Brisk Monday

[Queen]

Good morning, everyone!!

It’s a brisk 12 degrees here in central Illinois this morning, although we’re heading for the 30’s and 40’s over the next few days, that will be a welcome change!

Only thing on the agenda today is a run to the bank and some laundry. We’re hoping to sign our new lease in the next couple of days so that’s pretty exciting. Then it’ll be clean and start carrying our stuff a hundred feet down the hallway.

Like many here I don’t usually care much about Christmas, it’s just another day, but this year we’re invited up to spend it with my niece and her husband and our wonderful little two year old great niece, she is just so much fun right now!! On our last visit she learned our names and her mom says she’s been asking for us, she loves to snuggle up and have you read to her, I’m so looking forward to it.

Trying to decide with the move and Christmas, if we want to right away pack up the van and head southwest, or stick around and use up some tickets we have for the theater and ballet, rest up after the move and head out in February instead. Decisions decisions.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day today!

[Colliemom]

Good Morning Mickie and all. Sounds like you are going to be busy for awhile. Are you moving to a bigger apartment down the hall? Looks like a fun Christmas for you too. I like your idea of maybe waiting till February to leave. Give you time to get moved, stuff put away and things all settled in. There’s been a lot of storms heading across the country and maybe later it will settle down some. Less stressful too, not so much in your plate. Heck, you two are retired, you could even leave later in January.

Chilly here too this morning. But otherwise just cloudy. I’m heading off to town in awhile. Decided it’s time to organize my little basement workshop, so will start on that. Needs a coat of paint down there, little extra lighting, few more tools etc., so I don’t have to run to garage for them etc. I love getting into fix em up projects. I’m taking advantage of Christmas tool and accessory sales this time of year. Mostly it’s just little stuff.

So guess I will get the ball rolling here. Have a nice day everyone.

[PeggyinCT]

Good morning Everybody from sunny NM
Mickie, I was in town yesterday for a holiday tea at the Mimbres Museum and I noted that the restaurant Si Senor is still on Pine St. You had asked about it several weeks ago, but I didn’t know then. Christmas really is fun when there are small children around. Their excitement is contagious! Enjoy today. Peggy

[Queen]

Sue - actually moving to a smaller less expensive apartment, to the time of $235 a month less, we’re pretty excited! And we keep trying to remember we’re retired so there’s no hurry getting out west, it’ll still be there when we’re ready.

Peggy - thanks, we’ll make a point of giving it a go again.

[Shirlv]

Morning All, No balls rolling here, just a Senior making a to do list. I make a lot of to do lists, don’t always do them but do love to make lists. Taking the day off tomorrow to visit dear friend so will think about Christmas again on Wednesday. Wrote that on my list. Safe travels

[Bethers]

Shirl, you got me giggling. I'm still cuddling under my covers. I'm in no hurry so even though the sun is shining brightly, it's still COLD out lol I predict a beautiful afternoon. I'm looking forward to my drive on the east side of the Chiricahua mountains. Well hopefully settle in at Pancho Villa SP for a few days this afternoon.

Peggy I'll then be checking for a site at Rockhound for a few days... Probably Thursday.

[BarbaraRose]

It's a little chilly here this morning but nothing like you gals up north. It is cloudy so far. Rain is coming by the end of the week again.

I am also a list maker but not very good at checking things off lately. I used to put the day ("Monday", etc) on the top of the list but then would feel guilty a few days later seeing so much undone yet, so now I write "Today" on the top so it looks like a fresh list every day!

Mickey, how is your granddaughter doing? How old is she now?

I have a lunch date tomorrow. Have been corresponding with a guy on-line for a week or so. I am not holding my breath on this one tho. We'll see if he even shows up at the cafe. (he lives in Long Beach and wasn't sure if he wanted to drive 200 miles to Oceanside for a first date. I reminded him that it is only 65 miles away .)

Have a good day!

[Queen]

Barbie - she’s my great niece, she’s two now and the most adorable little person I’ve ever met! Smart and kind and so sweet, I’m loving watching her grow up.

[JudyJB]

Today is laundry day--three big loads. And then I need to print some stuff off and narrate a PowerPoint, which I hate doing, but has to be done. It is a chore to dig my printer out from under my dinette, but at least it rides well there and is out of the way. I keep it in the original box with all the packing and only get it out every couple of months.

Most importantly, there is some sun out today--still some clouds, but sun helps.

[OregonLuvr]

Good Afternoon. Been out and about and now home. Finally got my hair cut it was in desperate need. We had rain last night, just a nice gentle steady rain and then this morning the sun came out with big ole puffy clouds. So Emma and I went for a walk, felt good. And of course Emma loved it. She thinks she is the "official greeter" to all the neighbors LOL Love to get out in the crispy air 52° and no wind today so it was super nice.

Came home and ordered a few things from Amazon that I couldnt find in Walmart. I didnt feel like tackling the mall just yet. Maybe next week. Every year I like to go to the mall and get my Peppermint Mocha and just stroll around admiring all the Christmas decorations and music and all the hustle and bustle. I am usually only there for about an hour, not shopping, just exercise. I pick up lunch from the food court and head home into the peace and quiet. I lead such an exciting life LOL

[Cudedog]

Hello everyone.

Sunny skies today, no immediate rain in the near forecast.

Unusually cool temps, though. Highs mid-50's, lows low-30's. My kind of weather!!

Went out this morning to pay the first installment of my property taxes, headed over to Sam's Club to see what there was to see, and to start my Christmas shopping. I always like to get an early start. It was still early - about 10:00 a.m., and the number of shoppers surprisingly light. Mostly the stores here have been packed to bursting with shoppers, and the traffic on the street pretty bad where ever I go. Lots of merchandise still on the shelves, though.

Scored a couple of items at Sam's Club, then headed over to Walmart. Walmart didn't have what I wanted in the store, I knew that they had it online, my hips were beginning to hurt, so I just headed back home.

Logged on to the laptop, pulled up Amazon, and finished out my Christmas shopping with just a couple of clicks! ALL DONE!! Now, that's my kind of shopping!!

Don't have Prime, usually just opt for 5-day free shipping. Since I wanted to be sure everything would arrive by the Big Day, and guaranteed 5-day shipping was going to be $8.99 anyway, I just signed up for Prime instead, for just a couple of dollars more ($12.99), and I should get everything by Wednesday. Will cancel Prime this time next month. This way I can use Prime to maybe watch a little tv, and a couple of movies during the Holidays.

I was enjoying being out, but the constant 1950's-era Christmas music playing everywhere gets on my nerves, so home I went.

Might go out tonight to see the lights in a neighborhood close by that is generally all lit up (I do SO love looking at the Christmas lights!!). I like the lights, but for some reason, these days, Christmas music makes me skitter for the exits.

Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays.

Anne

[Acadianmom]

Shirl, I'm a list maker too but a lot of good it does. They are usually at home when I'm at the store. I write things on posted notes and put them on my desk. Annie likes to get on my desk and go round and round flapping her tail. I'll look and she will be waving a posted note on her tail. Every so often I take all the notes in my purse and transfer the things I didn't get or do to a new note and start over again. lol

Took Gypsy and Hank to the vet for their check up. I'm glad I noticed there was something wrong with Gypsy's eye or she might have lost it. It is looking a lot better. Made myself do Hank's walk early. The later and colder it gets the less I want to walk. It's suppose to freeze tonight but kind of doubt it will down here.

A dealer heard that I wanted to sell my motorhome and called me twice yesterday. He told me all the things that were wrong with it and he wasn't interested. I thanked him for considering it and hung up. He called me again today. He doesn't know he's dealing with a professional procrastinator. lol I bet I have more time than he does.

I made some sausage balls using the Red Lobster Biscuit Mix. I don't think they are as good as the original ones made with Bisquick. There are several recipes online. I'll try a different one next time.

Martha

[JudyJB]

Martha, I tried that mix about six months ago, but without the sausage, and ended up throwing them away.

WHat do you make with sausage and bisquick? Am interested in trying new things.

[BarbaraRose]

Just came back from WM where I picked up some more Christmas tree decorations, and my kayak. It fit on it's side in my Jeep with the seats down and the back window open. It is really a pretty jade green! Can't wait to try it out!

Now I will finish up with the tree and then get ready for work.

[Queen]

Martha, my mom used to make those sausage and bisquick balls, she always made some with the spicy sausage just for me. Now I’m sitting here missing my mom.