"Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: the view changes once you start walking.
You don't need all the answers right now. New paths will reveal themselves if you have the courage to get started."
James Clear
I know it's Friday and that's the day I tend to think 'ah, I'll let it go until next week and then I'll do it..." but perhaps I could use the day to just get started on some of these things that need doing?
I enjoy James Clear's weekly newsletter of quotes and thoughtful questions, he's the author of Atomic Habits. Thinking of Dee and her tag line with this quote also - was it "Just starting is half-done?" I'll go back and see...
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better [wo]man. Ben Franklin
LucyLee, just a few words about grandparents who are no longer with us. My maternal grandfather passed away when I was 4 or 5, and I still remember him well, especially the silly little things like being the only grand child allowed to sit on his lap at Sunday tea and dip toast and butter "soldiers" into his boiled egg.. So, I think it's very likely your DGS and DGD will both retain their memories of your DH.
Today I went into town for my hair appointment and also to pick up my.order.from.M&S. Fortunately I made it home before the rain started. DH has called in sick today, so I persuaded him to at least start our Christmas newsletter while I was out. I just need to finish my part now.
This afternoon's plans.i clide doing *something* for Christmas, and cutting Fred's nails. He's had his vet- approved pre clip dose of Gabapentin, which will hopefully avoid the bloodbath of last time. Jist another 30 minutes until.it should be at peak effect! I also need to do a couple of delicate / wool LOL (one dark, one light) and fold and PA the LOL that washed overnight.
Last edited by Kittykatt on Fri Dec 05, 2025 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thank you for a fabulous start to our Friday Twins' Mom!!
I'm up for the day, even though the night certainly had ups and downs.
I have a mid day appointment in the town to the west of us. I don't think I'll get to knitting on time, so I might skip today's Fibre Friday drop in.
Dh has to cook what he didn't cook yesterday. He decided to buy himself a bog of salted cashews and he ate a lot of them before I got home and he was too full from them to have a regular supper. He had some cold beets (not pickled, but they had been previously cooked) and he also had a couple of tomatoes chopped up with Caesar salad dressing on them. Then he got into some liverwurst and ate most of a sleeve of crackers. Not a fantastic meal, but it was food and there weren't any dirty pots or pans afterward.
Dh had a rough night, therefore I had a rough night. Update in the "husbands/health" post. It took me a long time to get back to sleep.
For clarity, buttered toast sliced from the top to the bottom of the toast after it has been buttered have been called "soldiers" in England since either the first or second war. There are usually 3 cuts, which make 4 of these "soldiers" and even adults will refer to their toast that way. (I used to be married to a man whose parents were from the north of England-so I used to hear that word almost every time my XMIL made toast. "Do you want soldiers Michael? No thanks mum!")
Dishes never stop.
Laundry never stops.
Litter boxes never stop.
Paper never stops.
I don't want to start cleaning but I want to at the same time I honestly want the helper to be late.
brother and builders are supposed to stop by - dd's are going to make sure that they are not here. I wish I can relieve them of the anxiety of my brother and have him realize his actions caused so much pain and fear. It's so hard to hear them be so terrified of what could happen.
I also have the landscape lady come by to make a design to finish our front yard. one side is done.
thank you for starting us d twins!
I like atomic habits as well.
I know it's Friday and that's the day I tend to think 'ah, I'll let it go until next week and then I'll do it..." but perhaps I could use the day to just get started on some of these things that need doing?
thank you for sharing this - I was feeling the same way but I know I need to do work.
good morning d cathy - praying you have a lovely day and a good night sleep for both of you!
I have seen soldiers on Martha Stewart but have never made them for my eggs - it sounds delicious
hope you have a good appointment!
good morning d kitty! beautiful hair cut!!! hope your sweet animal has a relaxing nail clipping!!!
Twins, you have given us a good start, if nothing else. I don't remember Dee's exact wording. I do remember my high-school Spanish teacher's version: "Obra empezada, medio acabada." (Work begun, half done.)
Agreeing with Kittykatt, lucylee. My children were about the same age as your grandchildren when my grandma passed (I was so lucky to have her so far into my adulthood), and they remember her well.
Cathy, at least your husband's dinner sounds balanced, sort of. I replied in the DH thread with my experience as a large person in the shower.
I am trying to muster up the will to get a crockpot started for dinner. It is a vegetable stew -- from the BBC, actually, Kittykatt! It only needs to cook six hours, so if I get it in by noon, it will be fine. (blessed, if you start your cleaning, I will start my crockpot!)
Last night the rest of the family went out to play games; I stayed home because I was tired. I did take the time before going to bed to empty wastebaskets, since no one did them before they left. So, this morning, DH said, "I didn't take the trash out to the street because there didn't seem to be enough in the dumpster to bother. *sigh*
We took the car to the mechanic this morning to get a new muffler. It went the day before Thanksgiving, so this is more than a week of being embarrassingly loud. Other than that, it's same old, same old here today. Have a great day, everybody!
I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder, and Guilder to frame for it; I'm swamped. -- Prince Humperdinck
Today we have a wedding, beginning at 4 p.m., at least 45 minutes away. So we'll need to be leaving before 3, I think. Which means showering, etc, in afternoon as well as figuring out what to wear. I guess I can't put if off any longer. I have dresses in the closet from pre-COVID when I weighed about what I weigh now, but need to get them out and try on. Then there's the dress I bought. I just don't want to wear a dress and be cold but I have to.
So that feels like it takes the major part of the day. I told dh I'm heading upstairs for awhile as an antidote to be social this p.m.
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better [wo]man. Ben Franklin
Signature
Begun is half done -SO! JUST BEGIN!!
I think Twins' and I may both be going to fetch this at the same time, lol.
I knew about soldiers because of the British comedian John Inman, from Lancashire, who did a bit about telling his mother on the phone he was sitting up in bed with soldiers, which worried her until he told her he meant he was having breakfast.
I could hibernate these days. We are seeing very little sunshine just lately, just dreary days on end. The "party lights" on the screened porch come on at dusk every day and stay on for several hours. They're coming on again a lot of mornings here. So hard to get up - yesterday I overslept until nearly nine, and this a.m., even getting up at a more reasonable time it seems dark.
Here it is...
Begun is half done -SO! JUST BEGIN!!
Great minds, Harriet, lol.
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better [wo]man. Ben Franklin
With dresses on cold days - maybe tights rather than light hosiery, or even leggings if long enough (or if there are high shoes or short boots possible)? I'm sure, Twins', if you say you have to, you have to, but are there dress police?
blessed, there must be something/someone that could give your dbrother pause when he starts in with intimidating attitude. His wife's first name beginning a sentence? Your ddyounger's dog sitting beside her? Are the builders big and burly and normally/naturally embarrassed by another man's disrespect? Make sure you chat about your dmother's lovely time at the Tday celebration, so engaged and so enjoyed by the family.
Lol, no dress police, Harriet, just "semi-formal" instructions. "Semi-Formal: Tuxes and gowns are welcome, and so are suits and cocktail dresses." Instructions from website. Sorry, there won't be a cute cocktail dress here, lol. Looked at closet earlier, one dress that is suitable from way back is very short sleeved, is a "gown" but is sleeveless. Possibly would be too long, given I mostly wear flats now too. Dress purchased is a stretchable velveteen, black with chiffon gores below the knee, midi length, and it 3/4 length sleeves. Would be nice to use something I already have, but the midi 3/4 length sleeves sounds warmer. I've just been so cold lately. And I do have some stretchy black tights if I need them. Just want to fit in and be comfortable, not too dressed, not underdressed. I think I overthink things like this, of course.
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better [wo]man. Ben Franklin
So, I think it's very likely your DGS and DGD will both retain their memories of your DH. 
I honestly want the helper to be late. 
