Sunday December 19

[Shirlv]

Morning All, low 40’s and cloudy. Lots of traffic on the road. People busy preparing for the holiday. If all is well I will pickup groceries tomorrow and make a deli run on Wednesday. Trying to avoid contact as much as possible with the outside world. Barbie, I think young Charlie has watched everyone of his dads golf tournaments. His gesture after his long putt was priceless. Even Tiger had to laugh. Thanks to YouTube I learned how to perforated parchment paper for the air fryer. I really don’t want cookies but will test that method today. Lol. Be safe.

P.S. got a phone call from youngest daughter. She has bells hanging from her inside door knob. When Luca the Yorkie wants outside he rings the bell. If she doesn’t hop up right away he comes looks at her and then rings the bell again. I think it’s hilarious but she isn’t laughing because sometimes he just wants to go for a walk/run.

[JudyJB]

Not sure what I am going to do today other than dumping my trash. I have a COVID test scheduled for tomorrow and am going to pick up some of the home antigen tests to take with me to Ohio. My older son and his family from Napa are going to be there, so it will be a full house. Everyone is fully vaccinated, and all are boosted except youngest who turned 12 in September. California family is also going to test themselves before they come and will bring some spare antigen tests that the school district provides. I read that several California school districts are passing out free antigen tests for kids to use during vacation and before they come back to school.

Still fairly hot today but getting cooler (in 70s) on Tuesday, so am planning my botanical garden trip for maybe Wednesday. And a week from Tuesday, will be flying to Ohio. I am almost all packed--yes, I know it is really early, but I don't want to forget anything.

Glad you got your cookie press, Anne. Better write down that recipe and share it just in case. We will be waiting to see your first batch of cookies.

[OregonLuvr]

Good morning. Was pretty ambitious for about 2 hours, now not so much. So am sitting with another cup of coffee contemplating my next moves..........or not. HaHa Shirl I buy the parchment paper with the holes in it from Amazon. I like them pretty well. I should make some cookies today, think I will make some Mexican wedding cakes, they are one of my favorites BUT then again hopped on the scale today and wasnt very happy. So back to healthy eating and will go get some groceries tomorrow early. Need to start tracking my food again on My Fitness Pal just so I have a better idea of the good vs bad. I dont want to diet I just need to make good choices and that is actually pretty easy for me to do. I will make a Costco run tomorrow also. Then I shouldnt have to leave home again until after Christmas. I also need to make a grooming appt for Emma. Will probably have to wait a while but that is okay I will just take what I can get.

[Shirlv]

Karen, which perforated parchment did you order. I checked but some had issues and were recommended for steamers. I’m drawing round circles and cutting triangles. I have the small air fryer and would rather order from Amazon

[Cudedog]

Morning All, low 40’s and cloudy. Lots of traffic on the road. People busy preparing for the holiday. If all is well I will pickup groceries tomorrow and make a deli run on Wednesday. Trying to avoid contact as much as possible with the outside world. Barbie, I think young Charlie has watched everyone of his dads golf tournaments. His gesture after his long putt was priceless. Even Tiger had to laugh. Thanks to YouTube I learned how to perforated parchment paper for the air fryer. I really don’t want cookies but will test that method today. Lol. Be safe.

P.S. got a phone call from youngest daughter. She has bells hanging from her inside door knob. When Luca the Yorkie wants outside he rings the bell. If she doesn’t hop up right away he comes looks at her and then rings the bell again. I think it’s hilarious but she isn’t laughing because sometimes he just wants to go for a walk/run.

Hi Shirl.

I don't this this is particularly hilarious. . . but I do find it intensely interesting. It sounds like your daughter's Yorkie is definitely trying to communicate. He sounds like a prime candidate for the talking dog project.

This is not a joke - it is a real thing.

https://fluent.pet/

Lots of videos on YouTube about this. Here is just one of them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-xupLJc4M

A lot of food for some serious thought here. . .

Anne

[Shirlv]

Anne, I do think this puppy is very intelligent. He has trained my daughter perfectly. Daughter would not be interested in the project. She just wants a friend and companion.

[Bethers]

Shirl, I buy these on Amazon for my little air fryer. I don't use them for everything.... Specifically don't bother for cookies, as they have never made a mess, but like them for other things:

Chefman Disposable Air Fryer Liners, Heat-Resistant Parchment Paper For Baskets, 100 Pack, 5.5” Round

[Acadianmom]

Shirl, I had to laugh at your daughter's dog and the bells. Sugar has me well trained too. She starts out with a very low whine that gets louder and will bark if that doesn't get me moving. Since we are in such a small space camping she just stares at me. Most of the time she just wants to go lay outside.

The front came through yesterday afternoon with some very strong winds. I only got about an inch of rain out of it. Yesterday started out in the 70's and dropped down to 49 last night. It is only up to 55. I went out without a jacket to make sure it was Eddie loading the tractor on a trailer. It needs some repairs. As long as I was out of the wind it wasn't too bad. My rose bed is on the South end of the house so started pulling weeds. When I try to work in the yard all I see is cat butts. They have to get right in the middle of whatever I'm trying to do.

Anne, I'm glad you got the cookie press. I baked some cookies last night and I'm trying to resist going to get one.

I had a piece of chuck eye and some cauliflower mac and cheese for lunch. The cauliflower mac and cheese is a frozen dinner and it was good. One of my favorite frozen dinners is a bowl of unwrapped egg roll. It has cauliflower, chicken and other vegetables. It is really hard to find and when I see some at Walmart I buy 3 or 4. The other day I saw some Great Value Butter Chicken. I'm not crazy about curry but it was pretty good.

Martha

[dpf]

Good Morning or rather afternoon! Yes, I’m still alive! Still read the forum every night before I go to bed, but never get around to posting. I know what you’ve all been up to. I’ve started laying low again with the upsurge in COVID. I’ve had all three vaccines, but so did my neighbor and she had it.

Barbie…so you’re done with the weed! Judy….have you ever tried tea tree oil on your bug bites? I have a product called Tea Tree Therapy antiseptic cream. It really has helped me with insect bites and other skin irritations. Beth….seems cruel that Ty has a tree right outside his door and he can’t use it. Anne and Sue…I have an electric cookie press and have never gotten the hang of getting nice looking cookies. When I have to make a bunch of deviled eggs I use it. Irmi…I wish I was your neighbor. Shirl and Martha…your posts always make me smile. Tina…so glad you went to Florida. Sheila, hope you are feeling back up to par. BJ...Pippa is adorable. I know I have forgotten someone…sorry…it isn’t intentional.

Tree is up. Most of my baking is done. Presents are wrapped. We aren’t having our Christmas until the 27th because Sean has to work a 24 hour shift Christmas Eve and the 26th. Not much sense in having him make a 450 mile round trip for one day and be sleep deprived on the 26th. He’ll be sleeping Christmas day. Also spreads out Christmas for the Bronc and Haddie. If they have Christmas Eve with Ashley’s parents and Christmas Day here they are burned out.

Have to tell you about Haddie's latest. Last Sunday she was here for the afternoon. We had played Candyland, Old Maid, and several other games and then I had to finish something I had started before she arrived. She wasn't too happy about that. I told her to put some puzzles together while I finished. She informed me that she was going to call the cops on me. When I asked her why, she informed me that’s what kids are supposed to do when people are being mean to them. So, I told her that the phone was on the counter. Then she informed me that she wasn’t going to get me a Christmas present. I told her that was okay and that I hadn’t started Christmas shopping so I wouldn’t get her anything either. She sat there and thought about that and must have decided that grandma wasn’t easily scared, because she hopped off her chair and went to get a puzzle.

Well, not much else is new here. I lead a boring life. With my track record posting I’d better wish all of you a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2022 now!

[Colliemom]

Afternoon. Taking a quick read on here before I go brown the ground Turkey for the dogs dinner. Thty love that stuff. I give thrm a little every Dsy in their kibble.

Anne, I’m so happy you got the cookie press. I see cookies flowing from your house. It has some of the little disc designs that mine. I’ve got a nice little bunch of them, but some are more for cake decorating. That re pie is pretty close to the one I make

1 cup shortening (butter)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg or 3 egg yolks
2 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp of baking powder
Dash of salt
1 tsp of vanilla

Cream shortening, adding sugar gradually
Add egg unbeaten, best well
Add sifted dry ingredients and extract

Although it doesn’t say when to add the baking powder and salt, they should be added to flour when you sift it. Once I add all the ingredients together then I beat them for a little bit until I know everything is mixed. I use a regular mixer. Then just fill the cookie press and off you go.

Pat, I never get perfect cookies either. But it’s the taste that counts I think it’s one of those things, that because we only do this once a year, we don’t have the knack for making the perfect ones like if you did it all the time. You know, the practice makes perfect thing. I just made up a cookie plate to take up to my local a Edward Jones offce, so I have eliminated one whole container of cookies

[OregonLuvr]

Shirl these are the ones I ordered for my small air fryer. You can actually order any of them and just cut them to fit, easier than punching or cutting holes but these fit my small Chefman.
https://smile.amazon.com/100pcs-Parchme ... 165&sr=8-7

Had to edit as the post posted before I was ready LOL When I was potty training Emma I bought those "Pottie Bells" thinking what a great idea that was...........well...the only person ringing those bells was ME. So they became Christmas Bells. Then I tried a doorbell that they just put their paw on to go out or to come in, there was a set. Well, noone was using it so it went in the trash. She just would sit and stare at me. Now she gives me a stare or a small "woof". She can go hours without wanting outside, that is a good thing.

[Bethers]

Those are a little bigger than the ones I mentioned, but maybe would go up the side just a bit. And the price is better. Thanks Karen, I added them to my cart and saved for later for when I need to purchase again.

[JudyJB]

Love the Haddie story! She must have figured out that grandma was not an easy pushover!

My son's Brittany came from the breeder as a puppy partly trained, and one of the things she was trained to do was to push on a hanging bundle of bells that were tied to the door handle of the rear door of the house when she needed to go out. I worked pretty well.

[snowball]

Sunday is always a lazy day have church then scriptures and then nap after that who knows...
forgot to get anything out for supper so it was a seek and find... thought I had some tuna mom isn't a big fan of tuna so thought that I would make a tuna sandwich then went looking for the tuna didn't find it looked and looked and knew that I had a couple pkts... of some type that you heat up or not couldn't find it began to wonder if I was going crazy... finally found it but not sure about it so decided not to do it so then it was a noodle soup that I fixed didn't like it so only eat a couple forks full so good ole pandh totally enjoyed it
but now I want something ... guess I should have made it with banana more lasting ...
had chat tonight also at the same time chatted with my niece in WA state... her's is the next afghan looks like sunrise colors... glad I asked ...
our Christmas program today was so nice... totally enjoyed it...
you all have a great day
Pat good to hear from you and got a real chuckle out of your conversation with Haddy... looks like you have her number...
sheila

[Redetotry]

I have cookies galore and never turned a hand. My sweet neighbor shared a wonderful beef stew and several different cookies/cakes and spiced nuts. Then a friend stopped by and brought cookies and candy. One of the candies was the consistency of a soft fudge made with of all things, bacon and maple syrup. I was hesitant to try it but was delicious and addicting!

Pippa has regressed a bit on her potty training but not bad. She sleeps through the night and is of course the smartest puppy ever. I have bells on my back door for the dogs but Toby is the only one now that will use them. It will be a long time before Pippa ventures outside! She is getting good about following me so when she is big enough for a leash I think she will do well. Thankfully she is still sleeping through the night.

Pat I loved your Haddie story! It is always good to hear from you. When I see your name I always think of the picture of Bronc riding his pony through the bar.