The Day after Christmas

Christmas hustle is behind now and I must say, I'm kind of glad.  I didn't send out cards this year and I suspect a lot of people didn't as  my mailbox didn't fill up like it used to in years past.  My house is decorated but not nearly as much as I "used to do."  I'll probably put everything away this coming Friday.  I've got a jigsaw puzzle set up in the kitchen and once it's completed, I'll open up the new one I got for Christmas.

I rode with Jenni and Maddie to Mary and Andy's house on Christmas eve morning. Wayne, Hunter, and Sammy went in Wayne's truck a little later as they had to wait until Hunter returned from a Christmas trip to Chehalis with his girl friend and her family.  I was apprehensive about traveling 3 hours from home when I knew the sky was nasty looking and my yard was already covered in a layer of snow from the previous week.  I fussed and fretted the entire time in Renton as I heard news reports later of a heavy snowfall everywhere and accidents galore.  When we left after dinner on Christmas day (around 4 pm) I was very relieved once we were on the road and I saw the pavement was clear. And it stayed that way all the way to Port Angeles.  I still sat in the back seat with a hat on and my eyes closed until we got off I-5.  DO NOT LIKE FAST SPEED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.  Never have. Never will.  We got home okay and didn't encounter any crunchy snow on the road UNTIL we got to my neighborhood.  Road out front still looks white but the rest of the area downtown is better.  I'll deal with it.

Mary fixed a nice lasagna dinner for Christmas eve and a prime rib dinner for Christmas day. Outdid herself.  Just unfortunate we had to eat and run on the 25th as we needed to get home before dark. Couldn't really predict if the roads would be icy in the country we had to pass through.

I got some video and photos as the neighborhood came out to play in the snow.  Will post them (and a few others I saw on Facebook).  I've completed all my chores on my to-do list for today. Did the icky jobs the first -- cleaning out the oven, for example. I had turned on the self-cleaning option when I got home last night as an apple pie had overflowed a couple days before and I knew I couldn't use my oven until I cleaned it up.  I shoveled some snow off my deck but don't really know why; I certainly don't intend to go out in the deep snow in my backyard.  I do have new boots (with polka dots) so I suppose I could venture out if the mood strikes me. But it won't!

I've got a small quilt almost finished (keeping it for me at nap time) and once that's done, I'll look around for something new to make.  Got a new pair of scissors for Christmas and I'm really excited about using them.  Amazing what turns me on these days.  I also got a new grabber which I will put to constant use. I have others in a couple of rooms but you can't have too many grabbers!  I also got a new fire extinguisher. My other two were bought in the 80s I think. Might still be good. Or not.

Nothing on my agenda for the rest of the year although Sue and Paul are coming to dinner on Thursday. Bringing the turkey too.  Yum!  Well, the mailman just arrived so guess I'll get my boots on and track out to the curb and see if there's anything interesting.  Below are various pictures. Most have been posted on Facebook but I know not everyone visits that site.  Happy New Year!

          Jake & Maddie on the street Christmas morning           

                                        Andy plays Candyland with Jake

                                    Jenni and me lounging in our pajamas

                       Mary opens gifts while Andy gives Jake a ride

 Jake puts a new ornament on the tree. Maddie, Hunter, and Wayne watch

 Andy gets a large world map from Mary (with stick pins) so they can mark all the places they've been

                              Mary gives Jake a sled ride

                                   Mary and Jake work on their snowman

                                  neighorhood kids come out to play

                  Jake sits on Maddie's lap while playing on his Ipad

                  Jen decides to grab my boob with her grabber

                                 Mary helps Hunter with his new phone

                        Jake really wants Sammy to play with him

                               neighbors are building their snowman too

                                            Sammy meets a new friend

 Jake learns about his new game "Toilet Trouble." When you spin the toilet paper, you can get squirted in your face from the toilet bowl

Andy adds finishing touches to their snowman

 Cousins Lee and Bill Arey at lunch (with Bill's daughters) for Bill's birthday

                             a picture  I saw on FB taken at North Beach

a picture of Linda Gillett Pedersen that her niece posted from several years back.  I am really gonna miss that lady!