Friday, December 24, 2021

Rain on Thursday

 

"Gift Tags" 

One of the things I like to do with old greeting cards is cut them up to make gift tags!  I'm sure lots of others do this, too.  I punch a hole in one of the corners and tie it to the package or gift bag with some ribbon or red yarn.  I haven't bought gift tags in years!

It started raining, last night, and it rained all night and pretty much all day, today!  Such a blessing to receive all that rain!  The garden needed it!

I spent the day cross stitching on a set of kitchen towels and wrapping up more gifts!  One of the gifts I ordered was delivered, today, while the fabric store cancelled our order for the replacement rotary cutter blades and the beading thread that my daughter wanted, stating that the store was out of supplies (even though the store website had said they were available when we placed the order).  We will try again after the holidays.

Cousin P called me today to thank me for the gift I gave her and to ask if I can give her a ride to the Christmas dinner and back.  I told her I can give her a ride.  Shortly afterwards, cousin V called to ask if I was OK with giving P a ride to the Christmas dinner and back and I said yes.  The main reason I will be attending Saturday's get together is because it might very well be the last time all of us cousins will be together. 

I also had a long chat on the phone with friend R and with aunt C and exchanged texts with cousin N.  I also took a plate of rice and curries over to neighbor S and her daughter N.  It has been a good day for interacting with family, friends, and, neighbors.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Rain for the garden
- A good, non-leaky roof!
- Phone chats with family and friends
- Being able to order gifts and have them delivered
- Daughter helping me with one of the gifts I made

Today's joyful activity was cross stitching.

Plans for tomorrow include baking!  I will start off with a couple of batches of cornbread muffins and later, daughter and I hope to make the cashew and semolina cake that is known as love cake in Sri Lanka.

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Christmas Eve?


24 comments:

  1. I've never thought to make gift tags from Christmas cards, what a good idea. Good that your garden got the rain the garden needed. I'm off to the garden centre later and hopefully there will be a table free for us to have coffee and a mince pie, it's a dog-friendly place that sell Christmas gifts so who knows what I'll buy :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I'm glad I posted about the cards turned into gift tags, then!
      I hope you found a table at the garden center and enjoyed your coffee and mince pie. Did you buy anything? :)

      Delete
  2. Sounds like a lovely way to celebrate Christmas Day - gathering with loved ones. Happy Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary-Lou. I'm hoping we will have no cause to regret getting together on Christmas Day as far as our health is concerned! The numbers continue to climb!

      Delete
  3. Thursday was kitchen day - Bob bribed the turkey and cooked the ham. I made a special cake and prepared for the family. Today is relaxed and lovely

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like a busy day in the kitchen. With what did Bob bribe the turkey? :D

      Delete
  4. Wow! What a very bright idea! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Have a wonderful time with your family Bless! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Anne. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

      Delete
  6. You are going to be busy baking, and of course that dump cake will be a hit as usual. I'm sure the cousins are hoping you will bring one! I hope you will be able to get the items from the fabric store soon. Some things do take a while to be supplied and it must be frustrating for store owners who just want to make sales and please their customers.
    I'm sure your rain was welcome. We may be having 42°F on Christmas Day. This is not our usual winter, but who wants -13°F when they can have something bearable?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, but, it's another rainy day and there's nothing better than baking on such a wet day! :)
      Sounds like you'll be having a "warm" Christmas rather than a white one! But, I'm sure you don't mind that. Have a blessed and joyous Christmas Day, Bushlady.

      Delete
  7. Is cousin P moving far? Sorry, I don't know how far out of state is! How many cousins are you meeting up with? It sounds like it will be a special occasion so I can understand you wanting to go, and at least you and your daughter can take appropriate precautions even if the others don't.

    Wishing you both a very Merry Christmas xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cousin P is moving clear across the US to Florida. If you are flying, it is 2,200+ miles; if you are driving, it is 2,500+ miles. My stepfather, mother, and I lived in Florida for about a year before we came to California and we drove. :)
      There'll be 4 of us first cousins. These are my maternal cousins. The rest of my maternal cousins are either in Sri Lanka or in Australia. I only had 2 first cousins from my father's side and they have both died. Yes, my daughter and I will wear our masks and do what we can to keep safe!

      Thank you, Eileen. My daughter and I both wish you a very blessed Christmas; may it be filled with peace and joy.

      Delete
  8. Are you taking the love cake to your family get-together along with your cornbread muffins? I thought you'd be making one of your world famous dump cakes!
    I remember you making the love cake over the years. It's a lot of work if I remember correctly.

    We will go to a friend's house tonight for Christmas Eve. Something we have done for maybe 25 years - except for last year. We are all vaxed and boosted and are very careful in general with masking so I feel we will be fine.
    It's a shame we all have to weigh our odds and assess the risk of gathering for the holidays. But the situation is what it is and it could be worse that's for sure. I can't even imagine the situation we'd all be in if we didn't have the vaccines.

    We got a bit of snow this morning. It's sticking around because it's cold and that makes things look very holidayish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll be taking one of my "world famous" dump cakes to the gathering, Debra. :D I baked it, this afternoon, and got a bit adventurous, using apple pie filling, canned peaches, and fresh cranberries! :D

      I'm glad you are able to resume celebrating Christmas Eve with your friend. I guess we are all trying to resume our traditions, with some trepidation, this year. It can't be helped. At least we get to celebrate, unlike so many others who for one reason or another are unable to do so.

      Sounds like you'll have a white Christmas! How lovely! We are scheduled to have a wet Christmas! More rain is in the forecast for tomorrow!

      Hope you and your husband have a joyous Christmas, Debra.

      Delete
  9. I hope you hand your daughter have a lovely Christmas. Enjoy the time with family, it is so precious. And please stay healthy!. Best, Celie. PS, wonderful idea to use old cards as gift tags!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Celie. Yes, time with family is precious. I'm keeping you and your niece in my prayers as you observe this first holiday season without your sister. I will try my best to stay healthy! Glad you like my idea of using old cards as gift tags! I've been known to glue them to the fronts of plain gift bags to make them suitable for Christmas, as well! :D
      Wish you a peaceful and blessed Christmas, Celie.

      Delete
  10. Love cake - sounds so special. I recycle cards, ties, and wrapping paper. But what you do with you cards - I would like to borrow that. Have a lovely Christmas with your cousins and daughter xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a special cake that dates back to when we were colonized by the Portuguese. Originally, it was made only by a certain ethnic group in Sri Lanka; I don't know if that is still the case. Feel free to borrow any of the card ideas, Ratnamurti. :) Thank you for the Christmas wishes. Hope you, too, are able to spend Christmas with at least some of your family and loved ones. :)

      Delete
  11. It sounds like you had a wonderful day. I am glad you will be able to get together with the cousins. It's so important to spend time with family when you can. You never know how quickly things can change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is important to spend time with family when we can, especially with one cousin moving across the country to Florida. It might be the last Christmas we'll all be together.

      Delete
  12. I must have made some gift tags last year that I had since forgotten about. It was a lovely to surprise to find them already in my wrapping box. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's great that the tags were all waiting for you! Maybe you'll make a few more this year, too, in readiness for next Christmas? :)

      Delete

Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. Your comments are much appreciated. Please comment in English. Thank you.