FINAL FRIDAY -NOT

[Nancy]

EN Chili sounds good as my throat is a bit sore. I've stocked up on chili but it was 52* here yesterday afternoon & sunny not really chili weather. I cleaned the under the roost part of the chicken pen w/ dgds help she got to use her new toy rake & hoe that was actually quite functional.

My b.s. is great today yea! Feeling a little rough so having some hot cocoa and it is soothing!

I've enjoyed reading your posts today every one!

Chicken news: one green egg yesterday was all we got. I saw the two hens chase neighbors cat off two times yesterday. they are turning in to good guard chickens. Today h. came in to tell me before he left for work one hen was doing the egg call and a roo was crowing! [So we may already have one egg this morning.] One of the new chickens has been digging for bugs a bit too aggressively and dug up a bulb after filling in the same hole by the gate every day since Sat. I put a piece of wood for the fire pit over that spot so they will have to dig elsewhere.

[BookSaver]

I need to figure out a different outfit for tonight if we end up going to DMIL's. Need to dress for warmth in pants instead of a pretty party skirt.

Emptynester ~ Yes, it was bad here in Iowa, too. DOT told everyone to stay off the roads, but of course some people still have to go out (police, hospital and utility workers, etc.), and some are under the impression that they can drive through anything (fools!). I'm hearing accident reports including a couple of deaths.

DH's company told everyone to stay home, and he would have anyway because he saw how bad it was when he shoveled a path to his car.

The snow here was wet and heavy, thus the high winds brought down branches, trees, and power lines. Also visibility on the highways went to zero. I was very happy to stay home. Winds today are still a problem, but so far the electricity seems to be stable.

I will try to go to the post office mid-afternoon. I don't think I need to attempt to go anywhere else today.

Will wait to get groceries for Christmas Eve either tomorrow or Sunday. I hate to fight the weekend crowds, but no way am I brave/dumb enough to drive that far today.

[Twins' Mom]

Back with groceries, got to liquor store and bank also so that's done. I've unloaded all the groceries and put away perishables. Next to shape the challah to start rise.

[OKay]

Good Morning!

We are having a lazy start today. Simply wonderful! DMIL and DAunt dropped by the house before 9am and found LO still in his PJ's.

This morning I cooked Shakshouka for the first time. DH declared it a keeper so i'll put it on the breakfast menu rotation.

Tomorrow will be Christmas celebration #4 of the season so i need to get prepared for it. I wish I was *O* like some of you and have all the holiday details planned out ahead of time, but always seem to be flying by the seat of my pants. I seem to just barely manage to make it from one celebration to the next because the time/place/details don't come together until the last moment. I usually try to ask ahead of time, but usually don't receive answers back because everyone else seems to be juggling a full schedule. The only exception to this chaotic way of celebrating is DMIL yearly breakfast celebration on Christmas morning. That ALWAYS happens with the same time/place/menu/family/etc.

BBL

[blessedw2]

lol!!! I love that: Final Friday - Not... so so funny.

well good morning SHE world!!!

There was sunshine... first time in a week!!!! beautiful
hoping tomorrow is nice as we are hopefully seeing the Christmas Carol.
My dd said Madison got 19" of snow. I am so jealous.

today is room to room, and tons of laundry day.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Little progress to report here. Am considering having a soda to supercharge myself into action.

Dh shoveled. I took good advantage of his time out of earshot and got one of his presents finished. (It was a phone call I had to make without him knowing.)

Phoned re: my senior friend. Phones are still out where she's staying so I called her sons' store (two sons and a ddil run the general store in that village) and their phones are working. All is well with her, the surgery was a success. She is not being left alone since the phones are out so she couldn't call for help if she had to.

I'm trying to get the Christmas cards up but keep getting distracted. There's also an unexpected present for me sitting on the table, waiting to be opened. When we went to pick up the mail yesterday there was a parcel pickup notice and I figured it must be for dh since I wasn't expecting anything. But it was for ME!!!!

I'm saving it, trying to use it as a reward after I get some work done. Maybe I'll do 3 15s and then spend 15 enjoying the present.

[Twins' Mom]

DD has not arisen from her slumber yet so I'm waiting to see what happens w the movie. I was wanting to take ddogs for a walk but outside temp is still in the thirties with wind blowing like crazy.

I don't know what I am going to do with all the groceries. This pantry is so small that I had run out of space before this load of groceries. Of course, I've been careful about buying fewer multiples since the store is so close and dkids don't exactly understand the concept.

Challah is rising over a heating pad. I should take ddogs now if I'm going to get them out.

[Twins' Mom]

Hi Kally!

Ddogs walked, dd not up yet. Movie starts in less than an hour and it's probably 15 minutes away so I'm counting down. Truth to be known, I'd rather not go today but want to indulge dd. But if it's not important enough to get up, then I'm not getting her up.

I'm going to measure and look around house for anything that could stretch the pantry....

[Kally]

Hi, Twins'! I see you braved the elements to walk the dogs. What we won't do for our critters!!

Kathryn, have you opened your present yet??? I love unexpected presents.

OKay, you are the best fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person I've ever heard of! You make it seem like you had it figured out all along.

MT, your sweet potatoes sound good. I'm not a fan of the marshmallow version either.

Booksaver, I hope you have a safe, uneventful trip to your MIL's, if you decide to go. The uncertainty of travel is the worst part about winter IMO, and I could write a book about what I don't like about winter.

I sort of have my days and nights turned around right now. I can't get to sleep at bedtime (whenever that is), and then I don't want to get up until the day is half gone. Makes it rather hard to get anything accomplished.

Guess I really should come up with a PODA or something......

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Kally: I did open my present!

But first I got all the cards up so that cleared off 1/3 of the kitchen table. I also started a load of laundry, and had dh bring down the two other loads ready to go. I put the living room duvet back into its cover (I had washed them and the other living area blankets after ds was ill in case there were lingering germs) and vacuum and dusted the bedroom level.

I have a big TA-DA! to report. Last week, in taking off a new necklace with a stiff clasp, I managed to pull off the clasp end (not the loop it goes into.) At first I thought it was just a matter of re-attaching the clasp to the chain but then discovered the clasp was missing. A quick on-the-floor look didn't yield any joy. Since I didn't discover the missing clasp until a day or more later, if it had been caught in my clothes, the clasp could be anywhere I had been the rest of that day (I had taken off at my nap time.)

Today I put an old pantyhose over the end of my vacuum hose and carefully went over the area in front of my bureau. No luck. Then I pulled out the bottom drawers and did under the bureau, concentrating on the areas where the scroll work would allow the clasp to bounce under. Success!!!

So I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

I took an extra 15 minutes to do all that (dh kept resetting the oven timer for me since I seldom bother with my portable timers) and then I opened up my present.

It is very sweet. It is healthy candy that I'll be able enjoy, guilt-free. And something I've never seen in Canada but then again, I never went looking for it before.

Now it is lunch time. I had made up soup for my dinner last night (lighter dinner since I had been out at lunch) so my lunch will be easy and tasty.