New Year Eve

We cleaned the house, put in a little extra "elbow grease"  as this will be the last time before we leave.  I spent the afternoon packing, took two suitcases rather than the planned one suitcase.  Taking cruise cloths takes up more room.  Still have to rangler the odds and ends we want to have with us in Florida.

It started with freezing drizzle and turned to snow in the afternoon, makes me very glad we are celebrating New Year Eve at home.

Sunday

We went for breakfast at Denny's.  Then home to read the Sunday newspaper.  The sun is shining so even though it is cold outside at least it looks warm.  We did things around home in prep for leaving for Florida on Wednesday.  Ate dinner at home.

Mt. Rushmore in the snow:

Cold Saturday

Laundry again.  Continue to do things to get ready to head south.

It was 8 degrees when we got up today, light snow.  Daughter and family are headed to Caribbean!

Don went to the post office, our key will not open our mailbox - somehow jammed.  The mail deliver fixed it for us, don't know what was the problem.

We picked up a pizza for dinner.  So ends another exciting day.

Ice, Snow, Cold

We braved the snow over ice to go for a bagel at Panera this morning and the to the DMV to pay the trailer license and to Walmart.

The outside temperature got colder all day with some on and off snow.  We worked around home to get ready for the winter move to Florida.

Had French Toast for dinner.

Grandson is 22!

Early birthday for grandson

Today was the day I dread - taking down the Christmas decorations and tree.  It didn't take us too long, but the house looks so boring.  We have to get them down before we leave because coming back in April Christmas decor might look out of place!

It snowed some during the night and is raining today making the roads a slush slide.  No chance they might plow.

We joined the family to celebrate Josh's birthday a couple days early as they are going to be gone.  We went out to eat and back to our daughter's house for cake and ice cream.  Said so-long to everyone until April.

Christmas plus 1

Don was off to his doctor check-up and I stayed home and started washing slacks, sweaters, etc. that take special care.  And drinking coffee as I was a little tired yet.  I also spent some time getting things put together, a pre, pre packing for leaving next Wednesday.

We had lunch with daughter Brenda and Granddaughter Becca along with Brenda's "bonas" daughter Kazia and her Logan and Holland.  We had a great visit!

We stayed home for dinner having leftover ham from our son-in-law and leftover broccoli casserole.

Merry Christmas!

No sleeping in for us!  We got up and ready to go to daughter Sheila's home for brunch and gifts.  Daughter Brenda and family were also there so a fun morning.  We got great gifts which we will enjoy all year.  I love giving gifts and I love getting gifts!!!!

Then home to get the broccoli casserole in the oven and a quick nap.  Time to go to our son-in-law's brothers home for Christmas dinner.  They are good hosts and we always enjoy our time with them.  They had 35 people for dinner.  We also enjoy visiting with Rudi and Marie, people we have crusing in common. 

We were exhausted when we got home, relaxed for a bit and I reexamined the gifts I got.

Christmas Eve

Busy day.  I made the broccoli casserole that I'm taking for Christmas dinner tomorrow as there will only be time to cook it between events.  Then we cleaned the house, did some wash and delivered some gifts, etc.

I did get a nap as I planned, needed to get my infected leg elevated for awhile.

Then to church with daughter Sheila and family followed by fondue, chocolate fountain, creps, etc. at their home.  A fun family Christmas Eve!

Day before the day before

We went to breakfast at Perkins, our time is limited to have their good potato pancakes as the Perkins in Florida is about 45 minutes away.  Then home to read the newspapers.  In the afternoon I made cheese balls for Christmas Eve and cooked wild rice for a Christmas Day vegetable dish.

My cellulitis seems to be retreating, at least no worse.  Still burns.

Morning at the clinic

During the night I went from freezing to sweating so I knew I was coming down with something.  Turns out it was cellulitis - again.  So I spent time at the clinic this morning and got a prescription for antibiotics.  Hope I get over this very soon, it burns and is a bit painful.

We have a dark and drab day going, seemed like night all day long.  We went to Culvers for their fine Reuben Sandwich and had a coupon for a sundae. 

First day of winter and darkest day of the year

We went to Target and HyVee this morning.  Didn't buy much as Christmas Shopping is done and we will be leaving for Florida soon so don't need much for groceries.  The stores were very busy.  All the checkout areas were open and busy in both stores.

We got hamburgers from 5 Guys for dinner.

Unfruitful trip in the sleet.

Went to Best Buy this morning to look at computers, nothing I want.  Then we went to Sam's Club, there was one computer that might be OK but dubious about buying a computer from Sam's.  I had a prescription to pick up and then home for the day.

It was a surprise in the morning when we backed out of the garage, we were getting sleet on our window.

IKEA

We went to IKEA this morning, had their good $2 breakfast and free coffee and then walked the whole big store.  We only bought a few things.  By then it was time for lunch so stayed and had a salmon dinner.

On our way home we stopped at a charity and left some clothing.  Then home for a nap!


Zoo or IKEA???

Turn around day

Our day did a turn-around.  First Don was going to the doctor for a check-up and I was staring home.  Then I realized I had to use or lose my $60 "Kohl's Cash" (that they give for a bonus when you spend so much).  So I decided to go with Don and to the Kohl's store near his doctor.

We were getting ready and Don got a phone call from his clinic telling him it hadn't been 90 days from his last check so his insurance wouldn't pay.  So he rescheduled for next week, but I still needed to go to Kohl's.  So we went to Panera for a bagel as he hadn't eaten and we neither had coffee.  Then finally to Kohl's where I had no luck as I was looking for a dress shirt to wear on our upcoming cruise.  So came home and ordered it and a couple other things online just hoping it will arrive before we head to Florida.

House

Monday already???   Got the house cleaned, etc.  Don spent a lot of time on the computer in the afternoon and I read some magazines to get caught up on them.

We had leftovers from Saturday night's dinner at Chili's for dinner.

Busy Sunday

This morning we went for breakfast at Cracker Barrel, it was very busy by the time we left.  Then across the highway to Fleet Farm and down the road to Menards and Harbor Freight.  Finally home to start reading the newspaper.

Daughter Sheila came over for a visit with good mint bark candy.  We stayed home for dinner of ham and sweet potato fries.

Christmas is around the corner!

Well, as you can see, the computer is still working and I am still looking for a new one.  I finished wrapping Christmas gifts except for what I am expecting from Amazon.

Tonight we went to a restaurant for dinner near a busy shopping area.  There was so much traffic you would think they were evacuating the city.  Probably Christmas shoppers.

Busy day (for me)

Working on wrapping the Christmas gifts and getting about 90% done!  Got the Christmas cards mailed.  We went to Target and HyVee.  I don't know how the bill adds up so fast.  We picked up fish sandwiches at McDonalds for lunch.

Our computer decided to cause us problems today, somehow I got it working again, but slow.  (I seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to fixing computers,  I seem to know what to do but don't know how I know.)  Think a new computer is coming our way from Santa (or more likely Best Buy).

We went to Panera for soup and sandwich for dinner.

Ready, set ----

We got some things done at last at home.  We cleaned out the top of the coat closet - finding many gloves.  Guess I should have done that before I bought some new ones.  Also went through our clothing and got stuff ready to take to welfare.

We got the Christmas cards ready to mail and also set up the gift wrapping table.

Don't have a dog but know how it goes!

Potato pancakes and liquor

Today it was breakfast at Perkins, their good potato pancakes.  It was foggy/frosty out, a little warmer than it has been but still an eekie day.  In the afternoon I had a podiatrist appointment thinking I had cyst on my foot, turned out to be a bone had moved and pushing out.  Someday I will need some surgery, but not now.

We then went to the nearby liquor store and of course bought more than we had planned.  If it had not been illegal, I think I would have opened some wine on the way home after the "good" news at the doctor.  We had leftovers from two meals for dinner.

Bagels

We went to Panera for bagels this morning and then to Walmart.  Didn't need much at Walmart for a change.  Came home and got some things done.  I started working on getting Christmas Cards ready to mail.  Took all afternoon.

We stayed home the rest of the day.

Frosty

Cleaned house - again.  Not that durty just junk to pick up and put away.

It was frosty out this morning when we first looked outside.  I'm sure it made roads slick, makes me glad we don't have anywhere important to travel.

We picked up KFC for dinner, seems more cold than usual outside to me.

Congrats to Brenda and Scott!

News from daughter Brenda, she is engaged to her friend Scott!

We went for breakfast at Bakers Square, for once didn't need to make any stops so came right home and read the Sunday newspaper.  We didn't do much the rest of the day.

Baby, it's cold outside

Still cold outside, but we keep plenty warm inside!  Trouble is we have to go outside once in awhile.

We went for dinner at Fridays, I had ribs and salmon and Don had ribs and shrimp.  Good food, too much food.

Pearl Harbor Day

We went to the grocery store this morning.  It was very cold out so not to spend too much time outside!  Then again in the evening as we picked up Chinese food for dinner.

We need to remember that this is Pearl Harbor Day, the "day that will live in infamy".   1941 Japan attacked the US Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and declared war on the US and the UK.

Up early

Up very early this morning to take daughter in for some minor surgery.  Then we brought her home with us to recuperate from the drugs.  Took her home mid afternoon as she seemed to be feeling good. 

We got a pizza for dinner and then I slept in front of the TV until it was bedtime.

Bagels, Honda and computer

We went to Panera this morning for a bagel and coffee, than to Walmart for a few things.  (A few things means less than $30 worth.)  In the afternoon Don took our Honda in for a recall of the instrument panel, needed to be recalibrated - it is all electronic.  I spent time on the computer.

My orders are slow in arriving, one or two items a day.  Hope they all arrive in time!

Taco Tuesday

My eye doctor appointment was this morning.  No changes in my eyes again this year!

We had tacos for dinner then daughter Brenda came for a visit in the evening.  Light snow in the air all day, not much accumulated on top of what we already have.

Monday

Darn old clean the house Monday.  It's done for another week!!!

We stayed home and did things that needed attention.  Had left-over roast for dinner.

Sunday

It still was snowing a bit this morning.  We decided to be brave and went out for breakfast anyway.  Came home and read the Sunday newspaper.  In the afternoon daughter Sheila came over for a visit.  (Daughter Brenda is out of town.)

I put a roast in the slow cooker for dinner.

RIP President Bush

Former President Bush Sr. passed away last night.  He was a honest president and a good person.

We stayed home all day.  It snowed most of the day, got about 4 inches.  It started out as big flakes, like a postcard!

No whole grain, no shot

We went to Panera for coffee and a bagel, today their coffee machine was working but they were having problems with the toaster.  Also out of my favorite bagel, whole grain.  Then we went to Target to finally get our flu shots but the pharmacist who gives the shots wasn't working.  Did some shopping and then went for groceries. 

Late afternoon we went back to Target and got our flu shots and then out for dinner.

Snow

The plows cleared driveway and sidewalk today, for some strange reason they didn't plow the street leaving it a mess.  Don had an eye doctor appointment, I stayed home to do computer stuff.

We went to Red Lobster for their dinner special - soup, salad, entree and desert.  By the time we got to the entree we could eat only half so took it home as well as the brownie sundae.

NO Coffee???

Bad morning.  We went to Panera's for coffee and a bagel.  Their coffee machine WASN'T WORKING.  No Coffee, none.  So we made a quick u-turn and went to Perkins for coffee and potato pancakes.

Then we went to Walmart for a few things, when we went back to our car we could feel moisture in the air.  By the time we got home the moisture had turned to snow.  We ended up with about 2 inches of snow.

Road reports were not good, slick roads - many accidents.  We had planned to go out to dinner but decided, wisely to stay home.  Had baked chicken breasts.

At least I don't feel so bad!

Cold old day!

We got hair cuts this morning.  Much needed as it had been a long time.  Feels extra cold out today at about 15 degrees.  Sun this morning for once.

We went to HyVee in the late afternoon for a few groceries and picked up sandwiches for dinner.  Cold out!

Cyber Monday

Cleaned the house and then spent a lot of time on the computer Christmas Shopping.  It's Cyber Monday after all.

See two birds and one squirrel?

Sunday

Breakfast at Bakers Square, then ----  gas, groceries, pick-up, Menards.

Finally home to read the Sunday Newspaper and take a Sunday nap.

Don got the outside lights  up, he puts some over the garage door and around the deck rail.

House is decorated!

We put up the Christmas Tree and other decorations.  It is a big job, but now we can sit back and enjoy.

We got Chinese food for dinner, that was our only trip out today!

Post Thanksgiving menu:

Black Firday

Black Friday - called that as it is the day businesses go into the black.  We went to Menards, it was packed, hard to find parking, hard to find a cart.  The had some good deals.  The to CVS, not packed, got a couple things.  I put in a order to Kohls.

Brenda invited us over to dinner.  It was good to see Becca again, had been awhile.  We also met Brenda's friend Scott.  Good food, ate to much again!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving!  We went to dinner at daughter Sheila's house.  There will be her family and some of her husband's family.  I took a cranberry salad, new recipe.  All the food was delicious.  We had a good time visiting after dinner.

Target today

Now we know what Don's weird flu was - pre-cellulitis.  He went to the clinic at Target today and got antibiotic so hopefully he will feel better soon.  At least he isn't contagious and we don't have to stay home tomorrow for Thanksgiving.

While he was at the clinic, I shopped around Target.  They have redone the store and it is nice, upscale.

I made vegetable soup for dinner, my favorite.

Slow day

Don is better today but not 100%.  We were going out shopping this morning but decided we can wait until tomorrow when Don will hopefully feel good.  As long as I don't get what he had.  I fixed his favorite dinner - tater tot casserole.


Haygoods, one of the shows we saw in Branson

Dry and Dirt

The house wasn't really dirty but just as easy to clean the whole thing as a bit here and there.  Done for the week!

We had way too much humidity in Florida and here it is way too dry.  So we ordered a humidifier today.  We both have itchy skin and dry noses!

Don started not feeling well in the afternoon, some sort of weird flu I guess.  He was stiff and sore all over.  Might be from driving the car so much in the last week.

Me, a lot of years ago:

Christmas Flamingo

Off to breakfast at Denny's.  It was 7 degrees, cold for us "Florida" people.  Then went to HyVee for more groceries.  The store was packed.

In the afternoon our daughters came over for a visit.  So good to see them again.

We had pork chops in the Crock pot for dinner.


Watch that daughter Brenda gave me today.

Road Recovery

Because we had no food in the house, we went out for breakfast and then to two grocery stores.  Got a lot of stuff, but still need to do another store.  The ground was covered with snow this morning and a few flakes in the air but it became bright sun!

We spent most of the rest of the day doing laundry and putting stuff away.  Took a much needed nap in the afternoon!  Good to be home.

Glass tree by Chihuly in Clinton Library - just 1/3 of the tree
displayed in the Clinton White House.

10 hours on the road

On the road.  We had planned to spend the night in Des Moines, Iowa but snow was forecast for Minnesota so we decided to get the job done and traveled a total of 10 hours to Minnesota.  It was good to get home but we were very tired.  The trip went well, lots of people on the roads..  We got into some snow just as we were approaching our house.

Doug Grabarial show from yesterday

Shows

Breakfast in the motel, they had Krispy Kreme Donuts.  Too good!  Then we went to the Doug Gabriel Show.  He had visited the place where we ate last night and given us a coupon for half price.  We had seen his show before and knew it would be good.  He did a great job on Malaguena and also did the Hallelujah Chorus on the guitar.

Then we ate lunch at our all time favorite buffett, which was the same as ever - good.  Also busy.  From there to Menards to get an ice scraper for the car.  We forgot to put one in the trunk.  Being too full for dinner we just went to The Haygoods show.  They NEVER disappoint.