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.
I had been wishing for colder temperatures and man have they arrived. I still love it though. The air feels so cold and crisp. Just the way it is supposed to feel this time of year. It’s so hard to believe that December is here and a new year is coming soon.
How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was very nice and quiet. My nephew and his girlfriend came for dinner as well as my sister in law. we had such a fun time. My entire family no longer gets together on Thanksgiving Day. It seems as though each family is having their own special day. That makes me sad. I think next year we may try to plan a day, close to Thanksgiving Day, and get together with all of us. Time together is so special and should be treasured.
My sister and I took off early Friday morning for Black Friday shopping. It’s just not the same as it used to be. The crowds are not the same. So many people are doing online shopping and it makes going into the stores unnecessary. Most of the stores started their sales on Monday before Thanksgiving. I guess as I get older I’m just not that interested in being in huge crowds. The fact that I work with the public and experience this almost every single day also has a lot to do with that. But I’m not quite ready to give it up yet.
I still love going out on Black Friday. My sister and I start out early. We check out a few sales but we mostly love it because it is always our kick-off to Christmas. This past Friday was no exception. We started out around 7:00 AM and returned home around 4:30 PM. We had a wonderful time just being together.
As I said I wasn’t really looking for anything particular. I did buy a few Christmas presents and got some of that out of the way. But on our very last stop, which was as at Marshall’s, I found the best gift of all. It was for me but still.
While I was digging through some throw rugs I found a cat rug. It’s purrfect. Sorry I had to do that. It was my best find of the day.
Isn’t it cute??
I put the rug at my front door and Gus is already in love with it.
I guess he thinks I bought it just for him.
My nephew lives in Smithville and it is about two and a half hours from us. He had to work on Thanksgiving and didn’t get to enjoy any of his favorites with the family. On Saturday my sister and I met him about halfway to his house and had dinner with him. I made him a pumpkin pie, and his all time favorite, Butterfinger Cake. I didn’t get a picture of the cake or the pie. We got home late on Saturday. But it was totally worth it getting to spend some time together.
On Sunday I stayed home and relaxed. We did put up our Christmas tree. We still haven’t added all the decorations yet. I also finished my socks I was knitting.
I think they turned out pretty well. Most of the stripes match. I had just a little different coloring on one toe.
Even though our outside kitties come into the garage at night it can still get really chilly. We have a little heated house for them. They all love to pile up in that small house. It is the cutest thing ever. I am leaving you with a picture of Izzy poking her head out of the house. She secretly thinks the house is all hers and she is only sharing it with the others.
It was back to work for me this week. A full week ahead and a lot of things going on. I love Christmas and all the fun things that go along with it. But it can be so tiring. Remember to take care of you during this time. I think as women we tend to try and do it all and be all for everyone. Sometimes that is just not possible.
Have a wonderful week. Stay warm if you are in this area.
Southern Patches 