December Chit Chat

[Howie]

I wish I could get out of writing, period! I can hardly fill in checks, my writing hand is so bad. I switched to writing left handed, but just writing checks and addressing envelopes is the only writing I still do, and that is very slow, but readable.

[Virginia]

Got cut and color today and picked up some food for tonight, so I wouldn't have to cook at six o'clock. Still have Christmas cards to do and Christmas presents to wrap. Wish it was kind of over. Isn't it funny that back when I was cooking, wrapping, shopping, writing cards, decorating and all the things that go with Christmas I looked forward to it. Now I just want things to get back to normal, and the only way to do that is for the Holidays to be over. Guess that makes me sound kind of like a "stick in the mud", but it really is that I don't feel well and just don't want to do a lot.

[agate]

Got cut and color today and picked up some food for tonight, so I wouldn't have to cook at six o'clock. Still have Christmas cards to do and Christmas presents to wrap. Wish it was kind of over. Isn't it funny that back when I was cooking, wrapping, shopping, writing cards, decorating and all the things that go with Christmas I looked forward to it. Now I just want things to get back to normal, and the only way to do that is for the Holidays to be over. Guess that makes me sound kind of like a "stick in the mud", but it really is that I don't feel well and just don't want to do a lot.

Not a stick in the mud, Virginia, but maybe a member of the Bah-Humbug club. I'm a card-carrying member of that club, and that card probably isn't a Christmas card.

If it's kept low-key, this season can be a nice time for remembering people who are important in your life, letting them know you've been thinking of them--and brightening up your surroundings a bit with some bright colors and lights.

If I can't enjoy doing the holidays any more, I cut back on what I'm trying to do.

Yesterday I mentioned trying to mail 2 packages but having problems with the post office Website.

I went to the Website again today and tried once more. Finally I was able to print the labels. I was so thrilled that it just made my day.

I want to enjoy the holidays. I had a truly great time wrapping those gifts because I'd bought some new paper and ribbon not so long ago, and it was fun to use it instead of the same old paper and ribbon I've been using for many years.

Howie, I know what you mean about writing. I can't read my own handwriting at times even though I almost always use block capitals instead of cursive writing.

[Jeanie Z]

:) My handwriting is awful so I am not sending any notes in cards just signing. Jeanie :)

[Virginia]

Jeanie, that is what I am doing and for the same reason. Funny, we are talking about this, when Ralph sent me the information about Cat's memorial he wrote a note and said that he could tell by my cursive writing that I was struggling.

[stillstANNding]

It was 62 in Boston today! Tomorrow, the high is 34 and the day starts with snow. Crazy.

I took the opportunity to open the low tunnel covering the raised bed to make it tighter. I cut some of my organic parsley and ate it right there. All I have left is parsley, oregano and rosemary.

Before noon, I went upstreet and had a breakfast sandwich on focaccia and a cup of coffee. I sat by the window and saw all kinds of outfits. From winter wear to capris with sandals to running pants with sports bras! There were numerous delivery vehicles from UPS, USPS, and Fedex. There was a Sierra Nevada beer truck and a Trillium Beer truck (yes, I thought of Howie). I saw two cabs go by - rarer all the time. And there was a woman w a walker waiting for a bus.

I noticed that there were more people than cars, and more baby carriages than dogs today.

I stopped into two thrift stores on my way home.
ANN

[Lazarus]

Same here in western MA as Ann had in eastern MA. But here on the farm we are swimming in mud. Or rather we were swimming in mud with vehicles getting stuck trying to drive between greenhouses.

And then it froze last night, snowed 3” and coated the ice sheet that had formed when yesterday’s rain froze. Lots of school cancellations this morning.

By Saturday it is supposed to be in the 50’s again and rain heavily all day. Lots of flooding with that. Then it will get cold and the prediction is for big snow storm next Tuesday.

This is certainly keeping us hopping...or rather sliding....

[stillstANNding]

Linda, my MS needs the weather to makeup its mind and stick with one season. Good luck to you.

The snow has been great this morning to drive birds to my feeders. If you can possibly put a feeder out it is great viewing. There are suet cakes and seed cakes and woodpecker seed blocks available that cut down on filling a traditional bird feeder.

Have a great day. Find the beauty in it.
ANN

[Howie]

Ann, I haven't heard to those two beers. But Food Lion may have them. They have a huge beer section, but I'm always just getting one that I like, and walk past the rest.

[Parsi]

I dragged the tree up from the basement on the 2nd and then it took about 2 days to get it up. It's a good thing I color coded the branches before putting it away last year or it would have taken another 2 to even try. It's not really hard I just have no ambition for the project. I finally trimmed it yesterday.

Our family Christmas get together was this past Sunday. DH & I hopped a ride with our son and family. It's a good thing he has a three row van. In recent years I'm not thrilled about going to places that are big or relatively strange.

Our granddaughter had a birthday party the day before with bouncy house and piņata.
Later this month is a baptism for one grand nephew and a birthday party (one year) for another. And between is DH's birthday.

I wrote and sent out about 4 cards so far. I've addressed several more and now have to decided if I want to write notes or just sign. My handwriting is also bad and it doesn't help that I rush to get the writing done.

[Howie]

My Granny had a really small tree that she set on a shelf in front of the front window, and when Christmas was over, unplugged it, and just picked it up and put it in the attic until next year. It took 2 minutes to climb up and get it.

[Virginia]

Howie, your Granny sounds like me except that I am not even going to get my little tree down from the attic this year. If I am left with the job of getting it back up the steps and Laura doesn't show up for a week or two after Christmas I would be pulling my hair out.

Parsi, sounds like you are very busy going, going, going. That is a lot of get togethers in a short period of time.

Ann, our weather has been weird like that here. Yesterday it was in the high 60s and today in the 40s. I haven't checked to see what it is going to be like for the rest of the week.

[agate]

I'm like your granny, Howie. Take the tree out of its box and plug it in. I'll be doing that in a couple of weeks.

That's a lovely tree, Parsi! Congratulations on doing that job--quite an achievement!

[jingle]

I have a nice wreath on the front door. That's it. I can't have a tree … the cats wreck everything.

[Howie]

Cats and Christmas decorations just don't mix.