Monday, December 23

[carole]

Happy Christmas Eve Eve,

Well it turns out that DD1 and the grands are not coming to AZ. Oh well, it must be in God's plan. So this will be the very first since having the kids that we will not be with them. sigh. But we are going to a party of 50 at some friends house on Christmas Day. This will definitely be a different kind of Christmas for us.

I have been down with a cold for the past week, but it is on it's way out, so that is good. I spent the last 20 hours quilting an UFO. Have one more row and I can put the binding on it. I am determined to get these projects done this year.

Izzy - Another thing I want to do is get rid of blocks that I am never going to use. Are you still collecting orphan blocks because I have some if you need them. I will mail them after the holidays, so just let me know.

Everyone is so busy baking and I have not made a single cookie. We certainly don't need them and with the kids not coming well you know.

Did I mention that Ken pasted the $20.00 bill back together and told the gal at the bank that the dog ate his homework, and she replaced it. So my devil dog is still in good standing.

Yes, I am curious, did MOM of 6 get a new job outside the home. First time I have heard of this from reading the posts.

Well I better get back to quilting that last row. Wanat to get the binding on today for sure.

Merry Christmas to all and lots of love.

Carole

[maryq]

Good Morning Girls

The sun is shining this morning.. but it's a Frigid 6 BELOW this morning.. now why didn't I stop for gas on Saturday when it was ABOVE Zero!

Didn't leave the house all day yesterday... was wonderful. Made a mess, cleaned it up, made another mess. Finished MORE scarves, baked another batch of cookies for work, baked Cranberry bread (I did remember the sugar!), ran the vac, changed my sheets, and finished sewing the binding on the 2nd Twin Sister Baby quilt! YEAH! I think I'm done shopping and wrapping, so I'm as ready for Christmas as I'll ever be!

Suzette.. great idea to put a little powdered sugar glaze on the bread.. or is it all gone now anyway. You could say you left out the sugar on purpose--"diet Cranberry Bread" My recipe for Cranberry bread says to cream shortening and sugar together first, so it's pretty hard to forget the sugar!

Judi... Oh yes paper plates are much easier! But I have a ton of china that I never use... and gold flatware that my Dad gave me when I was in High School. This is the only time of year I dig them out and actually use them. Are you making your lasagna sauce from scratch? I just open a jar of Prego!

Izzy... aren't men such babies? Did you see the thing on Youtube or Facebook, where they simulated labor pains for 2 men! It was a hoot! Hope he feels better soon though, no fun having a grumpy old man around at Christmas time! DD is okay too?

Lois... glad you got out to test your driving skills. May take a little practice to feel comfortable on the roads again.

Tina... sounds like you will have a full house for Christmas! What Joy! I love when everybody is here and the house is filled with the laughter of children!

Maryz....safe travels for you today! Did you take along some thing to work on in the car?

Cindyg... We got paid last Friday and my check is gone, so if you're writing checks.. I could use another one! I was a blondie as a little girl too, then it turned dish-water brown. I've tried to let it go to natural color, but it's just so darn dull...so I add blonde streaks.. even the gray doesn't see to add enough "bling".

Carole... Sorry you're kids won't be there for Christmas. One of the first Christmases after DEX left, I spent Christmas Eve totally alone. Gosh it was sad! I missed the fun of opening gifts and playing Santa Claus. This year I have to work until 9:00pm! Glad you got your $20, replaced.. I'd call that "found money" and spend it on something fun... like fabric!

Kathy... You could always put on sign in your kitchen... "DISASTER AREA... AUTHORIZED PERSONAL ONLY" My Dad used to put that sign on my bedroom door when I was a teenager--was a hint that I should clean my room! (Thinking of putting it on room mate's bedroom door)

Well girls, my computer time is up.. Need to get stuff together to take to work this morning. Pot luck lunch, Secret Santa gift, Prize for the Ugliest Sweater, cookies for exchange! Good thing I have a big car!

Wishing you all a most wonderful day!

[auntjana]

Good morning!

It is a busy day around here - DS3 called yesterday and decided that he would stay an extra day in Reno - so he is not here yet! Sometime today he will arrive. I will be a basket case until he gets here - we have had snow all week-end and rain is expected today - so that means that the hockey rinks are back!

Just finishing up some sewing today and getting my kitchen in order for tonight - all the kids that live here will be in and out for dinner and making cookies at my house - just waiting for their brother to get here too.

So not much going on here - I have a ton of wrapping to catch up on too - well at least I got the Dickens Village finished the other day - so the house is finally complete - 5 days before Christmas! LOL

Have a great day! Still have snow, if you need some! LOL
Hugs
Jana

[womster]

Morning -

My laptop has an awful virus - I'm going to have to recover it back to the metal, as we say, and reinstall everything. Of course, someone misplaced the CD for the printer. I'm so sad that I'll be MIA for awhile....

DH needs the iPad, so I need to run. Have a great day!

Xoxo Sharona

[Marilynsgrammy]

Good morning, it will be a busy day today and tomorrow... then Christmas day will be the wonderful smells of turkey cooking...

today Jerry will make his pies and candies and cookies.. I will need to stay out of his way... when he is done I can come help clean up... we set things down on any empty surface so we have a bit of clutter.. before I married Jerry my house was neat because it was only me... now add him and Mar (the king and queen of clutter) to the mix... well, I hope you feel sorry for me...lol... never a dull moment and we can never find anything...ugh.

Scrappy Pat, as soon as you send those pictures I will be happy to post them...

Kathy, will you be with your sis for Christmas?

Maryq. I am so glad the kids are coming afterall...and Manacotti sounds wonderful.. will you have lots of veggies to go with...lol...I'm not really LUCKY that Jerry bakes.. and I have the figure to show it...

Lois, Jerry signed me up for El's 2014 BOM.. I am excited to start it. I am not good at starting my shopping or sewing early for the following year either.. happy driving... sorry Cinderella is having slipper issues, she had best try on all of her shoes now...lol...

Mel, how is your son? is there an update?

Suzette, wonder if you can drizzle some of the frosting used on cinnamon rolls over your cranberry bread, it would add sweetness.

Jana, is your son there yet? how cool that he is coming home for Christmas.

Izzy, glad all is well there. hope DH's back is better and the CHRISTmas play for DD is fun.

Tess, the Soltice quilt looks like it will be fun, they post directions often so I am not sure I could keep up.. what are preacher cookies...

Tina, it will really be Christmas at your house with everyone there.. you are blessed to have "that kind" of a family... I envy you.

Maryz.. hope you find the stores not crowded... I just found some turkey soup from t-giving to thaw out for tonight's dinner. tomorrow I will chop everything for a salad... Ilove a big salad with lots of stuff in it... I will make deviled eggs then Christmas morning we will fix everythig else.. I just love the rush of fixing Christmas dinner..

Judi, there is nothing wrong with plastic plates.. they even have plastic cutlery that looks like metal. I'm with you on the clean up part. I wish I knew how many times the sink was full and emptied of cooking things while cooking dinner for that one meal...lol

Cindyg.. I will subscribe to your theory on hair color.. mine is a mixture of brown and grey...I also wanted to sew but with this holiday coming around I am not getting to fondle much fabric....

Carole, sorry the kids won't be there.. but I am glad they are all together.. cool huh?

Maryq.. sounds like it will be a fun day for you... lots of busy-ness in it..

Jana, if DS is staying in Reno one more night there must be a reason God doesn't want him on the roads... when he does get there just give him a good loving smack for making his mom worry...lol

Sharona, hope your virus gets fixed quickly...

everyone get ready for the first of the year.. Vinae has a great swap planned and mine will follow... clean those machines, gather your thread and fabric and make sure you have a comfy chair, it will be a busy sewing year. lots of swaps and lotto's.

well, I could be a nice wife and clean the toilets for DH..then he could bake and relax a bit... and I could dust...

but first breakfast... you all have a wonderful day
Chriss

[billizzy]

coffee break
Ok got peanut butter ball mix in fridge setting; sugar cookie dough done; spritz cookie dough done all in fridge to fix up later:)

Making FI cake. Since DH mom passed I have taken to make her German Chocolate Cake (Not really german but oh I wont go there) with pecan and coconut icing for him each Christmas. I am working on icing and then that is done. Baked cake earlier and its cooled ready to ice.

Proud of myself I have cleaned as I went so not too bad in kitchen LOL. Got to get lunch for Dh and I soon. I am starving. Got to clean up after icing due to nuts. AHHH.

You all have been very busy too I see.

Izzy

[Irishgram]

Good early afternoon from rainy, dreary, getting colder, Sw. Pa...We've had a few days of spring weather and now it's time to get back to winter.....Oh well, why not!

It's been a busy, hectic time in this household...Terry and the boys are here and we are having a great visit....Always ready to do something....Yesterday was Mass and then onto breakfast with our friends and also Kathy's 2 girls and Dr. Phil...The girls brought Phil home for the Penguin game and he was heading back after breakfast...The girls were so excited, after the game they had gone to dinner and stopped for a drink and a bunch of the Penguins joined them.....And then of course we had the Steeler game and that was a nail bitter.....
Today might be more cookie baking and I think the boys want to go ice skating...I am thinking of heading to the Omaha steak store for some last minutes extra gifts (maybe)....

Being Irish, we have lots of red hair in the family, various shades and I don't recall anyone getting teased, except Kathy...She has very, very thick curly hair and her own kids said, it looked like a mushroom...Dan even tried to hide legos in it...But, now she keeps it fairly straight and does use color to keep it red instead of the white that keeps showing up.....

Izzy, so sorry to hear about the fallings...You do have a lot on your plate, don't you....Hope all the aches and pains go away, quickly....

Suzette, you've gotten some good ideas for your bread..But, know you're not alone in forgetting an ingredient...Terry just told me he made ginger snaps and forgot the ginger????

Maryz, hope your appointment is a good one and you don't come home covered with bandages as Jim does....You Irish skinned people? He has to go soon for the MOHs treatment, again.....What kind of foody stuff are you planning on serving?...I'm making up my schedule for the places I want to visit.....From reading the posts, we have a country full of darn good food..

CindyG, Can I be included in that check receiving list? At this time of year, I'm accepting all the help I can get.....

Maryq, I had to laugh about the "Disaster" sign...We had the same one and I put it on Terry's bedroom door, when he still lived at home....But we were surprised, in college, his room was neat...But, I guess I could use it now for my kitchen, also.....

Well, it's time to move on....Everyone is stirring and I don't want to miss anything......

You all have a great day......
Dorothy

[Becca]

Hello Everyone.Late today as we had to be at Dr at 8:oo for blood work for DH.Over cast day here but cold is coming this afternoon.

After reading all the posts you feel dizzy from all the activities.

Everyone running on last minute chores.I got my homemade applesauce made.And my Sweet potato soufflé is being mixed.Baked the potatos first.Have all my cookies & candy made.

One of my BF's come yesterday & was loaded with goodies & gifts for us.Great visit.

We will be going to our DS1 for Christmas.Will be MIA for a few days.

Everyone have a Merry Christmas.Best wishes to all...Becca

[momof6quilts]

Sorry to confuse everyone...I "worked" at my MIL's today because I am in charge of all the aide stuff. I sent time sheets in and made calls to the service, etc. So no, I do not have a "job" but I sure do WORK!

The store was a crazy mess! I have never been to a grocery store that crowded before. I sure was glad to get out of the there and back home!

Vicky

[grammiequilts]

Well I made it out and back pretty quick....I didn't buy paper I bought green and red Plastic ones and cups too I won't eat off paper by the time you fin ish hot food you have eaten an amount of paper with it..so plastic for us///they are pretty heavy and probably could be washed....but nope ...will toss them. Cindy we eat off paper in the RV but mainly cause we eat a lot of cold meals...and burgers and dogs are ok on paper. We have a bunch of what we call lunch baskets....they are plastic baskets....line them with a piece of waxed paper and we use them in the camper too...

I was very surprised that it was not that crowded of course I didn't go to the big stores just to Gordons, and stopped at Krogers for some spices for the lasagna....Yes I make my sauce from scratch. I use 5 cheeses and 3 meats.....it is an awesome recipe I got years ago from Emeril Lagasse show. Make the sauce the day before(which will be tonight) and put it together tomorrow....it uses dry lasagna noodles they cook in the sauce.....very yummy. uses lotsa sauce and freezes very well///We usually cut it into serving sizes and freeze individually. But on Christmas eve there is not a lot left over...

I have one more bathroom to clean....mine....so I will get to it...Ken has a long honey do list when he gets home LOL/ I will relax and hand sew some hexxies and watch the game tonight.....XXXOOO