Hello My Friends,
It's been a bit of time since I last posted. I feel myself diving into hibernation mode these days. Sleeping later, struggling to get up and out from under the covers (if it were not for Mabel, some days I would stay in bed all day!). Yesterday I got up, pulled on PJ pants and a sweatshirt and never got dressed all day! Instead I lounged around. Did 3 loads of laundry (more today - sheets and towels). Did some cooking (made some oat-carrot cups for breakfast, but they were a bust...not sweet enough for Fletch, so they went out for the deer who loved them).
Christmas Day was lovely. Some Iris snuggle time. Delicious food. Family time. It does not get any better! A funny story: we bought several outfits for Iris. Turns out that Anna bought 2 of the same outfits! And...those 2 outfits were some that Colin & Mailing already had! What are the chances of that? It works out though: Anna bought newborn size; we bought 3 month size; and C&M already had 6 month size. Too funny!
Since finishing Colin's birthday socks on the 21st I have not picked up a needle of any kind! No stitching, no knitting. But yesterday I did pick out a skein of yarn and caked it up. I'm planning to make another Heart Warmer cowl for a friend. Yup - attempting to get some gift knitting completed early this year.
Our days and evenings have been lovely and relaxed with candle light for dinner. The above candle holders (and tray that they fit on snugly) were a Christmas gift from our friends Jan and Pete. Pete made the holders and tray. If you click to enlarge you should be able to see how beautiful the wood is.
Today feels like Spring. It has been raining, temps are high and it is very overcast. But, we did have snow on Christmas Eve Day and our temps were low enough that the snow stuck around for Christmas. Just a dusting, but pretty. Christmas Eve night I was in the kitchen making and baking a dessert for Christmas Day when I looked out the patio door and spotted a visitor!
Not Santa and no reindeer in sight, but rather a possum! He walked around a bit and we were amazed at how furry he was.
I was glad that Mabel was inside. I don't think Mr. Possum would bother her, but I don't want to take any chances. There has been no sign of him since. I'm happy to know he is around here somewhere since he eats ticks and other undesirable things.
Last night we finished watching Oppenheimer. We had watched the first half weeks (and weeks) ago, but finally got around to seeing the end. I admit to being a bit bored with it all. The jumping back and forth in time was annoying to me. Oh well. I have (finally) gotten Fletch to agree to ditch cable TV!! That is on my agenda for this week - to call Verizon and end that. We already cancelled Acorn TV and will be cancelling Britbox as well. I think we will add Apple TV though. I really want to watch Slow Horses and we both like Shrinking.
Well, this post is long enough already. I will be back tomorrow...not for TNT since I have not picked up a needle, but rather for a brief review of my making and reading in 2024. Enjoy these last two days of 2024!
I always struggle to do much of anything at this time of year -- something about never being sure of what day it is and not having to go anywhere or do anything on a regular schedule always gets me. Of course, now that you're retired, every day is like that for you! I'm glad Christmas was enjoyable and you got your dose of Iris snuggles.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I forgot to say that the candle holders and tray are incredible! I thought they were pottery until I read your description and enlarged the photo. So cool!
DeleteIt has been a lot of wondering in my house... wondering what day it actually is! LOL These midweek holidays have thrown me for a loop! I have been doing the "bare minimum" of stitching each day and a few rows of knitting at night while we watch "something Steve wants to watch on TV"... but not much! And that is OK! I love that you all have such a "hive mind" on Iris' outfit! That is just brilliant! I look forward to your year end review tomorrow! XO
ReplyDeleteWell, now I'm caught up! Congratulations to all of you! (I LOVE the name Iris!) I'm so happy to hear your brother from CO made a visit. (We had a CO visitor, too!) Darn that cough -- and...I know just how you feel. I had a bad case of it LAST Christmas and a minor case of it this Christmas. (Not like that 'tradition'!)
ReplyDeleteAll in all, sounds like a fine end to your year. Gorgeous carved gift on your table...and you may remember that's my favorite of your tablecloths ♥
I enjoy your pictures and posts so much, coming along with you in your days. Thanks for your warm welcome here.
Happy Monday Vera! I know what you mean about hibernating. One day last week I did the same, never made it into real clothes all day long. I enjoyed the story about everyone getting little Iris the same clothes. Great minds think alike and all that!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had cable TV since we moved out of our house in Spokane in 2020. We haven't missed it one bit. We mostly watch YouTube. Lots of good movies on there too. We also have Amazon Prime but I don't know what we last watched on it. We canceled DisneyPlus because never watched it anymore and it had gone from 9.00/mo to 16.99 in just 3 short years. Ridiculous!
We haven't had any snow here yet but the weather is supposed to change drastically by the weekend so I guess anything will be possible then. We've been enjoying 50+ degrees here and I've loved it.
Blessngs and hugs,
Betsy
I also have days where I spend much of the day in my nightgown. I always figure that it's fine as long as I'm doing something like laundry or getting dinner started. Your Christmas sounds lovely and the candles from your friends are beautiful. We cancelled cable TV a couple of years ago, and I have barely missed it. Sometimes I would have to look for Olympics or something live on my laptop, but that's fine. I'm thinking of cancelling Netflix, but I'm not sure enough to do it yet. I hope you get more Iris snuggle time soon!
ReplyDeleteThat's too funny about the baby clothes! You must have all been on the same wavelength!
ReplyDeleteLove the story of the baby clothes! I dumped cable TV about 10 years ago and haven’t missed it a bit. I stream my favorite shows via the network apps. The only subscription I have is Paramount+ but that’s only because it’s attached to my Walmart+
ReplyDeleteThe baby clothes thing--that's so funny! But I guess it shows how well you know C+M! We have looked into getting rid of cable, but we have to have a landline in our home (it's a requirement for something that we have) and so phone+internet+cable is the same cost as phone+internet so we might as well keep it.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your dislike of movies that jump back and forth in time--a pet peeve of mine also! Glad you were able to hold Iris! We had a possum come and look in our patio door the other night--we thought it was a cat for a split second!
ReplyDeleteI have been dragging lately thanks to the germs my small people keep sharing so lots of naps and not a lot of energy. That is one of the best things about being retired - I am in charge of my own life 😂
ReplyDeleteSon in Michigan just sent me a text of a possum looking into his kitchen window while it was chewing on a corncob. I'm not fond of them because of all the teeth but they are good to have around. They eat a lot of vermin.
ReplyDeleteI gave myself a smart TV for Christmas because The Mister wants to cut the cable too. I have Netflix, Prime and Apple so who needs more than that to knit by? I watch maybe 2 shows a night if I can stay awake. I did love Slow Horses. Gary Oldman should have won all the prizes.
I've thought about knitting a neck warmer, but haven't decided. I have several in fleece and like the ease of care. Would prefer more length across chest and back, more of a rounded bottom. JoAnn is closing here, SO much yarn left!! Happy new year to all.
ReplyDeleteYou had a lovely Christmas day. I have been a bit of a slug this week also. The dust is more and more visible. We've had so many gray gray days that it's hard to get out of bed in the morning. Sounds like little Iris has some like minded folks in her family. That is a cute story.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a PJ day is just the ticket! Funny about the baby clothes. Will you be knitting for Iris? That will insure she will have unique items!
ReplyDelete