Catching Up 12/30/24

 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!

A Review of Sorts

 Good Morning My Friends,

Welcome to 2024!  I trust that you all had lovely holiday times.  I sure did.  Our Christmas was filled with lots of time with family and wonderful food.  Our days have been mostly grey and damp.  Mild temps do not necessarily mean mild feeling outside!  Days that have been in the 40's or even 50's have felt raw and bone chilling to us.  We did manage to get out for a walk on Christmas Day.  Colin and I were remembering how one year we walked at Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia and it was 75,  Another year he, Bonnie, Mailling and I walked at Valley Forge and it was bitter cold with a wicked wind chill.  Each year is different, that's for sure.

Mabel was spoiled by Anna and by Mailing & Colin.  She loves her catnip cactus that C&M gave her.

Constant movement means a somewhat blurry picture!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I had not intended to stay away from blogging for so long, but I did!  There were times when I lost track of what day it was!  I did some knitting, some reading, lots of cooking, napping and just taking it easy.  Exactly what I needed.

Last night, as usual we stayed in.  I made our traditional crab quiche

for dinner and we had some prosecco to go with that.  Yum!!

Today will be all about doing things I love.  Hopefully some stitching, some knitting, some cooking and some reading.  It's going to be another cloudy day, but I'd like to maybe get out for a walk.  Too early to tell yet.

I am not one to set goals with my making or reading, but as one year ends and another begins, I enjoy looking back and reviewing what I made and read.

2023 found me knitting 12 items:

• 2 shawls (Odyssey and Hitchhiker)
• 2 cowls (Scrappy and Abstract Leaves)
• 8 pairs of socks

I stitched four pieces and made "X" number of granny squares.

On the reading side of things, I read a total of 48 books of which 6 were audio.  7 were read with Fletch and my breakdown of ratings is:

• 5 Stars - 11
• 4.5 stars - 4
• 4 stars - 13
• 3.5 stars - 11
• 3 stars - 5
• 2.5 stars - 2
• 2 stars - 2

I feel good about my ratings - I know I abandoned some books that would have been rated lower, but I have no time for books that do not appeal to me!

For 2024, I've pulled two books and put them on my nightstand for daily reading.  The first is Hal Borland's Twelve Moon's of the Year which is a collection of his outdoor editorial essays - one for each day of the year.  The second is Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  I've read both of these before, but it's been years since I picked up Simple Abundance.

As a wrap up, it will be no surprise to anyone, but it is simply wonderful to have Colin & Mailing back in town permanently!  Their furniture finally arrived from Texas and they are busy settling back into life in a slightly cooler location.  I know that they will miss some things about Austin, but they say they are happy to be back.

Cheers to you all and cheers to the year ahead - may it be one of calmness and sanity, excellent health, much joy and happiness.

The Hush Season

 Hello and How Are You???

I read somewhere or heard somewhere that somone calls this week the Hush Time - that week between Christmas and New Years.  I love the term and all that it brings to my mind.

So how was your Christmas (if you celebrate)?  Ours was lovely.  I did feel lousy on Christmas Day, but it was just allergies kicking in.  Christmas Eve we went over to Mailing's parents for dinner.  We were worried whether Anna would be able to join us as her boyfriend tested positive for Covid.  But, after 4-5 negative tests, she did come (and stayed masked).  Dinner, as always, was fabulous.  The dumplings I made were still the ugliest, but that is now a tradition!

I made a Swedish Almond Cake for dessert and it may be a new favorite.  Zhongren was still raving about it Christmas morning!

It was a good dessert (if I do say so myself), but I also think it's a perfect breakfast cake too with a cup of coffee or tea.  A perfect pairing.

Christmas morning we got up and had some breakfast and opened some gifts and then headed over to Colin & Mailing's for the day.  It was mild temperature-wise and a bit rainy at times.  Everyone took walks at different times except me...I sprawled out on a couch and rested.  We had champagne and grapefruit juice along with scones that Colin made for brunch.  I had also received the day before a HUGE box from a VP I support filled with all different cheeses, meats, fruit spreads, honey, crackers, etc.  We took everything over to C&M's to add to the brunch spread.

The animals all had good days.  Otto got some loudy squeaky toys and was happy.

The cats were quickly drugged with catnip.  Dinner was bangers & mash which was delicious.  And a pear/cranberry cobbler I had made for dessert.

By 8 p.m. I was ready to call it a day and go home!

Sunday it was still very mild.  I took a walk in Oaks along the Perkiomen Creek.  I chose that path because it is paved.  The canal walk that I do and the River Trail would have both been messy in places due to our recent rains.  There were folks out biking, jogging, walking and plenty of geese on the water.

When I got back home we decided to get Mable outside again.  She enjoyed it a lot!

After a bit she was ready to come back inside.  A little progress being made here and there!

It is cooler today (28 this morning), but I'm hoping to get out for another walk.  Fletch is in the shower and once he gets out I will start some laundry.  Other than that, I hope to find time to relax, knit, stitch and read some.  I hope everyone is enjoying this Hush Season!

Holidaying

 Hello!

Well, That was a lengthy break...and I think I needed it.  I may still need it - lol.  Last night I went to bed...woke up at 1:45 (heard the clock chime, so I know what time it was) and never got back to sleep!  I'm feeling a bit fuzzy.  However, the sunrise today was simply spectacular!

It did not last long at all - maybe a couple of minutes and then it was gone.  Then it turned grey and ugly looking and there was a bit of snow and rain.  But, eventually the sun came out and it is a pretty afternoon.  If I only had more energy I'd go for a walk or do a little archery...but today I am lazy.

So how was your holiday?  Ours was so nice.  We are fortunate to be able to spend time with Colin & Mailing and also Mailing's parents and sister.  We see them regularly, so are comfortable getting together with them.

Christmas Eve found us at Colin & Mailing's for dinner and opening "stocking stuffers."  Dinner was amazing.  Colin made crab cakes (98% crab meat and 2% filler - saltines and spices).  Mailing made some of the best potatoes I've had in a long time.  And there were green beans with almonds to go with...and Mailing made a Black Forest Cake.  Oh my!

Talbot sported a pretty ribbon around his neck:

Marcel sulked because of the attention Talbot was getting!  He (Marcel) stayed under a chair for some time.  LOL

Dusty floor and furniture tag hanging down - hahaha.

And then the rains started.  Holy crap!  what a lot of rain.  And the winds were fierce.  We drove home in it and found a little bit of water in our basement.  C&M ended up with 4" or so in their basement.

Fletch and I hung out a bit at home Christmas morning and then headed over to Mailing's parents house.  We had brunch (amazing) and then opened gifts (too many).  After that everyone except the Dad's headed out to Valley Forge Park for a walk.  Christmas Eve saw temps in the 60's, but by Christmas afternoon it was in the 20's and the wind was still roaring.  We walked about 10 minutes  - that was it!  My face felt like it was frozen stiff.  We drove back home, played several games of Deception which was fun - like Clue, but different.  Then Bonnie (Mailing's Mom) got started with dinner.  We made dumplings (of course) and then there was just a ton of food.  Shrimp, veggies, pickles, calamari, beef, pork ribs, and on and on and on!

Fletch and I waddled out of there and were home a little after 9 p.m.  I say this every time we all get together, but we are so fortunate to enjoy each other's company.  I know not everyone enjoys their children's in-laws, but we do!!

Our weekend was relaxing.  I've done a little knitting and a bit of cooking and I've been reading.  There is a work project that I need to get started on, but so far today I've pretty much ignored work.  I think tomorrow I've got to dig in (hopefully after a bit of sleep!!).

I've enjoyed being off the computer.  I've read a couple of blogs on my phone, but mostly I've been off line which my eyes have enjoyed.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday.  Not sure when I will check in again, so for now I will say Happy New Year!  Cheers to 2021 - I'm hopeful for the new year.

A Few More Festive Things

Hello All,

Last night when I got home I discovered that Fletch had put up a few things in the kitchen!

We discovered that we needed more tags for gifts...ones that were small, so Fletch ran out yesterday to pick up some.  he ended up taping 3 to the curtain rod by the kitchen sink.  The Swarovski Ornaments hanging are ones we get each year at work.  We've been getting them for 17 years now!  All are hanging in the windows in our kitchen (the latest one was given out Monday at our luncheon).

The upper sill holds a few treasures:  An old stove paint bottle from Fletcher's Grandmother's home, a red birdhouse ornament that we leave out year round, and two flasks from my Dad's work as a research chemist.

Fletch put up 3 more tags on the hood over our stove:

You can click to enlarge.  The center one is a little camper!  (Don't look at the dust and grime, please...I need to clean!  But that doesn't seem to be a priority - lol)

When Colin was a little guy, we used to hang different holiday garlands all over the kitchen, but as we have aged and Colin has moved out, we tend to put out less and less.  I was happy to see these small whimsical touches from my guy yesterday afternoon.  They make me smile.

I've been giving some thought to a word for 2020.  I don't feel as though I did a very good job picking a word for 2019 (Strength) (2018 was Adventure).  But I think I've hit upon a gem for 2020.  I feel as though it is going to be a very good word for me and something to focus on in the New Year.

We are going to my Uncle's funeral in Maryland tomorrow, so I will wish you all a wonderful weekend now - Enjoy!!

The Tree

Good Morning!  Happy Friday the 13th!!

We did decorate our tree last night while Colin was over.  It is so pretty (and still fragrant!!) and I just love sitting in the room at night (or early morning) with only the tree lights on (and some white lights we have between the kitchen and living room).

I thought I'd share just a few of my favorite ornaments.  We've used a red cardinal as a tree topper for years, and, our tree is filled with a lot of bird ornaments.  First up, an ornament I made when I was probably 6 or 7.

See?  A bird.  And if you look closely, to the right of that ornament is another bird - a pheasant.

One of our oldest ornaments (and we have a lot from the 50's) is this one:

We always make sure it is hung in a place where a light will shine on it.  So sparkly!

Next up is an ornament that Colin gave me last year.  Not a bird, but...

A mouse nibbling on cheese!  Which reminds me that Wednesday night Tyg brought a mouse - dead - into the house to play with for awhile.  Fletch was able to get it (while I held Tyg) and put it out of the house.

The last one I'll show always takes pride of place on the tree.  This was made when Colin was in first grade.  Some of the gold glitter migrated and it looks like he has a gold tooth - LOL

We always laugh so hard when we re-discover this one.

There are so many more I could show you.  Tiny little baskets made out of walnut shells that are filled with tiny wrapped boxes (made by a friend of Fletcher's Mom).  Beautiful tatted snowflakes (some of which have yellowed with age) made by some of Fletcher's relatives.  More birds, a lamb, a snowy owl.  Decorating the tree is always a trip down memory lane.

How is your weekend looking?  I have a few errands to run tomorrow and hope to do a little baking and some wrapping.  We are heading over to Colin & Mailing's for dinner and to celebrate their birthdays on Saturday.  I'm hoping for some quiet time to read (The Dutch House!!) and knit (socks and the Canary Blanket).  And I need to squeeze in some grocery shopping and a trip to the liquor store...maybe also Costco.

Whatever you are up to, may your weekend be filled with joy and some peaceful moments.

Three on Thursday

Hello All,


I trust you all had fabulous holiday celebrations.  We certainly did!!  I was going to post a bit earlier, but ran into major computer problems this morning...my laptop may be on its last legs (hoping not...don't really need yet ANOTHER expense at this point in time...but we will see).


So first the fun things.  Christmas Eve we ended up at Mailing's parent's home for making dumplings and then dining:

It is a lot of fun to make these, though I pretty much suck at it.  Mine are the not-so-pretty ones in the foreground.  Mailing and her sister are really adept at making beautiful crescents.  And their father is the master at rolling out the dough.  The stuffing is ground pork, scallions, ginger and some other spices.  We had these with some beef, a delicious salad of noodles, tofu, red onions and cilantro.


After dinner, Colin & Mailing came over to our house and the four of us opened stocking stuffer gifts.


Christmas Day Fletch and I got over to Colin & Mailing's by 11 a.m. for brunch.  There were home-made popovers and a delicious black tea punch that had (besides a black tea simple syrup) brandy, champagne and some other liquor.  It was perfect! 

That is Colin & Mailing at the head of the table, Fletch and Anna (Mailing's sister) on the left and Mailing's parents on the right.


We opened gifts and later Fletch and Mailing's Dad took a walk.  It was much too cold and windy for the rest of us.  Some napped and others just lazed around.  At one point Fletch and Talbot got very comfortable together (though not too close...).

Dinner was amazing:  a roast that was cooked to perfection, Brussels Sprouts, home-made butternut squash ravioli and also home-made spinach & mushroom ravioli and then home-made chocolate mousse with whipped cream.  Eventually we waddled out and drove home.  I have been pretty much a slug ever since!


No work for me this week which has been a joy.  I haven't done nearly what I thought I would, but that's ok.  I did start fingerless mitts for myself and got as far as the thumb on the first one and had to unravel the entire thing.  It has been started again and I'm working on it slowly.  I did something - not sure what - to my arm/elbow the other week and I've been having a bit of pain with that.  Fletch thinks it's a pinched nerve which it may be.  It might also be my arthritis acting up.  Whatever, I've been downing Advil and avoiding lifting heavy things.


A pot of bean soup with ham is on the stove and I have bread rising.  Colin & Mailing are coming for dinner tonight.  We need to find out what else they would like as we had to return one of our gifts to them...we had gotten them the pasta attachment to their Kitchen Aid mixer, but they got a pasta machine a week before Christmas!  A redundant gift!  Luckily Amazon is so easy to do returns.


I also promised Colin I'd make him another pair of socks (Mailing did get some hand-knitted socks), so maybe he will pick out yarn tonight.


I've started reading "The Other Einstein" and am really enjoying it.  I finished "The Little French Bistro" which was just ok in my book...also finished "The Keeper of Lost Things" which again was ok...it seemed to bog down for me in parts.


Christmas found me with some books as gifts (Yay!!) - one of which is Slow Knitting which I've glanced through.  It's going to be a very enjoyable read.  Hopefully I will learn to slow down a bit and savor things a little more.


Not sure if I will be back before the 2nd or not...kind of depends on this laptop and whether it starts acting up again or not.  Fingers crossed it will behave itself.


Wishing you all a safe and happy new year!  May there be good health, plenty of laughter and much joy in your lives.

Three on Thursday

Hello All,


The Christmas luncheon yesterday was really lovely.  Well, the hotel where it was held is a bit of a mess, but the food was terrific and there were a ton of laughs, gifts and a few tears.  All in all, a lovely day.  And, I was home by 2 p.m. which leads up to my 3 on Thursday:


1.   My wrapping is finished!!!  I got some done in the afternoon and everything else was done by 11 last night.  I didn't even allow myself to think about adding to what is done and wrapped.


2.  I baked some more cookies.  And, I may be finished with that as well.  I haven't made cut-out cookies yet and I may do that...but I may wait and make them for Valentine's day or something.  It seems as though every year by the end of January I throw out a ton of cookies.  We give a lot to various people, but we still end up with a ton for the two of us and we just don't eat them that quickly.  I know you can freeze them, but my freezer doesn't have enough room for them.


3.  I finished The Keeper of Lost Things this morning while having my coffee.  It's a fun, easy read (though it bogged down a bit for me in parts).  I'd label it as one of those "feel good" novels.


I'm excited with the prospect of casting on for some fingerless mitts for me!!  With thumbs!!  That may not happen till next week, but I think the weekend will be very relaxed and may provide the perfect opportunity.


Someone was exhausted last night.  After all, he had to help with the baking and especially with the wrapping.  I hope Santa brings this boy something fun!!

So completely relaxed!  That's the life.


Hope you all ae enjoying the wind down to Christmas.  Take some time to relax a bit...

Getting It Done!!

Hello Everyone,


Well, the speed of life at work has still not slowed down.  I intended to post yesterday, but life/work got in the way.


How was your weekend?  It started snowing hard around 1 p.m. Friday, so I left work at 2.  As it turned out, the office closed at 2:30.  We only ended up getting an inch or two, but it was enough to make traffic crazy!  I was happy to get home for the night.


Saturday I was up early baking a cake for dessert that evening.  Our friends from Maryland came up for dinner.  We had a wonderful time - lots of laughs, too much food, and some beautiful gifts.  All good.


Sunday was grocery shopping and then I (finally) started baking.  I made one double batch of toffee pecan cookies so I could bring some into work on Monday.  I had intended to make another kind, but ran out of time.  Maybe tonight....  On the other hand, I did manage to get a couple of gifts wrapped and under the tree and in stockings.  Progress!


Despite a busy day at work yesterday, I did manage to sneak out for a bit mid-day and finished up stocking stuffer shopping for Colin & Mailing.  Tomorrow is a half day (we get to leave after our Christmas luncheon which is off-site this year, and Friday is also a half day!  I want to book a pedicure appointment for Friday afternoon.  And, at this point, it doesn't look like I will be coming into work at all next week.  Woo-Hoo!!


The weather is still crazy - snow on Friday and this morning it was almost 50 when I got up!  Colin is stopping by this evening after work and we plan to have a fire in the pit!!


Now, I'd best get to it...another busy day at work.  Hoping everyone's week is going well.

Some Decorations

Good Morning!


It is grey and windy out today, but warmer - about 40.  We could see rain...or some snow flurries...later today.  the temps are supposed to drop and be much colder tomorrow.  Tis the season!


Last night was exciting - grocery shopping!  Yikes.  I will say, however, it was a great time to shop - the store was pretty deserted and we got through fairly quickly. 


The other day I mentioned that one of my favorite things to bring out in the winter is a birch log.  Fletch cut holes in the top for candles and we have it on our buffet every year.

The candles burned down quite a bit Sunday night...I need to put some new ones in (and I've had a heck of a time finding any tapers this year - everything seems to be candles in jars).  Growing up, we had a log like this in the center of our dining table all season long.  I love having dinner (or breakfast) by candlelight.


This year I have another new favorite "ornament."

This is the little sock that Kathy B knit and sent to me during the "anything but yarn swap" she set up.  I was afraid to use it on my key chain -- thinking my keys or something would ruin it, so it has been hanging out in my kitchen for the past several months (where I see it every day), and now it is on the tree (high enough that Tyg can't grab it).  Thank you Kathy!  I love it.  Kind of a lousy picture...taken early this a.m. when only the tree lights were on.


I'm hoping to run out mid-morning today to do some shopping (wine/champagne for my bosses and some stocking-stuffer things).  But now I need to go make a cup of tea - my office is freezing!


Hoping everyone is enjoying the season and not feeling too stressed out.  I haven't started baking yet and normally that would bother me...this year I'm thinking "whatever!"  I will get to it....eventually...

Christmas 2016

My best laid plans for going to yoga Christmas Eve morning were thwarted!  I did go – arriving just before 8:30 a.m., but my car was the only one in the parking lot.  Bummer.  I know the teacher the previous Monday evening had said she would be holding class Saturday morning, but there must have been a change in plans.  Usually I get an e-mail when a class is cancelled.  Oh well, I had to run out anyway to get money at the bank and pick up milk.

 

Now it is sort of a slow return to normal…well, not really.  I’m back at work today but only for a few hours.  Same thing tomorrow and then I’m off Thursday, Friday and Monday.

 

Catching up on blogs, sounds like everyone had a really nice holiday.  Ours was very nice.  Fletch and I went to church Christmas Eve.  We used to go every year with my parents and then just my Dad after my Mom passed away.  But, since my Dad passed away I just haven’t felt like going until now.  We did not go to the church we always went to, instead we went to a different one where we know the minister.  He and his family were very close to my Dad (in fact he “did” the memorial services for both my parents).  It was really nice to see him and his family again.  When we got home we poured some drinks, opened some stocking gifts and then watched an episode of The Crown (really enjoying it).

 

Christmas morning we were up early.  I was surprised with a bow (as in archery) of my own!!  I enjoyed archery a lot when I was in school and early this year Fletch bought himself a bow.  I mentioned that I would like to take up archery again, so he surprised me with a gorgeous bow.  I still need to get a glove and arm guard (or whatever that is called) before I can use it.

 

We had hot cross buns and mimosas at our son’s around 11, opened gifts and then we all (Mailing’s family was there as well) took a long (~ 4 miles) hike around Lake Nockamixon.  Despite the warmish temperature (upper 40’s), we did see some snow on the ground and parts of the lake were frozen.  It felt so good to get outside and move, but I must be really out of shape, because I was exhausted when we finally got back to Colin & Mailing’s place. 

 

We lounged around the rest of the afternoon…some napping, some watching TV, others reading.  Mailing fixed dinner:  Beef Wellington (but with a mushroom pate rather than liver pate), roasted potatoes and green beans.  Everything was delicious.  Dessert just about did me in:  she had made a very rich, dense, chocolate cake.  It was so good, but so, so, so rich.  One bite would have been enough…but of course I had more than a bite.

 

I’m still knitting Christmas socks (and have one more pair to go – yikes!!), but progress is being made with all the time I’m enjoying at home.  My brother and sister-in-law will be stopping by Thursday before they head back to Pittsburgh on Friday.  Fletch and I have already decided we are going out to dinner that night (I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, plus they both have various diet restrictions), so it should be a relaxing time.

 

What are you doing New Year’s Eve?  We will be home.  Years and years (as in decades) ago Fletch and I used to go into Philadelphia for New Year’s Eve (a friend who lived on South Street threw a fabulous party each year), but the drive in and out of the city is horrible and there are so many crazies on the road…we’d rather just stay at home.  I will TRY to stay up until midnight (I’m not always successful – lol).

 

Wherever you are and however you celebrate (or don’t), I wish you a Happy and Peaceful New Year!

Wacky Weather and Christmas Prep (finally)

Good Sunday Evening All,


Well, here in Eastern PA we seem (once again) to be on a roller coaster ride with our weather.  We woke up Saturday to icy cars and trees coated in a glaze.  The temps stayed right around 32 all day long.  Today, Sunday, we woke up and it was in the 50's!  Now the temp is dropping and tomorrow's high is only forecast to be 33.  It actually felt like Spring earlier today, and now we are back to feeling the bone-chilling cold.


We stayed in all day Saturday.  I didn't want to mess with the roads and I actually got a lot accomplished.  All gifts to be shipped are wrapped and boxes are in my car - I will ship from work tomorrow.  YAY!!


Finally I put out a few Christmas things.  I've pared way back from what we used to do when our son was little.  Back in the day there was "stuff" all over the house.  Now, our tree is in the living room and I have a few choice things on our buffet in the kitchen:

My Mom always had a birch log with candles in it on our dining room table.  I've continued that tradition, but keep it on the buffet.  The log is one we found in the woods in Vermont years ago.  The framed tree on the right is what I call my "jewel tree."  Fletcher's Mom made this for us shortly after we were married and I love it.  Here's a better picture of it:

Sorry for the glare -- difficult to take pictures on a grey day.

Finally, some cookies were baked!!  Last night I made oatmeal raisin and tonight I made chocolate chip -- both at the top of Fletcher's list.  I'll probably make one or two other kinds this week and then call it quits - lol. 

Tomorrow is our Christmas luncheon at work.  Each year my company makes a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation in honor of our clients.  This year we will be having one of the children join us for our celebration.  I'm sure it will be an emotional time.

And then yoga class tomorrow night.  So far I've managed to not stress and just be relaxed about everything and it's a wonderful feeling.  I hope you all are enjoying the season as well.

Back soon!!