Tuesday before Thanksgiving 2020...

Clock and Christmas Elf

So many of us these days feel that we have nothing interesting to post about... and since we're not getting out and about much, this is probably true. Those of you that have wonderful areas to walk or hike or those who have acreage with blooming plants or wildlife that can be shared seem to have an advantage.

But... even though I love to read these posts and see the pictures (where I can virtually share the experience) to be honest, I also love hearing what goes on in your daily life even if it is only what you do from dawn to dusk... or what your cat/dog is doing. 

I had to laugh when I read that someone was worried about Joanne (Cup on the Bus) recently since she couldn't be contacted. I had a similar experience this week with a friend that I play Animal Crossings with. She texted me one day this week and said that I hadn't been on the game all day. Was I alright?  It made DH and I laugh... as yes, I generally get on the game often, but it had been an especially busy day. 

And we are also putting up Christmas decorations early this year. Usually we wait until the day after Thanksgiving (which would be this Friday anyway) when we go out and purchase a 8-10 foot Douglas fir.

We've been doing this ever since we got rid of the small artificial tree that we purchased in 1969 when the doctor told us that we couldn't fly home to New Orleans that year as I was in danger of losing the baby.  It was right before Christmas and we had a 14 month old. This was supposed to be his first Christmas with his grandparents. Since we hadn't planned to be at our house in Florida for Christmas, we didn't have a tree. 

So we quickly ran out and bought an artificial one from Sears. That tree lasted for many many years (even went off to college with my daughter - who was that endangered baby in 1969) before it was discarded. 

But once we were settled here in Texas, we started buying 'real'... to the delight of our kids and the cats. The smell of a real tree is wonderful... and covered with all the decorations that the kids made over the years or tiny critters we bought in an old bookstore in Wales, etc. make it special. Nowadays we even put New Orleans Mardi Gras beads on it.  

Since we retired and the kids no longer live close enough to help with the large Douglas Fir, we considered going smaller... and have.  Now we get one only 6-7 feet - but we couldn't go artificial,  tried, but returned it. I'm sure that one day it will be necessary to bite the bullet, but not yet.

This post (as many before) seems to have taken on a life of it's own. I was planning to talk about daily activities in a sheltering at home  house. Oh well, sometimes the story tells itself. 

A few pics of Christmas past...

Happy Thanksgiving! The holidays will be different this year, but we have our memories and the hope that things will be better next year.  Sending all of you my prayer that your holidays will be healthy and safe. (Please don't let down your guard!) 

Hugs,

Rian

Rabbit Rabbit! White Rabbit! Help!

Rabbit Rabbit! White Rabbit!

Today is Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 and this 'Rabbit Rabbit!' is a little late in the day. But...  this tardiness is due to my inability to get around today.  Apparently I've done something to my back again. Can barely walk - the spasms are so bad.

First time this happened (September) I was pretty sure what happened. This time I have no idea. Possibly could have been caused by something I did while cooking and cleaning for Thanksgiving guests and dinner.  I forget that at 74 I can't do all that I used to do without consequences. 

I have to admit that my back was aching a bit the last few days, but Saturday evening I realized that it had 'seized up' again. Whatever it is runs from the base of my spine almost in the middle (but a little to the left) and up all the way into my left shoulder and down my left leg. 

Stayed in bed most of the day today applying heat and cold. Walked slowly around a bit with a cane to exercise and stretch a bit (was afraid I was going to either throw up or pass out doing this -  also was afraid my leg would give way) and am taking Tylenol (just one in the morning and one in the evening to take the edge off).

And all 3 cats stayed in bed with me.Tux is my worrier. He stayed close, licking my hands and purring the whole time.

my worrier

Anyway, I'm thankful that it didn't seize up until after everyone had left for home. We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner and birthday (youngest grand daughter's 7th) Thursday. Then we all sat around the fireplace eating, drinking, and talking (watched some football too of course) while the grand kids played video games and otherwise entertained themselves.  Got them to stand still for a few minutes for pictures (which was especially difficult for youngest who was being a grouch as you can see).

Everyone overnighted and Friday morning we all went out for breakfast, then took the kids with us to pick out our Christmas tree. We always get a live one (usually around 7-8 feet) and they help choose. The house smells wonderful... that Christmas tree smell!

So all in all, except for this dern back, it was a good holiday. And no matter what, I'm grateful to be here to spend it with family and friends (and to share it with those of you I consider my blogging friends). 

I sincerely hope your Thanksgiving was good too. Sending you wishes for a happy, healthy, safe holiday season!

Hugs,
rian

PS: DH has been wonderful... bringing me my meds, cooking for us, and taking care of things that need doing. Obviously I'm thankful for him too. 


   

Thanksgiving 2018 - food, family, and friends

Thanksgiving 2018 Food!

Thanksgiving 2018 Table

I don't decorate too much for Halloween or Thanksgiving... mostly put out a few pumpkins, but I do start sneaking in our Christmas decor here and there (if you can see there are a few stockings hanging by the fireplace... and if you could see further up, there's Christmas candles, etc.) It works.

Besides, the traditional holiday food is the main attraction. Each family is different, but mine want Turkey, Ham, stuffing (used to be oyster, now it's Jalapeno Pecan), bourbon sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon, cranberry sauce, broccoli/cauliflower casserole, and rolls. I occasionally try something different (last year I added stuffed artichokes - my 5 year old grand daughter loved them!) And our desserts differ some. Most want a family traditional favorite - a chocolate pudding with a pecan cookie crust... but DH makes a fantastic cheesecake that everyone likes too. This year my DIL even brought a delicious apple crumble to add to the mix. 

In general, I make all the food and they all come here... but last year we went to my daughter's in the hill country and one year we went to my son's (before they moved to Hawaii). I love doing it here, but it's getting to be difficult getting it all done on my own. It may be time to 'pass the baton' or find a good restaurant. It won't be the same, but time passes and things change. As long as we're all together, it should be fine.

Here are a few pics we took - mostly of the grands:

4 grandkids - outside by the house
(hard to corral that youngest for a pic)

grandkids by well

grand daughter on top

in tree

with her friend

daughter on left with her best friend

Our daughter lives in the Hill Country around San Antonio, Texas and her best friend now lives in Colorado Springs - but they get to see each other either at Thanksgiving or Christmas when each comes here to Texas to visit family.

I guess that's about it. Everyone left for home yesterday. It's been fun, but a bit hectic. Giving myself some 'downtime' this week... 

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

the day is done... (Thanksgiving that is)

rose from our garden

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!  This photo was taken of a rose that DH brought in from the garden a few days ago.  He brought it in as a bud, but when it opened, it was huge and really beautiful... a deep pink with red highlights. Don't know the name. We used to have lots of rose bushes (and knew all the names), but as time went by, we've not had as many or paid as much attention.  But this one caught our eye!

Thanksgiving was wonderful. I cooked for 3 days.  DH smokes the turkey, I made Bourbon Sweet Potatoes with Pecan and Marshmallow topping, my mom's Oyster Stuffing,  a new Green Bean Casserole (all fresh - no canned - but similar to the traditional recipe), a Hatch Chili stuffing (for the Vegetarians at the table), cranberry sauce, and cheese biscuits... also a traditional pudding recipe that has a cookie base (boys HAVE to have this) and an apple pie.

We ate, we laughed, we discussed the new baby who was sitting at the table with her mom and has not yet decided to grace us with her presence (she is due to make her appearance anytime). Then we all adjoined to the den so those who were inclined could continue watching the football games while others of us could either knit or sleep... until it was time for more coffee and dessert!  My daughter and her family (who live in the hill country and weren't with us for dinner this year) kept texting us and her brothers as to what was going on at her house.  The boys kept sending her pictures of mom's food.

All in all, it was a nice day. The cats enjoyed it too.  They laid around in baskets and on the sofa with the family... except for Molly who decided to sit on the bench next to DIL during dinner.  Mostly the cats are not allowed near the table while we're eating and they're pretty good about it. But Molly is 19, so when she joined us, no one was offended.  She just sat there and listened to the conversation. The weather was beautiful. This morning it's a bit cooler - 59 or 60 I believe.  




quilt we saw at shop in Celeste, TX

 Took this picture of a quilt my friend and I saw at this little shop in Celeste last week. I fell in love with it. My friend is the quilter, not me. I have one that I did start and it is almost finished except for the last bit... but as it turns out, when I have time on my hands, I'd rather work on the wheel or knit (and so it has sat unfinished in my closet for about a year). Truth is, I LOVE quilts! Just not making them myself. So we bought the material and she is going to make it for me.  She is one of those people that has quilts started and finished everywhere in her house. But, as I told her, there is no hurry on my part. I'm just excited to have found one that I really like. There are so many designs and materials out there that it makes my head spin. Some are gorgeous... just not my house style. This one is perfect.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

memories of Christmas past...

This picture was taken at my daughter's house either last Christmas or the one before.  For whatever reason, I really like it.  It looks so cozy.  They won't be with us this Thanksgiving, but we do hope to see them during the Christmas holidays.  When the grand kids were little, we always had Christmas at our house for everyone (actually we had all the holidays at our house).  Now that they are older and don't all live close by, it's a little harder to arrange.

But it was the same for us when our kids were young. We tried to get them to New Orleans to spend Christmas with their Grandparents each year... but as they got older, it was difficult to take bikes and dollhouses, etc. with us and then there were get-togethers with their friends that they would miss, etc. So going home for Christmas wasn't every year anymore.

This is another favorite photo.  It is Ghost under the Christmas tree.  The cats LOVE the Christmas tree ! We get a huge live tree and hang unbreakable ornaments on the lower branches so they can be swatted at by hidden paws.  There are consequences to this  -  we do find a large amount of ornaments spread about the den and under the furniture in the mornings. And occasionally one of them will get entangled in the lights and take half the strings off, but these things are only minor inconveniences.

And this one was taken of Julie as she sat inside a Christmas basket that had a bird lantern.  It's not especially good... but again, I like it.

Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving to All!