How is your day Today, plans and achievements 2024....

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OneEyedDiva said:
What lovely family time Hearlady. I've only been to Myrtle Beach once when we had one of our family reunions there. We stayed right on the beach across from the amusement park. We were so busy with scheduled events, I didn't even have time to enjoy the amusements. But it was nice just the same. The hotel we stayed at had huge water bugs on the patio at night outside of the welcome room, which had food. ! I never saw one inside the welcome room or room we stayed in, thank God! You and your family made wonderful memories that you all will always remember.
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I call those bugs walkers (like walking dead) because if they come inside my house they are going to be dead.
 

Okay. Tidied up. Now what?

Strangest thing...DD has started buying meal kits, not the kind for delivery, the kind from the freezer section in the grocery store. This is what's called "cooking from scratch" in her book. I mentioned having a "real" meal of maybe roast beast, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies. You know, food. She doesn't want to do that because it's "too much trouble" and besides, we'll cook at home on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Roast beast doesn't come in a meal kit, only separate packages of meat, potatoes, veggies.

I remember the class prophecy when I graduated from high school (1958). One of the prophecies was that in 50 years, we'd just take a pill at mealtime. Guess we weren't too far off. LOL
 
There are a couple of kitty treats on our empty pre breakfast while watching news plate. Will SO grab one?
A beautiful but cold day. I need 30 minutes of my handy man outside. Peach trees are shedding so it is time to broom out the hot tub cover.
Maybe I can nail SO down in the closet for a quick sorting out. Nobody needs ten sports coats, some with tags.
Take it easy. Add a couple of pages to the recipe book. Drool over fringe coats on line.
SO put a dash cam into the truck ahead of a long trip.
 
StarSong said:
I buy almond flour at Costco. $9.99 for three pounds.
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I don't know why this post garnered shocked emojis. Perhaps I should clarify that I only go through about 5 lbs of almond flour during the holidays. It doesn't compare to the roughly 125 lbs of regular and bread flours I use, which costs less than $10 per 25 lb bag.

Last night's party was spectacular. Big crowd of about 40 people and given the compliments, laughter, noise level and amount of pizza and cookies consumed, all had a great time. Guests were here from 5 pm to a little past midnight. (@RadishRose, I must have missed you in the crowd - hope you enjoyed yourself and ate your fill!)

To quote @Georgiagranny, today I plan to do little more than sit on my dead center. DH & I always clean the kitchen before going to bed after a party, so other than sweeping the kitchen floor and a couple of other quick chores, I intend to do very little in the way of constructive activities.

Back to cookie baking (for shipping) tomorrow.
 
I've made Spritz this year. DD has already plowed through the 5-6 dozen given to her posse, kept two dozen for myself and have only eaten a few, gave the rest to DS/DSIL.

There are still DD's favorite cookie to make, but given how fast they disappear, not going to make them until the middle of the week and hope they last until Christmas.

DD wants me to go along to Target with her and DGD, then to liquor store (doesn't open until noon on Sunday) to pick up her boss' favorite brandy for Christmas, then drop DGD off at her BF's place. I dunno. It's cold and damp and dreary out there.
 
hearlady said:
I'm back.
I said I had grandkids coming and I did. What I didn't say was that we met in Myrtle Beach.
We had a week booked and at the time my daughters family couldn't come with us.
Just before we went our SIL was called on last minute travel. My daughter forgot we were going and asked if we wanted to spend time with the kids while she got some Christmas shopping done.
We asked if she would still like to go as we had plenty of points to use up before the end of the year. She thought and said yes!
We were able to book another two bedroom adjoining ours.
We had a wonderful time. It was chilly but not cold. They took full advantage of the heated indoor pool. DH and oldest GD played some golf. We went to an interactive activity place suitable for the two year old but we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
DH and I may go back after Christmas alone as we have some more points to use. We got married in Myrtle Beach and remember how much we liked the winters when the tourists were gone. We try to go at least every few years.
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Gotta tell you @hearlady, I so enjoyed your post about your family get together! It made me feel happy. Glad you had such a good time and thanks for making me feel uplifted! 🌹
 
My DH has been at his trade show this weekend. Therefore it is rather peaceful around here..just me and the clocks he collects bonging every 15 minutes.

Woke to a clear blue sky, 42 degrees; was 85 yesterday at noon. "Winter" weather in Tucson is like a see-saw playground toy.

Our nights are getting nippy on a regular basis. As I like to sleep with the window open, which freezes DH, I changed out the bed yesterday. I put on the heated mattress pad (with two controllers), changed the sheets, bedding out for our "long" six week "winter".

Ironed and starched four sets of pillow cases from last month. Got ambitious and pulled out the top sheets that come with those matching cases and ironed the top half of flat cover sheets (where the sheet gets folded back).

DH feeling better after his short bout with flu last week.

We decided this morning to drop the plan to build on our 4 acre lot in Tanque Verde. We will be 70 next year, we own this house, and the upheaval and effort it takes to build a home...well, we just want peace and to travel rather than build. Building would strain our budget to do things like breakfast out once a week, too, so we are choosing quality of life and activities over life on four acres with a stunning view of the mountains. We've owned the "dream lot" for five years. The post COVID economy ruined the plan pretty much.

Besides, it would take a mortgage to get there, and if DH died -either of us actually - we would not be able to stay in the home, and would have to sell it.
 
Oh, goody. DD is rethinking the idea of going to Target, etc. Maybe BF is coming to collect DGD? I didn't ask, but really don't want to go out. Tomorrow is going to be sunny and much warmer. I'd rather go out then.

Thinking about cooking up a pot of pinto beans. There's cornbread in the freezer. Cornbread in the bottom of the bowl, pinto beans and pot liquor over it. Yum. And it's even good for me. DD's crew wouldn't dream of eating something so so so...plebian.

@CooCooforCoCoPuffs After your six-week winter, do you get the mid-Feb to mid-April dust storms like we did in El Paso? Lordy, I hated dust season! We could set our watches by it...start at noon, finish up around 5. During that 5-hour period, the dust would find a way into the house...and into the sugar bowl, the medicine cabinet, the everdamnthang! I don't miss it.
 
Georgiagranny said:
I've made Spritz this year. DD has already plowed through the 5-6 dozen given to her posse, kept two dozen for myself and have only eaten a few, gave the rest to DS/DSIL.

There are still DD's favorite cookie to make, but given how fast they disappear, not going to make them until the middle of the week and hope they last until Christmas.

DD wants me to go along to Target with her and DGD, then to liquor store (doesn't open until noon on Sunday) to pick up her boss' favorite brandy for Christmas, then drop DGD off at her BF's place. I dunno. It's cold and damp and dreary out there.
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I'm presuming your DD is at least middle aged.....and has been cooking meals from scratch in the past...perhaps you should go along to target with her, and just remind her what food looks like...:sneaky::D
 
I've just had early dinner.. made a chow mein from scratch as always.. but the chicken was still frozen so I scratched around to find something I could put in, and ultimately I put meatballs into it.. very nice....

While I was eating I watched a show called ''evil Online''.. it was about a 14 year old innocent girl lured to her death by an older guy back in 2010 in the USA who'd become obsessed with her.. then set her on fire... I was crying buckets...:cry:
 
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Georgiagranny said:
Oh, goody. DD is rethinking the idea of going to Target, etc. Maybe BF is coming to collect DGD? I didn't ask, but really don't want to go out. Tomorrow is going to be sunny and much warmer. I'd rather go out then.

Thinking about cooking up a pot of pinto beans. There's cornbread in the freezer. Cornbread in the bottom of the bowl, pinto beans and pot liquor over it. Yum. And it's even good for me. DD's crew wouldn't dream of eating something so so so...plebian.

@CooCooforCoCoPuffs After your six-week winter, do you get the mid-Feb to mid-April dust storms like we did in El Paso? Lordy, I hated dust season! We could set our watches by it...start at noon, finish up around 5. During that 5-hour period, the dust would find a way into the house...and into the sugar bowl, the medicine cabinet, the everdamnthang! I don't miss it.
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DD does not know what she is missing out on.
 
Son is back from his Scandinavian trip so normal service is resumed which means I'm going round for tea (evening meal/dinner) shortly. Don't know what I'll be getting, it will be vegan which is fine. Son is a very good and inventive cook and his meals are always tasty. As ever, this will be followed by quiz games. Me and my granddaughters versus mum and dad.
 
hollydolly said:
I'm presuming your DD is at least middle aged.....and has been cooking meals from scratch in the past...perhaps you should go along to target with her, and just remind her what food looks like...:sneaky::D
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She's 60 and has never liked to cook so I guess that explains it. The g'kids were only 8 and 10 when I came here, and she was more than happy to turn the cooking over to me. Heck, in those days DSIL took an hour off work to come home for dinner.

Then the kids decided that drive-thru food was more to their liking and here we are. I'm convinced that fast food has something in it as addictive as nicotine in cigs.

Still looking like today's trip to Target is off. Fingers crossed🤞
 
Pam said:
Son is back from his Scandinavian trip so normal service is resumed which means I'm going round for tea (evening meal/dinner) shortly. Don't know what I'll be getting, it will be vegan which is fine. Son is a very good and inventive cook and his meals are always tasty. As ever, this will be followed by quiz games. Me and my granddaughters versus mum and dad.
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@Pam, I want to know what he served, if you wouldn't mind..... 🐷
 
Georgiagranny said:
She's 60 and has never liked to cook so I guess that explains it. The g'kids were only 8 and 10 when I came here, and she was more than happy to turn the cooking over to me. Heck, in those days DSIL took an hour off work to come home for dinner.

Then the kids decided that drive-thru food was more to their liking and here we are. I'm convinced that fast food has something in it as addictive as nicotine in cigs.

Still looking like today's trip to Target is off. Fingers crossed🤞
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oh yes for sure I agree.. ther's some addcitive substance in fast food...could be sugar..could be certain oils.. who knows.. but you know at 60... she should know exactly what's bad for her....
 
Tonight my building is having a potluck, one of the items I'd planned to take was a package of chocolate-covered marshmallow Santas, but 'somehow' there aren't many left in the package and so I think the remaining Santas might as well stay home with me. ;)

Yesterday I went on a day bus trip to Annapolis for their holiday craft fair and nighttime holiday-decorated boat parade. It was too cold to be outside all day, so most of the group showed up early at the restaurant we had dinner at, and everyone showed up early for the bus home. The organizer called the bus to come an hour before the scheduled time and we all got to travel home early. Other than freezing half to death, it was a great day. The prices of the crafts were too high for me, so I paid to take a boat ride instead.

Annapolis2.jpg Annapolis1.jpg
AnnapolisBoatParade1.jpg AnnapolisBoatParade2.jpg
 
@hollydolly You'd think! She has cut down a whole lot and only "cheats" on Friday/Saturday. It's why Saturday is Dessert for Dinner day. She's actually started making salads at home for lunch and usually cereal with fruit for dinner the rest of the time.

Until a couple of years ago, she was a string bean...5'11" and about 140 lbs. It has taken six months to lose the first 35 lbs. I'm hoping that by the time she gets to her goal weight, she'll have changed her eating habits so much that she sticks to them.

I understand the struggle because I once weighed more than she does, and it took more than a year to shed it all.
 
hollydolly said:
oh yes for sure I agree.. there's some addictive substance in fast food...could be sugar..could be certain oils.. who knows.. but you know at 60... she should know exactly what's bad for her....
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Completely agree. Also salt. Not just fast food, same is true for ultra-processed foods sold in grocery stores.

It doesn't take much longer to cook from scratch using "real" ingredients and not knowing how to cook is no longer an excuse. Online recipes explain the steps chapter and verse, as do YouTube and other videos.
 
StarSong said:
Completely agree. Also salt. Not just fast food, same is true for ultra-processed foods sold in grocery stores.

It doesn't take much longer to cook from scratch using "real" ingredients and not knowing how to cook is no longer an excuse. Online recipes explain the steps chapter and verse, as do YouTube and other videos.
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I'm very happy my Daughter cooks from scratch..even when she's really tired after work, she'll still make something quick like a fresh salmon fillet, and some broccoli...just takes minutes,
 
hollydolly said:
I've just had early dinner.. made a chow mein from scratch as always.. but the chicken was still frozen so I scratched around to find something I could put in, and ultimately I put meatballs into it.. very nice....

While I was eating I watched a show called ''evil Online''.. it was about a 14 year old innocent girl lured to her death by an older guy back in 2010 in the USA who'd become obsessed with her.. then set her on fire... I was crying buckets...:cry:
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This time zone thing is so funny.. I read that you just made "chow mein" and put meat balls in it and ate it for an "early dinner".

I am at 10:20 AM here, and thought at first: "Oh, geez, early dinner, this is REALLY an early dinner; how can this person eat THAT this early in the morning.....??!" (And I am working on my second cup of coffee...still).

THEN I realized it was you in UK. LOLOLOL Context, context, Coco....
 
StarSong said:
Completely agree. Also salt. Not just fast food, same is true for ultra-processed foods sold in grocery stores.

It doesn't take much longer to cook from scratch using "real" ingredients and not knowing how to cook is no longer an excuse. Online recipes explain the steps chapter and verse, as do YouTube and other videos.
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I stopped cooking and eat mostly fresh things that don't need to be cooked and I find plenty of easy eats that are healthy. I rarely eat processed anything anymore.

I do fold now and then and eat a bag of Kettle Chips like I did yesterday, though. But they NOW make Kettle Chips with NO SALT and you know what I discovered? That the chips taste BETTER without salt. They actually resemble the taste of a potato fried.

Now, if I can get rid of fried in oil part...

I guess should just bake a plain potato next time I get the urge!
 

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