Daring December

[Lavande]

Greetings friends.

Almost 9:30 pm here & I am finishing up a job so I thought I would drop in.
I am busy but I also took a little time off to go out to lunch & visit a couple of country stores we like. At this age I really don't want to work a solid day anymore.....been there & done that.

Star, We are exodcting seriously cold weather to arrive here Friday morning. Did you send that? Ha ha!
Never had time to get soup started today but tomorrow is looking good.

Dill, I hope your visit with your friend went well. It's wonderful to have frirndly support when undergoing chemo & major things like that.

Pauly, I hope today was better for you.
I have 20 chickens & got 20 eggs today so I know they are all working
That jumbo egg yesterday was a real shocker, yikes!!!

Cyn, i have found I get better bone broth if I cram as many roasted chicken bones as I can into my crockpot, add water to cover & about 1 tablespoon of ACV per pound of bones. I let it cook for a good 18 hours or more. Of course I also cram in the onions, carrots, garlic, celery with all the skins left on (for good color), herbs, pepper, no salt. Even if it doesn't gel much it's still good & good for you

Lizann, what's new with you?
Homemade dog treats are fun to make when you have the time, ha ha!!

Peace to everyone tonight!

Lav

[Lizann]

How nice of you all to welcome me here! I have been around awhile and like I mentioned am usually on the steppers thread. I sometimes read here when I have the time and I feel like I know some of you already.
My story, hmmm. . . I am a fifty something wife and mother. I work part time as a medical assistant at a hospital. My oldest daughter is married and lives relatively close by. My middle daughter is recently engaged and we are in the throes of planning a wedding. My son a recent college grad is working full time, the two younger kids live at home.
I have been doing relatively well with my sobriety, I think, but most recently (2 weeks ago) over indulged at my daughters engagement party. You know that story, the self loathing afterward. Right now I'm in a pretty good place and plan to be more vigilent.
BTW, I made cream of cauliflower soup the other day that was delicious, if I do say so myself!

[Snoopy56]

Good morning...

Lav, sounds like a productive day, some work some fun,good for you. I am looking forward to some time off. It is cold here, high in the 20s, but no snow so not a big deal, I just wear warm clothes and keep going. Right now they are predicting snow on Sunday, but we'll see.

Dill, wishing you a good time on your trip to see a friend.

Pauly, hope things are going well. Doctors seem to push all types of pills, whether you want them or not. Anti-depressants can help but whew, taken with caution. Hope your day was good.

Cyn, nice of you to provide transportation for your friend, the Christmas tree sounds lovely. Sorry you've been fighting dark moods, may they pass soon.

Lizann, I feel so much better not drinking, have no desire to go back and start the entire cycle over again. Thanks for sharing your story, you have a lovely family.

Have a great AF Thursday.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, not much to report this morning, went to the dentist yesterday and I'm still sore from the poking and prodding haha,Liz,great to see you here probably post more later, wishing us all a fabulous AF Thursday

[dill]

Hello All, the trip to visit my friend was pleasant indeed. She seemed very happy to see us and we were happy to see her looking as well as she did. I think she is lonely in her new home. She has her family of course, so that is all good. But she has not been able to make any friends. (Sound familiar Star?!) It takes time and when you are no longer working, it's even harder. She has found a church she likes so hopefully she'll strike some friendships up there.

Pauly, TWD has been fab so far this season, IMO. Except the last episode was a bit slow and even excruciating to watch. Neegan is the most evil character I've ever seen!!!

Cyn, I know you like winter. I used to. But it's changing for me. I feel confined by the darkness this year for some reason. Anyway, I hope you figure out the source of your blues and blow them away!

Lizann, I simply never drink in public. It is always a mistake because I never stop before it is too late! I became a closet drinker almost totally. I think people would be surprised if I said I had a drink problem because no one ever sees me drink! Mr. D knows tho, all too well.

Lav, I always end up wanting to put something in the crockpot after I read your posts! LOL!

Star, I was thinking the other day about that Dublin Coddle you introduced us to. I think it might be time for a pot of that this weekend!

[Lavande]

Good evening friends!

Yep, getting seriously colder here just as predicted.
Not bad if you can stay put in front of the fireplace, ha ha!

I had another busy but OK day today & think I will have no problem sleeping - nice
We dragged the Christmas tree in the house today so step 1 is done. Step 2 decorating will have to be another day. I can wait!!!
Wishing everyone a peaceful night, stay warm!

Lav

[Lizann]

I like the way you put that Dill "simply"! Yes I did a lot of closet drinking too.
Had a very pleasant day. I was off today. I love having those two days off during the week. Did some grocery shopping and then got a manicure. Did just a little more wrapping. Getting it done a little at a time, but I am almost done. Got Lucy (dog) 2 festive Christmas collars, they were on clearance. She is ready for the holidays and looks so cute!
Lav, I love how you wish us a peaceful night! I wish the same for you. I believe you and I are geographically close as it will be significantly colder too. I'm ready!
Sweet dreams

[treegirl]

Evening all -

I just missed a cross-post with you Lav! Getting colder here, with a dusting of snow already again... I think we're to get more soon. Glad that you had a little time off today. RE: bone broth, I did exactly what you said, but I used the roasted turkey bones that I'd saved... I couldn't break it all down small enough, so a little was up out of the liquid, may be that made the difference. Though I remember this happening last year with the turkey - maybe they don't have so much cartilage? Dunno...

Lizann, thx for talking about your family - that sounds like a lot of activity! Good luck on your journey and thanks for sharing here, so nice to have your voice added.

Star - how is all for you? Wishing you a good TGIF tomorrow. Weekend plans?

Dill - I hope your son and kids are all doing well. I'm sure that the kids are looking forward to the holidays.

Pauly - how are you feeling? I hope well -is Louie being good to you? I bet he's getting excited!

I'm off for another weekend in the city: I would love to stay home... where did this week go , anyway? But I'm going to get HB all packed up and on an international flight, so it's worth doing... and besides I don't have to go on the flight thank goodness. Just going into the city is enough for me, thanks.

OK, must do dishes and get dog stuff ready for the pet sitter. I'll try to check in as I can over the next few days. I'm wishing all a sweet good night - what was it that LBH used to say? ..."bon reve rose..."

[Snoopy56]

Good morning on this Friday, Yay,

Snow out side, not much, not even covering the grass, but it will look pretty and Christmassy so will enjoy it.

Cyn, shopping plans, tonight and tomorrow for son and husband. Then wrapping paper and the bit wrap will begin. I love having presents under the tree, fun. Have a good weekend, take care, hope you are feeling better.

Pauly, how is it going? You feeling better? Hope so.

Lav, so much fun decorating the tree, it looks so pretty and is so worth it. Glad you are busy and sleeping well.

Dill, Irish Coddle, what a good cold weather recipe. Yes, the finding friend thing is still not easy, at least at work I have people who are friends, so that is good. I am still really missing my friend who died last December. I spoke to her husband yesterday and their son is back in jail, he won't stay off drugs. Very upsetting to me, I woke up last night and was thinking about it. Addiction ruins lives, and i am sick of it. Glad you had fun yesterday, I could see winter being harder when you are not working as it is harder to get out of the house in the cold and dark. Maybe a Florida trip this winter for a few weeks? Just an idea.

Liz, hey you, nice to have a day off and how cute to decorate your pet too. Makes me think of something for my cat to wear. Any ideas?

Have a good AF Friday, let's make it an AF weekend too!

[dill]

Good morning AF Friends, just a quick stop by for me today. It's my volunteer day but before I go I have a lot of things to get done around here. Like Lizann I am wrapping a little at a time. That prolongs the mess tho! LOL! I have brought things down to the kitchen table to wrap but now I need to move everything back upstairs and out of the way before the weekend when the gkids come!

Star, so sad to hear about your dear friend's son. At least in jail you know he is safe and substance free. And they have addiction help available in many jails. I hope he finds the strength to beat his addiction this time.

Cyn, Lav, Liz, Pauly, have a peaceful and AF Friday.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Cyn,wishing you safe travels have the blahs passed? I'm dealing with it this week, hate that feels so ugly!Star,sorry about your friends' son but like you said maybe jail time will be good for him for a bit,Dill,Negan is evil but he's kinda funny sometimes, also the actor who plays him is handsome to me for some reason, I'm dying to see what happens this week Lav,is your tree real or artificial? I'm really seriously thinking of a fake tree this one is already shedding needles when I go to plug it in!and I gave both my vacuum cleaners to Kell,one she blew up and the other she's using,so I hafta sweep the needles off the couch and floor,I wonder if this blue feeling is from taking the one dose of lexapro on Monday? Maybe it built up serotonin and now its crashed? Highly unlikely, think I just need to go walk! Hi Liz,hubs' birthday today,Kell made him cupcakes, I'll make him tacos,nothing big but we love him,wishing us all a peaceful AF Friday

[Lavande]

Good afternoon friends!

Look at me checking in during the daylight hours, ha ha!
I went to Curves, the UPS store & the supermarket. Now I am awaiting a visit from our old neighbors, both well over 80 but they like to get out for a drive.
Cold & windy here but no snow.

Pauly, we have a real tree. We had an artificial tree for a few years but I was allergic to it, ha ha!!
Ours is sitting on a wood floor so I can just run a mop around it & grab any fallen needles.
Make sure you water it every day!
I doubt that one dose of Lexapro did anything to throw you off balance. It takes weeks to build up a therapeutic level with that stuff. Get out in the sun, if you have any, take a walk

Hello to Star, Dill & Cyn!
Everyone seems appropriately busy & staying out of trouble. Yay for all of us!

Have a pleasant AF afternoon one & all!

Lav

[paulywogg]

No sun here today Lav,its overcast with no chance of rain

[treegirl]

Hello all - late afternoon checkin here - it sounds like everything is chugging along for everyone. For some reason, I'm super-slow getting into the holiday spirit... though I did hang up some ornaments on the vintage chandelier that came with our house (no crystals on it). I thought otherwise the dog sitter would think that she landed at the Grinch's house! Maybe when HB gets back to CT we will be able to wrangle a tree together. I can't do it alone. I also read an article about getting a larger potted tree and using that, and then planting it outside.. I'll check that out...

I got to NY, and went for a haircut (cheaper than in the country!) and asked for a radical short cut. It was a great stylist, and I am happy with my new minimalism. Tonight eating in, then we'll go to a movie - something we haven't done in about a year. Brrrrrrrrr cold here though! And the wind swooping down the streets, yikes! I hope to see some decorations tomorrow.

Dill, glad to hear that you're still volunteering. I bet you will have a busy time with the kids this weekend. How is your son?

Star, so sorry about you missing your friend. I forgot that it was just this time of year when you lost her. What a sad story about her son - I'm sure that the husband was touched that you called. I love to hear how festive your house sounds! There are tons of xmas outfits for cats - Have fun...

Pauly, exercise is probably a good idea. I am lucky that my dogs need some time outside every day - they keep me going when I wouldn't otherwise! Hope you feel better soon.

Lav, how is your patient? Sounds like you have been very busy - how sweet that your elder friends want to come visit. PS, the dogs and I are loving the dog 'cookies'! Plenty of fiber in them for me, so they actually are a good 'filler' treat - ha! Next up is pumpkin drops...

Lizanne, how is all with you - I'm sure holidays are very busy and excited around your household. Good luck with everything!

Wishing all a great AF Friday and happy weekend to come.

[Lizann]

Quick check in for me as I am tired after a long but good day at work. The staff today was a good group and it wasn't too busy so we were able to chat and joke around a bit.
Tree girl, I wish I had the guts to get a short hair cut. I don't think it would look good on me, but I love short hair. Maybe after my daughters wedding!
Pauly, happy birthday to your hubby. It sounds like a lovely treat you are preparing for him.
BTW we have always had a fake tree. Hubby and I bought the year we got married and it's still looking pretty good. They don't make them like they used to, I'm thinking.
Goodnight!