Another Christmas in the Books

Everyone kept saying, "Thanksgiving is late this year.  We've got one less week to get ready!" I don't know if it really mattered but have to say, I felt like I never stopped in the days leading up to the big event.  By event, I mean Christmas Eve. We were the family host this year. It is rotated between me and my two brothers so we only have it every third year.  Since I lived outside Kentucky until very recently, we've only been host two times.  And man, how my sister-in-laws did it every year seemingly flawlessly is now something I appreciate very very much.

Besides getting the house decorated and baking up lots of stuff I shouldn't eat (which I have done every year), there was the added task of getting the Christmas Eve meal ready.  I say this like it's something I do when actually my husband does most of it.  But I do a lot of fretting and worrying.   We have one dedicated vegan, 2 plant based whole food but will cheat vegans, one vegetarian who doesn't like most vegetables, one dairy free/gluten free eater, one who won't eat sugar (blaspheme!) and the rest who'll eat anything.  What a pain in the butt.  I was always questioning how and what he was making to be sure everyone was covered. But the Hubby came through. Not everything was successful (he likes to experiment) but everyone got enough to eat. I decided to get through the evening with a couple of old fashion drinks. 

Adding to the "pressure" was the 2nd Christmas visit by the Daughter's boyfriend. Last year when he came, we all got covid. It was a rough Christmas and the boyfriend insists he got it from me. This year I didn't have covid but I did have an awful cold, so I got a few sideways glances every time I coughed. But no one got sick (beyond me), so that was good. I was also instructed by the Daughter not to discuss calories or weight or anything health related.  She felt like it may put too much pressure on the BF who was already bemoaning some weight gain. So that meant every time I lifted a cookie to my lips I had to eat it joyfully. You know what that does? It makes you pick up another cookie.  When you get to remind yourself out loud of the misery that cookie is delivering, you are telling yourself don't pick up another cookie! Result: 3 lbs.  

Not too long after Christmas I went into high gear taking stuff down. I looked down the road at what was happening in January and thought, no time to enjoy this stuff. So got it all put away.   

Just in time for the worse snow Louisville has had in 15+ years.  8-10 inches. That's a lot of shoveling on our long hilly driveway. And ice. Ice is fun to shovel.  

But I'm done now. Driveway clear. Christmas decor put away. Guests all gone home. Just me and the hubby.  

Now bring on the Birthday freebies!

Keeping the Blog Alive

 Got to Keep This Alive

I have no idea whether this blog has a life of its own. Haven't written in it since 2015. In fact, at this moment I'm not even sure how to publish a post.  But hey, guess I'll give it the ol' Senior try (college try is WAY too long ago).

So, when I last left you I had retired and was doing stuff.  Now I am still retired and still doing stuff.  

• I moved to Louisville.  Bought a condo and lived in that while searching for a house. Bought a house (took three years). 
• It's in the Highlands (which for my devoted non-Kentucky followers is an old neighborhood at the edge of the city).  
• We added (we meaning Hubby) an addition and a deck on the house.  Then a tree fell on it. So we added the addition and the deck again.
• We are down from two cats to one. Dear Emmy died at age 20.  Zori is almost as old, living her best life as an "only cat". (Please note although I am now a married cat lady, I was once a single cat lady and enjoyed the status. Also note that I only had one child. Mea culpa JD Vance.)
• I joined a photo club and now take even more photos than ever before. Currently am the proud recipient of eight ribbons including one "best in show".
• Love being back home in Kentucky with family and friends, but the Darling Daughter decided to pursue the academic life in Seattle. It's a long flight.
• Am now a "step-mimi" to two boys. Bill's sons have one each. Both in Southern California. Another long flight.  We spend a lot of time flying back and forth to the west coast. Not my favorite thing but you got to do what you got to do.
• No longer taking piano lessons and have forgotten what little I learned. Bought a ukulele just for the heck of it. Can't play it.
• During the pandemic I began shopping on-line local auctions and must say, it is my only bad habit.
• Belong to two book clubs so I read at least two books a month. This is a great accomplishment in my book (no pun intended)
• Hubby continues to be an expert at doing and folding laundry. He has now joined the VEGAN club and gives me helpful (if not always welcomed) nutritional advice throughout the day. Most of which I ignore. 

So that's a pretty good update.  Perhaps I should try putting a photo in this post. I didn't take this one.