smitty34877

Good afternoon. I am back from the North Country and glad to be home. This morning I left early and encountered fog half of the trip but it wasn’t too crowded. My DDIL got us all pajamas for Christmas and we wore them all day. What a great idea! Our teenager is biracial and when younger he was more interested in celebrating Kwanzaa. Tana and I asked him if he wanted us to cook something special and he requested pizza! This is the Pajama Gang

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. It is a balmy 42 here and we just had Swedish pancakes for breakfast. Last night our smorgasbord was great with little left in the way of leftovers. Today will be a turkey dinner. A very Happy Birthday to @ger_77!

@summer slope , Dixie, that is just the best kind of surprise. Enjoy!

Messy cookie baking with DGC’s and Pippin

Good morning. I would love to see surfing Santa’s! Merry Christmas Eve to all. We made four types of Swedish cookies yesterday and have the rest of the less extensive smorgasbord to prepare for tonight. It was so nice to smell all the familiar Christmas smells in the house. I am so glad I came. It is warmer today but below freezing and there are icy patches on the roads. It will be warmer later but it seems odd not to have any snow. Enjoy the family and friends getting together and all the joys of the season.

Happy Birthday to Sarah, @grapau27. She is just beautiful, thanks for the picture!

I am so sorry to hear about this Sandi @StLouisCruisers and I am glad she was not physically injured. I think it is wise to stay with a friend until she leaves tomorrow.

Hello from New Hampshire where it was 17 when we got up. DS has a day planned for baking Swedish cookies and playing board games. We will have fun. This morning a large dog found me in bed and jumped up to keep me company. @kochleffel, Paul, a very Happy Birthday to you! @Sir PMP, Happy Birthday! Safe travels to all and enjoy the day

I am in Amherst NH and snuggled under a large blanket and big dog!It is cold. Enjoy your visit with your family.

@kazu and @1ANGELCAT, condolences on your losses. My trip to New Hampshire was fine and the DGC’s were a nice welcoming committee.Their dog is completely recovered from his unfortunate sock eating/surgery episode.It is a clear cold day here but there is no snow. @Cruzin Terri, I understand the feelings you expressed. if I can help translate, please let me know. Take care everyone and enjoy the cruises!

@Seasick Sailor, Joy, I am sorry you were ill. My DH had a similar experience on a ship. Hopefully you will bounce back quickly. @grapau27 Graham, The table is beautiful and I hope the three of you have a wonderful time. I feel the love from here! @JazzyV. Vanessa, are there any contacts from your working days who could help? I am not ashamed to say I used mine when Lou was sick. It is unfortunate but true.

Good morning. It will be sunny and up to 40 later. I have not been to the port,will skip the meal and admit to the Blue Christmas. I try not to be a humbug. Tomorrow I leave for New Hampshire again. I was ambivalent about going but the grandchildren called and specifically asked me to make the trip. Of course I said yes! The poor dogs are worried about suitcases being out and general scurrying around. DD will move into my room in order to help Tana overnight. I am sure to meet lots of folks doing the same thing tomorrow morning. It took my DB and family twice the usual time to get back to their home after our lunch yesterday. Have a great day everyone.

So sorry that you had a long night at the airport. Bon Voyage and enjoy.

Good morning on a chilly but sunny day. It was 28 earlier and will reach 40 later. I will celebrate Sacajawea but someone else should have my sangria. I have not been to the port and the recipe sounds good. @cat shepard, @Seasick Sailor I thank you so much for the kindness and caring. As @kazu said earlier, it is a difficult time of the year for so many reasons. I so appreciate all of you here as I negotiate this new phase of life. I never knew that I had so many tears. @JazzyV, Vanessa, I sure hope that the proper surgeon can be found. Honestly, I despair about the state,of the medical industrial complex and ridiculous insurance companies. I am really worried about the level of pain you are enduring. We are lurching along here and trying to make the holiday a good one for everyone. Our teenager needed assistance to pick out jewelry for his girlfriend and was anxious to show us the things he selected. It has to be hard for him to have so many adults in his life with opinions!

Sometimes they mean things like Mrs Dash for vegetable seasoning but I am not sure.Heavy cream is also known as whipping cream around here,not sure about thick cream. I don’t drink either and would just leave the bourbon out,maybe vanilla would be a good sub. Sorry, not much help.

I hope all goes well tomorrow.

@kochleffel,Paul, I hope the wireless thermostat works to fix the problem. Today with the wind it feels colder than the stated temperature. Oy. @RMLincolnI worried about the two of you when I saw the severe wind warnings for our areas. I am sorry it was such a challenging drive but am glad you are home. @dfish,Debbie!What a lovely quilt! @JazzyV, I hope you get some pain relief tomorrow. I was glad to read that BFF will be with you for Christmas. The rain has stopped but there is still a little wind up to 40 mph. My SE Mass family had 70 mph at times. Yikes.

Bon Voyage! I am sure you will love the cruise. We found that trip was just wonderful from beginning to end. Enjoy!

Good morning. Oh my. We are blowing in the wind and rain. Thank goodness the doggies were both quick earlier as it is presently what I would call a torrential Florida type rain.The roads will flood for sure today. I have not been to the port but celebrate twins everyday. My DGC’s are twins and have just turned teenagers. I had the pleasure of seeing Jimi Hendrix when I was in high school.He played with Leon Russell at Central Parks’ Wollman Rink.Honestly I do very much remember this concert as I have never seen anyone play like that. My DD DH would always remind me that he spent three days at Woodstock and saw him there. As if we would ever forget, haha. I actually enjoy snow now that I no longer have to drive to and from work anymore.The recipe sounds interesting today. Happy Birthday to Nancy @ottahand7!

I counted three houses that require hook ups. These are big old places divided up into two and three family homes. One family waited overnight on Friday to be restarted and inspected. It was good that it wasn’t too cold that night.

Good morning. My DB had a particularly ugly sweater that he wore when we were young for Christmas Eve. He has saved it and now scares his own family with it. At 75 he should be proud of still fitting into it! I will celebrate Canadian maple syrup and used it sparingly on the Swedish pancakes I made last night. I have not been to Jamaica and I am sorry to say that the Jamaican women I worked with warned people not to go as it was too dangerous. A wind and rain storm will arrive overnight. Our weather person warns of flooding and wind damage. I think I will hide inside. The pipe line replacement company had a really big job connecting one of the houses across the street and the sidewalk was completely dug up as well as their walkway around the house. The “beep beep beep” went on until almost 8 pm. I doubt they will be able to work on Monday. These men have a tough job on these old and narrow streets with ancient pipes. DD baked some cookies and brought the workers coffee yesterday. Tana and I watched the Julia Roberts movie on Netflix’s that was discussed a few days ago. We both liked it but were a little surprised by the ending. Enjoy the day and stay safe out there!

@grapau27, Graham and Pauline, I am sending my condolences to you both for the death of her friend’s mam and to their families. It sounds as if Pauline’s friend had her hands full with her own surgery. I find that sometimes everything can happen at once in life.

Thank you so much for this. It is quite true I have found.

Yes! Take my chocolate! I know I am odd but I prefer things like butterscotch and vanilla ice cream. My family does not understand it.

Good morning. It is already 50 going up to 57 later and we have sunshine in abundance. Someone can have my chocolate. Reconciliation day would be great almost anywhere in the world today. I have always seen the truth in today’s quote and find it particularly apt now. @Cruzin Terri, Condolences on the passing of your friend in England. I am sorry that you have so much going on right now. It is hard to have to travel so far for medical appointments I am sure. Sending hugs and prayers to you and Jim. @Niagarwine, I am unable to work the blue bubble but send my condolences on the passing of your FIL. I applaud your ability to write the obituaries. We were hoping for a quiet day today but I heard the tell tale “beep beep beep” of the digging machine and the jackhammer starting at seven thirty. I told myself it was fine if it gets the job finished someday. At least the workers have a nice day to be outside. I was going to get to the grocery store but don’t feel like dragging the food back from whatever parking spot I find as the street is closed off again. I decided we would have breakfast for dinner to make things easier. Swedish pancakes are always popular and I will just have to decide on other dishes to feed the folks. Have a great day everyone!