Dec 26th How’s your week going?

[tycho657]

Did you all survive Christmas as and the crazy cold weather around the country? It was 73 here. I went to church outside on Christmas Eve. 
I was lazy this year and never did get my outside lights up. I did put them around my RV earlier in the month. I did get most of my nutcrackers and my Christmas Village out. 
I try and so extra volunteering during this month as I don’t have any family around me. I did do a 3hr FaceTime with my great grand kiddos. That was so nice to be there virtually.
How are your celebrations going?

[ProudTVJunkie]

We spent Christmas Eve with my Mom, step-father, sister, and 6-year-old niece. Unfortunately, my husband had to work until 4 am Christmas Day. So, after he woke up, we spent a quiet Christmas day watching Christmas specials and eating leftovers. We were up very late Christmas night and slept in late this morning.

Now I'm trying to schedule the rest of the week, which includes work, family visits, and some stuff we have to finish up with my father's estate.

It varied from 25 degrees to zero over the holiday, and it was very windy, which only made it feel colder. I spent the day before Christmas Eve delivering straw to my neighbors. Many of the neighbors have small houses or enclosures for the semi-feral cats in our neighborhood. Straw (not hay) is a great insulator. When I managed the animal shelter, we kept bales of straw on hand in the animal control vans to put into dog houses in areas where dogs weren't able to live indoors.

Anyway, our local place was out of straw for the last week, but the Tractor Supply two towns over had two bales left, so I got one. Then checked in with all my neighbors and made sure their cat enclosures were filled with straw bedding to keep the kitties warm during the deep freeze.

So how was everyone else's holiday? Check-in and let us know.

[ProudTVJunkie]

And to ibmjas and DrvrTrnr, I love Christmas cards. I usually try to get them out early, but being sick this year put me behind on everything. Plus, we wanted to make sure our new kitten got her photo on the card. My daughter actually designed this year's card. Once she was done, she said it was a lot more work than she expected and that maybe I could do it again next year.

I sent about 70 cards out this year to family and friends. But not many people send them anymore, as I only get about 25 in return, which I display on my wall. Still, I find joy in the tradition, look forward to it every year, and love when I do get a card in the mail.

[larryholmes]

Well, we did another four dozen cookies for someone/something Dawn wanted to support. I did my part...decorate one/eat one then repeat. Happy New Year!

[ibmjas]

With the sub zero temps, my daughter's pipes burst. Her family, spouse and 2 kids and large dog (my husband kept calling it a horse) had to move in with us on Friday. Their handyman said he'd be able to fix it Monday so they returned home Monday evening only to find out he wasn't able to get to it. They spent the night there, but I don't know if they'll be back here later today or if he'll fix it today. My son also flew in on Christmas Eve but had to fly out Monday. He took a direct flight into a major airport 2.5 hours away. We had some snow so I was worried about him driving. He didn't have any problems but said the rental company just told him to pick out whatever car he wanted since they were out of the economy car he reserved. He could have gotten an SUV which would have been a good choice for snowy roads but he  saw a Dodge Charger and thought that would be fun. It snowed another 2 or 3 inches Sunday. We live at the bottom of a hill so we were concerned about him getting up to the main roads but he made it. It was a bit chaotic but I had enough beds for everyone and plenty of food. I'm also not a dog person at all, but the dog was very sweet and never said a word but constantly wanted attention as dogs do. We all had a lot of fun and more togetherness than we normally would have had. Kind of nice.

[nathanfan1]

Dec 27, 2022 10:07:11 GMT -5 ibmjas said:

With the sub zero temps, my daughter's pipes burst. Her family, spouse and 2 kids and large dog (my husband kept calling it a horse) had to move in with us on Friday. Their handyman said he'd be able to fix it Monday so they returned home Monday evening only to find out he wasn't able to get to it. They spent the night there, but I don't know if they'll be back here later today or if he'll fix it today. My son also flew in on Christmas Eve but had to fly out Monday. He took a direct flight into a major airport 2.5 hours away. We had some snow so I was worried about him driving. He didn't have any problems but said the rental company just told him to pick out whatever car he wanted since they were out of the economy car he reserved. He could have gotten an SUV which would have been a good choice for snowy roads but he  saw a Dodge Charger and thought that would be fun. It snowed another 2 or 3 inches Sunday. We live at the bottom of a hill so we were concerned about him getting up to the main roads but he made it. It was a bit chaotic but I had enough beds for everyone and plenty of food. I'm also not a dog person at all, but the dog was very sweet and never said a word but constantly wanted attention as dogs do. We all had a lot of fun and more togetherness than we normally would have had. Kind of nice.

Well done, ibm!!! Leave it to Mom to handle whatever life throws her way! Glad it all worked out and you made some fun memories.

[tycho657]

ibmjas glad your family was able to be safe with you. There are many dangerous parts of the country with this big storm. Please stay safe and prepare for these storms.
We are getting big rain from a new storm coming in from the Pacific. It is nice to see a good snowpack building in the mountains. Hopefully that will help a little with the major drought in the west. I look forward to seeing beautiful snow on 4 Peaks. I can enjoy the beauty of snow in the mountains without having to shovel or drive in the snow.
Stay safe🥰

[Fjordmom]

Glad all are safe and sound...in my little oasis here I don't realize what bad weather parts of the US are having...I don't watch any TV or follow much national news.  I did see pictures of of ice encrusted homes on the shore of Lake Erie and stories of people stranded in Buffalo during the snowstorm and how they managed to rescue others and survive by breaking into a school nearby!!!!  We have been lucky here, the temps on Friday were in the LOW 60s and sunny, 50s yesterday -- SPRING!!!!!!!   I just looked out my bedroom wiindow which overlooks the lawn and the goat paddock, the lawn is nice and green....I'm going to savor this "spring" weather while we have it, I know it'll change.

Wishing you all a healthy, happy and warm New Year!!!!

[nathanfan1]

Mother Nature seems to have put a bull's eye on us here in western Wisconsin this winter! We had 6+ inches of snow in October and then, in the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas, we got 20 inches of snow and actual temps in the teens below zero along with -35 wind chills. Thankfully, the past week things were back up to normal - in the mid 20's - and some of the snow settled. However, we have yet another storm headed our way tomorrow with another 4-8 inches forecast for us. ENOUGH!!!! 


My husband and I both had covid during the week leading up to Christmas, and while neither of us had bad symptoms, we still couldn't have anyone over. We had our family Christmas yesterday on New Year's Day and it went well. Everyone was healthy and the roads were clear so we were able to relax and enjoy the time with each other. I did a big dessert bar and that was quite the hit. I reminded everyone that calories don't count at Christmas!


Now I'm going to focus on a major reorganizing of my quilting fabric and thorough cleaning of my sewing room so that I can start making quilts again in January!