Thankful Thursday

[lucylee]

So glad Mr. Dee is back in the Sunshine State.

Ain't no sunshine around here, y'all...
After the labwork, we went to the grocery store & McD's for dgd...
Then home... I spilled dgd's tea all over dh's ONLY nice, warm jacket that fits. One really needs a warm jacket when the temps are getting into single digits and one has a Christmas Eve church service to attend. Sigh.
Jacket is machine washable and is now tumbling in the dryer -- but not on heat, because "it BETTER NOT SHRINK. i CAN'T WEAR IT IF IT SHRINKS."
Sigh...

And I still have to go to dmom's and Wmart...

And get home within a couple hours to get to dgs' game.

I may not survive this day...

[Twins' Mom]

Lost a post because I closed Windows without posting.

This afternoon I tried for a nap but I really wasn't sleepy. Anyway, dfriend M called me about walking around the block and then we talked awhile too. Someone reminded dh we should wrap out faucets for the bitter cold (we usually don't) so I went out and did that - not sure what he expected but I used some hand towels, plastic freezer bags and duct tape. Hopefully that will work.

I have two chicken breasts thawed - will poach in chicken broth and shred, then cook matzah balls in broth and add the chicken back. I don't want the chicken over done. I'm using a mix for the soup but may use less soup mix and more broth, and add fresh celery and carrots too. Basically chicken and dumplins' with matzah balls instead of the dumplins.

I made two more cards, should go post in the crafty place!

[Nancy]

Yea for dd & ds together!
Yea both of my rigs started!

[Harriet]

That's good, Nancy. So many things to double check before cold, wet storms. Hope dog is better.

Great to know Mr. DeeClutter is home before the worst of the storm hit his ds and family.

Dd42's pipe burst under the kitchen sink area. Sigh.

Our chimney seeped water into the (outer) bricks, down the mortar, causing sudden discoloration indoors. Yipes.

Dstepson has handled both of the above today. (Up on our roof, he discovered a heap of leaves holding rainwater stagnant against the chimney.) I think we need to "seal" our chimney bricks. The church does that, and I could ask a friend there who they use. We believe the fellow who did such a good job pressure-washing here before the new roof and soffit-Ing did TOO good a job and pocket-ed (pock-marked?) some of the bricks, or maybe aggravated fissures in the mortar. Anyway, it's getting better.

I'm kind of born to isolate.

Smiling at Twins' comment.

We did grocery shopping today. Forgot bank to pick up money for adult children's gifts. I went back and got it from teller.

Back home, WonderBoy came over and helped his Grandpa with a video game - excuse me, his Massively Multi-Player Video Game. This doesn't sound like a serious endeavor, but it sort of is. The old master (HRH) does NOT have an equal on this game (until he does, lol). Youthful hand-eye coordination got HRH's character past the only hurdle that had the old master stymied, lol. I think this was a holiday extra thing, not usual.

Sidetrackable perfectionism times 2 -
We wanted a cheerful way to give money. I yielded my ideas of simple fabric pockets, and let HRH have his creativity. So, the actual bills are wrapped within a pretend "roll" printed from an online free printable of humorous oversize bills, with HRH's picture. We happened to have identical very small boxes, so that worked out fine. Then I got my creativity dose by wrapping each little box differently. (Of course I did.)

Tomorrow is COOKING.
WonderBoy is delighted I'm making a big vegetable casserole. He is our adventure-eater, and loves all veggies and fruits.

[Harriet]

Ramblin', your post happened to post twice on the first page.

I'm leaving it. It was worth reading twice and I did. Very thought-provoking.

[lucylee]

Well, I did survive and am now home for the night. * whew *
Wmart, of course, was CRAZY.
Bank lines... of course I chose the slowest of three drive-thrus.
Made it home Just In Time to get to dgs' ballgame. He & ds rode with us because ddil is working.
Unloaded car after we got home, caught up math in checkbook, which is extremely depressing...
Turned on water to s l o w trickle in outdoor faucets. DH is afraid of freezing pipes.
So far, it is not so terrible here, but it soon will be.

I am sooo tired. But I must get the last of the wrapping done and get the stockings filled for Saturday night. DGD wants to come back and spend the night tomorrow night, and Saturday morning, I will have to go to Next Town and pick up bar-b-que.
(Still no results from Cr. Barrel ordering site... can't order past tomorrow, so far.)
Need to type up dbil's "debts" for football tickets. He will be listing our half of the condo fees. Then we will settle it up Saturday. I can't believe that we will owe him money, but dh pointed out there have been some repairs done at the condo, so... who knows?

I am a little depressed because as dh pointed out, there's not much place we can cut down on expenses -- I know sports and entertainment take a big chunk out of the budget, but dh is definitely not going to cut back on that. And except for two trips to Nashville and college sports events, we don't really do a lot -- no other big vacations or anything. And dbil counts on us, I'm sure, to keep up our half of the ticket costs. I keep looking at this roof and ceiling and wondering when it is going to fall in... and he just keeps saying we can't do anything right now.

OTOH -- I AM VERY THANKFUL. We do have a warm dry house, comfortable bed, plenty of food, and finally, everyone in the family is relatively happy & healthy. I have a Savior whose birth we celebrate in a couple days, and I know His presence has carried me through to this point and He will watch over me, dh, and our family through eternity.
This has been a tough year... particularly the last six months -- dmom's health, losing my dfriend, and the emotional crisis that brought on. But I know that God obviously closed certain doors and opened other doors and all in all, my life seems to be proof that He led me on the right path... but there is still a lot of grief in my heart and I am still praying for the ability to put memories and "what ifs" in their proper place and BE THANKFUL for the life I have been given.

[Harmony]

Looking for news of the DeeClutters. Glad at least he is off the plane.

Well, my bad news is that I must have that flu. Yesterday I was struggling just to get myself home. I thought I wouldn't make the last walk out to the car and load it up. Aching all over. Knowing, if I do not get better, I would not be able to make the Christmas trip. I bought one of that last bottles on the shelf of cough/cold meds left. The news showed the shelves in 4 different stores all basically bare. Anyway, that stuff I brought home is so potent, even the daytime version, that I slept the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening. I was unable to get back to sleep in bed so went out to the couch and went to sleep there. I have no idea why I have trouble sleeping in bed but I'm ok on the couch.

Today is a flannel PJ day. I've been doing a lot of fluids and feel slightly better. No fever. And I've taken 3 Covid tests and all are negative.

I still have lots to do, but I'm taking it easy while running out of time. I hope tomorrow is better.

Elizabeth, I have a short stepstool in children's colors. I use it to reach the top of DH's chest of drawers which is tall. That's the only way I can dust up there.

[lucylee]

Oh, (((Harmony)))! I’m so sorry you’re sick now. Praying it passes quickly!