Hi Everyone! Today is Saturday, December 12th (2020 - but who doesn't know that?) Anyway, I'm supposed to be baking Christmas cookies to send out, but have hit a snag... our hot water heater took this day to die... yes, and on a Saturday to boot!
I did manage to get one batch of my home-made nutty granola made before DH brought me the news. It's not that I can't bake... but I can't clean up without any hot water.
And we shouldn't complain too much as we knew this day was coming. We have needed a new hot water heater for a while and have been putting it off. So... despite the inconvenience, it's not such a tragedy, we will simply have to postpone the baking and mailing for a few days (and no hot showers!).
We did mail off 2 packages of goodies Thursday. So only about 4 more to go. And we received 2 Christmas packages from DH's brothers this week. One was a box full of chocolate goodies... dark chocolate covered cashews, a mix of regular, dark, and white chocolate smores, hot chocolate mix, etc. (love these!) and the other was several bags of Angelo Brocato's Italian seed cookies. (love these too!). Despite it all... life is good.
As I've mentioned before, I don't watch the news much anymore... sometimes I put it on just to get the weather info... and once they start talking about politics, OFF IT GOES!
I do listen to the Covid statistics... and that hasn't been too encouraging (even with the vaccines coming out). The numbers of cases and deaths keep rising, but this can't be unexpected - not with Thanksgiving gatherings just over 2 weeks ago and Christmas shopping and parties starting.
I do believe that most people are being sensible and following the guidelines (sacrificing their get-together with family and friends this year for the greater good) but those who refuse to do so make it difficult... and it's obviously counter productive because as the numbers increase, the chance of things being closed and locked down go up.
OK... enough of that.
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| with her new puppy |
Our youngest grandchild turned 8 recently. 8!! I can't believe she is 8 already. Where do the years go? And due to Covid, we've hardly seen her this year at all...
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| At home |
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| in class |
If all goes well, we've got a lot of 'catching up' to do in 2021...
Going to close this with one of my all time favorite Christmas songs song by Pentatonix, "Mary, did you know?" (Skip ads) Since I couldn't bake this afternoon, I spent part of the afternoon lying on the sofa by the fireplace listening to this... and other Pentatonix songs.
Wishing you a quiet safe healthy weekend at home... with pleasant memories of good times, good friends, and past Christmases that will come again when this crisis is over. These are the things that really matter... that we keep each other safe so we can share these times again.
Hugs (virtual),
Rian
Music lifts the spirits. Since I have taken up the Ukulele I find it makes me feel happier. sounds silly but is true. Doesn't mean anyone would want to hear it though, lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Funny you should mention that, Briony. With this 'sheltering at home' business, we each have our own hobbies to keep us busy. Yesterday I was sitting by the fire and could hear strumming... figured it was DH as he strums on his guitar, but getting up I saw him in the den watching football... and then realized that the strumming was coming from upstairs... and it was our grandson strumming on his Ukulele! I like the sound!
DeleteGood luck with the water heater replacement. We certainly can't do without that! My tank will be 11 years old in March, but it's a rental from our utility company, so when it goes, it will be easy enough (I hope) to get another. (That's why I chose to keep renting, even though it does cost more in the long run. The convenience, for me, being on my own and without a vehicle, outweighs the cost.)
ReplyDeleteI was watching an evening current affairs program on Ontario's public broadcasting station (TVO) and the host was talking with Toronto's public health officer as well as the health officer in the Peel Region (both in the "red" zone right now). Apparently during the first wave, 80% of Canadians were compliant with regulations; now during this more severe second wave, that has declined to 60%. People are tired and fed up of it all, but as a TV host said a month or two ago, better to be sick of COVID than sick WITH it.
Anyway, enjoy your holiday preparations regardless of the current situation, and stay safe and well.
Thanks, Kim. They are supposed to come tomorrow and replace our water heater (fingers crossed). I have been boiling big pots of water on the stove to wash dishes, pots, and flatware as needed - not that difficult, just takes time I'd rather be working on something else.
DeleteSo much catching up to do!
ReplyDeleteI guess in some ways we're always trying to 'catch up'... on something or other.
DeleteThe numbers really are getting scary and I hope people are a little better about gathering for Christmas than some were for Thanksgiving. Like you said, this can hopefully be made up in 2021,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cuties your grand is and what an adorable puppy. She sure looks happy.
She is a great kid... and does love that puppy.
DeleteHopefully you'll be able to get your water heater replaced quickly. Today is baking and decorating cookies day here, so far the water heater has been doing just fine. :)
ReplyDeleteI love to listen to Christmas music while I bake, I'll take this link and give it try too.
Everything you've said about Covid-19 I agree with, it's sad that some people seem to think they're somehow immune.
Take care, stay well!
Yes, listening to Christmas music while baking (or lying on the sofa in front of the fireplace) is always comforting. I'm amazed at the sounds of Pentatonix when they sing Mary, did you know... and also Hallelujah and the sound of silence...
DeleteComing into your home and visiting during the holidays makes me smile, and adds a tremendous amount of joy as well. I am sorry to hear about your heater, and I hope it is able to be fixed quickly. Sending you back some virtual hugs. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the virtual hugs, DJan. I'm in withdrawal over hugs these days. Grand daughter came by with my son to pick up some things the other day (all of us masked) and I got an actual hug from her on the front porch! It will have to last me a while.
DeleteGood luck getting a new hot water heater for Christmas. We once had out wonderful life long washer/dryer/dishwasher guy come put in a new dishwasher the day before Thanksgiving because we would have a housefull the next day.
ReplyDeleteDo you sometimes wonder, Joanne, if appliances have a sense of humor? We once had our side by side refrigerator go out the day before my son's wedding reception at the house. (He got married in Costa Rica and we had a reception here when they returned)
DeleteI asked google for some Christmas music this afternoon ... a new way to access traditional songs. Hope you get your h/w back asap!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom. Yes, I love being able to google almost any song I want to hear... and in so doing, learn that the lyrics aren't always what I thought they were. Interesting.
DeleteWater heaters always seem to have a leak or break down on weekends. Good luck in getting it fixed/replaced quickly on Monday. Baking should not be interrupted as there is a rhythm to setting things up and keeping the cookie baking going.
ReplyDeleteHow true. My rhythm has been interrupted... but we will get on with it soon. They are here now (Monday) replacing it. Hopefully all goes well. Hope you are having a safe healthy holiday!
Deletei LOVE pentatonix, i did not know they made a christmas album. they have amazing voices, i have loved them since i heard them "sing the sound of silence"!!!
ReplyDeletebummer about the water heater BUT it is 2020, the year that everything goes wrong!!!
"the sound of silence" by Pentatonix is one of my favorites too, Debbie. They have amazing voices.
DeleteWater heaters always seem to die at the most inconvenient time, it makes us grateful to return to endless streaming hot water once they are fixed.
ReplyDeleteYour cookies sound delicious, and so generous of you to share.
What a precious little granddaughter, she's absolutely adorable.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Healthy New Year, dear friend.
Hugs,
Jo
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Yes, it does make us grateful for hot water when it's taken from us, same goes for eating out these days and Starbucks! I will be so grateful to have those little conveniences back one day. Merry Christmas Jo... stay safe!
DeleteDear Rian, thank you for sharing that lovely song. The united voices of that group just soar! And make my heart soar too.
ReplyDeleteAs to the hot water heater, I'm experiencing appliance problems also. The oven doesn't register the right temperatures and so anything I bake comes out either brown with burning or half baked! So no quick bread or scones or cookies or whole wheat bread for a while!
Your youngest grand child has a delightful smile. It makes me happy just to see it! Peace.
Dee, I wonder about the temp in my old wall oven sometimes too... but it is 35 years old. Luckily we also have our Aga... so there's a backup if it does go out. And thanks for the Advent calendar. I haven't had time to actually check it out so far, but hope to catch up this week.
DeleteOh, she's a living doll! And a new puppy...a birthday gift?
ReplyDeleteI've had to boil water to clean up after cooking. As you say it always happens when hot water is needed most.
Don't get me started on politics. I love my country...it's the government, I don't.
Yes, the puppy was a birthday gift. And as for the loss of hot water, it just makes you thankful for it all the more when it returns. As for politics, I too love my country, but don't understand when something like politics can turn people against each other. People need to get their priorities straight (IMO).
Deletewho doesn't love a puppy, so sweet, been waiting for a pack age since dec 2
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