Throw-back Thursday!

[Harmony]

Hello everybody.

LadyM, I'm never bored reading your long lists! Very motivating.

My list of to do's is long. Tada's not so long. Today I got up and made my bed and managed several phone calls. Ordered Rx's for DH who is close to being out soon. I looked up directions and new address for a company who has moved. I wonder if their building was damaged in the hurricane. Everything down here is just in disarray. I think I found them but DH was lost trying to find their building. I don't know what he's out doing, been gone all morning but got out before taking his Rx's. He really shouldn't be working at all these days. He can't remember enough to be safe, I fear. I've sent several messages to his phone but they go to voice mail. We are going to have to have a talk. Not that he listens much...

Anyway, I had a rough night. Started getting very cold in the night and it wasn't unusually cold in the house. I think I must have had infection inside where my discomfort has been. Don't want to call dr. for antibiotic because it's not so long ago I was on a 10-day regimen for my tooth. Pulled up my comforter on top of the sheet and throw I usually use and never got too hot. Feeling better this morning, think maybe this whole thing has passed. Sure has left me feeling washed out.

Don't have the energy to start much of anything else around here. I'll see how the day goes later on.

Harriet, sorry the menu doesn't seem to include you. I know we feel a bit slighted when people don't consider the needs of everybody they've invited. I've been to a meeting-with-snack when the snack was chock full of nuts. Couple times. I would just do what you're considering, take whatever you would like to eat with a bit extra in case anybody wants to try it. Right now I'm trying to do low carb and no sugar. Lunch at the bingo didn't fit. I tried to fill up the big part of the divided dish with salad and get a little of the noodle stuff in the small section and totally confused the server.

[Twins' Mom]

Done. I can do it, just have to set my mind to it somehow. I allowed myself a small break.

This time:
-go upstairs and find pen that lives in my planner
-reboot laundry (that load finished okay with no issues)
-straighten up our bedroom
-pack up second package
-figure out supper. I'm going to the store so can get what I need instead of thawing?

Harmony, I hope you are getting better soon! This has been such a long process!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Dec. memories:
Was baking frosted Christmas sugar cookies for lh when he was in collage he at the whole plate on the way bc he did not want roommates to eat them they were his he said.

LoL! I completely identify with your lh! The cookies were for him!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I just checked and I do need mailing labels.

The address book spreadsheet is up to date so now I have to decide whether to drive to the store to get the labels, or wait until tomorrow. Website shows they have 3 in stock. I think I'll go, if only to get out of the apartment. I've been at my computer all morning.

[Nancy]

ty for comments on the post I wrote.

I have hung up long sleeved shirts in my bedroom.
I picked up the bathroom.
Sorted and purged some planners as I chatted with my dsis on the phone.
Cooked my bfast a bit early.
Bs is better now yea!

I rarely bake cookies now.

[MysteryWoman]

Hello, all!

My biggest Christmas memories are of when DD was born. (Her birthday’s the 20th.) So many things! I remember sitting in bed in the hospital room with a stack of catalogs, ordering things for express shipping. We took a picture of DD lying down on top of some wrapping paper, wearing a red sleeper and a Santa hat and sent it out as a combination Christmas card/birth announcement. Although we could have used the Christmas stocking bunting and red and white crocheted cap the hospital gave us… I wonder why we didn’t? I guess we had the Santa outfit planned already.

Have been pretty worthless today. I need to go down and start a load of wash and bring yesterday’s up from the dryer. I have towels in there I need to remake the bathroom. Need to order some presents; that will have to wait till tonight, though, when I can grill DC. If I can get the wash and bathroom done, I will feel like I have accomplished something.

[Twins' Mom]

Coming back through.

Our supper will be stuffed peppers from the freezer, and I think they have enough cauliflower rice in the container so I don't need to fix any. I can add a green veggie, salad or green beans.

I could have spent longer on MBR straighten up but I also folded a load of laundry there so I'm calling it enough.

I'm heading out now. Errand at mall (ugh!) drop offs at the UPS store, and groceries. Dh has a meeting but will be home for supper by 7 so I can start prep late anyway.

[Lady Maverick]

My Throw-back Thursday holiday memory.
DH and I were teenagers when we had our first child. Money was tight but we managed to have enough to buy a Green Machine when it when on the Blue Light special at K-Mart. We brought the prized Green Machine home and hid the big box until Christmas Eve. After putting kids to bed then DH and I started what we thought would be a quick job to assemble the Green Machine. The instructions were lacking (to say the least) and we were both exhausted before we started, but it had to be done. We stayed up most of the night putting that *)#&)@$& Green Machine together. It was NOT a fun time but now it is one of our most referred to memories. We use that experience to judge everything else.....aka....this was hard, but it wasn't as bad as putting together that Green Machine!

I made a mishmash of dishes for lunch. I started cooking a Mexican type of meal (stuffed tortillas, chili, Spanish rice) but while cooking that I decided that it was too high carb for me. I wanted something simpler, so I also made a stir fry using shrimp with mixed vegetables.

DS14 scored big time on winter clothes. The youth director offered DS14 a collection of his hunting clothes for $100. We had no idea what would be included but DS14 is going on a fishing trip this weekend and needs some extra warm clothing, so we decided to buy the clothes sight unseen. It felt like opening gifts on Christmas morning as DS14 kept pulling winter wear out of the bag. Everything was high quality ($$$$) and in great condition.

[Harriet]

Elizabeth is the one who needed (IMHO) the warm-office-clothes ideas, blessed. But then, who doesn't!

Dee, Millet Loaf is a way to make a whole grain taste savory, because millet takes on flavors of spices better than other grains. Also, if you can get it to "stand up" well, it looks and slices like a traditional meat loaf. It's a nice offering for any guests who are vegetarian, refrigerates well for next day.

The basic recipe I like is from the chef who edited the book, Forks Over Knives. But it is also on the net here. We like less thyme and garlic, but that's personal preference. I season with a salt substitute.

As you can tell, people comment that they like it except they wish it would stand up better, and they offer different ideas. I do two things: I add 1/4 to 1/2 cup oatmeal (rolled or instant) before baking, a suggestion from one of the chef's books, I think. But also, I just bake it in an attractive white corning ware loaf pan , forming it so it's a little "domed" on top, and serve from that, slicing when I set it on the table. So, it stays pretty and servable. I also take the chef's instruction, "immediately", very seriously - he says millet will be binding if it's mixed and put in a pan right away.

My mother's sweet and sour meatloaf sauce: 2 T vinegar to 2 T brown sugar mixed into 1 cup of tomato sauce. TaDa. That warm color of brown sugar makes mine look more appetizing than the photo.
I figure with the sugar being part of the whole loaf, it's not a problem. Others might not want even that much, though.

The delivery vans are getting insistent here. It is definitely time to switch from cards to gift wrapping.

LadyM, the only Green Machine I can remember from that time period was a rotating compost tumbler I used to wish for but could never afford. Now the words refer to so many things. Was this something for the children?

[Ramblinrose]

Been out and abt and have finish much of my shopping. Order two things for my ddil so will wrap them when they arrive.

Usually I send all my great niece, nephews and their partners Starbucks gift cards for Cmas. However when I was home everyone asked if I had found my moms oatmeal raisin cookie recipe which they all love. Said I would need to look, but had already found it.

So today I bought a bunch of Christmas boxes and plan on filling them with my moms cookies and a card that’s says This is a Heavenly cookie delivery… love Granny

One of my favorite Christmas stories was one that I told at my moms service. She was in her mid 80’s and loved to knit. She had just made a very special scarf to go with her outfit. The wool was
Lightweight and sparkly. She and I were going to midnight mass and as always she was dressed to the nines. She was so excited about how she looked and had taken great care with her hair and makeup. Then with a big smile she asked me how she looked.

I took one look at her and had to belly laugh… I said you look marvelous darling, but you might want to put your teeth in