Holiday Preparations

Monday 12/19

Lots of cooking to do so not so much outdoor activity. That is just as well because an arctic blast is descending and it is absolutely frigid outside. I'm going to be making two lasagnas and a crock pot full of meatballs for starters. When we get to Mom's house my sister and I (and our kids too) will be doing all the cooking. Mom is fretful and anxious,  thinking she has to prepare all the meals even though that has not been the case for the past 4 years. When you get that old, I guess the mind is not that flexible. Despite our constant assurance that she just needs to relax and enjoy the company, she does get anxious. 

Glenn and I are going to stay at a nearby hotel as my sister and her husband and 3 adult kids fill up the 3 spare rooms at mom's house. We'll just be a few blocks away, so really not a problem. Poor Glenn has to share a room with me though - oh well there are worse problems.

Friday 12/23

The first words I spoke today after waking were "Oh crap, the snow is gone." I had hoped the 6 inches of snow still on the ground would survive the downpours of rain I listened to all night, along with the winds buffeting the house. But the snow was gone. Thankfully things change quickly here in upstate NY, from 55 degrees this morning to 24 and dropping by nightfall. 

9 AM

3 PM

6PM - I startled the deer when I opened the window!

I managed to make 40+ meatballs and 24 sausages, and 2 large lasagnas to bring to mom's for Christmas eve dinner. There is a lot more to bring because I don't want to enter any store on the 24th. I can barely stand shopping on a normal day so the holiday rush is to be avoided at all costs. 



In the middle of my cooking the power flickered causing me to scream a bit. I needed the lasagna and nuts to finish cooking and I'd be done. This photo from the police dept explains the power glitch. Thankfully it stayed on and I finished. This poor motorist has bigger problems. 

The weather has been pretty awful in one way or another, or I am losing my edge for getting out in all kinds of weather. I'm not sure which. Dinner with my daughter and her stepmom and friend was fun the other night; I also met up with friends for lunch on Wednesday, and Annette came over for a wine chat yesterday. 

Some of my favorite ornaments from the forest Christmas tree:



Birch twig Santa.

Glennie went through a snowman phase when she was little, so...

I'm looking forward to a merry and fun Christmas in the town I grew up in.



Comments

  1. MargaretDecember 23, 2022 at 6:28 PM

    What gorgeous and special ornaments! Your photos have captured the changeable beauty of winter; we go quickly from snow/ice to warmish rain. My mom is like yours and misses putting on the festivities with my late father but knows she's not up to it anymore. I'm sure it's a sad realization for her. Our traditional Xmas Eve dinner was lasagna! We're having a TikTok pasta recipe with cherry tomatoes and feta and mozzarella. Plus, sides! Hoping it all turns out. Luckily, both my daughters are better cooks than I am, especially the older one.

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