Happy New Year' Eve

Packing this morning.  Dual packing times 2.  I'm packing stuff for both of us we need on the trip to Florida plus some other things I wanted to take.  Then I'm packing our cruise clothing.  Probably forget something but we have all the required stores we can visit!

For New Years Eve we stayed at home and celebrated at Eastern Time New Year.  We had some shrimp and cheese and crackers with some bubbly juice.

Crusing

It has been a quiet day at home.  We had stuff to do to get ready to head to Florida on Monday (weather cooperating).  We made a run to Menards, but turned out what Don got didn't solve his problem so have to go back.  Hope he gets his fill of Menards because there are none in Florida.

I have spent considerable time on the computer attempting to find a cruise to take this winter.  One with the right dates, right ship, right departure port and right price.  I finally landed on one yesterday and after hesitating all day did end up booking in the evening.  Hope it all works out!  We have sailed on Princess Cruises about 12 times and wanted to try a different cruise line so this time it is Royal Caribbean.

We had the stew fro dinner I had in the crock pot during the day.  Trying to clean up the refrigator!

Josh's birthday

Today is grandson Josh's 20th birthday.  How time flies, seems like yesterday when he was born!

We went to Panera for breakfast, while there it started to snow.  Then to Walmart while it was still snowing but melting.  When we left Walmart it was starting to freeze making the streets a bit slick.  Later it stopped snowing and the sun came out.

When we got home we had some house work to do, got to keep up with things!

In the evening the family went to Osaka Japanese Steakhouse for dinner followed going to the Dennis house for birthday cake.

Lunch and strange Walmart

Today we went to lunch with Brenda at Genghis Grill, a Mongolian style grill.  The food was very good and visiting even better.  Afterward we went to the nearby Walmart.  It was a strange store, couldn't find stuff like fresh fruit.  We both looked and never did find any.

We stayed home the rest of the day, ate left-overs for dinner as we were still full from lunch.

Debbie Reynolds dead one day after daughter Carrie Fisher died.

Christmas packed away

This morning we took down the Christmas decorations and tree.  The house looks blank and plain now.  We have to think about leaving for Florida and getting stuff done so first order was to put Christmas things away - see you next year!  It wasn't even a hour later and we started finding things we forgot to pack away!

In the afternoon we finally got caught up on reading the newspapers that have accumulated for several days.  I got the computer stuff up to date.  I can't get on cruise lines web sites they are so busy so maybe we missed out.  Will try again another day.

Carrie Fisher died today

Christmas +1

We are still tired today, not accustomed to all the celebrating!  We did get the house picked up and vacuumed.  It was fun to "rediscover" our gifts when we unloaded them and put them away.  We had to decide what to take to Florida (most everything) and what to leave home.

In the evening we were going out to dinner and to the grocery store but with the cold temperatures and high wind we decided to forgo the shopping and go to Wendy's for salads and chili.

Merry Christmas!

We got up early to get the gifts ready to take to Sheila's house.  Of course I forgot the Monkey Bread and had to send Don back home for it.  At least we don't live far away.

Brenda and Becca came and we had brunch with egg casserole dish, fresh fruit (from Brenda), beanie-weenies, and the monkey bread.  Also poinsettias - champagne and cranberry juice.  Then we opened our gifts, we got many fine things!!!

We went home for long enough to take a nap and cook the vegetable dish (which I put together last night) and then we went to Ken's brother's home for dinner.  There were 41 people there, they have a large house and handled the crowd well.  They are good hosts!  Plenty of food as everyone brought something.

When we got home, we were really tired.  A long, busy day but a very fun day!

Day before Christmas

We took stuff over to Sheila's house this morning for our Christmas Eve celebration this evening.  Our street was slick but the main roads OK.

We went to church with the Dennis Family, it was packed!  Then to their house for our annual fondue supper.  All sorts of things to cook in the hot oil like, shrimp, scallops, steak, bacon, etc.  Very good as always.  Of course good company as well.

The weather is just nasty with some rain and warmer temperatures making everything slush and slick.

Day before the day before Christmas

Finished, at last, wrapping packages!  Don had a couple errands to run in the morning, otherwise we decided it was a good day to stay home.  We had freezing rain, followed by snow, followed by more freezing rain.  Made everything a slick mess.

Shopping

This morning we went to Bakers Square for breakfast.  Our food was great, eggs cooked right and good bacon.  The best part is someone paid for our meal!  What a surprise---

Then we went to Cub Foods, CVS Pharmacy, Sam's Club and Menards.  Think we have all the Christmas presents now!  Cub Foods was having a rush and their phone lines and internet were down.  They said it happened the same day last year!

We came home to do some housework and rest up after the busy morning.


Fortunately our motorhome is in sunny Florida:

First day of Winter

Don went to the doctor for his semi-annual diabetes check-up.  I stayed home to get something done, which I did however little.  He found out his A1C is high as is his cholesterol, guess he needs to watch his diet!

I texted Brenda to see how she is feeling after yesterday's car accident.  She is Ok as long as taking ibuprofen.

We went to Hi Vee their specials and then we went to Culvers for dinner.

Accident

We got hair cuts today, might think of not getting them the week before Christmas in the future as the place was very busy. We had to wait 45 minutes but when we left the wait was 1 1/2 hrs.  Good to get it done at least.

It got to 36 degrees today - 58 degrees higher than two days ago!  It still felt cold to me, the wind I guess.

In the late afternoon I got a text from daughter Brenda that she and my granddaughter Becca had been in a car accident.  A man ran a red light and broadsided them.  Thank God they are both OK with some bumps and bruises.  A passenger in the back seat got a mild concussion.  Becca had picked Brenda up from work so Brenda was a passenger.  All were wearing seat belts which may have prevented worse injuries.  The car is totaled.

Just a Monday

It's a real heat wave, it was 7 degrees when we got up - that is 28 degrees warmer than yesterday morning.  We cleaned the house like usual and did some other chores.  I finally got the Christmas Cards ready to mail so in the afternoon we went to the post office and also the DMV to get license tags for the motorhome.  Then to Five Guys for hamburgers for dinner.

Cookies

It was -21 degrees when we got up.  I made French toast for breakfast, we read some of the newspaper and then went to Sheila's house for cookie making and frosting day.  They brought in pizza for lunch and the party continued.  Lots of frosting and chatting, a very pleasant day despite the very cold temperatures.

We came home and read the rest of the papers and had left-over soup for dinner.

Snow and soup

I heard the plows about 3 AM, they just opened the roads.  Later in the day they cleaned our driveway and walk.  It was no longer snowing when we got up, hard to say how much snow we got but probably around 8 inches.

We decided this would be a stay at home day.  We did stuff around the house, read, etc.  I made vegetable soup for dinner.


"Don's" rabbit.

Lunch, shopping and snow

There was light snow when we got up.  We went to lunch with Sheila, Brenda and Becca.  Sheila is working from home today and Brenda took the day off work.  Becca got home from college on Wednesday.  After lunch we went to Walmart for gifts, meds, food, etc.  Now we have no need to go out in the weather until Sunday.

It started snowing about 3PM and was still snowing when we went to bed.  I heard the plows about 3AM.

Just plain old cold.

Just gets colder.  Feels good to just stay home but have stuff to do.  We braved the cold and ate at Chili's, fitting?  Made a stop at CVS.  We're not anxious to be outside ----

Wind chill time of year

This morning we went to Paneras' for breakfast, it was 3 degrees outside.  Then to Cub Foods.  The wind came up while in Cub's, wind chill -15 degrees.  Bitter, the cold went right into my bones.  Staying home the rest of the day.

I wrapped more packages, about done - just a couple more things to buy.  I made a ham/rice dish for dinner and then watched the three hour finale show of Survivor.

Gifts and sore arms

Knowing at some time I am going to need to get the Christmas gifts wrapped, I started today.  Maybe got a third thru in the morning and they another third done in the afternoon.  My arm muscles, what few I have, got sore so had to stop..  Shopping is so much more fun!

I made Don's favorite dinner, Tater Tot Casserole.  Good hot meal on a cold night.

It just gets colder outside, nice and warm inside.

Very, very COLD

We have a bright sunny day - but below freezing.  Cleaned the house and worked on Christmas cards, what few we send.   We used to sent 30 to 40 Christmas cards but with the ever rising cost of postage and the advent of e-mail, that number has decreased to less than 10.  I still like to get cards but also like getting the e-mails from friends.  And sending e-mails - keeping in touch all year around!

We went to Menards late afternoon.  The parking lot was treacherous, they had not done a good job in clearing the snow.  So now that it is so cold outside it has formed peaks and valleys.  Then people drag the snow inside where it melts and makes the floors slick.  Got a few things there and then went to Arby's to pick up Gyro's for dinner.


Our front yard:

Let it snow and snow and snow!

We got a lot of snow overnight and it was still coming down until about 10 AM.  Guessing 8 inches or so.  Our streets and driveway were cleared around 7 AM but soon were deep in snow again.  They plowed again about noon, still snowing but near the end.

We still managed to go out for breakfast as no snow or bad roads are too much for Don.

Sheila and Brenda came over for a visit in the afternoon.  Always good to see them!  Stayed home for dinner of baked pork chops.

Cold again

We braved the cold again today and went to CVS Pharmacy and HyVee Groceries for a few things.  The sun is shinning but not warming anything up!  Snow is forecast for tomorrow.

In the evening we went to TGI Fridays for dinner, had a coupon.


I feel so sorry for them.  We would like a temp that high!

Cold, snow

4 degrees out when we got up this morning.  It started snowing in the afternoon but that didn't stop us from getting dinner at Panda Express and bringing it home.  There wasn't much traffic, the roads were hard to find!

Our garage door is being cranky, won't close without some assistance.

Warm Slippers

It's hard to make yourself go outside in the cold if you absolutely don''t need to, but we decided to run a couple errands.  One thing we bought Don some house slippers, we have cold floors.  I always wear slippers but not him.  Now if he remembers to wear them!

We stayed in the rest of the day, had roast leftovers for dinner.


The perfect family!

Pearl Harbor Day

It was a cold night, today the sun is shinning but still cold.  I started a roast in the crock pot, staying home for dinner sounds like a winning idea!


 75 years ago!  (Also would have been my Dad's birthday)

We visited the memorial followed by visiting the Cemetery of the Pacific, a very somber day.

Cold wind

Had to have some blood work done at the doctors office today before I ate anything.  She wanted me to wait around for one of the results which was OK.  Then we went to Panera for breakfast followed by a trip to Cub Foods and Sam's Club.  Not too many people out this cold morning.  The cold wind takes your breath away.  It was around 20 degrees out with a wind and bitterly cold.  Just not ready for that kind of weather!

Sheila and Ken had us over for dinner.  Was good and a good visit.  Hard to go from the warm house back outside.


Florida temps today---

Big toe

Time to clean the house again, mostly pick up stuff.  We need to get better about putting things away!  Again today we had a package by the front door when Don got the newspaper!

I went to the podiatrist in the afternoon.  She removed a huge callus from my big toe, it feel so much better.  Don't know why I have procrastinated getting it done for so long.  We picked up KFC on the way home.

Snow

It snowed overnight.  We woke up to about 2 inches on our deck.  It was already 32 degrees so was starting to melt.  We went out for breakfast - our street was slick but the main roads had been cleared.  Later all the street and driveway melted.

As alway on a Sunday we read the papers and did some stuff around the house.  Brenda and Dan are back from Chicago, they had some bad roads on the way back but are home safely.

Sun!

We did see some sun today, I am tired of these dark days.  I was on the internet finishing up my Christmas shopping.  So now I have just a few things that need to be purchased locally.  We worked around the house and later went out for Chinese food.  It really seemed cold out even though the temp was around 30, maybe the humidity!

More shopping

We worked around the house some and did some wash.  It's cold and damp outside and a good morning to stay home.  In the afternoon we made a trip to Sears, again looking for a electric fireplace.  They have them but have to be ordered so it is impossible to tell what the "fire" looks like.

Put in another Amazon order and worked on a Kohl's order spending a lot of time on the computer.  I fixed some salmon for dinner.

Fireplace and Walmart

Today we visited many places that carry electric fireplace inserts.  We didn't find any that would fit our wood burning fireplace or that we liked.  We are spoiled by the very nice electric fireplace in our motorhome.  Still have a couple more places to look.

We ate lunch at Culvers, first time this trip.  Always good and we had a small Turtle sundae as well.  Then to Walmart to walk it off!  I got some more groceries and a few other odds and ends.  We used the self checkout, I don't know why but we always have trouble with them.  This one was very slow in showing the purchase in the screen after it was scanned.   I went ahead thinking it would catch up with me.  Kept getting the warning that something "unexpected" was in the bagging area and the woman cleared it twice.  Finally got a total and paid.  When I got in the car I checked the receipt and found a couple items where I was not charged.  So my choice was to take the items back into the busy store and explain the whole thing or just leave.  However dishonest it is, we just left, my intention was to pay for everything and I did scan everything, the machine even gave me a beep when I scanned.  I hope they look into this machine.

We got pizza for dinner, good to stay home.

I'm Elvis Sugar-Socks!

Shopping and waffles

This morning we went to HyVee grocery store for their specials.  There prices seem more competitive than last summer so I ended up buying most of what was on my grocery list.  Not many people in the store, perhaps because it was raining out.  We got some of their great honey butter rolls, almost like popovers.  I had to watch Don in the bakery, he did get one thing in the cart but tried for more.

I made waffles for dinner, good cold evening meal!

Thinking of the folks in Rocky Mountain National Park.  We have visited there many times, such a beautiful place.

Panera for breakfast

We went to Panera for breakfast, like our habit of last summer.  They have good coffee!  Then to Cub Foods for their specials and finally to CVS Pharmacy for coffee and coke.

I had gotten some pre-mixed meat loaf at Cubs so I baked that for dinner.


Don't know how many zillion of these I made as a kid:

Rain, not snow!

A weird day, cold with rain - even a thunder storm.  We finished with the Christmas decorations and cleaned the house.

In the afternoon we went to Target to take advantage of their 15% off (plus the 5% for my Target Red card).  We actually spent $181 as we both got new winter jackets and some outside Christmas lights along with a few groceries and gifts.  When we went to leave it was raining like crazy outside so we sat in the eating area until the rain stopped.  Then we went to KFC for some chicken for dinner.

Get it done Sunday

We ate breakfast at Cracker Barrow and then went to Menards again.  They had some good sales, we forgot a couple things so that gives Don reason to go again this week.

When we came home we read some paper and took a nap, called procrastinating over getting the tree and house decorated for Christmas.  Then I decided I might as well get it done and with Don's help got most done.  Then finished reading the papers before we fixed dinner.

We watched some TV in the evening, I am really tired!

Saturday and busy

Lots to get done today, set up the Christmas Tree and decorate, internet shop, clean kitchen and bathrooms and wash towels, etc.  The big thing is getting Kohl's shopping done as today and only today the % off coupon and $15 back for every $50 sent converge.

Brenda and Becca came over in the afternoon, hadn't seen Becca for awhile.  She goes back to college on Sunday.

We went to TGI Fridays for dinner.

Black Friday

We grabbed some breakfast and then went shopping.  First to Menards where we got a cart full and then had to wait in line to pay about 30 minutes.  Then to Fleet Farm, lots of people but no lines.  CVS next, like usual didn't find everything advertised and like usual when we looked over the receipt the coupons were not deducted.  Don took it back in and got the $3 they managed to cheat us.  Then Don went into Walmart for a new coffee pot.  No crowds there!  We got home about noon, had lunch and took a nap!

I shopped the internet but didn't put in any orders - yet.  Had leftover Chili and salad for dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving!


We spent the morning watching the Macy's parade on TV and perusing the many, many ads in the newspaper.  Had some crackers and cheese for lunch as don't want to spoil our dinner and yet don't want to pass out from hunger.  Took a nap and made the salad, made a lot more than I thought it would!

We went to daughter Sheila and family's home for Thanksgiving Dinner and it was great.  Perfect turkey and all the trimmings.  Enjoyed visiting with the expanded Dennis family.  Very nice Thanksgiving.

Snow

We woke up about 4 AM to a very unfamiliar noise - snow plows!  Looks like we may have gotten about 3 inches of snow overnight.  It is above freezing so the roads should melt fast.

In the afternoon I went to the doctor for a recheck on the cellulitis, she thought all looked good except for some swelling still.  Gave me 5 more days of antibiotics.  Then we ran some errands and got the leaf lettuce for the salad I'm taking for Thanksgiving dinner.  Finally we picked up sandwiches to bring home for dinner.  Don splurged and also got milk shakes!

In the evening we watched the two hour Survivor on TV, can't miss that!

Freezing Rain

We did get the freezing rain, a good day to stay home.  I'm doing a lot of internet surfing for Christmas ideas as I will be shopping mostly on the computer.  It is good to have fast, unlimited internet access!

I made a pot of Chili for dinner, a good meal on a cold day.

Laundry and more groceries

Was good to have a slow morning, I did some pick-up, put away things and washed a couple loads.  Not sure what Don did besides get the garbage out to the curb.

We went to dinner at Paneras and decided, because the weather forecast was for freezing rain tomorrow, to get groceries this evening for the Thanksgiving salad I'm making.  Of course we got a whole lot more.  The store was busy but not like I expected.

Sunday in MN

We slept good in our own bed.  Nothing like Memory Foam!  We braved the cold and went out for breakfast and then to Walmart for groceries.  Bought a lot!  Then to Menards, Don favorite place and first visit since September.

In the afternoon our daughters came over for a visit.  Great to see them again!!!

I baked pork chops for dinner.

There is no place like home!

After we checked out of the Crest motel we went to Seven Villages restaurant for breakfast.  It was indescribably good.  The bacon was the best, a pancake bigger than the plate, eggs and sliced fried potatoes.

Again the traffic was heavy, but the roads were clear - we weren't too certain how they would be this morning.  We stopped at a McDonald's for lunch.  The wind was so cold it gave me a brain freeze headache.  About 1 PM we got to our house, good to be home again.  We unloaded our stuff quickly so we could relax.

Got sandwiches from Arby's for dinner and watched some TV that I had remotely recorded.


We always note when we go through Paducah or hear the name on the TV.

Another day on the road

We got out of the motel at 7:15 and on the road.  We didn't sleep well as it was so warm in our room and couldn't find a way to cool it down.  Stepping outside, even though it was 60 degrees felt great.  Our king bed was about waist high on me, was a real challenge for me to get up into.  No good pillows but otherwise the place was nice.  A good breakfast.

The traffic was fairly heavy all day, lots and lots of trucks.  It was warm all day until about when we got to Iowa.  We went through a weather front and then got cold and high wind.  Glad we didn't have our motorhome!

Tonight we picked a ma and pa motel Crest Country Inn.  It is clean and fine, we'll see how the beds are, think we will sleep no mater what.

We went to the Ronneburg Restaurant in Amana for dinner.  A good German place, food served family style.  They gave me some pickled beets to take home!

Tonight we have the high wind yet and a little rain.  Hope it doesn't turn into ice!