The aftermath of Christmas - pet toys everywhere!!!

My amaryllis is starting to bloom!

Sunrise Saturday morning as Alli and I set off to do our shopping...

Dave and Marlette came down last night for a late Christmas, so I cleaned my house, the guest house, did my normal shopping run, worked in the yard, etc.  I clocked over 24,000 steps for the day....woohoo!

The animals were the most excited about Christmas presents this year, I think.  And, I'll be honest, it's because the dogs got a chew-bone.  They did play with their toys, but only after they took care of the chew-bone....

Indy actually played with the toy mice (and so did Luna - she pulled the stuffing out of two of them already.)  Indy is such a big cat that it's funny to see him play like a kitten.

After cooking Christmas breakfast (waffles, eggs, hash browns, sausage, coffee, and mimosas - orange juice for Alli of course) and cleaning up after cooking said breakfast, opening presents, and cleaning up after opening said presents, I worked on my quilt.  It is slow going at this point, but it's beginning to come together.  I have a little less than half (4 of the 9 rows) put together.  (It would go faster if I sewed it together right the first time.)  I have 5 more rows to put together with the sashing, and then make a zillion hourglass blocks for a border row, add that boarder row and add a few others.....as I said, slow going on this one!

Merry Christmas from Alli and I!

Here's a picture from the Christmas party...what a handsome son I have!!!  (And he's good to his momma...he didn't fuss when I wanted just "one more dance"...lol!)

I (finally) got my 2020 calendar order done.  Here are the photos that made it....

Saturday night was the annual Christmas party for the bank.  Here's the view from the Country Club when I 'helped' decorate Saturday morning.  I 'helped' decorate by putting out probably a total of 21 pine cones on the tables.  I was five minutes late getting there, and everything was done already!!  It was a nice opportunity to chat with people I don't see often, though.  (For once, the room was set up exactly how we wanted it, and it had been cleaned, etc.  Many times, when we go in to set up, nothing has been done....)

Ralph wasn't feeling well, so he didn't go to the dinner.  AJ had his own invitation, since he now works for the bank, but he was still my date for the evening.

I think this vacation week should be titled' things NOT completed while on vacation".  I failed to post on this blog, I didn't do any sewing (and I mean it!!! Nothing!) I didn't do any crocheting that wasn't needed immediately (and still didn't get everything done I needed), I didn't get to the gym once (though I did get some walks in with the dogs...), I didn't get my calendars for 2020 ordered, no Christmas cards done, and the list could continue...

I DID get the snowflakes for my department done, enough gloves done for my department and for Alex's office, cookies baked and delivered to several offices, neighbors, friends, etc., (6 different types of cookies!) I played secret Santa for 2 "Adopt a Senior" people, got my shopping done, helped with the raffle baskets at work, helped out at the annual staff breakfast at work (and got an hour of work in while I was there...) supervised Chris while he was putting in a new fence around our pool in the cold and rain (he was cookie tester....which he said was the best part of the job!) picked out new pool tile and surface material (the plaster is disintegrating in our pool - time to redo it...bummer.  Some of the tile started falling last year, so I knew it was time.)

I didn't get pictures of the snowflakes after I stiffened them, but here they are before that.  Two of them had to be redone after stiffening - a pin rusted on them, leaving a dark brown spot....

I had help wrapping my secret Santa gifts....

My amaryllis on the 13th, and then on the 20th....it's starting to bloom!

Alex requested a baby hat for part of his secret Santa exchange at work, so I made a snowman hat for him.  I had a little help too.

The first part of the week was bright and sunny - fresh snow on Lassen.  (The rest of the week was rainy....)

Here's my amaryllis after one week... 

Here's my original - it's grown a lot in a week!  

Yesterday was the start of "get ready for Christmas!!!"  After I got my chores done, I started working on my embellished gloves.  I got 12 pairs done yesterday (and watched two movies on Disney+, and part of The Mandalorian" series - I have to catch up with AJ....)

That used up most of my gloves that I had in stock, and Walmart isn't carrying them this year.  I ordered some online yesterday, so I can get more done when they get in, so today....my focus is my quilt (that I've been ignoring for most of the year) and snowflakes.  All (or almost all) of my quilt blocks are done, it's time to start the sashings in between the blocks.  I also have one border  that is hourglass blocks that I don't have done yet, but....sashings first!  (After my chores are done though....)

 

And here is the ornament display that I got for Mom's ornaments.  Unfortunately, while I was moving the display to take a picture, I knocked one off...and it happened to be one of the glass ones that she did.  (She switched to plastic balls along the way...good idea!)

Another Thanksgiving is in the books!  I cooked for us and Ralph's family on Thursday, and then went to Jeff's for my family on Saturday.  (Note to self - next year, put the dressing in the oven earlier.....)  

Ralph didn't make it to Jeff's - he decided to stay home sick.  Monday, he was diagnosed with pneumonia, so it was a good call....

Dave didn't make it either.  These were pictures he sent during the day from his place:

And here's my 'reward' for the cooking and cleaning for the day - a cranberry parfait and a glass of wine - and my feet up!

This is the coolest hostess gift too - Debbie and Pat brought it for me - and it is so cool!  I'm planning on taking pictures as it grows.

Chewie enjoyed a little down time too....

And....the house is decorated for Christmas!  (Once again, no Christmas tree - just my snowmen) I picked up an ornament display rack yesterday, and need to pull out all the hand-crocheted ornaments that Mom has sent the kids over the year and put them on it.  More pictures to come!