Throw-back Thursday!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

For something different, as you work along today, cast your memory back and try and think of a December memory to share. It doesn't have to be long. It could be a happy or bittersweet memory, or a lesson learned, or a piece of wisdom shared by someone no longer here.

I'll start:

This year I have a puzzle Advent Calendar with a separate puzzle each day. It is quite lovely, with little drawers holding the puzzles and each are numbered randomly. I do the puzzle each day when I am on the Skype call with the grands so they can see me working on it and guess what it is (there is a picture on the back of the inside of the box but I don't peek.)

Each day, I struggle to find the 'next' drawer. Their other grandmother (also on the call with us) suggested I take the drawers out and rearrange them so that they are in order.

The memory that sparked was me as a child, searching in anticipation for the day's number so I could open the little window and get my chocolate from my Advent calendar. That little thought made me feel so happy, reconnecting with my childhood self.

Life doesn't always have to be in order to bring joy. We have a word for that, serendipity.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm getting going later than I had hoped today.

I need to stop looking at my phone while lying in bed. I'm going to be at my computer for tea and chocolate and light therapy, so there's no need to be on the phone beyond reading my email from Google with the day's activities in case I need to remember to do something. (It also has my SHE system in it so that helps me picture what the day will be like as my feet hit the floor.)

Tea and light therapy are done.

I have the computer oriented tasks from yesterday still to do, plus walk over to pick up an Amazon locker delivery. That will get my walk in for the day (and be only the second walk I've managed while dh has been away.)

I hope to make an Impossible Ham Pie for dinner and confirm I have all the ingredients for tomorrow's crock pot dinner. I have no idea when dh will want to eat so I'm making a crock pot pork stew to be ready by 4 so he can eat when he wants.

Dh skipped over December 3rd as he traveled to Singapore and has two December 8ths on his way home. He'll be exhausted. He was packing last night as we chatted and it was December 8th in the morning then.

He had a full day at the conference and then out to the airport for a 10 p.m. flight (which he's probably boarding now cuz it is 9:30 at night there now.) Then he flies overnight, arriving in San Francisco at 9 p.m. tonight and then taking the overnight flight from there to Toronto. He'll be in Ottawa around 11 tomorrow morning if everything works as planned.

So one of his December 8ths will be at the conference and the second one will be on a plane. I honestly don't know how he does it but I'm babysitting dgs1.75 on the weekend and am prepared to do that all by myself. I just hope dgs and dh sleep well overnight on Saturday. If I'm up with dgs (not likely but possible) then I will be tired. If I can't sleep because dh is restless, I can't move to the spare bed because dgs is in there. I'll need as much rest as possible for the tree trimming and family dinner on Sunday night (plus church in the morning.)

I'm borrowing trouble right now so will stop thinking of that and go get dressed.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Goals for the day (not in order of priority):

1. Organize paper work.

2. Walk to Amazon locker and pick up delivery.

3. Email to residents about date of lobby Christmas Tree decorating and date of December Party.

4. Finish writing my Christmas newsletter contribution and pick some pictures for it.

5. Get the newsletter address list up to date and print either labels or envelopes (I might be out of labels.)

6. Email Hay Lake to congratulate on her moving on with life and shutting down. She is a lovely person who lost her husband last December so this is a rough time for her. I'm happy for her, just sad for me as to what the changes mean to me.

7. Create an Off-My-Mind list (can work on that while doing paperwork organization.)

8. Update Quicken. It's been 2+ months. And reconcile credit cards. Bank account too if there's time.

That will be a really full day.

[Ramblinrose]

Morning….

So happy to see Elizabeth posting. Harriet…I was going to suggest long Johns as well to stay warm. There are also battery operated foot warmers you can use to keep your tootsies warm.

I am feeling much better after sleeping 11 hours last night. I finally finished doing all the laundry and folded the last basket while drinking my morning coffee.

I have no idea what our Christmas Day will look like as my sons MIL is waiting for her new grand baby to be born and am not sure she will be here for that day. I would gladly hold dinner here but wouldn’t dream of taking my grandkids away from their home. Will offer to provide as much food as needed if it is wanted

Going to Big Lots later. My mother always made Christmas cookies and know they will be missed this year. I want to buy some cookie tins to make them and send as presents to everyone. Will
Include my moms recipes with them.

Not sure what else I will do today except make a needed phone call to several people including my brother.

Off to start the rest of my day… waving to y’all

[Lady Maverick]

I won't bore you with my ever-long list.
Elizabeth - I love hearing about your real-life challenges and successes.

We have heavy fog this morning that made driving an adventure. DD11 will have speech therapy today at school for the 5th hour.

Last night was the 2nd Christmas meal with at least 4 more in the next couple of weeks. I've decided to enjoy each of the experiences and not let my thoughts be on my food plan for those few hours. I am making an effort every day to follow my healthy eating food plan and most days are better than 90% success. Those few social eating events are a small percentage of the meals I will be eating this month.

DS14 and I have been doing Algebra and Spanish together this morning. He did the other assignments by himself. Note to self: Only one more week of school until Christmas break!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Item 4 is finished. I'm not dressed, but item 4 is finished!

[Nancy]

I was up in the night bs was in ack land!
Got on track with liv. room zone work I move ed the couch & cleaned under it, having it on peanut butter jar lids make it easy to slide on the darpet! Some other weekly tasks got accomplished then I went back to bed, my Rx reminder worked like an alarm for me.

Journaling is done.
A bit of writing to do.

Dec. memories:
Was baking frosted Christmas sugar cookies for lh when he was in collage he at the whole plate on the way bc he did not want roommates to eat them they were his he said. Christmas caroling another.

Got off the turkey day lbs. yea!

[DeeClutter]

I've been up and 'at em' for some time. I was tracking down tests I know dh is supposed to have before his procedure next Wednesday. Saw where tests were ordered on November 16th (which was the day before he saw this "Ablation Dr" so was really confused. Dh meantime called their office as he has no idea when to have these tests. They told him they'd already been sent to the labs for this particular hospital as well as for the Covid test. I did finally find it in 'upcoming tests'. I think he went in 3 days ahead of time for when he was supposed to have the Cardioversion early November. So that's what we're going with -tomorrow. Guess DS-R now is going to take dh to the hospital next Wednesday. Said he has vacation days he has to use or lose. DS-A was going to take him but this will free up DS-A if the weather forecast is correct (80% chance snow). It'll also free DS-R of the responsibilities that day. I will be so glad on so many fronts when this is all behind us.

DS-R is planning to fly down January 4th -so that will be shortly after DS-A/family leave to go back north. DS-R plans to stay a week with DBIL. Know it's going to be a very difficult week for him. Dbil did tell him the other day that he'd put an addendum on his will for DS-R to be able to buy DBIL's property if he wishes at a much lower price than its value. DS had figured there was no way he'd be able to purchase it at the 'going' price. And in truth he is the one nephew/relative (other than dh) who has made his Uncle a #1 priority.

One of my very favorite Christmas memories (and there are plenty) was coming in from work to find Dh with then 2-month old DGS23 nestled over his shoulder. Dh was at the counter making pizzelles. I can still picture it so clearly. Another favorite memory was being in Dayton, OH with dh after Thanksgiving for a week or so. I had driven out and every day I drove across the road to a big mall and shopped. Would show Dh what I'd bought each day and then wrapped them. Had quite a load by the time I drove back home. Only trouble was after returning home it was time for so many sales and I just kept shopping. Believe me our dks probably had the best/biggest Christmas tree ever that year.

Took the rest of our recycling out this morning. I almost think they are only picking up every other week, but 'time' will tell. We're testing the water.

I had a waffle (store frozen) for breakfast with peanut butter and N utella. For some reason it was so very hard I couldn't bite it and ended up scraping off the topping and just ate that. I'll have a more substantial lunch.

Speaking of food, what is Mullet loaf, Harriet? Something we could make?

[blessedw2]

what lovely memories d dee!

d Nancy - oh my gosh - I love that - especially that he ate the whole thing bc he didn't want his room mate to eat any!

yay d Kathryn on getting 4 things done!

hurray - that your dh already did some assignments on his own and super double yay - Christmas break is coming soon!

hi d rose glad you got a good nights sleep
enjoy your day!

hello dear all.

d harriet - my youngest used to use thin layers from REI, Patagonia etc. She used to sail from April to late November and needed layers under her dry suit.

[Twins' Mom]

Ugh. In a slump here and I need to peel my bottom up.

Dfriend M did ring the doorbell earlier and we walked a bit - until the rain started up again.

I need to run errands later, but first should get two packages ready to return. (But I'd really rather sit here?)

I have the washer going but it stopped with an error code earlier that there was a problem in the water supply. I'm a little leery of leaving it but I need to do laundry if we're leaving tomorrow. And to add to my tsuris (worries) the light in the laundry room is out so I'm using my phone flashlight when I go in there. I really need to channel Elizabeth and just climb up there and see if I can change it, but it's dark too! Not sure I can get the cover off in the dark.

Instead of setting a timer, I think I'll try for five things right now, some small:
-clear kitchen counters
-make the bed
-pack up a return to Amazon
-pull out the box in the garage with winter things and find decorative dreidels
-head up some soup for my lunch, maybe a grilled cheese too.

My reward is coming back through here!