The day after

Well, now that all the gifts have been opened and the food cooked I hope everyone will get a chance to relax a little this weekend. I know that's the plan for me.

We had quite a few people over yesterday for dinner. I posted a few pics on my facebook page. I was so tired Thursday and Friday. It feels like all I want to do is sleep today. We got sleet, freezing rain and some ice overnight. The ice buildup was minimum, but the temps rose enough today so things melted some along with the rain. Tonight things will freeze again. It's been a really gray cloudy day today. Good day for staying home, lol.

Tons of leftovers. Hubby took quite a few containers with him to work. He mostly took the Indian dishes from yesterday. We made cauliflower and potato. I normally make this dish myself, with no problems, I might add. Hubby had his paws in it yesterday while I was making it and over did it on the salt. Way to salty for me to eat it. Bummer, because I really wanted it. I made rice with veggies, while hubby was out of the kitchen, and that was really good. I never made it that way before but I really liked it. The green beans I only used one hot pepper and it was way, way to hot for me to eat, so he took all of that to. Only one piece of the pineapple upside down cake was left so I sent that along with him. Since the oldest was still working to, he brought some ham, gravy and salad for both of them to share. I also packed a bag of cookies and stuff for his tea later. Hubby's got quite a feast for tonight, lol!

Tomorrow after church we have to drop the very last gift. We are done in record time this year. Usually we are distributing the gifts a few weeks after Christmas. I like being done early. I've already started to put some of the decorations away. As the Christmas dish cloths and dish towels are washed, I'm just sticking them in the container for in the shed. I also put the stockings in as well. This year I want all the decorations put away by New Years. Things are going to get busy for me after that, and I want all that stuff out of the way. School starts back for me as well as the boys and a friend of mine is going to teach me to speak their language. Hubby wants to take me to India next year, but he knows I won't go unless I can at least speak and understand the language. Everyone says it will be very easy for me to pick up, I sure hope so.

Managed to get through all my laundry today. Yeah, empty baskets!! To bad it never lasts. Going to go heat a plate for dinner and then iron the church clothes for tomorrow. Then my day will be done.

Twas the night before Christmas.............

And I seem to be the only creature stirring in my house this morning!
Everyone, including the cat, is still in bed. Must be nice...........

This is a pic of the sun room after the youngest did the decorating.

This is the mantle over the fireplace in the living room.

I'll be taking pics on Christmas so I'll post the pic of the tree then. Everyone have a Merry Christmas!

Flurries that accumulate

The weatherman was predicting flurries for the next few days. The state I was born and raised in, flurries meant just a few flakes, not enough to even see on the ground. Up here, flurries means a coating to possibly an inch or two. Well, when I got home we had probably about an inch and a half. A friend of mine said it started snowing at her house around 10 am. I know it wasn't snowing in my area at that time. I noticed it at 2:30 but could tell it had been snowing for some time because it was laying on the neighbors cars. The drive home was ok, the roads were semi-clear. But then traffic in Htown was bumper to bumper anyway. Had to stop by my office to pick up something and got a small treat bag , and a winning lottery ticket, they put together for the Christmas party last week. I didn't go. I never go. I always have to many things to do after work to stop buy, even for a few minutes. During the week it's rush, rush until after dinner. Weekends are better, I'm more relaxed knowing I can sleep until whenever. Had to go do some last minute things tonight, in the snow and decided I wasn't going back out. Don't' know if Bible study was cancelled or not, but I just didn't feel like going back out on the roads in the cold again. It's only been in the lower 20's here lately and with the wind, it's super cold. Been in the low teens to single digits overnight, so I decided to skip it. Have to go out later to get hubby and the oldest. Groceries came in today because of the holiday. Hubby hurt his back so I told him to keep the oldest and make him do all the lifting and moping of the floors. Hubby says he feels best when he first gets up. Told him it's because he's rested his back all night. I hope he listens to me and takes the oldest tomorrow to give his back a chance to get better. He said he was feeling better when he got to work and then lifted something and his back is hurting again. Well...............

I didn't take tomorrow off, I'm working. I don't think there's to much I have to do, good thing because my real work starts when I get home. Pies, cake and maybe some cookies. I'm feeling to lazy tonight to do anything. I did bake some pumpkin bread to take to my lady tomorrow. Christmas isn't something she really celebrates because she's Jewish, but it's still a holiday and she should have something home baked for the weekend, since I won't be back until Monday.

The cakes should be done cooling and then I'm off to veg on the sofa. My body knows it's the middle of the week, I'm tired!!

Snow?? What snow?

I guess the big news of the day is that we didn't get the half a foot of snow, plus that was predicted. Not one single snow flake! We were talking about it in church this morning and one woman was saying she felt almost disappointed. Me to. Snow on a weekend when I can sit home and watch it knowing I don't have to drive in it is a rare treat for me. But, farther south of us, including nyc, got clobbered with snow. I had told hubby when the snow was supposed to start and to close if he was slow. Since hubby works until early morning, the roads usually aren't plowed or anything yet. I remember way to many nights driving home on unplowed back roads. Not a pleasant thing, especially when you have no cell service and you might see maybe one car the entire drive home. We live 5 minutes from hubby's work, but in snow that 5 minutes can become 20. Fortunately, it's a rather populated area.

We got up and went to church. All but hubby, he chose the bed instead. As I was getting ready he was tossing and turning in bed having trouble sleeping. I told him it was God's way of telling him to get out of that bed and go to church with his family, lol. He said it was because the heavy curtains weren't' closed. Ha! He was up when I got home and I asked him what time he was up, he said 11:45. He only slept for another hour anyway. Again he says he will go next week. The service this morning was such a good one that I really wish he was there. We had been working through the book on Daniel, which he missed almost all of. Then the other elder has been preaching and he chose the real meaning of Christmas. Again, all messages that hubby should really be hearing instead of laying in bed. But, with him working nights he can at least attend church with me. If he worked daytime, he wouldn't have that option at all.


I came home and worked on getting the cookie baking done. One batch of cookies made and one bar cookie done. Ran out of time after that because the oven had to be free for the oldest to make dinner in. And I was getting tired. Had the oldest make stuffed shells. They were really good. I did hover over the oldest as he was making them though! So tomorrow just cookies on the agenda for me. And the mountain of laundry. Always laundry.........................

This 3 day work week is going to feel nice. So will next week since I took new years day off to. Not to do anything special, but just because. Since we didn't' do the white elephant at church last week with the pot luck, the thinking is maybe to do it new years eve. Sounds good to me. Maybe have everyone bring in some kind of snack to have before. We could have our own new years celebration. Should know for sure probably next week.

And then, well then it's back to business......................No more days off.

Slow day

So, this is the last weekend until Christmas. I pushed myself yesterday after work to do all the Christmas dinner shopping. And I even bought some dips and chips for New Years. It will be just us, I think, for Christmas, which is fine with me. I took Monday off, just to relax and get all the last minute things done. Hubby and I went last night and delivered one of the gifts we have under the tree. I was surprised hubby went with me, so was she. I can't remember the last time he was there. She was telling me she hasn't gotten anything done yet. Her husband was coming home last night and they were going shopping today. Not sure when he's leaving again, but she did say he won't be home for Christmas but will be there the day after. Her sister is supposed to come for Christmas, but since she lives out of state, it will depend on the weather. So we told her to stop by our house, no reason to sit home on the holiday alone.

Got up super early to drop my time sheet off at work. By dropping it off I know I'll get paid on time. Putting it in the mail if it comes in the office late I have to wait until the next week to get paid. No snow, so off I went. Earlier in the week I had bought something for the guy who works with hubby for his birthday. I got him a hoodie. The hood it lined with fur and has a fleece lining inside. He said it wasn't the right size, to small across the shoulders. That was the largest size they had at the time and I lost my receipt anyway. The youngest took it. He liked it and it fit so early Christmas gift. We bought him a different hoodie, bigger size. The guy doesn't like the color of this one! Well, guess he's getting nothing now. I've tried twice and struck out both times. Now I have to return this one and get the money back though. I did keep the receipt this time. It's odd the other receipt disappeared. I've been keeping the receipts in my purse. Best place I can think of where they won't get lost!

Supposed to be getting snow later tonight into tomorrow. Some people say we're not getting anything and others say quite a bit. According to the weather map we are on the verge of the 7+ side. Guess tomorrow will tell. Anyway, if we get a lot of snow then Church will be cancelled for sure. Another Sunday hubby was planning on going. Hubby says to just stay in bed and relax a little tomorrow morning if it's snowing. For the man to say that, I know he's tired.

I got all my knitting done so off to the post office I go on Monday with my boxes. Late in mailing them this year. Made a batch of Christmas cookies this afternoon, and that was it. I wanted to get 2 kinds done in the next 3 days, but just wasn't into it. Maybe tomorrow. Hope so, since I bought all the ingredients for the different kinds I wanted to make. Hubby bought me a new mixer for Christmas. So tired of fighting with the one I have now. Really tempted to get it out of the box and put it to use. Just might tomorrow. Tired of fighting with a mixer who's beaters refuse to stay put!

Well, I have a hat and scarf to work on yet for hubby so I need to get moving on it if he's going to have it for Friday.

Bbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............

The wind has been blowing like crazy since last night. It's only in the low 20's out there but with the wind feels below zero. At least this house I work in has heat, not like the last one, just a fireplace and room heater.

Got nothing done last night after I made dinner. Just so tired. Went out on the sofa and was ready to sleep my 7 pm. All the busy days must be catching up to me. Didn't even knit last night, just layed on the sofa and fought to keep my eyes open. Then, when I did go to bed, had a hard time falling asleep. The whole reason I fought sleep was so I could sleep when I went to bed! Did sleep well because I never heard hubby come in. I heard someone moving around though. I looked at the foot of the bed and didn't see hubby's clothes so thought maybe it was a kid. Didn't sound like a kid though. Looked at the clock and thought it was to early to be hubby, but it was him. Just closed early. Must have been tired or not busy. Or maybe since I have to pick him up, he's used to closing around 1/1:30 and just decided it was time.

Well, I need to head to work. My eyes are so tired they burn a little. All I really want to do is crawl back in bed and relax.

Free time

Actually got home from work and had a few minutes to myself. That's rare! Staying home for the night. Bible study is basically cancelled because they are going to sing Christmas carols. I can't sing anyway.

Hubby was still here when I got home from work. That's unusual. The other guy had the truck and couldn't come and get him because the early guy wasn't around. Oh well, guess you just have to wait. Glad I didn't go shopping or visit my friend, like I planned. He'd still be here, lol! All I plan on doing is wrapping hubby's gifts, taping up moms box and then starting the last pair of booties for the cousin in Canada. Just might be able to mail both boxes on Friday. Then I have to start stuff for when hubby goes to India. Ordered wool yarn online and got a email today that it's been discontinued. Only getting the wool I ordered for the fingerless gloves. Now I have to go back and look at something else. I bought 2 skeins of a mohair and something else yarn. Two colors in the same color family. It's a very thin yarn and not quite enough to make what I want out of it. At least I don't have a pattern for anything using yarn that thin. My thought was to mix it with a slightly heavier yarn. Since I've never done any lace type work, but would love to I found a lace scarf pattern. All I need now is the second yarn to mix it with.

Decided I'm taking new years day off to. I normally don't but I want this last day to just relax and breathe. It's back to school after that so things will be getting busy again. It's like my last day of relaxation. What's really going to hurt is no more holidays off for quite a while after that!

Been thinking about what I'm going to cook for Christmas dinner. Decided I'm going shopping Friday night. This way I can take the boys, visit my friend, and drop my time sheet. Then I have all weekend to stay home, except for Sunday morning. And Monday I'm taking off as well, so it's a long weekend for me. Both the beginning and the end of the week. That should reduce some of my stress.

Well, time to work on dinner. I asked hubby to make a salad before he went to work, he forgot. I also asked him to make bread since I'm making potato and cauliflower for dinner tonight. He remembered the bread. Guess I can only give him one thing at a time to do :)