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

[flyingdumbo127]

Prayers TazDev for your grandson and his wife+ baby to be!

Great collection, PollyanannaMom!

Target is offering 10% off all Target gift cards today and tomorrow in store and online.

 

[tazdev3225]

Prayers TazDev for your grandson and his wife+ baby to be!

Thank you. I just want them healthy and a healthy baby. I am looking forward to a 4 generation picture of the James'. The baby will be the 7th James in both sides of the family, but #4 starting with my husband. Funny story though. On our very first date my husband told me our 1st child will be a boy and he will be named James Jr. I was like you are getting a little ahead of yourself there don't you think???

We were engaged 3 months later, married 3 years later at my fathers insistence, and 11 months after we were married, to the day, we had our 1st child - a boy named James Jr. My husband said he just knew.

 

[lynxstch]

Looking for a little help, or suggestions. Most of you know that Hubby retired yesterday. There are going to be a LOT of hours to fill around here. Any suggestions for games that only need 2 players? Other than Monopoly or Scrabble, and Uno,already have those. I am also thinking jigsaw puzzles, so any brands that make good puzzles (as in good quality), that anyone can suggest? TIA

Hubby got a retirement gift in the mail today, from his middle son --

He already never knew what day it was..now he won't have any excuse to ask me everyday what day it is. He already asked me today if it was Friday, lol!

 

[Snowysmom]

@lynxstch I love the clock your DS sent. It is priceless.

Everyone's Christmas decorations look lovely. We will probably get a tree Friday and decorate it next weekend. Then DH will set up the mantle as he likes to do that. I'll do the little bit of kitchen decorating which is mainly towels and pot holders.

QOTD - What is the best thing that happened to you this year?
Having the family together for vacation in New Hampshire.
Not wearing makeup since March when I started working from home. Even the one half day a week I go into the office I don't put on makeup as it will just get all over the mask.

We saw older DS and 2 grandsons today. The kids got antsy and we only stayed about 45 minutes. It takes us longer to drive there than that. LOL! At least we got to bring them Christmas books and little tree ornaments with their names on them. They started fighting and badgering each other (they are 2 and 3 1/2) so when they got time out we went home. DS lives in the central part of the state and it started snowing there as we drove home. Once we got home it took another couple of hours for the snow to start at our house. His area now has about 3 inches of snow and more to come. We are expecting 3-5 inches of snow in our area.

Happy Saturday.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We got the string of globe lights I bought for the screened porch up. It is cold and windy out, And I hung wreathes on the front porch lights.

@Bianca and Bernard and @lynxstch, we are also better off financially now than last year. DH and I were both basically self employed so never knew what we would be bringing home each week. And now that we both get SS, we know exactly what is coming in. And we aren't going anywhere so doing ok.

@PollyannaMom, those are the exact same Santa candle huggers.



@lynxstch , I like Ravensburger puzzles. They are a little more expensive but good quality.

And just because. DD sent me this picture that she just got spur of the moment of the grands.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Back from Stew Leonard’s in Yonkers. The lack of samples makes the visit much faster apparently . The fact that I had a tightly written shopping list helped as well. Im trying to use up the cold storage meats and prepped dishes as much as possible as normally by now the freezer would be almost empty and ready to be defrosted. Have several large cuts of meat purchased on sale at the start of the year anticipating holiday parties and such; Covid-19 put the kabash on that.
So be it, time to make lemonade.

 

[sparkle78]

Ravensburger puzzles are the best. Heavy duty pieces that only fit in one way - Disney, Harry Potter, landscape scenes. We have bought several other 1,000 piece puzzles and got frustrated when some pieces linked with 3 other.

Games for 2 people : Qwixx a dice game , ,skipbo, skyjo cards,

 

[sparkle78]

 

[sparkle78]

Last year’s cookie baking supplies, found old photo

 

[flyingdumbo127]

TazDev, love the story about your DH just knowing about his eventual son James!

Love the clock, Lynxstch! Dad and I enjoy playing Sorry and Rack-o.

Carol, the picture of your grandkids and dog is precious.

I'm so glad you got grand kid time, Snowymsom.

Yummy treats, Sparkle!

My friend dropped off the Nativity set. I'll set it up later and take a picture!

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning DIS QUACK'ers! Not going to be a very warm day here in Western MD..it's 38 now and they say our high will be 37, lol.
Stepson called last nite, and is coming up today. He has quite a few paintings he needs to deliver around here, and he is going to have breakfast here with us. His Mother has also moved back to town from KY , so I'm sure he will need to spend a couple of hours with her. We don't get to see him often, so we'll take what we can get.

Thanks for the game and puzzle suggestions,,keep them coming, please! Sorry is a good one, I loved that as a kid, but had forgotten about it. Skipbo looks too similar to Uno for me. I have also picked a couple of the Ravensburger puzzles out. Not the Disney ones yet , a little too costly until I see if I like their brand. I saw a 40,000+ piece Disney one on Amazon, billed as the worlds largest Disneu puzzle..they had 3it from 3 sellers, ranging in price from $672 plus $227 shipping..to $1850..are they out of their minds? LOL!
Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!

 

[NYCgrrl]

Good Morning, All!

Hanukkah begins in the middle of the week this year, and DGD has requested that no Christmas decor be placed until it ends on the 18th of the month. Not our household norm but fine by me. Truth be known for decades before her birth, used to hold off all Christmas decorating until the Eve. Guess I’ll just keep touching up the housework already completed for longer than in general .

The closer we get to the end of December the more I think we will not spend the holidays with older sister as originally planned. Her youngest son and wife plan to fly in from LA and she’s been busying herself with ways to make a DIY decontamination station. She overthought for a bit so I reminded her of the underused 2nd staircase that leads from the garage to the MIL suite. I’m confident the LA kids will fly home no matter what but am just not comfortable with 4 different households totaling 8 people sharing space. Have a “back channel” communication line opened to BIL so he can better console her if we don’t come. Maybe I’ll send her frozen dough so we can make cookies virtually on the Eve? I’d wuv to make them at her house as she’s every cake decorating thingie Martha Stewart ever sold or suggested but I’ll survive OK with jar tops, LOL.

Need to get to Michael’s this morning to purchase some craft supplies; BJ’s is next door so a two for one shopping spree makes sense. The sun is up so I need to get going.
Enjoy the beauty of this day!

 

[NYCgrrl]

Looking for a little help, or suggestions. Most of you know that Hubby retired yesterday. There are going to be a LOT of hours to fill around here. Any suggestions for games that only need 2 players? Other than Monopoly or Scrabble, and Uno,already have those. I am also thinking jigsaw puzzles, so any brands that make good puzzles (as in good quality), that anyone can suggest? TIA

Hubby got a retirement gift in the mail today, from his middle son --View attachment 542238

He already never knew what day it was..now he won't have any excuse to ask me everyday what day it is. He already asked me today if it was Friday, lol!

Boggle or Perquackey might satisfy in the word game category. Chess is trending due to the “ Queen’s Gambit” and backgammon is always fun on this end.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sorry, not much help on games or puzzles!

Love all the stories and pictures!

That seems like a good way to combine the holidays, @NYCgrrl . Your post the other day reminded me of the many fun times DH and I had pre-kids shopping on Canal Street. So many things we used to come home with, lol. Do they still have outdoor shopping there? We figured out how to get into The Late Show, day of, so we used to go for several days each year and loved exploring the city! Movies at midnight, a slice of Ray’s pizza at 3am walking back to the hotel, leisurely watching a ballgame in Central Park, trying to hail a cab in a snowstorm - miss those days!

Have a few pics to share. Speaking of puzzles, DD’s boyfriend loves them and is starting to get DD into them. They bought one on a trip to NH this summer, and she picked it out. They completed it a while ago but recently got around to framing it for nostalgia’s sake. I thought it came out great, and she’ll hang it in her room for now, but move it once she saves enough to get her own place. It will look really cute in a family-type room! (Sorry, I overcropped fingers on the right there so some of the frame seems missing.)



They also did their gingerbread house last night:



And DD found this wrapping paper when she was out shopping. Love it!



I had a pic I took the other morning when I looked outside.
I think these guys must’ve been hiding and finally felt it was safe to come out! 🍽



Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!

 

[lynxstch]

Boggle or Perquackey might satisfy in the word game category. Chess is trending due to the “ Queen’s Gambit” and backgammon is always fun on this end.

Thanks..never thought of Boggle..used to like that one. Never heard of Perquackey. Not a fan of chess, I could just never get into it, and we have backgammon alaready.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Good morning, all!

Got the grocery shopping done this morning, and am now out with the cat. Need to prioritize the rest of the day because there is no way I can get to all the decorating I’d like to, all the normal cleaning I really need to, and help DS get ready for virtual finals.

Adding Cribbage to the list of games suitable for two.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Sunday Quack!

I, too, love all the stories and pictures, memories shared. Thank you all.

Nativity will get set up tomorrow. Dad will get a tablecloth at the 99 cent only store to put on. I am so thankful to have it. I'm enjoying my Advent calendar.

Keep warm and well all! Hugs.

 

[snappy]

Hi! I am new to this thread but have read some of your posts here and have greatly enjoyed the discussion and photos. One of your posters encouraged me to come and post. I was a little hesitant as many have been active here since March. However, my friend also shared the other thread inviting others to join this thread. So here I am.

It is lovely to find both a welcoming and non-political thread. Thanks.

So DH and I are retired and empty nesters. Two of our three yet unmarried “kids” live out of state. No grandchildren yet. DH and I are both 65 plus and DH has some of the health conditions that make a severe Covid 19 outcome likely. We came to the realization that we would need to delay our Christmas get together until at least DH and I are vaccinated and have immunity. I was both sad and relieved as I knew in my heart that it was too dangerous even with testing. All three of our kids work around lots of people and while careful, it’s just too risky for us. Since I prioritize visiting my mom (once a week for 15-30 minutes) who lives in assisted living in a LTC facility, it wouldn’t be prudent to expose myself at this point, not when we have been careful for all these months. Just today I received notice from her facility that they are suspending visits again because a staff member has tested positive. Mom will be tested again this week. Luckily we talk by phone and text often. She even FaceTimed my siblings and me earlier today, by accident! It happens!

WDW is one of my happy places, my mom and dad brought my sister and I to DL around 1962, WDW in 1978. DH and I have brought our crew numerous times since 1994. Lately it’s been couple trips, and those are great too. We also enjoy visiting NYC where our older daughter and one of my younger brothers live. And DH and I drive to the beach in the Florida panhandle as often as we can. We found a development that has great access to the beach and allows for wonderful social distancing so we have been there 3 times since July. We also love to take long walks near where we live on the levee along the Mississippi River. We try to go every day.

So I am here. I’ll see if I can share some photos of my Christmas decorations. I decorated even though we won’t all gather this year. I have many cherished holiday treasures. They give me joy.

 

[snappy]

First photo is of the ceramic manger scene figures my MIL made and painted 40 years ago. The second show some items my sister and BIL made that depict the bonfires that are constructed near where they used to live each year on the levee and burned on Christmas Eve to light the way for papa Noel.

 

[snappy]