shortbread cookies and package wrapping

My "tasks" today have been shortbread cookies and package wrapping... another step towards Christmas.

Yesterday Bob and I went through the box of lights. Luckily we wrapped each strand and put it away in a grocery store bag and then into the box. So we checked each strand...all ok.  Some to go around the front of the house and some on the deck railing out back. 

So while I was cookie baking Bob put up the lights. Do you think the squirrels will leave the deck lights alone this year? They ate through lots of the wiring last year..How come they don't get zapped??

The last two days have been well into the 50's... feels strange to have it so warm in December. Tomorrow the temps are supposed to drop...someone/something must have heard me.

Another one of those days!!

Headed downtown KC for my haircut... raining but it wasn't cold enough to be a problem! Kansas City down by the Plaza has loads of construction going on  They are working hard to add the lines extending the streetcar.

Home meant Mexican Wedding Bells/Russian Teacake cookies. A batch is now put away.

Next is loading up our car with the "stuff" for our seniors.. the Phoenix Family Christmas adopt-a-program. We will leave them with our daughter and she will deliver them!!

We talked and talked and talked and finally managed to switch our adopt-a-senior stuff into our daughter's car... and went out to Moocho's for dinner. Moocho is a great Mexican/BBQ restaurant in Oak Grove!

When we left home at 5pm the fog was unbelievable... when we drove home  at 8 after Moocho's it was gone!!

Change in plans

 Bob and I went Christmas shopping instead of me baking cookies...Found something for the "hard to buy for" daughter so came home feeling very successful.

I have a podiatrist appointment this afternoon so will probably bake a batch of cookies after that! BTW the rumballs taste great!!

Before we went shopping Bob spent almost a half hour looking for his wallet. I swear he looked everywhere... even dumping the cat Jack to check whether it had fallen down alongside the seat in his recliner.  It finally showed up in his desk drawer where he had carefully placed it after paying for his Medicare Humana yearly fee  ( his advantage plan)... oh well...

Start of Christmas baking??

 I started on my Christmas baking this morning... giant ginger cookies!! Christmas isn't Christmas without the taste of ginger....They are cooking and will go into the freezer.

Next is rumballs... when Bob finds the bag of confectionery sugar. It's either up on the highest shelf or downstairs in my basement pantry...   Bob found the confectionery sugar... in an Uncle Ben's metal tin up on the highest shelf.. No way could I reach it, but he could and did. Made the rumballs and Bob rolled them in more confectionery sugar!! Now they are sitting in the fridge...We nibbled as we worked and they taste good!!

Next... tomorrow.. Scottish shortbread cookies.. or maybe sugar cut out cookies.. or Mexican Wedding Bells ( Russian Tea cakes)

Another busy day so far..

 Up as usual.. emptied the dishwasher and made a cup of Keurig coffee. After Bob fed the cats etc and I dressed  etc. we settled down to divide our senior giftings. One pile for M and one for A. Then wrapped some things and packed them into large Home Goods bags .... each bag etc has a printed name tag.

We had received a biography for each and a list of wants/needs to go by. I think we succeeded... including a gift card from Santa Claus.

Our daughter will take them downtown KC to Phoenix Family where a facility person will make sure each senior gets his/her stuff.  

Phoenix Family has similar set-ups for families.

Merry Christmas M and A!!

Well... received a text from our older daughter. Her dog, Harper, had gotten out of the fenced back yard. She caught her but has no idea how Harper got out and has to go to work until  9 ( dark outside). So Bob went off to see if he could find out!!

Good luck Bob!!  In exchange I am doing Christmas cards...

He found Harper had moved everything at the fence's back gate and went under. Who would think a dog could move a large tire with rim and several concrete blocks! Bob put things back , rearranged things and added more blocks. Yes, Harper is a big dog but she 's also to d*** smart!!

Whew... finally back home

We left home with a list of chores...PO for bears... Disabled Vets for donations...Wal-Mart for Senior gifting ... Target for more Senior gifting...Home Goods for gift bags.

The Post Office parking lot was full...no place to park. Gave up. Disabled Vets  was happy to get our bags/boxes.  Wal-Mart was fine. Our actual check-out person was friendly and quick... Target was equally good. The line in Home Goods stretched to the moon but I made it through and actually saw a friend at the same time!!

So the bears are in our mailbox waiting for the carrier...and everything we bought is piled up in the living room waiting to be divided. Still a thing or two to be bought but the end is in sight.

The UPS driver dropped off a box for Lili and Spencer... coming from Canada it was squashed ( inadequately packed) and in the midst of the Canadian postal strike. I bought it through etsy so not a great review.

I am exhausted!!

Nap time...bears picked up...the show is closed. This was the last one of the year... do I start thinking about next year's shows?

a so so day

 Another so so day. I did go out and took my grocery list to our little Wal-Mart. The parking lot was full but there were loads of checkout stands. 

I did not buy Hellman's mayo, butter or eggs...I still have some and the prices were too high. The fresh veggie prices were good.. so  we will be having them tonight , tomorrow etc.

Bob worked on our taxes and letters for our charitable donations using funds from our minimal distribution funds. That feels good and there are so many non-profit organizations that need help... especially this time of the year.

Tomorrow Bob and I start shopping for our Adopt-A-Seniors  - a Phoenix Family thing.

More bears leaving!! Hurrah!! They're ready to go!!