A bit of snow and a lot of wind but tonight it’s calming down so all is well. Here’s JB tonight – obviously he won’t let me wash the side of his nose just yet.
Today I received this fun towel from Denise Erbacher in Australia – showing some popular Australian recipes which puzzled me somewhat. Had to look up several terms like castor sugar, lamingtons, damper bread and pavlova. I’m not sure I’m an accomplished enough baker to try these recipes.
My front tooth is now smooth again and my tongue can rest – ha!!
Today, December 19 is one month since I had surgery on November 19. I still have to write that list of what to be sure to take to the hospital. I haven’t forgotten.
I just finished this book and enjoyed it very much.
My friend Lee just sent me this book that she loved – it will move into the rotation of books I want to read.
Reader photos
And Tim, the wood shed cat, is back! I haven’t seen him for almost two weeks but now he’s going to be a barn cat – I hope.
And so it goes from the blog about nothing.
So glad JB is recovering! And Tim is a gorgeous cat! No snow here today, (except for a few flurries), but grey skies and a blustery, cold wind. Got to go to my grandson’s second grade class Christmas party today, so much fun!!
I spent the day baking. Cookies for my daughter and son in law. We won’t be able to get together on Christmas so, we’re meeting halfway for brunch.
Then some cranberry orange bread for a church bake sale. It’s the first time I tried this recipe so, I hope it tastes good. Looks good after baking so, should be ok.
I got a deal at Walmart on fresh cranberries. Only 50 cents a bag. I bought several bags to freeze. I put cranberries in my banana bread recipe and it’s always a hit.
Thanks for the new book ideas. Really liked the ice skate as part of the outside decor.
Mary, I was introduced to both Lamingtons and Pavlova when I went to Australia in 1981. I went back to New Zealand in 1988 and vowed to eat pavlova everyday for the two weeks I was there and I accomplished that. Both are such delicious desserts. I have made both but I forgot about lamingtons. When I am up and about more I think I need to make them again. Pavlova I used to make when I had chickens and lots of eggs. Just saw the Dr today for my 2-1/2 week follow up after my knee replacement. The waterproof bandage was taken off my knee and he is so pleased with my progress. I am able to straighten my leg completely and have just over 90 degree bend. I will be able to drive in two weeks. I’m so glad he was happy and so am I.
Teresa – you are doing great! The note that came with the tea towel suggested I use all my eggs to make these desserts! I’m so glad to be driving again!
Wherever Tim has been, he must have had something to eat. His tummy is nice and round. Glad to see that JB is looking better.
It’s nice to see everyone’s lavish Christmas decoratiing; most of my long-time Christmas decorations are on the other side of the country, and I can’t get there right now. But I do have stockings for me and my cat, and a little tree with ornaments I’ve made.
JB looks great, and much improved in his 24 hours or so since his surgery. Really, recovering at home for 24 hours usually makes a huge improvement!
And Tim looks like such a suave dude. Maybe the girl kitties think he’s a hottie.
Mary,
We are getting a beautiful snowfall here in Michigan. I love it but was woken up at 6:30 this morning by the snowplow in the medical building near our house. I think he scraped every single solitary snowflake off the lot because he was out there for so dang long!!
I loved the horses from Marie a few days ago. What a fun collection. Thanks for sharing with us.
Patti, I liked your table topper and the quilting on it. Your friend will like it very much.
JB looks good, I love the toilet water story. And Tim is a beautiful cat. Wow.
Loved the porch decorations. I have a pair of blue skates on my porch this Christmas. I bought them at an estate sale and had never seen skates that color before. I will send a photo when I venture outside.
Only 3 of my chickens would come out of the coop this morning with the snow! I’ll go down to see them in a short time and will put a bag of leaves out so they can walk on those! Funny girls!
Take care everyone. 🌻
Sunflower – my girls will be locked in today – too cold but I have some kitchen scraps for them as a treat. Guess that snowplow driver thought if he’s up you should be, too!!
Tim is so handsome!
I love the door decoration with the skate. Beautiful! I haven’t put up my door decoration because it says ‘Let it Snow!’ Our grandson is getting married on January 31 and hopefully we have good weather for that! I’m not superstitious but…🙄
What is everyone having for their Christmas meal? Our daughter and son-in-law is hosting! Yaa
No wind today but it is single digits
Our Christmas meal for the last 5 years has been lasagna … I can’t imagine doing anything else again. It’s the perfect make-ahead meal, with a nice caesar salad and toast on the side … yum! I’m all-in for easy, lol! Have a great weekend everyone! Gentle hugs & pets from me for JB!
Candy,
We’ll be having out traditional jalapeño marinated steaks with sides of homemade macaroni, fancy mashed potatoes, Caesar salad and “Red Lobster” garlic butter cheese biscuits. Lots of carbs, but some eat the macaroni, some eat the potatoes, and everyone eats the biscuits.
So glad JB is doing well and Tim came home! If he’s smart he’ll stay in the barn! Love to see everyone’s decorating! Today I’m binding three quilts for gifts—3-yard lap quilts with no-pill fleece backing and no batting. A friend in our quilt guild long-armed them for me. My daughter and her hubby in Duluth aren’t coming until the 27th so I have time to finish theirs, but need son’s and his girlfriend’s tomorrow. He’s a medical resident at U of Wisconsin, she has just wrapped up her doctorate in Indy. Evan gets no time off until January but he’s driving to Indy after work tonight (!) and moving Jessica to Madison tomorrow. Probably the only chance we’ll have to see them unless we want to drive to Wisconsin.
We drove to Ft. Wayne last night—the Embassy Theater showed “A Christmas Story “ on the big screen and afterwards, Peter Billingsley was there to tell about the making of the movie and answer audience questions. So much fun! I love that movie! And it was based on Jean Shepherd’s stories about his childhood in Hammond, Indiana. Lots of references if you’re listening. A fun evening!
I had to laugh at Patti’s question about sitting around the kitchen table to chat. We do that all the time. We have a kitchen/dining room with a table on one side and that is where most of our conversations with friends occur. We have a perfectly good sofa and chairs in the living room that we could use, but we tend to sit around the table. Of course, we often have something to nibble on while there, but it is just a friendly way to chat.
Happy Tim is back and that JB is improving.
Today, I am doing my last food shopping before the holidays. Ours will be a simple Christmas as it is just my husband and myself. Thanksgiving was our family time this year.
The porch decorations were so pretty. You don’t often see the black man’s skate used in decorations around my neck of the wood but I sure loved the ribbons used on them. It seems the women’s white skates are used more hanging on sleds or doorways here.
Tim’s coat is very nice for being outside as long as he was. He’s a beauty. Glad JB is recovering as well as you are.
A new author for me to look now for. Thanks for the recommendation on this one and the other one mentioned in the comments. Your blog is far from nothing.
I am thinking of Carol at Pin Oak quilting as the small plane that came down outside Buffalo yesterday (pilot died) was in an area that is so pretty. East Aurora Main Street could be in a hallmark movie and some nice quilt shops.
Hope those on the ground are safe.
Patti’s gift for her friend came out so nice. Won’t she love seeing the fabrics all together she gave Patti. I’m happy it’s done before their visit and we got to see it, And yes, our conversations center around our kitchen island. Through the years elbows have rested on the counter top with lots of stories. I wish I could say cookie baking was happening on it right now but today it’s for wrapping gifts, laying out fabric to cut and eating ham salad sandwiches. I love my kitchen island.
Hi Mary, Tim is such a cute cat! Glad J.B is on the mend. Leamington drives us what schools in Australia have to raise funds for special activities, cut squares of sponge cakes from supermarket (sheet cakes), dip into runny chocolate icing and roll in.shredded coconut, you can slice it in the middle and pipe in whipped cream,yum! Pavlova is delicious with cream and passion fruit sauce on top for special occasions. We are having mini Pavlovas with cream and sliced strawberry on top at Christmas. And ice-cream! Hoping for a sunny day,lots of rain lately, take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
So glad you and JB are on the mend. DH will be glad that Tim is accounted for. It seems that he and Fluffybun have come home for Christmas…that is if she is still confined to quarters and hasn’t gone roaming again.
What a lot of ideas for Holiday/winter decorating. I have my childhood sled and would put a wreathe on it for our porch at the blue house (a big Victorian that DH spent years bringing back to life). Still miss those big windows and front porch. Hmmm, I think I could set it out in the open space beneath the LR window! Now why did I send my big red bows to the thrift shop last year &^%$#! I may still do it, just with a blue bow for winter.
I can just hear my mom saying, “So late ve get schmart!” She also put a card in her “Mom’s Favorites” recipe box one Christmas that read, “At the steady rate we procrastinate I’ve only this to say…If tomorrow ever does get here, it will be a busy day!” She knew me so well, and I haven’t changed much in all these years! Does anyone else have family wisdom to pass along?
We had snow globe snow swirling around the house last night and today. My neighbor cleared the end of the driveway for me and shoveling the rest wasn’t too bad. Then of course, it snowed some more, and the plows came through again. More snow for tomorrow, too, so more shoveling. Slow and steady (with lots of breaks) will take care of it. Still 27* here, the low for the night, so it shouldn’t be too bad.
The recipe toweI from Australia was a sweet gift. I had to look up the recipe for Lamintations. They sound a little like Petits Fours. Pretty fussy to make and have turn out as pretty as the pictures, though. I’ll stick to Little Mince Pies. The powdered sugar covers a lot of oops!
Good luck with the last-minute shopping and wrapping, baking and decorating everyone. May you all have a merry and blessed holiday! Kris
Oops! Where’s the powdered sugar? I misspelled Lamingtons and if I was thinking about Lamentations, I misspelled that, too!
Must be time for bed. Good night. Kris
Kris,
Even though I am a Christian, I used to be quite the worrier. My dear, sweet father-in-law use to tell me, “If you can’t trust God to handle the mosquitoes (little problems), what are going to do when the elephants sit on you (big problems)?! I sure do miss him.
My mom often made pavlova when I was a kid (soooo many years ago) … it was delicious! For the fruit, she used rum-soaked peaches … very good. I’ve never tried making it, but I loved it. If you can make meringue, you’ve got it made! Happy to hear that JB is coming around… what a love! Tim is also a handsome cat … glad to know he’s still around.
I like Kent Haruf. I have read a couple of his books. Have you read Our Souls at Night by him? Really enjoyed that one. And it’s movie starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. I believe you can find it on Netflix or possibly Prime. JB is looking good.
Ginger – I own the book and have seen the movie – just excellent.
jb looks good since having surgery. glad to see tim has shown up again. maybe he’ll stay in for a couple days. find out how nice and warm it is in the barn. i love your floral arrangement. very nice.
the merry christmas needlepoint is so very festive. love the colors. someone decorated their porch so nicely. (more things i don’t do)
i’m overjoyed to have the table topper finished. now i guess i need to see about clearing off my kitchen table which has truly become my desk because it is where my computer is and all my neccessary items near it. must make room for rita to eat and chat. do other people still do lots of chatting around their kitchen table? we always did that when i was growing up. still do it. helps that there is a half wall and i can see my living room and tv from the kitchen table. open concept. still don’t have exact date of visit (depends on kitty sitter) but don’t want to have to do it in a day – i can’t.
i thought i had a baby type quilt down here that i could baste and quilt. turns out it is 40×42 which is okay size-wise but … not enough contrast – in purples/greens/maybe blues. but it will be okay for a senior maybe (hey, i’m a senior – i think, 74). i purchased a queen size piece of a batt called ‘cuddle batt’ from the batting superstore. it’s 80/20 cotton, feels really nice. the loft is a bit higher than the hobbs 80/20. am hoping to be able to get about three quilts out of it. 96×108. may not happen til after the first of the year.
have been thinking about trying to straighten up my bedroom studio, consolidate scraps in one place (those that are not cut). would be nice not to have to clean off my sewing table in order to quilt a small quilt. we will see. it would probably cause me to find things i should be doing (like making the back to my grandson’s quilt, putting a border on a quilt – fabric pulled – not cut). so many many ways to get side tracked.
everytime i think about making a list of things i want to finish, i tend to dig in my heels. about the time i decide i really really MUST do something, i will find 100 other things to do instead. weird, huh?
have a great evening everyone, hugs and blessings, patti in florida