats, among other things. Of course, she had received gifts each day for the twelve days leading up to Christmas. Among those gifts was a Christmas apron, Christmas village pieces, scrapbooking supplies, word search books, a loaf of lemon bread, canned peaches and pears, a watering can floral arrangement, Jelly Belly jelly beans (her favorite), and lunch at a new soup and sandwich shop.
Following the gift exchange, we enjoyed cups of hot chocolate and Christmas goodies. After that, Mother went home, and we watched TV news before heading to bed.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 23
We slept really late this morning, not getting up until nearly 8:30 a.m. I headed for the treadmill right away, postponing breakfast until afterward.
While I was getting ready for the day, Mother came over and started a pot of 11-bean soup with ham, onions, banana peppers, and a can of Rotel. We'll serve this when Hubbie's daughter visits tomorrow. I won't indulge, of course, but there will be choices of heart-healthy leftover chili or chicken noodle soup for me.
After that, Mother sat down to her jigsaw puzzle, while we watched a Christmas movie. This mornings's fare was "A Christmas Carol," performed by the Northern Ballet Theatre of England. I taped this from the public television channel several years ago, and have enjoyed it every year since.
We had time for only one movie before lunch. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the Post Office, to the store that has a sale every weekend, to a bank, to the everything's a dollar store, and to the WDCS.
The parking lot at the store that has a sale every weekend was packed, so Hubbie let me out close to the door and then went in search of a parking space. I looked for something for Hubbie for Christmas at the store, and found it. The problem is, in my rush to pay for the item and get it bagged before Hubbie came looking for me, I forgot to use a $10 coupon I had. So now I'll have to go back to the store tomorrow, return the gift for a refund, and then buy the item again, using the coupon this time.
Actually, we had two $10 coupons, and I did use one of them to buy two on-sale corduroy shirts for myself. The shirts are alike, except one is brown and one is tan.
From this store, we went to the everything's a dollar store, where I hoped to find small Christmas bags. No luck. So we went on to the WDCS for grocery items. Besides foods for us, we bought ingredients to make dog biscuits. Hubbie picked up several homemade biscuits at a craft fair recently, and Shih Tzu loves them. So we decided we'd try our hand at making some for her, using a recipe I found online.
While at the store, we met our neighbor, who said she had baked sugar cookies, using a recipe we gave her last year, along with samples of the cookies that we had baked. She said she wanted to send some of the cookies over to our house this evening. So when we got back home, I made up a plate of crackers and Italian cream cheese ball to have on hand as an exchange gift.
After we got back home, we watched another DVD, this time the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in a story titled, "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve."
By the end of the movie, it was supper time. Tonight, we had boiled chicken with dressing from the freezer that had been leftover from Thanksgiving, gravy made from low-sodium chicken broth, and no-salt green beans.
After supper, the neighbor's husband delivered the cookies, and we gave him the cheese ball plate. He said they were on their way to another town for a Christmas celebration with family, so I hope the cheese ball will be a welcome addition to their holiday goodie table.
Later, we made the dog biscuits. Once they had cooled, Shih Tzu sampled one, wagged her tail furiously and begged for more. Looks like we'll be making these often, rather than buying the little homemade bone-shaped ones at $3 a dozen. Tonight, we used cookie cutters that I already have on hand, like a lion, a reindeer, and a leaf, but maybe we can find a bone-shaped cookie cutter somewhere.
While I was getting ready for the day, Mother came over and started a pot of 11-bean soup with ham, onions, banana peppers, and a can of Rotel. We'll serve this when Hubbie's daughter visits tomorrow. I won't indulge, of course, but there will be choices of heart-healthy leftover chili or chicken noodle soup for me.
After that, Mother sat down to her jigsaw puzzle, while we watched a Christmas movie. This mornings's fare was "A Christmas Carol," performed by the Northern Ballet Theatre of England. I taped this from the public television channel several years ago, and have enjoyed it every year since.
We had time for only one movie before lunch. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the Post Office, to the store that has a sale every weekend, to a bank, to the everything's a dollar store, and to the WDCS.
The parking lot at the store that has a sale every weekend was packed, so Hubbie let me out close to the door and then went in search of a parking space. I looked for something for Hubbie for Christmas at the store, and found it. The problem is, in my rush to pay for the item and get it bagged before Hubbie came looking for me, I forgot to use a $10 coupon I had. So now I'll have to go back to the store tomorrow, return the gift for a refund, and then buy the item again, using the coupon this time.
Actually, we had two $10 coupons, and I did use one of them to buy two on-sale corduroy shirts for myself. The shirts are alike, except one is brown and one is tan.
From this store, we went to the everything's a dollar store, where I hoped to find small Christmas bags. No luck. So we went on to the WDCS for grocery items. Besides foods for us, we bought ingredients to make dog biscuits. Hubbie picked up several homemade biscuits at a craft fair recently, and Shih Tzu loves them. So we decided we'd try our hand at making some for her, using a recipe I found online.
While at the store, we met our neighbor, who said she had baked sugar cookies, using a recipe we gave her last year, along with samples of the cookies that we had baked. She said she wanted to send some of the cookies over to our house this evening. So when we got back home, I made up a plate of crackers and Italian cream cheese ball to have on hand as an exchange gift.
After we got back home, we watched another DVD, this time the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in a story titled, "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve."
By the end of the movie, it was supper time. Tonight, we had boiled chicken with dressing from the freezer that had been leftover from Thanksgiving, gravy made from low-sodium chicken broth, and no-salt green beans.
After supper, the neighbor's husband delivered the cookies, and we gave him the cheese ball plate. He said they were on their way to another town for a Christmas celebration with family, so I hope the cheese ball will be a welcome addition to their holiday goodie table.
Later, we made the dog biscuits. Once they had cooled, Shih Tzu sampled one, wagged her tail furiously and begged for more. Looks like we'll be making these often, rather than buying the little homemade bone-shaped ones at $3 a dozen. Tonight, we used cookie cutters that I already have on hand, like a lion, a reindeer, and a leaf, but maybe we can find a bone-shaped cookie cutter somewhere.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 22
The first day of winter yesterday ended with temps dropping to 10 degrees overnight, the coldest we've had in a couple of years this early in the season. We made sure there was heat on in the camper and the sun room, and Hubbie placed a light in the well house. Even though crucial water pipes are wrapped in electrical insulation, Hubbie still let the faucets drip in the downstairs bathroom, which is near an outside wall, just to be on the safe side. Thanks to these precautions, we had no frozen pipes this morning.
The central heat kicked on frequently through the night, so we were toasty, too, and the house was warm when we got up at 7:30 a.m.
I started the day, as usual, with a treadmill session and exercises with weights. Once I was ready for the day, Mother came over to work on the jigsaw puzzle we started yesterday, and I headed for the kitchen to do some baking.
I made a loaf of lemon bread as Mother's 11th day of Christmas gift. And then I baked a rum cake for Hubbie. While I made these goodies, I watched Christmas movies...an animated feature, "The Polar Express," and "Mrs. Claus," a musical starring Angela Landsbury.
After lunch, Hubbie moved the card table with the jigsaw puzzle into the den, so Mother could join me in watching a musical version of "Scrooge," starring Albert Finney, and "The Nutcracker," starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Then we watched The Raleigh Ringers, a hand bell ensemble from Raleigh, North Carolina, perform Christmas music. I recorded the concert on DVR from the public channel earlier this week. We saw this group perform live at a college in another town back in the summer and really enjoyed them. I bought their Christmas CD at that time, and we listened to it on one of our recent trips to another town.
The concert ended around supper time, when we sat down to chicken noodle soup and light biscuits with honey.
After supper, Hubbie air popped popcorn so I could make a batch of baked fruited popcorn for his daughter, who plans to visit sometime this week. Earlier today, he broke pecans and cut up candied cherries for the recipe.
I received a very nice Christmas gift today. The director of an arts council in the southern part of our state sent me a book of student generated poems, stories, plays and photography. The kids who created these works were students of various artists-in-education, including me. It's a thrill to see photos by students I taught illustrating such a nice book. I'm anxious to find time to sit down and read it.
The central heat kicked on frequently through the night, so we were toasty, too, and the house was warm when we got up at 7:30 a.m.
I started the day, as usual, with a treadmill session and exercises with weights. Once I was ready for the day, Mother came over to work on the jigsaw puzzle we started yesterday, and I headed for the kitchen to do some baking.
I made a loaf of lemon bread as Mother's 11th day of Christmas gift. And then I baked a rum cake for Hubbie. While I made these goodies, I watched Christmas movies...an animated feature, "The Polar Express," and "Mrs. Claus," a musical starring Angela Landsbury.
After lunch, Hubbie moved the card table with the jigsaw puzzle into the den, so Mother could join me in watching a musical version of "Scrooge," starring Albert Finney, and "The Nutcracker," starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Then we watched The Raleigh Ringers, a hand bell ensemble from Raleigh, North Carolina, perform Christmas music. I recorded the concert on DVR from the public channel earlier this week. We saw this group perform live at a college in another town back in the summer and really enjoyed them. I bought their Christmas CD at that time, and we listened to it on one of our recent trips to another town.
The concert ended around supper time, when we sat down to chicken noodle soup and light biscuits with honey.
After supper, Hubbie air popped popcorn so I could make a batch of baked fruited popcorn for his daughter, who plans to visit sometime this week. Earlier today, he broke pecans and cut up candied cherries for the recipe.
I received a very nice Christmas gift today. The director of an arts council in the southern part of our state sent me a book of student generated poems, stories, plays and photography. The kids who created these works were students of various artists-in-education, including me. It's a thrill to see photos by students I taught illustrating such a nice book. I'm anxious to find time to sit down and read it.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday, December 21
We got up about 7:30 this frigid morning, and I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises before breakfast.
About 10 a.m., we were ready to head to another town to join Hubbie's family for a Christmas celebration. We were among the first to arrive, but others, who had to travel a greater distance, arrived nearer to lunch time.
The first thing we noticed when we arrived was that Granddaughter was wearing a cast and special shoe on her left foot. It seems she broke a bone in her foot, though she doesn't have a clue how she did it. She'd been having pain in her foot for a while before she decided to see her doctor. I wondered if wearing high heels had caused a stress fracture, but she's not convinced that's the problem. It's just one of those mysteries.
Before and after lunch, several of us worked on the 500-piece jigsaw puzzle that we brought along, but we were unable to complete it by 4 p.m., when we left to come home.
I limited my snacking before lunch, even though there was an array of tempting tidbits, including several kinds of fudge, like pumpkin and peanut butter, besides the traditional chocolate ones, plus a cookie assortment, veggies with horseradish dip, cranberry brie, and the three dips and cheese ball that we brought along. There was also chocolate cake, chocolate pie, and coconut cream pie for dessert.
Lunch choices were ham, green bean casserole, plain green beans, hot corn, cheesy potatoes, cranberry sauce, cole slaw, and homemade crescent rolls. I ate sparingly, but I did sample all of the dishes except the ham and green bean casserole. And I couldn't resist a slice of chocolate cake.
After lunch, there was a gift exchange among the 13 adults and five children gathered. Hubbie and I received several garden-related items, like whimsical stone-like ornaments with faces on them, a round brass eye-catcher ornament that whirls in the wind, and a rabbit lying on its back holding a birdbath or butterfly watering dish. These will all work nicely in Hubbie's shade garden.
Besides these gifts, Mother and I received Christmas ornaments and beauty products, and Hubbie got gift cards to home supply stores. One gift card was cleverly presented in a double-layer wooden gift tag. The tag was secured with a screw at one corner, and embedded in the top layer of wood was a tiny Phillips head screwdriver, which, when used to take the screw out, opened the two layers of wood to reveal the gift card within.
I got a neat gift from one of Hubbie's daughters. It's a small ceramic "pillow " vase with three holes in the top. It's meant for creating miniature fresh or dry arrangements.
This year, the little ones made cute foam Christmas tree ornaments that they proudly distributed to each of us. These will be right at home on the eclectic tree in the sun room.
By this time, folks were ready to get on the road home, but before we left, we donned the Santa hats that Hubbie's ex provided, and lined up in front of the Christmas tree for family group photos. Daughter set the timer on her camera and snapped several shots, hoping at least one will have us all smiling, eyes open, with no kids making weird faces.
We got back home about 5:30 p.m., and I heated low-fat, no-salt chili for Hubbie's and my supper, which we ate with crackers spread with Italian cream cheese. We had fruit for dessert. The rest of the evening, we relaxed in front of the TV.
About 10 a.m., we were ready to head to another town to join Hubbie's family for a Christmas celebration. We were among the first to arrive, but others, who had to travel a greater distance, arrived nearer to lunch time.
The first thing we noticed when we arrived was that Granddaughter was wearing a cast and special shoe on her left foot. It seems she broke a bone in her foot, though she doesn't have a clue how she did it. She'd been having pain in her foot for a while before she decided to see her doctor. I wondered if wearing high heels had caused a stress fracture, but she's not convinced that's the problem. It's just one of those mysteries.
Before and after lunch, several of us worked on the 500-piece jigsaw puzzle that we brought along, but we were unable to complete it by 4 p.m., when we left to come home.
I limited my snacking before lunch, even though there was an array of tempting tidbits, including several kinds of fudge, like pumpkin and peanut butter, besides the traditional chocolate ones, plus a cookie assortment, veggies with horseradish dip, cranberry brie, and the three dips and cheese ball that we brought along. There was also chocolate cake, chocolate pie, and coconut cream pie for dessert.
Lunch choices were ham, green bean casserole, plain green beans, hot corn, cheesy potatoes, cranberry sauce, cole slaw, and homemade crescent rolls. I ate sparingly, but I did sample all of the dishes except the ham and green bean casserole. And I couldn't resist a slice of chocolate cake.
After lunch, there was a gift exchange among the 13 adults and five children gathered. Hubbie and I received several garden-related items, like whimsical stone-like ornaments with faces on them, a round brass eye-catcher ornament that whirls in the wind, and a rabbit lying on its back holding a birdbath or butterfly watering dish. These will all work nicely in Hubbie's shade garden.
Besides these gifts, Mother and I received Christmas ornaments and beauty products, and Hubbie got gift cards to home supply stores. One gift card was cleverly presented in a double-layer wooden gift tag. The tag was secured with a screw at one corner, and embedded in the top layer of wood was a tiny Phillips head screwdriver, which, when used to take the screw out, opened the two layers of wood to reveal the gift card within.
I got a neat gift from one of Hubbie's daughters. It's a small ceramic "pillow " vase with three holes in the top. It's meant for creating miniature fresh or dry arrangements.
This year, the little ones made cute foam Christmas tree ornaments that they proudly distributed to each of us. These will be right at home on the eclectic tree in the sun room.
By this time, folks were ready to get on the road home, but before we left, we donned the Santa hats that Hubbie's ex provided, and lined up in front of the Christmas tree for family group photos. Daughter set the timer on her camera and snapped several shots, hoping at least one will have us all smiling, eyes open, with no kids making weird faces.
We got back home about 5:30 p.m., and I heated low-fat, no-salt chili for Hubbie's and my supper, which we ate with crackers spread with Italian cream cheese. We had fruit for dessert. The rest of the evening, we relaxed in front of the TV.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Kitty has a Name
Ever since Mother adopted the Siamese-mix female kitten a few weeks ago, we have been waiting for the kitten to tell us her name. She's been giving us hints, but we've been led astray by her color (Taffy? Toffee? Amber? Muffy?), her markings (Cinders?), her personality (Tinker? Mischief?), her energy (Friskie? Skittles? Zipper? Jazz?).
None seemed quite right. The name needed to fit the kitten's intense inquisitiveness. "I thought about calling her Dora," Mother said, "for Dora, the Explorer." But Dora didn't strike a chord, either.
Then, as I was getting ready for the day this morning, the kitten's name came to me. I suggested it to Mother, and she agreed that it's the right one.
Finally, the kitten has told us her name..."Snoops."
None seemed quite right. The name needed to fit the kitten's intense inquisitiveness. "I thought about calling her Dora," Mother said, "for Dora, the Explorer." But Dora didn't strike a chord, either.
Then, as I was getting ready for the day this morning, the kitten's name came to me. I suggested it to Mother, and she agreed that it's the right one.
Finally, the kitten has told us her name..."Snoops."
Saturday, December 20
Started the day with a treadmill session and workout with weights, as usual. Mother came over after that and began working the edges of a jigsaw puzzle. We'll take this puzzle with us tomorrow, when we go to another town to celebrate Christmas with Hubbie's side of the family. It has become a tradition for us to set up a puzzle as part of the entertainment for this gathering.
For years, Hubbie's family gathered at our house for a Christmas get-together, usually on December 26, but for the past few years, one of his daughters has preferred that we gather at hers and her husband's lake home on the weekend before Christmas.
We made a variety of dips and a cream cheese ball this morning as part of our contribution to the festivities. We'll take spinach dip, jalapeno dip, onion and chives dip, and an Italian cream cheese ball, plus snack crackers.
Later in the morning, Hubbie and I shopped for groceries at the WDCS. I really wanted to avoid the Christmas rush today, but we decided that a pot of chili (for Hubbie and me), and chicken noodle soup (for Mother) would be good to have for supper Monday night, when the temps are predicted to drop dramatically. But of course, we didn't have all the required ingredients.
After we got back from shopping, we put the pot of chili on to simmer, and boiled the chicken. This will save us some work on Monday, when we'll probably want to do some last-minute shopping and watch Christmas movies.
After lunch, Mother and I settled in to watch the 1954 movie, "White Christmas," while Hubbie groomed Shih Tzu for a bath later.
Supper was a choice of hamburgers or turkey burgers, served with baked potatoes and no-salt creamed corn. Mother went home afterwards, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team win another game.
For years, Hubbie's family gathered at our house for a Christmas get-together, usually on December 26, but for the past few years, one of his daughters has preferred that we gather at hers and her husband's lake home on the weekend before Christmas.
We made a variety of dips and a cream cheese ball this morning as part of our contribution to the festivities. We'll take spinach dip, jalapeno dip, onion and chives dip, and an Italian cream cheese ball, plus snack crackers.
Later in the morning, Hubbie and I shopped for groceries at the WDCS. I really wanted to avoid the Christmas rush today, but we decided that a pot of chili (for Hubbie and me), and chicken noodle soup (for Mother) would be good to have for supper Monday night, when the temps are predicted to drop dramatically. But of course, we didn't have all the required ingredients.
After we got back from shopping, we put the pot of chili on to simmer, and boiled the chicken. This will save us some work on Monday, when we'll probably want to do some last-minute shopping and watch Christmas movies.
After lunch, Mother and I settled in to watch the 1954 movie, "White Christmas," while Hubbie groomed Shih Tzu for a bath later.
Supper was a choice of hamburgers or turkey burgers, served with baked potatoes and no-salt creamed corn. Mother went home afterwards, and Hubbie and I watched our favorite college basketball team win another game.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, December 19
The first thing I did this morning was call the doctor's office to make an appointment for Mother, who has an infected wound on one of her fingers. She got the wound last Saturday, when she cut her finger on the serrated edge of a wax paper box. She has been treating the wound herself, but it has gotten worse, so I felt she needed to see a doctor. The appointment was set for 1:15 this afternoon.
After that, I hopped on the treadmill for 35 minute, and then exercised with weights.
Once I was ready for the day, I put together a small goodies gift, including a nutcracker ornament, for a friend, and then addressed my last Christmas card, to be mailed to an old high school friend with whom I had lost touch after graduation in 1960, until this year. She has recently moved back to this state from Utah, and I'm hoping that she will be able to plan a trip in the spring to meet me and another high school friend of ours in that friend's state.
After that, I got ready to go with Hubbie and Mother downtown to a new soup and sandwich shop about 11:30 a.m. Several friends have mentioned how good this eatery is, so I decided we should try it as Mother's eighth "12 Days of Christmas" gift.
On the way to the eatery, we dropped a contribution off at a food pantry for the disadvantaged, and then delivered the goodies gift to the business where our friend works.
The soup and sandwich shop is located inside an antique mall, and is interesting in that it features mismatched tables and chairs. The centerpieces are pint canning jars holding a variety of twigs and other "outdoorsy" stuff. Food is served in plastic baskets, with soups served in Styrofoam bowls. Hot drinks are served in mismatched mugs.
The shop has a certain charm, but the chicken and rice soup I ordered was much too salty, and I told the waitress so. However, the chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread was good. The soup and sandwich was served with potato chips, saltine crackers, and a dill pickle, none of which I ate.
Hubbie ordered taco soup and a ham and cheese sandwich. I tasted his soup, which wasn't salty tasting, but was very spicy hot.
After we'd eaten, we toured the antiques part of the shop, but didn't find anything of interest. So we went to the store that has a sale every weekend to see if we could find anything we could use $10 coupons on. We spent about 30 unsuccessful minutes in the store before it was time to leave and go to the doctor's office.
We only had to wait a few minutes at the doctor's office before being called back to an examining room. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for Mother, and told her to bathe the finger several times a day in clear, warm water, or warm water with a little mild soap, Epsom salts, or hydrogen peroxide.
Back home, Mother and I watched the San Francisco Ballet's interpretation of "The Nutcracker," which I had recorded on DVR from the public television channel. The performance was over at 3 p.m. Afterward, Hubbie and I went to the pharmacy to pick up the medication for Mother, and then to the WDCS to pick up groceries for the weekend.
It's obvious by the congested traffic and the packed stores that Christmas is upon us. Of course today is Friday, the last payday before Christmas, which increased the number of shoppers. Maybe when we decide to shop on Monday, there will be fewer folks out and about...but probably not, since school will be dismissed for the holidays, and lots of workers will be on vacation next week.
We got back home in time for supper, which was baked talapia fish, baked sweet potatoes, and English peas.
Afterward, Mother went home, and we relaxed and watched TV.
After that, I hopped on the treadmill for 35 minute, and then exercised with weights.
Once I was ready for the day, I put together a small goodies gift, including a nutcracker ornament, for a friend, and then addressed my last Christmas card, to be mailed to an old high school friend with whom I had lost touch after graduation in 1960, until this year. She has recently moved back to this state from Utah, and I'm hoping that she will be able to plan a trip in the spring to meet me and another high school friend of ours in that friend's state.
After that, I got ready to go with Hubbie and Mother downtown to a new soup and sandwich shop about 11:30 a.m. Several friends have mentioned how good this eatery is, so I decided we should try it as Mother's eighth "12 Days of Christmas" gift.
On the way to the eatery, we dropped a contribution off at a food pantry for the disadvantaged, and then delivered the goodies gift to the business where our friend works.
The soup and sandwich shop is located inside an antique mall, and is interesting in that it features mismatched tables and chairs. The centerpieces are pint canning jars holding a variety of twigs and other "outdoorsy" stuff. Food is served in plastic baskets, with soups served in Styrofoam bowls. Hot drinks are served in mismatched mugs.
The shop has a certain charm, but the chicken and rice soup I ordered was much too salty, and I told the waitress so. However, the chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread was good. The soup and sandwich was served with potato chips, saltine crackers, and a dill pickle, none of which I ate.
Hubbie ordered taco soup and a ham and cheese sandwich. I tasted his soup, which wasn't salty tasting, but was very spicy hot.
After we'd eaten, we toured the antiques part of the shop, but didn't find anything of interest. So we went to the store that has a sale every weekend to see if we could find anything we could use $10 coupons on. We spent about 30 unsuccessful minutes in the store before it was time to leave and go to the doctor's office.
We only had to wait a few minutes at the doctor's office before being called back to an examining room. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for Mother, and told her to bathe the finger several times a day in clear, warm water, or warm water with a little mild soap, Epsom salts, or hydrogen peroxide.
Back home, Mother and I watched the San Francisco Ballet's interpretation of "The Nutcracker," which I had recorded on DVR from the public television channel. The performance was over at 3 p.m. Afterward, Hubbie and I went to the pharmacy to pick up the medication for Mother, and then to the WDCS to pick up groceries for the weekend.
It's obvious by the congested traffic and the packed stores that Christmas is upon us. Of course today is Friday, the last payday before Christmas, which increased the number of shoppers. Maybe when we decide to shop on Monday, there will be fewer folks out and about...but probably not, since school will be dismissed for the holidays, and lots of workers will be on vacation next week.
We got back home in time for supper, which was baked talapia fish, baked sweet potatoes, and English peas.
Afterward, Mother went home, and we relaxed and watched TV.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Thursday, December 18
We got up at 5 a.m. this morning, and were ready for a two-hour trip to the hospital where Daughter was scheduled for a catheter procedure to determine if she was having heart problems.
It was cold this morning, with ice remaining along the shoulders of the road and in the fields. Winter-bare trees stood eerily in fog, like bony black spectres, along the icy banks of the gray river.
We listened to Christmas music on CDs, which helped cheer us on this bleak day.
We arrived at the hospital around 9 a.m. I called Granddaughter, who directed us to the building where the procedure was to take place. After we parked in a handicapped space, a hospital van came by and picked us up to drive us to the door of the building. It was no small order for Mother to lift herself into and out of the vehicle, which had no running board.
At the building, we rode the elevator to the third floor, as directed by Granddaughter, but noticed that there were only what looked like offices on that floor. So we realized we were in the wrong building. Before we left, however, Mother decided she needed to visit the ladies room, where she was fascinated with the motion-sensor paper towel dispenser. As we left the bathroom, laughing, there was lady waiting in the hall. We explained what had amused us, and she said commented that in today's world, it's healthy to find humor wherever we can.
We walked to the appropriate building, and found the right waiting room on the third floor. Both granddaughters and a great-grandson were there, and in a few minutes, Daughter came back from an exam room. I hadn't told her we were coming, so she was surprised and happy to see us.
We all trooped down to the first floor, where Daughter was admitted on an add-on basis, meaning she was to be worked into the doctor's schedule, which was anticipated to be around 1 p.m. Daughter was taken back to be prepared for the procedure, and later a nurse escorted us to her room.
We stayed there until about noon, and then went to the hospital cafeteria for lunch. I was surprised by the unhealthy array of foods, including cheeseburgers and French fries. We speculated that maybe they are grooming future heart disease patients for the hospital. In fairness, though, the cafeteria did offer salad with fat free dressings, fruits, and grilled chicken sandwiches, which is what Mother and I ordered.
We were back in Daughter's room before they took her to surgery, which they did promptly at 1 p.m. We adjourned to the lobby area to wait. In the meantime, I called Son and Daughter-in-Law to let them know about Daughter, and to inquire about Granddaughter who is in the Army. I learned that Granddaughter is home on a 30-day leave. She arrived yesterday. So we look forward to seeing her sometime soon.
Daughter's procedure went well. It revealed that Daughter has a strong heart and no blocked arteries. So her complaints of being tired, getting easily winded, and having a rapid heat beat, are caused by something else. Right now, she is on medications to slow her heart rate, and she is scheduled to see her doctor again in a month.
Following the procedure, Daughter had to keep her leg absolutely still for two hours, and not raise her head, which she did from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. After that, she was dismissed to go home. We left around 3 p.m. Daughter is to take it easy for three days, being careful not to lift anything or drive. After that, she can return to her normal life. As it happens she has two weeks paid vacation, anyway, because the college where she works is on Christmas break.
It was really, really foggy on our drive back home, but we arrived safe and sound just before 5:30 p.m. Mother and I immediately set about heating up the leftover spaghetti, as well as various veggies, for supper.
After that, Mother went home, and we relaxed and watched a few favorite one-hour TV shows.
It was cold this morning, with ice remaining along the shoulders of the road and in the fields. Winter-bare trees stood eerily in fog, like bony black spectres, along the icy banks of the gray river.
We listened to Christmas music on CDs, which helped cheer us on this bleak day.
We arrived at the hospital around 9 a.m. I called Granddaughter, who directed us to the building where the procedure was to take place. After we parked in a handicapped space, a hospital van came by and picked us up to drive us to the door of the building. It was no small order for Mother to lift herself into and out of the vehicle, which had no running board.
At the building, we rode the elevator to the third floor, as directed by Granddaughter, but noticed that there were only what looked like offices on that floor. So we realized we were in the wrong building. Before we left, however, Mother decided she needed to visit the ladies room, where she was fascinated with the motion-sensor paper towel dispenser. As we left the bathroom, laughing, there was lady waiting in the hall. We explained what had amused us, and she said commented that in today's world, it's healthy to find humor wherever we can.
We walked to the appropriate building, and found the right waiting room on the third floor. Both granddaughters and a great-grandson were there, and in a few minutes, Daughter came back from an exam room. I hadn't told her we were coming, so she was surprised and happy to see us.
We all trooped down to the first floor, where Daughter was admitted on an add-on basis, meaning she was to be worked into the doctor's schedule, which was anticipated to be around 1 p.m. Daughter was taken back to be prepared for the procedure, and later a nurse escorted us to her room.
We stayed there until about noon, and then went to the hospital cafeteria for lunch. I was surprised by the unhealthy array of foods, including cheeseburgers and French fries. We speculated that maybe they are grooming future heart disease patients for the hospital. In fairness, though, the cafeteria did offer salad with fat free dressings, fruits, and grilled chicken sandwiches, which is what Mother and I ordered.
We were back in Daughter's room before they took her to surgery, which they did promptly at 1 p.m. We adjourned to the lobby area to wait. In the meantime, I called Son and Daughter-in-Law to let them know about Daughter, and to inquire about Granddaughter who is in the Army. I learned that Granddaughter is home on a 30-day leave. She arrived yesterday. So we look forward to seeing her sometime soon.
Daughter's procedure went well. It revealed that Daughter has a strong heart and no blocked arteries. So her complaints of being tired, getting easily winded, and having a rapid heat beat, are caused by something else. Right now, she is on medications to slow her heart rate, and she is scheduled to see her doctor again in a month.
Following the procedure, Daughter had to keep her leg absolutely still for two hours, and not raise her head, which she did from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. After that, she was dismissed to go home. We left around 3 p.m. Daughter is to take it easy for three days, being careful not to lift anything or drive. After that, she can return to her normal life. As it happens she has two weeks paid vacation, anyway, because the college where she works is on Christmas break.
It was really, really foggy on our drive back home, but we arrived safe and sound just before 5:30 p.m. Mother and I immediately set about heating up the leftover spaghetti, as well as various veggies, for supper.
After that, Mother went home, and we relaxed and watched a few favorite one-hour TV shows.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, Dec. 17
I had trouble falling asleep again last night, and we overslept this morning, but I got a treadmill session in just the same.
Daughter called just as I was finishing with my exercises. She wanted to tell me that following a treadmill stress test, her doctor decided she should have a catheter test to check for blocked arteries. She's to undergo the test at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. We want to be there when she has the procedure, so we'll need to get up in the morning by 5 a.m. in order to be at the hospital, about two hours away, by around 8:30 a.m.
For the rest of the morning, I put together food gift packs for our hairdressers, a member of the Extension Homemakers who gives us a gift of beauty products each year, and for the Cardiac Rehab team.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands. There was still ice in our yard and on the driveway, but traffic and higher temps had cleared the roadways.
As we left our yard, we noticed a policeman directing traffic on the highway, in front of our driveway. Hubbie asked what the problem was, and the officer said there had been an accident just down the road from our house. Our errands took us in a circle around town, so we passed the accident site on our way back home. Apparently, someone slid in the curve of the road and plowed the ditch on the right hand side.
Our errands took us first to a jewelry shop to check on Hubbie's watch, which only needed a new battery. Then we stopped by the art gallery to leave an expense reimbursement report and a CD of photos of the kids at the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop. From there, we went to the newspaper office to pick up papers that had not been delivered during the past couple of days due to the ice storm. After that, we went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, and then to the florist from which I'd ordered a plant for tonight's visitation. Seems our credit card had been declined, but when we checked with the florist, we found she'd taken the number down wrong.
We went to the other store that has a sale every weekend, so that I could look for a new Christmas sweater, before we went grocery shopping at the WDCS. I found a cute brown sweater vest with Santas and snowmen on it in pinks and blues that match a couple of turtleneck shirts I have. The sweater was on sale, plus there was a senior citizen discount of 15%.
After shopping for groceries, visiting the bank, and filling the van with gas, we were finally ready, about supper time, to head home. On the way, just before we reached the accident site, I saw a gray-haired lady doing the splits on her icy driveway. Apparently, after she had checked her mailbox, she was attempting to walk back to her car, which was parked on a slight incline, when her legs slipped apart, and down she went, spread-eagle, until her hands touched the ground. We were traveling too fast to stop, so I hope she got control of herself, or that someone helped her. I'd bet she'll be pretty sore tomorrow, though.
While we were gone, Mother had prepared a spaghetti dinner, and we were all hungry and ready to sit down to it. After supper, we changed into dark suitable clothing and went to the visitation for the husband of our scrapbook club friend. Both the wife and the sister of the deceased were very happy to see us, and hugged us for a long time.
The widow commented that her plane had been delayed in Texas yesterday because of ice storms, and she just about panicked over the idea that she might not get home in time for the funeral tomorrow. She said she would have lost it, if a very kind high-ranking military man had not seen that she got a hotel room, and then returned in the morning to escort her to breakfast and to the airport.
This lady, who had to leave the bedside of her dying son to come home and bury her husband, was praying, saying, "Lord, You promise not give us more than we can bear, but right now You're getting pretty close."
It was obvious by the dark circles and puffiness around her eyes, that she is grieving deeply, but she still appeared to be coping. I don't think I could be as brave and strong as she is.
When we got home, we watched a movie about the life and death of John Kennedy, Jr. We chose a strange night to watch this film that points to the unbelievable number of tragedies suffered by the Kennedy clan.
But on a high note, we followed the movie by watching our favorite college basketball team win over their opponents.
Daughter called just as I was finishing with my exercises. She wanted to tell me that following a treadmill stress test, her doctor decided she should have a catheter test to check for blocked arteries. She's to undergo the test at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. We want to be there when she has the procedure, so we'll need to get up in the morning by 5 a.m. in order to be at the hospital, about two hours away, by around 8:30 a.m.
For the rest of the morning, I put together food gift packs for our hairdressers, a member of the Extension Homemakers who gives us a gift of beauty products each year, and for the Cardiac Rehab team.
After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands. There was still ice in our yard and on the driveway, but traffic and higher temps had cleared the roadways.
As we left our yard, we noticed a policeman directing traffic on the highway, in front of our driveway. Hubbie asked what the problem was, and the officer said there had been an accident just down the road from our house. Our errands took us in a circle around town, so we passed the accident site on our way back home. Apparently, someone slid in the curve of the road and plowed the ditch on the right hand side.
Our errands took us first to a jewelry shop to check on Hubbie's watch, which only needed a new battery. Then we stopped by the art gallery to leave an expense reimbursement report and a CD of photos of the kids at the graham cracker cookie Christmas house workshop. From there, we went to the newspaper office to pick up papers that had not been delivered during the past couple of days due to the ice storm. After that, we went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, and then to the florist from which I'd ordered a plant for tonight's visitation. Seems our credit card had been declined, but when we checked with the florist, we found she'd taken the number down wrong.
We went to the other store that has a sale every weekend, so that I could look for a new Christmas sweater, before we went grocery shopping at the WDCS. I found a cute brown sweater vest with Santas and snowmen on it in pinks and blues that match a couple of turtleneck shirts I have. The sweater was on sale, plus there was a senior citizen discount of 15%.
After shopping for groceries, visiting the bank, and filling the van with gas, we were finally ready, about supper time, to head home. On the way, just before we reached the accident site, I saw a gray-haired lady doing the splits on her icy driveway. Apparently, after she had checked her mailbox, she was attempting to walk back to her car, which was parked on a slight incline, when her legs slipped apart, and down she went, spread-eagle, until her hands touched the ground. We were traveling too fast to stop, so I hope she got control of herself, or that someone helped her. I'd bet she'll be pretty sore tomorrow, though.
While we were gone, Mother had prepared a spaghetti dinner, and we were all hungry and ready to sit down to it. After supper, we changed into dark suitable clothing and went to the visitation for the husband of our scrapbook club friend. Both the wife and the sister of the deceased were very happy to see us, and hugged us for a long time.
The widow commented that her plane had been delayed in Texas yesterday because of ice storms, and she just about panicked over the idea that she might not get home in time for the funeral tomorrow. She said she would have lost it, if a very kind high-ranking military man had not seen that she got a hotel room, and then returned in the morning to escort her to breakfast and to the airport.
This lady, who had to leave the bedside of her dying son to come home and bury her husband, was praying, saying, "Lord, You promise not give us more than we can bear, but right now You're getting pretty close."
It was obvious by the dark circles and puffiness around her eyes, that she is grieving deeply, but she still appeared to be coping. I don't think I could be as brave and strong as she is.
When we got home, we watched a movie about the life and death of John Kennedy, Jr. We chose a strange night to watch this film that points to the unbelievable number of tragedies suffered by the Kennedy clan.
But on a high note, we followed the movie by watching our favorite college basketball team win over their opponents.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Our small town, and indeed the whole state, has practically come to a standstill, thanks to a generous coating of ice on the roadways. Predictions were that the temp would rise enough to melt it by afternoon, but it did not.
We got up late, and I headed to the treadmill. Just as I was finishing my exercises, a water aerobics friend called. I was scheduled to interview her this afternoon for a story about her recently published book. But it was apparent that we would not be able to do it today. We decided to schedule for a later, as yet undetermined, date.
Hubbie helped Mother come from her house, across the slippery yard, to our house, where she continued to work on the jigsaw puzzle. After I got ready for the day, I completed several tasks, including finishing the coffee filter angels, and putting together a food gift basket for the Cardiac Rehab staff.
After lunch, I called one of the members of our scrapbook club to tell her about the death of another member's husband. We agreed to split the cost of a plant, on behalf of the club, for the visitation and funeral. The visitation is scheduled for tomorrow evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. We plan to attend.
I spent the rest of the afternoon at my computer, putting together an expense report for the graham cracker Christmas house workshop last Saturday, to be submitted to the arts council for reimbursement. And I also wrote cut lines for photos I took at the workshop, and e-mailed the snapshots to the regional newspaper that I freelance for occasionally.
I tried to burn a CD of these snapshots to give to the arts council director, but the CD burner on my PC doesn't seem to be working. I'll try to burn them on my laptop later.
Supper was meatloaf, baked potatoes, and green beans. It's good to get back to ordinary food after so many holiday meals.
We got up late, and I headed to the treadmill. Just as I was finishing my exercises, a water aerobics friend called. I was scheduled to interview her this afternoon for a story about her recently published book. But it was apparent that we would not be able to do it today. We decided to schedule for a later, as yet undetermined, date.
Hubbie helped Mother come from her house, across the slippery yard, to our house, where she continued to work on the jigsaw puzzle. After I got ready for the day, I completed several tasks, including finishing the coffee filter angels, and putting together a food gift basket for the Cardiac Rehab staff.
After lunch, I called one of the members of our scrapbook club to tell her about the death of another member's husband. We agreed to split the cost of a plant, on behalf of the club, for the visitation and funeral. The visitation is scheduled for tomorrow evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. We plan to attend.
I spent the rest of the afternoon at my computer, putting together an expense report for the graham cracker Christmas house workshop last Saturday, to be submitted to the arts council for reimbursement. And I also wrote cut lines for photos I took at the workshop, and e-mailed the snapshots to the regional newspaper that I freelance for occasionally.
I tried to burn a CD of these snapshots to give to the arts council director, but the CD burner on my PC doesn't seem to be working. I'll try to burn them on my laptop later.
Supper was meatloaf, baked potatoes, and green beans. It's good to get back to ordinary food after so many holiday meals.
Mr. Christmas
Early this month, Daughter-in-Law e-mailed to let me know that Grandson had been voted most popular boy in all the sixth grade classes at his school. He was to escort the most popular girl at an event at the school last Friday.
Grandson, dubbed "Mr. Christmas," was told that for the event, he needed to wear dress pants, shirt, and tie. So his mom scrambled to find an appropriate outfit for this boy who lives only in jeans, t-shirts and the like. Grandson is husky, so it was no small order to find suitable clothing on such short notice.
The event occurred last Friday, at a time I was unable to attend, but a professional photographer was on board, and yesterday I visited her website to see several snapshots of him and "Miss Christmas."
I wanted him to know I'm proud of him, so I sent a card and a little cash, and I'll be looking forward to getting photos of him to work into a special scrapbook page.
Grandson, dubbed "Mr. Christmas," was told that for the event, he needed to wear dress pants, shirt, and tie. So his mom scrambled to find an appropriate outfit for this boy who lives only in jeans, t-shirts and the like. Grandson is husky, so it was no small order to find suitable clothing on such short notice.
The event occurred last Friday, at a time I was unable to attend, but a professional photographer was on board, and yesterday I visited her website to see several snapshots of him and "Miss Christmas."
I wanted him to know I'm proud of him, so I sent a card and a little cash, and I'll be looking forward to getting photos of him to work into a special scrapbook page.
Funny Story From "Water Babes" Christmas Party
At our "Water Babes" Christmas party and Dirty Santa gift exchange last Thursday at the Italian restaurant, I sat next to the regular leader, a retired school teacher, who has been absent from water aerobics lately with an undiagnosed illness.
When one of the ladies asked where she had taught, she said she'd spent 30 years teaching first at a junior high school, and then at a high school.
"When I taught, I always had five rules," she said, inadvertently holding up four fingers. She looked at her hand and grinned. "Oops," she said, "I mean five," and held up the fifth finger.
"Now, how many years did you say you taught?" I teased
"Thirty years," she replied, "but obviously I wasn't a math teacher," she laughed. "I was an English teacher."
When one of the ladies asked where she had taught, she said she'd spent 30 years teaching first at a junior high school, and then at a high school.
"When I taught, I always had five rules," she said, inadvertently holding up four fingers. She looked at her hand and grinned. "Oops," she said, "I mean five," and held up the fifth finger.
"Now, how many years did you say you taught?" I teased
"Thirty years," she replied, "but obviously I wasn't a math teacher," she laughed. "I was an English teacher."
Monday, December 15, 2008
Monday, Dec. 15
I had trouble going to sleep last night. It was nearly 3 a.m. before I finally drifted off. Despite that, we got up around 7 a.m., because we wanted to go to our favorite computer store in another town to pick up a laptop tote and cooling pad that we'd ordered. I skipped exercising this morning so we could get on the road before a predicted winter storm arrived.
We learned a couple of days ago that the lady who owns the computer store with her husband had a baby boy recently. Since she is a friend with whom I worked several years ago, I wanted to take a small gift to her. So I looked through my tote of miscellaneous gift items and found a cloth book that the baby will be able to use in a few months.
I didn't have any baby wrapping paper or gift bags, so I used a tan bag with the word "Joy" printed boldly on it in an off-white color. I wrote "It's a Boy" in white ink inside the letter "J," turning the subtle Christmas bag into a baby gift bag.
I also didn't have a baby congrats card, so I used a card I'd made from blue scrapbook scraps that said "Thinking of You," on the front. Inside, I wrote a congratulations message.
It was about 8:30 by the time we got on the road to the other town. It began sleeting on our way home. Back in town, we stopped by the bank, and then went to the WDCS for a few items needed for making Christmas goodies. We were back home before it started sleeting in earnest.
After a few hours, the ground was covered in sleet, and the road in front of our house was slick. TV reports warned that this weather would continue through the night and into tomorrow. Schools began dismissing early.
When we got back home, there were a couple of messages on our land line phone. One was from a member of our scrapbook club, telling me that her brother (husband of another scrapbook club member) had died of a heart attack Sunday morning. The member, whose husband he was, was in California when this happened, at the bedside of her son, who is dying of cancer.
How on earth will she cope with this? The lady has already lost one husband, and her older son. She is the only survivor of her family now. The other lady, sister of the man who died, lost her husband a little over a year ago, as well as her twin brother during this year.
I called my friend back, and we talked for quite a long time...actually, she talked, and I listened. She said that the family had all gathered in November for her brother's birthday, which he really enjoyed. And then a couple of weekends ago, he went with other family to Branson, coming back, my friend said, looking healthy, rested, and happy.
But this past Sunday morning, the family was due to gather again, and when he didn't show up, his son went to check on him, and found him slumped over on his bed. He had already died. His dying left his son the only remaining member of his immediate family.
Our hearts are heavy for both of our friends.
It continued to sleet throughout the afternoon, so we were glad to be able to stay indoors, where we spent the afternoon making Christmas goodies, including an onion and chive dip, and gingersnap cookies, to be used in food gifts.
While we worked, we distracted ourselves from the bad news of the morning by watching several Christmas shows that I'd recorded on DVR. We saw three episodes of "Frosty the Snowman," and Celtic Woman Christmas.
When the sleet did not stop by 4 p.m., Mother decided to go home while it was still daylight. Hubbie helped her walk from our house to hers, so she wouldn't slip and fall on the icy stuff.
During the evening, I completed addressing my Christmas cards while we watched a couple of more Christmas shows. Then I skimmed through two editions of our local newspaper that I hadn't gotten around to reading last week. The Sunday newspaper is still waiting for me.
We learned a couple of days ago that the lady who owns the computer store with her husband had a baby boy recently. Since she is a friend with whom I worked several years ago, I wanted to take a small gift to her. So I looked through my tote of miscellaneous gift items and found a cloth book that the baby will be able to use in a few months.
I didn't have any baby wrapping paper or gift bags, so I used a tan bag with the word "Joy" printed boldly on it in an off-white color. I wrote "It's a Boy" in white ink inside the letter "J," turning the subtle Christmas bag into a baby gift bag.
I also didn't have a baby congrats card, so I used a card I'd made from blue scrapbook scraps that said "Thinking of You," on the front. Inside, I wrote a congratulations message.
It was about 8:30 by the time we got on the road to the other town. It began sleeting on our way home. Back in town, we stopped by the bank, and then went to the WDCS for a few items needed for making Christmas goodies. We were back home before it started sleeting in earnest.
After a few hours, the ground was covered in sleet, and the road in front of our house was slick. TV reports warned that this weather would continue through the night and into tomorrow. Schools began dismissing early.
When we got back home, there were a couple of messages on our land line phone. One was from a member of our scrapbook club, telling me that her brother (husband of another scrapbook club member) had died of a heart attack Sunday morning. The member, whose husband he was, was in California when this happened, at the bedside of her son, who is dying of cancer.
How on earth will she cope with this? The lady has already lost one husband, and her older son. She is the only survivor of her family now. The other lady, sister of the man who died, lost her husband a little over a year ago, as well as her twin brother during this year.
I called my friend back, and we talked for quite a long time...actually, she talked, and I listened. She said that the family had all gathered in November for her brother's birthday, which he really enjoyed. And then a couple of weekends ago, he went with other family to Branson, coming back, my friend said, looking healthy, rested, and happy.
But this past Sunday morning, the family was due to gather again, and when he didn't show up, his son went to check on him, and found him slumped over on his bed. He had already died. His dying left his son the only remaining member of his immediate family.
Our hearts are heavy for both of our friends.
It continued to sleet throughout the afternoon, so we were glad to be able to stay indoors, where we spent the afternoon making Christmas goodies, including an onion and chive dip, and gingersnap cookies, to be used in food gifts.
While we worked, we distracted ourselves from the bad news of the morning by watching several Christmas shows that I'd recorded on DVR. We saw three episodes of "Frosty the Snowman," and Celtic Woman Christmas.
When the sleet did not stop by 4 p.m., Mother decided to go home while it was still daylight. Hubbie helped her walk from our house to hers, so she wouldn't slip and fall on the icy stuff.
During the evening, I completed addressing my Christmas cards while we watched a couple of more Christmas shows. Then I skimmed through two editions of our local newspaper that I hadn't gotten around to reading last week. The Sunday newspaper is still waiting for me.
Sunday, Dec. 14
We slept late this morning, but I still managed to do a treadmill session and work out with weights. After I got ready for the day, Mother came over and chose a jigsaw puzzle to begin working on, and I typed letters to be included in Christmas cards.
The puzzle Mother chose is one of several included in a box that Daughter gave me as a gift for my birthday last year. We've already worked one of the puzzles, of a famous mill in our capital city.
After a lunch of beans, sauteed potatoes, and boiled turnips, Mother went home, Hubbie went outdoors to plant azalea bushes, and I worked on my computer.
During the evening, while we watched Christmas shows on TV, I addressed Christmas card envelopes, added letters and photos to some cards, and wrote short notes in others. I got all but four or five done in the couple of hours that I worked on them.
Hubbie, who has a very large family of children, grandchildren, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins scattered all over the country, sends a lot more cards than I do, so he started working on his several days ago. I think he's completed the task now, though.
The puzzle Mother chose is one of several included in a box that Daughter gave me as a gift for my birthday last year. We've already worked one of the puzzles, of a famous mill in our capital city.
After a lunch of beans, sauteed potatoes, and boiled turnips, Mother went home, Hubbie went outdoors to plant azalea bushes, and I worked on my computer.
During the evening, while we watched Christmas shows on TV, I addressed Christmas card envelopes, added letters and photos to some cards, and wrote short notes in others. I got all but four or five done in the couple of hours that I worked on them.
Hubbie, who has a very large family of children, grandchildren, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins scattered all over the country, sends a lot more cards than I do, so he started working on his several days ago. I think he's completed the task now, though.
Funny Story
Mother is enjoying the company of her new, as yet unnamed, Siamese mix cat.
A couple of days ago, she was standing and talking to the curled up bundle dozing at the foot of her rocking chair, when she turned around to see the cat sitting right behind her, gazing up at her quizzically.
Mother took a second look at the dozing bundle. She'd been talking to her fuzzy slippers.
A couple of days ago, she was standing and talking to the curled up bundle dozing at the foot of her rocking chair, when she turned around to see the cat sitting right behind her, gazing up at her quizzically.
Mother took a second look at the dozing bundle. She'd been talking to her fuzzy slippers.
Gingerbread House Workshop
We got up early Saturday morning, so we could be ready to go downtown to the art gallery to do a graham cracker cookie mini Christmas house workshop. Daughter, Granddaughter, and five great-grandchildren were expected to arrive before 9 a.m., for the 9:30 workshop. Hubbie went downtown ahead of us to open the gallery.
When Daughter and Granddaughter hadn't arrived by 8:45, I called Daughter on her cell phone, and learned that they had gotten into town safely after a two-hour trip, and were on there way to the art gallery. So Mother and I hopped in the van and went downtown.
The great-grandkids helped set up places for the workshop participants, who began arriving just before 9:30. Nine children, including four of mine, had a great time making very creative houses (the example above was done by my two and a half year old great-grandson). The workshop lasted until 11 a.m.
By the time we cleaned up the gallery and came back home, it was getting close to lunch time, and we were all ready for chicken noodle soup, with deli turkey and cheese sandwiches. Dessert was individual cups of chocolate pudding with whipped topping, and sugar cookies.
For the rest of the afternoon until family had to leave around 4 p.m., we visited, opened gifts, and had a photo session. It was a delight to see five-month-old great-grandson rocking back and forth on his knees, getting ready to crawl, and hear the older grandchildren giggle and play on the stairs. It was a noisy and happy time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Later, Hubbie and I continued our "children" day, when we attended a piano and voice recital at a local college. One of the children who performed is the five-year-old son of a staff member at the home medical service where I am an advisory committee member, and another child is the daughter of a woman that I serve with on the community theater board. The five year old was one of the participants at the Christmas house workshop today.
We enjoyed the recital, which was all the more enchanting because of missed and sour notes. The kids were adorable all dressed up in their Christmas finery, and even though they were visibly nervous, they were brave to perform in front of a large and appreciative audience, who enthusiastically applauded every performer.
We got back home about 8 p.m., ready to relax in front of TV for a while before calling it a day.
When Daughter and Granddaughter hadn't arrived by 8:45, I called Daughter on her cell phone, and learned that they had gotten into town safely after a two-hour trip, and were on there way to the art gallery. So Mother and I hopped in the van and went downtown.
The great-grandkids helped set up places for the workshop participants, who began arriving just before 9:30. Nine children, including four of mine, had a great time making very creative houses (the example above was done by my two and a half year old great-grandson). The workshop lasted until 11 a.m.
By the time we cleaned up the gallery and came back home, it was getting close to lunch time, and we were all ready for chicken noodle soup, with deli turkey and cheese sandwiches. Dessert was individual cups of chocolate pudding with whipped topping, and sugar cookies.
For the rest of the afternoon until family had to leave around 4 p.m., we visited, opened gifts, and had a photo session. It was a delight to see five-month-old great-grandson rocking back and forth on his knees, getting ready to crawl, and hear the older grandchildren giggle and play on the stairs. It was a noisy and happy time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Later, Hubbie and I continued our "children" day, when we attended a piano and voice recital at a local college. One of the children who performed is the five-year-old son of a staff member at the home medical service where I am an advisory committee member, and another child is the daughter of a woman that I serve with on the community theater board. The five year old was one of the participants at the Christmas house workshop today.
We enjoyed the recital, which was all the more enchanting because of missed and sour notes. The kids were adorable all dressed up in their Christmas finery, and even though they were visibly nervous, they were brave to perform in front of a large and appreciative audience, who enthusiastically applauded every performer.
We got back home about 8 p.m., ready to relax in front of TV for a while before calling it a day.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Friday, Dec. 12
I started the day with water aerobics this morning. Only fourteen of us showed up for this last day at the pool until January 12. There was a printed invitation from one of the members, who was absent today, inviting everyone to her house on Dec. 18 for her third annual "Cup of Cheer" drop-in party. Mother and I went last year and enjoyed it very much.
After water aerobics, I dressed in a new jewel green sweater and black slacks to go to the group's "Water Babe's" Christmas party at a popular Italian restaurant. This was a Dutch Treat lunch and Dirty Santa gift exchange. Mother went, too. The water aerobics ladies always enjoy visiting with Mother.
I chose a grilled chicken sandwich for my lunch. I didn't want to overeat, since Hubbie and I were scheduled to attend a Christmas dinner during the evening. Mother opted for a plate of spaghetti, so she could eat half at lunch and take half home for dinner.
During the Dirty Santa gift exchange, I first chose a swim tote that held a container of half-caffeine coffee. That gift was immediately stolen. The second gift I chose was a bag containing bottles and tubes of lotions, bath oils, etc., with a card thanking the recipient for all she did at water aerobics. I realized that this gift had been mistakenly placed on the Dirty Santa table, when it really belonged on the table of gifts for the regular aerobics leader.
So I chose a third gift. This one was a pair of crystal-like angels, holding a votive candle. The ladies were kind this time and didn't steal it, so it's very pretty sitting in my China cabinet.
During the lunch, the lady who is hosting the "Cup of Cheer" event, announced again that everyone is invited. When I got home, Hubbie handed me a postcard invitation to the event. So there's no excuse for me to forget it. To be sure, though, I wrote the date on my calendar.
As we left the Christmas party, the regular leader asked us to choose an ornament from a box she had brought. They are very pretty gold balls banded with white glitter stars. Mother and I each got one, which we hung on the white Christmas tree in the living room.
After we got home, Hubbie and I went shopping at the WDCS for several grocery items needed over the weekend, especially deli turkey and cheeses for Saturday's lunch.
Later, I changed into a dressy holiday jacket, and at 4 p.m., we attended an open house event sponsored by an investment group. Two tables were laden with goodies, including the makings for small rye bread sandwiches, plus fresh fruits, like pineapple and blackberries, and homemade treats like pumpkin roll, fudge, and peanut clusters.
I didn't eat anything at the event, but I filled a plate with fruits, pumpkin roll and a couple of pieces of the candies to bring home for later. Mother ate a sandwich and other goodies, as did Hubbie.
We stayed about an hour, long enough for me to learn that a member of the visual arts committee that I serve on is in the hospital, with, of all things, a ruptured vocal cord. I wonder how she fell victim to such a strange malady. She's not a singer, as far as I know.
From this open house, we went to an open house at the art gallery, where I delivered a big bowl of baked fruited popcorn for the goodie table to add to the cookies and brownies, etc., already there. I didn't eat anything here, either.
We spent about an hour at the art gallery, visiting and looking at a series of boxes decorated by local dignitaries and donated to the gallery as part of a silent auction. The arts council is celebrating its 20th anniversary, so tonight's event was a part of the celebration. The council decided to have the reception and silent auction tonight because it was "Second Friday" downtown, and lots of people would be milling around.
We couldn't attend "Second Friday" events, however, because we were due at a Christmas dinner party at a hunting lodge outside of town. As a member of the advisory committee for the home medical business that sponsors this dinner, Hubbie and I are invited.
This is always a very nice event. The lodge is uniquely decorated all times of the year with a great variety of hunting and fishing stuff, but at Christmas, it is especially festive, with beautifully decorated tables. No two tables are decorated alike, because the lady who owns the lodge is on a constant search for unusual linens, dinnerware, and goblets.
The meal at the lodge is served buffet style, with choices tonight of thinly sliced beef, chicken breasts baked with cheese (which I couldn't have), garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, a creamy corn dish, homemade rolls, and a tasty salad using a special sweet house dressing over lettuce, Roma tomatoes, walnuts and Craisins.
Dessert was a choice of apple cobbler with ice cream, or chocolate brownie with ice cream. Hubbie chose the apple cobbler and I chose the chocolate brownie.
The lady who works as the business's public relations representative, was late getting to the event, because she was at the "Second Friday" event, where her daughter was performing in the pocket park. She said it was freezing downtown, but it didn't seem to keep people from attending.
This lady asked if I'd be willing to work as a volunteer with the hospice group, taking pictures of family in ordinary situations with the ill loved one to be included in a scrapbook for the family. I wouldn't mind doing this, if my camera wasn't acting up right now. I'm having trouble with focusing and lighting on it, which probably means I'll need to start thinking about getting a new camera. I've taken thousands of pictures over the many years that I've used my current camera. But I gag at the thought of how expensive it will be to replace it.
Each year, the advisory committee members are presented with a gift. This year, they were baskets containing two jars of jelly...apple and muscadine...as well as a package of white chocolate covered pretzles, and a package of peanut clusters.
The staff of the business played a Jeopary game, answering questions for money prizes. One of the questions asked was the name of the ship the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in. I misunderstood the question, and leaned over to Hubbie, saying "The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Marie."
"No," he said, "that was Christopher Columbus. I can't think of the name of the pilgrim's ship."
"The Good Ship Lollypop?" I grinned, because the name escaped me, too. Apparently, it escaped the contestants, as well, because the moderator had to remind us all that it was the Mayflower. Wow, did we all feel dumb. Obviously, we aren't as smart as a fifth grader.
We left the party around 8:30 p.m., ready to relax at home.
After water aerobics, I dressed in a new jewel green sweater and black slacks to go to the group's "Water Babe's" Christmas party at a popular Italian restaurant. This was a Dutch Treat lunch and Dirty Santa gift exchange. Mother went, too. The water aerobics ladies always enjoy visiting with Mother.
I chose a grilled chicken sandwich for my lunch. I didn't want to overeat, since Hubbie and I were scheduled to attend a Christmas dinner during the evening. Mother opted for a plate of spaghetti, so she could eat half at lunch and take half home for dinner.
During the Dirty Santa gift exchange, I first chose a swim tote that held a container of half-caffeine coffee. That gift was immediately stolen. The second gift I chose was a bag containing bottles and tubes of lotions, bath oils, etc., with a card thanking the recipient for all she did at water aerobics. I realized that this gift had been mistakenly placed on the Dirty Santa table, when it really belonged on the table of gifts for the regular aerobics leader.
So I chose a third gift. This one was a pair of crystal-like angels, holding a votive candle. The ladies were kind this time and didn't steal it, so it's very pretty sitting in my China cabinet.
During the lunch, the lady who is hosting the "Cup of Cheer" event, announced again that everyone is invited. When I got home, Hubbie handed me a postcard invitation to the event. So there's no excuse for me to forget it. To be sure, though, I wrote the date on my calendar.
As we left the Christmas party, the regular leader asked us to choose an ornament from a box she had brought. They are very pretty gold balls banded with white glitter stars. Mother and I each got one, which we hung on the white Christmas tree in the living room.
After we got home, Hubbie and I went shopping at the WDCS for several grocery items needed over the weekend, especially deli turkey and cheeses for Saturday's lunch.
Later, I changed into a dressy holiday jacket, and at 4 p.m., we attended an open house event sponsored by an investment group. Two tables were laden with goodies, including the makings for small rye bread sandwiches, plus fresh fruits, like pineapple and blackberries, and homemade treats like pumpkin roll, fudge, and peanut clusters.
I didn't eat anything at the event, but I filled a plate with fruits, pumpkin roll and a couple of pieces of the candies to bring home for later. Mother ate a sandwich and other goodies, as did Hubbie.
We stayed about an hour, long enough for me to learn that a member of the visual arts committee that I serve on is in the hospital, with, of all things, a ruptured vocal cord. I wonder how she fell victim to such a strange malady. She's not a singer, as far as I know.
From this open house, we went to an open house at the art gallery, where I delivered a big bowl of baked fruited popcorn for the goodie table to add to the cookies and brownies, etc., already there. I didn't eat anything here, either.
We spent about an hour at the art gallery, visiting and looking at a series of boxes decorated by local dignitaries and donated to the gallery as part of a silent auction. The arts council is celebrating its 20th anniversary, so tonight's event was a part of the celebration. The council decided to have the reception and silent auction tonight because it was "Second Friday" downtown, and lots of people would be milling around.
We couldn't attend "Second Friday" events, however, because we were due at a Christmas dinner party at a hunting lodge outside of town. As a member of the advisory committee for the home medical business that sponsors this dinner, Hubbie and I are invited.
This is always a very nice event. The lodge is uniquely decorated all times of the year with a great variety of hunting and fishing stuff, but at Christmas, it is especially festive, with beautifully decorated tables. No two tables are decorated alike, because the lady who owns the lodge is on a constant search for unusual linens, dinnerware, and goblets.
The meal at the lodge is served buffet style, with choices tonight of thinly sliced beef, chicken breasts baked with cheese (which I couldn't have), garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, a creamy corn dish, homemade rolls, and a tasty salad using a special sweet house dressing over lettuce, Roma tomatoes, walnuts and Craisins.
Dessert was a choice of apple cobbler with ice cream, or chocolate brownie with ice cream. Hubbie chose the apple cobbler and I chose the chocolate brownie.
The lady who works as the business's public relations representative, was late getting to the event, because she was at the "Second Friday" event, where her daughter was performing in the pocket park. She said it was freezing downtown, but it didn't seem to keep people from attending.
This lady asked if I'd be willing to work as a volunteer with the hospice group, taking pictures of family in ordinary situations with the ill loved one to be included in a scrapbook for the family. I wouldn't mind doing this, if my camera wasn't acting up right now. I'm having trouble with focusing and lighting on it, which probably means I'll need to start thinking about getting a new camera. I've taken thousands of pictures over the many years that I've used my current camera. But I gag at the thought of how expensive it will be to replace it.
Each year, the advisory committee members are presented with a gift. This year, they were baskets containing two jars of jelly...apple and muscadine...as well as a package of white chocolate covered pretzles, and a package of peanut clusters.
The staff of the business played a Jeopary game, answering questions for money prizes. One of the questions asked was the name of the ship the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in. I misunderstood the question, and leaned over to Hubbie, saying "The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Marie."
"No," he said, "that was Christopher Columbus. I can't think of the name of the pilgrim's ship."
"The Good Ship Lollypop?" I grinned, because the name escaped me, too. Apparently, it escaped the contestants, as well, because the moderator had to remind us all that it was the Mayflower. Wow, did we all feel dumb. Obviously, we aren't as smart as a fifth grader.
We left the party around 8:30 p.m., ready to relax at home.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thursday, Dec. 11
We slept late again this morning, but I still had time to do a treadmill session and resistance workout. After that, I sat down to the computer for a while, before choosing something to wear to the Master Gardener potluck luncheon and Dirty Santa gift exchange.
I decided on a jewel tone green turtleneck, to be worn under one of two choices of periwinkle blue knit shirts. I started to press one of the shirts...made of nylon and spandex...but had the iron temperature too high, which sort of melted a little spot on one sleeve. The other shirt had somehow attracted an obvious oily spot on the upper part of a sleeve. So I opted for the shirt with the melted spot, which, once it had cooled, wasn't real noticeable. I wore the shirts over tan pants, and added some sparkly jewelry to make the outfit festive.
Today was sunny, but an icy wind blew, so it was shivery getting into and out of the van. The event was held at the county Extension Services office, where a Master Gardener committee had done a nice job of decorating with white, lace-looking disposable table clothes over plain white table clothes, adding clear glass vases, wrapped in glittery gold ribbon and containing tall white candles as centerpieces. The vases were surrounded with sparkly white Christmas tree balls.
The potluck table also had white lace-looking table clothes, but red table clothes were underneath. The centerpiece in the middle was a decorated wreath around a large candle. At the dessert end of the table was a large bowl that looked like a cup and saucer, filled with "Little Cutie" tangerines.
Most of the potluck choices were things that I can't eat, like dressing with sage, and several veggie dishes with cheese. I did have a slice of turkey, a few green beans, some corn, and a carrot dish, plus a roll. There was also pre-cooked cold shrimp and cocktail sauce, so I ate a generous portion of those. I sampled tiny portions of a couple of desserts, including a mouth-watering Mexican wedding cake (only a taste of that, because it was made with real butter and lots of sugar). I ate lightly, because I didn't want to be too full for the meal served at the dinner theater we attended during the evening in another town.
Following the lunch, the MGs played Dirty Santa. This involves randomly picking numbers out of a bag, and then choosing a gift when your number comes up. Hubbie was number 5. At his turn, he chose a large basket of gardening stuff. As folks' numbers came up, they could choose a gift from under the tree, or steal someone else's gift. Gifts could be stolen twice before they were "locked" and couldn't be stolen anymore.
The two most unusual, and most stolen, gifts were a large battery operated chicken that hopped and clucked and made other sounds. It caused great hilarity, until a second battery operated item was unwrapped...a balding man on a potty, making vulgar sounds, finishing with a grateful strain of "Halleluja."
Hubbie's basket of gardening goodies was stolen once, but he stole it back in another turn, and it became "locked."
The event started at 11:30 a.m. and wasn't over until around 2:30, because it takes a long time to complete the Dirty Santa game.
At 4 p.m., we traveled to another town to attend a dinner theater event. Before we went to the theater, we stopped by a drug store to pick up a couple of the mechanical chickens similar to the one given at the Master Gardener party. Two people were so enchanted by the chicken that they wanted to give them to family members for Christmas. We found a big box of chickens dressed in Christmas garb that flapped their wings and sang Christmas carols. They were priced at $15 each, which seemed pricey to us, but we bought them anyway. Because we spent over $25 at the store, we were given a $5 coupon to spend on anything $5 or over on our next visit.
We arrived at the theater around 6:15. The facility is in a modified store front, which was formerly a restaurant. The dining area tables were decorated with black table clothes and napkins and lighted white candles, while the rest of the area was festooned with traditional Christmas decorations.
The meal was buffet style, with choices of sliced pork loin, grilled Caesar chicken breast, steamed veggies, corn on the cob, and steamed rice. Desserts included blackberry cobbler, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and coconut cake.
The tables were situated so that everyone had a good view of the stage. We were fortunate to be on an upper level, affording us a completely unobstructed view.
The play was a hilarious British comedy about a group of ladies (and one gentleman) who attempt to do the play "A Christmas Carol," but get everything wrong. The actors wore cheesy costumes, and used sets made of cardboard. Each actor played several characters. One lady, a great-grandmother, played a little boy and then a little girl, while a ninth-grade girl played Scrooge's grown nephew. A woman played Scrooge, and a man played Bob Crachet's wife.
At intermission, Mother and I visited the ladies room. As we were wending our way back to the table, we saw one of the play's character, a woman, take a pink stadium blanket to our table and ask Hubbie to watch it. Later, the man in the play, who from time to time flirted with the older ladies in the audience, retrieved the blanket and laid it across my knees. The woman actor told him to "stop playing with that lady's knees, and bring the blanket back."
The play ended about 9:30 p.m., and afterward, we stopped back by the drug store to spend the $5 coupon. We found a wooden puzzle, suited to one of the great-children who will be visiting Saturday.
A brilliant full moon shone against a velvet black sky on our trip home, and there were several homes along the way dripping in Christmas lights. It was nearing 11 p.m. by the time we arrived in our driveway. After such a full day, we were all ready to crawl into bed.
I decided on a jewel tone green turtleneck, to be worn under one of two choices of periwinkle blue knit shirts. I started to press one of the shirts...made of nylon and spandex...but had the iron temperature too high, which sort of melted a little spot on one sleeve. The other shirt had somehow attracted an obvious oily spot on the upper part of a sleeve. So I opted for the shirt with the melted spot, which, once it had cooled, wasn't real noticeable. I wore the shirts over tan pants, and added some sparkly jewelry to make the outfit festive.
Today was sunny, but an icy wind blew, so it was shivery getting into and out of the van. The event was held at the county Extension Services office, where a Master Gardener committee had done a nice job of decorating with white, lace-looking disposable table clothes over plain white table clothes, adding clear glass vases, wrapped in glittery gold ribbon and containing tall white candles as centerpieces. The vases were surrounded with sparkly white Christmas tree balls.
The potluck table also had white lace-looking table clothes, but red table clothes were underneath. The centerpiece in the middle was a decorated wreath around a large candle. At the dessert end of the table was a large bowl that looked like a cup and saucer, filled with "Little Cutie" tangerines.
Most of the potluck choices were things that I can't eat, like dressing with sage, and several veggie dishes with cheese. I did have a slice of turkey, a few green beans, some corn, and a carrot dish, plus a roll. There was also pre-cooked cold shrimp and cocktail sauce, so I ate a generous portion of those. I sampled tiny portions of a couple of desserts, including a mouth-watering Mexican wedding cake (only a taste of that, because it was made with real butter and lots of sugar). I ate lightly, because I didn't want to be too full for the meal served at the dinner theater we attended during the evening in another town.
Following the lunch, the MGs played Dirty Santa. This involves randomly picking numbers out of a bag, and then choosing a gift when your number comes up. Hubbie was number 5. At his turn, he chose a large basket of gardening stuff. As folks' numbers came up, they could choose a gift from under the tree, or steal someone else's gift. Gifts could be stolen twice before they were "locked" and couldn't be stolen anymore.
The two most unusual, and most stolen, gifts were a large battery operated chicken that hopped and clucked and made other sounds. It caused great hilarity, until a second battery operated item was unwrapped...a balding man on a potty, making vulgar sounds, finishing with a grateful strain of "Halleluja."
Hubbie's basket of gardening goodies was stolen once, but he stole it back in another turn, and it became "locked."
The event started at 11:30 a.m. and wasn't over until around 2:30, because it takes a long time to complete the Dirty Santa game.
At 4 p.m., we traveled to another town to attend a dinner theater event. Before we went to the theater, we stopped by a drug store to pick up a couple of the mechanical chickens similar to the one given at the Master Gardener party. Two people were so enchanted by the chicken that they wanted to give them to family members for Christmas. We found a big box of chickens dressed in Christmas garb that flapped their wings and sang Christmas carols. They were priced at $15 each, which seemed pricey to us, but we bought them anyway. Because we spent over $25 at the store, we were given a $5 coupon to spend on anything $5 or over on our next visit.
We arrived at the theater around 6:15. The facility is in a modified store front, which was formerly a restaurant. The dining area tables were decorated with black table clothes and napkins and lighted white candles, while the rest of the area was festooned with traditional Christmas decorations.
The meal was buffet style, with choices of sliced pork loin, grilled Caesar chicken breast, steamed veggies, corn on the cob, and steamed rice. Desserts included blackberry cobbler, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and coconut cake.
The tables were situated so that everyone had a good view of the stage. We were fortunate to be on an upper level, affording us a completely unobstructed view.
The play was a hilarious British comedy about a group of ladies (and one gentleman) who attempt to do the play "A Christmas Carol," but get everything wrong. The actors wore cheesy costumes, and used sets made of cardboard. Each actor played several characters. One lady, a great-grandmother, played a little boy and then a little girl, while a ninth-grade girl played Scrooge's grown nephew. A woman played Scrooge, and a man played Bob Crachet's wife.
At intermission, Mother and I visited the ladies room. As we were wending our way back to the table, we saw one of the play's character, a woman, take a pink stadium blanket to our table and ask Hubbie to watch it. Later, the man in the play, who from time to time flirted with the older ladies in the audience, retrieved the blanket and laid it across my knees. The woman actor told him to "stop playing with that lady's knees, and bring the blanket back."
The play ended about 9:30 p.m., and afterward, we stopped back by the drug store to spend the $5 coupon. We found a wooden puzzle, suited to one of the great-children who will be visiting Saturday.
A brilliant full moon shone against a velvet black sky on our trip home, and there were several homes along the way dripping in Christmas lights. It was nearing 11 p.m. by the time we arrived in our driveway. After such a full day, we were all ready to crawl into bed.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wednesday, Dec. 10
I couldn't face the winter wind this morning to go to water aerobics. Instead, I did a treadmill session, got ready for the day, and headed to the kitchen to prepare holiday fare for this weekend.
I started by baking a pie for tomorrow's Master Gardener potluck lunch and gift exchange. As the pie was baking, Hubbie, who was elsewhere while I was putting it together, sniffed the air and commented appreciatively, "Nothing smells better than an apple pie baking."
"Except that it's a cherry pie," I laughed.
He blamed his olfactory mistake on a stopped up nose. "I guess my smeller isn't working right," he said.
This time, I watched the pie carefully, to keep the crust from getting "high brown," as Hubbie described the cherry pie I took to his daughter's house last Sunday.
There were scraps of pie crust left from trimming around the edges of the pie plates. With a rolling pin, I flattened these into a single layer, smeared butter on it, sprinkled it generously with cinnamon and sugar, rolled it back up, pinched the ends, and baked it to a golden brown, about 20 minutes. This made a treat for Hubbie to have with coffee. None for me, thanks. Pie crusts are too high in fat, and the pre-made ones also contain yellow dye, which I'm highly allergic to.
Speaking of last Sunday's cherry pie, Hubbie's daughter e-mailed, saying that Son-in-Law really liked it, and would I mind giving her the recipe. No problem. Buy pre-made crusts. Put one in a pie plate. Pour one and half cans of light pie cherries into the crust. With finger tips, wet crust edges with milk. Put the top crust on, pinching to close. With finger tips, spread milk on top to brown the crust, bake at 425 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cherries bubble and crust is golden brown. The recipe is on the can of cherries...except that I use one and a half cans for a fuller pie, and I use milk to brown the crust.
The second pie I made this morning was apple, to be given to my daughter for her birthday while she is here Saturday. She loves my apple pie and requests one each year. Hubbie was running errands while this pie baked, so he missed the actual "nothing smells better than an apple pie baking."
Once the pies were done, Hubbie air popped popcorn for me to use in making baked fruited popcorn. He also cut up candied cherries, and broke pecans for the recipe. I cooked a butterscotch type syrup to coat the popcorn, cherries and pecans, and then baked the mixture for 20 minutes. We made a second batch after supper. One batch will be our contribution to the Second Friday events downtown, and part of the other batch will be included in an exchange gift for the water aerobics Christmas lunch Friday.
In between pies and popcorn, Mother boiled chicken to have for supper with mashed potatoes, chicken broth gravy, and English peas. The rest of the chicken and broth will become chicken noodle soup for Saturday's lunch, while Daughter, Granddaughter, and great-grandchildren are here.
Hubbie and I finished the evening watching our favorite college basketball team romp over their opponents.
I started by baking a pie for tomorrow's Master Gardener potluck lunch and gift exchange. As the pie was baking, Hubbie, who was elsewhere while I was putting it together, sniffed the air and commented appreciatively, "Nothing smells better than an apple pie baking."
"Except that it's a cherry pie," I laughed.
He blamed his olfactory mistake on a stopped up nose. "I guess my smeller isn't working right," he said.
This time, I watched the pie carefully, to keep the crust from getting "high brown," as Hubbie described the cherry pie I took to his daughter's house last Sunday.
There were scraps of pie crust left from trimming around the edges of the pie plates. With a rolling pin, I flattened these into a single layer, smeared butter on it, sprinkled it generously with cinnamon and sugar, rolled it back up, pinched the ends, and baked it to a golden brown, about 20 minutes. This made a treat for Hubbie to have with coffee. None for me, thanks. Pie crusts are too high in fat, and the pre-made ones also contain yellow dye, which I'm highly allergic to.
Speaking of last Sunday's cherry pie, Hubbie's daughter e-mailed, saying that Son-in-Law really liked it, and would I mind giving her the recipe. No problem. Buy pre-made crusts. Put one in a pie plate. Pour one and half cans of light pie cherries into the crust. With finger tips, wet crust edges with milk. Put the top crust on, pinching to close. With finger tips, spread milk on top to brown the crust, bake at 425 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cherries bubble and crust is golden brown. The recipe is on the can of cherries...except that I use one and a half cans for a fuller pie, and I use milk to brown the crust.
The second pie I made this morning was apple, to be given to my daughter for her birthday while she is here Saturday. She loves my apple pie and requests one each year. Hubbie was running errands while this pie baked, so he missed the actual "nothing smells better than an apple pie baking."
Once the pies were done, Hubbie air popped popcorn for me to use in making baked fruited popcorn. He also cut up candied cherries, and broke pecans for the recipe. I cooked a butterscotch type syrup to coat the popcorn, cherries and pecans, and then baked the mixture for 20 minutes. We made a second batch after supper. One batch will be our contribution to the Second Friday events downtown, and part of the other batch will be included in an exchange gift for the water aerobics Christmas lunch Friday.
In between pies and popcorn, Mother boiled chicken to have for supper with mashed potatoes, chicken broth gravy, and English peas. The rest of the chicken and broth will become chicken noodle soup for Saturday's lunch, while Daughter, Granddaughter, and great-grandchildren are here.
Hubbie and I finished the evening watching our favorite college basketball team romp over their opponents.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tuesday, Dec. 9
It was almost 8:30 before we got up this morning. I guess we're feeling the effects of the Christmas rush. I headed for the treadmill right away, and then had breakfast after my workout. Mother came over later in the morning and put together a graham cracker cookie Christmas house to use as an example at the workshop Saturday.
While she did that, I wrote a press release for the Master Gardeners, announcing an upcoming nine-week training. Hubbie is actually the publicity chairman for the organization, but he prevails upon me for press releases, public service announcements, and photography, which I'm glad to do.
By the time we completed these tasks, it was lunch time. After lunch, we went to our polling site to vote on a quarter cent economic development tax. Usually any mention of tax is doused by voters in our town, but this one passed almost two to one.
Back home, Hubbie, Mother, and I worked together to make veggie/fruit muffins and potato soup . Hubbie is handy at peeling potatoes, using the food processor to shred carrots, etc., which makes it easier and faster for Mother and me to put together recipes. He's also a willing dishwasher, and keeps utensils, and bowls washed as we use them.
Even though today was quite warm, muggy, and rainy, the soup and muffins were very good for supper.
After supper, Hubbie and I went shopping. We stopped first at the video/music/book store, where I picked up a "Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul," and a CD of Christmas music. The CD will become one of the 12 days of Christmas gifts for Mother. The book will be one of her Christmas Eve gifts.
From there, we went to the WDCS for several grocery items, and token gifts for several men in Hubbie's family. It's almost impossible to find suitable gifts for men, but since most of them like hot and spicy foods, we chose gift boxes of bottled hot sauces.
Then we went to the everything's a dollar store, where I found Christmas themed clear plastic bags to use for food gifts.
Lastly, we stopped at the other discount store, where Hubbie bought a bag of chocolate cream drop candies, and a bag of ginger snaps. While at the WDCS, a friend told us that melting a bag of chocolate cream drops in the microwave, and then adding a half cup of peanut butter, will make a small batch of fudge, so Hubbie wants to try it. None for me, thanks.
Our friend was looking for the chocolate drops at the WDCS, but there weren't any, so Hubbie told her to try the other discount store, where he'd seen them a few days ago. I don't know if she went to the store, or not.
On the way home, we saw a van upended in a ditch, three wheels comically in the air. The van apparently got too close to the edge of a restaurant driveway and nose-dived into the drainage ditch.
By the time we reached our driveway, it was windy and sharply cooler. Predictions are for the temp to drop into the 20s tonight. Often, when the weather here in the south dramatically changes from warm to cold in the same day, there is tornadic activity. Fortunately, today there was not, at least not in our state.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday, Dec. 8
I started the day with water aerobics. The pool temp was tolerable, if not warm. The alternate aerobics leader gave us a good workout, though, which I needed.
I didn't do much for the rest of the morning after I got home, but after lunch, Mother and I went shopping. She wanted to Christmas shop for me, but felt she needed me with her to choose what I wanted. So I got early gifts of a digital bathroom scale, plus five-pound and eight-pound exercise weights. I'm anxious to use the weights, but not so anxious to step on the scale.
While we shopped, Hubbie ran several errands, including taking the Christmas stockings to the bank, and stopping by a grocery store to pick up four cans of icing to use at the gingerbread house workshop on Saturday.
We didn't make a menu for the week, since there are several lunch and supper events coming up, so I began thinking about what to have tonight and tomorrow night. Since there was one pork chop in the freezer, I decided it could be used along with a partial bag of frozen veggies, onion, bell pepper, and canned mushrooms, to make a stir fry, served over instant rice for tonight. Tomorrow night, we'll have potato soup and sandwiches. Another meal has yet to reveal itself to me for Wednesday night.
I didn't do much for the rest of the morning after I got home, but after lunch, Mother and I went shopping. She wanted to Christmas shop for me, but felt she needed me with her to choose what I wanted. So I got early gifts of a digital bathroom scale, plus five-pound and eight-pound exercise weights. I'm anxious to use the weights, but not so anxious to step on the scale.
While we shopped, Hubbie ran several errands, including taking the Christmas stockings to the bank, and stopping by a grocery store to pick up four cans of icing to use at the gingerbread house workshop on Saturday.
We didn't make a menu for the week, since there are several lunch and supper events coming up, so I began thinking about what to have tonight and tomorrow night. Since there was one pork chop in the freezer, I decided it could be used along with a partial bag of frozen veggies, onion, bell pepper, and canned mushrooms, to make a stir fry, served over instant rice for tonight. Tomorrow night, we'll have potato soup and sandwiches. Another meal has yet to reveal itself to me for Wednesday night.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Tour of Homes and Festival of Lessons and Carols
I started the day with a treadmill session and resistance exercises, which felt good after a two-day hiatus. While I was on the treadmill, Hubbie hung the flag on the well house, in honor of Pearl Harbor Day.
Then he peeled turnips to be cooked and put in the freezer. These are turnips that a Master Gardener delivered to us from his garden a couple of weeks ago. There are also two pumpkins, used as part of the outdoor fall display, that need to be roasted for the freezer, but we probably won't get around to these until next week.
About 11 a.m., Hubbie went to the WDCS to put gas in the van, and pick up a deli chicken for lunch. We enjoyed the chicken with baked potatoes and corn on the cob, while listening to Christmas CDs.
At 1 p.m., Hubbie and I went downtown for the Christmas tour of historic homes. Four American Foursquare homes were open to guests. The first home we visited is a single-family dwelling that had been converted to apartments, but is now restored to a family residence, again. The Christmas tree in this home featured a large collection of hand-blown glass ornaments. The massive antique dining room table seats 14 people. Originally, the owner said, there was a pedal at one end of the table that could be pushed to summon the butler.
The second home, now 100 years old, boasts several pieces of original furniture that are also approaching the century mark. This home has four fireplaces, pine floors, and a mahogany staircase. Instead of a clawfoot bathtub in the bathroom off the master bedroom, the tub stands on four brass eagles.
The third house keeps to a historic look in all but the kitchen, where there is a massive stainless steel refrigerator and stove. The patio adjoining the outbuilding features a huge fireplace built from large stones salvaged from nearby home renovations. Today, there was a roaring fire in the fireplace that felt good in the chill air.
At the fourth and last home, the most interesting feature (other than the architecture) was the Christmas tree that held a collection of "Wizard of Oz," ornaments, dating as far back as 1984. The staircase was lined with a collection of various sizes and designs of nutcrackers.
All of the homes are owned by young families, so each had cute children's playrooms and bedrooms, and lots of photos of the children. At one home, a dulcimer player entertained with Christmas music in the living room. Most of the homes had elaborate Christmas displays, but the owners of this home opted for decorations more nearly mirroring earlier times....like live magnolia leaves, pine springs and pine cones, etc.
Mother didn't join us for the tour, because most of the homes have high steps to the porches, with no hand rails. She also can't climb the stairways to the second floors of these homes. But we got back home in plenty of time to pick her up to go to the Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m.
Attending this service has become an annual tradition for us. The service consists of nine lessons that begin with Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden, to the promise of the Messiah, and then to the birth of Christ. Interspersed with the lessons are hymns and carols. Each year, the community flute choir provides music, as well as an organist and a guitarist.
This year, the organist played a beautiful piece called, "Cathedral in the Snow," which we had not
heard before, but which was accompanied by wind chimes that evoked images of a church nestled in winter woods, with a gentle wind rustling icy tree limbs.
Another moving part of the service was the chant of Psalm 85. And we were very impressed with the beautiful voice of a soprano who sang the Negro Spiritual, "Sweet Little Jesus Boy."
It was a very festive and pleasant day, but we were ready to relax when we got home.
Then he peeled turnips to be cooked and put in the freezer. These are turnips that a Master Gardener delivered to us from his garden a couple of weeks ago. There are also two pumpkins, used as part of the outdoor fall display, that need to be roasted for the freezer, but we probably won't get around to these until next week.
About 11 a.m., Hubbie went to the WDCS to put gas in the van, and pick up a deli chicken for lunch. We enjoyed the chicken with baked potatoes and corn on the cob, while listening to Christmas CDs.
At 1 p.m., Hubbie and I went downtown for the Christmas tour of historic homes. Four American Foursquare homes were open to guests. The first home we visited is a single-family dwelling that had been converted to apartments, but is now restored to a family residence, again. The Christmas tree in this home featured a large collection of hand-blown glass ornaments. The massive antique dining room table seats 14 people. Originally, the owner said, there was a pedal at one end of the table that could be pushed to summon the butler.
The second home, now 100 years old, boasts several pieces of original furniture that are also approaching the century mark. This home has four fireplaces, pine floors, and a mahogany staircase. Instead of a clawfoot bathtub in the bathroom off the master bedroom, the tub stands on four brass eagles.
The third house keeps to a historic look in all but the kitchen, where there is a massive stainless steel refrigerator and stove. The patio adjoining the outbuilding features a huge fireplace built from large stones salvaged from nearby home renovations. Today, there was a roaring fire in the fireplace that felt good in the chill air.
At the fourth and last home, the most interesting feature (other than the architecture) was the Christmas tree that held a collection of "Wizard of Oz," ornaments, dating as far back as 1984. The staircase was lined with a collection of various sizes and designs of nutcrackers.
All of the homes are owned by young families, so each had cute children's playrooms and bedrooms, and lots of photos of the children. At one home, a dulcimer player entertained with Christmas music in the living room. Most of the homes had elaborate Christmas displays, but the owners of this home opted for decorations more nearly mirroring earlier times....like live magnolia leaves, pine springs and pine cones, etc.
Mother didn't join us for the tour, because most of the homes have high steps to the porches, with no hand rails. She also can't climb the stairways to the second floors of these homes. But we got back home in plenty of time to pick her up to go to the Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m.
Attending this service has become an annual tradition for us. The service consists of nine lessons that begin with Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden, to the promise of the Messiah, and then to the birth of Christ. Interspersed with the lessons are hymns and carols. Each year, the community flute choir provides music, as well as an organist and a guitarist.
This year, the organist played a beautiful piece called, "Cathedral in the Snow," which we had not
heard before, but which was accompanied by wind chimes that evoked images of a church nestled in winter woods, with a gentle wind rustling icy tree limbs.
Another moving part of the service was the chant of Psalm 85. And we were very impressed with the beautiful voice of a soprano who sang the Negro Spiritual, "Sweet Little Jesus Boy."
It was a very festive and pleasant day, but we were ready to relax when we got home.
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