Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Getting Ready for the Holidays

It's Beginning to Look Festive

I am slowly decorating the house for Christmas.  On Sunday, I decorated the tree.  On Monday, I pulled the wreaths out from their bin and hung them up.  On Tuesday, I pulled out the Christmas tree toppers and a couple of other items that are stored in that bin.  I will ask M to put the glass tree topper on for me when he is here on Wednesday because I don't want to climb up the step stool to do so myself.  

My daughter is still testing positive, but, her friend, who was giving her a ride home has offered to delay the trip to give her an extra couple of days to recover!  That was such a kind offer!  So, we are hopeful that she might still be able to come down on Friday!  We will take it one day at a time!

On Tuesday, I made another Christmas card to send to a friend, checked on the plants in the garden, cooked a chicken curry, and finished making a gift.  In the evening, my daughter helped me to select a few additional gifts, two of which will be shipped to the recipients who live in other states (they are New Year's gifts to non-Christian family members and will reach them before January 1).

Today, I am grateful for:

- My daughter's friend's generous offer to delay the planned trip home in order to give her an additional day or two to recover!
- Phone calls with family and friends
- Daughter's help with ordering gifts online
- People keeping in touch with holiday greeting cards
- What I was able to accomplish today

Today's joyful activity was choosing gifts to give family and friends.

Plans for tomorrow include tending to the garden with M and cooking the second tray of chicken.  I'd like to get some tidying and cleaning done, too.

How was your Tuesday?  Are you ready for the holidays?  Have you got all your shopping done and gifts made or are you like me, waiting until the last day?


22 comments:

  1. How very kind of your daughter's friend to delay their trip so as to ensure a safe ride "home" for your daughter. Let's be confident that she'll make it home. Has the doctor's office offered to do an official testing for her? I 've read that home tests can sometimes not be 100% as accurate as the one the doctors do. That might bring more peace of mind to you both. Wise to let M place the glass star on the tree. All my shopping, baking, prepping is done as much as I'm going to do. Now we just wait to watch the weather & pray it does not get as bad as forecasted for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. :)

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    1. Wasn't it very kind of her friend to offer to delay the trip to give her more time to recover? My daughter and P have been good friends since 4th grade and I consider P's parents to be my friends, too.
      Her doctor has told her that she doesn't need to test after a 10 day quarantine. She is considered to be non-contagious. She is being very very cautious in an attempt to protect me.
      M placed the tree topper for me without any difficulty!
      I hope you won't get the storms that are being forecasted and have a wonderful Christmas weekend.

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  2. We spent Tuesday travelling to see my elderly aunt and her grandson. (250 mile round trip, lots of holdups¡) A long journey, but so worthwhile. Today was going to be spent with grandchildren, but they're unwell. I shall do some (overdue) mending instead! The house is very Christmassy, like yours, lots of red and silver baubles

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    1. I'm sure your aunt and her grandson appreciated your visit, Angela. I am assuming they are Gillian's mother and son? Sorry to hear that the grandchildren are not well; hope it isn't anything serious and they will recover soon. I've some mending to do, myself, but, I'm finding it hard to settle down to do anything, right now! I'm sure your house looks very festive. :)

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  3. We have been decorated here for a while, but still shopping. I got much of it done early, but there always seem to be some last minute things. I am hoping to make a dent in the wrapping today. That was a very generous offer from you daughter's friend. I hope the couple of extra days is what she needs to test negative.

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    1. I still need to get a few more gifts, as things sort of got behind schedule, this year! I'm trying to wrap things as they come, but, I can't wrap too early because Dancer likes to rip the paper and play with the bows, etc.!
      Wasn't it a very generous offer from my daughter's friend? I was so touched when my daughter called to tell me. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will work out just fine. If not, we'll be singing, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas".

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  4. Crossing my fingers that your daughter tests negative in time! But more important that she gets well soon! That is very kind of her friend. We are expecting a major storm to move in starting this evening. I had planned to drive to my oldest sister's in Indiana tomorrow, but I've decided to wait until it all passes over. I will probably go there on Monday, and spend Christmas with my kitty which will be relaxing. I don't mind the snow if I can stay home (I pay someone to clear my walkways), but I do hate driving in it and the cold. I hope you stay warm there!

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    1. Thank you, so much, Celie. Yes, even more important than coming home for Christmas is getting well! The offer from her friend to delay driving down for another couple of days was a very kind and generous offer! I told my daughter that she has some very good friends!
      I think you made the right decision to stay home when it is storming! Best not to drive in the snow, especially if the roads are icy and visibility is poor. I do wish you a very safe and happy Christmas, Celie. We have been told we'll have 80F on Christmas day! :D

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  5. What kind of cards and gifts do you make? I did not do cards this year, but i almost finished all my handkerchiefs.

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    1. I've been making some Christmas/holiday greetings cards to send to family and friends, using my scrapbooking supplies and recycling old Christmas cards.
      As for gifts, I usually make jam, but, this year, my jam didn't set properly (a very soft set). Sometimes, I make knitted or crocheted gifts (socks, scarves, etc.) or sew various items (last year I made some pot holders/hot pads).
      Well done with getting the handkerchiefs sewn! I'm sure they will be much appreciated. :)

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  6. Wow, what an incredible offer for your daughter's friend to delay the trip. Fingers crossed she tests negative!

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    1. Wasn't it? Such a caring and kind offer! Thank you, Anne; I'm hoping it will all work out well. If not, we'll deal with it as best we can.

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  7. You may know this already however a person can test positive for months after a bout of Covid. I was on the Covid response team and we were given 90 days off of weekly testing after out 10 day quarantine if we were tested positive.

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    1. Lisa, thank you for sharing this info. I have passed your comment on to my daughter. It is just that she is so very concerned for my own wellbeing that she would feel much better if she could test negative before she comes home.

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  8. How kind of your daughter's friend to be willing to wait an extra day to give her a chance to come to you. I hope she will be able to come.
    Your house will look very festive, and you were wise to avoid putting the star on the tree yourself. I've just finished putting the lights on our tree and this year it is much smaller so I don't have to climb at all. Balsam firs are not sturdy and I traded the lit star which was always a pain to fix (using a stick or hidden skewer to stabilize the tree top), for a simpler star which is easier to place. The decorations will go on tomorrow but not all of them, I think.
    DH still has a sore throat, and I'm thinking he should go to emergency for some antibiotics as he couldn't get to see a dentist and his gum seems infected. Also a huge storm is predicted, like in the US, so I am not holding my breath about a Christmas visit from family. We shall see. Everyone is in the same boat, concerned about travel and possible power outages!

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    1. It was very kind of P to offer to delay the trip home, Bushlady. I'm hoping that it will make it possible for my daughter to come home, as she gets another couple of days to recover. But, even if she can't make it down in time for Christmas, we will still be grateful for that kind offer and celebrate with a video chat. What is important is knowing that we are still able to be together, even virtually, and can look forward to visits in person, later.
      M was able to put the tree topper for me with ease! It is a glass spire like topper. My daughter likes it better than the other topper I have, which is an angel. :) I've seen some decorations displayed in glass bowls, etc., in some magazine pictures - maybe you can do that with your extra decorations.
      Oh, I do hope your DH can be seen by a doctor and have some antibiotics prescribed. I also hope that your family will be able to visit over the Christmas holidays, when the weather permits.

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  9. So glad it’s working out for your daughter to be able to come stay with you. I hope she is feeling better. I know it may take her awhile to get all of her strength back. Hope your Thursday is great!

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    1. Thank you, Mandy; she is recovering, slowly. Still has a cough and still feeling tired, but, getting better.

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  10. Reading through your response to comments, you seem accepting of however your daughter's visit turns out. That kind of attitude serves well when we are dealing with things beyond our control.
    Her friend is very kind to be so flexible with her.

    I am glad that M finished off the tree with the topper for you.
    I have a big pan of baked ziti in the oven for the next couple of days (and beyond lol)
    Tomorrow I will marinate some artichokes and make the sauce I'm making to pour over the ham I'm baking on Christmas.
    I don't really care for ham but my husband loves it. When I saw a recipe for a mango chutney glaze for ham I thought, "now that's my kind of ham" lol
    Fingers crossed.

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    1. Thank you, Debra; yes, I'm trying to be "resilient", which was my word of the year! My daughter is feeling better, now, and I am hopeful. :) Her friend is one in a million, honestly! They've been friends since 4th grade and are still the best of friends.
      Your baked ziti sounds wonderful and so does the ham. My daughter loves ham and I was going to buy one, but, I didn't order one since everything is so up in the air, right now. Mango chutney glazed ham sounds great!

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  11. That's SO nice that the friend offered to delay her return home- II hope your daughter makes it home to you.

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    1. It was a very kind offer by her friend, wasn't it? Yes, my daughter came home today and I am so happy! :)

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