FINAL FRIDAY -NOT

[OKay]

I have discovered that braiding bread dough is harder than it looks! I french braid my hair several times a week and assumed any braiding would be easy. NOPE! Not true! I told DH there was definitely a learning curve to braiding bread and I'm on the bottom end of the curve. Hopefully the taste of the fresh baked bread will make up for the lopsided uneven braids. I'll put the egg wash on it in 15 minutes then put into the oven. Anticipating the smell of baking bread filing the house....

Lunch was a YOYO with a variety of left-overs to choose from......spaghetti, carrot/raisin salad, pinto beans, brisket, coleslaw, salad, cornbread,

[Harriet]

It is Grand Central Station here.

In and out so far today,
dstepson and friend to work on projects.
Dd14's friend, her mother and her cousin the pro photographer to get photos of the two girls.
Ds27's family to drop off presents.

It was flattering that the photographer chose my tree as one background for the girls. She had taken them to several outdoor venues so they are all cold. She dressed them in white turtlenecks and colorful scarves. I was somewhat bewildered by all this, but it is something dd's friend's family really wanted to do, both as a present for their daughter and to support their niece's business.

[Kally]

Elly, I hope your headache goes away quickly!

Harriet, my dmother is doing well, thanks for asking. We all feel so thankful and blessed to still have her in our lives. The oncologist recommended no further treatment for her colon cancer. He told her that even if she were 50 years old (she's 93), he would not recommend treatment because the cancer was slow-growing, contained, and removed. He basically gave her a clean bill of health. Best news ever!!! She is enjoying the Christmas season, loves the attention from her children, grandchildren, and great-grands.

I hope you feel better soon, Ivy.

Re: circadian rhythms - I am naturally (anyway that's what I tell myself) a "night person", & it requires effort on my part to change that, only to have it "undone" in one day if I stay up too late. I'm also guilty of having the TV & computer on too late at night. I know that does not help. Guess I just lack the motivation to do anything about it except complain. The problem is I really, really like being up late. Always have..... It's just that right now, I've taken it to extremes & am paying for it. Just doesn't mesh well with the real world unless one works the night shift.....

[ellyphant]

Kally, that is wonderful news about your mother. I'm a natural night-owl, too. When I'm here alone, I like nothing better than to watch old black and white movies 'til 4am! I don't do it too often, but did indulge myself last week when DH was away for a few nights.

My headache is gone, thanks to ibuprofen. We are out of tylenol, will add that to the shopping (list)!

Okay, I could definitely make up a good plate for lunch from those leftovers!

Harriet, thank you for those sweet words. Bet you and DD will love the professional photos.

Have pulled myself together, realizing that whatever I cook for the holidays will be fine and no one will starve here. House will not be perfect, but family will be welcomed and warm and together and that is enough!

[BookSaver]

Hello again ~

I went up to take a nap since I slept so poorly last night. When I came back down, the machine had a message from DSisIL that the party has been postponed, maybe until Sunday.

That takes away the urgency for needing to shovel the driveway so I can get my car out.

I knew I couldn't shovel snow on an empty stomach, so cooked and ate lunch. Then I thought, "I'm still cold, I'll have some hot chocolate before I go out to shovel."

Then I caught up on Email and FB. Now I'm looking around at what else I can do to procrastinate going out into the cold. Wind chill is around 3 to 5 degrees, which is still above zero but brrrr ugh whine ....

The temptation, of course, is to skip the shoveling because I don't actually HAVE to go to the post office. That deadline was that DMIL's gift should be there, but if we aren't seeing her tonight, then it doesn't matter.

Problem being that even if I wait until tomorrow ... I will still have to shovel.

Right, I will have a cup of hot coffee, and then I will pull on my warm clothes and my big girl boots, and go outside.

[Twins' Mom]

If I were not already committed to getting to temple tonight, I would be backing out. I am cold and the wind is just howling here and I don't want to even leave the house!

Of course, we're talking temp in the 30s maybe, and winds of maybe 25 mph? Not like some of you are having, but I am cold!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Twins our temps are just below freezing right now and the wind is the same as yours. Except we have 6-8" on the ground and it is still coming down.

I'm just enjoyed several of my sweets. They are very addictive. Apparently they aren't guilt-free (that was my translation), they are virtuous. So they are a good match for me, since I'm virtuous too (except for gluttony!)

We walked to the general store and back again, delivering Christmas cards along the way. I'm exhausted. And our outer clothing is soaked.

I FOUND MY GRIPPERS!

They were, as usual, the last place I looked! Except, to be truthful, I wasn't looking for them any longer, I had given up and was putting on my walking snow boots (as opposed to errand snow boots with heels or my hiking boots which are ok in winter but are low like runners so no good in deep snow like today.) Anyway, the grippers were already attached to them. I put them on the last time I used them, back in November. We haven't had major snow since then so I hadn't need my walking snow boots.

I'm very relieved since these ones can be worn inside and won't scratch floors badly so I don't have to sit down outside to put them on and can walk into the general store with them on.

I'm not sure what my next challenge for today will be. I'm debating a nap. I'd love to have pizza tonight but the driving is still awful so it isn't really an option. Apparently, dh is going out tonight to visit his friend that lives in the same village as the pizza shop but I'm not going so we'd have to make two trips.

[Elizabeth]

It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!

I have much to do and pack in preparation for leaving for Alabama tomorrow. So much that I am not going to type out a list, it would be long and boring. I do have a list in my pocket, so nothing will be forgotten. I still need to do two errands: get cat food and litter and get something to put over my hose so it does not freeze. Lunch with friends did not happen, so I had lunch with a book.

I may not check in from Alabama, so I will give everyone a "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" now.

[blessedw2]

joyeux Noel dear Elizabeth! safe travels

I am lacking focus (again lol) I think I need to do the dog area
dd younger loved her room with the lights.

[DeeClutter]

LOL ,Helia! Well the last Friday of the world it's NOT, not even the last Friday or December or even of 2012. However, it IS the final Friday BEFORE Christmas. Guess, since the world didn't end, I should maybe get ready for Christmas here? Just kidding -just have a few packages to wrap.

We thorougly enjoyed "Jonah", did you, Ellyphant? We went to see "Adam & Eve" a few years back too. They always put on a fabulous production.

I came in the office to escape! Dsonil is watching TV in the living room, gd14 had her radio cranked (dsil asked her to turn it down or shut her door). However the door shutting has no effect on sound here in the office (only a wall between). DH is in our room watching the news for the umpteenth time and loud. I literally put noise reducers in my ears for a while. (C al gon take me away..........)

DD has a retirement party after she finished work at 6. So don't expect her much before 9.

Not sure how much snow they're getting up home. Know the winds were quite high and there will be several inches of snow to boot. But I don't think anything like Kathryn has.