Still gimping 12-17-22

I haven't been able to walk the loop, but the neighbor on Brian had his skeleton up for Halloween and transitioned him to a sort of pilgrim and then to a Santa skeleton.  You can see how tall he is by comparing KoKo who is at the very bottom of the picture.   Driving here and there I have seen a number of these big guys this year, most were dismantled after Halloween. 

Several people after seeing the dessert pictures mentioned the Danish Kringle from TJoe's .  I am actually on my second almond Kringle this year.  I portion them, Baggie them, and put about half in the freezer.  I pop the frozen piece in the microwave for a few seconds and eat it warm.  DELICIOUS!   I have also been stocking up on TJoe's Cranberry/Orange relish that is sooo good, but once only available for Thanksgiving.  I complained a couple years ago that it should be available for Xmas and I suppose others did the same.  So it is now sold through December, or until they run out of supply.  I freeze it and haul it out throughout the year.  Sooo good on a number of different cuisines.  

I was off my feet quite bit yesterday dealing with a missing check.  The company did receive it, but then it just disappeared.  I have never stopped payment on a check before and found that I was required to go to the credit union to show my ID and sign a form to authorize the stop payment.   But before I found that out I spent forever on the phone being switched around to a bunch of different people and listened to the tinned music almost more than I could stand (mute helped).  The CUnion is only a mile away, but all told I spent hours dealing with this problem.  On Monday I will verify that the check was REALLY stopped before I write another one.  I do still pay most of my bills by check because I feel that I keep better track of my money.  And I won't forget how to write in long hand.  I do make grocery lists, but that is about all I write except occasional scribbled notes to myself.  

Hope to do some sewing tomorrow.  Mostly just mending, but may do some machine quilting.  Wonder if I can elevate my left leg while running the machine with my right.   Doubt it!

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Christmas Countdown #7 12-17-22

 

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Friday Food 12-16-22

It is a dessert time of year, isn't it?  So many pictures of desserts in my photo files.  I just went through and chose six.  Now I want to dig through the freezer and see if there is something sweet to eat before I go to bed.   Since the photo program Picasa disappeared I don't have captions on most pictures before that sad day.  But you can mostly tell what yummies these are.  

Three varieties of cookies from our local "Cookie Elements" shop.  Not as large or as expensive as Crumbl, but I like them better. 

A lovely looking and delicious dessert served to the Book Group one day. 

A chocolate cake topped with whipped cream at Il Vecchio in Pacific Grove.  Three ladies, three spoons, not a crumb left. 

Scoops of ice cream topped with blackberries and a mint leaf. 

"Take the gun, leave the Cannoli."

A great homemade cake topped with fresh strawberries...  and whipped cream on each slice. 

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Christmas Countdown #6 12-16-22

 

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Photo Fail 12-15-22

Worked hard at staying off my feet today, but we did go out.  KoKo just piddled in the backyard, no walk, and then we went to Starbuck's drive thru.  On the way I could see the snow covered mountains so we drove up to the top of Bastanchury (bas-tan-CHUR-y) Hill which is the highest place around.  Unfortunately the trees have grown up to block a lot of the view.  But the problem today was my cell phone camera (I think).  

Below is a gated community, above that the Brea Hills, and that light streak is the snow on the distant mountains.  Unfortunately they just blend into the sky. 

Same with this one, perhaps slightly more clear.

 

Did I take a breath and jiggle the cell phone?

And really extended.  Not my best effort. 

And then we were driving right by The Hat, which has the best pastrami around, so we drove thru and picked up a huge sandwich (ate half for dinner tonight).  When we turned on to Imperial Hwy I decided to stop for $3.99/gal gas at Arco!  Then east to our favorite Starbuck's and home to sit in my chair to read, have a nap, and do some paperwork - with my leg elevated.  Only 198 steps yesterday, but I didn't have my phone in my pocket all the time.  Tina did the honors for KoKo this evening.  What a friend!!!

He resents my lap being full of paperwork, or anything but him.

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Christmas Countdown #5 12-15-22

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Busy day 12-14-22

Yesterday I did 105 steps!  Those were almost all trips to the bathroom!  Don't know how many steps today, but I was out and about a lot.  Thoughtful friend Tina took KoKo for walks both morning and night.   However, the boys in the cul de sac needed rides to school, which isn't a lot of steps, just get in the car in the garage and drive them to school and drive back to park in the garage!  But then today was the Book Group Xmas lunch, where I parked in the spot closest to the restaurant door, gimped in, sat, ate, visited, and then gimped back to the car, picked up Julian and delivered him to his house, parked in my garage and sat for a nap!  Then to the PTherapist where I didn't have my phone to count my steps, but there weren't a lot.  Finally home to the garage again,  Don't I live an exciting life? 

It was nice to see the Book Group ladies, except Carol who stayed home to protect us from her cold.  Thank you, Carol.  We talked about our Christmas Day plans and caught up with all our lives.  I left before we discussed the book.  I didn't finish it, only read about halfway and struggled with every page.  It is on Kindle if I decide I need to finish it - NOT.  Instead I started "The World According to Garp" that I enjoyed so much in 1979 that my husband asked me to not read it in bed because I kept chuckling and keeping him awake!  So far I am not finding it funny at all, but I'm only about a 1/4th of the way in.  

We always exchange smallish gifts and this year was a good year.   I showed you the bags I gave containing a book gift card, a long skinny Lindt bar, and a FIRE EXTINQUISHER!  Seems like something everyone might not have and may never need, but good to have if one forgets a pan on the burner or sets a fire in the toaster oven.  These extinguishers are a one shot deal, so no need to remember to have them recharged periodically.  I have five that require that and have to mark my calendar to remember to do the recharge.  

So, now it is almost 10pm PST and I am very tired.  I think pain does that.  So, early to bed and tomorrow is maybe another 105 step day.

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Christmas Countdown # 4 12-14-22

 

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Still gimpy! 12-13-22

A friend told me today that I am stubborn!  And she is correct, I just want to do things my way.  And sitting/laying around with my foot elevated is not something I choose to do.  So, I pay the price by extending my ailment - who knows how long.  I don't know how long my neighbors will indulge me and take KoKo for his walks.  That is a large part of my continuing pain because I have been walking him.  Not the full half an hour, but just up to the corner and back, so maybe half a walk.   By last evening I could hardly put my foot on the floor, which is a big problem when I have to make it to the bathroom.   Dear Tina walked KoKo today both morning and evening.  Thanks, Tina!

I had to skip the Surfside QGuild meeting today, which was one of the special meetings of the year.  Several members took over the photographers job, including the newsletter editor who will have many more pictures to sort through for the January issue.  They have sent me images of the members hard at work stuffing stockings and writing Holiday Greetings to go with each stocking.  Don't remember how many stockings, something like 160.  The members who did the acquisitions for things to go in the stockings outdid themselves and the excess will go to other non-profits in the area.  I hope we will do this again for future Christmas meetings.  

Everyone was stuffing away.  

As always the refreshment table was sooo appetizing.

While I was sitting with my foot elevated I finished the packages for the Book Group Christmas luncheon tomorrow.   I think I can make it from the parking lot to the restaurant especially if I get a handicapped spot near the door.  There are only seven of us now, but I always gift everyone with a gift card for Amazon or Barnes & Noble (their choice) and this year I also am giving them something I hope they will never need.  Since some may read this I won't say what it is until tomorrow.  

Gift bags from 99cent store for $1.29 - about 15" long. 

Made little sleeves for the gift cards using Grinch fabric from last year's after Christmas sales. 

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Christmas Countdown #3 12-13-22

 

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Christmas Count Down #2 12-13-22

 

You may notice I am fond of snowman cartoons!

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More rain 12-12-22

Up and out this morning for a 7:30am appointment to have the car serviced.  I left KoKo snuggled up in bed and I bundled up.  Not only was it raining it was only 44F.  So, we didn't go for our walk until about 9:15am and it had warmed up some.  We did okay on the walk, but by this evening I was really hurting and decided to see how the evening walk would go using the Rollator.  KoKo has experienced this before and he is careful to avoid being run over.  Not that I could go fast enough to run over anything.  It was a very abbreviated walk as holding on the the Rollator was hard on my arms and didn't help the ankle much.  This evening I called my "boss",  Deanne, the newsletter editor, to warm her that I might not make the Surfside QGuild meeting tomorrow morning.  It is a meeting that will have us all moving around, stuffing stockings for several non-profits in the area.  It will require lots of pictures, so she will take them if I stay home.  Hate to miss the meeting as I do enjoy seeing  all those lovely ladies and their quilts.  I need to leave here by 8am.  If I get up at 7am I can take KoKo for a little walk and see how my ankle does.  I have all the stuff I am taking to the meeting in the car already.  Wish me luck... and a happy ankle.

Sunset on a cloudy day.  Taken from my front porch.  

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Count Down to Christmas 12-12-22

 

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Quilt from TCQC 12-11-22

Another purchase from the SAQA 2022 online auction.  I do love these little bird quilts.  They are very nice hung as a group of four or six. 

"Stilts at the Seaside"  Sara Sharp - Texas  2022  12"X12"

Commercial cotton fabrics, rayon and cotton threads.

Fused applique, thread painting, machine quilting. 

Common shore birds, they run in groups along the waterline.  Their pink legs are distinctive.  Sara has done a nice job with the reflections.  

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