Well, I'm still in my flannel pajamas! It's cloudy and cool this morning. Our church is going to have an Advent Tea this afternoon so I will probably go to that.

We are getting a lot of rain and lots more due tomorrow. Cold (to me)...about 55 degrees. I know a lot of people say they hate hot weather....not me. I love it. I hate cold and wet. I went out to feed the horses and they are all standing around wet....even though they have a run in shed they can get in. I got inspired to clean house last night and worked until almost midnight. I am going to make some tartar sauce because my husband wants flounder tonight. I also may make some coconut bread from a recipe that I got on Pinterest. I've made it twice before. It's good...more like pound cake, and freezes well. I like to slice it and freeze the slices. I also have to make my usual trip to town to get more hay and dog food.

I'm also still in my pajamas and I don't really see that changing today. It's cold and wet and an excellent excuse to be a homebody. I'm going to make a roast and some rolls later and some housework sooner.

I am slow moving this morning. Need to go into the grocery. We have our small town parade this afternoon and I have to help our Lion's Club sell wreaths. Then cook up some things for our church dinner tomorrow. I guess I better get going!!

It is cold and rainy here. I had wanted to go for a long bike ride, but I guess I am going to have to put that off for several days as it is not supposed to clear up until Tuesday.

Cold rainy dreary day here too. Would be a good stay in bed and read day. Unfortunately I have boxes to unpack. It will be a full day of working in the house. I wish I had the ingredients to make a pot of Gumbo it is a good day for it.

That is a nice project to certainly get you in the spirit of Christmas, Dakota.

It's going to be in the 40's today, cloudy and sunny. I decided to walk the dog and of course had cloudy for the entire walk. Came home and, yep, it's now sunny.

I am going to the supermarket in a few hours. There is a Gap nearby and I might stop in to see if their are any good sales.

First day since Wednesday I feel good. I had a cold/allergy attack, and been under the weather. I even cut my hair this morning. But I declined going to the breakfast/instead of a ride... as it is raining out. I think it is better if I don't cough on folks yet. ;)

I plan to make some cabbage soup, as I have all the ingredients here. Otherwise, look at this tree, https://www.amazon.com/Patch-Magic-7-Feet-Christmas-84-Inch/dp/B00AIJ1O26/ref=sr_1_385?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1480778863&sr=1-385&keywords=christmas+tree

and think... I will post something before long, cause it gave me an idea on what to do for a tree this year.

Moni

It's only 8:15 or so here on the West Coast, also dreary and gray. Most of our trees have lost most of the autumn leaves, and that black, black bark on the trunks make me think of painting. I used to love doing that, even tho I am not very good. Today, DD and I will add at least 3 more batches of cookies to the 3 we baked yesterday. Haven't done that in some years, so it was fun....I hope she thought so too. I really treasure those moments and they remind me of times past. Having my two older children with me now days, really does 'take me back' as we three spent so many hours, days and sometimes months in foreign ports..."making do", young and mostly very poor as we served our country. Life was good. Baby (now 50) of the family will be here in 10 days....a first in so very many years. Life is still good.

You're right about a good day for gumbo, Raven. I was going to make it last night but we ended up eating something else. I think I will make shrimp gumbo tonight. I have everything here....just need to thaw and peel the shrimp.

I will be going to my nieces, as soon as I get off of here, for the annual family Christmas cookie baking day. She started this 3 years ago. We have a lot of fun. This year we can add shopping to it. My DD had planned an in home shopping day with some local demonstrators, clothing, bags, and books. When my niece found out that they had both planned for the same day, she generously opened her home so my DD could still do what she had planned, only changing the place, and still also participate in family baking day. This evening my DH and I are going with my aunt to her church for their Christmas Cantata, followed by pizza and cookies.

Dakota, that is the spirit of Christmas! We will soon be doing that also, as soon as the envelopes go on the tree.

Everyone enjoy your Saturday, however you choose/need to.

Unseasonably warmish around here ... my veggies are at the suburban church being offered to folks needing the food pantry ...

... and I'm here at the (city) library, talking to you folks.

Food pantry finished - so I can collect my veggies now ... and go home to breakfast - got up late.

ole joyfuelled ... and soon to be fuelled by breakfast

Here in Tennessee cold and rainy IS lovely! Not raining where I am yet, but it is cloudy and damp and we expect several inches starting tonight and through Tuesday.

This morning went to the annual Christmas pancake breakfast at the Lions Club with ggson and extended step-family. Santa and Mrs Claus were there and we had family pictures taken. Later stepdaughter will be Smokey Bear and ggson will ride on the Dept of Forestry bulldozer in the Woodbury Christmas parade.

Cool and damp here as well. This morning DH and I spent some time in our respective workshops. He's mounting a steel beam so that he can have his hoist in his new workshop. I spent my time working on the drawers I'm making for the kitchen cabinet carcases I built. Very slow going, as I'm still only able to be active for a few hours at a time before I need to rest again. It is great to be able to work out there again, as I really enjoy the projects. Now for some quick lunch and some time in the recliner. :)

It's a rainy day here in my part of east Texas. I'm taking a friend who just got out of the hospital on a round of her errands this afternoon cause she can't drive yet. We'll probably have to stop for a late lunch as well. Everyone, have a great Saturday!

That sounds great Marilyn. My sister just emailed me and said she had a pot of sausage, okra, and tasso Gumbo cooking I wish I was there to help them eat it! I might be able to scrounge up enough to make a pot. I have shrimp in the freezer and some venison sausage and I have frozen okra Hum not a bad start.

I've been up on a ladder trying to cover the sunset awning on my deck with a tarp to protect it during the winter months. It's windy and cold and I hate being up on a ladder.

We are anxiously awaiting news of our fifth grandchild's very early birth. He isn't due for 6 weeks but they spent most of last night at the hospital. The doctors were able to stop the contractions, but she woke up this morning with more. I am poised to make the trip to OKC as soon as I know he's coming.

I'm supposed to be shopping for a dress. I was nominated for the DFW Chapter HDI (Help Desk Institute) Helpdesk Analyst of the year and the banquet is next Friday.

It's cold and rainy here too. I want to make a pot of cowboy stew, but may be traveling so I probably won't get into cooking today.

Well done! I have put together a nice pot of Gumbo. Sausage, tasso, shrimp and chicken legs with okra. It looks like it will be a good batch lol. I was determined to have Gumbo today and so was my husband.

Good luck with yours Marilyn!

It is cold and very grey out, but not raining yet (supposed to arrive tomorrow). I made an apple pudding for breakfast with the last of my orchard bought summer apples, but haven't done much of anything since. I need to plant 5 bags of tulips and some iris that was given to me, sweep the patio, and mow over the late-falling pear leave -- but I really struggle to get out to do chores when it is so dismal. Which reminds me, I need to decide on another lamp for this north facing family room, and decide on a color (shade of white) to paint the knotty pine paneling.

Congratulations on the new grandbaby, PKponder! Hope all goes well with the delivery. My brother arrived seven weeks early back in the late 60's. He was a small but healthy baby and grew up to be a big, strapping man.

It's a gray, dreary and cold morning in N. Cal, but the sun is supposed to come out later. I'm being lazy. Slept in late and am now sitting here in my jammies drinking tea. Breakfast and shower will be soon and then I have some errands to run later.

This afternoon I plan to hang some photos that I recently framed and wrap some Christmas gifts for a friend. Also have to make a bracelet today for a monthly jewelry challenge that I participate in. It was due on Tuesday, so I am late, but it's an informal group and they don't mind if a piece is submitted a few days behind schedule.

Hope everyone has a good day!

I was in P.J's most of the morning.....slept in till 9:30 after partying last night. Finally got dressed a little bit ago. Finishing up my decorating today. Working on the mantel which is time consuming and putting finishing touches here and there throughout the house.

Cool, rainy weather and lots of cookie baking and soup making on this forum! Perfect.

It's not raining here but it is cold. Took a friend shopping with me this morning, we had lunch at Applebees. I ordered the chili. I removed the three Jalapeno pepper rings on top as I knew I wouldn't be able to handle those, but the chili was still a scorcher! My lips were burning from I don't know what was in there. After another spoonful just to be sure, I finally called the waitress over and told her the chili was way too hot and spicy for me. She was very kind and brought me the tomato basil soup instead. It was good.

Came home, fussed with the new candles I bought, made a cup of tea and retreated to the library with it. Felt nice to be under a warm throw too.

Dawn, it's sunny and mid-60s in the SF Bay area. You must not be near here, are you in the mountains or up near Oregon for the weather you're describing?

watching some beautiful white snow coming down. the first for this year...

And moving all the furniture to make room for the Christmas tree and all the gifts that will soon be under it. I'm all ready tired.

Well, I celebrated my birthday! I survived another year!

Went out and saw a movie -- Hell or High Water (second-run theatre). Very good!

Happy birthday, artemis.

Grey day here in Mid-Tn. Made a bowl of macaroni salad to go with the fried chicken breasts. Then for dessert it was very vanilla cupcakes. So it was a good cooking day.

It's beautiful out, but I'm going to a cookie swap tomorrow and have been baking Black Bottom Cupcakes. Decades ago a local bakery made these famous and I became hooked on them.

Then I ran across an old wartime recipe for chocolate cake. Something just clicked in my mind. I was absolutely sure this was similar to the cupcake batter. It was, so I just had to figure out the filling. Easy, cheap, and yummy, although they're best when still warm out of the oven, according to my DH.

My younger son came over and he, my husband and I worked on cleaning out the storage side of our basement. We started around 10:30 and finished around 4. (My husband also hung the Christmas lights during that time.) We have all the trash cans filled plus a pile of stuff out there along with them that we couldn't fit in.

That took us so long that we never touched the "finished" side of our basement. That side includes my sewing area and a mass of things piled up all around. Some random Halloween and Christmas decorations that don't fit into the other boxes. Plus some décor that we don't have out anymore. I have also brought home most but not all my mother's sewing supplies and her two machines. I need to incorporate her things with mine.

Today I was crawling on my dining room floor cutting fabric pieces for my grandson's Xmas gift. My daughter-in-law would like him to have a play teepee. I volunteered to make it. 25 years ago I made one for his father. My place to lay out and cut big pieces is the floor but I think I'm getting too old for that.

I slept in, went to the gym, did laundry, ran to Hobby Lobby and Gordmans. I've done one load of laundry, changed and cleaned my dining room/kitchen lights. Trying to get things nice and clean for my Christmas Craft Night.

Omg my Gumbo was a big hit! Perfect for today. How was yours Marilyn?

That gumbo looks so good. slurp ! Today I wrapped some gifts, and did a load of laundry, and started packing for our trip.

busy making up candy canes at the art and craft room here and then lunch, then went to the christmas fair they had here in great room and checked it out and wanted something small in my room and saw tiny trees and bought one and then two pillows as I wanted for my couch that you can take the cover off and wash it when need too and put it back on and no stitching to do. I also saw this cute wooden reindeer and couldn't resist it and this wooden ornament that says Merry Christmas on it.

Then off to grocery store and what a zoo that store always is but found a parking spot and cart and got what I needed.

Then back home and unloaded and then went looking for T. and she was downstairs in the art and craft room and cleaning it up and looks really good.

I mentioned that I had wished I had known they did wreaths up the saturday before due to have always wanted one to hang on my door and she had left over ones and so I picked and she made up a red bow for me, very simple and looks nice and hung it on the door and happy that I got one now.

Then returned plastic bags and this mom who took over for awhile for her daughter loved having them, she said she is an expert of recycle, good as here its what do you do with these things?

I don't want the beef stew they have for supper tonight, don't like them at all. So am going to order chinese food and pick it up across the street.

Can really hear the rain coming down hard now so good thing I don't have far to picking up the chinese food to bring back to room to eat.

They mentioned snow coming and so I believe that is another reason grocery store was busy too as we all load up and make sure we got what we need during that time.

kathy

Hibernating.

Gray and dreary, here, too. I babysat one grandchild (the five month old), and picked up the elder one from a guitar lesson. My DD had taken him to work with her since she works in the same building. It's the first time I've had to take the baby in the car alone, but he was perfect, just started to fuss a little as we pulled in the driveway. I watched both kids until my daughter returned, then fixed an omelet for supper, and cleaned up the kitchen. Now having a little 'me time' with my feet up. ;)

Congrats Pk Ponder! I worked the help desk years ago too.

I finished tiling a bathroom. Then ran to Home Depot. They will accept competitors coupons and I had a 25% off anything in the store Ace coupon. We purchased glass tub doors, a hot water heater, drill bits....

My oldest daughter and I went shopping. She selected lots of pretty things. We had a good time.

Congratulations, PK!

Artemis, Happy Birthday.

My son came to visit me to help celebrate my birthday. We spent the afternoon at the Kissel Car Auto Museum at Hartford, WI.

SIL installed a new blind in my BR (other two are on order), and eldest grandson blew leaves and then spent two hours stripping 3 beds and then remaking them with clean sheets, plus hauling various up and down two flights of stairs. Huge help but what I loved most was the time with him. He had taken the SAT this morning - he's a junior in HS - and it kills me to think that he'll be gone in 1 1/2 yrs.. He's very special.

Happy Birthday Jemdandy!

Happy belated birthday Artemis! Jemdandy too!

Happy Birthday Jemdandy!

Happy Birthday to you both!

Sue