Friday, Finding Our Festive Groove

[CathyS]

There is 2 feet of snow at the stadium where the Bills play, which is why they can't have their practice today.

[Lady Maverick]

I am taking a break while drinking tea and putting my feet up. Progress is being made. Half of the bathroom floors have been decluttered and deep cleaned. Some of the furniture and items removed from those 2 bathrooms won't be returned. When they are in place it seems difficult for me to "see" them. When I remove them from the room then it is easier to make a decision about their usefulness & if they should be returned. I have removed full length mirror from DH bathroom because he said he never used it. That mirror has been moved to DS16 bedroom to see if he wants it. A 3-shelf heavy wooden piece of furniture also won't be returned to DH bathroom. It didn't have a purpose other than collecting stuff that was never used. I don't have place in mind for that piece of furniture so it was moved to the garage as a temporary holding place. It will donated if I don't find a use for it before the next trip to our favorite charity store. All the furniture and items in DD13 bathroom were retured. They each had a purpose and were being used. The bathroom rugs were changed.

[MysteryWoman]

Yay, LadyM's DD13, with no unused bathroom clutter!

Laundry is out of dryer, rugs are in wash. I will have to have DD transfer them when she gets home from work. I've rinsed and stacked the dishes; I will also have to ask DD to wash them over the weekend -- DH texted that he is on his way home. Timing is a little awkward; looks like he will arrive a little after time to drop DD at work, but he can't pack the car or fill the tires while I'm gone. The round trip is less than 10 minutes, though.

[blessedw2]

that's wild that the stadium has 2 feet of snow d cathy!
maybe they can send me some snow - we need the moisture - but after christmas

hi d rose
I love that - new tree and new look
see you soon

hi d mystery look at you - well done on all your work preparing
so sweet about the snow globe reference to snow so sweet!
when dd older was in Argentina one of her friends had never seen snow and it was so rare that this area had snow. dd's friend was thrilled!

hi d twins - isn't festive groove perfect for today
have a good walk with the dog - stay safe walking
sorry you didn't have water

hello again.
my kitchen looks like it blew up - not dirty just stuff - we got our monthly delivery of extras
mom is here and well and chatty

did you ever get a card from someone who seems to know you and my mom and brother but they look familiar but don't. She said it has been forever since she saw us or sent a card mmmmm - I wrote my brother to see who they are.
they are at least 15 years younger than dh and I so I am at a loss.

my cast iron is seasoned again.
now for stock.

[Lady Maverick]

Bathroom #3 is done. Only one more to go but I needed another break before I declutter and deep clean it. The last bathroom is the one DS16 uses and it is the biggest challenge. DH volunteered to remove everything from that bathroom so that part is done. I can immediately get started with the deep cleaning phase.

DD13 had plans to stay with DD48 this weekend. I asked DD13 when she was going and was told DD48 cancelled. No one is surprised but I still wish the teens didn't have to go through continual hope & disappointment. DS16 is still waiting for his birthday gift from DD48....since August. She keeps telling him that it is in the mail. DS16 knows it most likely isn't true, but there is a small part of him that keeps hoping it is. DD13 has an appointment with her counselor on Monday which helps her keep things in perspective.

Lunch for me is shrimp, alfredo sauce and corn. Weird combination but it tastes too good to not repeat. DH is eating tuna salad and potato salad for his lunch.

Tomorrow is game day for high school state playoff. It is the first time my hometown school has gone all the way to state football playoff. DNephew is the head coach. Lots of hype and excitement is happening in this little corner of the world.

[Nancy]

I have been on errands this morning.
I am so happy tried to drop off donations and they had the truck there and could not do that.
I went inside and a customer & I were chatting and she said that she would taken them,
That was exciting she also is a baker and could use the containers and trays for cookies etc.
Turns out she knows my Dgd!
I found new pink slippers for me today winning & circular needles a couple of items on my list.

I've got the rig unloaded & put away food sacks are back in the rig too.
Glad to have that shopping done.
I have chicken soup cooking now, got a rotisserie chicken and got it de-boned.

Listening to a workshop for writers now.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Cathy, Ds and ddil are on their way to St. Cath's for the funeral. It is a beautiful day for a drive here. I hope it holds for them.

I'll have laundry to do when dgs wakes up. I didn't think he'd go down for a nap so told him he just had to lie on his bed and drink his milk and have a little rest. I had taken him to the bathroom before he lay down but didn't put on a diaper. It has been 2.5 hours so far....

The apartment is all tidied up and ready for the other grands to come. Dh will be leaving soon for them. I got the tree box down to the basement locker and have been through my wrapping and card supplies and added more stuff to the giveaway boxes. Still, I only have a few boxes of item (including stuff from others.) I thought there were a ton of cards but there were only 10 holiday cards in the three bags of cards left out at the last stuff exchange. My goal is to eliminate one or two of the bins of Christmas things this year. Not sure if I'll succeed. After Christmas, when I clean up, I'm going to pull out every bin and pack things away in a different manner, in hopes of compacting things. A big item I have is an artificial tree bag. It is much larger than our tree box but that box is already starting to fall apart (it was bought in 2020) and doesn't have handles, so is heavy and awkward. Still, I think I should likely add the tree bag to the giveaway stuff pile. The only reason I am not doing so is because I just put it down in the locker and I don't know if I can make time to go back and get it out. Also it cost a lot of money. But it has never been useful so I don't know why I'm hanging onto it.

[CathyS]

The roads are clean and clear. There is absolutely no snow here. I drove to Niagara Falls this morning and there is nothing there.

Off to CUOP...

...

Dh and I ordered a pizza to be delivered for supper. I went to knitting this afternoon. I also did all the pots and pans this morning and the dishwasher did it's thing.

[Twins' Mom]

I'm not CUOP-ing right now. I've been busy today, not all of it expected. Spent some time upstairs in morning starting on Christmas cards and had alarm set for 12:45 so I could come down and start challah for ds. He requested it for a work social function where everyone is bringing something. Anyway, found I didn't have enough flour eeek! and had to run to grocery store. The one closest to us doesn't have the bread flour I like so had to go further, and I had a Zoom meeting at 1:15. I emailed and said I was running late and we pushed it to 1:30, and I just got home and got ingredients in the breadmaker and headed upstairs and made the meeting - about 3 minutes late. After meeting I stamped a bit until the alarm went off to take the challah out of breadmaker, so I rolled out and shaped and started rising, and now baking. While that's happened I got the kitchen cleaned up - couldn't use water this a.m. so had things from a.m. too.

Anyway, finally getting a chance to check in here. We're leaving in 40 min to go to river - wish we weren't going quite so early because I'm hoping to slice the challah for ds before we go. He'll come though and pick it up after we leave.

[Ramblinrose]

Sweetie and made it up to the attic. Decorations have come down and suitcases fount their way up.

I have finished decorating the tree. I have stuff scattered all over the living room. However the tree is done. The decorating went fast as it is a much skinnier tree. I have two to donate to GW. Should be able to do that over the weekend. Still have have the rest of the house to do, but it shouldn't take more than 1.5 hrs. to do.

The rest of the house is in good shape. I need to dust...The amount of dust I find in this house is so much less than my AZ home. It just amazes me at the difference. No desert dust around here... only nice green grass.

Time to start dinner and if my energy holds up, I will start working on my Cmas Cards. One way or another they will be finished by the end of the weekend.

Waving to yall.....