Good early morning. (I must have been away the day they taught about sleeping in on the weekends!)

I'm still slightly in vacation mode and my house is still mixed up. Today my project is to find the upstairs phone. Yesterday it was to find the curtain rods and put the curtains back up. I am also spending too much time researching my next holiday and deciding on paint colours - both things that won't happen until February.

Today is a back to normal day since I'm working a Food Bank drive this afternoon and then will be at the Town Hall to babysit the washrooms during the Christmas Celebration. And so it begins ... time to get myself back into Christmas mode, starting with some wrapping this morning. Still no outside lights up - maybe today! And then there's the Bling Tree - Oy!

May as well get started and just do it, right?

Enjoy your day wherever it brings. Remember it's a gift - that's why it's called the present.

Hi Ruth. Once you get on a roll with the Xmas decorating, it can take on a life of it's own - that's what happened to me last weekend. I really dislike clutter but now Xmas clutter has taken over my house in the form of "decorations." Oh well, it's only once a year. I'm the type who takes the tree down the day after Xmas anyway!

Today we go to see my parents and I'm not looking forward to it. I asked my mother to tour an adult community near them with me, and she refused (even when I asked her to do it for "me.") So I'm going on my own and then we'll go over there and open presents and then out for a meal. Wish me luck and patience.

I'll probably be off plan today but planning to get right back on tomorrow. I drank wine last night and today my sinuses are all stuffed up :-(. Hope everyone has a great day!

Good morning.

I'm with Ruth on the holiday stuff. Finally put ornaments on the tree yesterday. It was unusually challenging - we'll have little ones visiting, human and four-legged, so wanted to avoid putting anything edible or breakable on the lower branches.

This year I brought the wrapping paper down to my dining room. In the past I was sneaking and doing it on my bedroom floor. But my aging body decided a change was in order. I got DH's wrapped when he was out the other day; DS2's I did last night; DS1's I'll do today. Just waiting on a few things and I'll be done. Except I must remember to get something for my trainer still.

I did finally get to the grocery store so now have ingredients for baking. But I work this afternoon so might not fire up the mixer until tomorrow.

Have a great weekend.

Good morning!

I hope you get your house all decked out and find your phone, Ruth, and I hope you have a good visit with your folks, Matilda.

I absolutely must do grocery shopping this AM, so we'll be heading out shortly since I have get home and get ready for my Red Hat Christmas Party at noon. We're meeting with another Red Hat group, and were told we could decorate our hats if we wanted. I bought a Santa hat and decorated it with a strand of candy cane lights, sparkly red balls, and red tinsel, and it looks pretty good, although I think I look pretty silly in it. It must not be too bad, though, since my 14 year old granddaughter asked me if she could have it after the party.

OK, I'd better eat some breakfast so I can get to the store!

Good morning chicks!

Ruth, can't blame you on searching the holiday. More importantly, what have you come up with so far??!!

Matilda, good luck with your parents. Tough situation.

Karen - you are so far in front of me! No more floors for me either .

I did get a couple of long distance gifts ordered online yesterday, I'll do a few more when the kids aren't here next week. I thought I was doing great yesterday, until I curled my DD's hair for their Christmas concert and then went to watch, and I was exhausted. Pathetic, eh? So, I was going to decorate today (everyone else hauls) but if I do, small amounts at a time.

This is great for the diet though - I've lost 7 or 8 lbs, albeit not the healthy way! Just ran out of my friend's chicken rice soup, that stuff was fantastic and basically what I ate all week. DH said he'd make me Moroccan tagine .

Cottage - I wanna see a pic! Have fun!! (you can text me one...hint,hint....)

Good morning!

I was already awake when my coworker texted me to see if I could work for her today since she said the swat team is at her house. For her son, apparently, not for her. Oh well, I said, I'm sorry but I am over the hill today. Thank goodness.


I've been sitting quietly with the pups and my mission this morning is to finish my sisters prayer shawl. Will head to the pool later and a meeting at noon. Our favorite Christmas concert tonight and so I'm taking a big risk since it's going to snow tonight and I'll need to go over the hill super early tomorrow for work. Fortunately I brought the big car.

Matilda, sending you best wishes with your parents today. What a tough situation.

Tammy, pathetic, no. You're recovering. Reminding myself Yuvette's tell me to keep the cone on the dog for two weeks. PS he's doing fine after just a week.

Linda, enjoy your party today!

Ruth, how exciting to be planning your next trip!

Karen, have fun decorating the tree!
Okay the pop and I are headed back inside it's a little chilly this morning!

Happy weekend everyone!

Good morning chilly chicks

Karen smart move using the dining room. I use the dresser in our spare bedroom. The microwave I bought for Joe's family is wrapped in an old felt back Christmas table cloth. I used to place it u dear the tree. Nothing like recycling

Tammy you need time to recover!!! I remember going to the store the first time I was allowed to drive. I was so excited!!! Parked next to the car corral (I wasn't walking too well then) Made it to the front door and then turned right around. You need to baby yourself a little

Debbie be careful driving. Wow swat team at her house. That is either the best excuse ever not to work or a sign maybe her son needs to move out.

Linda the hat sounds adorable, please post a pic

Matilda sending you hugs and support today.

Ruth good luck with your scavenger hunt finding the phone. My mom's house phone has been lost in the yard and garden on more then one occasion. At least you should be able to find yours.

Yesterday I made unstuffed cabbage from a Facebook post. Came out amazing. Also, found a copycat recipe for Panera's Autumn Harvest soup, another winner!!! Found time to clean the house, laundry and torture the pups (I like mani pedis why can't they lol) even hopped on the bike. Today I need to take a nap if I am going to survive at work tonight. So I am keeping it low key. Natasha you may get a text tonight lol...BTW Potatoe Pizza, never heard of it and probably for the best because I LOVE pizza!!!!

Hmmmmm since this is a nothing kinda day I think I'll have a second cup. Who's in? Have a great day!!!

Good afternoon,

Forgot to check in this morning, woke up and first thing I did was clean the bathroom and then started with the rest of the cleaning so house is done. Made lunch for everyone and now I think I am taking DS and his GF Christmas shopping before we go ice skating this evening at an outdoor rink for Blues Hockey event.

Ruth hope you found the phone

Matilda that is tough, hope you have a good visit

Cottage sounds like fun

Tywnn remember you are recovering

Karen I just wait until everyone is gone and wrap in the living room

Debbie drive safely tomorrow

Jekel I went and got some more almond flour and unsweet coconut so I can start baking some items that are op for me for next week.

Have a nice rest of the day

Afternoon! DH and I got up early and went to BJ's, bought our roast for Christmas, some chocolate and nuts for gifts and did some general re-stocking. Came home to do a little shoveling since DS1 will need a place to park when he comes home next week. The snow had a crust on it from yesterday's freezing rain. Yuck.

Later I need to continue my wrapping; I made a big dent in the job last evening so I hope I can finish tonight. I mostly spread things out on the family room floor but maybe I should find a table.

Debbie, I agree with Jennifer: best excuse ever or major red flag if the SWAT team is your reason for missing work.

Tammy, really, don't overdo it, although I know how hard it is to be patient.

Linda, your hat sounds, um..., interesting!

Ruth, how was the scavenger hunt?

Have a great evening, chicks.

Who's up for coffee????? Me that's who

Ugh only half way through the tour. Come on 7am. Major protests happened in Brooklyn. Complete with "air mail" being thrown at officers. Glad I escaped the city tonight. There were over 20,000 protesters tonight. There is a "pro cop" rally scheduled for Dec 19. Most cops won't go as it is just making yourself more of a target. Oh how I wish for simpler times.

At least I am getting caught up on all my paperwork tonight. I better re check my accuracy on Monday when I more with it lol.

Dinner was not terribly off plan, but ate a little too much. I'll burn it off when I am sleeping later after my tour.

Can't wait to hear about everyone's Sunday

Your midnight coffee must be cold now, Jennifer, so here's a fresh, hot cup. , and I'm joining you for this one. I slept in a bit this morning, and it sure felt good.

Yesterday's party was so much fun, and it was great to meet other groups of Red Hatters and make new friends, and we pledged to get together for joint events often in the future.

As for wrapping gifts, that's always Jake's job at the diningroom table, and I'm usually the tape dispenser. I was a bit miffed that the gift I ordered for him came while I was away last weekend, and came in a box with the name of it plus a picture of it right on the box. So much for surprises! But I figured there was no reason to wrap it since he already knows what it is.

Today's plans are to finished up Christmas shopping, then end the day with a nice soak in my brother's hot tub and join them for dinner. That will be a nice way to wrap up the weekend.

Jennifer, I hope you are home safe now and have had coffee. I too wish for simpler times which is why I live where I live. Big cities are a tad frightening although I spent the first 60 years of my life in one.

We built a Food Mountain yesterday although cash and food donations are down a bit from last year - too bad because Food Bank use has increased around here. Next weekend we pack the annual Christmas baskets and we need to do more of them this year. So sad! I keep counting my blessings.

Long night (4 to 9) at the Town Hall with a major crisis - no water in the washrooms! Luckily Moel was back from Ottawa and was able to resolve the problem. Last weekend, somebody switched the panel breaker off - not me! I was in Cape May. M. got the pump circuit turned back on which meant the pipe heating cable worked, it thawed and we had water again. So glad he was around to rescue the situation.

Not sure what today will bring but there sure is a list of stuff to do, both Christmas stuff and house "restoration'. I found the base for the upstairs phone but not the handset. Wouldn't you think I'd have put them away together? Today I am going to get the dust ruffle on my bed and put up the outside lights. The guys put the bed backtogether for me but I didn't ask them to fuss with the dust ruffle.

Off to Karen's tonight for her family Christmas Dinner. Her son Ben is home from his world travels and then is off again before "real" Christmas. I offered to help cook but she is doing Ben's favourites so I'll just take wine. It'll be our "Delta Family Dinner" for December.

The Darling Doggage have been out to cruise the dog yard and are now playing. Jazz has The Bone and is sleeping on it while Joey and Millie play fight. I wish people could get along as well as dogs do.

Enough jabbering! I need to get on with my day - striving for balance.

Oh Dear Jennifer, Hope the rest of your shift went okay. We're not supposed to be political on here, so I won't say anything else . BUT, you can come visit me if you need to get away from it all! I just looked, we're 4 hours straight west .

Cottage, it sounds like a blast! No pictures of your hat?!? Did Jake say anything on his present? Considering Mac's gift is a kayak, that's a hard one to hide!

Ruth - the dust ruffle is the hard part! I vote to leave it off for a while, lol.

I succeeded in being pretty lazy yesterday. I'm planning on going to church, and we have a bible study Christmas party, I'm not sure if I'll make that, I was so wiped the other night. We'll see. My family did go pick out a beautiful Christmas tree, and my dd did the most bizarre thing last night....she went on a cleaning spree?!?!? It looks SO nice in here now!

Potato pizza is deadly. The base is sour cream instead of tomato and then it has thin slices of potato, bacon, cheese, and green onions topped with cheese. It is heavenly and I can make myself sick off of it. Hope you made it through your night! I went in 2 hours early for a part-timer that went home sick and now I'm being mandoed for 2 hours this morning for someone who took a couple of hours vacation time. Wrapping up my morning with a heroin overdose. *sigh*

Stay safe out there! And hopefully any uniformed personnel that has received the warning about being an Isis target is smart enough to skip the pro-law enforcement rally! I was in Florida visiting Jaime when I got that notification. I didn't tell my mom b/c I didn't want her to worry...then when the officers in NY got attacked with the hatchet, news stations reported on the threat. Ugh.