damp, rainy, cold...home!

 Yesterday was a wonderful day.  It was dark and dreary, a good day to stay home and do things.  I unpacked, washed clothes, washed some throw blankets, and put a polyurethane coating on a brand new bookcase that Paul put together for me while I was gone.  (I had gotten a great deal on it, only fifty dollars at the Amazon store I like to haunt) 

It's a nice oil based coating, a warm semi-gloss.  It went on nicely, I sanded it lightly with really fine steel wool, then added one more coat.  I didn't want it super shiny, so I'm happy with the finish.  I'll maybe post the "after" picture tomorrow.  

Today was a scrambled up day.  I had a bad headache in the night, was trying to lie really still and fall back to sleep, was almost there when Orange Guy started in.  MEOW, MROW...he is loud loud loud, and persistent.  So, I got up and let him out.  Then, three ibuprofen, because I was bordering on throwing up, it had gotten so bad.  Ahh, back in bed, the throbbing finally slowed down, and I fell back to sleep.  But, it was Pool Day, and I really had to get into that water...so up I got, made a coffee to drink in the car, got into my suit and put some clothes on over it, and out into the cold rainy morning.

It was SO worth it.  As much as I hem and I haw, I'm always glad I went.

Home....ahh, home.  I puttered and cleaned and puttered some more, then Sonja came over to help me get the Christmas stuff out.  We went through all the bins and containers, and got rid of a bag of stuff, and got two big bags to donate.  She took some things, it still left me with way. too.  much.  stuff.  

Christmas blankets and couch pillows, Christmas hand towels and placemats and mugs and the countdown tree, and the wall hangings and the little trees, and the lights and the ornaments, ugh.  I do love it all, but wow.

Paul put the shelves in the bookcase, and hung up the new mirror I got a few weeks ago, which I was absolutely itching to do.  I started decorating, put some lights around the kitchen sink window, and put some things up, but there is a mess of stuff still out and not finished.  

I made ribs for dinner, and a cauliflower crust pizza.  Miss Camille came home from work and made a pan of shortbread with brown sugar filling, using the new Kitchen Aid! (We watched the latest episode of the Great British Baking Show with the aroma of that shortbread baking...that's the best!)

She had helped me with a lot of stuff around here on Thursday.  I told her when we were done, we would go do something fun.  I had talked to Paul about the mixer, and my struggles in finding a used one.  (The latest one that was promising was six years old...). He said just to get the new one, it would be my Christmas gift.  So I didn't tell Cam until we got to Target....but ooops, they didn't have any left!  I had checked online before we left, but the info wasn't updated!  So, we drove to another Target.  She was a happy camper when she saw it on the shelf.

It is our dream mixer.  We looked and drooled, there are some really nice ones out there, but we like the tilt head, not the one with the fixed top and the bowl that raises up.  We just love love love the creamy off-white color and the copper bowl!  It's happiness in a box!

It looks so lovely on the counter, too.  :)

Paul's going out hunting tomorrow, Camille is going to a music practice thing for the day (she plays the violin), and I'm going to get some extension cords, and finish decorating in here.  I also am planning to make lasagna for Sunday, when Paul is getting the tree.  I'm also going to dig out the bags of gifts I have already gotten, and see what I have for whom, and at least write it down.  I don't have wrapping paper or tape yet.  It seems like Christmas was forever away, now it's coming on fast.  

Thanksgiving us creeping up on us too.   I have a few things to get for that, too.  I'm making some pies, and some stuffing, which is way easier than having and hosting the dinner!  We're going to Benjamin's house.

Ah well, I'm tired, could have slept for so much longer this morning.  I am super thankful for ibuprofen though, and that it works on my headaches.  I try not to take it, but when it gets that bad, I do.  Suprisingly, the headache was totally gone all day, no traces of it.  

Ah well, good night!