comfort and joy!

 Does anyone else walk around the house singing?  I do not like background noise.  I don't usually listen to music, and the television is definitely not on unless we are watching something, and that's been a while since we have, days.  Well, football was on here on Sunday, but with the volume turned down, unless there was some fantastic play and the guys would turn it up for a minute.  

But, there is singing.  Paul makes a lot of noise, ha, he works from home and is always on calls.  Then he listens to podcasts, and sometimes sportscasters going on and on about boring plays, ugh.  

Anyway.  Sunday evening, everyone who came over to have pulled pork nachos and hang out here went home, except for two little boys, Mr. Wulf and Mr. Tennyson, who are six and four.  They were spending the night!  They stayed in Charlotte's room, because she has a room big enough for large tent, and there is one set up in there!  She is also in Germany, so her room is available.  

The boys are perpetual motion, unless they get to use Grandpa's iPad for games.  Wulf knows where all the tape is, and he will use it.  If you tape a plastic toy to a wrapping paper tube, you get something or other.  He was rummaging through the kitchen drawer, and found a corkscrew/bottle opener...he walked away with it, and I had to tell him it wasn't a toy....I don't know what his plans were.  We went to Target yesterday, and I bought them a big red plastic sled.  Wulf really wanted to bring it in and try it on the stairs.  I'm so mean sometimes.  :)

We got McDonalds and brought it to Sonja's apartment for a picnic.  They were allowed to run up and down the stairs and all around the circle of the apartment, and they loved it.  Remember being a kid and going to someone else's house, how fun it was?  

Making them cocoa, and reading stories, singing them songs to tuck them in to bed, keeping track of little socks, and zipping them up in their coats (which they insist they don't need, I had to tell them that if they look cold, someone could call the cops, because adults have to take good care of children...). It is all so fun, but you know what?  It's tiring.  It would be pretty challenging for 59 year old me to do this on the regular, how did I used to do this for days and weeks on end?  Oh, don't get me wrong, it's wonderful, but it is tiring.  

Paul really wanted them to spend another night, and I did too, but today I have cookies to bake for tomorrow's Christmas party with my water aerobics class.  I made more sugar cookie dough, and a batch of gingerbread.  Rolling them all out and baking will take a bit.  Then frosting too...

He said they'll help.  I know, they would.

They went home last night, and it's quiet in here and yeah, I miss them.  

I am so far behind this year in all the Christmas stuff.  I can't believe it.  I have wrapped only a few things...okay, 40-something things for the grandkids.  But more stuff is coming in deliveries, and there is a pile here not wrapped, I usually keep up with it.  I don't know, I'm just lagging this year.  It's just around the corner, but I haven't caught up yet.  

Ah well, it'll come and it'll go, and I'll hopefully have everything done that needs to be done.  This fine morning truly is a fine one.  I had the best cup of coffee, and the tree lights are on, and my little fake fireplace is humming.  I have to get my hair put up, and mosey on out to the kitchen and start baking cookies.  I have to have lots of cut out cookies for the kids at church to frost at the Christmas party there on Sunday, so I might set some aside and freeze them, so I don't have to have another baking day this week, although it is pleasant.  

I wish I could give all of you some cookies, a huge stack.  I don't usually eat the cookies I bake but I've been struggling lately with that little I'll just break off one little piece...which we all know leads to just wanting another little bite.  It's a struggle, but one I am not going to give up on.  Life is short, eat the cookies, but also life could be a little longer if we avoid the dreaded diabetes, right?  

Oh, one funny Comfy Chair story...Tennyson set up the orange Hotwheel track down my chair and across the room...put the car at the top of the track, then pulled out the footrest at the same time, that car FLEW across the room on the track...it was genius.  Have a good day. 

family time....

 

Casey (my little brother), Tom, Bob, then Cheryl and I...just Joey didn't come, and of course Billy has passed away.  We had such a nice time together, glad we made this happen last evening.  Casey has brought KFC for us for the last three years, there was a pizza, some wings, wraps, shrimp, Christmas cookies, donuts...oh it's hard to behave myself sometimes!  It was a cold and crackly night, icy and chilly, but so cozy at Bob and Mary's house.  

Our childhood seems like ancient history now.  I reminded them that in 1975, WWII was only thirty years ago.  Thirty years ago from now was 1994.  Isn't that insane?  Our little silver tinsel Christmas tree and the extra tinsel we put on it, with the big fat colored bulb lights, our Light Brights and Etch-a-Sketches, and when I was in fifth grade, I got a mood ring and a transistor radio!  (I remember looking longingly at the Radio Shack ads, those radios came in an array of tantalizing colors, like grape, tangerine...I could never decide which one I wanted, then when I opened the box, Santa had gotten me the white one...but I didn't express any disappointment, because we didn't do that! )  The boys had Lincoln Logs and Erector sets, and army men and cap guns.  I think Christmas Eve was the only time we really had soda, we had the glass bottles of Coke.  

This fine morning, I am the only one home.  I drove Miss Camille to her music practice, Paul is out hunting, Jon is out and about, so I'm here with two snoring dogs and two lazy cats.  Well, one dog is NOT snoring, she's keeping frequent watch out the window to make sure she doesn't miss any barks when Paul pulls in.  She is very aware of when he's not here.  She will also make sure to alert me to the mail man, and any package deliveries.  

Have a really nice day!

oooh, yeah!

First of all, I'd like to say this:  Whoever said money can't buy happiness has never had a brand new Kitchen Aid.  I gush, I know, but darn it, it's nice.  So smooth!  I guess I didn't know how wonky our old one had become, so jiggly and rough.  This batch of dough was six cups of flour, and this thing didn't hesitate.  I didn't have to scrape the bowl one single time!  
 

The oven worked wonderfully well.  I baked on both racks at the same time, I did swap the trays half way through, but they came out very nice.  The new little beeping sound will take some getting used to.  But, this oven just gives the one little warning when the timer goes off, then shuts up instead of hounding me every ten seconds like the old one did.

These are my favorite cookie cutters, got them last year from Target, three sizes nested together.  Of course I got them rather cheap, but I love them.  

This was taken just a few minutes ago, from my chair.  My usual chair location is in that corner where the tree is, so this is a whole different view.  

And that's the exciting news from here in the snow globe.  I didn't go to the pool today because the school where the pool is had a two hour delay, and we don't have class when that happens.  So I'm trying to do some moving around on land, ha, getting the blood flowing to the joints.  

I do have to go to the auto parts store to pick up some new brakes for the red car, that's exciting.  Since I'll be in the small city, I might just go to Marshall's too, finish up my Christmas shopping.  ha.  finish.  

Tonight is our annual sibling gathering, I'm very excited to say.  I grew up in a nice little house in a nice little neighborhood, I am the sixth of seven children.  My little brother Casey was always my absolute favorite person in the world.  We shared a room when we were small, we went on all sorts of adventures.  Mud pies, sand box, jump rope, bike rides.  He was the one who first thought of taking the spigot handle off of our hose connection at home, and bringing it to the elementary school so we could screw it on there and turn on the water, so we could get a cold drink while playing on the playground during the summer days.  

Now he's married and has two grown kids, and we don't see each other very often.  But, it's always so wonderful when we get together.   The oldest sibling is Cheryl, my bestie and only sister, then Bob, who is married to Mary, they have ten grown kids, and are super special people, Bob was always a good older brother to me.  Then Tom, who is married to Kim, they have 12 grown kids, and are very fun to be with.  Then there's Joey, one of my favorite brothers, who has grown away from the family, although we don't give up on trying to get him to join us.  Next, sadly, was Billy, there was no one like him. He's my brother who let me hang out with him when he was a teenager, and introduced to me to his friends, and I got to be cool.  He was actually the first one in our family to get converted, and was such a good example as a brother and as a Christian.  His life turned sort of sideways, at the end, although the coroner's report said there were no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death, which you remember was by his own hand, with a shotgun.  (There were high levels of carbon monoxide in his system, caused by the way he heated his little home).    Then there's me, then Casey.  So now Cheryl, Bobby, (and Mary) Tommy (and Kim), me, and Casey get together each year before Christmas and have a good old time.  

Cheryl has 7 girls, Bob has 10 kids, Tom 12, Joey 1, me 16, Casey 2...48 grandchildren for my late parents.  We never run out of things to talk about, ha.  It's interesting though, because one has to work on being a good listener, not a conversation hog.  We're all pretty good at this, so it's a nice time.

Then tomorrow there's a Christmas concert at church, Abigail will be coming for it, so I get to see her again.  Camille will be playing her violin, and Emily will be singing.  

All right, time to get ready to go to pick up those exciting brake pads and rotors...have a really good day!

not exactly snowed in...but...

 I am not going anywhere anytime soon!  It's beautiful out there, exactly like a snowglobe.  The snow covers a multitude of sin, all that brown and mud and the bare naked trees.  The lake effect flakes are big and fluffy and they wander down in no particular hurry, just like a Hallmark movie.  The wind will be picking up, so it might not look as idyllic, but it's lovely right now.

Lydia really liked these deer, she asked if she could play with them.  Of course, as long as you leave them right here when you're done.  

Denzel loved our Christmas tree.  He took lots of things off of it, being one year old, he doesn't really care how many times you take him away from it.  He didn't hurt anything, I just have a few things to put back on. 

The front middle is kind of messed up.  Rhys was decorating it the other day too, I really don't care that much, it's still beautiful, and it's enjoyed.  Ophelia liked the candy canes.  She had three, but to be fair, she thought if one broke, it was okay to have another:)

Like the chocolate Santa?  It came in a package of chocolate ornaments from Aldi.

Old Kitty keeping an eye on the snow.

I think I'll test out the new oven today.  Maybe a big batch of chocolate chip cookies with Christmas M&M's in them...I have to make cut out cookies next week, gingerbread and regular butter cut outs, for our pool Christmas party.  Then more for the childrens' party at church, for them to frost and decorate.  This is all fine with me, ha.  

So, everything in my life is absolutely perfect, no trials at all.  ha.  The new stove fits more snugly in the countertops, looks great, except for the new flooring wasn't installed far back enough...thankfully we still have some leftover, and Paul said he will fix it.  I repainted the tile behind the stove a few years back, didn't paint down far enough for the new stove...so it has to be redone.  

I don't mind some projects.  I am itching to start on the end tables, the ones I bought in high school.  What a dope I was, ha, using my babysitting money to buy two unfinished wood end tables.  I also went to the furniture store and bought a floral couch and love seat, paid for it weekly, then stored it at Paul's brother's house.  When we got married and had our first apartment, I sanded and finished the tables, and reveled in having such beautiful brand new living room furniture.  

The tables have been chalk painted a few times, they are white now.  The tops will be sanded to find that nice wood underneath, and the bottoms painted like the coffee table.  

Today just plain wins the Cozy Award.  I cannot tell you how amazing it is.  Every tree branch covered in snow, the lighting the way it is when everything outside is white, and the fake fireplace humming.  

Emily took this picture on her way to work, a bit north and west of here.  Our family chat is filled with driving-to-work-in-the-snow experiences this morning.  Sam counted seven cars off the road.  Mariel took twenty minutes extra to get in to the city to the hospital.  Adrian drove through a white out, and Rosi did also.  So I'm home and praying for them all!  

Ah well, have a good day, and if you're in the frozen north, stay warm and safe!!  If you're in the sunny south, take a minute to enjoy that warm sun on your face, and shh, I'm a tiny bit jealous.  

not too shabby, if I don't say so myself!

 

The "new" stove.  It works, haven't baked anything yet, as Paul just hooked it up a few hours ago.  But the top burners work!  It's clean and looks quite new, not too shabby for 200 bucks!

Denzel, big sister Lydia, and mama Molly came for a visit...Ophelia was here too, just didn't get a picture of her.  

Denzel is just the cutest little boy.

This is actually the Dog Couch.  It is red plaid underneath, it's old and lumpy, but they like it.  Sunny sometimes gets on the back of it where Orange Guy is, and looks out the window, especially when Paul's gone somewhere.

I went to the pool this fine morning, then home...ahh, home.  I  changed into sweatpants, wrapped one present,  vacuumed, then Sonja asked if we wanted to go to Costco, and yes, we did.  It was a gorgeous day for a drive, with snow covered branches, and clear roads.  We got a hot dog when leaving, but Cam got pepperoni pizza.  

Home...back into the sweatpants, and Molly was here with the kids for a visit.  Paul left to get the stove, and I eventually made dinner (steak, fries in the airfryer (I only ate four or five), leftover green beans also in the airfryer.  

The new stove came in the door, thanks to Jonathan helping.  Paul got it all hooked up lickety-split, and they hauled the old one out.  I am very happy with it.  :). Although, I was hoping the shelf racks in the old one would fit in the new one so I could have three racks, but nopers.  

Ah well, it's been a good day.  :)

saying NO to being greedy...

 Oh, it's interesting.  We are getting a "new" stove.  Our oven is lovely, a General Electric, in slate color, a convection oven with five burners on top, really nice.  We bought it when Paul was employed by that company, so we got 50% off appliances.   But, it has been giving us troubles through the years.  The thermometer keeps burning out, and Paul buys new ones and replaces them.  The money we've spent in parts, and having the oven not working while waiting for parts, and for him to fix it, although he is usually pretty On It.  :). 

So this fine afternoon, I went to put my non 50% off marinated turkey breast, which is another story, into the oven with tiny rosemary red potatoes and baby carrots, well, that oven decided not to turn on.  Again.  I looked on marketplace, and lo and behold, there is one for only $200 that's a year old.  Is it what I really want?  um, no.  But the same one new would be $600 + tax and delivery fee, so it's a substantial savings.  A nicer new one would be nicer, of course, there are bells and whistles on the bells and whistles, and a double one would be grand!  But shh, a little sad:  I survived one oven with 18 of us living here...I remember those nights when we would have chicken nuggets and fries for an easy night off of cooking, and it took two shifts, because two pans of nuggets, then two pans of fries.  Imagine if I got a double oven now?  Anyway, I'm not getting a double oven.

It's nice to be in a position where we can replace it, to have a working stove, and I am thankful for that.  The greed that sneaks up and wants better and more and the latest, well, NO.  I say NO to it.  Thankfulness is much much better.  

Snow today!  Very gorgeous, white and fluffy and Christmas-y!  I don't want to drive in it, but hey, I'm leaving in ten minutes to go to Activity Club, and it's a little snowy between here and there.  ugh.  But I love going and seeing the kids.  We're making individual brownies tonight, and some ornament crafts too.  

Ah well, need to run to get out the door...have a good evening!

oh the holidays!

 I won't give you a day-to-day recap, but I will say this, it's been fun.

Thanksgiving day, then Friday Pie Day, then Saturday cleaning it up and going to Target, then to Emily's house with eight of my daughters(Emily, Abigail, Mariel, Margaret, Kathryn, Evelyn, Sonja, Camille), and daughter-in-law Grace.  Then Sunday Funday, we had a turkey dinner...Abigail, Joseph, Sam&Grace&Grant&Ruth&Maeve, Margaret&Adrian&Wulf&Tennyson&Blythe, Kathryn&Darius&Achilles&Rhys&Jamie, Evelyn, Sonja&Oscar, Jon&Rosi, Camille, me, Paul...25!  

This fine morning, Abigail headed back to Delaware.  She did have a safe trip, made it home by three o'clock.  She moved the truck out of the driveway for me, as I was leaving for the pool when she was leaving, she cleaned the snow off the vehicles too.  She's such a sweetie.

She made friends with Maeve...

Cousins, Rhys and Ruth...

There was a crooked house...ha, the tree is just a little tilted.

Friday Pie Day, Kathryn, Rosi and Jon, Zech and Suzanne, little Blythe in the front, and Jamie, Evelyn

Kathryn with Blythe and Jamie

Our fun Target trip...Abigail, Camille, Sonja

Then Kathryn came in with Rhys and Achilles...

Oh it's been fun.  The pies came out on Sunday afternoon too.  There were so many.  I've had enough pie though, no more for me.  I actually put some apple on a plate a little while ago, the very last pie, and took one bite, and decided nah.  I didn't really want it.  Shh, I gave one taste to each pup, and scraped it.  Then made a cup of gingerbread tea instead.

Lest you think me virtuous, consider this:  pie on Thursday, Friday, AND Sunday.  I skipped Saturday.  :)

I had little bits of all the kinds: two different pecan, lemon meringue, coconut cream, peanut butter cup, chocolate with toasted graham cracker crust, blueberry with lemon zest, pumpkin, pumpkin cheesecake, cherry, apple...if I even remembered them all...and there were FOUR pumpkin, 2 apple...

Anyway.  Life is more than pie, and so is Thanksgiving.  

Abigail went to the pool with me on Friday morning, it was great fun.  

This fine morning, I went to the pool, then came home and Mr. Jamison was here because his mama and daddy had different appointments with different kids.  Kathryn finished up, and came here, Darius brought Achilles here, they spent the day.  We finished decorating the tree, read stories, rocked in my chair and sang songs, and puttered the day away.  

I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow, and have activity club tomorrow night.  I've been working on online shopping, it's so easy, you just scroll through and click.  not really.  I add and delete, add and delete, then finally click.  I'm seriously scaling back this year, and this time for sure.  They don't believe me.  But I am.  December though, Aaron and Abigail and Margaret have birthdays.  Now grandchildren Grant and Achilles also have birthdays.  I have the grandsons gifts, and Margaret's and Abigail's.  Now to send something to Aaron...

Ah well...photo dump!

!

Jamie on the dog bed, reading a kitty book, upside down

Pies!

Friday Pie Day was not all fun and games, I went to the orthopedic dr. and had more injections in the knees.  The worse part is that when one goes in, you know there's another!  This time I had a reaction, my face was quite red and puffy on Saturday.

The bare naked tree.

Paul, carrying it up like it was nothing...this was Friday too...Pool, tree, dr., then Pie Day.

Thanksgiving at Ben's house

Ashley's pumpkin roll, oh dear so good.

My chocolate pie

Anya, Declan, Elise

Paul's back there carving the turkey

They played games...

Ophelia, and Suri...Sunny and Suri were both invited to Thanksgiving, which was wonderful.

And...it's bedtime...have a good night!!!