Usual Start for Monday

Got up and did laundry..still have to fold it.  I think we are going to take Richard out to lunch today.  I'm waiting to hear what his therapy schedule is.  After that we will just hang out and hope to make it to midnight.  We usually do so probably will this year.  My knees are feeling much better today so doing nothing for the past two days helped.  Tomorrow I will have the traditional northern New Year's meal...pork and sauerkraut.  Down here it is all about black-eyed peas and greens...Yuck!  Much too earthy a taste for me!  .....later....

Lazy Days

I have an excuse for being so lazy.  Both of my knees started hurting on Friday.  Yesterday I just sat and read all day anI I plan to do much of the same today.  I did get breakfast and will get dinner tonight, but think I need to stay off my feet as much as possible for a few days.  If they don't improve I'll see the doctor.  I will be making my pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day.  We also will try to take in Les Mis this week.  I guess we had some flurries last night, but I didn't see them.  Just cold.....

Cleaning up for Anne and Steve

They'll be stopping here on their way home from one of the most exciting football games I have ever seen.  Talk about emotional!!  I gave up on Cincy a few times, and then they bounced back.  Anne and I were texting on and off throughout the game.  I'm worried about them leaving for cincy this afternoon.  Snow is expected and I'm not sure when it's supposed to start.  They can stay here if reports are bad.  I made chicken salad for lunch along with my pasta soup....later....

Enjoyment

I did next to nothing yesterday.  I finished a book and activated my Amazon gift card and put a book on my Kindle.  Last night we watched the Kennedy Awards...very entertaining.  Today we have a few errands to run.  We'll stop by to see Richard and I need to get a few things for lunch tomorrow.  Anne and Steve will stop by on their way back from Charlotte and on their way back to Cincy.  We got a beautiful gift basket from Muir and Jim which I will post.  Very cold today high about 42.

Total Relaxation Day

I'm so glad yesterday is over.  It was fine, but I was exhausted.  I came home from Richard's to start preparation for our dinner.  I got it all ready except the filets and sauces.  We decided to eat late and we sat down about 8 and neither of us was hungry.  I took a few bites...R did the same and we looked at each other and said we weren't hungry.  We covered it all and put it away to have tonight.  We shouldn't have even attempted to eat.  Anyway I'm going to do nothing today but read, watch a little tv and relax..oh I will spend a bit of time worrying about Maggie and family driving back to Columbus and Anne and Steve driving to Charlotte due to bad weather all around.  Here we just have rain and falling temperatures....later...

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Santa came to our house.  I got my bike, helmet and bike rack and basket early but this morning I also got Barefoot Contessa's newest book and mace in case I run into an unsavory on the bike trail!  R. got a capaccuni maker, coffee, a nice shirt and a CD.  We also got a Rafferty's gift card and killer slippers.  We're headed over to Richard's house where I will put a party together while R. goes to pick him up.  The car is loaded.  When we got back yesterday the UPS buy had been here and he couldn't leave it because it requires a signature of a 21 or over..must be alcohol.  I'll prepare our meal here this evening after R. takes Richard back....hope you all have a great day!!

Happy Christmas Eve!

I woke up around 4 and couldn't get back to sleep so finally got up at 5:30.  I did the laundry and that is finished now, made salted, buttered pecans and did the sausage that is for breakfast tomorrow.  I need to make sausage balls and salami roll ups to take to Richard's tomorrow.  We're also have pizza bite, shrimp and pigs in blanket.  It is pouring down here in Tennessee so Santa needs to put his rain poncho in his sleigh.  I have 1 gift to wrap that I didn't do yesterday.  R is making eggnog and we'll go to see Richard this afternoon....later....

Shoping Done

Went to Lowe's this morning for suet for the birds, then to Kroger's and I got everything on my list.  I was home by 11 and then R. and I worked on the puzzle.  I have yet to finish reading the papers.  R. is going to throw up wood and I have some wrapping and laundry to do. Tonight we're having baked ham, scalloped potatoes and spinach souffle for dinner.  Tomorrow I'll finish the laundry and do some preparation for food on Christmas and then we'll visit Richard.  Becky sent me a few pictures which I'll attempt to put on here.  Both are of Nicholas.  He just turned 26.  One is Mother holding him and the other is of me 25 years ago playing with him.  I think that was in Columbus when Jeff was in Medical School....I think Nicholas was 1 in these pictures.

Christmas is Coming......

Today is going to be a day of a bit of cleaning and a lot of reading and relaxing.  I don't plan on leaving the house, but tomorrow I do need to shop for Christmas dinner.  I think R. is going out to shop today and he also needs to throw wood up.  Last night we watched War Horse on Showtime.  I saw it in the theater, but R. hadn't seen it.  Again, I cried through much of it and didn't watch.  We have a few other movies dvrd and may watch one of them this evening.  Talked to Anne and she was out shoping but heading home.  They are going to be decorating and baking today as well as getting the new house in order.....later....

COLD!!!

Actually it's in the mid 30s but due to the wind it feels like 20.  We didn't get any of the high winds that were predicted.  Knoxville did get some of that.  Today is the first day of winter and it feels like it.  I guess there were some flurries this morning but so far I haven't seen any.  Yesterday was totally awful.  It rained most of the time I was out.  Richard went to his house with therapist to see what he could do.  Some changes will have to be made.  He has to get a hospital bed and get rid of the water bed.  He doesn't want to do that, but he has to face up to some realities.  Things aren't going to be the same.  He will also have to change bathrooms.  The one off his bedroom is much smaller and he can't manage that.  He will have to use the other one off the hall which is larger and more doable for him.  He also will not be able to transfer to his living room furniture.  The couch and chair are both too low and he no longer has arm strength to get up out of them.  He has had permanent nerve damage to his arms.  We will spend part of Christmas day at his house.  I'll make appetizers and we'll play some games, listen to music and then take him back.  Then we'll come home and have our Christmas dinner here...later.....

Miserable, Yukky Day

Raining cats and dogs and both R. and I have to go out.  I need to finish up a few things, but will do food shopping on Sunday.  This afternoon I plan to finish up making the sugar cookies and after that curl up with a book and read and this evening I'll have a nice fire in the fireplace.  Those are the plans for today.  Also..it's expected to be quite windy.  We may need to lower the awning.  Yesterday it was 63.  R. wore shorts and we sat outside when we visited Richard....later....

Life of Pihalf

.We finally saw it yesterday in 3D.  It was very good and I did like it, but some animal scenes were very tough to watch and so I didn't.  My eyes were covered as were my ears and I cried a several times during the movie.  I guess most people aren't as emotional about animals as I am so it is a good movie.  After the movie we had lunch at Longhorn Steak House.  We hadn't been to one of those in years.  I think they have a new concept now.  It was very good.  I had a shaved prime rib half sandwich and caesar salad and R. had the same sandwich with shrimp/lobster chowder.  We will go again.  We also stopped at Kroger's to get a few things and since we ate at about 3 that was lunch and dinner.  Today we go to the gym after lunch and R. has to go to Richard's house and start his car because tomorrow he picks him up to go to his house and see what he can do independently....later...

Movie Day

R. has got for his first acupuncture treatment.  When he gets home we're going to Knoxville to see Live of Pi and after that we will have lunch and then pick up a few things for dinner.  I went to the library and on my way home there was an accident so I had to turn around and go another way and they were doing repairs on that road, as well.  What a pain!  Sunny here today but chilly.  Tomorrow is supposed to be 61.  I don't like it to be so warm at Christmas.  I want fires in my fireplace!!...later..

Downton Abbey

It's going to be great..you won't be disappointed.  Now I can't wait for it to start.  Due to all that happened on Friday, it's put a huge damper on Christmas.  There is just this underlying sadness that is just there.  We watched the President and I know he feels it.  That being said, I have some pictures of our tree and some of the ornaments that I will post.  It's dreary again today, but not cold.....

The Tree is Up

Jim and Tommie came over last night and we had a nice evening.  I had some appetizers that I got at Trader Joe's and then we had the hot ham and cheese sandwiches.  Tommie loves R's eggnog..me too!  Today it is raining  and Linda, Bev and I are going to Knoxville for a showing of the first episode of Season 3 of Downton Abbey.  We're supposed to wear hats, but my hat from London is a white straw and not exactly appropriate for a rainy winter day!  I'll take it because Linda insists, but I'll feel foolish wearing it.  We'll likely eat afterwards.  I loved the videos of Eva.  I'll have R. put pictures on the computer of the tree and some of my favorite ornaments....later....

It's Friday!

Left early this morning to go to Kroger's and the post office because I had to leave before David got here and block me in.  He was here when I got back.  They are doing the new ceiling which flooded...Thanks to Eric!  I mailed a package to Eva which was so light that the mail lady asked if there was anything in it.  There is.  She should get it Monday or Tuesday.  Speaking of Eva I'm expecting some good pictures from the "Cookie Baking Weekend" with Muir.  Bring them on!  They should finish the ceiling before long and I have things to do in the kitchen...make more cookies and put together ham and cheese sandwiches to have on hand.  Tomorrow is Tree decorating time....later...

Still in My PJs

I baked sugar cookies this morning and made up the batter for maple/pecan refrigerator cookies.  Then I iced the sugar cookies and did some of the cleaning up and next I need to prepare raw veggies for snacks tonight.  At some point I plan to get dressed..maybe hit the gym this afternoon.  It's going to be much warmer today..in the mid 50s.  If you're up at midnight there is going to be a significant meteor shower which should show up well as the moon is new.  I would love to stay up, but doubt if I can.  .....later.......

I Know, I Know....

...But it's Christmas and I have lots of running around to do.  If the computer wasn't in our bedroom I could post early because I'm usually up by 6, but I wait until R. is up and off the computer.  By that time I'm involved in something around here or I've already left the house.  Yesterday I got a haircut, went to the post office, got gas and picked up some things at Target and Kroger's.  This morning I went to the chiropractor and then finished up with the Christmas shopping in Knoxville.  I also had lunch at Five Guys and went to Publix.  When I got home R. was just leaving to pick up the tiles for our ceiling which will be fixed on Friday.  I had  DVRd the View because the cast of Downton Abbey was on and also the Chew because Curtis Stone was on.  I thought of making some of the sugar cookies because I already made the dough, but decided to leave that for tomorrow.  My dressing room is a disaster.  Things are piled on the day bed, cards are on the stand, etc.  later.....

Cards Done!

I finished the Christmas cards, but am still in my pjs.  R. has gone to do grocery shopping and I have laundry to fold and put away and I'm thinking that while he is gone I'll make up the batter for sugar cookies.  I wasn't going to do those, but hubby wanted them.  I really don't like to bake but I do it at christmas.  R. put some of my pictures on the computer so I'll see how they look...later...Oh..we didn't see the movie yesterday.  The paper had the wrong time, so we missed it, but had a nice lunch, went to The World Market, Trader Joe's, Publix, etc....

The Halls Are Decked

All that is left to do is the tree and that will be sometime at the end of the week.  I was on the phone with Maggie when the phone started to screech.  I thought maybe Eva did something, but Maggie didn't call back.  Then Anne called and when I answered it screeched.  I called her on  my cell.  We have no phone now except for my cell.  We're going to see Life of Pi this afternoon and then eat an early dinner or late lunch.  When we get home if the line is still down I'll call Charter.  Another nice day.  Yesterday it was 71 and I had the doors opened until we went to bed to watch SNL.  Rains and cooler weather coming after midnight tonight.  I have a lot to get done this week...shopping, baking, haircut, mailing, etc.....later.....

Decorating

I have kind of started.  First I took down things and put things away to make room for Christmas things.  That is done.  I also brought up 3 containers and I have dusted.  Now the fun begins.  It is very warm here close to 60 already.  R. has to bring up my collection of Santas and things from the trunk where we store a lot of things.  He is also in charge of making eggnog and putting music on.  Other than that he'll be my gofer and reacher and undoubtedly my critic.  Talked to Trip this morning about our new coach.  He feels that UT is too big of a job for him and that UT did this hunt for a coach all wrong.  I think Trip may be right, but hope he isn't.  We've had enough losers lately....later..

New Coach Hired

I know Cincinnatians aren't happy that the Bearcat's coach is coming to Tennessee and I don't blame them.  I hate to see coaches leave when they like where they are and I know it's hard on families.  That being said, it's the nature of a coach's life.  I hope he is super successful down here.  Just put on my Christmas/winter snowmen sheets.  I'm starting to get a bit of the christmas spirit and I have a lot to do in the next week.  I hadn't even thought about baking, but will spend one day next week doing that and a day of shopping.  I also have the cards to do and tomorrow I will decorate inside.  The tree will come up at the end of next week. We're finally seeing some sunshine.  Yesterday it was drizzly all day and chilly.  later.....

Christmas Shopping

I just shopped on line for Eva and J.J.  I'm sending Eva's to Muir but J.J.'s is being sent to his house.  I still have shopping to do and decorating to do.  I think I'll decorate inside on Saturday and also will get the Christmas cards out the first of the week.  At some point I'll need to do some baking and we want to spread pine needles in our back.  The weekend should be perfect for all of this.  It's supposed to be fairly warm today, but it is gray ou now with a bit of drizzle.  Stir fry pork and veggies for tonight....later...

Another Movie

Saw Lincoln yesterday...Excellent movie.  Tommy Lee Jones, Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field all superb!  Not a boring moment, but I love history and Lincoln.  Unless you are a big time action movie fan you should like it.  There is a lot of debating about the 13th amendment which is what the movie is about but so interesting.  Anne said Madison and Max watned to see it...I'm sure Madison will like it..not sure about Max.  It is pretty long with political debating.  AT one point a lady in front of us answered her phone when it rang!!  I yelled out at her to shut off her phone...she did not and other people were shusshing her.  Finally she got up at left.  It's a rainy day here but supposed to end soon and be about 60.  Nothing else to report....later....

Another Lovely Warm Day

Even though it doesn't seem like Christmas I love it.  I really don't have the Christmas spirit yet anyway.  I think I'll decorate inside next weekend, but the tree won't go up until even later.  I get so tired of it even though I love it.  By January I just want my house back to normal.  R. has gone for an eye appointment and then to Walmart.  I'm doing laundry and after lunch we'll hit the gym.  The pot roast last night was delicious and tonight we'll have the leftovers of that.  Nothing else to report....later...

Gorgeous Day Here!

It has to be in the 70s!  I went to the car wash and wash R's car inside and out and then to Kroger's.  R. is throwing wood up for when it turns cold.  Later I'll be putting a pot roast together and tonight is the best night for TV.  I talked to Anne and she is so stressed about moving next Saturday.  I don't know how she's going to do it and I'm really pissed off that she has to move so Dan has time to relax before Christmas!!! She has no closing date on the house she is buying, she has a speech to give next Saturday as well as moving and doesn't know where her furniture will go .  It makes me crazy and don't anyone tell me not to worry...that is part of who I am.  Aside from all of that I'm hoping to get another movie or maybe even 2 in this week...lat..

Flight

We did go to the movies and to lunch.  Flight was excellent and Denzel Washington was superb!  There was not one dull moment in the film.  I would suggest that if you plan to fly anywhere soon you delay seeing this movie.  The first part of it was very tense and scary.  After the movie we had lunch at Rafferty's and then stopped at Publix to pick up a few things.  Muir asked me for my recipe for baked ham and cheese sandwiches and I decided I needed to make some for tonight and some for the freezer.  They are nice to have on hand and I hadn't made them in quite a while.  Today I'll be getting some Christmas things out and later we'll visit Richard.  Warm here today...62!