Quiet days

 The days since Christmas have been quiet ones... grocery shopping, laundry, eating leftovers and so on.

Today things started going back to normal... some going back to work. The college students are still on break.. My teacher daughter is on winter break too!

My grand daughter... big pat on her back... got all A's again. She has had all A's since she transferred into UMKC from the two year college. We are so proud of her!! Two semesters till graduation!

later..

Guess it's been too quiet for my daughter and grand daughter... they dropped by separately. My daughter came with donuts after she went grocery shopping... just to chit chat and have coffee. My grand daughter stopped by after work at the DMV to lend her grandfather her guitar. She's enjoying the college break and only working part-time.

I need a new hair stylist... so I posted on the Blue Springs Facebook page..I have lots of replies to check into.

Christmas Day

 

Christmas 2024... before everyone arrives and adds to the present pile !

I still miss the big real trees we used to have...  Many years we went out to the local tree farm to find the perfect tree. One year, when we were still living back east, we went to to find " THE TREE". There was snow on the ground and I was backpacking our youngest. I tripped in the snow and our daughter flew out of the backpack into a pile of snow... No harm done other than a cold face!

So this little manmade tree has some of the special ornaments and the angel Bob and I bought our first Christmas from Sibleys in Rochester,NY.

Christmas

 It's been a wonderful  Christmas morning! Just wonderful...

Now everyone has gone to their homes and we have tidied  up the  dining room table, kitchen and so on and I am sitting at my computer..

I follow a blog where the author posted the verse from her this year's Hallmark card...

"Christmas keeps us believing in goodness,

 in kindness, in the wonderful dream of Peace.

May Christmas always have the power

 to remind us of the connection between us all

 and to renew our wish for a more peaceful world.

And this year, especially, may Christmas bring you joy." 

 

 

Had to copy it...

Merry Christmas all

 

creeping ever closer

 Tomorrow is the big day. I woke up thinking of all that I had to do before everyone arrives Christmas morning... not too much...

Everything is in the living room ... all wrapped... food stuffs in the kitchen.. but I do have to "unhide" the Christmas plates, wine glasses and serving dishes!

Found some e-gift cards from Bob on my computer this morning!

Put all the wrapping paper stuff away...

Christmas cards arrived from our son's friends even though he has been gone for 6plus years... 

Our daughter dropped by with presents for tomorrow... the pile is looking big!

All that's left is a dinner of leftovers tonight which will empty out the fridge. Breakfast tomorrow and put out things and drinks for everyone's arrival.

another step closer to Christmas

I headed out a little earlier than usual expecting lots of people would be shopping... and they were! Went to Hy-Vee for meat from the meat area ... and a gift card.

Then it was Ace Hardware.. I swear it has the largest assortment of doggie toys and treats. So now Harper and Scout will have their own bag of presents. I also picked up a person item!

Then it was home for another "do nothing " day... Lots of Kindle reading. Luckily I found 4 new free/low cost kindle books on my computer... downloaded and ready for reading when I finish my current book!! 

Bob's "do nothing" day includes Kindle reading and X-Box.... I also wrapped things!!

Togetherness

 Unusual sight... they don't usually sleep together. Usually a fight occurs when one tries to get up onto the same recliner!!

Even though it is a quiet day ( after the meeting last night) there is still laundry that needs to be done

Getting ready for quilting craft group

 We have been getting ready for the quilting craft group meeting tonight... lots of Christmas cookies, Chex Mix, rum balls, dips, cheese  and so on waiting! I am looking forward to it!!

Bob vacuumed and "did" the bathroom... I baked a pecan pie!

Bob had an eye appointment this morning... lots of tests etc. It had been forever since his last eye check up and if his glasses nose piece  hadn't 'bit the dust' he probably would have put things off longer!!

Everything was done and a good time was had by all

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!!

Day #2 of bear show... plus other odds and ends

 Almost the first thing I did this morning was check to see whether any more bears had sold. The answer was no... but there is plenty of time left.

Boxes I sent Friday are already well on their way... the PO says they will arrive Monday!!

St. John LaLande ( our church here in Blue Springs) is having a Christmas bazaar this afternoon and tomorrow. This bazaar is where I first made and sold bears many many years ago. I number my bears and am reaching 7,000. Retirement?? Possibly!!

It looks like we will be having a few days of warmer weather. The report says 55 today!! Hurrah... may want to get down the lights and encourage Bob to put some up around the front door. I no longer nag him to get up on a ladder... so we won't be part of the lighting contest in our subdivision. 

Many pay to have their houses and yards super decorated..

Later... the bazaar was a little disappointing. Too many vendors and not enough crafters though we did find some pumpkin bread  and truffle bars made by the Altar Society. The truffle bars included a copy of the recipe which we will make !! They were very good... Bob just brought up a slice of the pumpkin bread which surprise surprise had raisins... also very good!!

Bob and I spent the evening watching "Holiday Inn" on Netflix... it had been a long time since the last time!!

 

 

Selling bears and shipping

 Here I sit at my computer watching the online bear show... watching to see if any have sold. Lots have!! Always a delight.

Then it's paperwork time... receipts, packing slips and so on. Finally it's off to the USPO web site where I can print labels and pay for the shipping... easy peasy. Then I leave the boxes on the front steps and the mail carrier picks them up... no waiting on lines ( especially this time of the year). I don't even have to leave home!!

The sale ends Monday evening... here's hoping there will be more boxes waiting for my carrier.

Christmas shopping

 I hadn't really intended to go Christmas shopping today. First it is super cold today but I has a strange message from Target (CVS) about my Xerelto. So off I went. The pharmacist decided she could fill the prescription even though the computer didn't show any problems with it. So I had 20 minutes to kill.

Off I went ... first the food section... Progresso soup on sale. Great! Then off to the Christmas section where I impulsed on Christmas candy... small giftie things ... and hang tags.

Picked up my prescription and check out and decided to head to Home Goods. That little visit to the Christmas section in Target must have triggered the Christmas bug. I found all sorts of stuff from chocolate/marshmallow hot chocolate stirrers to a box of Peppermint  Bark ( Robb always bought that!) Things to put out when we have visitors. Other small similar things to add onto the bigger family presents.

The checkout line snaked around a huge area...lots of piled high carts... lots of checkout cashiers!! Nobody complaining!

Later: Our grandson's musical performance... Luckily UMKC does U-tube!  Fun picking him out !

Cardiac stress test... Centerpoint Hospital

This morning was my cardiac stress test at Centerpoint Hosp. in Independence. St Mary's Hosp  here in Blue Springs no longer accepts Humana Insurance. So I had to switch...even so I had to pay $300 over what my insurance would pay.

Centerpoint is huge ! I had gotten the wrong directions so it was a long trek to the right registration desk! But after that everything went well...very friendly people.

Even longer trek back to our car ( Bob had switched it to the 'right' parking lot).

Not sure why but a nap was the order of the day when I got home! Though food first after having fasted for the test!

After my nap Lili and her grandfather had a long phone call about her Spring semester's cost and used cars she is looking into one to replace her husband's totaled one. I listened in and worked ,using the speaker thing on my phone,  on another bear.

Another nap... not sure why but have doubts about sleeping tonight.  Luckily there is "quilting" tonight which may help me be tired enough to sleep.

Last online show of 2024...

 Friday is the beginning of the last of this year's online shows ! Papa Mouse and Squeeks are my leads..

 Here is a link to the show which opens Friday at 10 am Central!

https://www.bright-star-promotions.com/OnlineShow/2024/TheBearBlitzShow2024.htm

I have been enjoying making bears and bear friends in a holiday look!!
 

How this works... 

If you click on the link above, you are taken to a page of participating bear artists. Then click on the lead bear ( or friend) and you will go to the participants page of items for sale. If you want to buy one... there is a PayPal button.

There are 39 artists participating from all over the world!!  Even when I  am not participating I find it interesting to see what is being made...

After Thanksgiving....

Days have been quiet... lots of book reading...finishing up the leftovers...And then we woke up to snow yesterday!!

It snowed off and on all day. I think we have about 3 to 4 inches. There were loads of wrecks on I-70  and our grand daughter struggled on the streets in Independence.

I snuggled down with a knot-tied fleece blanket made by a friend...my Kindle in  hand watching the snow through the window! 

Bob has been dealing with "intestinal stress" so we probably won't leave home today...

later..

the temperature is above freezing and lots of the snow is gone!! Bob is feeling better and has been puttering around in the garage ( his wood working  workshop) doing who knows what.

Since we are staying home I have been online shopping... it has been fun and I have found some things!!

I have a cardiac procedure this Wed. ... a stress test. No caffeine the day before... nothing but pills the night before and the morning of the test. I am allergic to something that is part of the test so extra pills to prevent a reaction ... Fun.. Centerpoint Hosp. at 8.45am.