Ruth, I am SOOOO glad that you are starting to actually rest during your retirement...good for you on letting the Country Christmas go on without you!!!
I'm sure it'll be fine. Aren't furkids the best?
They do not give a
what we look like or what style we are (or aren't) wearing.
Hey, have you seen the
robes at Bath and Body Works? I don't know if you have them anywhere near you, but they call them "The Softest ____ on earth!" and they aren't kidding!
Definitely worth looking in to if you're in the market for a new robe!
Don't stress about gifts! We didn't get any shopping done last year until we went to Ireland at the end of November/beginnning of December. Worked out just fine.
Cottage, you are a workout stud!
I'm so proud of you for going even when things don't seem ideal.
I hear you on cheesecake...
I have some SBD-safe (but caloric) pumpkin cheesecake slices in the freezer and am taking one for after T-day dinner.
LC, no counting down days until Christmas until after the American Thanksgiving!
Actually, I envy that you chicks can get started so early! There's something good in that...
I'm so sorry you were sick! Hope you continue to feel better!
Hey,
Phx!
WW Flour is an abbreviation here for Whole Wheat flour. It works really well in bread and things that are heavier. For cakes and things that need to be lighter try "Whole Wheat Pastry Flour" or "White Whole Wheat Flour." It goes by both names, but it's actually just flour made from the whole kernel of a softer kind of wheat. Works well in baking. I used to be a teacher and my favorite Christmas gifts were personalized ornaments (with the kid's name on them), gift certs to places like Bath and Body Works, spas (for massages after tough days), or restaurants. Of course, I always adored home-made gifts from the kids, too.
As for baking, granular Splenda is preferable to using the little packets. The Brown Sugar Splenda is actually not SBD-safe--it's a mix of 1/2 real brown sugar and 1/2 Splenda. That said, I sometimes use a tiny bit of real brown sugar in my baking--when it'll work out to a minute amount in each serving. I bake tons of things using Splenda and find it much easier to make SBD-safe treats and enjoy them fully without any fears of cravings than to nibble on some regular stuff. But it's up to you!
Schmoodle, I hear you on the calendar thing!
That kind of thing happens to me all the time! Here's some ideas...what about using Microsoft's calendar templates for Office programs? I think some of them will let you make photo collages? Or, you could buy her a calendar from
Current (or other places) that lets her put in the photos herself--and mail a couple to her each month, if that's easier for you? (two other options:
here &
here) Hope that helps and that the telecom goes really well! I'm working on my gift list today...good to hear that you finished yours!
Hey,
Thin! The other day here it was about 70 and rainy and I thought, "Ahhh...this is California winter weather...
"
I hear you on 79 just not cutting it.
Hope you get tons of stuff done anyway. Your cleaning sounds like a major workout!
Me:
Well, I got awfully sick just before the weekend.
Sinus infection, sore throat, the works. DH and I went shopping on Saturday for our Christmas basket--we make up a basket of food and gifts for a needy family every year. It's a program through our church and it's grown to be my favorite part of the season!
It was an entire day of shopping, though and both he and I were wiped after. Yesterday I meant to do a lot more, but I slept as much as I could other than church and RCIA meetings. In the evening, DH and I picked the cookies I'm going to make this year and my darling, darling H helped me plan out when I'm going to do what durinbg the next 4 weeks. I feel SOOOOOO much better now that I have a plan!
Off to the gym after work today and then home to enjoy some kind of veggie burgers and frozen veggies while getting my tasks for the night done (gotta check the calendar when I get home!
)
BTW, we had a huge snow that started yesterday afternoon. It didn't stick for hours and hours, so everything was wet. When it did start to stick, it stuck to EVERYTHING! It's just gorgeous!
Every single branch of every tree is outlined in snow. And best of all...the roads and walkways are clear!
Hope everyone has a great day!