Christamas 2025... and the week after

Christmas day was fairly quiet around here. DH and I got up and opened a few gifts from the kids who couldn't be here. We would wait till evening to open the ones from youngest son and his family who would arrive around 6pm. Grandson had to work Christmas Day (but works from home on his computer), so we had another gift opening around 10am when he had a break and came downstairs. I also made waffles and coffee! 

Kids called and texted throughout the day and laughed at some of the gifts given both ways (pics below). 

silly t-shirts, cat warmer, possum throw, silly plagues

When evening came, DH had smoked a turkey breast and cooked a small ham... and I had made home-made potato salad. So, the meal was turkey and ham (sandwiches or alone), potato salad, chips and dip... and rum cake for dessert. Then we opened gifts again (a little more for everyone, but most for youngest granddaughter).

One of the gifts she got was this adorable stuffed 'hairy coo'! So adorable! (pic)

And that was it... we did watch a strange movie (I can't recommend it but it was definitely weird). My oldest son said "you watched an Asian Apocalypse movie on Christmas!" Yes, well...we didn't know what we were getting into... and had to watch to see how it turned out. Strange.

Now the day after Christmas we don't usually do much... just rest. But my daughter and oldest granddaughter had been down the week before and we had gone to our favorite garden center (where I bought 2 more plants! - my front room is getting overrun - but couldn't help it, they kept saying "Take me home!"). 

Anyway, oldest granddaughter is 'plant crazy' too and wanted to go, so we did. This garden center was wildly decorated for Christmas (where we took our Christmas card pic last year?) 

and daughter bought these huge red ornaments for her house (she graduated in Interior Design and her house looks like a Christmas store during the holidays - I counted 12 Christmas trees downstairs only - on the video she sent). 

OK, back to the subject... the day after Christmas. Daughter called and asked if we would go back to the garden center and pick up more of those huge red ornaments for her for next year. And of course we did. 

But while there, I asked the gentleman there about one of my plants that wasn't doing well. It's my little Ginseng Ficus (that I call "Mandrake"). Apparently it seems I've overwatered it... as it possibly has root rot - "mea culpa!" 

I was given explicit instructions and sold both vitamins and plant food... not necessarily to save Mandrake... but to help my other plants survive. Some seem to be doing quite well and have grown very tall. But I don't want to lose any more. 

plants on right side of fireplace

plants on left side of fireplace

OK... I won't bore you anymore with my plant craze. Will close this with a few pics and memes I like (and may have posted before - sorry):

Ryder - oldest granddaughter's Bernese Mountain dog

If I don't get to post again before the New Year (but probably will)...

Wishing you all a Happy Healthy 2026! 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Memories and old kitchen gadgets...

This isn't really a Christmas post. It's just that since I've been in the kitchen all week baking, I've become more aware of this... 

Many of the things I use in the kitchen were given to me by friends... and some of those friends are no longer with us (physically). But every time I use the item, I think of them. 

Also so many things I use were once my mom's (mom was born in 1913 and married in 1932)... so they are very old, but they still work fine. Mama's colander is a bit bent, but it has worked perfectly for me over the years. Also both her 'chopper' and her 'steamer' are old fashioned and out of date... but still work. Truth be told, they have lasted longer than many of the new appliances that are around now.

Here are a few pics:

mama's colander

Mama's Sunbeam chopper

Now the next is her old steamer... which I still use to steam veggies. It's dial is broken, but I have it taped up with masking tape and it still works fine.

Mom's Black & Decker steamer

... and last (but not least as we use it every day)... mom's old sugar bowl:

And then there's her set of Magnalite cooking pots - which have served us well (but I'll spare you the pictures). Magnalite is still around, but you don't hear much about it these days. It's great cookware.

I'm sure that many of you reading this have similar memories in your kitchen (and/or elsewhere in your home). It just seems that today things are not built to last - which I find strange. I guess I can understand the economic side of it, but somehow still find it strange.

Anyway, I won't bore you anymore with such an uninteresting topic... but it was on my mind and I thought I'd share. 

I'll close this with a few pics of our Pet Tree - which you have seen before - but it comes out every year displaying all (or almost all) our inside cats that have come and gone over the years... and also Goliath (daughter's horse that she lost to colic a few years back). 

That's all folks! (Reminds me of the old looney tunes cartoons - if you're old enough to remember those - click on the blue or grey words to hear the old cartoon music)

Take care and if I don't get to post again before Christmas... 

Merry Christmas!! 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

the week before Christmas...

This is how I've spent the last week or so... baking Christmas goodies to mail out to a few friends and family. We don't buy a lot of gifts anymore, but I prefer to spend the time baking and FedEx-ing it. Just seems more personal to me than sending a gift (possibly no one wants?) or a gift card that takes no time or effort. Not that I don't love Gift Cards myself... (usually use them for restaurants or getting us something we wouldn't buy for ourselves). But somehow baking something seems right for the holidays... 

As some of you already know, there are things I'm 'not supposed' to eat or drink due to various conditions... but although I follow the guidelines to some extent, I do 'cheat' a little (sometimes it doesn't matter, other times it does 😞)  But I won't give up coffee or tea completely, so here is a picture of my coffee cup.

not always with whip cream and Cinnamon...
but it's Christmas!

I have 2 dear friends that live fairly close... (one I met in our 20's and remained friends for 60 years and one I grew up with - so have known each other our whole lives) We have both moved around in the last 80 years, but fate seems to have landed us close by. However, we don't see each other as often as we used to since we don't drive anymore. We used to meet at a coffee shop or have lunch once a week. Nowadays it may be months before we can get together. 

One friend has a companion that helps her and can drive her here when she comes in town for a doctor visit. They came by last week and we exchanged Christmas gifts, had coffee, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We give each other a bag of 'little things' that we find handy to have ... in the kitchen or elsewhere (and of course we exchange Christmas cookies). One of the things she gave me this year is something I could really use. Here is a picture of it...

These bookmarks automatically 'follow the page'. The back hooks onto the back of the book and the front is put on the page you're reading. It automatically flips to the next page as you turn. Great for me - as I read in bed at night and almost always lose my place as the book falls when I fall asleep. Such a simple thing, but so-oo useful.

Guess I should close this as I have espresso shortbread in the oven and one more batch of whiskey balls to make today. Daughter and granddaughter will be here this week for a few days and I must prepare the guestroom, etc. Grandson has been off to Canada visiting friends, but will be home this week also.

Thinking about having a relaxed Christmas day dinner - just smoked turkey and ham sandwiches, home-made potato salad, and chips and dip (rum cake for dessert). May put it all out and people can help themselves and sit anywhere... rather than a sit down fancy dinner (not up to that this year). 

Hope all of you are having a good week. Sending love and good vibes to all. If I don't get to post again before Christmas...

Merry Christmas! 

Hugs (virtual), 

Rian

Christmas tree is finished!! And the Christmas train is back!

showing Mardi Gras beads!

There really are many more ornaments to add to the tree... but lately I've been just putting up the ones that hold memories: ones I made for the kids when they were babies, ones the kids made themselves, ones given to us, ones bought on travels, and a few glass ones from my parent's tree years ago (and I add Mardi Gras beads to our tree because it makes it feel more New Orlean-sy).

And I have to share my Christmas train with you! We've always had a train around the tree or elsewhere for Christmas. But the larger one got lost (or possibly one of our kids took it at some point). Then we had a small one that the grandkids played with so much, it no longer worked. So recently I saw this one on Amazon for $20 and couldn't resist. It is so cute... and makes train whistles, etc.!! 

(Remember to click on square on right to make video larger 

and to click on Esc to get back to post)

And of course I'm doing my Christmas baking. Sent off the first batch this week. Working on the 2nd batch today. Then only one more needed for family and friends close by. I usually bake Christmas tea cakes for my youngest granddaughter here and the twin girls next door - and rum cakes for the adults. 

This is a new version that I'm trying this year. I'm putting lemon curd or chocolate (maybe Nutella?) in between 2 thin teacakes with leaf cutouts in the center. Here's a picture of a few of the test ones with lemon curd (the 4 on the right):

That's all I've got to share at the moment. Hope your Christmas preparedness is under way and bringing you joy...

(This is the first Christmas since we lost our 17 year old grandson last January... so it's a bit bittersweet. My oldest son is still having a hard time dealing with it... as can be expected.)

Until next time...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

(For those interested, my eye is healing. Still on Rx antibiotic drops for the clogged tear duct, but otherwise doing fine.)

December 1, 2025 Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

OK, December is here!  and the end of 2025!  (and we're all still here... so far... but I think it's been a scary year for many)  

However, I'm going to focus on the magic of Christmas for the time being. I think we need to try to enjoy the season while it's upon us (with family, friends, food, decorations, etc.) 

A few pics from our house:

Yes, it's a bit 'cluttered'... but we like it!

this was taken at the garden center where we get our live tree...

I won't put up any pics of the tree yet... as it isn't decorated, but DH has put the lights on. We have gone from 12 ft trees to 10, then 8, and now 6 foot is what we got this time. Not only for the difficulty getting them in and set up (at our age), but also for the ridiculously increased prices. We love live trees for the aroma and just the naturalness of it. But we may end up being priced out if this continues... or we may have to get a 4-5 ft real tree and put it on a table next year.

I don't usually post much on Rabbit! Rabbit! days, but I wanted to share a little of our Christmas decor so far... 

... and also because I mentioned at some point (in a comment) about posting something in reference to the 1968 movie, "2001: a Space Odyssey". Someone brought it up in a comment on Apache Dug's post... and it reminded me of what happened almost 58 years ago. 

DH and were married in January of 1968. The movie came out in April... and we went to see it in September (or thereabout) - I was 8 months pregnant with our first child at the time. 

Do you remember the music to 2001? Well, it's very dramatic and  the baby inside me certainly responded to it. He almost kicked his way out during that movie. We thought about leaving, but didn't. Luckily he wasn't born for a few more weeks. But listening to that movie's music always brings back memories of that time and place... and confirmed that unborn babies certainly hear the sounds around them.

And the reason I'm posting this so late in the day is because DH and I went to the mall earlier today to do some Christmas shopping and I wanted to show you these 2 Lego pieces that were featured there:

full size adult Lego Santa!

and this black and white Lego Cat

How cute is that?

That's it! Try to stay warm (it's finally cold here - in the 30's). 

Hugs (virtually), 

Rian