GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS

Up to get a busy day started. No kiddos this morning as we get chores done and start cake deliveries. The first delivery was to meet a man who was driving all the way here from Columbia, SC to pick up 18 caramel cakes and 1 coconut cake.  He was 30 minutes early so my breakfast went by the wayside.  After we met him we came home and I grabbed a breakfast bar and cup of coffee before we headed out to make the next delivery of 3 coconut cakes and 2 caramel cakes.  That was our last delivery before Christmas unless we get more orders , daughter has a couple more deliveries to make. We traded my Honda out for hubbie's truck and picked up IR and CA to go run our regular weekly errands with us. RL wanted to stay with her mom today despite all our encouragement since her mom had gifts to finish wrapping.  We had a pretty long list of do tos today , PO, dump, Sav Mor store, library to drop off a book, bank, curb market to pick up some papers, both the  girls love to go inside market as I'm sure they remember the good times and many friends they made there and they loved this Christmas tree in market.                                            

Then since the girls wanted to come home and have lunch.    RL and g-son came up when we got home to eat and play with IR and CA for a little while. Daughter came over after she finished all her last minute wrapping and putting together.  The kids had a nice time together and then daughter took all the kids with her when she left.   Hubbie and I did some house cleaning and then watched the news. This is the snow predictions so far for tomorrow night giving our area the least amount.                                                                                         

We got chores done and then #1 son came up to put bicycles together that they had bought for RL and g-son. Hubbie helped him while I wrapped d-in-love's presents from him.                                                  Then I wrapped our presents for all the kids and grandkids until my back gave out. We just left things where we stopped because we noticed we were short one item so hubbie can pick it up on his way home the doctor in the morning. We watched the news before we headed for bed and now the snow line has dropped significantly putting our area in the next to least color.                                                                    

IR and CA got to pay Santa a visit today and since CA was brave enough to get as close as she could with all the 2020 covid barriers set up IR finally gave in to having a picture with him .                             

                                                                  

When they got home IR made and decorated cookies to leave for Santa.                                                          

           

                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                        

Thankful for the blessings of this day and thankful for the Reason for this Season, Jesus Christ.               God Bless, Good Night and Merry Christmas
                       

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE CHRISTMAS

 Up to greet all 3 grand girls this morning. RL who isn't usually here on Tuesday is spending the day with us so her other g-ma can work today.  I got chores done and then we all had breakfast together.  After a short time of playing in the playroom RL came running out with a bloody nose.  She said it just started bleeding and IR said RL had picked at it so no matter we finally got the blood stopped with a cold compress. She hasn't had one of these bloody noses in a couple weeks.  She does pick at her nose badly and usually that is what causes the nose bleeds.                                                                                    We all had lunch , the girls ate while they watched Frosty on TV. Daughter came in to pick them up right after they ate as school closed at noon today.  She took IR and CA home and RL went with us on a cake and bread delivery and then we picked up our Walmart curbside order and also stopped at Tractor Supply to restock some chicken feed for the coming cold weather.                                                               The snow line keeps dropping slightly into our area so we will just have to wait and see what we get.          

We dropped RL off at home where her mom was home from work and then we came home and unloaded our feed and groceries.  Hubbie went outside to work and I made a broccoli salad for our supper and then iced the 6 caramel cakes I baked last night.  Daughter came by and dropped off some cakes that I am delivering in the morning on her way to make a couple deliveries.                                     Hubbie and I got chores done then he went over to daughter's to pick up her trash and recycables .          We ate supper and then I did weekly paperwork and paid bills before relaxing for the evening.                 Thankful for the blessings of this day and thankful for the Reason for this Season, Jesus Christ               God Bless, Good Night and Merry Christmas

MAGICAL WINTER SOLSTICE

Up to greet all 4 grandkids this morning to get another week started.  The girls and I snuggled on the couch while hubbie took g-son  to school.  I got chores done when he got back and then we all had breakfast together.  Today is the first day of winter but it doesn't look or feel like it today as the sunshine warms the temps into the mid 50's.                                                                                                                    

 The girls played while I got weekly laundry started and I played and waited on the girls all morning between laundry loads.  CA has the finest hair and it reminds me of daughter's hair when she was little, so fly away and full of electricity.   She was tired and fighting a nap when I took this picture so we all loaded up and went to pick up lunch so would go to sleep.                                                                         

She went right to sleep and slept on the couch when we got back for almost 3 hours with the older girls running around her playing loudly. She must have really been tired. We actually woke her up after 3 hours to have a ate lunch.                                                                                                                              D-in-love sent me these pics of the excitement they had at the elementary school today. Seems Santa and Mrs. Santa paid a visit to the school.                                                                                                      

Santa also left an elf to keep a watch on all the kids !!!!   The assistant principle was a good choice to turn into an elf !!                                                                                                                                              

I made a cake delivery just as the kids got picked up and then hubbie and I watched the early news before getting out and doing the chores.  The snow is still in the forecast but for our area it keeps getting less of a chance with each prediction.                                                                                               

On this winter solstice their is an event going on that hasn't been seen at night in the last 800 years. Causing what is being called the Christmas star to be very visible starting tonight in the southwest sky. However it isn't a star at all but the planet Jupiter joined by the planet Saturn as they pass closest to one another almost in a direct line shown in this news reel photo.                                                                                                                         

These are the best pics I could get tonight with my phone and my big Cannon DSL camera.                                                                                           phone

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 cannon  camera w/ telephoto lens                                                                                           

I'm sure it is a once in a lifetime sight for hubbie and I  and it was neat that it happens this close to Christmas.                                                                                                                                                      I baked 6 caramel cakes tonight.                                                                                                                    Thankful for the blessings of this day and thankful for the Reason for this Season, Jesus Christ.                  God Bless, Good Night and Merry Christmas

BLESSED SUNDAY

 Up to greet a surprise sunshine coming through the window this morning. It was predicted to be a rainy nasty day .  We got chores done and then hubbie made a crockpot full of chili while I cleaned the kitchen and sliced zucchini squash to try a new easy quick recipe I found for parmesan roasted zucchini.  We also baked some potatoes and hubbie made some slaw from a cabbage from our garden.   Everyone made it to lunch today but daughter's family.  They will be over later but were resting from their night out to see the Shadracks Christmas lights in Tryon last night.     After everyone ate the kids went outside to play in the nice mid 50's sunshine and the adults had a nice visit.                                                                                      After everyone left I had an after lunch cup of coffee while listening to Christmas carols out in the sunroom and then I remembered I needed to pick up the calendars I made for Christmas gifts from Walgreens. Hubbie rode along to pick the gifts up and then we hurried back home to meet up with daughter and the girls to watch daughter's maiden flight of her drone. She is a licensed drone class teacher now at the high school and wanted to get in some practice .                                                                             

Lift off .....................................

The kids were fascinated as they stared into the sky  .............

A birds eye view of our house........... 

It was fun watching the drone take on a life of its own though the commands of daughter as she moved it around and brought it back to earth.                                                                                                           Everyone came inside to warm up and have a hot cup of coffee before hubbie and I headed out to get the evening chores done. The coming clouds created some beauty in the evening sunset.

  We came inside just in time to tell the girls good bye until tomorrow morning.

Hubbie and I spent a quiet evening relaxing.        

Thankful for the blessings of this wonderful Sunday and thankful for the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ. 

God Bless, Good Night and Merry Christmas

QUIET SATURDAY

 A lazy Saturday morning today felt good as hubbie and I got our morning chores done and then settled into a housecleaning morning. I cleaned out shelves in the bathroom that needed an inventory check to see exactly what was hidden in the back of them.   After lunch hubbie went out to work in his wood pile and I put away laundry and did some ironing.   Then  I took a cup of hot tea out in the sunroom and enjoyed some Christmas quiet time.   This is one of those days that it seems a waste of this space when nothing exciting goes on and I feel like my life is boring. But boring is good some days and I embrace those days just as much as I do the busy hectic days full of activity.                                                              With the weather folks predicting we might be in for an enchanting white Christmas the excitement is building.                                                                                                                                                           

Thankful for the blessings of this day and for the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ.                

God Bless, Good Night and Merry Christmas

  

T. G. I. F.

 Up to all three grand girls this morning.  RL and IR always come in a get into bed with me to warm their cold little hands and feet and that gets me wide awake for sure.   I got chores done and we all had breakfast together.    We spent some playtime and then I loaded a couple cakes and eggs and all last months' bed and furniture covers into the Honda and we headed out to the laundry to put the covers in to wash while we made the deliveries.  We picked the wet laundry up and got lunches on the way home. While hubbie fixed the girls lunch I hung all the covers and rugs out on the clothes lines to dry in the mid 40's windy sunshine this afternoon.   I came inside and we all had lunch and then the girls spent the afternoon playing wildly together. I think they are all exceptionally excited right now and even CA catches the excitement even though she has no idea it is the Christmas season. When they rest they like to color pictures.                                                                                                                                                              

Daughter stopped at Starbucks and brought some treats in and RL and IR toasted to it being Friday afternoon before they left.                                                                                                                                                       

After they all left hubbie and I went out to get chores done after I made another cake delivery.                 The sunset is making the a colorful sky all around as the moon is already high in the sky this evening.    

As the sun got lower more color filled the horizon through the naked limbs of this big old Oak tree.        

My nativity scene has more color than normal tonight.                                                                                

I baked 6 more caramel cakes tonight and did some paperwork.                                                                    Thankful for all the blessings of this day and thankful for the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ          God Bless, Good Night and Merry Christmas 

2-HOUR SCHOOL DELAY FOR ICY ROADS

 Up early today to get a busy day started. Schools are on a 2-hour delay this morning as the black ice is much worse today than yesterday.  Daughter went into work on time to get some grading done. I got chores done then grabbed a cereal bar for breakfast. Hubbie has his appointment for his blood draw for his annual physical this morning in Asheville so we are all going with him. As we left the sun was shining brightly but it was still cold.                                                                                                             

 We decided we had better go the interstate instead of across the mountain on our regular route because it is still 31 degrees at 9am when we are leaving.  Thankfully the interstate was clear and we zoomed right along and made it to the office with time to spare.  It didn't take long for him to get the lab done and then we headed to the nearest McDonalds since he has fasted since last night.   After he ate we headed to the farmers market to look for some vegetables and fruits .  We got a box of something new and they are very good. They are sweet and juicy and peel super easy and have no seeds which the girls love.                                                                             

We searched for yellow tomatoes but struck out on anything else and headed home.  We got here after picking up lunches and the girls were ready to eat.   After lunch was finished the girls enjoyed sitting on the new lower couch and watching TV.                                                                                                         

#1 son had a minor surgery this afternoon and RL was being his private bedside nurse waiting on his every whim this evening.                                                                                                                                

After daughter picked the girls up hubbie and I headed out to get evening chores done. It is already 32 degrees this evening and is headed for the low 20's overnight.                                                                     I iced the 6 caramel cakes tonight and baked a couple pound cakes, then we relaxed for the evening.      Thankful for the blessings of this day and thankful for the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ.                God Bless, Good Night and Merry Christmas