|
|
Post by Linda on Dec 28, 2021 19:37:17 GMT
nylene - so glad you have a washer again and glad your SIL was available to get it installed for you. Hoping for some scrappy time today - I have a welcome to your new home card to make for DD21, an engagement card for one of her friends, and thank you cards for Christmas to make. kitbop - sorry that your scrappy gifts were a bit of a miss. No one here ever asks for suggestions from me so I'm always well surprised by whatever I get joyfulnana - glad you had a good holiday and hoping you're enjoying some well deserved downtime now. The big kids left this morning and are already in South Carolina on their way to Virginia. They are planning to stop around the North Carolina/Virginia border for the night so they only have a short drive tomorrow before having to unload the truck. DS was originally scheduled to go back on detachment on the 3rd but that's been postponed which is nice - will give him some time to get DD settled in. I'm working on cleaning the house but otherwise have a couple of days of downtime. We're probably going to IKEA on Friday and then we'll do a quiet evening at home - appetisers, puzzle, and a movie. Last night we all worked on a puzzle together - Christmas gnomes. Merry Christmas MARIBETHR
|
|
nylene
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,780 
|
Post by nylene on Dec 28, 2021 23:31:43 GMT
kitbop, I am sorry your gifts fell a bit flat. I hope you can return and get the colors you want or something different. I have been so irritated by your dad's situation. I was telling my nurse friend about it and she informed me that at her hospital they are so short-handed (with staff getting Covid) that they are paying double time + $2400 PER SHIFT (12 hr) to anyone who will work between Christmas and Jan 3. If she weren't so totally worn out, she would be there more. She has lost 80 lbs through Covid (which is a good thing) but it's because she works so much and gets no time to eat. I am worried about her. She cares for her 95 year old dad and she said he would just die if he were locked down like your dad. He is fortunate to have her and two grandchildren who see him daily. I hope you and your family can ramp up some excitement for the New Year celebrations. Linda, I'm glad to hear that the traveling has been uneventful. That will be so nice for DD to have her brother there to help her get settled. I'm sure your younger DD is already missing them. Angie hated being the last at home after Em got married. I'm impressed that your home is getting so settled with all the last moving from the other home. Have a great New Year's celebration togther. I have decided I need to do some super destashing in my scraproom. I have everything pulled out and it is such a mess. It has to be put back by day after tomorrow when Angie gets here, but it is such a huge job. I have a big donate stack but didn't want to go out in the cold today to take it. I hope tomorrow is less windy and snowy and I will probably find more things to donate later tonight. I will try to check in on the weekend but it may be quite a zoo around here by then. Saturday is the big whole family Polar Plunge and then lunch at DD's. I'm surprised at the adults who are planning to plunge! They all have to be crazy. We will watch from a warm car.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Dec 29, 2021 19:51:37 GMT
nylene - wow - great job destashing in the craft room. Enjoy your weekend with all the family. A Polar Plunge sounds super cold - people here do it in the springs (water is 72 year-round) but I'm not even game for that. I got the two cards made and mailed yesterday. For DD21  and for her friend who just got engaged over Christmas  Uploaded, edited, and ordered 200+ photos today. My 'same day' order is due to be ready January 2nd, lol. I suspect it'll be earlier. D21 and DS30 made it to Williamsburg. They even took the Uhaul on a ferry boat - yes, I got photos. Truck is unloaded so now they need to return it, get DS's truck from base (where he left it), go grocery shopping, and start unpacking. Poor DD got carsick once it got dark - combination of motion sickness, lack of fresh air, and the lights from the traffic on the interstate. Fortunately they didn't have much left to go before the hotel but she sounded awful when they called last night and apparently she was white as a ghost when they got there. She was feeling better after a good night's sleep and was fine today. She's prone to migraines and had motion sickness on long rides as a kid so not 100% surprising but unfortunate.
|
|
nylene
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,780
|
Post by nylene on Dec 29, 2021 22:20:25 GMT
Linda , I love your cards. That stamp of the Victorian house is a classic. So very pretty. I'm glad the kids have arrived and I'm sorry about your DD's car sickness. I can definitely empathize with her. I spend many times on the side of the road throwing up whenever we traveled. Glad she is feeling better. Having just eaten or being hungry always gets me if I am not careful. Warm springs water sounds a lot better than the reservoir for plunging. Sometimes they have to break out a section of ice in order to do it. Sounds miserable to me, but they look forward to it every year. My scraproom is starting to look like it can be used to scrapbook. I have really gone through lots of stuff and have purged and donated several boxes. I have to force myself NOT to scrap until I have finished. That empty table makes me want to create. I have ordered a bunch (but not 200, Linda ) of photos from Costco. They won't be here until next week and I am determined not to scrap until they arrive. After the CA kids leave I can settle down and scrap, scrap, scrap. Happy New Year to each of you. I will try to remember to post the January thread before the 1st. 2022, it seems like this year has flown.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Dec 29, 2021 22:58:48 GMT
Thanks nylene - breaking out a section of ice and then jumping in? Sounds like a recipe for hyperthermia and a heart attack to me. Guess I'm too old for that thrill. Brrrr! Well done on the scraproom - organising and purging is never the fun part of scrapping but it always motivates me to get creative again.I was right about my photo order - it's already ready for pickup - I'll get it tomorrow when we grocery shop. No scrapping today (maybe this evening) but I did sew up a yard of fabric - I picked it up the other day with the intent of making fabric gift bags from it - it's black with rainbow coloured glittery stars...very festive. I've been thinking about sewing the gift bags for years but I finally actually did - I made one large, one medium, and two small drawstring bags. I think I'll pick up another yard and also look for some Christmas markdown fabric for more. I really DO want to scrap tonight or tomorrow - I'm so close to my layout goal for the year. |
|
|
|
Post by grammadee on Dec 30, 2021 2:20:05 GMT
Survived a day with the boy today. We went to town for groceries and the mail; cut up all the meat and cheese and made up trays of snack foods for our planned grazing supper watching the hockey game, then settled down to watch movies. We actually both dozed off: first time he has relaxed all week. Everyone else was back about 4:30PM, BUT the World Junior hockey tournament was cancelled due to players from different teams testing positive for Covid, so no game to watch. We had our planned meal and played Christmas Charades instead. If you have not already signed up for Team Play in January the signup thread is ready to go. Looking for nylene, justjac, kellyr21, and anyone else who wants to join a team. |
|
kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,623
|
Post by kitbop on Dec 30, 2021 15:24:36 GMT
grammadee - DH thinks they should never have tried to have the tournament at all this year, but of course, hindsight is 20/20 right? You sound like you might wearing down a bit on keeping up with the youth! Linda - very pretty cards! I'm with you on the swimming - I don't go near water unless the air temperature is over 75F. The water temperatures here however don't ever get past 72 I don't think - the great lakes are chilly! We really need to transition to gift bags. We still wrap - it's just tradition and the look I like - but I can't help agonizing over the environmental impact. I could ask DD to make it a project this year. And I should go find Christmas fabric on clearance I suppose! nylene - good for you on the re-org! I haven't had a chance to do any scrapping, and now my heart is hurting a bit as we pack to go away for 5 days. I'm taking some cards to assemble, and I *might* take a box and some photos, but I'm not sure it will fit in the car as the dogs are coming with us and they take up the 3rd row. I did just order 3 diamond paintings from Amazon to be delivered to my destination. I've never done one, and thought it might be fun as a family activity? Dunno why I didn't orders 1 to try first. I just couldn't choose... and if the family DOES enjoy them, it would be best not to have 9 people crowded around 1 painting  nylene, justjac, kellyr21 - please do come join a team for this next quarter! With the addition of points per hour crafting/arting (looking at you kellyr21!), it will be easier to not feel like you're contributing to your team.
|
|
gramma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,114
Location: Sacramento, Ca
|
Post by gramma on Dec 30, 2021 17:47:49 GMT
I think my project for 2022 is going to be making fabric gift bags. They will then be turned into holiday blessing bags to be given out to the homeless. It's been a long time since I've done that.
|
|
nylene
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,780
|
Post by nylene on Dec 30, 2021 19:25:45 GMT
gramma, what a great idea. What do you put in your bags for the homeless? I will be teaching a little girl in my neighborhood to sew this year and I'd love to help her do that.
|
|
gramma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,114
Location: Sacramento, Ca
|
Post by gramma on Dec 30, 2021 22:11:53 GMT
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Hand wipes
Soap
Socks
Beanie hats
Hand warmers
Gloves
Candy / granola bars
Sometimes gift card for fast food
Not all of those but some ideas
|
|
nylene
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,780
|
Post by nylene on Dec 30, 2021 22:22:11 GMT
Thank you! I have a big crate of fabric just the right size for that.
|
|
|
|
Post by grammadee on Dec 31, 2021 3:04:38 GMT
Awww, Linda, (((((HUGS))))) to you and your dd15 as you adjust to having the other two leave. Glad they got there okay and that all went well. Those are cute cards.
What a sweet idea for a 2022 project, gramma. And even sweeter to share it with a neighbour's girl, nylene.
Yes, kitbop, I am flagging a bit, but really thankful these guys are here. We spent today getting the basement back into order so it can be used again as a play area for the kids and work area for us. The truck is loaded to go to the local refuse transfer station, but they are closed until Tuesday the 4th, so dh will be driving around with a loaded truck for a few days--not that he his going very far.
Someone asked about scrappy gifts. I received a virtual fortune in Michaels gc’s. But the coolest scrappy gift was this Crafters Companion Advent calendar I received from justjac .  It has a year’s worth of card making supplies: stamps, dies, and stencils for birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, plus lots of generic flowers, birds and other winged things; even a cute little bird house! And a 6x6 pad of paper I almost missed until I saw the tag yesterday.
This evening we ate leftovers and eggnog cranberry bread pudding for supper and watched Deck the Halls. The boy is now in bed and I hear a card game breaking out, so gotta go...
|
|
joyfulnana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,043
|
Post by joyfulnana on Dec 31, 2021 16:47:53 GMT
Hello pokeys! nylene your kids are crazy! lol. There is no way I would do a polar plunge, but it sounds like they look forward to it and I'm looking forward to hearing about it! I relate to the empty table making you want to scrap, it's that way for me too. When everything is put away and organized it's so inviting. kitbop enjoy your time away! I had to laugh at your buying three diamond paintings. I do the same thing, I never start with one to see if I would like it first lol. (probably how I've managed to build such a large stash of supplies lol) grammadee I hope things are settling down for you now. Man that little boy energy is a lot sometimes isn't it? It feels chaotic at times and can really be draining for this old woman lol. That advent calendar is so cool!! Linda so exciting for DD21 and I love hearing about the adventure of moving. I hope they get settled in with no problem and it's not too hard on DD15. I'm sure the house feels a little empty. I also hope you get a chance to relax and get some rest! gramma what a thoughtful project! That's just awesome. But you are pretty awesome You all are! Even though Christmas is over, it didn't really stop here. I've had someone or another here every night this week. I'm tired lol. And planning a nice quiet evening tonight putting pages into albums and figuring out what I want to work on tomorrow when I crop with my mom and nieces. I need to clean off my table and have that fresh, inviting feel too. I have to run out for a few groceries before our winter storm hits. We have had very warm weather most of the month and it is going to be cold and snowy/icy starting around midnight and into tomorrow. The exact same thing happened last New Years weekend. I am looking forward to being snowed in to do nothing but scrap tomorrow. This year has been so weird. It feels like it flew right by, and yet last January, or even May seem like 2 years ago. I was trying to remember who played in the Superbowl this past year, and realized it was the Chiefs, but that seems like it was two Super Bowls ago. It's just weird lol. Abby has been out of sorts the past couple weeks, I think all the people and my own stress over getting things ready for Christmas has something to do with that. She's been extra clingy lately. She really loves a quiet, easy routine - like me lol. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and I hope to see lots of you guys in the crops this year! I'm ready to do lots of scrapping in 2022! |
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Dec 31, 2021 19:30:06 GMT
I'll be back later to catch up on the posts I missed...
All's well that ends well but today was a bit stressful. We headed to the city (90+ min away) to IKEA and left DD15 at home. We're almost off the interstate when she texts us - there are random people at the door ringing the bell and knocking.
I get her on the phone - it's two scruffy looking people (1 male, 1 female) with hiking gear and bicycles. They hung out in the driveway and kept coming back over to ring the bell again. Then they dropped the tailgate on one of our trucks and sat there.
I make sure the door is locked. We call 911 and get patched through to our hometown line and they send a deputy out to the house (and take our number). Deputy calls - they know the people, they are of 'no fixed address' and just hang out locally. Apparently they were looking for their sister-in-law...we don't recognise their names but the SIL - we get mail for her (we bought the house a year ago and apparently not all of the previous residents had their mail fowarded).
So it looks like their SIL moved without letting them know. (fair enough - I didn't tell MY SIL we moved either). They've been told to stay away and the incident has been logged in case we have a future issue. Deputy checked in with A to make sure she was okay.
And of course, we turned around and headed home at the first text from A. - IKEA will wait for another day.
Naturally this was the first time we've actually left her home alone while we weren't in the local area - poor kid.
|
|
gramma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,114
Location: Sacramento, Ca
|
Post by gramma on Dec 31, 2021 19:54:06 GMT
Linda This is one of the instances when I think the technology we have today is a great thing! I'm glad she is OK and the "folks" have been warned off!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Dec 31, 2021 20:23:03 GMT
gramma - yes - very grateful to technology - DD being able to phone me, DH being able to call 911 from out-of-county and get patched through etc.... especially since we don't know our neighbours yet (due to moving during Covid). I don't know if it was co-incidence or not but the deputy sent was female which I think was reassuring to DD. joyfulnana - I'm ready for a slow January also and scrappy time. No snow here and it's hot today but it is supposed to cool off a bit next week which'll be nice. Hopefully Abby settles down with the calmer household. I know Midnight is unsettled at the moment - he was thrilled to have DS home (slept on his bed) but not real happy about boxes and the two of them leaving. And he's so old - there are no guarantees he'll still be here for their next visit. We're not sure exactly his age but the vet estimated him to be early-mid teens when we got him in 2016 so he's got to be around 20 by now. grammadee - what an awesome scrappy gift! You'll have loads of fun with all those goodies! gramma and nylene - I've made bags in the past for a local church (not mine - a friend's) that fills them for the homeless and the DV shelter. It's a great way to use up scraps and bless others at the same time. kitbop - you'll have to let us know how the diamond painting goes - I'm always looking for fun family activities to do at home. @gramamadee - sorry about the game being cancelled but probably for the best. Sounds like your DGS is keeping you very busy and active. You'll need a nap once everyone goes home. I look at you and nylene, gramma, joyfulnana etc... and hope to be that kind of grammy if/when I end up with grandkids.
|
|
|
|
Post by grammadee on Dec 31, 2021 20:29:54 GMT
You'll need a nap once everyone goes home. Think I will need a Rip Van Winkle nap... |
|
nylene
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,780
|
Post by nylene on Dec 31, 2021 22:16:07 GMT
Linda, I am so grateful that your DD is ok and that the transients have been told to stay away. I'm sure it was terrifying for her. So glad for the technology that allowed her to have the police come and make the "visitors" leave. Yes, I hate to admit it, but there are times I am really grateful for technology even though I cuss it when I can't get things to work. Give her some extra hugs from me. It's maybe a good thing that DD was there or the visitors may have just broken in after several hours of waiting for the former owners to come home. You may have come home to squatters. She was a smart girl to immediately let you know. grammadee, I have to giggle at the tired sound in your "voice". We used to be able to do this all day, every day, but little boys really take energy. Your scrappy gifts are wonderful. That justjac knows exactly what you love. I'm so glad you two have each other and wish we could all be there with you. joyfulnana, I hope you enjoy your leisurely scrapping with your mom. Just think of us freezing while you are warm and toasty. LOL! I'm sorry that Abby has felt displaced. I'm sure she will settle down as things in your home settle down. Do you have to work starting on Monday or do you have a few more days off? kitbop, I hope you enjoy your time away and the diamond painting. You deserve some down time with all you have been dealing with. How is your dad doing with his isolation? gramma, I love seeing your happy smile pop up on the thread. I hope you are doing well. I am excited about using up some of my leftover fabric for a good cause. Thanks for sharing. The troops are at the other grandparents' home so things are quiet for a few minutes. They have had so much fun in the snow! They are always sad if we don't have enough snow for snowmen, etc. when they come. We obliged this trip! It's supposed to snow more tonight and all day tomorrow. Boy, that water is going to be cold in the morning! So glad I'm going to be sitting in a warm car except to take photos. I will close this thread later on tonight and start the official 2022 thread.
|
|
