The days between....

(yeah, that's a somewhat obscure Grateful Dead reference...whatchoo gonna do about it? LOL)

Christmas day was a quiet stay-at-home kind of day with predictions of heavy snow that never came.  We got a dusting, and some ice, too.   It was really cold and windy.

But there wasn't enough of anything to cancel work on the next day, dammit.

My first ever sauerbraten turned out PERFECTLY.  Oh wow, was it GOOD!  New Christmas day tradition!!

The goodies my sister sent sat under the tree until Christmas day, which has not happened before.  Usually, Dave insists that we open everything when the box arrives, but this year, he exhibited restraint!

She sent stuff that I love from Trader Joes (which we do not have in Oklahoma because of the stupid liquor laws here), and some cloth napkins to start my collection!  Yay!

And also a recipe for chicken chili that I tried already and we LOVED!

Since Dave's been off work since the 21st, he went and did all of the weekly errands yesterday while I was at work, so that was nice.  All groceries were gotten without my having to participate!

This weekend, we went to the movies for the first time in many months, and saw "Lincoln."

Oh my dear God...you really should see that movie.  It's phenomenal.

And we're doing laundry and I'm cooking.  Just a normal type weekend.  These are just the days between Christmas and New years.

I have to work new years' eve, but that night, when I get home, I'll roast a chicken for us to sup on, and we have a split of champagne for our toast...though, since I have to get up at 5:45 for work that morning, I have some doubt as to my ability to make it to midnight to bit 2012 a most fond adieu.

(incidentally, 2012, if we make it through 12/31 without incident, will be the first year that I have been here in which David has NOT BEEN HOSPITALIZED!!!  THAT is something to celebrate!)

The friends we brunched with last weekend MIGHT join us at some point on NYE, but I haven't heard yet if they're coming or not.

New year's day will be a blissful day off work, and I will make black eyed pea and Virginia ham soup.   It's just one day off, though, so no big plans.  It's also the last day of Dave's vacation.

And I will heartily welcome 2013.  I have a good feeling about this coming year.  I had a good feeling about 2011, too, but let's hope 13 does better by me.

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas Eve feast was relaxed and lovely, and the ham was spectacular!  Our guests were pleased.

This morning dawned very cold, and ice-coated.  The sleet woke me in the night clicking against the windows.

But Santa came anyway, and he brought me a print of Klimt's "The Kiss" that is now hanging in the bedroom.

Beautiful. I love it.

Dave is happy with his military history book, and his BACON themed t shirt.

It started snowing a few hours ago, which made me VERY happy,  but it's only amounted to a layer of white dust on top of the ice. 

Probably not enough for the office to close tomorrow because of inclement weather, but a girl can dream.

We're enjoying left over green bean casserole and potato salad for lunch, and my first ever sauerbraten went into the oven an hour or so ago, after 3 days of marinating in the fridge.

I am VERY excited to taste it much, much later today! 

Wishing everyone who reads this peace of mind, joy of heart, and robust good health in the coming year.

Big change

 BEFORE

AFTER

Yep.  I did it.  I look like my sister from this angle!  *smile*

This is the next step in letting it grow out without trying to cover the white.  I've always tried to stay with colorings that closely match what I was born with...but what I was born with is hair that started turning white 25 years ago.

I used a temp color for years--at least a decade, so the color you see is mine, except for a few "low lights" I had added several months ago to ease the transition.

I'll wear it short for a while, trimming off the last of the parts that haven't gone white yet 

Then, I'll consider growing it out again....because long hair is what I've always loved most.

Yuleifying

Yule is this coming Friday.
The fire pit is ready.  The wassail will be made.  A modest feast will be had.  The rebirth of Light will be observed and honored. Lights will burn all night.

Christmas Eve is the next Monday.

Ham will be boiled, and spoonbread baked. These sacraments will be shared with  guests, who finally said yes. Cups will be raised. Music will be enjoyed. Santa will come, a stealthy elf in the night. 

As for other things Christmas, the cards are sent, the gifts are procured and wrapped.  Next, all we have to do is get the shipping part taken care of.  Bottles of wine will be sent to friends, and a box of wrapped presents will be sent to my family.

It's all coming together quite nicely, and I am feeling better about it every day.
Trying not to weep over the tragedy in Connecticut today.  Trying not to miss my family so much it hurts my belly.
I'm succeeding.  Barely.

trying to get in the mood...

The office holiday party was Friday...at Golden Corral....seriously... ew.  But I DID get a dvd of the version of  "A Christmas Carol" that I had hoped for from my secret santa wish list!

The dance studio party was last night.  I felt awkward and shy, because I still don't have any real friends there...but we WENT, and we went early to help sent things up, so it looked good "politically."

Both of those events were slightly stress-inducing, so I am glad they're over.

The Christmas eve ham arrived Friday.

The missing package finally showed up, badly crushed and damaged, but the contents intact, and the gift buying is almost complete.

"Rudolph" was on tv the other night, and we caught most of it.

 But for the most part, I just don't feel it.

It was 80 degrees last weekend.  There hasn't been any rain.  I've been feeling out of touch and out of energy.

But then this weekend, I asked Dave to bring in the Yuletide decorations from the shed.  We set up the tree we bought last year for the first time, and tested the cats....they did not knock it down.

Jack is probably partially used to having a little artificial tree, since we had one for so many years in the condo.  But Louie was an unknown...and, while he DID show a great deal of interest, he has now decided to leave it alone.

So...this weekend, we strung some lights on the bannister outside.  We set up and decorated the little tree.  We put lights up in the window seat window.

And I feel a little bit more seasonal.

And the cool part is that Dave isn't hating it.

Tonight, the temperature outside is supposed to plunge into the lower 20's, and it's supposed to feel wintery for a few days.  That will help, too.

As for plans for Christmas Eve,  Dave's parents have declared that they aren't interested in Christmas this year, so they won't be joining us for dinner.  Dave's son can't commit until he knows if he's off work or not.

We've invited a couple who are friends of Dave's from way back, but they seem unable to commit so far, as well.

This, too, makes it difficult for me to get into the mood. 

But putting up some decorations has been a good thing to do.

Winter Showcase