The thermometer on the fireplace reads 53 so far this afternoon.
We had planned to clearcoat our wooden snowflakes downstairs until Bob read the label on the can...It requires very good ventilation! So downstairs is a no-go but out on the deck will work once it gets over 40 degrees F... and it has!! BTW... the class was fun.
Here they are after two coatings. ...the final drying time!
Temperatures reached almost 60 and there are just little bits of snow/ice left!
Had some errands to do so picked up a few decorating things on the way... a new Christmas cactus (white) to replace the one that went belly up on the deck when we were gone! A real Christmas greenery display for on the front steps... and a fake greenery garland for in the house.
Bob and I went to a craft class Sunday... decorating a wooden snowflake. Mine looks very different from his but we are happy. We sprinkled epsom salts on top for glitter and have been waiting to make sure the snowflakes are totally dry before spraying with clear finish. The snowflakes are pretty large - about 12 inches in diameter and will look great hanging near the front door ( outdoor entryway).
Bob finally helped hang our "Happy Holidays" banner and a new from Target "Merry Christmas" banner outside and another "Happy Holidays" banner inside on the coat closet door ( I think I will staple cards to it!).
Forgot to publish yesterday...
I went on a Wal-Mart run for some things I needed for the family batch of "home made Chex Mix"... I found everything and added some impulse items. When I headed to check out I found there were no cashiers.. only scan and go booths.
Rats... rats... each store's scan and go booths are different and I was leery of Wal-Mart's. The person who "helps' told me no cashiers came to work today... but SHE.. she was very helpful! Got everything checked out, paid and headed home!
Looks like people ( daughters and grandson) are coming Sunday to "help"... We make a huge amount to make sure everyone has some!
Then it's cookie making time from Sunday through Christmas!!
This morning I found 3 - 4 inches on the deck and when I went out to fetch the paper I discovered there was a crunchy icy layer underneath. Here's hoping it all disappears by evening..
I am not exactly sure how apple slab works since my daughter made it instead of apple pie. It is a layer of crust in a 13 x 9 pan with sliced apples and a streusel type topping. The apples have cinnamon on them.
The Blue Springs snowplow did "do" our cul-de-sac! Not the center but a ring along the edge! Who cares.. no pile at the end of our driveway!
Everywhere I look people are saying "snow"... no one says the same amount .. from 1 inch to 8 inches. Some say a wintery mix. So we'll see what we get!!
When I went out for the mail it was starting..tiny little wet drops.
We are still working through leftovers. Bob had his first turkey sandwich for lunch ! It will be another "turkey dinner" for dinner tonight!! I'll be whipping some heavy cream to go on the apple slab we have instead of pie!! Changed our minds.. pies for both! The apple slab and whipped cream can wait!
It's now late in the evening and there is a dusting of snow.. It has stopped but what will we have by next morning?
3 - 4 inches on the deck!!
I swear it takes longer to clean up after Thanksgiving dinner than to make it!! When Bob and I went to bed we still had one load of dishes to run in the dishwasher!
No cooking for awhile... turkey sandwiches , left over charcuterie things, left over veggies, crackers and dip ... will be the menu for tonight ...at least!!
BTW ..rewarded myself after finishing things with a piece of pecan pie for breakfast!!
The turkey is in the oven... veggie scraps and the turkey neck are simmering away to add the liquid to our gravy... stuffing is in the crockpot...pies are covered with foil and out on the deck to keep cool...table is ready to be set...
Bob and I are waiting for everyone to show up with their sides!!
Way too much food but all delish!! Sent some home to our grand daughter who had to work ( kitchen at Houlihan's restaurant)...
Only one almost disaster... the crockpot stuffing! Luckily I checked it but found the strip it had been plugged into hadn't been turned on! Put some in a covered casserole with the turkey and turned the rest up to high! Disaster averted!
BTW...every body had stuff to take home... the girls took each other's home!!
Bob and our elder daughter spent time yesterday lugging things in the backyard where the builder had left them when he demolished the old deck and built the new one ! The deck is a full flight above the backyard and the new one has a great stair case... so up they lugged things! I remained on the deck being handed smaller items...
Now as to the huge grill... too heavy for them to get up the stairs. So it is protected under the deck for now!
Harper and Scout ( her two dogs) love the new deck and have chosen two opposite corners where each can survey the backyard and their neighbors' yards!! And they love racing down the flight of stairs if they see a squirrel or some other creature! Or if someone throws a ball or toy from the deck to the ground!!
The rest of the deck amenities will wait until spring... but since yesterday was warm for November we enjoyed sitting at the table and chairs with a drink and cookies! Just rewards for our "work".
We went back out to our older daughter's today. We had some outdoor stuff planned but rain arrived early this afternoon and stayed!!
The dogs were delighted to see us and we helped with some household chores. It has been very busy at our daughter's non-profit so household chores had been delayed. She "re-paid" us with dinner .. a new recipe. Pre-cooked bratwurst wrapped in crescent rolls and baked... plus raw veggies ( carrots, snow peas, peppers, tiny cukes) and home made dip. All good especially since I didn't have to cook!
On our way out we took stuff to her trash bin and placed it out by the street.. tomorrow the trash guys come!!
As I was finding a spot for our turkey in the freezer I remember the "good old days" when the kids were young and we had a big freezer.
We lived in Rochester, NY and there was a little Italian grocery store on the corner,,, which meant home made cookies and desserts such as cannolis at Christmas.... plus we could order a side of beef! Butchered as I wanted it and wrapped for my freezer!!
When we ( Bob and my daughters and I) went back to NY for my sister-in-law's memorial service we spent our last day in Rochester reacquainting ourselves with our old hometown!! Our house is a different color.. the neighborhood is still great and the corner grocery store is still there...but not a little Italian one.
Those Christmas cookies and cannoli were great.. our beef was good... the freezer was full.... BTW the grocery store owner was glad to weigh my son on his scale to see how "the baby was growing!|"!!
I have started buying things for our Thanksgiving feast... at least my part of it. Some things have been parceled out to my two daughters and my grand daughter.
I found my turkey at Aldi's. May have been able to get it cheaper or by buying a ham or something else... but Aldi's had Butterball turkeys and somewhat cheaper!!
So it in my freezer it went.
Still more to get, of course. Like Pepperidge farm herb bread cubes for stuffing. I have used them for almost 60 years and won't be changing now!!
But this start of "accumulating" things has me feeling in the holiday mood!! And my freezer looks much more organized! I'll have to clear out a spot for the turkey in the refrigerator when I start thawing it Saturday night!!
Told my daughter the sale stuff I had seen in Aldi so she will shop tomorrow. Some of her items will part of our family dinner but some she will buy for herself. She has a second dinner for her family on the weekend afterwards.
My trip to the grocery store ended up being different than I expected. As I drew into a parking space another car was trying to get into the spot in front of me. The driver was having problems and the car was sporting a Virginia license plate.
I couldn't see the driver and on the next try the driver scraped the car in the spot next to it... quite a long scrape and fairly deep. The driver pulled back out and went to another parking space.
Not quite sure what to do... didn't feel like I could knock on the car window... you know we hear about road rage etc. So I went into the grocery store and told the customer service rep. She contacted the manager.
So we two went out into the parking lot after I told him what had happened and he asked if I could recognize the cars etc which I could. He took pictures and contacted the damaged car's owner.
The owner came out and looked his car over... not too happy. The manager told him he had video if necessary. At the same time the Virginia car's driver got out and came over apologizing telling the three of us the car was a rental and getting out her insurance card.
At that point the manager and I left ( though I did leave my name and phone number wit the customer service person)... Both cars were gone when I left for home!
I sort of feel like a snitch but if it had been my car that was damaged.....
Dominic loves his trombone which he plays in everything (including jazz band) except marching band where "the powers that be" switched him to the euphonium .
The final results were Blue Springs were number 1 in the semi-finals for class AAA with awards . In the finals for all classes they were number 4 nationally with only larger schools beating them. They received an award for music.
Everyone was back at the high school... ready for parents to pick them up... at 7.45 this evening. They ( four Arrow Stage Lines busses ) were given a police escort with lights flashing!!
Dominic, our grandson is off with the Blue Spring Golden Regiment to Indianapolis for the Nationals Band competition. They all left Thursday... stopped somewhere for a quick band review since the band has not performed in a covered stadium before... and arrived Friday. Early trials were done and Blue Springs made the semi-finals ( one of 30!) and will perform again this morning.
Heard via Facebook that the band did well!! Standing ovations for BS and a Texas Band. Should hear by late this afternoon how they did in the finals.
My daughter and her husband drove there too and "earned" tickets to the event by volunteering. They had to be at the stadium before 7 this morning and their job was to sell programs. They head home Sunday as will Dom and the band.... you would not believe what it takes to get these kids to the Nationals! Buses for people and semis for instruments, sound equipment and "scenery"!! It's a long trip ... over 8 hours!
This is the end of Dom's Golden Regiment years. He graduates in May and will be off to college!
Later... they were top in their category with all three special awards ... just finished performing the finals at 10.45 Eastern... now everyone waits!
Finally heard that the BS Golden Regiment made 4th nationals... everyone excited... kids , volunteers , parents and "workers from music dept." super tired!! It was a long three days!!
We made it home yesterday afternoon and collapsed for awhile. I didn't feel up to cooking and the fridge was pretty empty so we headed out to the Texas Roadhouse.
Our trip to San Diego was good... the weather was great. I even got a sunburned face! We , Bob and I, took the "Hop on Hop off" trolley around San Diego going to Old Town , Little Italy and Balboa Park. We got off at the Park and walked over to the Air Museum. The San Diego Zoo is also in the park but a 30 minute walk from the trolley stop... too far for us.
The trolley does drive through the park so we did see some things. The park was very busy... it seemed like all the schools in the area were having a field trip day!!
We also went on a commuter train ride... Bob finally figured out the ticket machine! The train took us to the northern suburbs where we got out... used the bridge to get to the return tracks and road all the way back to the hotel backwards!!
The worst part of the trip was figuring out Daylight Savings Time and getting to the airport for our 9 am flight.... the hotel room clock/ alarm wasn't changeable.
As we sat and waited for our plane... the bar across from us was playing the KC Chief's Germany game. It was obvious there there loads of Chiefs fans... lots of cheering !
