I fell asleep early last night watching Christmas movies and got up at a respectable hour and shortly thereafter took a long shower and got dressed. I’d forgotten about all the rain in the forecast for today and was thinking about going to a matinée at the movies. Then the clouds began to roll in and given the fact that I’ve been meaning to get new windshield wipers for the last few months, I decided to stay home.
So I put on my fugly family dollar reindeer pants and made some lunch. I tend to make up recipes based on whatever is on hand with varying results. Today’s lunch (and dinner her in a minute) was a big fat veal chop pan seared and finished off in the oven at a really low heat. After searing the chop I added tomatoes with thyme, chopped sundried tomatoes, chopped green olives, capers, onion, lemon juice and this and that. I served it over grits and I made sure there were lots of tomato juices in the skillet. I cut up my chop with a soup it was so tender and the house smelled fantastic.
The the bottom dropped out of the sky and it’s been cold and rainy ever since. So I’m all snuggled in and will probably go to bed early again tonight. It seems all I want to do in this weather.
So what is going on with you guys? Is everyone done with their Christmas shopping? What are your plans for the next few days?
We have had rain for 3 days but it stopped today and went to Atlanta. I am through with shopping and decorating. I have a small artificial tree that is all the decorating my husband and I need. We are having steak, twice baked and a salad for Christmas. I wish we would have a white Christmas but we won’t.
I remember once as a child it started snowing those big fat flakes on Christmas Eve. We had cousins staying with us and a big pot of beef stew. We had a street light by our house and we all got dressed and played in the night snow. Santa came early the next day and I was thrilled. Christmas was filled with delicious food and caroling. My aunts all had beautiful voices and sang in harmony. We didn’t get a lot of toys but we would get a least one. My was a beautiful doll in a green polka dotted dress. They are all gone now but I have that precious memory. I hope you all have or will make a precious memory this Christmas.
Marsha, that was beautiful. Thank you.
Thank you, Marsha. I love hearing about other people’s Christmas memories – that sounds so special that it makes me sad for times long gone. I remember one Christmas, many years ago in Long Beach, CA, where it was over 90 degrees on Christmas Day, but we still lit a fire (had fans blowing everywhere), and snuggled around it opening presents. Nothing ruins Christmas more than for the weather to be hot – something so wrong about that. Merry Christmas to everyone. This will be my first one without my husband of 51 years, so it’s very different, but I know he would want me to be happy. I have to do the living for both of us now.
P.S. I really envy you guys your rainy weather. It’s been months since we’ve had anything that really counts as rain here in CA, but at least the Thomas Fire just to the south of us is very slowly winding down, and people are being allowed to return to their homes. I always threaten/promise that when we get the first real rain each year, I will go into my yard, naked, and do my Druid impersonation. That’s not as brave or wacky as it sounds – I have a six-foot fence, and I’ll wait until it’s dark. Must be some inner pagan trying to get out, but there’s something primal about that first downpour after months of drought. If my family tries to use this comment as proof of my insanity (as though they really need any), I will deny that I posted it and blame it on Tamara.
I will swear under oath that I wrote the above comment, if called to do so. 🙂
Thanks, Tamara! I knew you’d have my back!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! We went to Maui for the holiday, and encountered record rainfall. Broke a record from 1949…..It’s sunny now, but my kids thought they were back in the south in the rainy season, lol.
If you’ve never heard Hawaiin Christmas songs, look up KPOA online or on spotify. The songs are lovely renditions of the traditional tunes we all love.
Live Aloha!
I’ve been there are heard a few. I almost always listen to Hawaiian music when I go….some really lovely songs.
We’ve rented a condo in Makena, Maui for summer break for seven years now. My heart resides there. Because rates are lower in the summer we often go for five or six weeks (plus a condo is less expensive and more spacious than a hotel room). We’ve been there through some serious hurricanes and our condo is less than 50ft from the ocean. We’ve always made it through unscathed (knock on wood) but each time one hits, it’s scary!
Aloha
Hi Tamara,
Just got home from Whole Foods where we got a bone in prime rib roast. They have this fill a tin of cookies (remember pick-a-mix candy?) for $13.99 so we chose a bunch of yummy cookies to fill it with.. I pressed them shut in there- it was a fun challenge to see how many we could cram in.
It’s in the low 60’s and calm today in the Bay Area.
Now on the couch, I’ve got the dog, some chai -yes one of the tin cookies and am going to find a new book on Amazon. Ooh and I got a bottle of Irish creme at Trader Joe’s. Cheers to you, my dear!
Gigi
Its 66 degrees in Los Angeles and cold!!! I always say I don’t know what real weather is like. I have no idea what real cold is.
It was 54 this morning! I almost felt guilty feeling “cold” since it doesn’t get that way here very often.
I had to replace a headlight on my car, it took 2 hours and cost $50 (that was discounted) because my car bumper had to be dis-assembled to get to the back of the headlight, to insert the new bulb.
I am done shopping and almost done wrapping. My little 3 year old granddaughter is so excited, she cannot wait to open her gifts from Santa. My daughter is hosting Xmas this year and my sister is pissed I don’t want to drive to Palm Spring and spend most of my Xmas on the road (it’s about 125 miles from me.
TT as a long timer here, I am so glad to still have somewhere to go and commiserate about my “trashy” Bravo shows! Merry Xmas to you!
I’d LOVE to live in a place where 66 degrees is cold!! I’ve lived on the East Coast most of my life. Tomorrow we’re supposed to have a White Christmas. I wouldn’t mind except for the shoveling.
18 degrees Fahrenheit here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We were out driving today on some seriously icy, snowy, windy roads to go to my mom’s house for Christmas Eve. Travelled only 10 miles or so but saw at least 6 cars spun out into the median or into the ditch. 4 or 5 cars pulled over on the side of the highway bc of accidents. Police blocking lanes and tow trucks everywhere to pull people out. A very normal Michigan winter’s day.
72 and cloudy in NW FL. I found some roasted garlic red pepper sauce and Italian sausage in the freezer and am making a pizza since I always have cheese 🙂 I have a few more presents to wrap, a bar cookie to make tonight and 2 pecan pies tomorrow. Husband is at hunting camp so my minutes and hours are my own. In spite of being a feminist, I can’t overcome the feeling that running the house is my job, hence food on the table at appropriate times and hunting/gathering the food to be cooked, the mountain of laundry to be washed (I have started making him responsible for hanging his own clothes in the closet. This is not going well). I am watching a Criminal Minds marathon and chillin’ like a villain 🙂
I’ve sumptuous salads piled high in the fridge, so that everyone can help themselves without hoping for service. I’ve a persistent, low-grade cold which has me sleepy, and easily bored with programmes. Looking back at 2017, my greatest achievement was turning a collector/Harley Davidson enthusiast’s house into a cross between Arcadia (draped ivy), and a seraglio (floating curtains). And he loves it!
Joyful season and |New Year to you all. Laurel wreaths to our genial, gracious hostess, TT. x
TT, Your lunch-dinner sounds wonderful! I have actually just come from Christmas with most of my family. And no, I do not live on a planet with a two-day time zone difference. With the addition of in-laws and grandkids we do Christmas on whatever day is as close as we can get it. That way nobody has to say, “This year it’s MY parents turn.” It was a great day with two of my kids, their great spouses, my grown granddaughter and her great husband, and 6 young grand- and great-grand- children.
Sitting at my parents house drinking wine here in the bay. I have to admit this year the holidays have been great. I have been back in the bay for a couple weeks reconnecting with old friends. It is the recharge I needed.
Even though I can’t eat any of it, your lunch sounded delicious!
This afternoon I picked up my curbside pickup Christmas grocery shop, they did all the work and I just drove it home. This might be the best invention ever. The gifts are wrapped, of course I’m doing that last minute mom thing where I wonder if I need to buy more for one kid who may feel like they didn’t get as much. I’m also thinking I need to go to Whole Foods and fill one of those $13.99 cookie tins that Gigi mentioned.
Yeah that sounds kinda awesome!
I always have the problem where I forgot to buy many things for the stockings so they end up being half empty or they have something too big shoved into them that should’ve just gone under the tree. Usually I am so last minute and behind that I’m up until 1AM wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve and have no option to go out to buy extra stocking stuffers. This year, almost everything is wrapped tonight already.
Except for my mother’s gift. My husband, 11 year old, and I go to her tomorrow and she’s such a difficult person to buy for, plus she never makes a list or says what she wants, plus she always expects something sentimental enough to make her cry, so every year I end up making her something. Either pictures of her pets and grandkids artfully arranged with stickers and other scrapbooking things in a frame, or I knit or sew her something (she is under the impression that it is cheap and quick to knit or sew things), This year her dad died. Her mom died a couple years ago. When going through their house, she found a bunch of old letters and postcards that her dad sent to her mom when he was in the Army. I have that st my house “just to look at,” but I will really be arranging them all in a scrapbook for her. I haven’t even begun and will have to do it tomorrow morning before going to her house in the evening. Sigh. Every year I’m scrambling to finish her gift right up until it’s time to get in the car.
I love everyone’s Christmas stories! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.
I hope you manage to get it finished in time, it sounds like a lovely gift! I didn’t even really buy stocking stuffers this year, just candy.
Bummer…..no cookie deal for So. Cal…..
I actually got it finished it time! My mom cried which is how she gauges whether or not a gift is special enough. Reading my grandparents letters back and forth to each other while putting the album together was so special. They were both expressing sentimental, loving feelings but they also both had a wicked sense of humor so the letters often had me laughing and tearing up at the same time. “Dear Joan, the spelling and grammar butcher strikes again today in a letter to his darling wife…” Also, “I’m writing this standing up in the latrine because the lights go off in the barracks at 9PM every night but they do at least allow us to piss in the light throughout the night.”
Very cold in Dallas since yesterday. I didn’t do presents this year..I did get new iPhone for my husband but just because his was malfunctioning and I’m the one who pays the phone bill (he takes care of everything else) so I just ordered it.
Kids didn’t get anything; my daughter bailed on going to rehab so I’m not talking to her and my son got a tattoo which pissed me off to no end. But I’ll transfer some $$ to his account since he is a good kid overall. And then I’ll get him some stuff while I’m in Paris.
I don’t get the point of presents unless you’re a kid who believes in Santa. Getting stuff for grownups and dealing with crowds, shipping stuff etc. is not my cup of tea. I am getting ready to go to Europe after Christmas for one of my solo trips so I’m excited about that. Who needs stuff when you can use that money and go on a trip that you’ll remember for the rest of your life?!
A trip to Paris sounds wonderful!
I hope your daughter eventually gets well. Have an amazing time in Europe!
My kids and their SOs/DH/DW will all be here by tomorrow. My younger son has been home from school for a couple of days, so DDs and the GDs have been here every day. It’s been a bit of madness. Most of them are out ice skating right now while I sit with the dogs and watch tv.
All my shopping and wrapping is done. Makings for dinner on Christmas are here. And tomorrow all of the “girls” will go to a hotel downtown for afternoon tea. Church tomorrow night. Everyone will be here for the day on Christmas. When the commotion gets me tired, I remind myself how lucky I am to have them all want to be home.
I’m heartbroken this Christmas. My Grandma who I’ve been so close to for my entire life suddenly won’t speak to me since her drug addicted baby son moved in and doesn’t want her to leave the house. I took care of her when she broke her hip and had cancer. My two very notable social worker relatives are okay with her being so manipulated, it makes me sick.
Jenn what would happen if you dropped by for a visit? Maybe with a little basket of fudge or something? Can she answer the door?
He lives with her and screamed at me last time I tried to visit her and now has changed her number. My social worker aunt said my grandma tears up when she talks about me but otherwise seems unmoved to do anything else. I’ll probably never see my grandma again for the rest of her life.
OMG….I’m so sorry!
What does he perceive you have done to warrant this? (if you don’t want to say it’s fine.)
I’m not even sure. He’s on drugs and hallucinates. I was at my Grandma’s house a few times a week taking her to the store or out to dinner or just to visit and she would complain to me about him so I would do things like cook or clean and I guess that made him mad? She’s not very independent anymore and no one wants him to move out, so they just go along with what he wants. It’s crazy.
Does he ever go anywhere? Could she come to the door when he is out scoring drugs or buying toilet paper or whatever?
Don’t give up hope. Maybe he’ll get run over by a reindeer. 🙂
I am 38 weeks pregnant and am having slight contractions, so at home I be with hubby and my 4 yr old. If you wonderful ppl don’t have an air fryer, do yourself a Christmas favor and buy one. Just made an amazing batch of fried chicken wings without an ounce of oil. Flipping back and forth between The Wizard of Oz and the football game. No complaints…life is good and I pray the same for all of you.
Happy Holidays, everyone! Every year we pack up the car and go from my house in NY to my mother in law’s house in Cape Cod, FOR THE DAY! My husband doesnt mind driving and does not want to spend the night, so we drive 4 hours each way to spend 5 hours there having dinner. It sounds nice, Christmas in Cape Cod, but it is cold and damp, and we really just drive through the town and then to the house. I dont mind the drive, I just sleep and read, and have enough wine in me to make it home. Thankfully Christmas is at my house, so I dont get out of my slippers. I have chicken and pork loin, and am making spoon bread, a potato dish and brussel sprouts, with homemade (by me) cookies and red velvet cake for dessert.
I am so happy, shopping and wrapping and cooking is DONE! How I do this shit every year with a full time job amazes me.
Cape Cod for sure is overrated, as is the Vineyard. And the off season is better even when it is cold, gray and damp. No obnoxious tourists. Can’t believe you do a day trip from NY. We are in NJ right near NYC and I can’t imagine doing that. You are a saint!
I’ve wrapped some things. I detest wrapping and loudly declare how wasteful it is.
Let’s use newspapers and brown bags. Everyone is all boo. They the “menfolk” I’m the only female,want bows and ribbons and gift wrapper. It’s dumb and wasteful. I can’t even throw it in my fire pit because it’s dyed and toxic. I did ask my husband if it would be weird if he can wrap his own shit from me but kinda don’t peek. That was a dead in the water idea. (asshole)
The sooner these boys learn that I know best the greater life will open up for them. But that’s just me. I did request a new saltwater fishing rig and Larry, Moe and Curly came home with a flippin’ fresh water light tackle. I also am the lone outdoorsman(womyn) in this home. The oldest my spouse when I took fishing no lie put the weight (sinker) over his effen bobber then was astounded and asked where the hell is his line and bobber..the 21 yr old again male species caught a perch dropped the pole and ran scared when he was 8. Never got him out again. The youngest my ride or die was trying to free his rig and the fukn thing sprang up and hooked his freakin eyelid. I legit have pics if anyone is curious. An ER and copay later he refuses to come near me when I have the pole like I fkn snagged his eyelid.
My mom is in fl my sis is here and we will pack a lunch for the daintiest of our family to sit under an umbrella with sunblock and spf clothing and we will go surf fishing. We might catch a light fireball buzz and bring our catch home to grill. Let them eat Whole Foods.
It’s balls hot and not chilly Xmas but I will lower the AC to 55-60 and keep drapes shut tight with the bloody Yule log on in HD.
Happy Holidays God Bless Baileys Irish Creme it pairs quite well with everything but meat ??
Gina, you’re hysterical! Thanks for the laughs – didn’t stop the whole time I was reading. You should contact Tamara about doing some kind of recap for her. I’d read what you wrote, for sure! Merry Christmas and enjoy your Bailey’s Irish Creme.
WOW, Someone is grinchy. “Wrap your own fucking presents?” Sigh. If people still shopped in stores you could have that done for you. I love wrapping presents!
I wrapped presents in newspaper last year and my daughter re-wrapped them all. You can get a huge roll of wrapping paper at bjs for $4.99 so I wrapped things correctly this year. It is fun with a little bravo and some vino.
I’m working this weekend but decided to make the drive home because my daughter and grandson are here for Christmas. I have too much wrapping to do as well. Got home, both daughter’s out with friends, grandson asleep, husband wrapping and I’m not aloud to see anything so in line to wrap, may fall asleep before that happens, have to do the 50+ mile drive again in the am to be there by 0700a.
Very cold here in the mornings, 18° this am, had a light dusting of snow 2 days ago, no snow forcasted for Xmas. It’s warming to low 50’s during the day and of course sunny!
I’m actually off Christmas day so I’ll drive 100+ miles to go and come back from work but worth it, mom and dad will be here for supper on Monday (early because oldest has to drive back to Tucson for work Tuesday )…me too have to work Tuesday so another 100+ miles to and from work. Husband going to smoke prime rib roast…girls will do the fixin’s.
Waterbrat, if you’re in the SF bay area? Give it air kisses for me, LOVE that area…hope I wind up in that Bay…everyone in my family has instructions.
Merry Christmas TT and Banjo, stay warm and dry, thinking of you and your loyal followers!
I spent the day polishing the silver and cleaning the downstairs for Christmas company. My mother in law is driving down from Rome (Ga.) and my husband’s aunt and uncle are driving up from Buckhead. They are all awesome and we have a blast when we’re together. All the gifts are wrapped and all the decorating is completed. I didn’t do as much decorating as I usually do. I want to spend the Christmas break doing fun things, not spending all that time putting that stuff away. We’re also going simpler on the menu. I’m providing the turkey breast, ham, Mac n cheese, and sister Shubert rolls. I may also make deviled eggs. My mother in law is bringing home made broccoli salad and my aunt is bringing the green beans. For dessert, I’m making a recipe that my husband’s now deceased grandmother was known for. It’s called chocolate eclair cake. It’s been years since we’ve had it and it’s a nice tribute to that precious woman.
T.T., I hope you and your readers have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas Eve Eve! Well at least it is over in California still. All my shopping is done and everything is wrapped! Went to Target today and it was insane! Parking lot was so packed and there were zero carts in the store, I walked out to find a cart and the first 4 shopping cart carrols were empty. Needless to say the lines were out of control.
Weather has been cool but not bad, 58 today. No rain and that kinda bums me out. I like having some stormy weather for Christmas. My Christmas’s in Indiana were magical and I miss getting snow. Were I live now we get snow once or twice a year maybe.
I hope everyone has a safe and joyous Christmas Holiday!
Moscow Mules are dangerous! I accidentally got drunk on them yesterday wrapping presents and baking. So I didn’t get as much done as I wanted.
We woke up to snow in St. Louis on Saturday too. I will spend today, Christmas Eve, wrapping the rest of the presents and getting ready for Christmas with my 4 kids and 2 future son-in-laws. They range in age from 22-26.
Happy Holidays to my ratchet family here. Couldn’t love without y’all.
Gotta love auto correct! I couldn’t live without y’all! But, hey, love will work too.
Merry Christmas, it’s snowing! Kids and granddaughter are on their way. We will celebrate today so they can have their individual Christmas tomorrow. Wishing the best for everyone!
You sort of lost me at ‘grits’ but I’m sure I’ve never had good grits. And the veal chop sounds yummy.
Finally got some lights and about 1/3 of the ornaments on the tree and that’s going to be it. I’m strangely melancholy this Christmas. I think it’s because the oldsters in my family are getting really old. And I was thinking this AM that we may not have big Christmases once they go and we all scatter.
My world is covered in ice. The tree branches are bending under its weight. There is a nor’easter on the way for tonight through most of Christmas Day. I lost power last night due to the ice, but have it back now. I have decided to make my Christmas dish tonight with a re-heat tomorrow. There is a decent chance that I will lose power again with the snow, but if the dish is ready then I’m good to go. Nothing will spoil – it is in the 20s outside, so natural refrigeration. I have a wood stove, so my and the animals will be warm!
Watched Relationshep yesterday while I finished wrapping. We will be seeing Payton on Vanderpump Rules. She works at LVP’s dog rescue and has now proved to be a drunk bitch….Bravo playing games. I’m waiting until they bring back Imposters 2nd season then removing Bravo from my channel line up. I enjoy the recaps and comments more than the shows anyway
Merry Christmas!
I can’t wait for Imposters either. Any tea on the show TT?
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
Daintyfeets, don’t know where to say it so here is perfect.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!! ??????
Checking in with the peeps. It’s snowing in St. Louis & ain’t nothing special about them snowflakes!
Discussed going to art hill to sled with my brothers. We haven’t done that in 45 years. We are still weighing inside around the fire or outside in 20 degrees.
Outside I’d say I’d give my right tit to do that, but that would be SOOOOOOOOOO inappropriate. But I hope you appreciate the humor anyway.
Saw 2 crazy shows for 2018 viewing. Seeking Sister Wives on TLC about auditioning to be a sister wife and Love After Lockup on WE. Guaranteed train wrecks but the kind you can’t stop watching. Least it’s not Bravo which is the train wreck shows you have to look away from eventually. Something to think about for no brain TV watching 🙂
Saw 2 crazy shows for 2018 viewing. Seeking Sister Wives on TLC about auditioning to be a sister wife and Love After Lockup on WE. Guaranteed train wrecks but the kind you can’t stop watching. Least it’s not Bravo which is the train wreck shows you have to look away from eventually. Something to think about for no brain TV watching 🙂
So, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that a couple of days ago, I got some Shari’s Berries delivered to my house. They have a short shelf life and come in a cool box. So I opened them. Normally, if I get something in the mail I save it for Christmas to open. I like to guess what is inside the box. But I had to open this one. I discovered it was from my sister.
So I called her to let her know that I was getting diabetes from shoving a dozen Shari’s Berries in my mouth as quickly as possible, and I got the answering machine. This rarely happens as my sister has an adult daughter that she has been providing home care to for the past 30 years or so and when she manages to get out of the house, someone is always there with my neice. And I rarely call anyone so people normally don’t let me go to voicemail. But it was just a few days before Christmas and she usually has a ton of friends and family over, and plays hostess. She has a Christmas Eve thing the night before with lots of Champs and all the delicacies, I think it is usually seafood. I don’t go because it is a long way home at night and I don’t like driving at night. And there are usually more drunk people sleeping it off than beds and well I did that this Thanksgiving. #oops
I sort of knew something was wrong after she didn’t call me back.
But I convinced myself she was out getting ready for Christmas and my other relatives that live in the house probably don’t bother to answer the landline that I call on.
Then tonight my brother called to wish me a Merry Christmas. My niece who is in and out of the hospital since the age of 2 after having a life changing reaction to the DPT vaccine is back in the hospital on Christmas. She’s almost made it a year without being hospitalized.
So tomorrow, the plan is to get my shit together and try to go to the hospital. If anyone has seen any snow globes at Atlanta gas stations or convenience stores, please let me know where I can find one tomorrow.
And please include my niece in your prayers if you are the praying type.
Oh I am so sorry to hear this TT. I am sending prayers for your niece and hugs to you and your family. Merry Christmas.
Thanks Thill. My niece loves snow globes. I am not sure if she is in ICU or not but hopefully she will be in a regular room tomorrow. I’ve solved the snow globe issue. Now I just find something to wear tomorrow.
I think I still might wear my Family Dollar Rudolph pants. I noticed NONE OF THE REST OF YOU ADMIT TO WEARING YOURS! 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas TT.
I have plenty of prayers for your niece. (I save my prayers for legit reasons and don’t just throw them out.)????
Sweet and simple but I think you know how much I think of you and your site.?????
Banjo, Merry Christmas ????
Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery and a very merry Christmas!
Thanks NAA!
We’ve all become used to this, but I can’t remember her being in the hospital on Christmas before. That’s the suckiest part. I mean it all sucks, but it sucks more on Christmas.
I’ve lurked here awhile but have never commented. My heart breaks for your niece, and I pray for her speedy recovery. I have two close friends who have children who were vaccine injured from the MMR vaccine, so I know first-hand the heartache and turmoil these injuries can cause. It is absolutely devastating. My heart goes out to you and your family. Merry Christmas.