I'll bake bread this morning, as we are out. Later have a Christmas Luncheon to attend. I think my Christmas shopping is finished, so I'll try to wrap everything yet this week. It is my way of double checking that I haven't omitted anyone on the list. DH & I have to go to Pittsburgh for my cancer checkup Monday, so I want to have most everything in place for the holidays prior to the trip. If I receive bad news at the check up, at least I won't have the holidays stuff still lurking.

I'm on the countdown in preparations for our upcoming cocktail party this weekend, so am running around here and there to pick up a few last minute items. I'll pull out my serving trays, platters, and linens today, too

This morning, though, I'm off to the fitness center.

Ida, wishing you the very best news on Monday.

No plans here other than getting out the 4 Christmas themed coffee mugs. I would like to at least put a special tablecloth on the table for Christmas, but it needs ironed. Ironing has become one of the things that I can't do anymore. DH is suffering greatly with back issues so I am not about to pressure him about getting the house ready for the holiday.

ldstarr, hoping that your cancer checkup only reveals good news.

It's my days off so more leaf mulching today and tomorrow, the trees are almost finished dropping leaves thankfully. I need to clean the aquariums today. Christmas shopping is all done and we'll decorate our tree tonight.

They're coming to hook the AC up tomorrow. They can't set it up to actually use until Spring I'm told, when they come back. :0) And the new electric panel doesn't go in until December 27.

DH was working in Pueblo yesterday. It's an old coal mining town. He saw an adult black & white cat running around in a ditch drain pipe by a busy shopping center. He made it sound like there was no residential housing nearby, just lots of traffic. Abandoned? I want to go investigate, bring it a weeks worth of food, see if I can catch it. It's an hours drive, one way.

My renter is buying a house in Canon City. An hour away. She's going to commute to work here. Property prices are still low there. I've been looking at properties online and found an old fixer upper. I'd like to drive by it. 501 Rudd Ave ...Take a look!

Dentist this afternoon, maybe a movie tonight depending on whether the dentist has to work on me, cookie exchange tomorrow evening, hopefully see grands by the weekend, learn some knots better so I don't have to think about them and they just happen on auto pilot,, finish reading my current crime mystery, and finish reading my centered riding book.

Oh yeah. Have to make a final decision on which new phone to buy. Samsung Galaxy 8 or try the OnePlus 5T. I like my two last Samsung Galaxy phones a lot. But I don't like the new all glass phones. I love that the OnePlus still has a metal back. But I can't play with it unless I order it since the local service providers don't sell them. However they get some really great reviews. The Galaxy is more expensive but I can buy it online for less and I know what I'm getting. The lower price of the OnePlus beckons with the extra ram and the memory but it's an unknown. I have had my current phone for almost 4 years. Never in a case. But I dropped on the street a few months back and the little star fracture in the corner that happened then finally spread into a diagonal line across my screen. Don't understand this new glass phone thing. Why even offer them them in colors if you have to protect them in a case anyway?

Shopping today with hubby to pick up some things for our upcoming trip to Thailand. I need sunscreen as the sun will be very intense there. I could buy it there, but most skin products in Thailand have whitening agents in them to lighten skin. I'm not sure what these agents are actually made of, but I don't want to put them on my skin. After shopping, lunch out and then home.

Thursday, I am visiting a neighbor to pick up a cane she borrowed from me when she hap hip surgery a few months ago and to drop off some extra tiger lily bulbs I have after separating mine.

Friday I will be puttering around the house - it will be good to have one day at home this week.

Saturday is a gift exchange with a friend. Then we are going out for lunch and to see a performance of the Nutcracker.

Sunday I am meeting a friend ( who lost her husband a month ago) for brunch and whatever support I can offer to her.

Idstarr, I hope your appointment goes well. Best wishes to you.

*edited to correct Sunday's plans.*

Nicole, that looks like a neat house!

That house has some fantastic features, Nicole. It just needs someone (you?) to put some work into it and it will be gorgeous!

I have several more business appointments this week to finish things up before the holidays and I leave town. And need to do some house cleaning :-) It is only for the pet sitter, but I can't stand having a mess that anyone would see......and I do need to put some things away just to be secure. Saturday I am going to a Christmas party. And next week need to do a bit of shopping before we leave town.......some toiletries for me, a couple more stocking stuffers for the littles, and pet food, of course!! And then pack. Mexico, here I come!!

Wrapping and buying a few more presents, packing for my trip to Ohio, and making sure there's no food that could spoil in the fridge while I'm gone. I definitely don't want rotten apples in my fridge...

Sunday the Bolshoi will be at movie theaters performing Nutcracker. To see these dancers up close is fantastic and they take you backstage and dancers give interviews and talk about the characters. Bolshoi has beautiful sets and costumes. The dancing is always perfection. Look up Fathom Events and see if a movie theater near you is showing it. All the ballets are available at the movies.

Lisa, I hope all is well with you at your doctor's appointment. Nicole, I love the house

Today I went lunch with some people from my high school class. Tomorrow I have bowling and will pick up some groceries while I am in town. Friday I am going to finish some throw pillow covers with a Xmas theme that I am making.

Spent the day in the kitchen. We're having our combined holiday (Thanksgiving & Christmas) celebration tomorrow. Made Cranberry Jezebel and Spinach Madeleine. The turkey is air-drying in the fridge. Will make Chipotle Sweet Potato Gratin tomorrow.

Also made a loaf of French bread, a pot of cranberry beans, romaine salad, and Sensation dressing for Pasta e Fagioli dinner tonight.

Hope to visit the farmers' market in the morning. Then a stop a CC's for lattes and home to make a batch of Salted Oatmeal Cookies. The only gift I'm giving this year is a bag of cookies and a tin of Williams Sonoma Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate for the girls next door.

I am looking forward to subbing at the middle school tomorrow. The weekend will be busy. My daughter's MIL passed away recently, so Friday evening there will be a reception at the senior residence where she lived, Saturday will be a full day. Morning services of interment followed by lunch. Later in the afternoon, DH and I will attend the Christmas party at the assisted living residence with my MIL. My other daughter and her family will join us. On Sunday, I hope to have the grandkids here to make some ornaments, bake, and decorate the tree.

Were going home later this week, probably Friday. At least for the weekend. I'm lugging an electric fireplace from my cousins basement as a temp loaner. My sons GF also has loaned me one. My home is all one floor, no basement and its very well insulated. My plan is to put a fireplace at each end of the home along with extra smoke alarms and see what happens. if I can maintain 67 degrees F.....that will work for now. We want to get our Christmas decorating done. Anyone use these electric fireplaces?

If I can't get a 67deg temp we will decorate and head back to my cousins. None of us like it hot indoors, but I'm not about to stay where its cold. LOL.

I have another estimate tomorrow at 9am so that will eat up an hour of my morning.

Star★ I hope good things at your doctor appt. I take Amiee to Pittsburgh often...maybe one day we can meet up for lunch or coffee.

Monday, I organized our water aerobics Christmas potluck. Had 42, including husbands. Big success.

Mexican Train at my place, Thursday. We drew names for a Christmas exchange. Should be fun.

Friday, 8 of us are having our last visit, with lunch, before everyone scatters here and there for the holidays.

My plans for the week are the same as last week, and the week before. I know I should put up the Christmas decorations, and do some baking, but I am in a major slump and just don't feel the joy.

Try to get over this darned sinus infection!....and hoping to do some of my Christmas calling.

Relax mostly. Have a few errands to run tomorrow. Christmas cards/letters to write. Sunday, Lauren, her boyfriend and I are going out for Korean food at lunchtime and then seeing the new Star Wars movie!