Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[PollyannaMom]

I'm so excited tonight to find the original "Yours, Mine and Ours" with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda on the streaming service I signed up for to watch Hallmark Movies. I love this movie, after they did a remake with Dennis Quiad and Rene Russo I could never find the original on TV.

I loved that one too!! The new one just isn’t the same.

Glad you got a nice a surprise with the streaming service!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Happy Wednesday and Veteran's Day all. Thank you to each of you and your families who have or are serving! It's chilly but sunny here. My phone says 52 degrees which for here is very cold! I DVR-ed a few Christmas movies last night including "The Christmas Card" and "The Magic Stocking." I'll check those out and post back. I do so enjoy reading what each of you think of all the movies

 

[lynxstch]

Well that sounds pretty positive @Breezy_Carol!

I’ve decided to use my crock pot more. Today I browned some chicken breasts then put them in there w some carrots and chicken broth. Toward the end added some Italian/pole beans. It was cooked perfectly but the chicken was a little dry. What was I missing? Maybe this is why people always use soups like Cream of Mushroom and such?

I never use cream soups when I cook chicken breasts. We like to marinate them in McCormicks Baja Citrus marinade. I put them in a baggie with the marinade for a couple of hours. Then I put them in the crockpot on low for about 4 hours. Never dried out, always juicy!

 

[Snowysmom]

It is a warm, dreary day here, 72 degrees and rainy off and on. Jasper had his full walk as he is off exercise restrictions and he led the way.

I have some Hallmark movies on DVR. I may watch them this weekend. This is the first year I have really watched the Christmas movies. It is nice to have something light and usually entertaining to watch. If I find I don't like a movie I just go to one of the other channels showing Christmas movies. It is all good.

I remember when Yours, Mine, and Ours came out. I am definitely dating myself.

For supper tonight I am making a soup mix that I got at Zeb's in North Conway. It is a country vegetable soup. I add cabbage (cole slaw mix), broth, and the optional chicken. It sounds good so we will see how it turns out. It only takes 20-30 minutes so I like that part of it.

Our neighborhood seems to be decorating outside for Christmas already. It seems early to me. Anyone else seeing this in their neighborhood? I did start shopping on Amazon for the toys for the grandkids. DDIL put up a wish list so I grabbed a couple of toys and books. I got them today. Next week will be in store shopping for a bit. I always like to putter around the toy department and argue with DH about spending too much money on the kids toys. He wants to spend and I want to keep it reasonable. Our kids agree with me. LOL!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Our neighborhood seems to be decorating outside for Christmas already. It seems early to me. Anyone else seeing this in their neighborhood?

I admit to taking advantage of the gorgeous warm weather this week to string my lights up...but I promise I haven’t been turning them on yet!!

It’s just that we’ve already had snow once, and I don’t want to take chances with ladders if it gets slippery again quickly.

 

[Snowysmom]

I admit to taking advantage of the gorgeous warm weather this week to string my lights up...but I promise I haven’t been turning them on yet!!

It’s just that we’ve already had snow once, and I don’t want to take chances with ladders if it gets slippery again quickly.

I definitely understand taking advantage of the warm weather. It could snow again any time! We have Santa and a reindeer 2 houses down from us as well as lights around their house. They are not done yet. I know when they are going to put up their decorations as they use a Pod to store them and each year when the Pod gets delivered to their driveway I know the decorating follows. Other houses have lights up and on. We only put lights around the front door and usually in December.

 

[easyas123]

Our neighborhood seems to be decorating outside for Christmas already. It seems early to me. Anyone else seeing this in their neighborhood?

No, BUT there is a house I pass on my way home from the office that has lights on along the perimeter of their roof line. I think they keep them up year long???? maybe...in any event, they are currently white or red, but after the holidays they sometimes have them turned to purple depending on how the Baltimore Ravens are doing during football season!

There is also this one place I pass by - they always seem to put their tree up in the living room window by mid-November. Way to early for me as well - but I'm a stick in the mud no fun type of gal sometimes

We have a few new families, all with younger children, that moved into the development that borders our farm, I'm surprised I haven't seen any yet but suspect this year folks will probably get a early star on Christmas decor outside. Which reminds me, I wanted to order some solar powered lights . Off to Amazon!

 

[easyas123]

they use a Pod to store them and each year when the Pod gets delivered to their driveway I know the decorating follows.

Whoa - those folks must be serious!

 

[lynxstch]

I admit to taking advantage of the gorgeous warm weather this week to string my lights up...but I promise I haven’t been turning them on yet!!

It’s just that we’ve already had snow once, and I don’t want to take chances with ladders if it gets slippery again quickly.

No snow here yet,,but I put ours up yesterday while it was 72 degrees..Not turning them on till Dec 1

 

[Breezy_Carol]

there is a house I pass on my way home from the office that has lights on along the perimeter of their roof line. I think they keep them up year long???? maybe...in any event, they are currently white or red, but after the holidays they sometimes have them turned to purple depending on how the Baltimore Ravens are doing during football season!

Our across the street neighbors have those cable lights wrapped around their two front porch pillars. They can change the colors. So, they leave them up year round. Make red, white and blue at July Fourth, orange on Halloween. After the election was called they lighted them up blue.

DH used to put up icicle lights on the house but hates doing it now. We got a "points of light" projector and just use that. We have put it out with red, white and blue at July Fourth too. DH wanted to put it out after the election but we need to get a battery for the controller.

Rainy, yucky day. Paid bills, made some calls, and read some of my book for church.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

My friend Sue's grandson installed recently on her house lights that can change via computer command. I haven't, of course, seen them but post plague I look forward to doing so. I'm glad to hear some of you are putting up lights. I would enjoy seeing pictures if you want to share. The pod storage is indeed a bit much! ITA agree with trying to get any shopping done early!

Snowysmom, I meant to say originally and am adding this in now, that I also enjoy having a three channel choice of Christmas movies this year! Lifetime, Hallmark, and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

Weather here has warmed up a little to in the low 60's.

 

[easyas123]

Ugh, what a aggravating afternoon/evening.
I won't bore you with the gory details, lets just say I placed a large grocery order for pick up at 4 PM. By 5:30 I was headed home without groceries and minus $110 which they tell me will be refunded in "2-3 days".

Why yes, I did take names & numbers but kept my cool with the kids working there as it wasn't in anyway their fault.

Then I get home and learn that we will be having 2 more guests for Thanksgiving. Now, normally I say the more the merrier! But in my head I had already calculated the table space and dishes and all those dumb little details when it was just going to be the 5 people living here. BUT the 2 other people joining us are super lovely and new to our family kinda sorta (they will be sons in laws and they are real down to earth decent, fun, good people and I'm so happy he's gotten lucky in the in law department, and frankly they raised a pretty decent young lady who we love) and so now I gotta clean the house better and give things a closer thought. I totally overdo & over think Thanksgiving during normal times!!! But now I've got to re adjust my approach to the day again. You know what? It will work out, one way or another! Now I've got to get myself up to Breezy Carols famers market and place a order at the bakery for rolls & some dessert items to pick up the day before Thanksgiving!

Dinner this evening was frozen pizza that my husband made. Needed the missing groceries to feed my teenage nephew this weekend - that boy can put it away and youngest is currently home and he's no slouch when it comes to breakfast & dinner either! Guess I'm hitting the grocery store in person tomorrow after work. Second time is the charm!

I'm considering bypassing the frozen pizza and having a cookie for dinner!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you for bringing me a smile, Easyas123, with saying you just might have a cookie for dinner. That's great and why not? Though lol you probably should have something with it! That's wonderful about your future in laws. I am sorry though about your frustrating shopping experience.

Have a good evening, everyone!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for the responses to my crock pot question!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

@easyas123, thanks for shopping at my Farmer's Market. LOL So what store caused you this grocery mishap? And thanks for knowing that it wasn't the young workers' fault.

I have emailed my kids about Thanksgiving and do they want to proceed with the COVID surge. I am on the fence. I think we are all feeling COVID fatigue.

Watching the MASH finale with commentary on MeTV.

 

[AuntieMe3]

I had a busy morning today for my day off, got up when DD was getting ready for work and got ready for the day. Went to Walmart to return some boots I bought a couple weeks back. I was worried it was going to be so crowded because the parking lot seemed so full but I was pleasantly surprised. I bought a couple pine scented candles, some holiday scented hand soap for DD's bathroom and some Christmas themed cookies tins for DD's coworkers. Then I ran over to JCPenney's to return some Christmas pjs I bought for the three of us(no one liked them...lol), only to find out they didn't open until 11am....so I went to Michael's to use a gift card I've had for a year or two now and picked up a couple Christmas decorations and some cardstock for a gift I'm giving the daycare kids....for Christmas. It was really crowded and there was some unhappy people in line yelling across the store at the poor cashiers. Finally some man, said something to them and they seemed to settle down. Some people.... Went back to JCP, made my return and was going to buy a couple gifts but the line was too long so I put everything back and will just order online. From there I went and got my nails done at my friends house, and I bought a Christmas themed Scentsy warmer and some more holiday scents from her too. As you can probably tell I've got Christmas on the brain....I'm trying to get stuff done so the month of December, I can just sit and enjoy all the Christmas cheer...

I DVR-ed a few Christmas movies last night including "The Christmas Card" and "The Magic Stocking." I'll check those out and post back. I do so enjoy reading what each of you think of all the movies

I LOVE "The Christmas Card". It was the first Hallmark movie that hooked me. LOL

Our neighborhood seems to be decorating outside for Christmas already. It seems early to me. Anyone else seeing this in their neighborhood?

One house on our street has its lights turned on, I don't think they every took them down though. LoL Hubby wants to put up our lights and wants to get a fake tree this year so we can put it up soon so we'll be the guilty ones soon.

We got a "points of light" projector and just use that.

We bought one of those for my parents and someone stole it out of their front yard....while we were sitting right there in their living room.

Ugh, what a aggravating afternoon/evening.
I won't bore you with the gory details, lets just say I placed a large grocery order for pick up at 4 PM. By 5:30 I was headed home without groceries and minus $110 which they tell me will be refunded in "2-3 days".

What a pain!! I hope you get your refund quick. I'm sure your Thanksgiving will be wonderful so try not to stress too much.

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning all. Our beautiful return to warm weather is gone. It's 56 out now, but they are calling for a high of 54. At least the rain is gone, we had a good bit of it yesterday!!

I scored last nite on Walmarts 'pre black Friday' sale that started at 7 pm. Wanted to get hubby a new laptop for Christmas, and they had one reg. price $299 on sale for $149. He doesn't need anything fancy, so that will work just right for him. I had a timer set, and sat down at the computer at 6:50 and kept refreshing the shop now button until 7. As soon as the buy button appeared, I hit it, and managed to get one of the laptops. I checked again at 7:08 and it said they were out of stock. That's the big gift for him off my list!

That is awful about your bad shopping trip@easyas123 --that's why I haven't ordered any groceries for pick up , afraid that would happen to me. If it was their fault, they should have taken care of your refund faster than 2-3 days, why should you have to wait for your money back when it was their issue, not yours!

It will just be the 2 of us for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not chancing having any one else in the house with the spike in cases around here and in WV.

I noticed that the neighbor behind us has his Christmas lights and blow ups on his back deck and house..and when I went out this morning to get the paper, I noticed that he has them up and running, lol. Little early for me, but to each their own.
Have a great Thursday everyone!

 

[NYCgrrl]

Morning, All although it still looks like nighttime, LOL.

Been busy the last few days doing “stuff”: re-stocking and organizing the chest freezer (always good for an ab workout), resisting the siren call of Thanksgiving food porn, and food shopping with DGD. Easy to over-shop and forget certain realities: less household residents, and holiday entertaining. DGD remembers that in the recent past, Fall, was our “squirrel period” and tried her darndest to tempt me at Zabars and Citarella’s yesterday. For those who don’t know both are NYC food institutions that have amazing prepared foods and tiny aisles of goodies not found elsewhere. Hellaciously expensive if you aren’t careful. DGD grew up in the neighborhood and takes the experience as a birthright. Needed to deep school her in how to get around the higher costs there but still get the benefits: concentrate on proteins, and limit side dishes which average $9.50/lb; “clean out“ the bakery counter around 6:00 PM when everything is 2 for 1 and your freezer can store the excess; never buy full meals that include those overpriced sides. It was hard for the wannabe teenage her as her Ompaah was great at indulgence and where was he when needed?!? Still we made it thru the “ordeal” and learned a few things about each other at the same time .
I need to get to the park for my daily constitutional so will continue after.

 

[bobbiwoz]

NYCgrrl, we get the Zabar catalog, and I read and re-read it and dream about their goodies!! A friend always sends us a Babka.

 

[easyas123]

what store

Wally World in Middletown....

Got a text this morning at 5:12 AM letting me know my order was ready for pick up, and then about 10 minutes later a text telling me they canceled my order