Mistletoe Monday @ TDD - C&C

[trissie]

Triple Dog Dare!

Pick 3 things
Do them
Post your TaDas!

»»—-Cheers! WTG! Ygg!—-««

Don't think about it. Just do it!
~~ I Triple Dog Dare ya! ~~
Good Morning!
»»————　✼　————««[*]

[trissie]

Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant. There are hundreds of species which mostly live in tropical regions.

The Romans associated mistletoe with peace, love, and understanding and hung it over doorways to protect the household.

In the advent of the Christian era, mistletoe in the Western world became associated with Christmas as a decoration under which lovers are expected to kiss, as well as with protection from witches and demons.[36] Mistletoe continued to be associated with fertility and vitality through the Middle Ages, and by the eighteenth century it had also become incorporated into Christmas celebrations around the world. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is referred to as popular among servants in late eighteenth-century England.

The serving class of Victorian England is credited with perpetuating the tradition.The tradition dictated that a man was allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath mistletoe, and that bad luck would befall any woman who refused the kiss. One variation on the tradition stated that with each kiss a berry was to be plucked from the mistletoe, and the kissing must stop after all the berries had been removed.

[Kittykatt]

Good morning Trissie and thank you for starting us off.

Helia, your tree sounds very pretty and how fortune to get the last wreath - even better that's it was free!

Gma, that's a lot of snow shoveling! You're very kind to all your elderly fire D's and acquaintances.

Dogged, WTG surviving Christmas shopping a d avoiding crowds! So lo g as Amazon a d the attic of the retired priest both yield their items on time, I think we should be OK for the Christingle. Apparently some little soft sweets like jelly tots and mini marshmallows are also required, but everyone is confident the local shops will stock those. The idea is to get all the sharp, spiky bits covered today with sweeties, and the rest of the "ingredients" divided up and put I to I social paper bags before the children arrive to assemble their Christingles tomorrow. I am not sure what happens if someone eats their ingredients. But as we have at least I e primary school teacher on the team, so show I don't think that will happen!

Today I need to get as much done as possible both round the house and for Christmas prep. DH is going out with his friends, and I am really hoping S will come and finish the fence, as I am itching to sort out my poor plants as soon as possible. I know just before Christmas is not ideal, but it is what it is, and although tomorrow is looking a bit iffy weather wise, Wednesday is looking to be at least dry..(S flies out tomorrow afternoon, so the fence really needs to be finished today, or tomorrow morning at the latest.) So, it I can get "ahead" today, then that should buy me some time later this week, so long as nothing else important crops up, or nothing goes wrong!

[Kittykatt]

,To do:

Appointments:
Monday:
DH out with friends
At home for me - clean upstairs,
get spare room back in order
Take ham out of freezer
Put ham to soak when thawed
Will S finish the fence?
Will he finish early enough to enable me to start renovating the end of my garden? (Weather permitting!)

Tuesday: Riverford veg box delivery
DH??
At home for me - clean downstairs
Take beef out of freezer
Ham to soak if not done yesterday
Can I start prep for Christmas Eve meal?
9pm final touches to Waitrose order
Hoover car? (Weather permitting!)
Sort out end of my garden? (weather permitting!)

Wednesday: Christmas Eve
9-10 am Waitrose delivery
PA groceries
Dr appointment for DH - give him a list of anything Waitrose didn't have so he can pick it up for me from somewhere
Clean kitchen
Prep veg etc for Christmas lunch
Make fruit salad
Work out timings for beef
Hoover car? (If not done yesterday!)
Sort out garden? (If not already done!)
Cook supper - start red cabbage early in low oven
Laxapet for Jude and Matilda
7pm (earlier if possible) Christmas Eve supper -baked ham, mashed potato, carrots, broad beans, red cabbage, parsley sauce
9 pm Bethlehem Mass

Thursday: Christmas Day
Stockings first thing
Ask DH to lay table
Ensure bathroom is clean and tidy
Run a quick duster and hoover round hall and sitting room
Cook lunch - use timings in my book.
12 noon Dnextdoorneighbour C arrives
1pm lunch - roast beef, roast potatoes, roasted carrots and parsnips, gravy , Brussels sprouts, Yorkshire puddings, fresh fruit salad, cream
Take my apron off and relax!

Friday: Boxing Day
Possibly some time sorting out my garden (weather permitting!)
Leftovers to eat

Saturday:
At home ??
Leftovers to eat
Text DF E?

Sunday:
Church 9.30 am
Visit DFE for coffee?
We'll still be eating left overs so probably cold cut for lunch
Laxapet Jude and Matilda
Set up new Waitrose delivery

Future dates to note:
7/1 order inhalers
6/1 Freddie - Solensia 8.30 am
8/1 Jude weight check 2 pm

Outstanding deliveries:

Extras:
Email J - do this MONDAY
Email NW when I have a reply from RO
Check and send above
Put pictures back WIP
Order new orthotics - wait until ankle settles
Can I do 15 minutes of decluttering in the bedroom each day?
Digital decluttering- Google Photos for 2024 and 2025
Pick up my footprints
House tasks: Replace the bit of mortar that's fallen out of the edge of the roof (I think its called the verge? Can this wait until next year when we get the house painted when a roof ladder will be in place?) I need for it to stop raining before I ask anyone to come and look!
Verge and ridge tiles on garage roof
Sort out cabinet that wobbles - does the back need some sort of bracing ? MJ will.sort it out in the new year
Take up and hem those thick winter curtains for the kitchen
Book eye test for me
Sort prints and put in albums (this will probably be an activity to do on wet days!) WIP I am now working on 2025
Think about setting up Guardianship for F,J and M - looked on Cats' Protection, I need their microchip numbers, approximate DOB, colour and markings and useful information about them. Bookmark link with local recommended solicitors (also ask DF CW?)
Change health centres to the one nearest us? We're going to do this in January

To do:
Early morning:
Cuddles and treats on the bed with Matilda, Jude and Freddie
Cup of tea
QT
Lightbox session
Make bed
Shower / wash hair/ moisturiser and sunblock/ clean and floss teeth
DH launched
Physio exercises and back exercises
Proprioceptors exercises X1 x2 x3
S/S bathroom
Get dressed
Breakfast and meds / supplements - me
DRINK WATER #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8
Check bank account
Go for my walk

Garden:
15 minutes in tiny front garden
15 minutes in back garden

Cats:
Cats’ breakfast and meds / supplements
Fresh water in cat bowls
Scoop cat trays
Check Jude’s bowl
Check Matilda's bowl
Walk Freddie
Lap time with Jude, Freddie and Matilda
Play with Jude, Freddie and Matilda
Head rubs with Jude, Freddie and Matilda
Cats' supper

House:
Rubbish down to wheelie bins
Kitchen clean up
Unload DW
Reload DW
Run DW when full
Unload DW
PUPA downstairs
Quick dust sitting room
Quick hoover downstairs
PUPA upstairs
Quick dust bedrooms
Quick hoover upstairs
Lunch
Supper
Lay out clothes for tomorrow
Journal three things I am thankful for today
Hand cream

Extra house tasks:

Monday:
Clean bathroom
Clean spare room
Clean bedroom

Tuesday:
Clean hall
Clean sitting room
Clean stairs
Empty hoover before starting work
Wheelie bins back when dustmen have been
Filing paperwork for 15 minutes

Wednesday:
Clean kitchen

Garden extras:
Water pots
Feed pots weekly

Financial:
More work on budget WIP

[trissie]

Happy Monday!

kittykatt, the tide, the time and the garden wait for no man!

My last working day of the year (though I think I will have to log in once or twice to deal with something), working from home while DH is in the office. Tomorrow he'll be working from home while I run pre-Christmas errands, and maybe I can convince him to do some family activity in late afternoon / early evening?
Goal for today, other than wrapping everything up before closing my work computer for two weeks, is to clean upstairs, make menus and shopping lists, and finalize any last minute Christmas preps. I still need to print some vouchers etc, and I have two recipes for cookies I'd like to make (though if I don't, it's OK, all the family favourites plus a new one have been done), but other than that, all is ready. Not my Christmas mood, though, this is probably the most un-Christmasy I have felt outside maybe of that one year when I broke up with ex-H and moved out in December. I guess part of it is the family drama that I keep being dragged into, and part of it is the older kids pulling away and not being excited by Christmas at all. Oh the joys of a family with moody teens!
Anyway, maybe it will get better once I close the computer and no longer worry about work, but to do that, I gotta get going on it first!

TaDas
- dressed to shoes
- breakfast and coffee
- editing O-report and other work items that popped up while I was writing this

ToDos
- work
- take cleaning breaks
- fix lunch for kids

Braindump
work
- BoD excerpts
- record BoD resolution in spreadsheet
- BoD agenda for January
- mailbox work
- email to lawyer
- update spreadsheet for ICT guideline
- IDD research and report drafting
- set out of office auto-reply
routines
- midday routine
- afternoon routine
- evening routine
food
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- freezer cooking
organization
- update land contract
- rework contract with DS14's therapist
- have kids check and empty backpacks (no forgotten food found on Jan 4)
- DBD's speech therapy
- 15 on filing
cleaning
- fridge clean-up
- clean twins' room
- clean DBD's room
- clean DS13's room
- clean master bedroom
- clean master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up office
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
laundry
- load of cleaning rags
- load of lights
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading
Christmas preps
- decorate gingerbread cookies - even after yesterday's decorating session, there's still more to go!
- check gift list, print vouchers, last minute wrapping?
- holiday menu and shopping list
- more Christmas baking if anything seems interesting? all family favourites are done
House&Holidays - I kinda really should do something about it
- week 1 deep cleaning - office
- week 3 deep cleaning - DBD's room
- week 6 deep cleaning - twins' room
- week 9 deep cleaning - living room
- week 10 deep cleaning - kitchen
- week 11 deep cleaning - pantry
- week 13 deep cleaning - storage spaces
- week 14 deep cleaning - public spaces
- week 3 Christmas tasks
- week 4 Christmas tasks
- week 5 Christmas tasks
- week 6 Christmas tasks
- week 7 Christmas tasks
- week 8 Christmas tasks
- week 9 Christmas tasks
- week 10 Christmas tasks
- week 11 Christmas tasks
- week 12 Christmas tasks
- week 13 Christmas tasks
- week 14 Christmas tasks
- week 15 Christmas tasks
- week 16 Christmas tasks
- week 17 Christmas tasks

[trissie]

Holidays, here I come!

TaDas
- BoD excerpts
- record BoD resolution in spreadsheet
- BoD agenda for January
- mailbox work
- email to lawyer
- update spreadsheet for ICT guideline
- set out of office auto-reply
- lunch for kids
- clean master bedroom
- load of cleaning rags
- load of lights

ToDos
- midday routine
- 1 hour upstairs
- fridge clean-up

Braindump
work
- IDD research and report drafting - January it is!
routines
- afternoon routine
- evening routine
food
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- freezer cooking
organization
- update land contract
- rework contract with DS14's therapist
- have kids check and empty backpacks (no forgotten food found on Jan 4)
- DBD's speech therapy
- 15 on filing
cleaning
- fridge clean-up
- clean twins' room
- clean DBD's room
- clean DS13's room
- clean master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up office
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
laundry
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading
Christmas preps
- decorate gingerbread cookies - even after yesterday's decorating session, there's still more to go!
- check gift list, print vouchers, last minute wrapping?
- holiday menu and shopping list
- more Christmas baking if anything seems interesting? all family favourites are done
House&Holidays - I kinda really should do something about it
- week 1 deep cleaning - office
- week 3 deep cleaning - DBD's room
- week 6 deep cleaning - twins' room
- week 9 deep cleaning - living room
- week 10 deep cleaning - kitchen
- week 11 deep cleaning - pantry
- week 13 deep cleaning - storage spaces
- week 14 deep cleaning - public spaces
- week 3 Christmas tasks
- week 4 Christmas tasks
- week 5 Christmas tasks
- week 6 Christmas tasks
- week 7 Christmas tasks
- week 8 Christmas tasks
- week 9 Christmas tasks
- week 10 Christmas tasks
- week 11 Christmas tasks
- week 12 Christmas tasks
- week 13 Christmas tasks
- week 14 Christmas tasks
- week 15 Christmas tasks
- week 16 Christmas tasks
- week 17 Christmas tasks

[helia]

Thanks for the Christmas-y start, trissie! Hope your last day of payroll is going well! ((HUGS))for continuing family drama and teens.
Did S finish the fence, Kitty? Looks like you have things in hand for Christmas.

I wonder if today is also FFB's last day of payroll for the year?

I feel like things are coming together for Christmas now - but they're not all together yet. I need to order the seafood, and there's a lot of wrapping I need to do. I just ordered gingerbread man cookie cutters, hoping to give that a try this week. I ordered the set that would arrive the earliest rather than the set that I thought looked the best since most wouldn't arrive until Dec. 27 or later.

We're on to Plan B with Sinter Klaas. The Cs have a young family member who was recently diagnosed with leukemia; she's quite sick in the hospital. They're going to travel to visit her, so we've moved Sinter Klaas up a day to accommodate them. Now, we're celebrating Dec. 28, the day before we leave town.

We're also on to Plan B with houseguests. RH told me yesterday that he is staying here until Jan. 2, not Jan. 29 which is what dh had told me. In addition, K, his sort of girlfriend whom we also know - she often stays a night or 2 here for Sinter Klaas - is staying with him. Yes, we are leaving town the 29th. M is returning the 26th? I think -- I don't think M knows that RH and K are staying here in the house with her through Jan. 2. Apparently, RH had talked to dh about this; it just hadn't gotten to me. It's fine -- just a surprise. And I'd prefer someone ask me about staying in my home while I'm gone rather than announce it to me as a fait accompli, although I guess he did ask dh. There's the matter of RH currently sleeping in a room downstairs with 1 twin (single) bed in it but wanting another bed in that room for KE. The room upstairs has 2 twin beds in it. Dh says we're not going to bother moving beds. If they want to sleep in the same room, they will need to sleep upstairs -- which I think is better anyway. Otherwise, they're all using M's bathroom for a week -- which she didn't sign up for. I am NOT going to make up new beds for them if they both decide to sleep upstairs; I will lay out bedding and they can put it on themselves.

Today: Well, it is already 9 a.m. and the chimney sweep has not shown up yet. The pest control is coming between 9 and 11. On the payroll front, yesterday, I created and posted more resources in GC for my students to help them prepare for the final exam. I also graded all the HWs that have been turned in so far. I'm going to keep checking for practice exams turned in so I can grade and return them asap. I also need to print out the exam and update gradelink. I have a teacher meeting @ 1 and then I teach my class 1:30 -3:30. Today is the final exam; I think I'll just let them go when they're finished. Usually, I make them stay if they finish early, and we do another activity after the exam. I have candy canes to give them, and I'll decorate them with bows with that curly ribbon. Temps are mild enough that I will try to jog outside after work. Temps might be as high as 37F! I also need to get to WF to order the seafood for the Christmas paella. Dinner will be from the freezer - chicken cacciatore, I think. I think RH is joining us for all our dinners?

Next:
- some qt
- chimney sweep here eventually
- payroll: grade 3 more practice exams turned in

Later:
- pest control guy here
- payroll: update gradelink
- payroll: print out final exams
- payroll: plan a bit of a review - some of the trickier points
- lights: finish folding and p/a
- clear cedar chest
- s2s and self care
- back exercises
- finish reclaiming the kitchen
- list for WF
- WF: order seafood + pick up a few items
- lunch
- 1-1:40 payroll: instructor meeting
- 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AAS D13
- go for a short jog - 1 mile, or more if I feel like it
- Memorial thank yous progress
- dinner: chicken cacciatore, rice, salad
- after dinner clean up
- duolingo
- update health apps
- put away puzzle on back table
- payroll: grade final exams
- read

TaDas!
- up; weighed self - same as yesterday
- unloaded dw
- email deletions + weather website
- ordered gingerbread man cookie cutters
- ordered last shoe gift for J12yo

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Mon 8-11 window - chimney sweep and pest control here/ 1-1:40 instructor mtg./ 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AAS D13 FINAL EXAM/ Dinner: chicken cacciatore, rice, salad
Tue 10 - 11 haircut/ KS2J get together?/ host dinner for dd30's friend L + family - dd30 is making the main
Wed 9:30 breakfast with Cs to plan SK/ Cmas Eve service? / shoes night 1/ Dinner: TBD
Thu Anglican church service? / Cmas dinner for 8?/ light the candles and read stories/ shoes night 2
Fri date with dh?/ shoes night 3
Sat K arrives?
Sun SINTER KLAAS - breakfast and planning session/ write poems all day/ evening - celebrate SK!

Mon TRAVEL TO WA to visit ds, F, and baby I
Tue See Ss in WA?

December Brain Dumps
This Week - House
- towel laundry
- can I scrub the tile in our shower?
- clean sheets on bed
- clean main bathroom

This Week - Deskwork
- make appointment with optometrist
- Memorial thank yous
- reach out to JK?

This Week - Christmas prep
- wrap other gifts
- order seafood for the paella

This Week - Errands
- get Mom's bags of stuff to the charity
- buy more wrapping paper and labels
- buy more yarn

General Brain Dump
- progress decluttering clothes - wip
- new phone eventually

Mom
- go through bag of Mom's knick knacks

[L.Ann]

Morning kittykatt and Trissie! I am sorry your teens aren’t more excited about Christmas. There is definitely a different feeling with teens and young adults. Hi helian!

1-finish ornaments
2-gather things for errands
3-Target and crumble cookie pick up, marine museum

Menusu
Monday-Southwest shrimp tacos
Tuesday-Mexican chicken and rice bowls
Wednesday-family dinner @DD39’s
Thursday-leftover brunch food
Friday-one pot kidney bean and pepper soup
Saturday-black bean burgers
Sunday-Cajun tilapia and roasted veggies


Events
Monday-Little Bit 7:40-5, pick up cookies for DD32 to take to center for her birthday, doctor@3:30 for DD32
Tuesday-Little Bit 7:40-5, DD32’s birthday, pick up baked goods for Christmas Eve
Wednesday-DD39’s house for dinner and festivities
Thursday-Christmas brunch
Friday-DD32 off
Saturday-
Sunday-

Weekly House Blessing-
Extra stuff-


Accomplishments
-knee and stretching exercises
-breakfast for dog and me
-dress and pick up bedroom
-meds and temp for DD32
-start laundry
-walk outside
-Amazon order
-pick up Little Bit
-breakfast for Little Bit
-reboot laundry
-work on ornaments Little Bit is making

[trissie]

oh, helia, people are sure not making it easy for ya! Definitely agree that people who want to be hosted on their terms should make their own beds if they want to lay in them!
I bet Little Bit is all excited about Christmas, isn't she, L.Ann?


TaDas
- midday routine
- fridge clean-up
- clean twins' room
- clean DS13's room
- clean master bathroom
- colors flipped to dryer
- running a load of curtains from twins' room

ToDos
- 30 minutes upstairs
- afternoon routine
- bake cheddar cookies with DBD (she wants to gift them to her dad)

Braindump
routines
- evening routine
food
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- freezer cooking
organization
- update land contract
- rework contract with DS14's therapist
- have kids check and empty backpacks (no forgotten food found on Jan 4)
- DBD's speech therapy
- 15 on filing
cleaning
- clean DBD's room
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up office
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
laundry
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading
Christmas preps
- decorate gingerbread cookies - even after yesterday's decorating session, there's still more to go!
- check gift list, print vouchers, last minute wrapping?
- holiday menu and shopping list
- more Christmas baking if anything seems interesting? all family favourites are done
House&Holidays - I kinda really should do something about it
- week 1 deep cleaning - office
- week 3 deep cleaning - DBD's room
- week 6 deep cleaning - twins' room
- week 9 deep cleaning - living room
- week 10 deep cleaning - kitchen
- week 11 deep cleaning - pantry
- week 13 deep cleaning - storage spaces
- week 14 deep cleaning - public spaces
- week 3 Christmas tasks
- week 4 Christmas tasks
- week 5 Christmas tasks
- week 6 Christmas tasks
- week 7 Christmas tasks
- week 8 Christmas tasks
- week 9 Christmas tasks
- week 10 Christmas tasks
- week 11 Christmas tasks
- week 12 Christmas tasks
- week 13 Christmas tasks
- week 14 Christmas tasks
- week 15 Christmas tasks
- week 16 Christmas tasks
- week 17 Christmas tasks

[helia]

What a great activity to do with Little Bit, L Ann.
You're getting lots done, trissie. Are you WFH today?

Next:
- some qt
- back exercises
- s2s and self care

Later:
- payroll: update gradelink
- payroll: plan a bit of a review - some of the trickier points
- lights: finish folding and p/a
- clear cedar chest
- s2s and self care
- back exercises
- WF: order seafood + pick up a few items
- lunch
- 1-1:40 payroll: instructor meeting
- 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AAS D13
- go for a short jog - 1 mile, or more if I feel like it
- Memorial thank yous progress
- dinner: chicken cacciatore, rice, salad
- after dinner clean up
- duolingo
- update health apps
- put away puzzle on back table
- payroll: grade final exams
- read

TaDas!
- up; weighed self - same as yesterday
- unloaded dw
- email deletions + weather website
- ordered gingerbread man cookie cutters
- ordered last shoe gift for J12yo
- finished reclaiming the kitchen
- pest control guy here
- chimney sweeps have shown up - still here; they found some cracks in our flu
- checked the paella recipe and made a list
- payroll: all practice exams turned in have been graded
- payroll: printed out the exam