Holiday in Review- Part one, Yule.
Friday I worked a full shift, then returned home to find Steffie baking cookies and desserts in my kitchen. The apartment smelled good!
I finished up the last minute odds and ends of packing and housekeeping and left Steffie to finish her baking while I headed out to the farm.
Got to the farm after a bit longer trip than normal. Traffic sucked! Some dinner prep and relaxing before the rest of the tribe arrived.
Tianna was unable to make it, we missed her bunches!
After Ralene and Steffie got there we opened presents... lots and lots of presents. And more candy than a candy store!
After presents we had a late dinner. More food than we needed, and that was without the sweetpotatoes that jumped out of Ralene's hands and ended up on the ceiling and PC's butt.
PC smoked a turkey. SO yummy. AND keeps me from missing the ONLY thing I was missing about D. His dad's smoked turkey and ham. Also crowding the table were green bean casserole, corn casserole, mashed potatoes & gravy, my famous stuffing and a couple bottles of wine.
After we were completely stuffed we went out into the yard where a fine snow was falling, like powdered sugar dusting a cake...
PC piled up all the brush we'd collected and made a huge bonfire. We must have sat out there for an hour or two. I burned all of D's pictures. It felt good to clear away the last of the old reminders. It was something I had planned for quite some time. Solstice is the best time to finish throwing away the old and making way for the new.
After the fire burned down we all headed back in and found our beds. Rae and PC left early this morning for their Xmas trip, so I was left in charge of closing up the house. I woke to the dog sticking his cold nose on my butt and waking me up to go potty.
What really made me laugh is that Porky woke me up when Ralene was up ironing. Why me?
Coffee was made and those of us remaining started getting ready to head out. Ralene flew out today to see her family and Steffie will be heading back home.
I'm at Mom's.
Coolest part of my day?
When I got to Mom's, my favorite step-sibling, Jack, was there and he gave me a great big hug.
It was cool. He's the one step-sibling I get along with, and I think it's because we have sort of the same temperment. A quiet room and book are things that make us happy.
He showed me the book he's working on now, Ralene, you'd love it. He's reading the Dark Works by Pullman, the author of the Golden Compass.
Very cool. We also talked about the Wheel of Time series. He's been waiting for the next book, which was due out in Feb '08. I had to break it to him that Robert Jordan died. He didn't know.
After my talk with Jack, I helped mom in the kitchen a bit... then fell asleep in her chair for an hour or so. She and I did some shopping in Mankato... She seems really stressed and I worry about her. Charlie seems to be having some problems with his latest surgery and I know it's effecting her mood. I think she's starting to dislike Xmas almost as intensly as I do.
Now we're back home and I'm *so* ready for bed. It's only 8 pm!
Maybe I'll have a cup of coffee and try to find my motivation again.
After I put on my PJ's.
Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend!
I finished up the last minute odds and ends of packing and housekeeping and left Steffie to finish her baking while I headed out to the farm.
Got to the farm after a bit longer trip than normal. Traffic sucked! Some dinner prep and relaxing before the rest of the tribe arrived.
Tianna was unable to make it, we missed her bunches!
After Ralene and Steffie got there we opened presents... lots and lots of presents. And more candy than a candy store!
After presents we had a late dinner. More food than we needed, and that was without the sweetpotatoes that jumped out of Ralene's hands and ended up on the ceiling and PC's butt.
PC smoked a turkey. SO yummy. AND keeps me from missing the ONLY thing I was missing about D. His dad's smoked turkey and ham. Also crowding the table were green bean casserole, corn casserole, mashed potatoes & gravy, my famous stuffing and a couple bottles of wine.
After we were completely stuffed we went out into the yard where a fine snow was falling, like powdered sugar dusting a cake...
PC piled up all the brush we'd collected and made a huge bonfire. We must have sat out there for an hour or two. I burned all of D's pictures. It felt good to clear away the last of the old reminders. It was something I had planned for quite some time. Solstice is the best time to finish throwing away the old and making way for the new.
After the fire burned down we all headed back in and found our beds. Rae and PC left early this morning for their Xmas trip, so I was left in charge of closing up the house. I woke to the dog sticking his cold nose on my butt and waking me up to go potty.
What really made me laugh is that Porky woke me up when Ralene was up ironing. Why me?
Coffee was made and those of us remaining started getting ready to head out. Ralene flew out today to see her family and Steffie will be heading back home.
I'm at Mom's.
Coolest part of my day?
When I got to Mom's, my favorite step-sibling, Jack, was there and he gave me a great big hug.
It was cool. He's the one step-sibling I get along with, and I think it's because we have sort of the same temperment. A quiet room and book are things that make us happy.
He showed me the book he's working on now, Ralene, you'd love it. He's reading the Dark Works by Pullman, the author of the Golden Compass.
Very cool. We also talked about the Wheel of Time series. He's been waiting for the next book, which was due out in Feb '08. I had to break it to him that Robert Jordan died. He didn't know.
After my talk with Jack, I helped mom in the kitchen a bit... then fell asleep in her chair for an hour or so. She and I did some shopping in Mankato... She seems really stressed and I worry about her. Charlie seems to be having some problems with his latest surgery and I know it's effecting her mood. I think she's starting to dislike Xmas almost as intensly as I do.
Now we're back home and I'm *so* ready for bed. It's only 8 pm!
Maybe I'll have a cup of coffee and try to find my motivation again.
After I put on my PJ's.
Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend!