Merry Christmas!

It is so cold here. However, the weather is dry. Freezing temps have nothing to freeze and cause accidents. That is good for all of us. Today has been a very gray day all day long. But, children can ride their new bikes since there is not rain, snow, or mud.

Exbf came, and we exchanged gifts, and ate a pared-down Christmas dinner: turkey, dressing, gravy, green been casserole, and carrots. Dessert: Whitman Chocolates, and a concoction of pineapple, mandarin oranges, cool whip and coconut that I will make while I eat chocolate.

Since I had trouble sleeping, I got little cooked, no potatoes. He will leftovers, probably enough for two meals of meat, at least. The leftovers for him will have at least three meals of carrots. It was delicious, if I say so myself.

I did keep some of all leftovers for me.

I gave him a pair of pants that he needs. The man wears rags...lol. Also, he got a Diet Pepsi and a little tub of Bubble Gum, afterthoughts that really made him happy, especially the Bubble Gum. He even got a little bank with it.

He gave me a Personal Digital Ceramic Heater. I was looking at one in WM on Sunday. He said he remembered me saying it was so cold in the kitchen that it hurt to go in there. TRUE!

Also, he brought me the very thing I was going to buy the next time I went out. So, he saved me money. I keep a day planner in my purse. The one for 2017 weighed too much. The one he gave me even has a flat pen in a little pouch on the back. That will be handy. He brought me a tote bag. Both these items were handed out at his church, so he brought me one. He said people were getting several for their family. So, no harm in getting two of each.  These weren't "gifts," just given to him at church on Sunday, and he thought of me.

He even wrapped the heater gift and put a ribbon and bow on it!

This Christmas, I have received three tote bags, all three with a church name. Is this a new trend, giving tote bags from church?

He has been gone about an hour, and I have found receipts for things I need to return to three stores. That will be money in my pocket.

Besides the leftovers, I sent him home with Russell Stover candy (his choice from two boxes), 4 Granny Smith apples, 4 Halos, gal of milk, another frozen pint of soup I forgot to give him, enough turkey for several meals or sandwiches, bread I mistakenly bought that had whole wheat, half pint of milk from Senior Christmas Party.

Today was a Happy Christmas. Today was a pleasant Christmas.

How was your Christmas? Was everyone well?

Santa Came!

I was out for a few minutes on Christmas Eve, just long enough to get gas. While I was gone, Santa came.

As I struggled up the steps with groceries, I saw something directly in front of the door. It was an A&W Root Beer Mug with an envelope inside.

So, I fought my way in the door, picking up the mug and dropping groceries as I bent to get it...ugh. All the while, I was trying to figure out who knew I collected A&W mugs. J came to mind as she had commented on them. Exbf knows but had not been here. So, I opened the card. My friend Gwyn, John's cousin and friend of mine, too, had been here. She owned an antique shop, so knew what I like. This was a very pleasant surprise.  Gwyn would have come to mind if I had had longer to think.

Oh, I did not buy groceries today.  Since I cannot bring all the groceries in when I buy them, I bring in a few at a time over days.

Christmas Plans or Something Like It

Post written on Friday

For the first two years I knew exbf, two years when we actually dated, he visited on Christmas Day. I don't remember. Since then, he has said he wanted to stay home and relax on Christmas, refusing to come here.

When we talked Wednesday, he made some statement that indicated he would come here on a day off. He is off Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, works Tuesday and is off on Wednesday. As he seemed to be asking what day he should come, I finally asked him what day he wanted to come. Christmas Day!

That was a shock! He was quick to say he would be here Christmas Day.  That presents a problem. I am still very ill. Although I am not contagious, I am not well yet. I was contagious at the Senior Christmas Party, but obviously he is not going to catch the flu.

I called the doctor's office today. He said it might take me one or two more weeks to get well. Even feeling better, as I do now, is not much toward being well.

Today, I finalized my plans for Christmas dinner. I have the turkey breast roasted. Stove Top dressing is easy! I have everything to make green bean casserole. I have a pouch of Idahoan instant mashed potatoes. I will bake a few tiny sweet potatoes. Tonight (Friday), I will make gravy from the turkey broth which is rich with sage. I need to boil eggs to put in the gravy.  If I do a little bit tonight, Saturday, and Sunday, I will not have to pull up the energy to do it all that day or even on Christmas Eve.

My reminder list:

turkey breast
Stove Top Stuffing
gravy from broth
Idahoan mashed potatoes
boil eggs for gravy
green bean casserole
jellied cranberry sauce
baked carrots

If-I-feel-like-it list:

devil one or two eggs for me
pumpkin pie
buy field peas or Crowder peas

The peas are the only thing I don't have in the house. That will mean I will spend no more money , maybe.  Hopefully, this will all be done and I can just microwave it all on Christmas. I refuse to cook fresh cranberries! I have potatoes, but refuse to peel potatoes and tire myself with the making from scratch. I even have everything to make cornbread dressing from scratch, but will not.

Since I have about three pounds of carrots, I just added that to things I must do, even if I leave off the sweet potatoes. I will ask him his desire.

It will be fun having him here. However, I need to plow through the house so he can get in. Plus, the kitchen and bathroom need attention...sigh.

Your turn
Do you have your plans finalized for Christmas Dinner/Lunch? Are you taking the easy way out on anything because you are ill, tired, or just don't want to do it the hard way?

Thursday Christmas Dinner

I was one of the first fifty people there, and amongst the last 25 served. ugh. However, it was okay. I ate chocolate cake.

A guy who looked like he might know something stopped near our table. I asked about food. He said "well, you have already eaten." The other people and I spoke up, saying we had not had our meal and all the tables had been served except us. He said, "Well, your dessert plates are empty. You did not have a meal? Well, why did you eat dessert?" We all said we were hungry. Really, the meal smelled and looked delicious.

This meal was sponsored by the same church where I went on Thanksgiving Day. We had ham, turkey, corn, green beans, sweet potato casserole, roll, mashed potato, dressing, cranberry sauce. I did not get get corn. At this place there is a menu each month. The person circles what she wishes to have.

There was so much food I could not finish it. So, I was going to carry the plate home. Someone offered to get me a go plate. I thought they meant a box to put my leftovers in. No, they filled me a plate/box again. They gave me two times what I had the first time which was generous.

A woman encouraged me to walk over to the sanctuary and hear Christmas music. I told her I could not comfortably walk that far. She said, "You need to go over there and get your gift bag." I asked if someone could get it for me since several persons were concerned I would not get it. I was informed I had to sign for it. A guy told me to write my name on the back of the menu and he would get it. So, I did and waited.

I thanked him and asked the woman near me if someone could take the bag to the car since my purse, the very heavy go box were all I could handle. A little boy about ten carried it for me. He had obviously been assigned to my table because during the evening, he continually inquired about my/our need for more tea. Great service. 

I figured the gift bag would be a paper bag donated from a grocery store. No, it is a great reusable tote bag with the name of the church on it. Cool!

The people who sat at the table where I was were all related or acquainted. One woman was in a wheel chair with right arm splinted. She had fallen and crushed her hand. I forgot how she broke her foot. There were two other older women and a young couple. The couple  started fighting, loud, sharp and with a few pokes and mean faces toward each other. My stomach was in knots over that. They left and never came back which bothered the three woman. I was relieved.

Then, I headed to WM to get packing tape. Since I left my checkbook at home, I had to come home and go back to WM...grrrr.

There was one more thing I needed to get at Belk's so I went there and about killed my back walking and holding onto the little carts they have. K, g-daughter, will like what I got her. I survived and headed to Publix for milk.

While I was waiting in the car for someone to bring me an electric cart at Publix, I looked in the bag to see what was there....food. Two boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, some sort of dressing mix, cranberry sauce, green beans, corn, and something else. There was a broken candy cane, a piece of paper about the organization, and a little yellow card about 4x6 inches, yellow like a safety vest. When I took it out, I was shocked. I read it three times to make sure it said what I thought it said. Yes, it did say that.

I could take the card to the meat department in Publix and get a one half a Publix baked ham, partial bone in. My ham I picked out with the help of the meat guy was 8.97 lbs. !!! I asked him if he would cut it in three pieces, not across but down the ham. Then, as he cut it, I asked if he could remove the bone for beans. So, I left with four portion of ham. One of the thirds will go to exbf. He can have it with the beans I made and have frozen for him to take home Friday.

Now I know why 200 people showed up at the dinner! Someone in Publix said the church had it on a Tuesday last year and did the same thing--gave away hams to everyone. Nine pounds of ham is a lot for me, even with part of it being bone and giving away some of it to exbf. I am so happy. He was pleased and surprised when I told him on Thursday night, and he will be very pleased when he is eating it.

Now, I will make everything I like that goes with ham--scrambled eggs and ham, biscuits with ham, mac n cheese with ham in it, field peas with mac n cheese and ham. I don't mix that last. Of course, I will freeze two of the three ham bones. Plus, I will freeze some of the meat because I don't need to eat that much ham in a short time.

These free eating events, lunches and dinners, are working out fine.

(When I first went into Publix and was struggling to walk, someone from customer service told me to call when I arrived and a cart would be brought to me. So, I do. Last week, I waited and waited for a cart and finally just walked best I could. Halfway there, I saw a woman getting into an electric cart. I asked her where she got it, and she said someone just brought it to her. I was frosted!

I commented to the person who was sending the cart that I never got one. Another woman just took it. She was horrified that I had to wait and that the girl gave it away to someone else.)

Would you say this has been a good night with a huge half of a ham? It would have been better with the Christmas carols. sigh Are any churches in your area giving away hams?

Not Busy and Too Dizzy

When I awoke at 6:45 am Wednesday, I thought it was evening and I had slept all day. I did go to bed about 1 am, but since I really needed to rest more, I was confused, flipping from TV station to TV station, wondering why there was morning weather and news and where was the evening news.  Exbf was laughing as I related this because he said after a nap, he was sometimes confused.

Okay, got it? I was and am really ill. I was going to have to drive 25 miles to doctor today, and didn't think I could make it, so here I lie. I think exbf will have to drive me after the Christmas Party on Friday.

Today, I did get gifts to go to NY put into a Priority Mail box that I hope to get mailed Friday when exbf is here. I cannot find NY daughter's late birthday present, so I may have to buy something else or mail it even later.  Maybe tomorrow I can pack the ones for TX.

Staggering to the car to put the one gift box in there and going on to the mailbox have been my accomplishments outdoors today. I was hoping to feel well enough to drag a live trap out to set for raccoons. Oh, I did check my potatoes. They look pathetic.

Cheese toast, pecans, Kisses, milk, oj, a Coke, 3 Halos, and a sweet potato are all that I have consumed.  After our vicious little rush hour, I may drive slowly and redeem one of my Chick-fil-A coupons for a chicken sandwich. Maybe not. I really need KFC gravy. If I have enough money in my purse, I may get that. I don't want to write a check. Got both CFA sandwich and KFC gravy and spent about $1.50. Later, I will eat something green, maybe turnip greens.

One other thing I did was address Christmas cards for the Christmas card exchange organized by Anne at New Happenings at the Table...  Now, I remember where my stamps are. They have been living in the car...sigh.

I need to buy one more small gift and packing tape if I cannot find any here by Friday. The last roll of packing tape shredded in so many little strips that I threw it away. Hopefully, I have more around here.

And, I now see, late tonight, that I left some gifts out of that box. So, I repack and squish things in. Or, maybe get a large Priority box. And, I feel worse tonight.

Your turn
Did you ever awaken so sick you were confused about the time of day, as to whether it was morning or night?

Monday Christmas and Tuesday Christmas

Monday, I went to Lowe's in a futile search for a piece of row cloth to cover my potatoes. As I went to the door, there were lots of drum pieces and music stands around outside. I jokingly said to the people there, "Is Lowe's dealing in musical instruments now?" The guy laughed and said there would be a concert. Hmmm

What I wanted was not to be found, so I hung out for the music from the St. Bernard Prep School Jazz Combo. It lasted about an hour and was very pleasant. The group consisted of the guy who was the teacher, students, keyboard, four saxophones, two horns, an electric guitar, a flute, and a drum set.  The whole experience was very pleasant, fun.

There was six-year-year old who thought the performance was all about her dancing with jingle bells. That child certainly got a workout. She swung her very long hair about as she sang, jumped, whirled, did a bit of a shimmy once, hopped on one foot and generally was a delightful child. Her two-year-old sister tried to join in. Their  grandfather was the teacher and played the keyboard. The little one just stepped from one foot to another, standing firmly in place, and keeping perfect time. They were adorable and entertaining, especially the older girl.

Tuesday night was the Christmas party for a small group. There were only five people there, plus the leader. I took Halos with Kisses in with them. One person ate one Kiss! Oh well, more for me. The other offerings were taco soup, goulash, sweet potato casserole, crackers, and a two gallon plastic jug of cheese balls. We are in rural Alabama, folks. One guy thinks he never has to bring anything. He comes empty handed. jerk

My gift for exchange was the Dak ham and a pound of pinto beans. Other items: two dishtowels and candy, dish towel and two plastic utensils, beautiful, burgundy thick throw, set of lighted screwdrivers, homemade bone pillow for neck or lower back. I got the burgundy throw. The guy who brings nothing got the bone pillow and let his disgust show. So, the woman who got the screwdrivers got her bone pillow back because he was overly admiring the screwdrivers she got. jerk  The guy who brought the cheese balls got the ham and beans. I asked him if he cooked, he said his mother does.

This was supposed to be a dirty Santa game, but no one played it that way. Everyone was satisfied with choosing a new gift. I suppose people were hoping for something besides dishtowels and beans that were already opened...lol.

Everyone shared a family Christmas tradition. Then, we shared our favorite Christmas gift.  That was fun. The jerk managed to talk over the last of many of my sentences all night.

One guy said he and his brother got bikes for Christmas and his mother made covers to hide them under or in front of the tree. He said he sneaked down to see what he got. In the dim lights and shadows, all he could see was the bulk of the bikes, so he ran terrified to bed, thinking he had seen Santa bent over, and afraid he would not get anything. By this point, we were all just talking about funny Christmas stories.

I give up. Tomorrow, I go to the doctor. I may have a uti. At any rate, I ran a temp on and off today. I feel terrible. For two months I fought the head and chest problems, but the uti I cannot fight. Besides, I am tired of feeling so rotten on and off along with feeling fine for a few days.

One more party coming this week!

Take at a look at previous post.

Your turn
Do you have a funny Christmas story?

Christmas Shopping is Finished!

I am exhausted. I went to one store and returned something and was going to buy it at another. When I went to the other store, the prices were prohibitive, so I went back and rebought what I returned.

The next step is to find what I bought earlier. Then, getting it all packed in two boxes, one for NY and one for TX.  Getting it into the PO will be a difficult task.

When I entered the door at Publix, a woman greeted me and said they were having a tasting. I ate a full meal just in samples! If I could have afforded the $25 ham, I would have been in heaven. It was so delicious. That was the sale price!

All the gifts are sent unwrapped. My dil and daughter don't mind wrapping. It would take a larger box if I wrapped things. This way, I can strategically pack it in a box and save money on mailing. However, this year, it seems gifts are less bulky. I might get everything in a smaller box for the TX gifts. But, I have birthday gifts that are late that will go in the boxes.

Shopping in Belk is trying since they have no electric carts. They do have carts to shop with which I leaned heavily. I even sat for a few minutes in the shoe department.

I received my photo Christmas card from my son and dil. Their children are only 10 and 12, but they are so tall. Son and dil are tall. My daughter has not sent me pictures of her children yet. All four of my grandchildren are so pretty. Yes, grandsons are pretty, too. Okay, they are handsome.

Shhh, I bought myself a small red velvet purse on sale. Well, everything today was on sale. It is so impractical yet was so inexpensive. I suppose this will be my Christmas purse for years.  I needed a small purse to carry for dressy occasions. This was not what I was looking for, but it spoke to me.

Your turn
Am I the last person to finish her shopping? Do you have many gifts to mail or are they all local?