Sunday Afternoon Coffee Share

The new year hit us with some cold weather. I am talking frigid, freezing cold temps. But come on it is January here and that is to be expected. I think it is refreshing. Ask me about this in the middle of February and I will probably be singing a different story.

I didn’t make it to midnight on New Year’s Eve. I fell asleep around 10:00 PM and woke up just a little after the new year arrived. I have to say I am ready for a new year. I don’t really do resolutions but I usually pick a word for the year. I am still thinking on that one. To be honest with you I usually forget about the word halfway through the year.

It is a cozy Sunday around here. Did you notice my coffee mug. My niece gave this to me for Christmas. I opened it and said “wow that cat looks just like Gus”. It was Gus!!! and all my other kitties. She had the mug made with pictures of all five of my kitties. I love it!!!! My family really knows how to make me happy when they buy me kitty gifts. I have to show you all of the kitty gifts I received but I will do that in a separate post. We finally got all of the Christmas decorations down and stored away. I have had the best day just knitting and drinking coffee.

I am knitting a sock for my nephew’s girlfriend. I had hoped to get them finished before Christmas but it didn’t happen. I just finished the first sock and have started the second one. The second of a pair of socks is never fun, but you have to keep going. I am also working on a scarf. Just a simple, all knit stitches, scarf. I can’t remember where I got the yarn but it is just wonderful. It pulls perfectly and is just a joy to knit. I am taking my time with it because I hate to finish it.

One sock down and one to go.
I can’t wait to wear this scarf it feels so cozy.

I worked most of the week. My sister and I had mammograms yesterday in Knoxville. We have also decided to start the process of genetic testing. We started the testing for that yesterday as well. We have so much cancer in our family. Five of my six siblings have had some form of cancer. Two sisters had breast cancer. I am a fanatic about having my scans and tests, but we are curious about all of the cancers we may be predisposed to. It is something that we need to know not only for us but for nieces, nephews and grandchildren in our family. We started the process yesterday but it will take several weeks to get results. It’s scary. I was against this for several years for many reasons. But more about that later.

While we were at the hospital I went to the Oncology floor, where they do chemo, and donated my hats I had knitted and crocheted. They had a pretty good stash but with the cold weather coming I am hoping someone can use them.

These are the hats I took with me to donate.

We had planned some shopping afterwards but the appointment lasted a little longer than we had planned. And it was sooooooo cold!!! We went and had a nice lunch and made a couple of stops and came back home. I had a grocery pick up so I did that and came back to the house to snuggle in for the weekend.

I have been listening to an audio book. The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. I have loved all of her other books. This one is not one of my favorites but it is still pretty good. I like to listen while I am knitting and then when I am driving. I am also reading Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand. I waited for both of these books for several weeks. I got them through the Libby App. I am about halfway through both of them. I need to finish because I know there will be another long wait if I don’t.

We have a short trip to Nashville this week for a four month check up for hubs. That is if the weather cooperates. We will have to see.

I hope you have a wonderful week and stay warm if you are in this neck of the woods, or other cold places.

I leave you with a picture of sweet Kitty Kitty enjoying the bit of sunshine we had yesterday. Yes she may be a little annoyed with me for bothering her nap.

Kitty Kitty

I will be joining Natalie The Explorer over at The Weekend Coffee Share.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!!

Hello Monday

Well here we are with another Christmas behind us and a new year just a day away. Where did this year go?

Last week was a crazy wonderful Christmas week. We had our big family Christmas at my house. We had about twenty people here, and my house and heart were full. A couple of days later we had a smaller gathering at my sister’s house with food and more food and presents and laughing.

It always seems as if there will not be enough time to get everything done. Buying groceries, cooking, buying gifts, gift wrapping everything, trying to make sure everything is just right for everyone. You have to admit it is a bit exhausting.

But just like that it is all over and you are sitting at home alone thinking about taking down all the Christmas decorations. We always leave ours up until New Year’s Day. Sometimes the decorations don’t come down until a week or two after Christmas. This depends on my work schedule.

I had to go back to work the day after Christmas so I didn’t get a lot of extra time off.

Christmas at my house. We do a white elephant exchange and it is so much fun.
Presents at my sister’s house.

I love this snow globe that my sister has.
Me and my little nephew dog Cooper.
My nephew Caleb and his girlfriend Tiesha
Nephew Tyler. He brought us all Christmas gifts from London. A book for me about the history of London I love it.

So a great time was had. I love it when our family gets together. It seems like that doesn’t happen enough these days. My hubs and I had a quiet Christmas Day at home just us and the kitties. It was very nice.

I am ready to get back to a regular schedule and quit the indulging that has been going on the last couple of weeks. Another few days of this and I may not be able to fit into my clothes.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful. I would like to take a moment to say thank you for reading my blog. I feel like I have made so many new friends over the last few years. You all are wonderful and have become such a huge part of my life. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful happy New Year!!!!!

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

Screenshot

Tuesday Happenings

Hello and happy Tuesday, and dare I remind you, only one week until Christmas. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one. Thanksgiving was only about twenty minutes ago.

I have been off from work for seven, yes you heard that right, wonderful and glorious days. Did I have big plans? Nope. Did I have a lot of Christmas projects and decorating? Nope. Just seven awesome days to do pretty much what I wanted when I wanted. I had some vacation days to get rid of before the end of the year. Sadly we can no longer carry them over and your really shouldn’t anyway. Use those days and enjoy yourself.

Last Tuesday night we had our work Christmas party. It was very nice. We had it a restaurant about forty minutes from me. I had to plan everything for the party such as the menu, time, number of people etc. it is always a bit stressful. But I had the vision of those seven days off, bouncing around in my head. We had a lot of fun at the party. It’s always worth it to see all of our members get together and have a good time.

My sister and I spent one day finishing up with Christmas shopping in Knoxville. And would you just look!! the stores are already putting out Valentine’s Day decorations. I love hearts so you know it doesn’t really bother me but it was a little strange to see all the hearts amongst all the Christmas decorations.

It was actually a pretty quiet week. We had to attend the funeral of a cousin. And of course groceries were bought and last minute Christmas items ordered and picked up. I have been doing more cooking and baking, which I love to do when I have lots of time.

My nephew had been in London for a week and my sister and I had agreed to pick him up at the airport on Sunday night. His flight was supposed to get in at 11:51 PM but it was delayed and didn’t get in until after 1:00 AM. I didn’t make it back to my house until 3:00 AM. The airport was deserted until that last flight came in and then it sort of exploded with people. A good thing I had the following day off.

Deserted airport. Also freezing cold. The reflection of those blue lights look like blue footprints.

I have also done a lot of knitting and crocheting while I have been off. I’ve been working on some hats to donate to the University of Tennessee hospital, where my sister had her chemo. There is an area for donations. People leave hand knitted and crocheted hats and head bands for people going through chemo. They always go through a lot of them in the winter. Below are a few I have finished. What is your opinion about a Pom Pom on top? Yes or no?

I am also working on a pair of socks for my nephew’s girlfriend. She asked for a pair at Thanksgiving, and in typical me fashion, I have waited until the last week before Christmas to get started on them.

We put our Christmas tree up a few weeks ago. The same one we have had for 34 years. We bought it the first year we were married. It has made it through a couple of moves. We did order a new tree this year. It was lost in transit and finally made its way to us a couple of days ago. Only about a month late. We haven’t decided if we will return it or keep it for next year. We finally got the last of the ornaments put on the tree this morning. So far the kitties have controlled themselves around it.

Just to let you know that is not an actual kitty at the top of the tree. It looks exactly like my Sadie, Ha!!!

I have done quite a bit of cooking and baking while I have been off. I made sourdough bread for my nephew and had it for him when he got off the plane Sunday night. I made chess bars for my husband. And I made a beef stew today in the crock pot. It was yummy. We had it with biscuits.

So it is back to work for me tomorrow. Sadly all good days off must come to an end. But the bright side is Christmas is next week. I have about 20 people coming to my house for dinner on Sunday. Everyone is bringing a dish so it won’t be a ton of cooking just for me. On Christmas Eve my sister has a small get together at her house. Christmas Day will be just me and my husband and the kitties and a very quiet day. How is your Christmas season going? Do you celebrate big or do you keep it relatively quiet?

I leave you with a pic of my big Christmas present that keeps giving all year long. My big boy Gus.

Gus

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!