A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffee House 2660....

All fresh and new.

Good morning, it's another cold day here. I think I am going to spend it prepping for some cooking tomorrow.

Sunny love the Charlie Brown tree. Wish I could post pictures on here. I had all these tree lighting events planned for this weekend but it's so damp and cold (for me I'm sure not you guys) that all I did was go to church. I can take the cold but not the cold AND damp.

I hope the weather gets milder so you can get out and about, I don't mind the cold but I do not like dampness either.

It's simple to post pics with this tablet. I just click on attachment manager after clicking the full editor button here. It then asks if I want to use a file or directly from the camera.

Good morning !!

And good afternoon from me.

Jeepers it is windy and here, it's a good day to stay inside.🥶

Sunny and NO wind here....and we have had our share of wind lately so I will take it.

The kids didn't have school today so.I am getting a few extra things done. So yay.

Do you have your grands every school day?

Yes. We pick up the 4 grands from School every day. Then the other Grandparents pick up Brian's sister's 4 kids.

Is the school far from your house?

You are terrific grandparents.😘

Actually it is only about 2 blocks away. When we were looking for a house to buy here my DD and SIL showed us houses primarily in the town the kids school was. LOL

And thank you
We try

Good morning. It's calling for almost a foot of snow with the storm tonight. I think I'll get my butt moving today and deliver the last of my cards while the roads are dry. We need the snow for insulation and to bank around the house so it's a good thing.

I'm waiting on deliveries as well, I made one order to Walmart last week....it is coming in six different parcels on six different days. 🙄

Well. As long as you need it. (The snow) LOL

Today I am working on Christmas. I need to finish the gift ordering and organize things for the wrapping segment. LOL

Working on Christmas?? That's a chore that seems to never end, just when I think I have things in order something else pops up.🤔

Does anyone know where my package of bows are?? I think things are hiding themselves here. 🙈

LOL let me check my bow container..The way the world is anymore, they could well be here, hiding.

GG had them, I thought I was losing my mind. I looked everywhere. 🤪

My shopping is completed. Haven't wrapped a thing but that will be fun. I think the decorating is complete too except I'm thinking of putting a wreath on the fence gate. I don't have a wreath so I'll either have to buy one or make one.

My sister in VA has 7 inches of snow today and more expected tomorrow.

I have several friends who are actually raising their grandchildren and I have 2 friends who actually retired from their jobs to take care of their grandchildren while their parents' work. My hats off to you all because it's not something I'd want to do every day.

Well bless you, but remember we moved down here after Rod retired to help our DD with the kids. They both work full time after all.

AND if it was all day every day. I don't think I would like that either. But then I guess we all do what we need to do at times, right ?

WOW..7 inches of snow ?? That is a lot !!
My youngest DD lives in Virginia....I must ask her how much she has...
My sister in Illinois has plenty of snow but I don't think it is that much...
And This will probably jinx me, but we have no snow here in Southern Missouri.

School is cancelled today...better safe than sorry because it is still snowing. I'll clean the driveway and bank the house this afternoon.

Bestofour, you are on a roll. I'm still waiting on two items to be delivered but they should be here by Monday.

Junie, I hope the ice stays away for you. A little snow would be Christmassy. ❄️

I always liked snow days. I used to watch the school closings even when both girls taught school..It would make me happy when they got to stay home from work.
BUT..I do agree, better safe than sorry. If it shows lightly on Christmas Eve, I would like that. And it would be pretty outside.

when I order for my Virginia family, I have things shipped directly to their house. Saves me the shipping fees. Plus it saves shipping time. I will still send a small box of items that I bought, so they could get something that I wrapped. I had better get that in the mail, huh ???

Good night 😴

Yes, if you can ship gifts directly it certainly makes it easier financially. I have done that a few times and included gift bags for the gifts. Amazon is so easy to include them for a few dollars.

It snowed a little through the night again...just enough to make the roads slippery. There is school today though.

I need to make my shopping lists to go for groceries and such this coming week. I'll go as early as the stores open, it seems to be quieter in the early mornings.

I will do my Christmas shopping next Monday. I guess I had better decide what I am making for Christmas. Eve dinner, huh ??..Rod thinks we should go get my Christmas gift AND grocery shop in the same trip.

Good luck shopping in the stores. Do you have an idea of what you want for Christmas?

Junie, what will your Christmas be this year?

When Darbi was born I worked part time and took care of her 2 days a week and her other grandmother had the other day (Shelley worked 3 12 hour shifts). It was wonderful but if I'd had to do it every day I think it would have killed me. And when Colt was a baby and toddler he was with me a lot but I wasn't totally in charge every day. It was enjoyable for me because I knew it wasn't full time. I would have liked for them to come every day after school but by school age Shelley had quit work and Colt was far away so that didn't work out. Now Aubry will be 18 next week and I can't believe it.

Ah yes, how is Aubry ?

First. When I said I will do my Christmas shopping Meant than I would do my Christmas food shopping.
Now. my DH thinks I should have a wig for Christmas. So we will buy it Monday as well. What I actually want ?
I want to go Christmas shopping in stores. To hear the music and look at all the "pretties" And have lunch out.
Then I want to go to a furniture store and try to find a new couch .and then finally I want to be able to have the hook on my sapphire necklace taken to a jewelry shop to be made larger.
But I will get a wig and if I am lucky I will get to go shopping in a few stores for a few hours on Sunday. Something is better than nothing. So I will take it
Sheri: I will have a Christmas Eve meal here and give my DD Valarie's children their gifts.
Christmas day we will probably go to Church and then come home. Nothing planned for that day.
Sheri & Sunny, what are your Christmas plans, ? It is getting close after all.

My Christmas plans are that I cook the whole meal and bring it over to my mother's house. My house is too small for everyone to be here for the day. So, I go to my mom's and stay there from 4 pm to 8 pm, then I come home and relax.

I do hope that you get out to do some of what you want to do Junie....even if it is after Christmas.😘

Bestofour, I have day-cared kids in my house since the day I moved into it. Day shift and night shift if needed. Taking in my granddaughter was a necessity that just went with the flow.

Hey, it may be a pain to take things over to your mom's Sunny, but..look at it thus way. You lever her with all the mess while you come home to a nice quiet, & clean house. Win-win in my book.

Thanks, Sunny.....I think I will ask for something like that between Christmas and the New Year. Sounds like a plan.

No, I clean all the mess at my mother's before I come home.

Oh my goodness... You were exhausted weren't you ???

It's not too bad. I bring the meal over at 4. We sit until 5, then I spend the next three hours giving her house a good cleaning. I leave her house spotless. I then come home and relax. I only tackle my house on Boxing day.

Sounds good. And at least you have a plan. I am sure your mom appreciates the clean house.

Well, it starts off clean but DD and the grands spent Christmas Eve there and DD doesn't help with anything. 🙄

I got the last of my cards delivered today.

Hey. All you can do is try... Plus if it was clean when you left. Then your job was done.

Good morning, I've been up since 4 am, it's flurrying a bit....huge flakes, it looks so pretty.❄️

4am ?? WOW you have put in a half day already. Gonna go to bed at 6 ??

Nah, probably by 8 pm though.

I did my final shopping trip before Christmas. The stores are crazy busy even on a Monday.😬

Oh I wish..I have 2 more shopping trips I would like to do. However, I think only one will be accomplished. (My grocery shopping for Christmas Eve)

My only other trip will be local...to get milk and fresh fruit next week. Other than that, I am hiding inside.

Well I can only imagine the weather at your house. I think hiding inside is a good idea.

I'm hiding from people...the weather I'm used to.

Today is my big baking day. 🎄☃️

Ok then! Good luck, Sunny ! .!

This is crazy....I hate when things pile up. My life is getting crazy.. Just got a notice that I was given an appointment for next week, right before Christmas... Why would a business do that ???

I guess they are trying to get all the payments they can before the next year, can you reschedule??

Holy, I got a mess in here. I have no clue how I make such a mess baking....someone should hide the flour on me. No one better land at my door to visit today...they'd be shocked. 😬

Yea, you are probably right about the money thing. P!us, they should have seen me 2 months ago. But yes the new year starts stats all over again.. Good news is I got my mammogram scheduled for the same day. So one 2 HR trip. Then I got an e-mail telling me to verify my Friday appointment... Mind you they only place I could get my keyboard to pull up was my messaging service. SO I had to go and find the hospital phone number, be transferred to the right location and confirm my Prolia injection.
I swear I have been living on the phone this morning.

Flour is easy to clean up. Plus you do not make Christmas cookies and such but once a year. IF someone does show up, if they do not understand the situation, then it is their loss. You make me want to bake...but I think it will be Saturday at the earliest before I can.

Baking is done.I washed the dishes about ten times so far. I'm relaxing for a few minutes while GG finishes decorating the cookies.

It's good that you have a few appointments on the same day, may as well make good with your time.

Thanks about the appointments. The nurse said she thought I should go see the Dr. Then get my mammogram done..well no, I will go get the mammogram first, see the Dr. Then IF she thinks there is a problem I will go back to the mammogram place..(the lead in while a person is waiting for the appointment secretary, said you do not need an appointment for a mammogram)
.so IF necessary I will just go back the same day but after my appt.

Got all that ????..

Glad your baking is done. Wanna come do mine ???

Skip your baking, just come take what you want from here. 😉

I hate having appointments scheduled in Winter. Mind you, we only have coverage in Winter so the dentist and eye doctor appt have to made then.

Today is a clean the house day....my floors are a mess. Sticky, floury and floury some more.

Oh my dear..I would come visit if I could. AND all you would have to share is a cup of coffee. That would be a dream come true. Bless you for the thought. PLUS I bet your cookies are delicious.

I do not.mind SO.much if appointments are in the winter here..b/c if the weather gets bad it is usually snow with ice, so cancelling is expected.. BUT I hate any appointments that are made in December. Bad traffic becomes horrendous. But this has been put off for 2 years as it is. So we will do this.

LOL I bet your floors are a mess..but look at it this way..you would probably clean them before Christmas anyway so this is a twofer (2 for one). Then all you have to do is dare anyone to mess up the floors before Christmas when you are done cleaning them.

It has finally been decided...we will go wig shopping tomorrow. We will then stop to get some bread and fruit. The holiday food shopping will happen on Monday.

I hope you have a great day shopping.

The house is cleaned once again. I shouldn't be allowed near the flour bin. 😉

LOL....perhaps you should teach your DH how to bake..Your GG could supervise him.

They would eat all the batter before anything was baked.🥴

Yea probably! It was worth a shot.

Good morning !!

Good morning. We woke up to freezing rain this morning. It is supposed to hit 54*F this afternoon. I have never seen that temperature in Winter in my life.🏝️

Yep, the weather now days is just crazy ,!

Sunshiny and pretty out today here..high today is going to be 37*F..yesterday the temps were like you are supposed to get later today
Crazy.

We just got our power back, it was our for almost 12 hours.

What a wind, I'm sure there is damage to more than trees on power wires.

Oh my goodness... SO Sorry, that is quite sad. Glad you have your power back !!!


I need to go start supper..TTYAL.

I'll take some of whatever you are making...I hope it is soup.😉😋

I wish it had if been soup..but nope, no such luck. Sloppy Joes.

I think I'll make a soup tomorrow, I love homemade vegetable soup.

It's snowing out, large pretty flakes.

Oh You know I love soup..and you know. I have beef bones...I think I will make soup as well. Thanks for the idea.. Happy Eating. !!

Our weather thinks it is spring..cold today..a bit warmer tomorrow and on the 70's by Christmas day..
I hate slick roads but Zi really think there should be snow for Christmas 🎁 🎄.

I bought a few packages of soup base at the dollar store, it is just a small packet with spices and a bit if dehydrated veggies. You add water and your own veggies. I haven't tried any of them yet. They had beef vegetable, potato leak and minestrone.

Once again, soup sounds delicious. I think that will be my go to meal after Christmas.

Today is cookie making day...so, ..I guess tomorrow is house cleaning day.

Sunny, I would eat the batter too. Sometimes the batter is better than the cooked cake or cookie in my opinion.

I wrapped all the presents then looked out the front window and Amazon had left one on the porch. I'll get to it tomorrow and I think that may be it.

I plan on make a few cookies for Christmas but can't think what to cook for Christmas dinner plus I need food here while Ginger and Chris are here.

We're supposed to be in the upper 60's starting tomorrow until next week. Sunny and clear for Christmas day.

Sheri..I would not plan what to make too heavily. Just go to the grocery with a guideline and see what they offer. I had to pick a different meat which changed other things.
Glad you have a gift on your porch...mine were supposed to come today and did not...so I just have 2 more chances.

Good morning.

I am glad that you will have family over for the holidays, Bestofour. If it was up to me, I'd make Chinese food for Christmas. 😆


Fingers crossed that your packages arrive on time Junie. I am awaiting for a call for DHs parcel as well.

Thanks. Sunny. Informed delivery days no packages are coming today however I also got 2 separate notifications that 2 are coming. I am beginning to think one thing I bought is actually a scam...hope I am thinking wrong.

I sure hope you will be getting your package too.

Half of DHs gifts are under the tree so I'm not worried. It is just two work shirts that I am waiting on, I'd rather they arrive late than not at all. I pray your parcels arrive in time. 🎄

Thanks Sunny. I thought 3 were coming in one box. But no just a small stuffy for one of the girls.
The thing I really hope comes is a magnetic light that guys can put on the underside of a vehicle hood so to see to work.. I am sure my SIL would SO appreciate ias for Rod..I have a few things for him...I will put them under the tree after he goes to bed Christmas Eve.

Junie, 2 of my friends have bought into gift scams recently. Both were able to stop their banks from paying. Hope yours isn't a scam. People are so wicked these day. I got notified that one present I'm waiting on won't be here until the 31st. Hope that's wrong and it gets here tomorrow. On another note......

I usually get eggs at the farmers market, which I didn't do this week, but then on the way home from Darbi's today I thought I'd run into Food Lion, pick up a dozen eggs to make chocolate chip cookies when Ginger and Colt come. $200.00 later when I'm checking out, I say to the cashier "where are my eggs" to which she answers "you just put the egg bag into your buggy. It's right there" and she points to it. I finished paying, walked out to my car, opened my truck, not a thought in my head, threw the groceries in and drove home. Did not even think about those eggs until I got home, took the groceries in, and saw that I had cracked 6 of them. So I made myself scrambled eggs and used the others in a cake mix.

I left my friend a voicemail telling her how dumb I was. She called me back to tell me about her excursion today. She recently had right shoulder replacement and is wearing a gigantic sling around her neck which has been driving her crazy. Today at PT she was told she can remove the sling for a few minutes at a time as long as she's careful not to bump her elbow. She was also told, if she's extremely careful, she can drive to the corner store - just a few miles from her house. Also today she was having a new washing machine delivered, which it was delivered BUT the water wasn't working so they couldn't get it hooked up correctly, her husband (who has a brain tumor) got in an argument with the delivery men, who ended up leaving, my friend got frustrated, got in her car, drove to the store, picked up 3 bottles of wine, and took them to the checkout counter. As she emptied her basket onto the counter - using her left arm trying to protect her right arm, - she knocked over one of the bottles with it hitting the floor breaking and splattering wine all over her feet and legs. When she looked down to see if she was cut and bleeding, she realized she had on bedroom slippers AND still had on her pajama pants. She said she looked up and everyone in the line was looking at her - woman with no makeup, barely combed hair, arm in a cast that she's holding at an odd position, bedroom slippers, pajama bottoms buying 3 bottles of wine.

Then when I called my sister to tell her both stories, she said well I can top you both. She and her husband are in the process of building a house while living in it and don't have anything but a bathroom mirror right now. Sunday night they went to a neighborhood church for a Christmas dinner. They have just recently started going to the Sunday night services at this church, because her husband preaches at another church which is an hour away on Sunday mornings, so they don't actually know anyone who goes there and thought it would be a good time to have small talk and meet people. While at the church something in her dress kept rubbing her neck. About 1/2 way through the dinner she couldn't stand it anymore and went to the bathroom to check it out. It was then she noticed she had her dress on backwards and it was the tag doing the rubbing. Really funny thing about this is that her dress is v-neck with red piping around the V so the back of her dress was cut way down her back. I guess no one felt they know her well enough to mention it and the only thing we can figure out is that she had on her coat when leaving home so her husband didn't notice.

Getting old is not for the faint hearted.

Oh my goodness !! Thank you SO much for the laughs, Sheri......you completed my day/night !!!

And I agree, getting old is not for the faint of heart.

And as far as my item...I use Pay Pal Credit online..regular PayPal pays the charge and then I get a bill once a month. So no linking my bank account to my card.

And BTW.....Merry Christmas !!

Bestofour, too funny....on all accounts. I think no matter ones age, our brains don't work like they used to.😆

I buy gift cards from a pharmacy for buying online, they keep the cards behind their counter for safety.

It is snowing a little, calling for a few things inches through the night and in the morning. DH will be at work tomorrow probably.❄️😔

Snowing????? It's 70° here today and for the rest of the week. And the ladybugs that were gone are back because of the sun. Hate that.

I got a message that my item is "out for delivery". Yesterday it was the 31st, today it is "out for delivery" so we shall see what happens.

Sheri, I think those first days quoted are so when the item actually comes you are impressed with the stores service. Pay attention to what Amazon says and then does to see what I am thinking Happy Christmas Eve to you all.

I just got two calls, apparently my mother and my daughter are already in a fight. Can I go to one of your houses for a quiet Christmas....I'll bring and cook all the food. 😡

Have you tried the soup? And are your mother and daughter coming for Christmas? Where do they live?

My package DID come. Wrapped and under the tree. Junie, did yours show up?

Yes. My package DID show up..and it works great..
Bless the Lord !! Now if I ever get my 3 nieces Christmas gifts all will be great for the season

So glad yours came as well !!

Merry Christmas!!

Yes. Please come here
You can help me makey oatmeal cookies and then you can take half of them home..AND I will do the Christmas cooking.

I haven't tried the soup bases yet, Bestofour.

My mother lives a mile from me, DD and the grands were all supposed to sleep there but GG was so upset that she came back home.

I am cooking the supper and bringing it over, we'll eat...I'll clean the mess and come home. Holidays shouldn't be this stressful.

Merry Christmas everyone.😘🎄

Merry Christmas to you all !!!

Well at least you will approve of the food served at your mom's. Sorry your GG felt the need to come home, but glad that she could. (did that make sense?)

I think it will be left overs here today....I was going to thaw out some beef for today, but I think I will save that for New Years Eve.

Do Chinese restaurants stay open where you live Junie?

To be honest I have no idea if they stay open or not. I also doubt if there is a Chinese restaurant in the area. Plenty of Mexican though.. But then most of the owners for them are Catholic so I assume they would be closed.

Since prices have gone up we go out to eat much less...I even get to go to the coffee shop less. Much less.

I was just curious, I have an Aunt in another province who is in her 80s....she takes the family out for a Chinese meal as part of her Christmas gift to them. We have a Chinese restaurant an hour from here but they close on Christmas day.

Well, in a few hours we will be saying, it's over for another year.😁