Beginning Again Ch 1159: 12/4-10 Short Days

[flowerpower]

Betty - I make my oatmeal ("old fashioned" cut) with water and add a half of a ripe banana. sometimes add prunes. But anyway cook for 2 minutes in the microwave. The banana "melts" and sweetens the oatmeal without adding any points.

finished my book, re-ordered my photo book (the pix were whitened out), ate lunch, worked out, got dressed, set the table. Now I'm going to relax a bit and then I need to make my tarte tatin (making a mini) for tonight's dinner

[flowerpower]

Hah - welcome to page 4!

[jeannet]

Happy Hanukkah 🕎!

Betty - so glad you like the bra! Yes, Sharon was right! I have a few of them and wear them under everything, so haven’t tried a tshirt bra.

There’s an ad on some apps that shows a bra that looks comfortable. And may be good under tshirts

underoutfit.com

Caryn - fruit is good in oatmeal, dried cherries or dried cranberries. Don’t need sugar then.

DH didn’t walk, scruffy and I did and he got to say hello to some neighbors. I went to the supermarket and will embark on my first attempt at stuffed cabbage. I found an instant pot recipe.

[flowerpower]

Researching drug store mascara and waiting for my butter to soften so I can make the tarte tatin.

Jeanne - honestly I thought tomorrow night was the first night of Hanukkah but nope! It's tonight! So glad I have latkes for our dinner LOL.

I finally found my bra size: Maidenform (no wires) comfy soft. It's the bra style I used to have - same cup size, next up sized band. Perfecto. Yayy.

[talbotsshopper]

Good afternoon - I did go to WW but did not get on the scale. Then DH & I went out to a different coffee spot this morning - this one is next to the fancier consignment shop. I dropped off one new sweater and picked up a check for just over $100 from the stuff I sold (I made more but "spent" some of my earning on a few tops and a blazer).

We stopped at his parents home so I could get our Christmas stockings - the ones with our names that were made by DMIL. They are now hanging on the mantle. DMIL made stockings for herself, DFIL, DH & DSIsIL when DH was young. I got mine the first year we were married - she continued for all the grands as they were born. It was always a big deal to hang them up at their home on Christmas eve. A few years ago she decided to make them for the spouses of the grands and all the greatgrands. She sent them to DSs and the other grands but ours stayed at their home along with DSisILaw's and my one nephew who isn't married. I found them up in the attic and brought ours home. It is somewhat sad to get ours because they will no longer hang at their home.

Once back at home I rode the bike for 20 miles. I will be making latkes for dinner tonight - my recipe is from the 1959 edition of Meta Givens Encyclopedia of Modern Cooking.

Allison

[rvgypsy]

Whew - What a day. Made my one pot pasta lunch, had delicious green beans, salad, and bread with it and an assortment of italian desserts and of course some wine. Long game today. DH is watching news and I will go and heat left over lunch for dinner tonight along with some bread one of the girls made and left me. Wordle in 4 and haven't done anything else.

BBL

Nancy

[jeannet]

Nancy - sounds like a good lunch! Now you can relax.

Allison - must be bittersweet to have the stockings but there are good memories there too.

Well, my stuffed cabbage came out great! Lots of bowls to wash and plenty of leftovers. Wasn’t confident enough to reduce the servings when working with the instant pot, no problem, I’m sure they’ll taste even better tomorrow.

My back is killing me so now I’m sitting and doing nothing until it’s time for scruffy’s walk.

see you mañana!

[talbotsshopper]

The latkes were very tasty - I have a few left to give to friends tomorrow.

Jeanne - so sorry your back is sore - hope you are able to relax before walking Scruffy.

Nancy - did you win today?

Betty - has it warmed up for you?

hi to Sharon, Gina, Caryn, Luv, Peg and Khalua.

Allison

[AlwaysAries]

I had a very good afternoon with my friends. Our friendB who is 89 is so appreciative of our time together. I picked her up, we went the few miles to BFF’s. Shared a bottle of wine, and much conversation. I think the best thing for her, we are not family, so she can talk about the difficult things with her DH and we understand her frustration, cause he’s not our dad. But her / their kids are a blessing and have allowed them to remain in their home. She was our long time pianist for our church. We all miss our church and the friendships that were formed there.

Another former church friend met our former pastor at Walmart and between them decided we should get together the friendS suggested getting together at our friendB’s home since they ‘can’t get out’. Our DFriendB was not too happy about it but agreed to do it, between BFF and I we told her to just make coffee and we would bring treats. I think she will like seeing other members we haven’t seen for a long time. So, now I’m on a mission to make some treats, I know our DFriendB loves date pinwheel cookies, so that will be one, and probably I’ll take a batch of peanut brittle.

I’m sure that was hard to read and figure out, using DFriend for too many people. In fact, let me go back and try to make it a bit easier: ok, I tried to identify them a bit, hope that helps.

Watching the Penn State / Wisconsin volleyball game. So far Wisc seems to have the upper hand, we are in game 4, Wisc leads 2-1. They have one girl who is 6’9”!! Wowsa. They did a comparison of the Wisc front line with pro basketball players, wow, those girls are TALL.

Allison - pretty sure I would be a fan of latkes. What a sad time to retrieve your holiday socks from the in-law attic. You will always remember them hanging in their home and your MIL making them for the family. ((HUGS))

I think DH’s family often made stuffed cabbage, pretty sure I would like it, should look for a recipe. I’m going to have to freeze some of the ham and beans, it makes a huge amount. But it’s pretty tasty, so it will taste good one more time soon, then the rest can be frozen for later.

Nancy - sounds like the day was a success. Nice to reheat for tonight and super nice to have homemade bread left to enjoy. Bet you will sleep well tonight.

Caryn - did you find a winner for the drug store mascara?

It’s finally 8:00, only one more hour!! BTW, the electricians were done by noon. We are all set if we lose power for very long. Maybe this will be our insurance and we won’t ever need it? One can hope.

*see* you all tomorrow.

[talbotsshopper]

Ready for bed - DH watched two versions of A Christmas Carol on Amazon Prime. It is his holiday thing to watch as many different versions he can find - lol. I booked our return flight to Florida on 12/31 - it was loads less expensive than one or two days earlier.

Peg - latkes are super easy to make - I grate the potatoes using the food processor, add flour, baking powder, salt and eggs - fry in the electric fry pan - enjoy!

Yawning - the contractor is coming in the morning to take down the paneling/wall for us to get the new boiler installed. Other than riding the bike it will be a lazy Friday until we meet friends for dinner.

Allison

[AlwaysAries]

Morning all, 42º to start the day. We are to get into the mid 50’s today. Yesterday broke records at some places in Iowa. I know I had 59* on the car when I picked up my friend. I have a busy day planned. Some cleaning, some laundry, make the pinwheel cookies if I have the dates (I think I do). Some other things will happen if there is time. I’m thinking tacos for lunch?

Allison - yay for getting your tickets to head back to FL. You made such a good choice years ago to buy your place there. You clearly love it, being able to get out and walk, plus all the fun places you go. LOL at your DH watching all the different versions of A Christmas Carol. I texted with DGD last night, turns our we were both watching the volleyball games. Love that instant communication.

Jeanne - if I had the cabbage I’d try that today, but tacos are easy and except for fresh tomatoes I have all I need to make them.

Keeping it short since I posted later last night. Have a TGIF kinda day.

[flowerpower]

Good morning. Another cold morning and another short outdoor walk. I'm meeting a friend for breakfast and must leave in 10 minutes. We always meet in a cute local breakfast/lunch place and I always have their baked oatmeal. It's delicious. I made a cappuccino for myself here which is a double shot of espresso so I'll order decaf at the restaurant LOL. Other than that it's a quiet day. I think D wants to do grocery shopping this afternoon. That's fine with me.

We had a great dinner last night and Sue really appreciated that I baked her a tarte tatin for her birthday. Then we watched Nyad which is a terrific movie, with lots of drama and suspense. I heartily recommend it. It's still in theaters, but we saw it on Netflix.

Peg - your day yesterday sounded lovely. You're so lucky to have such good friends - and I believe that's because you are a good friend to them. xoxo. I have dates if you need them for your cookies hahaha.

Allison - glad you're all set to go back to Florida. I understand why bringing the stockings home is bittersweet. GL on the new boiler. (We replaced our 60-year-old one last year. Can't wait to see if we save on oil this year).

Will post this, clear my inbox and leave. BBL after my yummy and talkative breakfast.

[talbotsshopper]

It's up to 45* and sunny. I will change into warmer clothes and take a walk outside.

Peg - glad you have warmer than normal temps. We sure did make a good decision almost 7 years ago when we decided to buy our happy place.

Caryn - not sure about the oil savings - we are gone for weeks at a time and turn down the temp to low 60's. Might be hard to tell if we have any savings or not.

Allison

[flowerpower]

Wow we're quiet here. I was gone for over 3 hours and only Allison posted LOL. I ended up not sending the photo book to DMIL - it's $23 to mail it at the post office and more than I paid for the photo book LOL. Plus there's always duties to pay. I'll wait and give it to her next time we're in Toronto. I did send her photo prints and she has access to everything online.

I got a new non fiction book to start reading - or D will say, let's go grocery shopping LOL. So I'm heading out there to start reading. I can't go shopping until I've eaten lunch and I'm not at all hungry.

[AlwaysAries]

Back again, everyone must be very busy. I got the kitchen floor done, much to my relief, it was bad, the dishwasher was done, and the dishes are put away, plus I mixed up the dough and filling for date pinwheel cookies. At 2:00 I’m going to the little market to start getting things in the gift bags for the family. That will be a big load off my mind. At 4:00 I’m going to FaceTime with my three friends.

Maybe tomorrow I can concentrate on finishing the family letter that will go in select Christmas cards. I used to send it to everyone, but only send to those I think still appreciate it.

Caryn - did you tell us what you are reading. I would like some non-fiction titles to suggest for bookclub. We have read few non-fiction and I think we should plan for one a year, at least. Or any one else that has suggestions, bring them on. Could you have sent the photo book through the company when you made it, or do all the books have to come to you?

Allison - great idea to get out and walk today, maybe I’ll do that after lunch also, the shop doesn’t open until 2:00, so I would have time to do a walk and it’s over 50* here, better take advantage of it while I can.

Talked with DOSis this morning from TX, she is settled in and enjoying her time there, she even went to the exercise class today and said she is going to start walking again. She has walked at least a half hour for decades, I was sorry she gave it up last year because it was causing back pain. Hope she can do it and not have the pain?

Better check the taco meat, and get the griddle started for the shells. Oh, and chop up the lettuce and onions…. TTFN

[jeannet]

Hi! TGIF!

Pretty day here. Upper 40s, sunny and no wind. Took scruffy for a walk and DH and I will go when he finishes lunch. He’s feeling better but not 100%, so we will walk in the neighborhood. Wish he could sleep past 3 am. Might help a bit.

Nancy - are you recovered today?

Bombed at Waffle again. Last two days there was a word I didn’t know.

Caryn - makes sense to give DMIL the book in person.

Peg - glad you had a good day yesterday and you were able to get your friend out of the house to join you. Love the sweets you’ve got planned for the next get together!

Allison - hope all goes smoothly with the wall and boiler.

Still don’t have info about Christmas but have ordered things for my DNephew, my Godson. Have to talk to DH about DGD’s Hanukkah gift. We see her on Saturday.

[rvgypsy]

Slept well last night. This morning I sorted pills for the next month and have to get Dr.s refills on a couple of them for both DH and me. DH had his flu shot and not quite up to par today. This happens every year he has it. He needs the rest anyway. He should be fine tomorrow. Need to do a little grocery shopping. We are to have rain tomorrow and Sunday. Will see if the weather people are on track or not. Quiet day here. Might stat a jigsaw puzzle. Think we will have fajitas tonight and tomorrow I will try the deconstructed cabbage roll thing. It will be new for DH. A lady down the street cancelled her cookie exchange, thank goodness. I am not the Martha Stewart type when it comes to baking things. That's why we have stores. And we don't need more sweets around this house.

Might try a recipe for apple enchiladas for dessert next week at our card game. Need to get my request in early.

Time to eat some lunch and figure out the rest of the day.

Nancy

ps wordle in 4, waffle had 3 remaining and connections had 1 remaining. Finally figuring out that connections thing.

[flowerpower]

Peg - I'm reading Prequel - by Rachel Maddow. It's about the period just prior to WWII when apparently there were many people - some members of congress, etc -- who were advocating for a fascist government, isolationism, anti-Semitism and no involvement against Nazi Germany. It's scary that to me this sounds like some people today. Nonetheless, I'll let you know - it's on the best seller list and she's an excellent story teller. As for the books, they don't ship to Canada so I'm outta luck there.

Nancy - wish E a "feel better" from us. LOL about the canceled cookie exchange.

Jeanne - I need to find $25 unisex grab bag gifts. Will try HomeGoods.

I'm still not hungry. D is snoring on the couch and has been since I got home. Maybe I'll skip lunch and just have a snack instead. I can have the unfinished sandwich for tomorrow's lunch.

My WW membership ends on 12/14. Thinking I'll renew. They're offering a 10 month membership for $100. I think I need the discipline of tracking every day, even though my scale is up 2.5# from the wedding.

[talbotsshopper]

Back from a 4+ mile walk and eating a salad. Our dinner reservation at 7 PM.

Peg - it was 46* when I left and 49* when I got home - I was quite warm by the end of my walk - I was wearing a long sleeve underarmour type shirt, a fleece hoodie and my down jacket - a bit of overkill...

Caryn - $100 for 10 months is really good! I need the accountability to stay where I am.

Nancy - today's Connections was hard - some days are easier than others. I had 4 swaps left on Waffle.

Jeanne - the contractor gentleman just left - the wall is down and will stay down until they install the new boiler. DH called to schedule but, of course, no one has called back.

hi to Betty, crusin' Gina, Sharon, Luv, Wendy and Khalua.

Allison

[AlwaysAries]

The cookie dough was rolled out, filled and now the logs are in the freezer, only have to cut and bake them on Monday. Yay. When we get home from the little store I’ll see if I have time to do a batch of brittle before our 4:00 FaceTime meeting.

I’m tired, but too much to do to nap, and I would like to leave in about 10 minutes. I want to get there, choose the gifts and be gone.

Caryn - thanks. Many of us would read that book, but I’m sure it would not set well with others. We walk a fine line with the political divide from our various members. But then, I do that with my older sis, who has gotten much more set in her ways, and while I don’t think we are that far apart in our thinking, she seems to think so. As long as she doesn’t support Trump I’m okay with her. I thought that might be the case with the photo books, I know you would have jumped on it if it had been available.

Allison - good walk, I didn’t get out there and know I should….. sounds like you dressed plenty warm, and of course warmed up walking. Glad your contractor showed and did what he needed to do. Ours is supposed to come Monday, then we will be done with the whole project, which will make me very happy.

Nancy - sorry E is not feeling good after the flu shot.

[flowerpower]

Peg - this book is not at all about today. So it's not "political" in that sense. It's about the 1930's through WWII (not sure exactly when the book ends). I'm on chapter 4 or 5 and Huey Long just died. Other well known people caught up in this included the famed architect Phillip Johnson and many US senators. They believed that certain white men were ordained to rule over less desirable citizens. I've just learned that the Nazi laws to exclude Jews in Germany and how they ruled conquered countries were based on their study of US laws and judicial rulings that allowed Jim Crow as well as our treatment of both Native Americans and immigrants. The book is scary in this way. Huey Long, for example, apparently ran on a platform that no one should be too rich or too poor (tax the rich and give stipends to the poor) - this was during the Great Depression - and it resonated. But Long, who was a very charismatic speaker, also decimated democracy in Louisiana. He was going to start a 3rd party challenge to Franklyn Roosevelt when he was murdered. That's as far as I've read. All I can say is, I'm learning a lot about our history. I mean, it makes sense to me. I remember when the immigration laws excluded Jews (during the Nazi era) and that our institutions excluded or limited Jews - even in my lifetime, there were towns in Metro NYC where a Jew couldn't buy a house, country clubs we couldn't belong to, and even quotas in colleges for Jewish students (that extended way back - my father wanted to go to medical school but the quota was filled). So this was holding even through the 1970s.

I'm re-reading this and realizing that I can just do a series of "book reports" here and you'd never need to read the book hahaha.

[abz1]

Peg, date pinwheels are my favorite too...just sayin' (wink)!

Allison, hope you don't have to wait too long for the new boiler!

Caryn, smart to hold the book until you see her.

J, glad DH is a bit better. Can't imagine sleepless nights over and over, that would be so annoying!

RV, we're eating the same this week! Had leftover egg roll in a bowl night before last and fajitas last night! Getting fish tonight, can't wait, it's always so good. Think I'll order the sandwich basket though as you get the same as a dinner but fish is on a bun, which I'll toss or save for use another time and the cost is less than the dinner. Never quite understood that!

It's been a work day here, recovered the picnic table, got the patio rug out, washed the rest of the windows outside and helped DH put lights on our tree. We'll see what it looks like once it's dark! Meanwhile I raked our area and took all the loose, dead stuff to the firepit. Those palm fronds make great fire starters. Of course I managed to have my legs bitten up again. Caladryl is my best friend!

We found ant hills and ground bees on or near our site so added something to get rid of the ants and will put bleach down the bees nest once they go in tonight (recommended by the park manager).

Once again he says the park is sold and he'll be done in 3 months. Um, we've heard this story too many times but fingers crossed one of these times it will actually be true!

[luvmypets]

Hi been crazy busy! Watched dgd all day yesterday them ddd,dgd and nana…me….went to visit dm. We ended up getting take out with dm. By the time I got home it was almost seven. Got up this morning went for my thyroid biopsy..Now wait for results. Got home cleaned and vacuumed bedroom, vacuumed stairs, finishing up laundry. I’m exhausted! Oh my Kindle died ordered a new one had to call to figure out how to get my Kindle Unlimited on it! I need a nap!

Jeanne What kind of bra is it I forget! I need a new one! Glad your stuffed cabbage was good….dont make the pie….I've made two all gone! My dd,dh ate some, took some to dm she’s aid she are it all last night! Oh I ate some too! Lol

Caryn did you find a good drug store mascara? I don’t like waterproof ones seem hard to clean off!

Allison it’s so hard this time of year to tat OP! I’m trying! My DM made my stocking almost 70 years ago ,she has made one for dd,dh and last year at 93 one for dgd! I treasure them!

Peg it’s nice to talk to friends who aren’t family! Nice to have some wine…I want a white wine but I’m out can you imagine. I have red but don’t want red right now! Oh the problems! You’re still the peanut brittle queen! Pinwheel cookies I love those as a kid I need to bake for my bookclub…ugh. I know I’m a good baker and my other df is not sure about the rest of the group!

RV I’m so far behind on this thread! I realized I’ve done none of games for about three days! 

Happy Hanukkah!🕎 

[flowerpower]

Oh boy, I keep forgetting to respond about the drug store mascara. Here are the top 3 that I found: Neutrogena Healthy Volume, Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High and L'Oreal Voluminous. Other L'Oreal mascaras also scored bit - but I've been using them for about 6 months and want to switch off so I don't get "sensitive" to them. BTW, mascara after 3 months can harbor a lot of bacteria so I change, like my toothbrush, every quarter.

I did Wordle in 4 and Connections was "whew" - got it on the last try

[rvgypsy]

Went Krogering, put groceries away, got stuck on the puzzles in today's paper. It's getting colder and going to rain they say. Not much on our over the air tv tonight that we enjoy. That's all folks.

Nancy