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

[lynxstch]

Welcome to this thread Snappy! Glad that you have joined us. I love your Mickey and Minnie sitting on the bench..too cute! We talk about anything, and everything on this thread, and are always glad to have new DIS family added to it!
Lynn

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Welcome Snappy! I am also happy you joined us Thank you for sharing such great Christmas photos. I love your Nativity and your stockings are so cute!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good afternoon.

Artificial tree assembled and the lights are on. Decorations still in the attic. One thing at a time.

@Pea-n-Me, your comment about holidays pre-kids made me think of something we did when the kids were very young, probably 2 and 4 or so. There was the Mexican restaurant Chi-Chi's across the parking lot from Toys-R-Us. We would get a sitter for the kids, have a couple of drinks with dinner, walk across the lot the toy store and shop. Made it much more enjoyable and then we were fine to drive home by the time we were finished.

Welcome @snappy! Always glad to have another person join. Thanks for the introduction. If we say anything you don't understand, ask.

I am also retired empty-nester. DH just retired this spring, partly because of COVID. DD is married and has 2 kids and lives in a Delaware town not far from our home in Maryland. @lynxstch and @easyas123 also live in MD so you might catch us discussing state restrictions. DS is married and lives in southern MD. He is in the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service and works at the White House which causes me much worry.

I really like your manger scene and how cool that your MIL made it. Please come back often.

 

[snappy]

I so appreciate the warm welcomes, even to a latecomer like me! I tried to share a couple more photos but the my little plug in Christmas trees seem to want to be horizontal not vertical. I think I’ll spare y’all that.

I am planning on steaming some large shrimp for dinner in my steamer tonight. For tomorrow, we will boil blue crabs on our gas burner outside. That is if Captain George (our resident fisherman in the neighborhood) comes through as promised.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Welcome @snappy!!

In order to get the pictures to come out upright when you post them, you have to crop a tiny bit off before uploading here. We don’t know why, lol, but it works! (Thanks @PrincessShmoo for that tip!)

 

[PollyannaMom]

@snappy!

 

[tazdev3225]

Well I put up my tree yesterday. No ornaments yet as I am waiting to see what Demon Cat, I mean Adso, will do. So far he has been good but it won't last. I did put the garland around the railings and entertainment center but can't find the lights so I will be off to Walmart tomorrow. I do not go near the mall on the weekend normally but over Christmas Shopping season I avoid it like the plague.

Made a huge pot of Golabki, stuffed cabbage for those who don't speak Polish. I'll take some to my daughter since she requested them but will still have a couple meals out of them. They take some effort but are so good, especially on a chilly Sunday afternoon.

I had to go buy the cabbage and ground meat this morning though. While in the grocery store somebody clipped my car. I am so angry. I just had the bumper replaced from an accident in July, someone side swiped me as I passed them and the whole right side of my car was damaged. Now the new bumper has some big scrapes and paint chipped. The car only has 11,000 miles on it so I am really not happy. They had to know they clipped me, so they could have left a note or something. I would not have been as upset. I am going to the body shop to see what it would cost to repair the bumper but I think I will be living with the scrapes.

Oh well, dinner is cooking and smells so good, I cannot wait.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Continued prayer for your DS, Carol.

Oh no! I'm so sorry about your car, TazDev A note should have been left indeed!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Well I put up my tree yesterday. No ornaments yet as I am waiting to see what Demon Cat, I mean Adso, will do. So far he has been good but it won't last. I did put the garland around the railings and entertainment center but can't find the lights so I will be off to Walmart tomorrow. I do not go near the mall on the weekend normally but over Christmas Shopping season I avoid it like the plague.

Made a huge pot of Golabki, stuffed cabbage for those who don't speak Polish. I'll take some to my daughter since she requested them but will still have a couple meals out of them. They take some effort but are so good, especially on a chilly Sunday afternoon.

I had to go buy the cabbage and ground meat this morning though. While in the grocery store somebody clipped my car. I am so angry. I just had the bumper replaced from an accident in July, someone side swiped me as I passed them and the whole right side of my car was damaged. Now the new bumper has some big scrapes and paint chipped. The car only has 11,000 miles on it so I am really not happy. They had to know they clipped me, so they could have left a note or something. I would not have been as upset. I am going to the body shop to see what it would cost to repair the bumper but I think I will be living with the scrapes.

Oh well, dinner is cooking and smells so good, I cannot wait.

That is terrible! It happened to my son’s car recently too. They knew it was from a delivery truck but couldn’t catch it happening on video at work. He was so upset. And he just got his, too. No note. And I found a ding from someone opening their door into my rear-passenger side door. Totally aggravated! I try not to park near anyone, too. I’m not sure where it happened. I have to see if it can be fixed. DS is just getting finished with his last semester of college, and trying to pay for it, and now he has that bill as well. He’ll bring it in when the semester’s over. Let us know how it goes!

 

[dazedx3]

Welcome Snappy, this is a friendly bunch. I like a brisk discussion, but sometimes the other threads can be exhausting.

Between yesterday and today, I baked 10 batches of cookies. I'm exhausted!! Like I mentioned I had not planned on baking this year, but my son asked if I was sending him cookies this year, and I couldn't say no. Now my kitchen needs a major cleaning...another day!

 

[gwynne]

Welcome @snappy. Glad you are here!

 

[lynxstch]

It feels so much like it's going to snow outside! Stepson made a brief, but welcome visit. He had stopped at his Mom's last nite before heading to the hotel to sleep. He dropped off all of his paintings and collected his money. Stopped here for about an hour. Then was off to visit one more friend before trying to get home before dark. Doubt if he made it since it gets dark ar 4:30 and never left for home until 3. But at least he has a safe brand new car, to make the drive enjoyable. He is going to try and make it up again before Christmas and bring the girls, but I asked him to keep an eye on the covid #'s around here, and make sure it's safe first.
Dinner tonite is chateau sirloins, baby red potatoes and steamed zucchini. I did a little bit more online shopping today on Amazon, all done but the gift cards.
Have a lovely evening everyone, stay warm


@tazdev3225 So sorry about your car. People without a conscience (like to not leave a note) will get their due, in time. I hope the damage isn't too expensive to fix.
@Pea-n-Me sorry about your car and your son's too
@dazedx3 that's a lot of cookies, you really must be exhausted. So,,what kind of cookie tray are you fixing to share with all your friends/family on this thread?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

@dazedx3, if you have left over cookies, I can give you my address.

@tazdev3225 , that stinks about your car.

RE: car mishaps. When DD was living at home and getting her masters degree, she went to Baltimore one day a week for classes. A one hour drive. On the way home at like 10 pm, she was going through the Hatem Bridge toll booth. People were stopped to pay, she was in a Cobalt (smallish car) and the big pick up in front of her decided to back up to change lanes. His trailer hitch went right into her bumper. There are police right there so they stopped the guy and wrote him up as at fault. They traded information and insurance but when DD contacted them, his insurance had lapsed so she had to cover the deductible herself. Just doesn't seem right.

We went down to DD's and took a mile walk around the neighborhood with all of them. I got some masks she bought for me and took them some kids Christmas books we had here to share.

Spaghetti and salad for dinner.

 

[dazedx3]

I would love to be able to share the cookies with all of you, I didn't even try one..... I was so sick of them, just looking at them. But they are done and packed away in the freezer. Ithink this is the first year one of DD's haven't helped me with the baking, But I also think it is the first year DH helped... that was nice!

 

[snappy]

Let’s see if I got this.



We have two table top prelit LED trees. Our dog is notorious for helping herself to tree ornaments. Thus table tops.

The first has Disney/Pooh plush ornaments. The second has a few ornaments my mom made years ago and more our kids made when young.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Let’s see if I got this.

View attachment 542446View attachment 542447

We have two table top prelit LED trees. Our dog is notorious for helping herself to tree ornaments. Thus table tops.

The first has Disney/Pooh plush ornaments. The second has a few ornaments my mom made years ago and more our kids made when young.

Nice!!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I am sure sorry, a similar thing happened to your son's car, Pea

Get some rest, DazedX3! I do hope you get to enjoy some of the cookies!

Lynxstch, hug, yay that you got to see your stepson. LOL, I'll help you (and you, too, Carol), help DazedX3 with those cookies.

That is awesome, Snappy! How cute!

 

[sparkle78]

2 full weeks of work, then off for Christmas break. I work in a school.
Happy Monday everyone !
QOTD: happy about in 2020 ( was asked a few pages back)
1) time with Hubbie and kids at home to play board games and introduce them to 80s movies
2) treasuring time with friends- chatting with you guys on this thread and meeting for a walk outside with a girlfriend

 

[lynxstch]

Good morning everyone! Gray and cloudy out there,,high temp will be 37 ..again.
No plans for the day,,it's his first 'official' day of retirement. I think he's bored already, lol!
Going to try and catch up on a couple of Hallmark, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, and Lifetime Christmas movies today, maybe narrow down my baking list for the holiday.
Have a great day everyone!

 

[NYCgrrl]

I understand the “making too many cookies in 2020“ syndrome
Have enough to make 3 dozen cookies each of 4 different types and now thankful I ended dough production there. Older sister called this afternoon and rescinded the family get together invitations for Christmas. Not surprised, it’s what I thought made sense too. Her LA son and wife decided this was not the time to visit and everything fell apart from there. The one who lives in Oz with his family haven’t been in this country for the past 3-4 years so I know she’s hurting. Anyway, now I’ve more cookies in the house than healthy for my hips and will try to make enough to give to my floor’s neighbors. The convection toaster oven’s capacity will be cramping my style so no promises there.

Glad I didn’t lose my little mind food shopping for Christmas Eve this week. Somewhere between the new purchases and existing freezer contents there’s enough food for two, maybe even three celebratory meals for at least 3 people.

I’ve added the man’s best friend to my holiday meal list since he’s being a slightly pathetic over the top germaphobe bachelor during the pandemic, LOL.
He doesn’t want any fish or seafood for CE or NYE ( Huh?!? What kind of Italian-American is he?)so he’s getting either meatballs and spaghetti or pasta Bolognese for CE. All dishes already prepped in the freezer minus the pasta.Time is running short so I’ll just buy fresh pasta. DGD and I will have our more traditional meal and days with some modification for our Covid CE. Going to make a porchetta for Christmas Day which will make the 3 of us happy.

Today is Pearl Harbor Day as well as the day my mother was born.
Kiss someone you love.