On Saturday, I started the cookies and put the dough in the fridge and we went Christmas shopping. It was cold and rainy. Not quite coat weather, but certainly right for multiple light layers that could be added or removed easily. We hit all our regular haunts, plus a new store and we laughed and had fun and we bought gifts. And, if the sales staff wasn't smiling when we walked up, they were smiling by the time we walked away. When we got home, I baked cookies. For hours and hours and hours. Unfortunately, I didn't get them decorated yet, but that just means there's fun to be had later, right? And, I know from experience, they eat just fine without the frosting. After the grocery yesterday, I cleaned inside for a while and then went to the greenhouse and cleaned out there. There was a LOT to do to get ready to move in plants. Then I came in and did some cooking for the week and suddenly the day was over.
I was on my feet a lot!
I solved my toaster problem. I had kept the off-brand one on the counter, but hadn't used it. I just didn't like it. It was the wrong red and it felt so cheap and I was hoping I'd find something better while we were out shopping. I'd even added a couple of stores to our regular shopping, just to look at toasters. We went to one of those stores that sells overstock and found a Krups for the same price I'd paid for the cheap one and brought it home. It's still not as sturdy as the old one I sent with Rob to his office, but I believe it will be fine. And, it makes toast so fast, and I can get the perfect shade of brown. That's all I needed a toaster to do. I've boxed up the cheap one to send it back.
This is the Li Bien tree. These ornaments were available exclusively at Pier 1, before they decided to go broke rather than lower their prices. Then, we found them at World Market and we bought a few last year, but this year, they're not the same. The paint is splotched on and the price has gone up significantly. We have at least one ornament for every year since 1998. Some years, there are 4 or 5 because we just couldn't pick one. They do an angel ornament every year and this year, that's the only one we bought. They sure do make a pretty tree.
This is one of Rob's villages. The other night, we were watching The Great Christmas Light Fight, which we watch every year, mostly so we can talk about how excessive other people get about decorating for the holiday. There was a lady that had a village that had about a hundred buildings. Rob was amazed and impressed. One day, I'd love for him to be able to set up an excessive number of houses in a diorama like that.
His people move around and go places and do things in a story he updates regularly.
This is one of the ceramic trees. This is new to the collection this year. Rob's Mom made it and gave it to him when he was home last time. It's a beautiful tree. It sits on a tall narrow table that I will be gingerly stepping around for the next several weeks.
The rest of my photos from last week are cake recipes. I still haven't figured out what kind of cake to bake for. Christmas. They're usually something complicated that takes more than one day to finish and I haven't found it yet. I've been toying with the idea of a steamed pudding. Then that voice in the back of my head asks if I'm feeling okay and I start looking at cakes with white frosting again. We'll all have to wait and see what ends up inspiring me.
So much to do, so many distractions, and I need the distractions from the news. I have a growing resolve to be myself, no matter what happens in the future. To celebrate life the way that Rob and I celebrate life, no matter who disapproves. I can't change other people. But, I can prevent them from changing me.
Everybody have a great week! 16 days til Christmas and the start of Hanukkah! May your spirits be merry and bright.
Lane
4 comments:
There you go! You finally got it. Makes life eaiser.
Great post. The magic of Christmas. Thanks for sharing. Mary
Pier 1 was the best, at least for me, right in the early 2000's. I was fresh out of college, with my first job and first apartment, and I could afford to shop there. The items were general fairly sturdy and nice-looking! I still have some of their good woven baskets in my closet (that hold socks, etc.). I decided on my Christmas cake: a red-pink layer cake that tastes just like one of those strawberry-shortcake-on-a-stick treats from the ice cream truck! Happy Christmas season to you and Rob!
But you can "prevent them from changing me". LUV IT!
The menacing rhetoric is about yielding, conforming, not resisting, and being quietly compliant. it's an anti-social personality's manifesto. Ignore, carry on, and boycott what you can (if they advertise on Fox Propaganda, start there).
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