Caroling Saturday

[Lady Maverick]

Bob & helper went through the inspection list and we discussed a couple other small projects I want done. Bob showed me his handwritten long list of construction jobs he has committed to do and ask "Where do you want me to put you on this list?". I smiled told him that we are not in trouble with any of the repairs and they can all wait until he has time to get to us. At first Bob told us it would probably be 6 week wait for our turn to come, but after looking at the list of quick/small repairs needed he thinks he can fit us in during the upcoming week or so while waiting on other project to dry.

We also got the names and contact for 2 other people/companies Bob recommends for Hot tub repair and HVAC cleaning. Bob is going to track down someone that might do us a TV tower for antenna. The light at the end of this "moving tunnel" seems to be getting dimmer instead of brighter. Surely we will eventually get to the end of it!

LO wants to sit in Santa lap so that item didn't get marked off due to lack of interest.

B: Sausage patties, egg, cheese biscuits for the guys. I just did egg, sausage patty & yogurt/blueberries
L: Goulash with pasta on the side so the meat/vegetables can be eaten alone to satisfy my desire for a lower carb meal
D: Left overs.

[Dove]

Good Morning! Having my tea & SHE break

Yesterday dh & I did our annual mall walk. We like to soak in the Christmas music, lights & decorations, plus enjoy a little bit of hustle & bustle without worrying about standing in any lines. We got in a great walk, too, as this mall is three stories & we walked all over the whole thing. We watched some kids getting on (& refusing to get on ) Santa's lap from the second story balcony. So cute to see, especially one little girl who was so excited to see Santa.

Our gift shopping is done, but I couldn't resist the sparkly allure of an accessory shop & bought two hair combs for myself. I told the saleswoman I really wanted one their crystal chandeliers . So pretty. We also bought some summer sausage from a H ickory F arms kiosk.

I turned the heat on in the attic & am waiting for it to warm up so I can wrap presents. Dh are done, but I need to wrap his stocking gifts plus gifts for d nieces & dnephews. I'll bring up some Christmas music to enjoy, & hopefully dcat will join me as he does every year. I keep a chair pillow on the end of the table for him to lay on.

Hi, Bittersweet! It's so good to see you

Hi Lady M, I'm glad you got to visit family yesterday.

Hi Blessed, how nice that both your dgirls are home!

Hi MT, thanks for mentioning dinner & reminding me to think of something for ours tonight. Hmmm, dh said the other day he would like tacos soon, so I'll thaw some ground beef as soon as I get off the computer.

Hi Harmony, it should be a work day here, too, but I'm not officially saying it will be. If I can clear off several surfaces before dark I'll be happy, & leave the cleaning for Monday.

Hi Nancy, hope you feel terrific after sleeping in today.

Time to get moving. Waving ~~~ to everyone, & all who stop by later. Hope you are having a wonderful day!

[blessedw2]

waving at you too dove...

[Lilac]

Good morning one and all!

I have finished the cards and need to go mail them. After that I need to wrap my gifts.

Dd2 and her family have overnight company coming. It is her dh's nephew, who is a week older than him and his family that includes a wife and 3 boys. Tomorrow will be their Christmas celebration at her dmil's. Monday dd2, dgd18 and her boyfriend are doing the 700+ mile round trip in one day to pick up the Christmas puppy. So it will be Tuesday before she can have time to wrap gifts. I think I will tackle that project when my gifts are wrapped. I am so ready to reclaim the Raggedy Ann bedroom. It has all of dd2's gifts, mine and dd1's gifts.

Dd2 had a nice family birthday party, Thursday night for dgs who is 9 today. The boys are now with their dad. They are travelling to Oklahoma City tomorrow to attend the NBA Thunder game. The boys are excited.

Dd2 got the boys an XBOX ONE for Christmas. To throw them off, she bought dgs9 a wii game. When he opened it he looked at her and thanked her. Then he looked at dgs10 and they both looked disappointed. So they will be really surprised on Christmas afternoon when they get home and their family opens their gifts.

LadyM, I am so glad you were able to travel and celebrate Christmas with your kids and grandkids.

MT, are your kids and grandkids flying in before or after Christmas to celebrate your 50th Anniversary with you? This will be a special family reunion for all of you. It sounds like you really have everything organized and food in freezer, ready to go. Now you can just enjoy the time together.

Better head to the PO.

[Twins' Mom]

I slept in until 10 a.m. this morning. DH was up and went to hospital to visit a friend who had surgery yesterday. In honor of "Caroling day" I"m listening to the Hanukkah playlist from last night at temple. Today is a day of rest!

Hanukkah dinner last night I think exceeded expectations, as related to me via email this morning by the busybody who was such a pain on Wednesday. I think everyone had a good time but it was still a lot of work. I never sat down to eat but brought a box home. Ironically, the success of this format may have doomed what dh used to do, which was to gather a man-crew and cook latkes all afternoon for the dinner at temple. He's feeling somewhat "cast aside" because that format was rejected (over concerns two years ago that latke cooking at the temple made too much a mess.)

We have a very large holiday party this evening but plan to show up early and leave on the early side. Tomorrow night, the four of us are invited to a friend's for brisket and latkes for dinner.

For brunch I had the last two eggs in the house, scrambled with mushrooms, onions, lox and spinach. Yummy!

[helia]

Hello all! I guess I haven't been here yet. Giggling at LadyM's item #7.

Well, this has been a laid back day so far. It is almost noon and I have..
- gotten up
- checked emails
- responded to 2 emails re: moms group child care for winter; 1 email to child care coordinator, 1 to our treasurer
- discussion with dh re: gifts and finances. We will buy each of the kids bigger gifts. Dh has already ordered a Wacom for dd19. **ssshhhhhh* Don't tell her! Dd16 hasn't requested anything large, but I already have several gifts for her. We'll probably give her $$ to spend at JoAnn's Fabric Store.
- sat with family while they ate brunch
- helped clean up the kitchen
- fixed myself some soup.
- ordered a small gift for both ds and dd16

Later:
- bunny care for the bunny of dfriend
- Target run; it may be a zoo. . .but I do need cat food. 2 gifts I was going to buy I just ordered instead.
- go see the Hobbit at 4:30 w/ dh and ds. We've heard it's not the best film and are already slightly peeved that (1) these films depart from the book so radically and (2) one book was split into 3 films. But, we are big Tolkien fans (especially ds and I and dd16, but she's seeing it tomorrow w/ friends) and will see it anyway.
- exercise
- out to dinner with dh

Now: work on a.m. routine

[lucylee]

How appropriate! We aren't GOING caroling, but I'm sure we'll HEAR some carols... we're going to the Grand Ole Opry, and will probably catch another show where some friends are playing afterwards. So... will cuop later.

[BookSaver]

Hello, villagers ~
The day so far:
* Reading/deleting Emails
* Figuring out what still needs to be done before Christmas Eve
* Doing laundry
* Despairing over the mess in the dining room
* Writing/posting epic sagas for our Creative Home threads

Must s2s before DH gets up. BRB.

[blessedw2]

have fun d helia at the movies. My dad's sailboat was called the Earendil from Tolkien

d twins I am so happy last night was wonderful... now next year the word is NO for being the head of it. sorry your dh was sad about the latkes making being called off

hi d book... I am doing laundry with you

d lucy have fun!

Hi dlilac glad there was a nice birthday party

ran to stores and back ... dd older isn't well and dd younger is beat - so I am into finishing what I have to.

[BookSaver]

Well, so much for BRB.
I grabbed a quick shower, but then discovered that the clothes in the washer did not get clean. The washer is finally dying. I thought it was going several years ago but it has been limping along. Now it appears that the agitator motor doesn't always start turning when it should. I ran that load through another cycle and it seems to have worked, but I will need to keep a close eye on the machine from now on, and start researching new ones.

I don't remember exactly when we bought this washer/dryer set, but we moved them from our first house and we've been here 21 years so I'm guessing 26-27 years old? I hate to give them up, I know current models do not promise to last anywhere near that long.

However, this will be the opportunity to get a set that will be much more energy-efficient. I need to ask younger DSis if she still likes her front-loading washer after 2 years, or if she wishes she had gotten a top-loader.

I needed to mend some jeans before I could put them on. It's so nice to have the sewing machine set up to be able to do a quick repair right away.

I think DH is ready to go out for lunch now, so BBL.