Happy Monday!
Tis the season of busy - but I hope you're having fun too! I have been trying to be intentional of that...and most of all, keeping the real reason for the season in my heart. I hope you know how much I appreciate you my dear Friends! All of your visits and comments mean so much to me. I sure look forward to this time with you each week.
I forgot that in November I had my 8 year blogging anniversary. I can't even believe it's been 8 years!! And some of you have become dear friends....who were there for me in many ways through some of the worst years of my life. I thank you so much for the love, support, and friendship always. I'm planning to do a blogaversary giveaway like I used to in the "old days". Lol I will probably wait until January because life is too crazy at the moment. But I will keep you all posted!
This weekend was such a fun one. We got together with the C's. It's John's birthday today but we took them out Saturday night to celebrate it. We went and had a wonderful dinner. Kristi and I even had a few fun holiday cocktails. 🥂 😊 And then came back to my house to play cards and we played some telestrations after dark. Lol If you don't have the regular telestrations game, I recommend it! It'd be a wonderful gift for family game night. However, I also have telestrations after dark...which isn't as kinky as it sounds - but you do have to draw some interesting things sometimes and it's pretty hilarious. We had a blast!
Yesterday included our usual errands (& brunch out somewhere yummy) and I finally finished decorating downstairs. Matt and I watched some football and a holiday movie and just had a nice relaxing cozy day. Now getting ready for the big snow heading our way this week. May get up to a foot of the white stuff! It'll be a white Christmas! ❄️
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:
activia yogurt, fruit, coffee
ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:
errands, baking, wrapping gifts, getting boxes ready to ship, finishing Christmas cards, helping my Mom, Annie haircut, hospice work, holiday concert with friends
THINKING ABOUT:
So many things. My step Dad having bypass surgery today.
The extra help my Mom is going to need right now. Matt's folks coming next week for the holidays. My to do list. Trying to enjoy true Christmas moments. I think I'm going to bake some cookies today and think I'll do a tried and true wonderful eggnog cookie recipe. And bake some of my sugared pecans to start loading up some tins for gifts.
Also, I think I will be taking a break from blogging after this week - just for Christmastime. I may be back before New Year's, but if not...I will be back by early January. I'm so sorry I didn't get to join in any blogmas this year. This back issue has really been a bugger and I'm doing lots of natural things to make it better - but it's a process. And I can't sit at the computer for really long periods. There's still a lot for me to do before Christmas yet, too, because I have been hindered a bit. Matt has been wonderfully helpful (kiddos too) but there's still a lot ahead of me these weeks. This week I still plan to do a wordless wednesday post filled with tons of Christmas cheer photos! And a cooking thursday post with several holiday recipes: including the eggnog cookies recipe. So please come back and say hello! And I will be coming around to visit too. ♥️
CURRENTLY READING
holiday magazines and holiday recipes
ON THE TV TODAY:
Survivor, The Good Doctor, Shark Tank, Ghosts, The Crown, Holiday baking shows, Hallmark movies
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
MONDAY - soup & salad (& cookies for dessert 😋 )
TUESDAY - pancakes, holiday spiced syrup, breakfast potatoes, fruit
WEDNESDAY - buffalo cauliflower tacos (with tangy sweet slaw) HF meal
THURSDAY - lemony spaghetti, veggies (HF meal)
FRIDAY - pork egg roll rice bowl with apricot chili duck sauce (HF meal)
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
go to a holiday concert, bake, wrap, browse recipes, play in the snow with Ruby, take a bath
TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:
FROM THE CAMERA:
finally got the downstairs tree done yesterday while watching football with my sweetie - my 2 cute holiday supervisors
Christmas at the hospice house where I volunteer:
A lovely lunch with a dear neighbor bestie. She made her homemade lefse and made them into yummy omelette creations. She also made an amazing salad. Her home looked so beautiful!!
I added some birch tree looking lights to my mantel angels & found my old ceramic Christmas tree. I treasure it because my MIL in heaven gave it to me many years ago. 🎄 💝
PRAYER LIST:
For an end to the conflict in the Ukraine and other areas of the world living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and anymore shootings! For anyone sick, suffering, in pain or fear... that God bring them comfort and peace.
For my step dad having surgery today. For safe travels for so many through the holidays. And for all of you to have a very safe, healthy and happy holiday season ahead. 🙏