Well, it is done and over with. My family had their Christmas get together last night and for the most part it went off without a hitch. It was a bit hectic in trying to get it all done, but thankfully I had done the majority of the shopping early.

I didn’t get much accomplished in the way of baking though, a few standards like fudge, peanut butter balls, haystacks, almond bark pretzels, etc. I didn’t get any cookies baked though. With our town working on the water all week, and long stretches on some days of no water, and doctors’ appointment this week as well, it seriously cut into my time. But I have one of my brothers and his wife coming over Christmas day, so maybe I will manage some gingerbread or molasses cookies and some sugar cookies.

Nahi, sad news, I was going to send you that pineapple fruitcake you mentioned in a comment the other day but they are sold out! Who knew pineapple macadamia nut fruitcake was so popular or even such a thing. I have never heard of it or tried it before. I did buy some Panettone for Christmas, but it didn’t get opened, so that will be on the menu for Christmas day as well. As near as I can figure out, it’s like a fruitcake bread instead of a cake. I’ll give a review when we try it.

Still offering to send Suzi and Dio a regular fruitcake for Christmas! I can hear the screams from here…come on people give it a try you know you want too! (Stop giving me “that” look, it’s good I promise!

Popular gifts last night for the little ones aged 3-6 were anything involving dinosaurs, transformers, and Paw Patrol. For the older kids, Pokemon was the word. Good grief, who knew that stuff was still so popular?! Grab bag gifts for the adults ranged from camping stuff, books, Arby’s gift cards, and gourmet coffee and a host of other things. A gift or two might have been stolen in the process.

I think it was an enjoyable experience for all, with lots of reflections on what will most likely be mom’s last Christmas with us given her latest diagnosis. Even though I didn’t get all of my plans done of what I wanted accomplished, at the end of the day you just hope it was enough. It is what we all hope for in life, that it is/was enough.

Merry Christmas a bit early bloggers!

Morning Civatar, hard to believe that Christmas is only 2 weeks away. Or in my family’s case, it will be celebrated this coming Saturday so it will be a busy week of baking and cleaning, along with two days of doctor appointments. Everything seems to always come at once.

I chose this peppy Christmas song to get you all in the mood and get your toes tapping for the upcoming holiday season. Have a favorite Christmas song? Feel free to post it for this Music Monday. If you are not into Christmas or don’t celebrate the holiday, feel free to post a song of your own choice!

Have a good week Bloggers!

Is it too early for Christmas music? I thought it was too early for Christmas music. I originally thought about posting Christmas music for the whole month of December, but it can be overwhelming at times to hear Christmas music for weeks. So, I opted for another route.

I came across this singer on Youtube and he has quite a lot of views and followers. His voice is definitely amazing with its range, and I picked this song of his that he sings because of the feel of it. It’s an old Tennessee Ernie Ford song, but he gives it a bit of a jazzy feel.

Have a favorite song? Feel free to post it for today’s Music Monday!

Nope, I am not making a Boston Cream pie today, but it is actually tied into today’s Music Monday’s Theme.

Can you think of a song group and by adding a word (or two!) make it into a food? Today I chose the group Boston and hence the Boston Cream pie. Feel free to post a tune today that you can make their band name into a food. It’s not too hard once you think about it.

Some ideas to get you started…

Bread Styx

Chicago- style pizza

Hall and Oatmeal

Put your thinking caps on and play along! Otherwise, just post a favorite tune to get your Monday off to a good start!

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays I dread. Oh it’s nice to see family, to eat a sumptuous meal, to remember our blessings. But it never fails around Thanksgiving someone is always sick, some tragedy happens (like NO one bringing pumpkin pie) or a host of other irritable, annoying things.

I have had some family members sick with covid the last couple of weeks. Are they coming? Are they still infectious? I don’t know. I don’t know who all is coming. I am not sure what all we are having either. The menu was divvied up and I was in charge of pies – I made 4 and the mashed potatoes and gravy. So I will be busy peeling a mountain of potatoes later for who knows how many people.

A late-night phone call last night and I am also now going to be cooking the turkey, it will be dropped off soon. It’s something new, a precooked smoked turkey breast. That only has to be warmed up for about 2 hours? Huh? I hope it has directions, I don’t exactly trust the instructions I was given over the phone.

The drinks are chilling, I have dusted. I still need to vacuum, and why in the heck does it seem like there is always laundry going and light bulbs that need replacing?

The good tablecloths are out, still need to search for paper plates, I know a bit of an oxymoron. Nice linen, and then paper plates, but no one likes to do dishes. I need to mop, I need to clean the main bath, I need a nap.

Dinner will be at 5:30, but some are arriving at 3:00, some will be late. It’s sunny, but cool and my knee hurts. Not the knee that was hurting last week, but the other one now. I must have wrenched it while out the other day, or maybe it’s just a future forecast of the weather moving in this weekend.

I’m sure I will limp thru it all and it will all come together, and I shouldn’t stress and worry at all… fingers crossed.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and eat a piece of pie for me, I’m suddenly worrying that 4 pies won’t be enough and maybe I should go whip up a cake or something. Or everyone is just going to have to fill up on potatoes….once I get them peeled, cooked, whipped, and drizzled with gravy.

It’s the Monday before Thanksgiving so I thought I would choose a song to merit the occasion. I came across this song on Youtube, hope you enjoy it!

Hard to believe this song came out back in the 80’s, which is 40 years ago….yikes! It is still relevant today though and gives one food for thought. I kinda miss those big hair days….

Whether it’s listed as a federal holiday on Friday for those government employees or on its original date of November 11th, recognition for the sacrifices made is all that really matters.

A thought-provoking song posted by my friend MkChippy on Facebook today. Says so much about then and our world now. Sadly, some things never change.

Feeling a bit nostalgic and watched this video the other night. I need to watch the movie again, but this particular video is from SNL back when the show was actually good and loaded with talent. Wish I had Dan Ackroyd’s moves!

Morning Civatar, it’s a balmy 21 degrees this morning. There would be frost on the pumpkin, but I brought it in a few nights ago to last a little longer. We are to have a few more days of the cold weather before it warms back up a bit. The colder days are giving my new furnace a chance to prove itself, and so far, all is working well.

It’s that time again for another Music Monday. Today’s choice might seem a bit odd, but a friend of mine shared this on Facebook awhile back and the video really has a lovely feel to it. The choir is wonderful and even if you aren’t much into choirs, do take a listen to this stirring song.

Have a favorite tune? Feel free to post it for today’s musical theme!