I went to the office today and had a productive day, finishing up what I could before taking two weeks of vacation! Before I left for the day, I updated my projects list and emailed to my supervisors so they are aware of the current status of all my projects.
During my lunch break, I went to the farmers' market and bought myself a loaf of French bread. I looked through a couple of other stalls to see if I could pick up any holiday gifts, but handmade soaps for $6 each ($5 each if you buy 4) and fabric ponchos priced at $35 and $45 are beyond my holiday gifts budget! So I didn't buy anything other than my loaf of bread. But the ponchos did give me an idea!
My daughter's office let them get off work at 3:00 p.m., today, so she got to the airport early and was able to get an earlier flight! Her flight arrived at 6:15 p.m., which was nice. I picked her up from the airport and we came home. Later, we went out and picked up Chinese food for dinner. We spent the evening chatting, opening some gifts that we had received from my aunt and from one of my nieces, and discussing gift ideas for all the people on my list.
Most years, I make a batch or two of jam and that's what I give as holiday gifts. This year, I didn't make any jam and I am quite unprepared for gift giving! So far, I have given gifts to three people (all colleagues at work) from gifts I had in my stash, but that stash is now more or less depleted. Tomorrow, daughter and I will go shopping and I hope to find some good bargains!
My cousin who is hosting the family Christmas dinner called in the evening. She sounded a bit stressed because the gathering she was trying to keep to just the immediate family seems to have grown to include extended family as well. She was worrying about the menu; she wants to make roast beef and a couple of other items, but her daughter, who is home from Scotland, is vegetarian and there won't be a main dish for her. I told her I will bring some of the leftover almsgiving food for her daughter, so cousin doesn't have to get too stressed.
Thursday's to do list:
- Go to the office - DONE
- Go to the farmers' market, maybe? - DONE
- Go to the bank
- Pick up daughter from the airport! - DONE
Today, I am grateful for:
- My daughter is home for the holidays!
- She had a safe flight home
- I am on vacation for two weeks!
- Singing Christmas songs with my daughter while in the car
- A warm home in which to stay on a cold night
How was your day? Have you done all your Christmas shopping? Or are you still looking for gifts?
Exciting that your daughter was able to get on an earlier flight. Does she always fly the same airline and does the earlier flight cost extra $$?
ReplyDeleteI went to Kohl's yesterday and picked up my last gift, a very nice shirt for hubby, on sale and used a 30 per cent off coupon. They are open 24 hours now, lots of reduced items, so you could do very well with your shopping.
Sandy, yes, she flies the same airline for her visits home and back. As a result, she has received "A List" status for her frequency of flying (and also because she was one of the passengers impacted when the airline's computer system crashed and flights had to be cancelled and rearranged; apparently all the passengers who were stranded were given this benefit to make up for their inconvenience). This enables her to switch to an earlier flight (if seats are available, of course) at no extra cost and gives her priority boarding.
DeleteWell done getting all your gifts bought! I've been a procrastinator, this year! Just haven't been in the mood, so to speak.
I have a couple of little things I'm going to get today when I am in the area of the stores I want. Have fun shopping with your daughter.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Live and Learn. I do, usually, enjoy shopping with her. I hope you get your shopping done without any difficulties and get to relax over the weekend.
DeleteI'm also off work for two weeks Bless (thirteen days actually). Isn't it a NICE feeling?!! My daughter is in USA for Christmas but we've seen her for a 'pre-Christmas' celebration and I am going to stay with her on 4th January for a couple of days. I'll see my sons on Christmas day though. I hope you find some suitable bargains for gifts.
ReplyDeleteEloise, it is a very nice feeling! This is actually the first long vacation I have taken since I went back to the office after my treatments, earlier this year. I was going to take two weeks off before I returned to the office, but my return was delayed so much, that I felt guilty about taking more time off. Even during my treatments, I worked, but because I worked from home, it didn't seem too bad.
DeleteI hope your daughter is enjoying her stay in the USA. Which part of the USA? I am sure you'll enjoy your Christmas with your sons and you'll be looking forward to staying with your daughter in the new year.
Thanks, I hope I find some good bargains, too! I have to! I don't have a big budget for holiday gifts!
How lovely to have your daughter home for the holidays. Singing Christmas songs in the car is such fun, and even with a still sore throat I was doing the same with my daughter today.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you this morning as I had to go shopping for some plates (I was remembering your juice glasses situation for Almsgiving). I only realised yesterday that I wouldn't have enough to serve people on Christmas day! Thankfully all sorted now. X
I'm glad you got your plates, Jules! Plates are the one thing I won't run short of - the very first time I hosted the rosary prayer gathering, my mother bought me 44 glass plates, because that was how many people I was hosting and she didn't want me to use paper plates! Then, for the first almsgiving we held, she bought 6 white plates to be used only for the almsgiving. So, right there, I have 50 plates, plus another dozen Christmas themed ones and 8 fine china ones from the dinner set my daughter bought for me for my 50th birthday! Enough plates to start my own china shop, I think. Glasses are another matter. :D
DeleteWe had another big snow storm today, so I was glad my shopping is done. I walked to the convenience store to buy a couple of baking ingredients, but nothing too outrageous. I hope you had a very nice day of shopping with your daughter and that you can now enjoy some quiet holiday time together.
ReplyDeleteA very good thing you got your shopping done, Susan. It's no fun going shopping and running errands on icy roads and in the snow.
DeleteDaughter and I got our shopping done. It took us about 2 1/2 hours, but that included her shopping for some winter clothes and trying them on, etc. The shops weren't too crowded, but I was tired by the end of our shopping spree.
Hooray for earlier flight and singing Christmas carols in the car! It's good and thoughtful that you are able to share your vegetarian leftovers with your cousin so her daughter has something to eat and your cousin can relax a little :)
ReplyDeleteI love singing in the car together! I'm glad I am able to take the vegetarian leftovers for cousin's daughter. I am thinking I will cook more cashew curry and take that as my contribution to the dinner.
DeleteHappy Solstice! Glad your daughter arrived safely. Enjoy your time with her.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon. I am enjoying her company. Hope you are having fun with your daughter, too.
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