SHOPPING MONDAY

 Monday morning is beautiful but still cold at 26 degrees . But at least the ice isn't as thick today.  I got chores done and then had breakfast before daughter arrived to pick us up to go to Target with her. I needed to exchange something I got for Christmas and she needed a couple things they had so off we went. Hubbie went along to sit in the car with the girls while we were in the store and he wanted to have a burger at the new Culvers that opened up across the road from Target.   We were surprised that all the Christmas decor shelves were completely bare at only 50% off . We finished our shopping and my exchange was successful and we headed over to have lunch. The drive through line went quickly thankfully because both girls were hungry .   We sat in the van and ate lunch and it was really good. I had a salad with grilled chicken on it that was very good. Hubbie said his burger was pretty good.  We headed home and the girls stayed and played while I got weekly laundry started.  Daughter and I did some online shopping for an upcoming birthday and then she took the girls home.  Hubbie went out to work in his wood pile and I got more laundry done. We got chores done and then relaxed for the evening.   The almost full "cold Moon" is pretty again tonight and I actually got a picture that shows the dark forms.                     

Thankful for the blessings of this day.                                                                             

God Bless, Good Night and Happy New Year

                                                                                                                              

RESTFUL SUNDAY

 Up to a lazy Sunday morning . It is 18 degrees this morning so at least things weren't froze as solid as yesterday.  I got morning chores done with the help of a couple gallons of hot water once again today.  Back inside I got the vegetable soup started. I had taken out all the soup bones and neck bones from the beef I bought last spring and roasted them in the oven yesterday and put them in the crockpot with some vegetables and spices to make beef broth overnight.   I added some of this to the soup as a base and then added all the other vegetables and some left over roast beef from a couple weeks ago.  I also made turkey and cheese and ham and cheese sliders ready for the oven before the church service we enjoy came on TV.  We sat and watched another very good service from Don Wilton of Spartanburg First Baptist Church.   After the service I put the sliders in the oven and put in some sour dough bread daughter had brought over in the other oven for toast.  Everyone made it to lunch today and we all had a great visit and enjoyed the delicious soup.   After they all left hubbie and I spent the afternoon relaxing and resting.    Another uneventful day but these are  refreshing and refueling days so we aren't complaining.        The temperature got into the upper 40's today with bright sunshine in a clear blue sky. This almost full moon stood out in the clear sky as we got evening chores done .                                                                                                   

This moon is called the "cold moon" and will be full on Tuesday.                                                                

There is so much dark forms on this moon which I couldn't get pictures of but this file photo shows what I am talking about, it looks like there are continents on the moon the same as our earth.                   

The sunset was colorful this evening as well.                                                                                               

Thankful for the blessings of this day .                                                                                                         God Bless , Good Night and Happy New Year 

COLDEST TEMPS OF THE SEASON SO FAR

 BRRRRR !!!!!   It is 12 degrees this morning as I start out to get the morning chores done.  Hubbie carried 3 gallons of hot water up to the chicken houses so I could thaw out the water and let them get a good drink.  It isn't going to warm up above freezing again today so I know the water will soon be frozen again.   We took the quilts and blankets off the plastic covering the winter vegetable beds so that the sun could warm them through the plastic hopefully.   There was some ice on the inside of the plastic so we will have to see if we have frozen plants or not when it warms up enough in the coming days to peek inside.  Back inside we had breakfast then waited for the sun to melt the slick spots off the main roads before we headed out to Ingles on the other side of town to pick up supplies for tomorrow's lunch.  We want to have vegetable soup and sliders so I need to pick up some Boars Head sandwich meats and some Hawaiian rolls to make the sliders.      We went straight there and back home.  Hubbie went outside to work in his wood pile and I put away laundry and did some house cleaning.  This year I am leaving my decorations up until after New Years to enjoy them more. Usually I have to take them down before then because the kids go back to school right after New Years but this year the schools are closed for at least the week after so that gives me an extra week to enjoy the Christmas lights and decor.  I will probably take the outside decorations down in the coming days before it rains again at the end of the week so they won't get wet again.   This is one of those totally uneventful days and as I get the evening chores done and get back in the warm house to relax for the evening I am thankful for the blessings that have come my way over this joyous season and remain forever humbled by the goodness of our precious Savior ,Jesus Christ.   Hopefully your holiday was joyous and safe .                                  God Bless, Good Night and Happy New Year

SNOWY WHITE CHRISTMAS DAY

 We slept in on this cold morning as the temperature is in the upper teens this morning and the snow is icy and dangerous outside.      As we got up and bundled up to get chores done it took me almost an hour to do what usually takes 20 minutes with all the water frozen solid and the ground icy and slick it was a real job to get things done and get back inside to warm up.  But the snowfall is still really pretty.   

  Our first stop was at #1 son's house for biscuits and gravy and to check out what Santa left for g-son and RL.                                                                                                                                                                     

They got everything they wanted and were very happy.                                                                              

   

    

                                                                                                                                                             

Next stop was daughter's house to check out IR and CA's Santa gifts .   IR was busy learning how to ride her new bike and she was letting CA take a ride.                                                     

And they got everything they could have possibly wanted !!!!                                                                     

We ended our visits at Aa's house where EL and BB were also happily playing with some of their gifts . 

We came home and cleaned the living room and then enjoyed going through all our wonderful gifts one more time.      I dearly love all my gifts and know that I will enjoy each and everyone of them.                                                                                                                                                

We relaxed for the afternoon and then got out to get chores done and watch a beautiful sunset behind the manger scene as another wonderful Christmas season comes to an end.                                                

Just  as the sunset the snowflakes started to fly once again making the ground and road white and very slick once more .                                                                                                                                            

We got in the house and watched the thermometer plunge throughout the evening resting at 14 degrees as we headed to bed. Praying for all animals or humans out in the cold tonight.                                         Thankful for all the blessings of this day .                                                                                                    God Bless and Good Night 

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS EVE

 Hubbie was up extra early to get to Asheville to his annual physical. This is his "welcome to medicare" check up so it is just all talking and getting the results of his bloodwork.   He is going to pick up the one item we are missing on his way home.  I got to sleep in and then had to get out in the pouring rain to get chores done. I uncovered our winter vegetable beds so they could get a drink of rain water.  I also took a package to the mailbox for our mail lady.                                                                                                       

  It poured rain all day adding to more than 1.5 inches by choretime and it was still raining when I emptied the gauge.                                                                                                                                          While hubbie was gone this morning I finished wrapping all the packages and did some house cleaning. He had to go to 2 different stores to find our missing item so we are all set now.                        We spent the afternoon cooking and getting ready for our family Christmas eve gathering.

                                                                                 

                                                                               

  

We are having it earlier this year due to both #2 son and d-in-love Tif getting off work early and no candle light service at church.  I fixed the ham, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, green beans, gravy and biscuits. Re brought au gratin potatoes, apple cheesecake, broccoli salad and a couple cheese balls, d-in-love brought corn casserole, daughter brought coconut pie, sour dough bread, pumpkin roll and some brie to snack on.                                                                                                                             These four were here early and ready to celebrate the season.                                                                     

When everyone got here we ate and the kids were very  antsy to open their presents but ate a good supper first as we allowed them to have a picnic in the living room while they wondered which presents were theirs.                                                                                                                                                     

It was finally time to pass out the presents and let the kids dig in which they surely did !!!                        

Everyone enjoyed their gifts and the kids had a great time afterward as they got to enjoy just being with each other in their pj's d-in-love bought for all of them.                                                                                                                                                      

While we were having the festivities inside God was setting up a magical Christmas eve outside as the rain quickly changed over to snow and the ground became white and the temperature plummeted to make a very rare white Christmas for us to enjoy.                                                                                        

Got some good pictures of my three kids tonight ......                                                                                   

brothers...................................     and they are as different personality wise as they are looks wise !!!!!                                                                                                                  

Thankful to God for the gift of His only son on this night thousands of years ago so that we all could enjoy forgiveness of all our sins and all we have to do is love the Lord with all our hearts in return. As we celebrate the birth of our wonderful, loving Savior may all be safe and well in this season and may the love of Jesus Christ reflect in my life each and every day.  Merry Christmas to all.   God Bless and Good night.