COLD DARK ROOM

[Cathie G]

thanks Cathy, I think I’ll take your advice.
18 boxes!!! 2 flights of stairs!
all by myself! ?
Even though it’s cluttered... I feel like it is one big Christmas hug .

I thought so too. Our ? and such has to be close to the ceiling. We have a cat that even though he's a senior cat, thinks it's fun to swing from wires and fake trees. Not to mention a rabbit that thinks wires are chew toys so a Merry Christmas is what it is ??

 

[Cathie G]

Better call someone Ray... save yourself the trouble and let Rose win this one...

Yes. Happy wife happy life ?

 

[Cathie G]

Aldi is a German grocery store that is went global. They’re all over the world

If the same global store is in my hometown and Florida they're not bad. I will buy food from them and they're just a hop,skip, and jump from me.?

 

[Cathie G]

I do the same too. I remember all the treasured times. Boy I had a lot of wonderful Christmases... sad though..
People this year have to go through what we are feeling for their first time.
I wish them all peace and healing soon.
As I wish for you too..
How can one holiday be 1/2 happy and then 1/2 so sad??
This is why shrinks make a lot of money!!

Yes peace ?️. I spent today with some peace and quiet. Did laundry and will do another load tomorrow. It's snowing here. So it'll probably be a white Christmas ? I know this sounds like a grinch but I'm so glad!!! I get to have a couple of quiet days. No visitors cause they have to do the kids and grandkids thing with presents and all. I get to watch the woodpeckers with a backdrop of a White Christmas. Maybe a good picture.?

 

[CarolM]

Well lucked out again. Rose left the gate unlatched and Opo escaped. I went in the direction of his last adventure with no luck. Turned down 2 streets to the south of me went down that street then I went down 1 street south of me. I came across 2 gentleman walking and asked if they saw a tortoise. They said yes he is in between those 2 houses. One of the neighbors had picked Opo up out of the road and placed him in the grass. The 2 gentleman watched and got out of their car to take a pic of Opo. Opo was going into a overgrown lot so I asked one of them to go get him. Both were afraid, so I told them I would give them 50 bucks. Still no takers. I got as close to Opo without getting stuck, maybe 20 yards away. Opo was walking away from me. I called his name and he finally turned around and started coming towards me. The 2 guys were amazed that Opo would come to my voice. I told them it is because I am the food king. Anyways in haste I didn't bring my phone, so I borrowed one of theirs and called Rose.
During this whole ordeal I think I went thru all the stages of grief. I was hopeful to find him,then mad at Rose. Then thoughts of getting another sully. Which I decided I wouldn't. To thinking about telling you all. I am out of the tortoise business and it was great knowing you. Then thinking I didn't need to give up the friendships I have made here. None the less it turned out fine and the xanax are kicking in while I am writing this. ?????????

Oh wow. So glad you found him. And yes it would not mean you have to give up your friendships. Linda still comes and carries on talking to us.

 

[CarolM]

I hope it does dry up for you. I really don’t like wet mucky weather. We have rain tomorrow too and then cooler winds coming in. Jess is in pure recovery mode now.. it looks like all of her surgeries have been successful and some of the nerves are already regenerating. She is way ahead of DR predictions.. she had to work really hard for the smallest of things that we all take for granted... but SHE IS DOING IT.. I’m very proud of her. She turns 18 on Sunday and Damn if I don’t feel old!!

She is an amazing girl. And an inspiration to us all.

 

[CarolM]

i agree. And now after planning my little heart out so that NO ONE was going to be alone on Christmas Day....
They’ve all up and made plans without including me. Telling me at the last minute tonight. No time fir me to make a “plan C” for myself!!! ?
I will be all alone on Christmas Day ☹?
See what happens to “ Nice” people!?!
Any ideas on what to do alone????
The tv says on all or most of the channels that it a marathon of crappy movies..AGAIN.
Harry potter
The one with the “leg lamp”.
rocky
and some others.
Please know that these are not crappy movies. But to play them ALL DAY LONG OVER AND OVER is a bit much...24 hrs of the same movie on different channels is not my way of celebrating Christmas tv.
?

Those people are terrible. To leave you out and not include you. You could always watch home alone. Then maybe you can at least have a good laugh.

 

[CarolM]

Carol!!!! I think I’ve found your mind!!
It was under the bed.
Or ... at least ... something moved and told me to “GET OUT!” from under there?
Scary ?!
Well...now.... I don’t know what that thing was???? ?

Are you sure it was my mind? As it does not like scary situations at all. And if it was please calm it down before you send it back to me.

 

[CarolM]

And I really hope you are feeling better!!!
Just take it day by day..!
Rest of you feel the need!
Nothing needs your attention right now.
Just you take it easy on yourself.
And when you’re feeling better....
I will mail your brains back.
But for now..... REST!!!!! ?

Aaahhh Thank you. Stephen reckons I must be feeling better because I am back to moaning at him again. ??

 

[JoesMum]

Scenes from our candlelit conservatory just before Christmas Eve dinner

Merry Christmas everyone x

 

[CarolM]

Good mornooning all.

I thought I’d share some Christmas baking with you. The electronic version is calorie free so tuck in

Christmas Cake (fruit cake) baked by daughter a couple of months back and decorated yesterday. It’s been maturing and fed with brandy weekly. The colours don’t show well in my photo; those trees are a darker green than that! And there are sparkly stars on the “snow”

Yule log (chocolate swiss roll filled and covered with buttercream) made and decorated by daughter yesterday
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Christmas Cake (fruit cake) baked by daughter a couple of months back and decorated yesterday. It’s been maturing and fed with brandy weekly. The colours don’t show well in my photo; those trees are a darker green than that! And there are sparkly stars on the “snow”
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Mince pies baked by me with homemade mincemeat. They’re great warm or cold and particularly good with brandy cream. I make a cheat’s version which is simply mascarpone mixed with dark muscovado sugar and a little brandy.
View attachment 313690
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Oohhhh. Love it. Yummyyyyyy. Those were nice. Now there is no more room left for anything else.

 

[CarolM]

Good morning all from a very, very soggy Wales!
I've just discovered a cracked roof slate which is letting in some water above my bathroom and I can't do a thing about it yet. I hope I'll be able to temp fix it until after the holidays with some roof seal by leaning out of a bedroom window with a long handled brush, but as its pouring down I can't even do that yet.
Also need to go and find some spare Xmas light bulbs as my old tree is in the dark at the moment.
Still Xmas pressie hunting for my Brother in law.
So much to do so little time!
Hope everyone has a good Weds!

I hope it has stopped raining long enough for you to do the temp fix. Good luck. Holding thumbs it all works out

 

[CarolM]

looking back now... I wish I had not put up my tree either! No one came to see it!!!
Maybe on Christmas Day I’ll be taking it down.... that will keep me busy for hours!!

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Oh Wow. It is gorgeous. I would definitely come and see it. It is fantasy perfect.

 

[CarolM]

Those people sure don't know what they are missing. Absolutely beautiful.

 

[CarolM]

I’m just out the shower now and I was thinking about it.
No more pity party for me!!!
I am SOOOOO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU!!!
I HAVE MUCH TO BE HAPPY ABOUT!

1- Jess is doin better
2- joesmum is on the mend and daughter too
3- Ray Opo got good news on his lungs
4- Carol is beating covid
5- so many others to name but I didn’t think you wanted me to go on....?
You name some...
6- my tort just pooped after holding it in for three days..?
7- I don’t have covid nor does my family..
8- I am warm,safe...and have food.
9- I will not be stuck out in the huge rain storm they predict for NY/NJ Christmas Eve and day. Calling for power outages too!?

I mean .... there is sooooooo much to be great full for!!
and why should I not enjoy my decorations myself?
I can get my groove on with Santa and some music ?....?
Hope he likes “white snake” .... just kidding. ?

You go girl. Tell them

 

[Cathie G]

Thanks, Rose was real upset. While looking for Opo, I momentarily got anger at Rose, but played it all the way thru my head and quickly forgave her. There were a ton of different thoughts going thru my head. While riding around in my chair looking for Opo.

Yes. I'll bet she was. One little forgotten step in my animal routine and it goes nuts around here. I might have a zebra Finch flying around or several. That puts my energy level into full gear and it's like trying to catch a hummingbird. I have to move a ladder around, throw a towel over the curtains etc... from dealing with that I became evil. If anyone opens the door when I'm cleaning the little darlings... they're dead meat.

 

[CarolM]

I forgot to introduce y’all to our newest house guest! Kevin has been living in the plant in my bathroom for 5 days now.. I suspect it’s been since I brought the great Aloe inside for winter.. I have fed him a couple crickets and he seems pretty content. The doggie door is right there so he could leave if he chose. I saw him crawling on the shower wall one day so I know he is exploring some.. View attachment 313753
I will leave him be and hope any human guests don’t get “surprised”.. LOL

Kevin is cute.

 

[Maggie3fan]

I love the fact that his name is Kevin!
Lol!!!

Kevin is the name of my 3rd last husband

 

[Cathie G]

Well the weather went from 49f to this today..
and Dilly found some of my laundry for tomorrow.

 

[Ray--Opo]

I am so glad you did! I remember watching a garage guy install one years ago and he had poloroids of opposes. My fave was the rod imbedded in a car hood!

Yeah that tension spring is wound up tight. There is a lot of energy behind it. One slip and the best you can hope for is some busted up knuckles.