Yesterday, Dec 26th ... I thought it was the 28th or 29th because it felt like the 25th had been many days long. We had a great Christmas Eve dinner with Bri's mom and her boyfriend, Bri's best friend and Matt's friend from work. The next morning - opening gifts, followed by a traditional crepe brunch, then we opened the all important Stockings! Followed by naps and laying about the rest of the day.
The girls received a bunch of girlie-girls things ... make-up, bath-bombs, face mask, nail polish. It all looks like it threw up in the bathroom. Bri found some organization containers and got it all put away.
Earlier this week Bri made these Cream Cheese Lemon bars, mainly to add to the sugared walnuts and pecans gift bags for the neighbors, but also for us to enjoy. They were delicious. She had found extra lemons and cream cheese while cleaning out the refrigerator and ... voila!
Yesterday, which I was sure was the 28th but actually the 26th, Kate and I ventured to Pike's Place Market, packed full of hordes of rude roving tourist, not a great day to go. But we did spot this amazing artist's work at one of the galleries, Canadian Steve Smith (Dla'kwagila). His new color choices are amazing, so new vs. the traditional natural ones. And it feels like new shapes of old traditions. Anyway, I fell in love with Steve Smith.
Postcard from Provence is a diary in daily paintings by British artist Julian Merrow-Smith, following the changing seasons of his adopted home in the Vaucluse, in the South of France. His still life paintings are inspired by objets trouvés, pottery and seasonal produce from the local markets whilst many of his landscape paintings picture scenes within walking distance of his studio.
We have been watching a lot of Chef's Table which reminds me of my mom and other family cooking at the holidays. Now it is Bri, Matt and her mom cooking for holidays. I made sugared walnuts and pecans at Costco had a great deal. They turned out pretty good, I only burnt one test batch.
Kate woke me up at 7am, to tell me of her grim finding in the bathroom. One of the big dogs had an accident, both numbers. I told her NOT to clean up out dogs messes. But she was traumatized and could not go back to sleep. We made coffee and continued watching SLOW HORSES.
Aunt Kate is being very nice to Meemaw and taking the kids for LONG WALKS TO THE BEACH almost everyday. We get almost an hour or so of peace, quiet and time to clean. Her little gift to me!
We are changing it up a little this year and having Christmas eve dinner. The kids and Bri's mom are in charge. I am going to iron the linens today and dig out plates. I think about 11 of us. Should be fun with Murphy low-growling at everyone.
Bri is cleaning out the fridge at the moment and I see some fights in our future over condiments LOL But honestly, I just read the expiration date on one and it was 2017.
Bri is cleaning out the fridge at the moment and I see some fights in our future over condiments LOL But honestly, I just read the expiration date on one and it was 2017.
I have been watching some Russian cooking shows that are pretty fun. I mean, isn't cooking the universal language?
Yeah, I won't be making any of these, but they looked so cute. And while I am not making these cute dishes, I listen to these ') I am off the the dollar store for more gift bags.
My wonderful SIL have taken the kids ON FOOT to the beach, way far away. :) While I try and clean kitchen and bathroom a little bit. Looks like the girls had a finger polish spill in the bathroom, thankfully, it is a small, clear area of disaster. Not sure how to get that up. Matt made a big pot of chicken rice soup, so I am cleaning that up. Kate and I opted for a big salad of micro-greens, pear, cheese, with pate and other yummy stuff. We went to Trader Joe's AND World Market the other day and came home with two big bags of chocolate digestives, chocolate Cadbury Fingers (all the things that mom and I bought at Christmas), dark chocolate peanut butter cups (TJ), lots of candies and such. I already feel like I have gained many pounds.
All dogs and cats are napping while I attempt to clean up their hair from every surface of the house and their messes every where else. What is wrong with this picture? I keep putting Murphy and Remi's enormous chew toys in the toy box so I won't break a toe or hip tripping over them.
Kate doesn't have many of the streaming apps we have so we spend the night huddled in front of some delicious TV show "catching up". We watched Chef's Table, some British mysteries, some movies. We have weeks to watch many others. "Barbie" is on the menu tonight.
I don't feel like I have enough presents but at some point you have to stop, right? I have spent a lot of money this holiday and had a blast doing it. Making up for years worth of not spending too much. I have ended up giving the girls stuff AS I PURCHASE IT. It is a hug problem when you have manipulative kids around you!
We have gone done to Edmonds many times to shop in the local stores. I bought 100's of dollars worth of candles, trying to make up for what David would have bought for our stockings. We went to David's favorite toy store yesterday but left with a fraction of what he would have purchased there. We did use he frequent shopper number (he is still in the system) for a 10% discount.
Bri is also out shopping today. I think we all worried we haven't bought enough, but isn't that always the drill?
I think they are all headed home soon. So back to finishing up my cleaning.
I am finally ready to get back to the vacuuming after having a long coffee-drinking morning, with Bri and the girls (fighting). But we did manage to talk about making a free little library in between the crying and yelling. Kate arrives at 9pm, so ONWARD!
The girls help me navigate from one free library to another in our area, using the app. We have given away so many books this way. And we talk about building one to honor David's love of reading. But just talked about it. This morning it was a little more serious discussion about where we might put one on our own property. We have lots of foot traffic which is what makes a free library so special. Any passer-by (neighbor) can take or give a book. I think we are now going to talk to our neighbor and see what they think about one being on our property.
You may have seen a Little Free Library in towns you visit or know of them through the grapevine. They're those wooden structures, often shaped to look like a little house or barn, that house a small collection of books. This non-profit organization started in St. Paul, Minnesota, in an effort to make reading more accessible in communities across the globe. In fact, according to its website, as of today, there are over 150,000 Little Free Libraries.
The best part about its mission is anyone can choose to set one up. And some areas can have more than one. In Detroit, there are an estimated 500 libraries, as reported by American Libraries Magazine. Installing a Little Free Library starts with a desire to spread the love of reading. But it also requires some prep work and dedication. If you're interested in bringing one into your town, here are some key things you need to know about installing one.
I should be vacuuming right now, but my back is hurting after cleaning the kitchen of spaghetti dinner, so I am taking a blogging break. SIL comes tomorrow night ... I told myself yesterday, if it does not get cleaned, it will be okay. I no more get something clean than it is a mess again.
I spent about an hour moving crap to the right room. Found toothbrushes, regular brushes, hair ties and clips, lip gloss, etc and took it to bathroom. Shoes, clothes, LOTS of socks to bedroom (tossed in the door), dog toys to box so I will not trip over or break a toe on one, gave dog food, and watered everyones's bowl, dirty dishes, empty pop and beer cans to kitchen, candy wrappers (on the floor), pictures that Noah colored last night, wrapping paper (Noah's birthday last night), more paper shit torn from gifts ... to the trash. Mind you, I do this almost every day and there is just more the next day. Groundhog day cleaning.
While I am cleaning, I am thinking about how different Bri and I are. She is an Aquarian and is really just like DAVID, another Aquarian. In our cleaning, organizational interest is really where the difference shows up the most. I am not saying I am right or she is right ... we are just very opposite. I CAN not decorate a dirty room or house. It makes my head hurt and my creativity and desire to decorate is extinguished. It is a good thing that doesn't deter Bri because she wants to get the tree up for the kids and family. Left up to me, we would be treeless until the room is clean, which might be never at this juncture. Thankfully, she has full authority to decorate and it all looks great (except for the surrounding mess).
I also realize (I always knew this but didn't verbalize it), that I use this blog for a sounding board. Seeing how something reads or looks before I solidify it in my thoughts.
I got stuck on watching a special on Band of Brothers last night on YouTube. I so loved that series and I realize I have become somewhat of a WWII historian with all the specials I have digested. I also watched the memorial service for Dick Winters, very inspirational and moving. David and I watched that series so many times. I am always amazed at how brave those kids were and how in the world they ever did what they did to give the world freedom! I had watched a WWII special and I guess I forgot just how close the world came to being ruled by Hitler.
This was a great review of the story of the Band of Brothers
I am so sick of this crap showing up in my email. The first thing, check the email address that it is coming from. Some of them are just funny. They want you to click, or subscribe, or buy or something. I just delete. I really love the Spanish version of 'verify your hotmail". And who or what is Aspire credit card???
I am going to need an extraordinary amount of coffee for today's task!
I also watched Archie the other night. I found it so depressing. Someone looking so perfect, handsome, talented with so many mental issues. I am not saying that is not normal ... so controlling. I could not, would not be married to someone like that, no matter how handsome or rich.
Also the new movie The Family Plan is coming to Apple TV, Invitation to a Murder, Killers of the Flower Moon ... so many things for Kate to watch when she gets here. The girls are so excited for her to be her.
I have watched the crows fly to go roost every dusk for years and years asking "where do they go?" And someone explained that.
Thousands of crows have gathered nightly at the University of Washington's Bothell campus for at least 14 years. The “murder,” or group, of crows in Bothell can reach a peak of up to 16,000 birds. Even those who witness the phenomenon regularly are still awed.
I have been unpacking Christmas ornaments, setting aside some that I we might give away. Some broken, some that don't make sense. But I started thinking about the tree, the ornaments and how it doesn't seem to make much sense without David. All the ornaments we bought together, celebrating different milestones, Matt, remodeling the house (a saw and hammer), when we dumped over in the canoe (life vest and little canoe), cooking utensils for my mom, wine bottles, birds and chairs for me, fishing Santas for David, solitary fish, our first ornaments from our first Christmas together. I was the one who always recited the story behind each, or the person who gifted it, or something that was handmade for us. Those stories were between David and me. Matt has his, a trombone, a skating Santa, a soccer ball, a little mouse and dad mouse sleeping inside a tent, the rugrats, Harry Potter ... those make sense to him and he can remember getting them. And maybe he will recite to his girls when he received those, and why. But the rest were really for me, David, Matt and my mom. I guess I didn't realize how hollow it would all feel without him. Of course, I do tell the grandkids all about our personal ornaments and what they mean, so maybe they understand them and want to keep them.
So unwrapping ornaments seems like a slog right now. A Ba-Hum-Bug moment for Meemaw. I am sure when everyone gets home it will feel more festive.
An interesting weekend was had by all.
Bri is still on her organizational tour and now has embarked on the Xmas tree ... note: only putting up one this year. Not like years past, this year is going to be a 'make do' kind-of decorating year.
Many, many sour cream and yogurt tubs were sacrificed to achieve this! I turned my head not to watch them go into the trash. We got into a small argument about having two buckets near the fireplace. I like them and Bri thinks it is too much. I have a perfectly logical explanation for it. I did concede that the jam without a label or date could be tossed after I opened and smelled it. She did the pantry and I predict a few fights over my 'tossing stuff in there" in days to come. I fear, we have a long way to go before the place is livable.
They had a sale on dog toys at Petsmart and I asked Bri if this one came with a vibrator (which could be a dual purpose)? My friend commented we would not be allowed to mail that to Texas. LOL
I thought THIS was hysterical but Noah not so much! We had to explain that was ketchup and chicken bones NOT the elf.
I stepped in dog pee, IN SOCK FEET twice walking over to this computer just now. And I am trying to figure out what little bastard is doing this?! They have all been out numerous times, starting at 2:30a when Murphy and Remi woke me up with a wet nose to the face ... to let them out. I am sure this little angel was not involved ;)
The weekend started out badly, when at 8am on Saturday morning the girls started bickering. I said calmly, "let's don't start that today" ... no one listened, I think I heard slapping going on. I let out the loudest, most ear-piercing scream (sure the neighbors would hear it) and included something about "STOPPING IT AND NOT THIS SHIT BEFORE MY COFFEE" There was immediate silence, this got even the parents up from their bed. Apologies from the girls later, and we went off the the Dollar store as promised and had $66 worth of fun and giggles. I also think we entertained many shoppers in ear's reach. Anyway, it may have gotten a little worse later when I suggested (in text) that the kids might consider divorce.
I was accused of this more than once this weekend.
And I discovered this crystal vase that my parents received as a present from a boyfriend of mine in Scotland in the early 80's. Decided to keep it.
Murphy and Remi bark at the window at each passerby ... the neighbors at the Christmas party last night (a few doors down) asked me about the barking, howling dogs. I just weakly smiled and said, oh, they are harmless, they just sound really mean. No one was convinced. Murphy is afraid of the fly swatter, which I used effectively to stop the barking. I was feeding Pixie her roast beef this morning, Murphy had his nose as close as it could get to the cutting board. When I offered him a peanut butter and banana biscuit, he just looked at me with incredulity.
A HUGE Eagle just flew by my window ... maybe he could take one or two cats on the way by? (just kidding). But speaking of multiples, take one cutting board and multiply by 17 ... and that is the magic number in the kitchen and no one is budging on giving any away.
The girls received a bunch of girlie-girls things ... make-up, bath-bombs, face mask, nail polish. It all looks like it threw up in the bathroom. Bri found some organization containers and got it all put away.
Yesterday, which I was sure was the 28th but actually the 26th, Kate and I ventured to Pike's Place Market, packed full of hordes of rude roving tourist, not a great day to go. But we did spot this amazing artist's work at one of the galleries, Canadian Steve Smith (Dla'kwagila). His new color choices are amazing, so new vs. the traditional natural ones. And it feels like new shapes of old traditions. Anyway, I fell in love with Steve Smith.
