An Extra Day Off

Happy Tuesday. It was back to work for me yesterday. I had been off for three days and to be honest, with Christmas over I was ready to get back in the swing of things. I don’t know how you are but after Christmas Day I am done with the holidays. My husband is not like that. He believes in continuing to celebrate the week between Christmas and New Year. Not me. I do leave all the decorations up just for him although I am the one who takes all of them down anyway.

But today, Tuesday I had an extra wonderful day off. It only took one day back at work, and we were slammed, to look forward to this extra little decadent day. I actually had a vacation day to use before the end of the year so I picked today. But it was wonderful!!! I woke up thinking I had work and then remembering I was off today I settled back in the bed for a few more minutes of sleep. It was so nice. I got up and had coffee and read some blogs and just enjoyed being at home and not having anywhere to go.

Mark was off today too. He has been on the verge of being sick for about three weeks. He has coughed and felt bad and just when he thinks he is getting better he feels worse again. I talked him, finally, into going to the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully we will find out what is going on.

I did get up early and take care of the babies. I loaded garbage and went to the landfill. It was a good thing I did. They were almost full for the day at only 9:30 AM. I guess everyone getting rid of their Christmas wrappings. I wouldn’t let hubs do anything today. I feel like he needs to get well and get lots of rest. Because of the immunosuppressants he takes it takes him twice as long to get over anything than it does most people. I knitted, cooked dinner, took the babies for a long walk, and we watched a movie, Don’t look up, It was pretty good. A good day. I just can’t wait until Mark gets to the doctor and he can find out what is going on. Maybe get some meds. It is always scary with him he is very finely balanced with his kidney and all the meds he already takes.

Some boat action on the lake today before the rain moved in. I have no idea who this is. It looks like he is zooming through the clouds. I just had to sit out on the deck and enjoy the warm weather. It was almost 70 degrees F today!!!! What????

The kitties have discovered the deck. Mama cat has been hanging out on the deck for awhile but only in the last day or two the babies have joined us. But not Izzy for some reason she prefers staying around the garage. They are so funny with their own little personalities.

Precious Milo, He loves being outside on the deck with me. Isn’t he beautiful?

Mama cat, Allie, and her son Buster they are the best of friends. Where you see one you will see the other. They always go on our daily walks with us. If for some reason Allie cat doesn’t go then neither does Buster.

Look how warm it is here today. I need some cold weather to make it feel like winter.

A small snack today while working on the blog.

Look how dark it is. This was this afternoon when we went on our walk. It rained before and after this. Then the sun came out. I kept looking for a rainbow but I didn’t see one.

So how is your week going? Do you take down your Christmas decorations right after Christmas or do you leave them until the New Year?

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

It’s Christmas Time!!!

Hello friends and Merry Christmas Eve. I can’t believe Christmas is here. I don’t think I have ever felt less Christmasy in my life. I haven’t posted in a bit. Things here have been busy and sad. That’s a bit of a strange combination isn’t it? But I guess that’s how life can be sometimes.

Two weeks ago we lost one of our young employees in a horrific car crash. Matthew was only 18 years old and just the sweetest, caring person you could ever hope to meet. It has left our work family shaken. And as it always does when such a young person dies it makes you question. Looking around at the funeral at the absolutely packed church I had to smile with pride for this young man. At such a very young age he touched so many lives. He was an awesome amazing person and we will never forget him, And that is all I am going to say about Matthew.

It is hard to believe the end of the year is coming, where has the year gone? I was looking back at some pictures the other day and they were taken in March!!! It seems like it was yesterday.

The last two weeks have been absolutely jam packed. My sister and I managed a trip to Sevierville, TN to the Tanger Outlet Mall for some Christmas shopping. We also had our work Christmas party in Knoxville, I posted a lot of pics of that on the last Wordless Wednesday that I did. I hosted twenty of my family members at my house on Sunday for our annual Christmas get together. We had a ton of food and did the dirty Santa exchange. It was a lot of fun but a lot of stress getting the house the way I wanted it. You know how that goes. My husband always threatens to boycott any other get togethers at our house because he says I get manic with it. I know he doesn’t meant it. My friend and co-worker celebrated her birthday with a fun birthday party Tuesday night, add in lots of Christmas shopping and work work work. Wow!!! I am ready for some down time.

***My signature peanut butter balls. I make them every year. I made about 150 Saturday night. I am always expected to bring these to our get togethers at Christmas time.***

The hubs has to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. It sometimes works out that way and we are used to it. I was off today and I decided to clean my house this morning. I started at 6:30 AM and got most of the upstairs cleaned. You see I have a reason for this, I plan to do absolutely nothing tomorrow but binge watch some t.v shows and stay in my pajamas all day. If the house is clean then I can feel better about it all the way around.

My sister had a Christmas get together tonight with just her two children and their families. They invited me over so I went and it was a lot of fun. Before going to her house I went to visit my mother in law at the village and spent a couple of hours with her. I took her the Christmas presents we had gotten for her. We had a fun time. I ate lunch with her and we gave out presents to the staff at the village. I then went to the cemetery to put flowers on my parents, Mark’s dad’s, Mark’s grandparents, and my brother’s graves for Christmas. And then home to take care of all the babies and just collapse. What a full and fun day.

So as you can see a very busy two weeks and a lot of fun with a lingering sadness for our friend Matthew that will not go away for a very long time.

***Our glassblower at work made me these two turtle doves. I added them to my bird tree. Where I keep all of my bird ornaments that I collect.***

***We have had some very foggy mornings here. The temps have been very nice. I sort of wish it was colder it would feel more like Christmas.***

I hope you and your family have a wonderful and fun filled Christmas!!!! Love each other and cherish your love for one another.

Never forget the reason for this season is Jesus Christ always and forever in our hearts.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

Another Lazy Weekend

Hello friends and happy Monday. It is cool and rainy here today but the weekend felt like spring it was so warm. But just hang around because tomorrow it is supposed to be only 46 degrees F for the day’s high. That is the wacky weather we have here in East Tennessee.

It was a rather quiet weekend here. I did the grocery thing on Saturday and went to one of my favorite thrift stores. I didn’t really find a lot at the thrift store but I did find this unusual bouquet of colorful thingies. That is the only way I know how to describe it. But isn’t it pretty. I think it looks so festive for the holidays so out of control and pretty. I don’t think my husband agrees but that is ok. I’m wondering if I might not be able to use it for my Christmas Tree topper. I am still on the hunt for the topper for this year. I wanted a moon but couldn’t find the right one. A girl at Walmart suggested a hat. Not like frosty the snowman’s hat but a real hat hmmmm, that had me thinking of course.

I didn’t get all the things done this weekend that I wanted to. It was a pretty big list that I had going. I did buy groceries and get all the laundry done, I had to give flea meds to eight babies, and add a few decorations to the house. I also took all the pumpkins off of my front porch from Halloween or Thanksgiving, yes Thanksgiving sounds better. I took the pumpkins out in the yard and hacked them up. Pumpkin innards can be quite a treat for forest animal. Pumpkin is also a natural worming agent for forest animals. You can also plant the seeds and or use the pumpkin in your compost heap. The kitties were very curious about the pumpkins. They all gathered around and watched me dissect them and throw them into the woods. They weren’t as curious after they discovered the taste was terrible. I also finished knitting some hats I have been working on. I have an idea for all the hats or toboggans I am turning out but more on that later. I am also continuing to work on the afghan for my nephew for Christmas. I am thinking if I get one finished I will give the other nephew a promise note to deliver it as soon as I am finished. I will show you a picture this weekend. Maybe by then I will have made a little progress. We shall see.

***Smashing pumpkins. It’s very satisfying.***

***Three of these finished and another one started.***

We bought a heated kitty house for the babies. Well we actually bought two. They were about $80.00 each and when they arrived I was very disappointed. They actually zipped together with a heating pad inside, which we could have put together so much easier and cheaper. We will keep the one we put together but I am sending the other one back. It is just not worth the amount of money we paid for it. Very disappointing.

I cooked dinner both Saturday and Sunday. Mark was off this weekend. When he is home I try to cook and not have to get take out which we are both sick of.

On Sunday it rained and it was quite cozy and warm in the house. The kitties were all in the garage snuggled up but not in the new kitty house. They love being together on this old bed.

***I love the way Milo has his leg slung over Sadie as if he is protecting her.***

***And these two just minutes earlier had been fighting over this blanket.***

Last week I had the opportunity to teach a precious lady how to knit. She had had one lesson from someone else but was still confused. She got my name from my niece and we got together last week to work on her knitting. She is just such a sweet woman and I had so much fun showing her some stitches and helping her with her scarf she was making. We plan to get together again as she progresses. Today I received a hand written thank you card from her. Wow!! I didn’t even know people did that anymore. It’s little things like that that I absolutely love and miss in this day of snapping and texting and face timing.

How was your weekend? I am off to bed because me and my sister Sandy have a big shopping trip planned tomorrow. We are headed to Pigeon Forge to the outlet stores and a few other places. I have to be well rested for that. Have a great week!!!!

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

We Gathered Together

Hello friends how was your week? Your Thanksgiving? Did you spend time with family and friends? We had only a small group at our house for Dinner on Thanksgiving Day, just five people. My MIL was able to leave the assisted living village and come and eat with us. Her Birthday is in a few days so we decided to go ahead and celebrate since we were all going to be together. We had a great time.

***My husband loves candied sweet potatoes. I make them just like my mama always did. I just hate peeling the***m.

***And of course we had to have mashed potatoes too. They’re my favorite***.

Making the dressing. We always call it dressing in the south unless you are actually stuffing it in the turkey
and then it is called stuffing. We had ham instead of turkey but Mark still likes the dressing with it.

***Double layer Birthday cake which I then split into four layers. You get more yummy icing this way.***

***She loved the cake and her Birthday Girl Button.***

It was a wonderful day. My sister in law and I took all the babies for a good walk after dinner. And by the time everything was cleaned up and the left overs put away I was pretty much exhausted. Mark drove his mom back to the assisted living village and then we settled in to watch Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Unfortunately there was no Black Friday shopping for me and my sister because I had to work. But that is o.k. we already have a couple of shopping trips planned in the next week or two. Also Buster and Milo were scheduled on Friday for early morning vet appointments to get neutered. More on that in the next post. This silly kitty mama was a little emotional about taking the babies in for this procedure but they did just fine. My heart could barely stand it. Silly Kitty Mama.

***I could barely keep my eyes ope***n to watch Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. It is a tradition we watch it every year.

On Saturday I went downtown, Madisonville. The block around the courthouse was set up with vendors and food trucks for Christmas. It was a lot of fun. I bought a few things for Christmas presents and had lunch at one of the food trucks before heading to get groceries.