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

[AuntieMe3]

QOTD: Gifts under the tree - before or after Christmas Eve/Day?

I forgot to answer the QOTD....
I usually add them as I get them wrapped which is usually close to Christmas Eve...like Christmas Eve eve....

Santa gifts, of course, didn't get added until after DD went to bed but haven't had to worry about that in awhile....and I sure do miss it. I usually don't fill the stockings until Christmas Eve, as well.

 

[easyas123]

I took my time.. I just did the whole thing again, it's still snowing but big fat flakes now. They said it will be done by midnite. We have probably had maybe 5-6", hopefully it's not going to snow more tonite and get to the 12-18" they had predicted.
I don't envy your son having to drive home from Ocean City, it might not be ice by then, it may turn to rain they said. Hope he makes it home safely! I had to lol at the 'pre yelled' ..still do that to the stepkids..you are right..once a mom..always a mom!

Thanks - he made it home safe & sound! Now I start to worry about him driving back down there tomorrow morning at 4:30!

This is the first themed tree I've ever done...its soo pretty.

It looks great!

Good news: Just got a text that my COVID test was negative.

Oh! Good news indeed!

 

[tazdev3225]

What???? Fell at work and they didn't do anything? Is this a work comp situation? That's not right...and if it's not work comp it's still not right! I hope she recovers easily and quickly. I handle all of our employees work comp situations, please tell her to consider reporting this to everyone she is supposed to ASAP in order to start a claim, it's to her benefit.

@tazdev3225, I'm sorry about your friend! Her company probably didn't want to do anything for her because that means taking responsibility for her injury, and that in turn would lead to a workman's comp claim. Now they can say "Didn't happen here!" (That happened at a bank where I worked for a short time a few years ago...someone fell on the ice right in front of the door, and several people saw it happen. But when it was reported to HR, she said "Prove it" and refused to make a claim. So I'm always suspicious when a company turns the other way when an employee is injured on property.)

I chatted with my friend briefly today. She tried to get an appointment with the orthopedist but needed the workman's comp case #. Her HR did have some difficulty getting the numbers needed but they finally succeeded. Sounds like they aren't going to fight workman's comp at least. She is going to miss at least a couple of months based on where the break is and the fact that she works in the office of a daycare but is sometimes called in to help with the classrooms. That was actually how she fell. A little one was having a meltdown of some sort and knocked her over. My friend just fell awkwardly. She did get an appointment but not til next week.

We are getting the snow, I really hoped it would be a rain event. Of course that starts the annual NO YOU CANNOT SHOVEL argument with my husband. I actually made sure the cardiologist let him know in no uncertain terms he has a serious heart condition and he is not allowed. It doesn't stop him from trying to do it every year. I am hoping it won't be too heavy in the morning. Thankfully it is a small bit of sidewalk and a path to my car for the most part. Unfortunately I am on the "dark" side of the street so I actually have to shovel from the driveway out to the middle of the street. They get all the sun. By Friday they will look like it never snowed and we will have snow for weeks.

QOTD
I don't bother putting presents under the tree anymore. When the kids were home it was Christmas Eve after they went to bed. This year I am giving mostly cash or gift cards. The grandkids are getting older and they prefer that anyway.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

A coworker just mentioned wrapping gifts, and it made me think of a good Question of The Day, since it's been a while!

QOTD: Gifts under the tree - before or after Christmas Eve/Day?
In other words, do you put your gifts under the tree as you get them - or all at once at a specific point?

For me, when the kids were little, all the gifts from us & Santa went under the tree on Christmas Eve after they went to bed. They are older and grown now, but I still wait until Christmas Eve to put out the gifts! I just stopped waiting for everyone to be asleep! I can't recall what we did if they received a gift from their grandparents who don't live nearby...I think we put them under the tree when they arrived?

EXCEPT for the christmas pajamas! No pajamas this year, kids are older and don't need or want them and I can accept that. Not every little thing can carry on from year to year.

When the kids were little, our gifts went up as I wrapped; the big guy's came in on Christmas Eve, because that's when he stops by. We allowed them to open up one package each year, and it was always the new pjs (washed prior to wrapping, to get the stiffness out), to be put on before going to look at the lights and drinking hot chocolate (or chocolate milk, depending on your age) before going home; reading Twas the Night Before Christmas, and then teeth and bed. Carrots for the reindeer (although Santa this year told DGS#2 that the reindeer prefer apples, cut into 8 slices....I guess Rudolph is still the odd man out.....), cookies and milk (or eggnog, depending on the mood) for the jolly guy.


Although, one year, he came while we were still driving back from WDW, and we opened presents that night, so we could sleep in. LOL

 

[Pea-n-Me]

DD and I were tested at work yesterday, still waiting for results. Covid is everywhere. Hoping to get the vaccine by the end of this week. Things have been kind of crazy here with DH’s Dad on hospice with the usual problems that crop up, and everyone here working crazy hours.

The good news is that DS finished his college classes so he’s a new graduate, but his work is running short so he’s worked several doubles in the last several days and thought he’d be off now, but with the storm coming tonight he was told today he’d be needed tomorrow so will likely have to go in again. DD is pulling a night shift tonight and I hope she gets to come home in the morning. (If people don’t show up, some from previous shift have to stay.) She was called in earlier in the week so she won’t have to leave again once she’s home.

We’re pretty much all set for XMas. I just have to do my cards, wrap, and pick up a few groceries next week. The tree looks nice and the lights on the mantle are cozy. It is very cold, even in the house: you know snow is coming! ❄ DH spent last night with his Dad and didn’t get home till this afternoon. Went to turn on the snowblower and of course it’s dead. He went to the hardware store but it still didn’t work so gave up and said he’ll deal with it tomorrow. A hot shower and a little rest was necessary at that point.

We ordered chicken parm with angel hair pasta from a local Italian place tonight to make life easier, and it was delish.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

PS I’m sorry @AuntieMe3 to hear about your family’s illness. A friend of mine also has a whole family down.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

@Bianca and Bernard , your dinner looked really good. And YAY for your early gift.

@AuntieMe3 , your tree is very pretty.

@Pea-n-Me , Congrats! to your son. And I can't wait until its my turn for the vaccine. I am glad you are getting it.

Went to turn on the snowblower and of course it’s dead.

DH did the same thing with the same results. It wouldn't start. He brought it into the garage and something about an electric starter, he pugged it in and got it started.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

and praise God you are negative, Carol.

I am so enjoying reading all of your Christmas present replies, thanks everyone.

Hug and prayers, Pea! And the same for your friend, TazDev!

Getting chillier and darker here. Have a good evening friends.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks @Breezy_Carol ! Ik! He thinks it’s the spark plugs or something but it got too cold and he was exhausted. BIL was at FIL’s doing the same thing, mice had eaten the spark plugs so he was replacing them. What a pain! I don’t think we used the snowblower last year so it’s probably been sitting a couple of years. I think DH would’ve had it ready before but this year he’s had a lot on his plate.

I mentioned before I would post a pic of our Disney centerpiece from Bradford Exchange. I love this thing and it’s amazing it hasn’t broken yet! There are characters that go in circles around every level, and a train, and Santa and the reindeer fly around the top. Kind of hard to see and video is probably better. Will see if I can pull one up from the site. Batteries mighlow too.



Ah! Found it! Much better light w this, and a video.

https://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/1400567001_disney-tabletop-tree.html

 

[Kirby]

I love wildflowers! Lady Bird Johnson had a lot to do with the highway beautification act towards planting wildflowers along the roads.

It was a sunny day after all, no rain. So much for my weather app forecast. Not that I mind the sun....... We don't get that much snow here, usually more ice. People go crazy here. One of my bucket list items is to visit an area of the country that gets a lot of snow. I've never experienced b

I received my test results this morning, it was negative. I've got another test scheduled for Friday. That will be day 8 since I was exposed. I will feel much better if I get a negative test then.

Yum! I love a good holiday meal! Turkey and dressing plus all the trimmings is my favorite meal of the year.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

@Kirby , glad you were negative too.

Here is a picture of our tree. The topper is a red headed angel. DD is a red head so we had to have it.

And a favorite ornament DS made in first grade at school.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Prayers for second negative test, Kirby!

Aww your DS was adorable, Carol. What a pretty tree, too.

 

[snappy]

Loving all the discussion of snow. We seldom get snow, we kind of fall apart when it gets below 40 degrees here. We are both chickens where ice is concerned. But the snow is beautiful.

I had a freak out moment this morning, I could not locate the credit card I like to tuck in my shirt pocket when i have to go out, so I don’t have to dig through my purse and wallet in a store with unwashed hands. Looked everywhere, every possible pocket multiple times. I was making DH miserable. Finally it occurred to me to search through a pile of dirty clothes in the laundry room, and Eureka! All is well until I start my newish car (got it in February before the world went to hell.) It started up but there were all kind of dire messages like check engine, etc. I drove it anyway but just to drop off a letter at the post office. My dear DH had already set up an appointment at the dealer by the time I returned. He is a keeper.

We are mostly staying home these days. I am too covid afraid. Stay safe.

 

[snappy]

Planning on ordering a fried turkey for Christmas, and maybe a dauberge cake for dessert. Not very healthy choices lol. Seems overkill for just the two of us but trying to figure out how to make it a festive day. Thanksgiving seemed just kind of like an ordinary Thursday. My best friend from New Orleans may come up. She lost her SO in April, so she will either come here or go to Florida and spend it with her Dad’s widow.

We were supposed to be in Disney the last few days. Made the reservation last January. I was sad to cancel a while back but it would not be the place for us to be. Even if we were not exposed to covid I would be on edge every single minute. Maybe next year.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hug, I'm sorry Snappy Your DH definitely sounds like a great guy

Have a good night and sweet dreams everyone!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning all. Guess we got about 6-8" of snow. Hard to tell since I shoveled 2x yesterday and was out there at 5 this morning clearing it again. The main road is down to blacktop, so it must have warmed up overnite a bit. The snow was definitely heavier to lift this morning at any rate. Whatever is left can melt when the temp goes above freezing this morning. Glad we don't have to go anywhere till Saturday, maybe by then the piles will have started to melt and disappear. Nothing on my to do list for today, good thing, as I am pretty stiff and sore, lol.
I never sat down last nite to answer the QOTD. When the kids were little, all gifts got put out after they went to bed. As they got older, I still did that, but put them out Christmas morning while everyone else was still asleep. When we moved to this house, and had a bigger tree, I put them out as they got wrapped. Now we just have a small tree, so nothing goes under it. We just give each other our presents Christmas morning. Everyone else gets gift cards (showed as in Ohio yesterday, PA this morning, hopefully they can make it down 1 more state by tomorrow, lol), so those don't need wrapping

Have a great day everyone,,stay safe!

 

[easyas123]

Good morning all- our parking lot is a sheet of ice, 2 guys already fell! So I’m parked at end of drive to warn the few ladies coming in that I don’t have cell numbers for-
First thing on my agenda today- get those numbers in my phone!!

I’m hoping a mtg we have scheduled for this afternoon goes ahead- I’m not sure where the other person is coming in from, hopefully somewhere w/o ice!

 

[easyas123]

The good news is that DS finished his college classes so he’s a new graduate

Excellent! Good for him!

Disney centerpiece f

That’s beautiful!

Here is a picture of our tree.

Looks great, I can’t wait till we can go back to a big tree.

We were supposed to be in Disney the last few days.

That stinks... husband started dropping hints about going back for one of our weekends... problem for us is we favor early December or mid January-early February time frame. The 50th celebration plus everyone rescheduled and limited hotel options equals harder for us to get down there a bit last second, as some of our travel cones about due to work schedules! There is a part of me that wants to just book something for a year from now or January and keep my fingers crossed....

One gal warned, 2 more to go!

 

[tazdev3225]

Morning all. Hope everyone in the path of the Nor' Easter stayed safe.

I headed out to try and shovel with only one glove, my gloves are in my car for some reason. Had to dig the shovels out one handed because they got buried overnight. Finally get them clear and my good shovel that I can just push is broken. The handle keeps coming out. I am not fond of the other shovel but between the two I cleared the steps and a path to the car for my gloves. It's a heavy snow, not the easy kind to shovel.

Open the car to find snow in the back. HUH??? Turns out before I got out of the car yesterday l I must have hit the button and lowered the window about 2 inches. I hit that button all the time for some reason. Now I can't get the window back up because it is frozen.

So I went to see how bad it is in the street and of course the snow drifted to my side of the street, as usual. I gave up. I will wait an hour or two and hope it warms up a little or some enterprising youth come by looking to make some money.

I was going to spend a nice quiet day at home but now I will have to go buy a shovel. I can't even make cookies, my favorite snowy day activity because the kitchen is a complete disaster getting ready for the remodel.

Have a nice day all.

 

[PollyannaMom]

QOTD: Gifts under the tree - before or after Christmas Eve/Day?
In other words, do you put your gifts under the tree as you get them - or all at once at a specific point?

When DS was little, gifts from us were mixed - I would put a few under the tree as I wrapped, and save a few for the "wow factor" (along with the Santa gifts) after he went to bed Christmas Eve.

Good news: Just got a text that my COVID test was negative.

Yeah!!!