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!!!!!
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.
Hello and happy Friday. Today I wanted to share with you one of my all time favorite things: Frost Flowers or Ice Blossoms or whatever you may call them.
I never really knew about ice flowers until several years ago. When I had dogs, I would walk them very early in the mornings, often just after sunrise. In late fall or early winter, I would notice these white crepey looking things at the base of some of the plants near the side of the road. At first I thought it was paper, litter. Upon further investigation, I noticed that they were icy. I started doing a little research on them and discovered they are quite a phenomenon. The conditions have to be just perfect for these beauties to form. They are only around for a short time. I love them and I can’t tell you how excited I am to see them every year.
What are frost flowers? First they are not easy to spot, especially on a frosty morning when you probably aren’t going to be hanging around outside. They only form on a few herbaceous plants. To find them look for tall weeds, especially in locations that are seldom mowed.
The temperature must be below freezing for most of the night. The wind must be calm. The sky needs to be clear. All of these things are also conditions for ground frost. The soil must be moist but not frozen. The plant has to be alive. Autumn or early winter is the best time to see these. They create beautiful patterns. Ice flowers have water that comes out of the plant, usually wild flowers or weeds. The water from the plant is drawn upward from the ground. It expands as it touches the air and freezes, forming beautiful petals. No two are alike. Ice flowers don’t happen often because of all the different conditions needed to make them form.
I saw my first ice flowers about two weeks ago. I saw them a couple of times after that but I think they are probably done for the season. I took a few pictures of them and I would like to share them with you. Aren’t they beautiful?
If you still have these conditions in your area go look for some frost flowers. It must be early morning before they melt.
Southern Patches 