Good morning.

I had a good school day but a rough evening yesterday. Life is messy and hard sometimes.

Today is the last school day before break. All pottery classes. Done by 2:30. (Might end up letting everybody go at two, might end up hanging out after class - last night the kids didn't want to leave.)

My inlaws will be visiting both Dh brother's family and his sister's family for Christmas. In two states that are in the top ten for severity of outbreak, in households that include three college students and a high school senior whose parents think "you can't not let him see his friends." Mil is disappointed that they won't see us because her son married a crazy person.

I'll check back later after I actually do something.

Good morning!

Tatoulia, I hope you are safe and snug. I'm glad you got mom her things before the snow. I like that your cat is your nice thing. Have you heard anything about when your mom might get her vaccine?

CM, I hope that today will be a peaceful break after all of your struggles. Really, they must get that permit taken care of!

Tillie, I am still thinking if you every day and hoping you are resting and taking care of yourself. We know you are tough and independent, but please don't wait too long to call Nate if you need help.

Hello to Emily! We don't know where you are, so if you are in the snow, I wish you also safe and cozy - and a snow day! And if you are anywhere in the states - stay safe!

Yesterday I woke up with a headache from sleeping on my neck funny and holding my muscles tense. Dh tried to rub it out for me, but it didn't work. It was one of those headaches that starts to make you nauseous after a while....

Fortunately it was a very good school day, so I had positive distractions and was able to work through. No more Wednesday classes until January. Today will be my last 2020 day with my tu/th kids.

Then supposedly we have only one more week online in January. I am not holding my breath! My state is doing just awful, and my part of the state is in the leading edge of the awful.

I opened another of my mom's little packages. This one was a thrift store find - an adorable little leopard seal puppet. I'm thinking about submitting puppetry for a class again next year, but wether I do or not, it will be very fun to use with bean in a few months. It's so soft!

I didn't accomplish much else with my headache, but fortunately it is gone this morning. Have to dig out again today.

Stay safe all!

Big snow coming! I'm going to take a brief nap. I took my recycling out to the bin this afternoon. I've done some more decorating. Cat is asleep by the fireplace and I'm streaming traditional Christmas choral music. Doesn't get much better than this.

Cm! No wonder you are frazzled! You have so much going on! And truly, that's got to be aggravating to hear someone else's zoom call. Can you hear just your roommate or everyone in the call? I wear a headset for better clarity.

You have been through so much with vet and can and sewer. And it all sounds irritating and expensive. I'm glad that you and roommate were able to forgive each other.

Tonight I got my wreaths and I have now hung them. I also had to do quite a bit of shopping for mom as she is having some personal problems and she is out of personal products. I was able to get everything she needed at Cvs and then I went to Whole Foods to get her milk. I got my wreaths there. I also picked up a bouquet of red and white roses which I just finished cutting down and putting in different little vases to decorate a bit. BF met me at the market and drove me honey which I really appreciated. Hopefully the people at mom's have taken her stuff up to her. She's been very ill. Stomach. The usual.

I'm thinking of going to bed early tonight. I've been staying up too late and I'm exhausted during the day. I'll think about that.

Sending love to you all. We are expecting no snow in the next two days, which should be enjoyable. All of my meager shopping is done. And almost everything is wrapped at this point. I just need a gift bag for mom's gift. I need to find my stocking so I can fill it. Mom and BF got little printed cloth gift bags for stockings this year. Already filled (no candy, just little gifts of hand cream and for BF a wood model/puzzle. Very cute.

Bits and pieces

It's snowing here, and I'm about to head out into it just to get away from another of roommate's jibber jabber Zoom work meetings. They have been making her have so many of them lately. 😑 I may come back after awhile though, and put on my earbuds and crank up Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker or Josh Groban, or some other Christmas music.

My own doctor appointment Zoom is tomorrow, then I don't have anything else to remember at a certain time, I don't think.

Got my van back yesterday. Could've been worse, I suppose. We are still waiting for the city people to flag the yard for sewer line replacement. It's been ridiculous. We're on borrowed time with the temporary fix.

The cats went to the vet this morning. Preparing for that has been an ordeal that began about 24 hours ago and included such fun highlights as spilling water from the cat drinking fountain over a large stretch of floor yesterday and having to mop that up.

Then this morning, boy kitty went to ground behind a pantry cabinet and the washing machine. I had to climb up over the machine and scruff him out, then climb back up and over. Roommate and I have had some drama from all the aggravation both days, but we forgive each other. And some of it was humorous. I got my fitness workout with the climbing, I think. We could both use naps. Girl kitty is going through a relapse with her urinary issues but the vet gave her an antibiotic jab.

All this stuff has made for frazzled, fragmented days. I'm trying just to survive and keep hope alive that I'll be able to catch up with so many things that I don't get to devote much time to while putting out fires as we have been. We could also use naps, roommate especially since she's still recuperating from the surgery.

Less than a week till solstice though. Counting the days. 🌞

Oh, and my friend who was so sick in 2019 and has been in a care facility, even had some more hospital stays this year plus Covid - she called me Sunday and we had a great chat. I've been so stuck in my introvert shell, so it's good that she reached out. I'm going to try and call other friends too.

Hope Tillie is recovering steadily. Emily, if I forgot to say it, welcome to this little corner of the internet. 🙋‍♀️

Wrapped my gifts while sitting in on corporate meeting. Used up the remaining bits of Christmas paper. At last. Good to have it done with. Some of this I bought a decade ago. I used to buy once down to 90% off. I think I won't do that this year, I'll just buy one role next year. I don't really do a ton of gift giving it a ton of wrapping. Most things only need a bow and I have enough ribbon. Cant have real bows because my cat iOS real. Every time I think about how I can't have nice things, I remember that she is my nice thing.

Great work, SubC! You are certainly working hard to keep the Christmas spirit alive! That's sweet about the baby. I bet he's really fun.

Okay a lot for me to do today. Let me get started and report on progress!

Good morning.

Somehow I always seem to wake up with sore shoulders the day after Bean comes. 😄

He is a hefty 20 lbs.

This morning I need to finish putting away the baby things and set up my "classroom". 4 days of online school until break.

Also some laundry, dishes, and general clean up.

We "traded" bean back to his father for my bulk grocery order - dsil and Dd1 are trying out a buying club that delivers to a group by truck every month. Since they are in the city it is not hard for them to go to the pick up location.

I only got a few things, but so far I am pleased. It all came packaged in heavy paper bags. (Except the glass bottle of sesame oil) I now have currants, which I couldn't find locally anywhere and were very expensive by mail so I intend to bake more tea bread! (A lot more - lol, because they come in a 5 lb bag)

I sent home the clothes I got bean for Christmas - because he needs them now, and their Christmas candy.

Total out on Christmas goodies: 2 tins, 3 plastic containers, gift bag, two fancy paper boxes. Total in - gift bag, two plastic containers and a little glass dish with a lid (I don't know if the sender wants that back, but if not, I want to keep it.) I have one more tin to deliver.

We have also been gifted a CD from the friends we usually get together with every year to sing and celebrate. Apparently one of their sons - who is a talented musician - recorded us all a couple of years ago because he had just gotten fancy sound equipment he wanted to play with. I have no memory of this at all, but he burned everyone a CD so they could have their own in house "sing along" this year while eating the traditional candy that the two moms (my friend and I) made sure to get out.

Hello! I've showered and I just had beef ravioli that was absolutely delicious. I used a red sauce instead of my usual creations involving capers and sun dried tomatoes, etc. so tasty

Electrician did not come by tonight, which was a blessing. All of my recycling and my trash is out! I ran to the grocery store where I ran into my friend. I always see her there. So that was nice. Now I am determined to put away all the Christmas cards and just let the decorating begin.

How are you all doing?

Emily, I got out a lot of recycling and garbage and although in my mind it doesn't look any different, I feel lighter. Much lighter. Do you ever get that feeling?

SubC believe it or not, having the hallway put together is helping me. He said he'd come tonight but it could be anytime. So why aggravate myself in the meantime. BF stopped by last night to see the chandeliers and he's happy with them.

I've started to get contacted by all sorts of people in different offices about the opening at my company. People are behind me for the promotion bit it's not up to me. I'll just keep working hard.

I do have wrapping paper, everyone. So I'll be wrapping my gifts soon.

Good morning all!

Emily, I'm sorry also. I'm glad you have a support group you can talk with.

Good job on the decorations! Any accomplishment yesterday us a win.

Tatoulia, I think it is so sweet that you did the house on zoom fir the kids.

I'm also very impressed that you got the hall back together. I would have used the "he might come back soon" excuse and delayed.

Dd2 got her car fixed. We had some socially distant visiting time and sent her home with her Christmas presents and the pretty wreath she made for her door. I started my wreath but didn't get very far. I was lazy yesterday because I kept thinking she'd be done soon and we'd do the wreaths, and instead the car took forever.

Today - Bean!

Emily. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm glad you are here. That's great that you did some decorating! I still haven't gotten wreaths for my windows

I got a great deal of recycling out today and I worked on decluttering. I did gingerbread house via zoom and it was fun. I spent this evening with BF. He was working and I worked on a crossword. Very nice.

I still have lots more to do but it's 11. I think I will start the dishwasher and call it a night.

I did out my hallway back together. He's supposed to return tmr night but in the event it's later in the week, I wanted to put the hallway back.

Hi everyone
Had a somewhat productive day. I decorated the outside of my house for Christmas and dug out the tree and ornaments. Kind of a lack luster day...it's the anniversary of my husbands death.

Just taking it easy tonight going to the online support group now.

I love hearing about your life, SubC. You are a very descriptive writer. I will join you for Boxing Day!

I am having my first cup of coffee and then will quickly run to cvs and Whole Foods to get mom a few things and to get some kitty food. I am zooming a gingerbread house at 3 with our little kids friends. When the pandemic was first recognized in Massachusetts in March, one of the kids said, but what about our gingerbread house. He's 9, I think. So we will do by zoom.

I'll do more groceries tonight

I saw something on Instagram while enjoying my coffee: Clutter stars at the cash register. Powerful.

Good morning.

Tatoulia, you must get cat food!

Manger is all set up including yak and cowsheep. Only Bean will get to see it this year.

100 years ago the baby who one day got the cowsheep for a toy was about to celebrate his second Christmas. I will tell Bean about it.

Dh and I worked in the studio/shop barn for a while last night to make it less crowded for Dd2 and her bf (they decided to drive down and let themselves in last night)

I collected some trash and three new bags of recycling, and I brought some bowls that had accumulated "I need something to put water in, where is that thing I had, never mind I can use this"... in and rinsed them off and ran them in last night's dishwasher load.

Dh says I'm doing a good job with the house. He likes Bean's shelf. He's hoping I will do the other little shelf in the back hall also. There is one on each side of our China cabinet along the wall. There were things piled in front of the China cabinet, but I moved them, which means I can now reach the big tablecloth and special dishes in the bottom that I don't need this year (they are large serving pieces)

I also cleaned up 1/3 of that shelf in the great room but I think the last little pile will wait until school is on break.

Today Dd2 and I will make wreaths. Maybe Dh will help me put up the lights on the front porch and then all the outside things will be done.

The scullery and the dining porch are still very very messy. Especially with the extra recycling piled in the scullery - and I don't plan to go down to the drop near school until after Christmas.

Since the kids won't be here this year, maybe I will plan a good old fashioned Boxing Day and see what I can find to part with and take a load to goodwill (gotta check if they will be open)

Okay I went to sleep after he left. I have huge amounts of things to take to recycling bin.

I haven't put my hallway back together. But I did run the dishwasher. I have a lot I have to do tmr. I didn't run any errands today so I will have to do tmr. I was going to do some at 5 but the rain was torrential and mom said she'd be okay.

I have exactly 1/2 a can of cat food left. Please don't tell the kitty. I need to make that stretch until I get to and return from the store!

So goodnight, dear friends. I'll see you tomorrow.

Special shout-out to Tillie and Joan and Anony.

Hello SubC cm Emily and Tillie! Hello hello!

My friend's husband put up my chandeliers today and I love them! Once I put my hall back together I'll post pictures. Emily I use my Instagram acct to post the occasional picture. I'll figure out what my name is on IG and let you know.

SubC! So important for you to start telling your grandson about the ornaments now! I love that so much.

Cm I am so sorry about the setbacks. Not fair.

Emily you are doing great!

It's dark and rainy and I need to go get a few things for my mom so I'll write more later. Have been in house with electrician all day. Windows open! Have been enjoying reading. Finished one book and started another. Emily I read on my kindle because I have a hard time letting go of books. I got rid of 20 boxes of books and have more to go.

Oh no CM,

We cross posted.

I must have channeled your optimism a bit too hard.

So many people are struggling right now. Really, if you can plan to lay off a debt in a year, you are doing ok.

These are just to make you smile:

🌈🐣🦄🐰

Emily!

Hello!👋

Thst is fantastic! So much cleared out! So much new space! And a very reasonable approach to finishing things off.

Decorating always motivates me to clean too.

Today I have done pretty well.

I ran the dishwasher.

I made Christmas fudge for our closest friends and for the girls, and packed up a tin for friends that Dh is delivering right now (minus one saved gift tin and one small plastic container - if you don't seal the chocolate mint, everything tastes like mint)

I cleared off one of the little bookshelves in the back hall that was covered in random things (most just needed to be put away, but there was a little recycling) and filled it with toys and books for Bean to enjoy the next few months. My goal is that that will be Bean's shelf. I'll change things out from the bins as he grows and I'll have him trained to go see what's new by the time he's 3. 🙂

I put the finishing touches on some projects I helped dsil make as Christmas gifts and stuck them in the kiln.

And I cleared off the shelf for my manger scene - which I'm about to go set up. Can't wait to see the cowsheep and the little yak again!

Well, my optimism may have flown south for the winter. My van's check engine light went on yesterday.

I was just getting to where I knew what month next year I'd finally have paid my roommate what I've owed her. Now I have to borrow a new amount on top of the remainder of the old amount. I don't know what it'll be, but it's enough that it makes me feel like there's never an end in sight, and I feel sad.

One of the things under the hood that got replaced earlier this year now must be replaced all over again, because the new problem affected it. Plus the new thing wrong has to be replaced.

The weather is colder and grey, and that doesn't help.

Sorry I haven't checked the feedback recently. Thank you all for your replies and suggestions. I got bit by the Christmas bug and decided to get bust and start cleaning. So last week on Thursday I took the day off from work and rearranged my living room. I had been wanting to do this for a long time, and decided it was time to get it done. I should have taken pictures of what my place looked like. I NEVER realized the amount of crap I truly had. So I filled up 3 bags of garbage in the process and got the couch moved. I then had two huge piles of stuff to put away. I started again this morning and created two more bagels of garbage. My piles are almost gone, but so is my energy. I decided to put the countless bins of stuff into a large bin that I will sort through at night while watching tv. I am now on a mission because I want to decorate my house for Christmas next weekend.

Good morning!

I slept late today.

Yesterday was a very good day. My classes went well. And I got a note from the mom of a favorite student telling me how much he loves the class.

Then we had a lovely afternoon/evening around the fire with Bean and family. I got to be the designated diaper changer and take him into the house at need so I got lots of extra cuddles and I got to show him the Christmas tree. He loves lights. And he will stare at individual ornaments for minutes at a time. And he is coming back Monday!

I am going to run the train for him and tell him the stories about the special ornaments on the tree. (I know he doesn't understand, but he likes looking and being talked to, and I like remembering.)

He was wearing my youngest DD's snuggly red Christmas outfit - footed pants and a little hooded jacket with a sleeping mouse and "not a creature was stirring" embroidered on it. Dsil took his picture sitting on my lap.

And, Dd and dsil's favorite park is having a "sale" on cabin reservations for non-holidays in 2021. Dd asked if we would keep him for three days in October next year. And Dh said "only if we get a practice overnight before that." 🙂

Dd and her bf are coming down tomorrow to use Dh tools to fix her car, and we will do some socially distant wreath making.

Oh, and also I got invited to apply for my job again yesterday.

(Have I explained how my job works?) We are all on annual contracts to teach our classes. If they like you, they send you a class proposal worksheet in December - you fill it out with the classes you want to teach next year, attach description(s) if you haven't taught the class before, and the number of hours you want to teach and periods you are available. Then the administration puts together a master schedule and opens registration. If your classes fill, they send you a contract. If some of them don't, they either cut your hours or switch out for something you proposed that didn't originally fit in the schedule and see if that fills. Or with a couple of us, they call us into the office and say "hey, we need this thing at this time - you're available, can you teach it?"

So, time to daydream about teaching students who can work together in classrooms without masks.....

I love how you and your family are managing the pandemic. Very wise choices, SubC! WTG for doing two loads of dishes!

I have not a lot to show for myself, I'm afraid. No real decorations out. I have to get my wreaths this weekend.

I remember your mentioning the dear little houses last year. I love things like that. So lovely.

Coffee clinks!

Good morning!

Tatoulia, be careful at the P.O.

I'm glad your Mom is handling the lockdown ok and that they are keeping her safe.

I wish you luck with your promotion. It seems like it would be hard to get a raise in the current business environment, but hopefully your company is one doing well.

I did not do any work in the barn yesterday. I cleaned off the porch and cleaned up all the random stuff lying around the yard and put the bows on the lamps by the garage, and by then I decided I didn't want to start with the limited time left and have to worry about showering and getting ready for class.

I figured I could work for a couple of hours after class today (friday I get done earlier) because it will still be warm. But Dd1 called and they are bringing the bean by this afternoon for a socially distanced visit and outdoor pizza eating. That beats barn work any day. (While I can sometimes have bean and keep him in my house, his parents are still keeping their distance. The data we can find seems to show babies are an extremely low risk as transmitters.)

Saturday it is supposed to rain. So I guess the barn is just going to stay bad for a while.

In the house yesterday I ran the dishwasher twice - so dishes are finally caught up, and I filled a paper grocery bag with old seed catalogs to recycle. I also put out the little cardboard house village from Dh childhood. It belonged to his grandfather when the grandfather was a little boy, and Dh mom passed it along to us last year. It's really precious.

My aunt and uncle sent us a lovely evergreen centerpiece with candles., so the house just gets more and more christmassy.

I had a good school day yesterday, and expect to have another one today because today is all pottery classes.

Everybody stay safe and warm!

Don't lick the doorknobs! Sage advice!

I don't have much to show for myself. It is great having my place clean! My professionally made bed was so nice last night!

I saw BF for a few minutes today. We walked together. He went to the bank and I went to Whole Foods.

I was decidedly unproductive at work today. But that's to be expected every now and then. I got some secret news that tells me I am very close to being promoted. I do hope there is a good increase in pay. I know that someone who recently got promoted was pretty disappointed in her pay increase and when she tried to negotiate, she was shut down.

Mom sounds cheerful despite being put back on Lockdown due to a resident with COVID. The chewy . Com deliveries have taken a great deal of worry off of her mind and has made my life so much easier. I just ordered four boxes of fancy feast and I put it on a seven week auto ship. I don't know the timing on that, just an experiment for now. I'll check in with her in January to see where they are on their food.

I napped after work, which was a real treat. I have many of my little Christmas trees to mail tomorrow. I'm sure the PO will be a nightmare but I'm doing what I can and when I can.

Love to all. Let's close out this week on a good note!

Good morning! Coffee clinks.

Warm thoughts to CM and Tillie.

Tatoulia, I hope you are reveling in your freshly cleaned space.

Did you find your wrapping paper?

Yesterday was Wednesday, so I pretty much did school stuff. Kept the fire going, let the dishes pile up...

I did clear away the "classroom" paraphernalia for the evening.

It's going to be ridiculously warm today (in the 50s) so once I get my school stuff together I will need to hit the barn. It has been suffering neglect. Then classes in the afternoon.

Running the dishwasher also needs to be a priority.

I need to incorporate some kind of exercise routine into my life. Yoga doesn't do it. Yesterday I found myself bracing my weight against the stair rail to spare my knee. Today's exercise will be barn work though.

One of my students yesterday asked me if we are really going back to school in January. All I could tell her was "that is the plan. There have been no further discussions about what conditions might change anything and teachers are not being asked for input or warned to prepare for any changes. That doesn't mean things won't change. If the hospitals are overflowing and the governor has locked everything down - we won't be in school. But currently, the intent is to go back January 12. Meanwhile, don't lick doorknobs."

I'm guessing the vaccine will be approved today. Based on my age and profession, the internet says I am halfway down the line. My students are unlikely to be vaccinated this school year. (Some of them are unlikely to be vaccinated ever) I would put all of my girls ahead of me in line, but it looks like the plan is two soon after and the other two much later. Only my dad is ahead of me. Mom is healthy and doesn't work and they live independently.

Well done, SubC! You did a lot!

I've done very little. I got a bag of stuff over to mom. Bread, milk, etc. abs I put the batteries in a separate bag abs then forgot the batteries.

I saw BF for a few minutes. Took a short walk. Did a load of sheets (last week's sheets). Cleaners come tmr so I'll have a nice fresh bed tomorrow. I told them my house is dirty and they said it will be clean and good smelling tomorrow.

I haven't even wrapped one gift. If I have wrapping paper, I can wrap my one or two gifts in no time. I haven't checked yo see if I used it all up last year. Something tells me that I did.

Okay off to bed. Very cold here. Kitty is sleeping in the couch next to me and I can't stand his precious she is.

Goodnight dearhearts.

Good evening!

I put all the laundry away.

And I used the upholstery brush and vacuumed all the lint off the bedspread.

And I stripped our bed and washed the sheets. (Have to put them back before I can sleep)

And the dishwasher is running - although it does not contain all of the dirty dishes because we had leftovers and emptied many small containers tonight.

And I put the school stuff away, even though I have to get it right back out in the morning.

I did not do any outside decorations, but I did put the lights and the bow on the stairs up to our bedroom.

School was pretty good today.

Dh says I am doing well.

How did everyone else's day go?

Hello Ladies! Coffee clinks.

I'm going to join SubC and channel some of Cm's optimism! We can do this!

Good to hear from you, CM. You sound excellent ? keep up the good work!

SubC you are balancing a lot right now. I do pray that your husband keeps his job, and if not, you enjoy a strong relationship and i am confident you will face your challenges with both grace and practicality.

Today the goal is to work hard, have a coffee or tea about 3 PM and to work on my home this evening. My cleaners will be here tomorrow. Very happy about that.

Good morning!

I forgot to check back.

Tatoulua, i understand about the vacation days now. It sounds like you made goid use of your day. I hope you feel on top of things now.

CM, I'm glad your roomate is recovering well. That is nice about the wire shelf. I remember how much difference it made when my boss gave me the old library shelves.

The sun never really same up yesterday, so it all felt like swimming through molasses. I made some bad food choices, but I'm trying to tell myself today is a new day (and channel some of CM's optimism.

My son's other mom came by and brought us peanut brittle (those boys were inseparable, hers is my "extra son") extra son's partner is a nurse and told her that she is not to go into buildings - full stop, and stay away from people - outside 8-10 feet, both masked. Things are really bad at the hospital. She left the peanut brittle on the porch and then moved away into the yard while I got my mask and coat.

I didn't take care of the last pile in the great room, but I did clear out the three small piles in the den - and recycled some papers. I made a little progress in the scullery, and I did some of the laundry. I'm not sure exactly how much because I folded it all and then put some away, but I think I put away at least one basket worth.

I don't have very much to do to get ready for school today - which is good, because I forgot to set my alarm and overslept. I woke up teary from a bad dream, so I'm working on resetting for the day. Mostly I need to set the school things up because I cleared it all away for the weekend.

We have bread.

So, week one - tree set up with train and one room (den) depiled.

Week two - outside ribbons and lights and another room?