Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

[ladybirdheart]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good day here, just home adding to my own holiday story for the year. I have been puttering around to music after making some really nice play lists, a sentimental sweet vintage one, a gorgeous New Age one, and my favorite, traditional African American gospel (I think Mahalia Jackson and Odetta could make an angel weep). Very funny about the earthquake Chill (I once thought a critical problem with a BMW?s drive shaft was actually ME having a crippling driving phobia?the mechanic was speechless:H). And Red, my weird episode wasn?t scary at all, completely the opposite, peaceful, simple, full to the point of being a bit oceanic but at the same time a little funny to my observing mind, a peak experience. I wonder sometimes if I dipped into an alternate reality; while it would not have been helpful to get stuck there, I think it changed me for the better even if it was nothing more than a brief madness. Thank you for the shrimp boil memories, Blondie, and what a fun thing to do in the winter. I am currently making (non beef eaters can stop reading) a Catalan stew, it takes forever and has a complex sauce of caramelized onion and tomato (almost like a jam), a bit of fine baking chocolate, orange zest, smoked paprika, cinnamon, chile etc. and is finished with wild mushrooms, olives, a ?picada? of almonds ground along with bread, garlic, and parsley, and a splash of sherry vinegar (whew). I have never made it before but it smells like heaven. Speaking of heaven, beautiful ham, FlyAway! My back is finally getting better, Nurse Lavie, I think of you in the wings of my home. Love, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Hmmm,
Let's see....I could have a cajun shrimp boil & invite YB over (he's deathly allergic to shellfish) :H
But I won't do that

That ham is beautiful FlyAway! OK, where do I get one?????

LBH, your stew sounds delicious. For some reason I am no longer able to eat beef
My innards have changed a lot over the years. I have had no choice but to eliminate all dairy, beef, pork, spicy food. Leaves me with veggies & grains, some chicken & turkey - oh well.

Have a good night all!

[cyntree]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Late night check-in...went into NYC and back to home today...fulfilling our dream of 'if we want to go into the city for something really special, we can'. It was our mantra as we were dreaming of leaving the desert. So I am tired, but happy. We saw/heard dear friends in a concert of chamber music played as if they were all angels on fire (the good kind of fire). LBH, I believe that at times I could see alone/not alone energies as part of the divine-ness of the music.

Chill - you think that the earthquake just happened at that time by chance....???

Uh Oh, HB just walked by with the shop vac; we are having visitors of the 'seen' kind who seem to think this is their house not ours (of course they know we are merely renting...) better go and help clean...

Good to hear from everyone, welcome flyaway! Lav - anniversary thread? I'll have to check it out...our little home here is the only one I visit...

[sdlovespackers]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Hi Everyone!!

Blondie--Sounds like your party was a big hit and everyone had a good time!! Cute picture too!! Being the hostess is so much work--I bet you were exhausted by the end of the night!
In regards to hosting Xmas dinner--we sometimes do those boils for the 4th of July!! Love them!!
Fly-:welcome: to the group!! Glad you are here!! I'll add my two cents on Christmas dinners although that ham looked amazing...I love ham!!! My family does the prime rib roast, like you were talking about (served med. rare to still mooing) and/or a ham as well. It's so yummy!!! I'd love to know where you ordered your ham!?

Lav--I think we had all your wind yesterday...my poor dog about blew away when I took her out to go potty yesterday!! Tomorrow I have recess duty so I suspect the wind will be picking up again and the temps will drop over night!!:H BTW--LOVE the big girl pants for Chill---was that a thong I saw???

Chill--You know maybe Lav is on to something...you need to get yourself some "not so big girl pants" in red or leopard...whatever...sometimes knowing there is that "sexy me" under my boring drab school lady clothes puts a little bounce in my step for the day! Attitude is everything right?!

Rusty--Your Nativity scene story was so funny!! I can see my dad saying that to me more than my mom actually...with him too, quick wit is a must!! THe houses and the lights sound much like the houses around here...well that and all the blow up inflatable yard decorations...guilty...in everyone's yard!! We have a Santa in a airplane and the propellers on the wings spin! (He about took off in the high winds yesterday!!) LOL!!!

Star--I wish my school did what your work did for the Christmas party...that sounds so much better then having to go out to dinner and whatever "activity" is planned afterwards. Always drinking involved and then wether or not to bring spouses...not a debate for me..lol!!! We didn't have one last year...our staff was at such odds with each other, no one wanted one. We have a new principal, so I think everyone is trying to put on their "nice face"...although no one planned one, so it's not until sometime in January!! HAHA!!!

Well...my son is still up so I need to get him in bed....I'll check later this weekend...hoping everyone has a great Friday!!! Big hellos to Pap3, LBH, Sooty, Rustop, Cyn, Sped (exciting weekend, I think!!).....
SD

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good morning everyone

A quick :hello: from me before I venture out in 2c/29f to walk Elle. She has been a bit under the weather for a couple of days, not eating and generally listless. I'm hoping today she brightens up and we avoid another trip to the vet.

My Boss went on holiday last night for a week so we are bringing Christmas music into the office today and things will generally be more relaxed.

SD - I find thongs SO uncomfortable but I will settle for something a bit sexier than Bridget Jones Knickers!

Cyn - re the Earthquake, no I don't believe in coincidence everything in devine timing.

Lots more to say but need to fly, will have more time over the weekend to check in. Wishing you all a most wonderful peaceful loving and AF Friday........

[rustop59]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good morning everyone

You are all making me hungry, just reading all those mouthwatering recipes. I love to cook but sometimes it is hard to get the time and my teens can be fussy!!

Bitterly cold here this morning, lots of frost. Quick walk with the doggies and then I am getting my hair done.

Neighbours party tonight but I have to pick up my daughter later so perfect excuse of driving. We have a dinner tomorrow night and am opting to drive too. One advantage of living out in the country.

Have a great AF week-end one and all.

Rustop

[bear73]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

morning - mid wallpaper strip here - having a mini break.
1 wall done - 1 more to go then clean up/cleaning and maybe will FINALLY do some exercise - either powerwalk in park or one of my sorely neglected exercise dvds!
I fancy catching up with mum and dad on phone as well.

Catalan stew sounds GORGEOUS and the shrimp boil - yum - think may do chick peas, with tomato, mushrooms garlic and chilli and chorizo tonight with salad and crusty bread and then melted chocolate with fruit to dip in it. Semi healthy - and lots cheaper than a takeaway.

Anyway - best get back to it - hohoho.
I wouldn't be doing any of this/feeling so enthusiastic if i was drinking/hungover.

[papmom3]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Chill-pings to Elle-hope she perks right up. Please don't delay a vet visit when a pet is listless and not eating. Can sometimes mean a very critical problem they can't tell us about. Thoughts and prayers winging their way over!

Monday is our office "party" which is potluck and goes on all day and is Open House. No booze thank god since it is during office hours!

I have no idea what my sis is planning on serving. one year we had fish, another ham, sometimes turkey, or some sort of beef. Always a surprise!!

Home sick today although not horribly. Stomach problems yesterday afternoon and last nite. Woke up exhausted and no energy so laying low. they probably think I'm out xmas shopping but nope! Might do PO and bank later on but that's it.

I'll check in later dazzlers!!

[FlyAway]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

I hope it's okay for me to put the link here, but for those who asked about the ham, I ordered it here: Brandy Farms Stuffed HamsBrandy Farms Stuffed Hams

[FlyAway]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

:H Don't know how I managed to get a double link up there.

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Hey all!

FlyAway, thanks for the link! I am going to seriously think about getting one of these hams. May even take a drive down there to pick one up

SD, no Christmas party at work would have been A-OK with me. They always seemed kind of lame anyway :H

Chill, hope Elle is feeling better!

You too papmom - tis the season of viral maladies

rustop, stay warm & enjoy your holiday parties.

bear, good job on the wallpaper - yucky job, for sure!!!

Hello to cyn, star, sooty, where is our Rusty??

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Good evening my dear friends

Oh boy! Just escaped from the office Christmas party which was even worse than I imagined! 9 people sharing a meal who unless we worked together would never choose to socialize with one another. It was awkward and boring apart from a lovely bubbly girl knocking back the red wine. In the old days she and I would have been great friends! In the work environment I actually get on well with these girls but tonight highlighted how little I have in common with them.

Lav, lame would be a pretty good description of the evening....
I should have followed my instinct and the wise advice from all of you and said "screw them!" :H

Bear - hope the decorating is going well.

Rustop - be careful out on the roads, it's very icy and wintry out there.

Papmom - sending healing hugs, Elle is much better but still not 100%, I'm so glad it's the weekend and we get to hang out together.

Do you remember guys last year when I had an old friend over to Portugal and it turned into a nightmare? He was taking lots of drugs, coke and valium plus was on bac whilst still binge drinking. He wrecked the hotel room and missed his flight. Well after all that I cut ties with him and have just heard he lost his job, was evicted from his apartment and is living in a homeless hostel. He has had part of his stomach removed due to the severe abuse and next week has heart by pass surgery. This is a man who was an intelectual genius in the world of medical research and had a photographic memory. His life poured down the toilet because of addiction. I have been trying to call him but I'm guessing he has run out of money on his phone. We met in our 20s when we were house mates and he was like a brother to me, this is such a sad way to have ended up.

Just watching a UK talk show with Robert Downey Jr, a heart throb of mine who seems to have got his act together.

Soooo good to be home!

[papmom3]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Chill- you are the eternal optomist! I guess sometimes we have to see for ourselves instead of just trusting others. You got through it unscathed and now you know. that's all that matters luv!
So sorry to hear about your ex friend. Might it be best to leave it at that? Please don't spend a lot of energy trying to contact him. Seems like he made his bed willingly a long time ago. But I do understand how sad you must be right now hearing all that he's gone through.
Glad Elle is feeling a tad better. Snuggling with you all weekend should do that trick!!

I've decided to economize with veterinary issues. My vet of 14 years left the practice that is 30 min away from where I live. :upset: Very sad but wish him well heading up a new local low income vet clinic. He's a great man to do this. he'll be working closely with the voke tech vet ass't students as well since the new clinic is actually inside the school.
Anyway there is another VCA clinic right down the road from me. i've decided to transfer all the kids over to there. They are taking care of getting the records transferred and I have my first app't on the 26th.
Right next door is a brand new doggie day care (these people are living my dream!!) so I stopped in and introduced myself. Husband and wife team and seem very nice. The facility is clean and still smells of fresh paint. I may see if I can squeeze one day a week out of my budget to bring Mickey there for some socializing and away from DD time. He deserves a little pampering after all he's been through the past 4 years with DD coming into the fray.
Change doesn't seem so bad these days. In fact, kind of exciting!! Now if I can just conjour up some change in my job situation!!

I am feeling better. Got some errands done and 98% of the xmas shopping. This could be a record for me! Still don't have those damn lights up but there is always New Year's Eve LOL!!

[Chillgirl]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

Papmom - How about you and I running a doggy day care! Now that would be fun, I even have the name worked out -PINK PAWS

[Lavande]

Dazzling and Diligent December - week 2

PINK PAWS = PP:H :H :H

You might have to consider a different name for your enterprise Chill & papmom :H

Sitting in my living room using my laptop ~ YB is sitting here using his new iPad!
No one would ever guess this isn't normal.........
I'm confused as usual