MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Oops! I was busy and forgot

I finally felt like a human, but was so far behind the eight ball that I had to let my preconceived notions of what constitutes a perfect Christmas go. When I think back I have had decades of wonderful holidays and none of them have been "perfect", but they all have been joyous. I will have most of those important to me at my house for brunch, and those not here physically will certainly be here in spirit.

Son1's family will be in Portland which is where they should be. I truly believe children should experience Christmas magic at their own homes on Christmas morning, but I also appreciate the Apple team who gave us FaceTime so we can have a morning visit from afar.

My Beloved Sister and BIL will not be with us either, but we plan a Christmas Part 2 sometime in January.

So now it is Christmas Eve morning, cookies aren't baked, the house is not as decorated as I prefer, and life will go on. Tomorrow will be a great day, even if our family traditions are not observed in the same manner.

Monday joy: Even though I felt like a human I was still so tired and got little done. I needed to do some major Christmas shopping but it did not get done. 

Monday dinner: We were not very hungry.

Soup

Tuesday joy: TheHub and I went to Independence Place. Instead of cooking this week, we made Grinch Hot Chocolate (made with white chocolate and food coloring). The highlight of the day was one participant, who happened to have a Grinch outfit there. ( Who would have thought anyone would have a grinch suit in their backpack?)

He put it on and enjoyed sneaking around all the other participants doing Grinchlike moves.

While we were there we ran into my cousin and her grandson. They joined us for a late lunch at a nearby restaurant. 

While we were there, Son2 called. He was between appointments and joined us too. So we had an unexpected lunch gala.

Tuesday dinner: We had eaten a fairly big lunch and were not hungry.

Soup

Wednesday joy: Though it is not necessarily joyful, having the laundry done does create some happiness.

Wednesday dinner: We had something either forgettable or regrettable. Either way, I don't remember what we ate.

No idea

Thursday joy: TheHub and I went to our church to help put food bags together for members of the community who are struggling this Christmas. I think this time we filled 209 bags. My vehicle has enough room that we were able deliver quite a few of them.

After we finished we went shopping for groceries, to Costco and Kohl's. 

Thursday dinner: This seems to be the recurring theme for the week.

Soup

Friday joy: DIL2 came over and we addressed all of Independence Place's Christmas cards. I love spending time with her!  That evening I wrapped most of our Christmas gifts. The unwritten  and long observed rule seems to be that I do all the shopping and wrapping except for whatever TheHub gets for me.

Friday dinner: We still had very small appetites and nothing sounded really good.

Veggie stuffed baked potato

Saturday joy: Every year TheHub gets a Honey Baked ham gift certificate. We stopped by there to grab our pre-ordered half ham, did a couple of other quick errands, then came home to do some house stuff and watch the college play-off football games.Between games, we  organized our contributions for the year,  and I made dog food for my sisters dogs

Saturday dinner: I figured as long as I was cooking rice for the dogs food I might as well add enough for our dinner also.

Conecuh Sausage, cabbage, rice

Sunday joy: We woke early and got dressed in time to go to our church communion service, early church,  and Sunday school. 

DIL2 and Son2 dropped by for a short visit while they were out shopping.  

I finished wrapping gifts, thought about baking___didn't do it. Maybe Monday (didn't happen then either) or maybe I'll just buy some Christmas goodies.

Sunday dinner: Made a from scratch version of a grocery store standard

"Hamburger helper" coleslaw

Meal plan for the week:

1. Christmas brunch: Breakfast casserole, ham, turkey, broccoli, cranberry relish, crescent rolls, green bean casserole, potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, assorted individual desserts.*

2. Steak, baked potato, tossed salad

3. Soup

4. Soup

5. Leftovers

6. Leftovers

7. Sandwiches, coleslaw

Have a great week staying on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* I am having to plan a little differently than usual because of some dietary issues 

Rerun

Because I live in Alabama I can post this and laugh. I think this is the 4th or 5th year I have shared it.

                                       

                                          Hope you enjoy!

And So It Continues

This stupid virus did not want to leave, much to my irritation. I am behind in everything Christmas, and don't really give a flip. What gets done will, and what doesn't, doesn't.

Monday joy: I still did not feel well. The stupid cough and sneezing seemed worse, which really did irk me. I was ready to be well and my body was not cooperating with me. I was overwhelmingly tired, but not sleepy. Just tired. If TheHub were not so lethargic also, I would have thought it was all in my mind.  Whatever this crap was, it definitely had a hold on us. 

It broke my heart to have to cancel volunteering at Independence Place, but there is no way I would go there and expose them to this junk. I did feel really sorry for myself though, then got some texts from a couple of the participants sending me get well messages. Melted my broken heart!

Monday dinner: I had some meat in the fridge that needed to be used. It was the driving force of our meal plan, even though we could not decide what, if anything, sounded good.

Pork chop in orange sauce, rice pilaf

Tuesday joy: TheHub woke feeling a tad better. I was still coughing my head off and wanted to do little. Even the thought of walking upstairs and pulling out some Christmas decorations was more than I could bring myself to do. 

I really wanted to stay in my pj's and languish on the couch. Instead I put on my most comfortable, but quite unattractive clothes, and spent a good portion of the day wrapped in a shawl. There was real joy having something I received as a Christmas present last year, that had rarely been used, available when I was freezing. I tackled a mountain of laundry and did the very minimum of  housework in spite of not wanting to do anything at all productive.  

The day was much warmer and my Even the overnight temperature was warm enough that I could set the plants back on the deck. They appear much happier there instead of being stuck in the house.

Tuesday dinner: Neither of us were particularly hungry, but we both wanted something that had a lot of flavor. It wound up being just a one pan mishmash of things I had on hand.

Mexicanish stew, biscuit

Wednesday joy: A full week later I was still not on the mend. I was feeling a little better, but was worried that I might possibly be contagious so I did not go to my Wednesday class.  I did venture to CVS (masked) for a quick drug grab. I claim innocence about how 3 bottles of nail polish jumped in my basket amid the meds and cough drops.

Once home and fully medicated, I sat down and did the first round of Christmas cards. By evening they were stamped and ready to mail.*

Wednesday dinner: We were still not feeling like eating much.

Canned  Progresso soup (can't remember which kind)

Thursday joy: TheHub had a meeting and then planned on going into the office, but was still sneezy so he zoomed the meeting and canceled plans to head to work. After his meeting I dressed in real clothes, even putting on makeup and earrings and we headed on our big trek to run some errands. TheHub needed something from Target (I stayed in the car for the approximately 3 minutes he was in the store) then we dropped the Christmas cards off at the Post Office. I am really peeved with the idiot thieves who were stealing mail from the drive by mail drop boxes. Now the convenience of staying in the car to mail letters is gone and you have to go inside the facility. A$$#@!*$ ruin things for everyone else. Uncool! 

The day was gorgeous and while we were out driving it was apparent that true fall was finally here. The colors of the tree leaves, especially the reds, were just gorgeous so we rode around and looked at how beautiful things were.

Once home we had a delivery from a firm TheHub had been doing business with. Much to our surprise we received a cooler bag filled with steaks, ground round, chicken breasts, pork tenderloins and pork chops, all of which were already vacuum sealed (hooray) so they could go straight into the freezer. It is going to take us much longer than we planned to use everything!

For a little free nighttime entertainment, we decided to head out after dark to see some Christmas decorations. There are several houses in our neighborhood and the surrounding ones who do Christmas decorations on steroids. It was fun to see, especially the houses with lights and music coordinated. You just sit in the car, tune to whatever fm station they have posted on a sign in their yards, and enjoy the "show". 

Thursday dinner: TheHub did not want what I had planned for dinner. Instead we just had . . .

Baked potato

Friday joy: I finally felt like a human being, and it was a good thing I did. We had tickets to see Preservation Hall Cajun Christmas. After having to cancel several planned things it felt great to be able to actually go to something. The concert was very good and  lively . 

It was just what I needed to bring me back to life in the land of the living.  Even so I would not really call it a Christmas concert, however; during the song St. James Infirmary the trumpet soloist managed to weave a brief jazz version of Silent Night into his solo.

Friday dinner: The concert was pretty short and we had not eaten. Purple Onion to the rescue.

Burger, fries and their signature mint tea

Saturday joy: Hooray I felt well enough to go to The Independence Place Christmas party. I have surely missed the participants, especially after having to cancel 2 times volunteering there. TheHub went with me and we were treated to lunch, general visiting and a performance of Christmas music. One of the participants is taking dulcimer lessons and we got to hear her solo.  Never ever doubt the abilities of the differently abled.

After the party we stopped at 4 or 5 places running errands and doing a little shopping. 

Once we got back to the house I was fried. I can really tell I have not been doing much lately. 

Saturday dinner: We both needed something that had an intense taste so I whipped up a somewhat bastardized version of a favorite Thai food.

Pad Thai chicken

Sunday joy: We were able to go to church, then hit Publix for the second time this weekend. When Angel Soft toilet paper is on sale, it is time to refill my to storage in the jacuzzi tub that no one uses. I was in a panic because I was down to my last pack and if you have been reading me long you would know I like to keep at least 5 packs ahead. During covid and the tp scare, we were not affected at all. I was even able to give some to both Mom and My Beloved Sister.

Speaking of My Beloved Sister, she is still in the middle of a difficult time, but will at least let me make dog food for Trinket and Riley. Today I made enough to last them 3 days, but if you make more than that they turn their noses up at it. I will be making it again Wednesday morning. I still wish I could help her more, but she is leery of my cough.

Sunday dinner: We messed around and did not eat (nor did I make anything) until about 20 minutes before Yellowstone was coming on. That meant opening a can and heating it.

Italian wedding soup

I am still not feeling the need to make a plan for the week. We are loaded with food so I will just do the "whatever suits my fancy " thing each day.

Books read in December:

We Used To Live Here

Yellowface

Have a great week staying on plan, going off polan or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers.

Anne

* Second round of cards may or may not happen. If I normally send one to you and it did not get sent, I am sorry, but truly wish you a heartfelt Merry Christmas with a promise to do better next year.

Bad Week in Dodge

The past week was not particularly enjoyable, I got little to nothing accomplished, and toward the end of the week just got a little pissy. I hope The Big Guy was not watching.

Monday joy: Son1's family left midday to begin their trip home. TheHub was not feeling well and missed out on those last minute hugs because he did not want to pass it on if he was contagious.

After seeing them off and putting a couple of loads of sheets in the wash, my rear found the couch and did not move for a bit. I adore having them here, but I was really tired after this visit. Age? Definitely!

Now I will join Pip, who told me she wished she could teleport here any time she wanted to. I wish she could too!

Monday dinner: We still had leftovers from the Thanksgiving week, but TheHub did not want a real meal.

Leftover vegetable soup

Tuesday joy: We were still tired and TheHub was feeling much worse. We stayed home and did a few tasks around the house (very few). TheHub does not like to be still and is somewhat compulsive about doing things. I know he is not feeling well when he puts the recliner in a reclined position and covers up with a throw blanket during the daytime. The dozing off and on was another indicator for how lousy he felt.

We had tickets to go see The Illusionists. It was an add on to our local Broadway series, and I was looking forward to going, but TheHub felt too bad to go, and My Beloved Sister was not available to go with me. Instead I gave our tickets to our neighbors.  I am glad they did not just go to waste. 

Tuesday dinner: TheHub still had no appetite, but I did accommodate what he wanted.

Tomato soup (yep the Campbell's variety), cheese toast

Wednesday joy: We no longer had to wonder if TheHub was contagious because I found out first hand that he was. Wednesday I woke with a killer headache, sore throat and sniffles. It caused me to cancel going to my Wednesday class and also going to my happy place. There is no way I would think of exposing the participants of Independence Place with this.

So not only did I not feel great, but I also felt sorry for myself.

Son 2 stopped by for a minute, but did not want to stay once he saw how we were feeling. I do not blame him at all.

Wednesday dinner: We both wanted something with intense flavors, so we ordered take out from a local Chinese restaurant. Their portions are large enough that a meal for one is plenty for both of us to share for two meals.

Kung pao chicken, rice

Thursday joy: What a way to begin the Christmas season! We both felt kind of crummy, the house was minimally ready for Christmas, I'd bought just a very few gifts, My Beloved Sister was having a difficult time, I'd done nothing about Christmas cards and did not feel like doing anything. Bah Humbug!

We also had a forecast for some protracted nights below freezing. I tell every plant I get that they have to be kind of tough to live with me, and I had just been covering some of them on the deck at night, but with lows in the 20's throughout the night meant I had to bring them inside for a while.

Funny thing was even though it is December, I brought in two blooming hibiscus plants, a canna that had buds on it, and a key lime, not just in bloom, but with 2 limes growing. This is very strange for this time of the year.

Thursday dinner:  Neither of us had much of an appetite and I still had enough soup in the fridge for another meal.

Vegetable soup, crackers

Friday joy: This was another day of doing little. TheHub was feeling a little better but I was feeling much worse. 

I needed to look at our stock portfolio and see if we had any Kimberly Clark. I was pretty sure our personal Kleenex use would raise their December profits substantially. If any of you in Blogland have any, you can thank me.

On a lighter note, I looked in the mirror in passing and am pretty sure with my flame on red nose and hair going every direction, I would  be a prefect fit for a clown troupe.

I did have a phone call with Sluggy, always fun!

I also used the green tomatoes, picked before the temperatures dropped. I used about 10 pounds of green tomatoes to make and can tomato relish. I had never had it before and had no idea if I would even like it, but made it anyway. Someone here needs to enjoy it because I have a good bit to use this year.

Friday dinner:  I decided I might need to cook at least a little something. And when I say cook little, I mean it literally.

Hamburger patty, au gratin potatoes (from the freezer)

Saturday joy: Even though we both still felt rotten, we medicated and felt good enough to get out of the house for about an hour. The Hub went with me (masked)  to Aldi and we stopped by a small Mediterranean restaurant to pick up a to go order. 

We came home to eat then watch the SEC championship game. Watching, only if you count dozing off and on as watching. Both of us had itchy burning red eyes and it makes closing them somewhat necessary. It appears that once we closed them, dozing happened immediately.

By nighttime the respiratory ick was having a field day with me, and I wound up sleeping in an un-reclined recliner.

Saturday dinner: After having the Racer sandwich at lunch we were not particularly hungry but wanted something with intense flavor. Leftovers to the rescue!

Kung pao chicken, rice

Sunday joy: I was now coughing my head off, so going to church was off the table, and we had to cancel on plans for a Christmas party we had RSVP'd a couple of weeks ago. I hated missing both, but what do you do. We did not want to be responsible for infecting large groups of people. Instead I spent the day in pajama pants and a sweat shirt, which is exactly what I put on after getting home from Aldi Saturday afternoon.

I did get good news from My Beloved Sister, and the situation has improved much. I still feel guilty for not being able to help her. (Other than making dog food for her dogs who refuse any and all traditional dog foods)

The upside of missing the party is we could watch the new episode of Yellowstone when it aired rather than watching the recording we had set previously, thinking we would be somewhere festive.

I was getting really tired of feeling puny but slept upright in the recliner once again so my coughing would not wake TheHub. (Even those of us with black hearts do have a sliver of kindness)

Sunday dinner: I wanted a burger but TheHub didn't. We looked at Purple Onion's menu and ordered. It was easier than cooking and TheHub said he would run and pick it up. 

Hamburger, fries (shared), Mediterranean wrap

Meal Plan for the week is on hold. I am planning nothing until we feel like eating.

Books read in December:

We Used To Live Here

Have a great week staying on plan, going off plan, or with no plan at all.

May all your weeds be wildflowers

Thankful

This past week was filled with food, family, parties, and football! That about says it all.

Monday joy: By mid-morning I had made 2 peanut butter pies, a large recipe of sausage balls and had baked oatmeal in the oven. My theory was to get as much done ahead of time as possible, because having folks here for 6 days meant a lot of eating. Anything that could be made and either refrigerated of frozen needed to be done. I figured starting early Monday morning was as good a time to start as any.

The rest of the day was spent putting the final touches on the common areas.

Monday dinner: I was tired and didn't feel like cooking

Progresso soup (I don't even remember what kind)

Tuesday joy: I woke and finished all of the upstairs cleaning, including putting blankets on the beds. The forecast for the week was much cooler than we had been used to so I thought it might be a good idea to get additional warmth for the beds. Other than a final refreshening of the bathrooms and a quick vacuuming of the carpeted bedrooms, I called upstairs done and had time for a shower and such with a few minutes to put my feet up before the first ETA.

Tuesday dinner: Son1's family arrived in the late afternoon, then son2 and DIL2 joined us for a BBQ dinner.

Pulled pork, shredded smoked chicken, baked beans, collards, corn on the cob, coleslaw, cheese biscuits.

Wednesday joy: Thanksgiving prep began in earnest. It was a day of cutting, chopping, sautéing, basting, baking, etc. Then lots of clean up said dishes, pots and pan. Wash, rinse, and repeat, because as soon as one thing was done, there was another item to be cooked or prepped. About 3 or so I was finished for the day and was kind of tired. 

Son1 and family went to see Son2's house and I had a couple of hours to do a few other things before getting dinner ready.

We stayed home mainly because Son3 and DIL3 had a delay in their plans and if they were able to make it here Wednesday we thought it might be a good idea for someone to at least be home.

Wednesday dinner: I had planned on having chicken lasagne, but booted those plans. Instead I chose a simpler lighter version.

Chicken, veggies and pasta, tossed salad

Thursday joy: Thanksgiving Day came early here. We had a large extended family meal (49 of us to be exact) where everyone brings whatever they are asked to bring. My assignment was bourbon brown sugar meatballs ( I made them once now have to bring them every single time), collards, sweet potato salad, cranberry relish, peanut butter pie. There is a funny tale about the pie. I had made 2 of them, one for home and one to take with us to the big Thanksgiving. We had the home pie after the bbq meal, but I stuck it back in the freezer with little under a half a pie later. I asked Son1 to grab the pie to take to the family meal as we were headed out the door. I did not pay any attention until we got to R's house and got the pie our of the thermal bag to put on the dessert table. That is when I noticed he had grabbed the partially eaten pie instead of the whole one.  Oh well. At least there were many other desserts and it just looked like someone hit the dessert table pre-meal.

Thursday dinner: We were overly full when we waddled home after the huge lunch. I had planned on cooking a turkey breast with modest Thanksgiving fixings, but booted that plan. Instead I put on an easy to make pot of soup.

Pumpkin, sausage and sage soup.

Friday joy: Goodbye Thanksgiving and all Thanksgiving decor. Hello birthday party streamers, balloons, birthday table scape, plates and cups. It was Pip's actual birthday and we planned a party for her. A few kids along with several of my cousins, and all of our immediate family came for a pizza lunch ( I am not dumb enough to try and make 4 large pizzas when I can buy them) followed by cake, ice cream, music and merriment. 

As soon as the party was over Pip could not wait to go to Ulta to spend some of her birthday money. DIL's 1 and 3 went with her. I was happy to stay at home because I do not enjoy Black Friday crowds.

In the late afternoon, 2 of Son3's friends stopped by and visited for a bit.

Friday dinner: I tried to get Son3's friends to stay and eat with us, but they declined. Instead I was stuck with a ton of leftovers.

Roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, asparagus, sliced tomatoes, dinner rolls

Saturday joy:  Goodbye birthday decor, hello Roll Tide table scape.

Most of the family woke, ate breakfast, then headed to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl. DIL3 and I were the only ones still at the house and I actually had time to have leisurely coffee and to sit down to write this post while I washed towels, clothes, cleaned the common areas and the powder rooms before settling in to watch the game on TV. 

Saturday dinner: We knew they would not be home from the game until sometime between 8:30 and 9. I had all the makings of a huge pot of soup available and decided it would hold very easily. I also had leftover sliced turkey, salad fixings, mashed potatoes and collards for whoever wanted something else.

Vegetable beef soup, leftover pumpkin sage soup, or whatever anyone else wanted to heat and eat.

Sunday joy: Son3 and DIL3 left early in the morning to get back to Nashville in time for DIL 3 to practice for a Christmas dulcimer video concert that evening.

Son2 and DIL2 came over for lunch. Thank goodness for tons of leftovers!

After they left we settled down in front of the TV to watch DIL3's performance.  I am very thankful Son1 was here because TheHub and I would never have figured out to to watch it  quite comfortably there, instead of crowding around a laptop.

Sunday dinner: No one was hungry. 

Veggie stuffed baked potatoes and/or tossed salad

And now that everyone has left, the dishes are done (again! I think I have washed more dishes  and cooked more this past week than I have in my lifetime), the towels are clean and folded, 2 beds have bedding done with one more waiting for tomorrow, and I am tired. Incredibly tired. This old grey mare ain't what she used to be.

I do not even feel like thinking about cooking, much less planning a menu. We are going to eat very simple meals this week. Hopefully that require little to no cooking.

I also read nothing this week and don't care!

May all your weeds be wildflowers,

Anne

p.s. Though not my usual practice I plan on breaking the seal on a very good bottle of bourbon  this week. Fighting colds and a little tipple while decorating sounds like a winning plan to me. Old fashions anyone?

It's Here!