Bidding Adieu to 2024!

Looking back on 2024...and, a lot has happened and lots of changes for our family. Now sitting here wondering what is in store for us in 2025! I guess we will start finding out tomorrow! Today I have had a day of mainly just stitching. I finished the cross stitch part of the ornaments for Melany and Wade and Nathan and Kathy...now to make them into ornaments...at least the stitching is completed. I was telling Connie, when I talked to her a little while ago, that all my Christmas ornament stitching was complete for 2024...but then realized that I still have one started for my tree that I haven't completed yet. I had planned to go up and work in the sewing room this evening, but decided that I will now work on my ornament...as I think it is possible to finish before midnight...we'll see! I have been watching movies...mainly Christmas movies...while I stitched. So this has been a sit-around-and-stitch day. I think that I plan to hang out in my sewing room tomorrow...maybe do a little reorganizing and maybe a little sewing...I have a pair of pants to hem and also the two ornaments to make. I'm leading up to getting back to sewing and now that the plug for my machine has been fixed, I can once again enjoy sewing flat-bedded. That makes me a happy camper! 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Final Party of 2024…I Think!

Of the five partying with me today, only three & I got in a picture. Erin was asleep in the chair and Wade was behind us. Alex was the instigator for the photos. We had a nice lunch = Stuffed Spud Soup and all the toppings one would put on a baked potato. Well, all but Alex had this soup...Alex had pizza. Alex is a "bit" of a picky eater and soup isn't on his list of what he will eat! We also had homemade Sourdough French Bread and a cheese spread with a variety of crackers. An interesting aside...the cheese spread is a recipe of Rosalyn Carters...felt sort of strange when I thiught about the fact that Jimmy Carter had died on the day I was making one of his wife's recipes. We had a nice time visiting. Alex and Brooke regaled us with stories of their lives as dorm parents! Some interesting situation have arisen that they have had to deal with! This evening I went to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I'm home now and in for tonight and maybe tomorrow...sort of ready to stay put and just putter around the house. I plan to stitch as soon as I publish the blog. I have been saying since Melany and Wade and their crew left, that I was going to stitch and so far I haven't done any stitching. 'Tis the Season...still! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 2024 is sooooo close to being over...doesn't seem possible!

Sunday Favorite

Saturday After Christmas

Another day to do what I want to do...no deadlines...kinda nice after the rush in the earlier weeks in December. I guess I have done some things that I need to do and that perhaps there is a deadline...but just not the same after Christmas. I did go to Kroger this morning to get a few things that I need for lunch with the Proctors on Monday. I have worked on needlework projects...trying to choose fabric for a new cross stitch project. I did finish the ornament that I was working on yesterday...this ornament is for me. I worked in the kitchen, putting away dishes that go up high and need a step ladder...I got the step ladder out and got all the dishes put away that reside on the upper shelves (which means that I don't use them often!). I also decided to make Sour Dough French Bread, which is rising as I write. Its first rising is just about finished and then I will shape the loaves and let them rise for the second time. Hopefully it won't put my bedtime off by too much! This bread uses only the sour dough starter and no yeast. This is a new starter that Wade gave me when we were at their house this past Sunday. When I say that about last Sunday, it seems like a long time ago. This week has passed slowly...I'm always wishing that time would slow down and this week after Christmas seems to have done just that. I will make more preparations for Monday's lunch tomorrow, but plan to make the actual soup Monday morning so it will nice and hot when it is time to eat. While I was working in the upper cabinets, I got down the Christmas dishes that we will need on Monday...may as well use the Christmas dishes at least one more time in 2024. I have been waqtching some Christmas movies as I waited on the dough to rise and worked some more on my latest ornament for 2024...still have three more ornaments that go with this Christmas...one for Melany and Wade, one for Nathan and Kathy, and another for me. They may or may not get finished in 2024...but will still be considered 2024 ornaments. Well, it is time to go check the bread dough to see if it has doubled. 'Tis the season...for a few days longer! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It’s Fixed!

Nathan came over this evening and installed the new electrical switch component on my sewing machine...not the easiest fix...but a successful one! I can now use the lift in my cabinet that lets me raise the machine up and down. I hadn't been able to replug in the machine when it was down low as the casing around the plug-in spot had broken. I could plug it in...but not easily...so just left the machine in its highest position so as not to have to unplug it. It is so much easier to sew with the machine level with the top of the sewing cabinet. I am a happy camper! i have pretty much made this a sewing day...mainly getting things organized to get ready to sew once again. I have also worked on a Christmas ornament that I am making for myself. It has been a rainy day so it was a good day to stay in and putter around the house. I plan to finish he ornament for me this evening. I wanted to go to the grocery store today, but put it off till tomorrow to see if I can find a dry time to head off...not sure that will happen. But I need to go before Monday, as Melany, Wade, Erin, Alex, and Brooke are coming to Tullahoma to sign some papers at the lawyers and after coming here for lunch. I am planning to make a pot of soup...but need a couple of ingredients. Well, back to my handsewing on the ornament...then I will use my fixed machine to finish making the ornament! 'Tis the season...for a little longer! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Eureka!!!!!

The lost candle remote is found! I have been puttering around today...putting things away and doing a little organizing...working in the kitchen. One of the things that I did was gather all the embroidery thread that I have been using and put it in color number order to be put back in my DMC drawers. I also was getting out thread for my next cross stitch project. I found all the colors but one. I wondered if I had left a skein or two in the top tray on the rolling side table that is next to my downstairs recliner. When I picked up a couple of things to check to see if the skein of thread was under them, what should I discover but the remote that I have been looking for most of December. I remember finding it when I was decorating and putting it somewhere that made sense...at the time! And, now that I found it, it does make sense as that is where it was kept...right next to Woody's recliner so he could turn the lantern, that Melany made him, on and off! So...the lost is found! It has been very much a low-key day. I did change batteries in the candles that go with Melany's various creations...this year's candles didn't need new batteries, but last year's did. Melany had supplied us with lots of batteries needed as Woody's lantern ran out of batteries since he wanted it on all the time, when he was in the hospital a couple of Christmases ago. I had planned to stitch a lot today...but so far I haven't picked up my needle...so I plan to stitch in a little while. 'Tis the season...for a bit longer! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Not a Creature Was Stirring

Happy Christmas Eve 2024. Last night just after I blogged, the doorbell rang and before I got to the door I heard carols being sung. When I opened the door, the porch was pretty much filled with carolers...all with the last name Dorrell! I convinced them to come in and serenade me in the warmth. They had brought me a gift that had arrived in the mail that day...the component that will fix the plug-in place on my sewing machine. Nathan and Graham plan to come some day and figure out how to get it put in the machine. We visited for a little while and the kids enjoyed some of the candy that I have been gifted during the holidays. I ended up putting off making the bread till this morning. I did make it, but before it was cooled and bagged up, I started getting a sore throat. So decided that gifting the bread to neighbors wasn't the best idaa. I think that I am coming down with a cold. At least I got through all the Christmas festivities! I had debated whether I would go to our Candlelight service at church tonight, but with the sniffles that decision was made for me. I have sat and watched Christmas movies and stitched. I have worked on two different projects. It's nice to just sit quietly and not have something that needs to be done by a certain time...that's what I like about the week after Christmas...the down time. 'Tis the Season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Classic Christmas!

This is what I consider a classic or should I say idylic Christmas photo. When I look it every year, I realize that I really did live in the "Leave It To Beaver" era! And, here we are decorating our Christmas tree when Cheryl was 2 and I was 9. I had a dachshund skirt instead of a poodle skirt...it was handed down to me from my cousin, Susan, who lived in Massachusetts, and, we lived in Arizona...long distance between Cheryl and me and our only first cousin...and, of course between Mother and her sister, Lois. By the way, my cousin's middle name was Lois...so lots of Loises in our rather small family! It became rather comical about the numerous Loises when I was in Massachusetts helping my Aunt Lois plan Susan's funeral...we never knew which Lois certain people needed to talk to when they called on the phone...and someone asking "which Lois" confused things even more! Back to Christmas...I know that I mentioned another time when I posted this phto that my sister was of the school of just throwing the tinsel on the tree and Mother and I liked to do it one strand at a time! I'm not sure that Cheryl was at the age in this photo to try to irritate me by throwing it on...I think that came in later years!!!! The console TV our grandfather gave to us. I can still remember it arriving on a truck and it being all boarded up in a box to protect it. Ahhhh for nostalgic memories at this time of year. I believe that I have also shared at another time that as idylic as this scene looks...not many days after this our lives were turned upside down. That was the year (1957) that Mother and Daddy were in a head-on collision on Christmas Eve. They decided to go get a cup of coffee at a nearby restaurant before putting Cheryl's Christmas gifts together. Our grandfather, who stayed with us during the winter (He lived in Massachusetts the other part of the year.) was with us...so Mother got us put to bed and Grandpa was there to be with us if anything untoward should happen. They got to the restaurant that was fairly close to our house...to find that it was closed. So they proceded down one of the main roads in town to see if another restaurant a bit farther away was opened. They never got there as a drunk driver veered over to their side of the road and hit them. This was before seat belts and padded dashboards. Daddy was somewhat protected by the steering wheel, but Mother got thrown forward and we don't know if she hit the dashboard with her forehead or the mirror...but the bones in the center of the forehead were crushed...coming within a fraction of an inch of her brain. She was in the hospital for weeks and had to go back later for further surgery...but miraculously no brain dammage and she went on to live a "normal" (whatever that is) life until she was almost 99. But definitely a traumatic time in our lives. Daddy got by with just being sore and perhaps had a broken rib or two and I had to help pull him up from bed in the mornings! Isn't it funny what memories come back. Cheryl hardly remembers any of this since she was so small. This photo still warms my heart when I see it. We had wonderful Christmas gatherings over the weekend. Abigail and Payton hosted her family and me on Saturday. We got to try Payton's fried pickles...and other good food. Yesterday, Nathan picked me up at 8am and headed to Shelbyville for church at their church. I went to Sunday School in the class that Linda H, teaches. Then went to church and sat with several of my grandchldren. Their parents were occupied with the childre's musical that we got to see and then they had a Christmas party for the children during worship service. After they got all cleaned up after the party, we headed to Wade, Melany, and Erin's in Murfreesboro. We had a grand time eating, gifting, receiving, visiting, game playing (the kids), etc. Just a very nice day all around. Today I headed off to Shelbyville with Marie and Carolyn. We went to the Co-Op in Shelbyville and found lots of marked down Christmas things...which none of us could resist! We had a good time! We found out that most of our prayer group couldn't come tonight, so Beki and I decided to come here for our prayer time. Next I am planning to do some baking this evening, which I set aside to go galavanting. We'll see if I have enough left in me to do that. This is baking that I plan to share with a couple of my neighbors who are so willing to help me, if I need it. So 'tis the season continues...but virtually my Christmas came to an end yesterday...now...maybe...I can sit back and relax a bit. I have been going at a pretty rapid pace...ready to rest! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Merry Christmas From the Proctors, Dorrells & Houses!

Dorrells Celebrated Christmas at the House's House: Payton's and Abigail's First Christmas!

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Wishing For A Finishing Elf!

I am getting closer to being finished with my Christmas sewing projects...but still a few steps to go...these have had lots of steps and when you do each step nine times, each step takes a while to complete. But I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. One step included machine sewing and I will say that the new sewing chair definitely helped me do that step. I did spend time today making the salad for the meal after my friend's funeral tomorrow...but most of the rest of the day I was busy going step by step attempting to finish. I did sneak in a nap...not intentionally...well, I guess two...as the first one I ended up pouring part of my cup of tea on me...tea wasn't hot at the time...but that liquid descending on me all of a sudden definitely woke me up! Then another time I sat down in my recliner where I can do most of the steps left...but I guess I got too comfortable and once again fell asleep...I think the phone woke me up that time...one of the calls that I don't answer...but the ringing awakened me abruptly. Since then I have been hard at work...hopefully that was the power nap that I needed. Tomorrow I will be delivering the salad and then will be going to Abigail's and Payton's home for a Christmas celebration with her parents and siblings...and, I have been invited to tag along. This will be the first time that I have seen their home since they started moving into it. Guess it is time for me to get back to my Christmas crafting...it has become crafting now that all the stitching and sewing are complete! I am hoping that they will be finished before I close my eyes again to sleep or nap! 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

One of Santa's Elves Stopped By!

My personal elf, Graham, stopped by to assemble my new sewing chair! I asked if he remembered telling me one time that he would always put things together for me...took him up on it. I mentioned to Nathan that Graham might do it...and Nathan ran with that suggestion. As Graham said, his dad would resort to reading directions only if he failed to get it together on his own...whereas, Graham wants to use the written directions. He had no problems getting it together. I am very pleased with it. I bought a tall drafting chair because I need to be up higher to be able to see to sew...and, this chair works perfectly. My problems...I have many! But as for being able to see to sew...first I am very short waisted with long legs...so most of me folds under me and doesn't make me very tall from the waist up. And, now my back is curving...so I am even shorter. I have been having to place many pillows on my chair (picture The Princess and the Pea) and I was still having to reach up with my arms to above my shoulders...quite a comical picture, I'm sure...luckily, I am usually the only one around when I am sewing. Anyway, this chair should get me level with the bed of my sewing machine. My machine should be able to be lowered so it is down in the cabinet and then I could sew "flat bedded," but my machine has a problem with the plug and I can't easily remove it so I can lower the machine...many problems...like I said! But the chair being able to rise higher than my regular office chair, that broke, could, should help immensely I'm anxious to do some sewing, but I am still on the handwork part of putting together what I am making...the cross stitching is finished...but I still have to attach what I stitched to some background fabric...which the way I am doing it, it has to be done by hand...and when doing it nine times...it takes a while...hopefully by Sunday when our family Christmas is, I will have them finished. I also have to stop this evening in a while and start working on ingredients that I need to have ready to make a salad with tomorrow. It is a layered salad that is supposed to be refrigerated for 24 hours prior to eating it. I am making it for a meal that will be after a funeral on Saturday. So I need to get it in the refrigerator tomorrow by noon...so I think it best if I chop, slice, dice, boil eggs, cook bacon, etc. prior to putting it together tomorrow morning. Whether my plans come to fruition or not...we'll see! Lately whatever I plan to do seems to take much longer than the same task used to take! Guess I am slowing down as I age! I guess that is okay as long as I plan for longer times to complete tasks! Sometimes that is hard to recalculate since I have done the same task so many times over the years...and my brain tells me that it should "only" take so long! Nathan and Kathy stopped by just as Graham was finishing his Grammy-put-together project. Just as they were leaving, I started to show them something that I had finished today for Abigail and Payton...BUT...when I went to show them it had disappeared from where it had been. We hunted around for a bit, but they left before it was found. I told them that I would let them know when I found it. They hadn't been gone long enough to get back home and I remembered that I had put it on the tree to take a picture of it! (rolling eyes)...but at least I remembered before I tore up things looking for it!!!!! Honestly!!!! (another roll of the eyes!) 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

No Pecan Pie Today

Now for an explanation for tonight's blog title...one of Woody's favorite desserts was pecan pie and for some time he requested pecan pie for his birthday. Today Woody would have been 78. Now if I had really wanted a pecan pie I could have baked one...but...pecan is not my favorite...so probably the only time that I will be baking a pecan pie is for Thanksgiving...unless I get a special request for one! I'd rather have a nice slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting! We definitely had different tastes, as Woody did not care for chocolate. We have had a very rainy day. It's the first time in what seems like forever that we have had a day when it rained most of it. I don't know how much rainfall we got as I took my rain gauge in for the winter to keep it from breaking if it froze and had water in it. I stayed in all day until it was time for Bible Study at church. I am home and settling in for the evening with my Christmas sewing projects. I have worked on them steadily for most of the day. I did manage to do two loads of laundry...and got most of it put away. I still have some to carry upstairs that I didn't have room for in my arms on my first trip upstairs. My new sewing/office chair was delivered today...I guess I "needed" a present on Woody's birthday!?! Well, back to my Christmas projects! 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

More Partying!

More gathering of friends...this morning Jo and Carolyn came over for breakfast. Our Christmas gathering has become a tradition...sometimew we eat out and sometimes we meet at each other's homes. This year we met here. We had breakfast and exchanged gifts...but mainly we enjoyed visiting with each other. We commented that when we get back together that we just pick up as if we haven't been apart! I really hadn't thougt about how long we have been friends till Carolyn told me how long she had been in Tullahoma...48 years! That's a long time. I have been blessed with so many great friends! Not long after they left, my next door neighbor texted and asked if I was home. She came over and we had a good visit. Lots of visiting today!!!! Being with friends and family is what Christmas is all about!!! Now I need to concentrate on finishing stitched gifts. I'm telling myself to "focus!" Whether I am minding myself is questionable! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Six Months

I'll put a photo of the beautiful cardinal on my tree, as I am thinking about Woody, perhaps more than some days, as he died on this date six months ago. I'm fine...just going over memories. This will be a week for memories. I have been busy today getting ready for my next party! Carolyn and Jo are coming over in the morning for breakfast. This will be short as I need to get the egg bake in the refrigerator for it's overnight stay. I'm pretty much ready since I had a party last week, too. Just have to add one place setting to what I used last week! Joy came over today and cut my hair. We listened to Christmas music and I told her about some of the singers who were from my parents time. I think she liked the story about Gene Autry writing Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and that he was a TV cowboy star. He was singing the version that we listened to...figuring that was the original version. We also laughed over what was picked when I asked for Christmas music...Hot Diggity, Dog Diggity...go figure! She gave me another great haircut. I have been to prayer meeting and got back home later than usual. Now preparing food for in the morning! 'Tis the Season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Saturday for Sure

It has been "one of those days" that I'm really not sure exacly what I have done...but I feel like I have kept busy all day! This aftrrnoon I went to Hobby Lobby. I needed one skein of embroidery floss and some gold spray paint and was looking for a tall board/sign to go outside next to my front door. I found all I was looking for. The board is reversible. Once the holiday season is over, I will turn it around and it says welcome and has some cardinals on it...perfect considering the doormat and yard flag I chose have cardinals on them. I sat in the living room with my morning cup of tea and enjoyed the tree and some Christmas music. I played a little with my camera and took more close-up photos of some of the ornaments. I made cornbread this evening to have to eat with my supper bowl of chili...ate my slice of cornbread...now not sure I've got enough room for the chili! My plans for the evening are to sit and stitch...story of my life at this time of the year...well, usually have stitching to do...but don't always have deadlines...'tis the season for deadlines! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Full Friday

It was a busy day, but also a bit slower paced day compared to the days earlier in the week. Things are settling down for Christmas preparations. Going to Melany and Wade's for our family Christmas makes things easier on me. I am ready to sit back and coast through the rest of the holidays...stitching, reading, watching Christmas movies, etc. Speaking of Christmas movies, I watched an up-to-date Christmas movie today...very rarely do I see a current movie. And, I wouldn't have seen this one, if it hadn't been released for streaming about a month after it came out in the theaters. I probably wouldn't have even known about it if it hadn't been for an ad on TV for Farmer's Insurance. Anyway, I saw Red One...not "my kind" of Christmas movie. And the only reason that I saw it was that it was offered on Amazon Prime. I will stick the rest of the season to "feel-good" Christmas movies! I did my Krogering today. Picked up a couple of items that I needed for my next party that is coming up next week...more about that later! I also tried to get some things that sounded good to me to fix for my lunches and dinners during the weeks leading up to Christmas and after Christmas. I think I am good to go, as I have several meals planned, at leasat in my head! I did realize on my way home that I had forgotten one item...so I will have to go back when I am out running errands one day or another. I made chili this evening. After I publish the blog, I plan to have a bowl of it...a late, for me, supper tonight. I hope to get in a little stitching tonight. Last night I was too tired and fell asleep in the middle of a stitch and also missed the last part of one of "my shows!" I will have to depend on reruns to be able to see what happened at the end of Elsbeth! I woke up and the news was on. Oh, well...'tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday = Party Day!

I invited Linda H. over for my first Christmas party at my house. We had a fun afternoon...didn't get too rowdy!!! We always enjoy getting together. We text often, but don't get together "in person" a whole lot...so each time we see each other face-to-face is always a good day! Our lunch consisted of items that I have made for the parties earlier this week and then for Melany when she came earlier in the week. So...not any cooking on my part for this party...except for reheating. This evening, I am going to sit in my recliner and stitch while I watch "my" shows...Matlock and Elsbeth. I had really forgotten what day it was and was very glad when Linda reminded that "our" shows were on tonight. I have a few more small items to stitch and then for sewing them into their final state for gifting. Then I will be done with Christmas gift stitching for 2024. Plus I do want to do some sewing. I am waiting on a new sewing chair that I ordered. The other day when Nathan was over here, we analyzed what type of chair I needed. I need one that raises higher than a "normal" rolling desk chair. I'm trying one for a tall desk. Crossing my fingers that what we chose is right! I got word that it is expected Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. We'll see...not holding my breath! Oh, I didn't finish as to why I "have" to have a sewing chair. While Nathan and I were checking out the height of the chair at its highest, I also showed him how low to ground it would go...well, that low spot was the last time that that chair moved up and down. It broke in the lowest place...and would not rise up to the highest. So...I had Nathan carry it to the curb and we went out chair shopping. We checked out several and then checked some out online and we decided that online was a better buy and I had more choices...of course I haven't sat in this so don't know "how it sits"...hopefully well. It looks pretty much like ones I tried at the store...so fingers crossed. I told Nathan that whoever puts it together better keep in mind how it goes back in the box, if we have to return it! I think it is going to be fine. And, the city picks up things at the curb once a month and I never know when that pick up will be. Our timing was perfect. It got picked up very quicklky. Time for stitching and relaxing. 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

‘Tis the Postal Season!

After I chose the photo for tonight, and came in to write the blog, I thought that I should have posted a photo of an ornament that has a stamp on it. Oh, well, not going to back out and start over...too late in the day! It has been a productive day and one with the end result that I wanted. I got the package ready to go to AZ AND got it to the Post Office...so that job turned over to the government!!!!! Gulp! The way Christmas cards are traveling this year, very slowly, I'm not sure that I really want to leave it up to the government. I mailed my cards the last couple of days of November and they are still wandering around out there. It took a week for my card to get to Shelbyville...6 days...I can drive in there a little less than half an hour! It took my cards a week and a half to get to my sister and my niece...neither of their stamps had been cancelled...a bonus Christmas gift for them...a stamp! Today I received a card from friends in San Francisco area...post marked November 25...so more than two weeks! Oh, well...as long as they get there eventually...and preferably before Christmas!!! By the time I got home from the Post Office, it was almost time to head back to church. I called my sister for a "'Tis the season" call to let her know that my package was finally on the way...of course, we talked about more than just that! I will explain about "'Tis the Season" calls. Back in "the olden days" when phone calling was not as easy as it is today, we did not call as often as we do now. And, it was always difficult to call as we would try to call when the rates were down...with a one/two hour, depending on the time of the year, it was sometimes hard to pin down a good time to call. I'm trying to remember if we tried to talk to each other once a week or it was every two weeks. But the way we worked it was that we traded off weeks...one time it was my parents turn to call and another time it would be mine...alternating. BUT during Christmas time we made exceptions and called more frequently and we always started off the calls with, "'Tis the season!" And, my sister and I still do that...sometimes we have more than one 'tis the season call...an example was today. I called her again on my way home from church, too. So...that is the origins of our 'tis the seasoning each other! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 'Tis the season!

Party, Party!

We all had such a good time at the ESL Christmas party. I think it was enjoyed by all from those trying to learn English to those of us who have spoken English all our lives. Fun Christmas activities, good food both foreign and American, pretty decorations, good fellowship. And the ESL students seemed to really enjoy getting together. I came home and almost right away got busy on supper, as Melany was going to come this evening. She had to drop off some papers at a lawyer here in town and then came for a visit and supper. We had one of our favorites, again, a recipe from my mother, Turkey Olé. I had frozen turkey just for the purpose of making this casserole. I still have some slices of turkey to make a sandwich or something. Thankful for a freezer to make the Thanksgiving leftovers last a little bit longer! Melany got here around 4pm. She headed our way right after her school dismissed. We enjoyed visiting. She brought me another pretty that she made.

Now my dilemma...she has battery operated candles inside this box...these candles can be turned on and off with a remote. Well, she has given us a remote, I think two remotes, in the past. I know that I came across the remote when I was decorating and I was glad that I had found it. I told myself that once I was decorated I would activate the candles in various decorations she has given me so I could turn them on and off. Well, till tonight, I had not thought about the remote/s again. And, can I remember where I put the one I found...nope! Not a clue where it is. I know it will turn up, but...'tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, the wooden egg shaped Santa head if a gift Melany brought me back from Alaska a couple of years ago...guess tonight's blog photos pertain to Melany!

Busy! Busy!

My head is sort of spinning, even I have told myself that I won't get caught up in the hustle and bustle! Yesterday, we had our Sunday School Class Christmas party after church. We had a good time...good fellowship and good food...lots of food! I came home and got busy on my stitching again...not for long, though as a nap did overtake me! I didn't doze for long and got back to my stitching. I went to the Christmas Music Program at church in the evening. And, came home and did more stitching. Stitching is finished for the current projects. Now to get them totally finished...that is on the roster for this evening. After I blog, I am going to "close down" the downsstairs and head up to get busy in the sewing room for the next step. Time is going by fast...but what I need to do seems to be going slowly...those two fast and slow...just don't end up being very effective in actually getting things done! Today I have spent a good part of it cooking. I made Cranberry-Orange Bread for the English As A Second Language (ESL) party in the morning at church. Our church has a weekly class for those wanting to be more fluent in English. This is their annual party. Our class has been asked to arrive early and set the tables and provide centerpieces. I have my centerpiece "parts" in my laundry basket to whisk off fairly early in the morning. Those helping with the tables, etc. have been asked to stay for the party and eat with them. The ladies in the ESL classes bring their families and share some of their countries food for the lunch. I wanted to take something Christmasy to eat and my Mother's recipe for Cranberry-Orange bread seemed to fit the bill. Before I head out in the morning I will slice the bread and spread some of the slices with cream cheese and make little "sandwiches." Some of the slices I will leave plain. I have a cute Christmas plate to serve it on. This evening I went to prayer meeting at church and have been back for a while, but got busy and suddenly realized that I hadn't blogged yet. I also made Chex Mix this afternoon...the old fashioned kind that cooks for a long time in a low oven...stirring often! Like the title says, BUSY! BUSY! 'Tis the Season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Saturday Scurryings

A lot of today has been spent in the kitchen...cooking and cleaning up. I think that everything I am responsible for gathered together except for the cheese ball in the refrigerator and the rolls on the kitchen counter. When I finish blgging I will put the foil over the rolls. I have notes reminding me of things that aren't in the basket that I have packed to take to church in the norning. Abigail stopped by late morning and got her dress...so...that project is finished. After tomorrow's party I will start concentrating on getting tge package ready to send to AZ. Then Tuesday is the ESL (English as a Second Language) party. Our Sunday School class is helping with that party. Our job is to get the tables set and provide centerpieces for each of the tables. I have "my" centerpiece planned out...so it will just be getting the items to the church in one piece and make it look like it does now at my house! After Tuesday's party the next Christmas event for me will be our family Christmas gathering. I feel like after Tuesday I will be able to catch my breath. I came in to sit while I waited for the last rising of the rolls and nodded off...woke up and they were ready to go in the oven...I think they got a little extra rising time! I think that I am pretty much through for the day except for sitting and maybe stitching. I do have clothes ready for the dryer. I'll probably put another load in, after all, I can stitch and let the machines do the work for me...till it is time to put them away! 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Fa! La! La! La! La!

Beginning to look more like Christmas around here...lots of ingredients bought at Kroger today to get me started on cooking for various Christmas activities. The first thing that I need to make things for is our Sunday School Christmas pot luck luncheon. I started getting things ready to make rolls tomorrow...my potato rolls...had to make mashed potatoes to go in them...so did that and that part of the task is finished. I will make the rolls tomorrow. I am also taking a cheese ball...the cheese is grated and is on the counter awaiting the rest of the ingredients. I will complete that tonight, as it will taste better if the the flavors blend a bit before our party on Sunday. I bought other ingredients to make more Christmas goodies...probably next week...but we'll see how much time I have tomorrow...for baking...have other time sensitive tasks to do, also. This morning besides getting groceries, I stopped and got gas for the car. A tank of gas, these days, lasts me a lot longer than it used to when we were going back and forth to dialysis and other doctor appointments. I came home and got the groceries sort of put away. Some things I have left in their bags near the pantry, since I will be needing them soon and it is hardly worth putting them away...much easier when the time comes to use said ingredients if I don't have to hunt down the spot that I put them away in! As soon as I got through with the groceries, I headed upstairs with the piece of fabric that I cut from Abigail's dress. I first got my serger set up to stitch the hem and then practiced on the scrap from her dress. Then I brought her dress up and I got the hem done quite quicky since I could do it with the serger...took longer to prepare the dress to be hemmed than it did to hem it this time. It is done. I have informed Abigail and she plans to come get it tomorrow. Tonight's ornament photo is of a little china bell that Mother bought years ago to use to decorate the packages we were sending to Massachusetts (where her sister and famiy lived). We always wrapped the packages, but tried to decorate them as flat as possible so more would fit in the shipping box...also didn't do bows because they would get crushed. Oh, how fun it was to wrap the packages and get the box ready to send...usually a pretty big box (I wonder what it would cost to send such a package today!). But the best for Cheryl and me was when the package came for us from Massachusetts! Mother must have gotten quite a few of these little bells as when she made us a tree skirt, she sewed one of these bells on each of the points of the star. Most of the bells came off over the years...I still use the tree skirt that, I'm guessing, she made for us in 1970 or 1971. Anyway, I think that either she or Cheryl sent me one year when one of them found it tucked away in their decorations...or maybe it is one of the ones from the tree skirt...not sure...but for some reason, I think that I was given this one at a later date. Anyway, it is a memory of my childhood and then of the tree skirt in its original condition! Well, back to my cheese ball making! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Nathan stopped by today and changed a door knob and took me chair shopping...my sewing chair gave up the ghost today...so I am in the process of making a decision...still thinking about it. I didn't really find what I wanted at Office Max and we didn't search any farther afield...except for realizing that perhaps I would order one...still thinking.

‘Tis the Season to Sew, Sew, Sew!

I did something that I haven't done in some time...pretty much dedicated the whole day, so far, to either sewing or cross stitching. The first thing I did was baste around the hem on Abigail's bridesmaid dress twice...once close to the fold at the bottom and then the depth of the hem. After I got that done, I moved on to Chrstmas stitching. I did get finished stitching the one project...now to make them into ornaments. My goal today was to have the stitching done for the AZ package. I "think" that I have accomplished that. It has beeen quite cold all day today and is supposed to get down to 16°F tonight. Brrrrrrr! I have faucets dripping and have opened the cabinet doors under the sinks. I decided to stay in all day...never opened the door. I have it set up so the USPS lets me know what mail I will get each day. Today's one piece is fine to stay in the mailbox till tomorrow. Just before I stopped to blog, I cut off the extra fabric from Abigail's hem. That means that I have the piece I cut off is ready to be experimented with on mu serger before I do the actual garment! I hope that get the hem finished either tomorrow or Saturday. The wedding is a week from Saturday. This evening's task is to make the grocery list. I have to get items to make for our Sunday School Christmas lunch this Sunday. And, I have another party next week that I need to decide what I am making and get ingredients for that. Plus I guess I need to decide on some things for me to eat...since Thanksgiving leftovers are gone...except for the soup that I made yesterday. 'Tis the season for Christmas cooking, sewing, stitching, etc. I just can't believe that Christmas is only 20 days away! Time is flying by. I am so glad that I decorated early. And, I am really enjoyig being surrounded by all the festive decorations. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Well, It’s Wednesday?

Today is one of those days that I had something planned to do this morning...and, at this point of the day, I still haven't gotten around to it. It's my Christmas stitching. Hopefully here in a little while I will be able to pick it up and work on it. I was about to sit down to stitch this morning and my doctor's office called...wanting to know if I had taken my blood pressure this morning. And, since I hadn't could I go do it then. I said that I could, but that it would be good for her to call back in a little while since I had to go upstairs and find the BP machine, etc. She did call back about an hour later. She said that she would call back again next week...so guess I had better be better about checking it!!!!! Don't want to add that into my schedule!!!!! I think this is the young college girl who works for my doctor during the summer and when she is out of school for other breaks. I don't get these calls very often...figure they were having her do some jobs that rarely get done! I did have a couple of medicine questions that I asked and I did get a call back from my doctor's nurse with answers so that was a help! I did make Turkey Rice Soup this afternoon. And, I went to Bible study at church this evening...those are my accomplishments for the day. Now to get busy with my stitching! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It's December…It's Tuesday…It's Cold

I've done a little of this and a little of that today. I got up planning to do Christmas stitching and then realized I had planned to write some more Christmas cards. After lunch, I headed to the church to work in the library. We got started with the first couple of steps in processing our new order of books. We got to the point we needed to be and then headed home. i got some more cards off in the mail today. I'll check and recheck the Christmas card list and make sure that I have done all the ones that need to be mailed. I started a movie that I had never watched all the way through...It's a Wonderful Life. I did better getting through it this time...lots of parts that I don't remember ever seeing before. I never really cared for it...I think it is that I don't care for angels coming to earth to help someone. But I think that I can now say that I have seen it. It was okay...but not one that I want to watch every Christmas season. I know...many of you love this movie. Just not my "cup of tea!" I have been enjoying Christmas movies on TV while I write cards, stitch, etc. I have watched some that I have never seen and watched some that I have seen many times over the years. Now I am going to watch Life With Father...I have read it, but don't think that I have ever watched. I will watch it while I stitch...stitching and watching can be problematic...something is often missed...stitches and sometimes scenes. But I can usually catch on to what scene I missed and can compensate for missed stitches. 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Story of Leaves

We knew that the leaf truck was in the area, but didn't know exactly when it would show up. Well, today was the day. We had a lot of leaves along the curb various neighbors had seen to that. But at this time of year the leaves are never long out of the yards. We always try to get as many along the curb prior to the leaf pickup. This morning, I heard something and thought that it might be the leaf truck, but instead it was a neighbor out blowing leaves. I believe that he ended up blowing at least six yards so there would be as many at the curb as possible. My yard was one of the ones that he gifted his time and effort to get more to be picked up. So for the moment the yard and curb are pretty much leaf free...that will probably change by morning...but at least the first pick up has happened and lots were vacuumed up. Good neighbor! I stitched this morning getting closer to some finishes. This afternoon, I ran a couple of errands. I needed some more cards and stamps and a few other things. I made a WalMart run...the first in a long time. Our Walmart renovation is complete...first time I had been in since it was finished...not all that impressed...mainly because I no longer know where anything is. But I did find most of what I needed. I have been to prayer meeting and am back into the warmth of my abode! The temperatures are more typical for this time of year. We have seen 20s the last couple of nights. Brrrrrr! And, the high was only in the 40s. The chill makes it seem a little more like Christmas...as did the busyness of the stores. 'Tis the season! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

'Tis the Season!

'Tis the season for being extra busy...or at least it seems like there is more going on than usual. This morning before I came downstairs I decided to move things from my closet that were summery. I don't know what inspired me...maybe the early morning temperatures...very cold. When I woke up, I asked Alexa the temperature and she said 19°. Brrrrr! That's the coldest it has been since last winter. We have had an unseasonably warm November for the most part. So I guess I can't complain about it getting cold. Yesterday I still had some of my plants blooming in the gardens, But I beieve the overnight lows took care of those blooms. Last night before I went to bed, I pretty much had the Sunday School lesson planned out. I have added a little to it today. My major accomplishment today was to get underway with my Christmas cards. I ended up running out of cards and stamps before I was finished with my card list, but a pretty tall stack of cards awaits being picked up by the mail carrier. Mail carrier gets later and later...I guess another sign of the season! I'm a little concerned, Alexa told me that a package was delivered at 7:30 this morning, but I have been outside numerous times and there is no package. I got to checking and there is a disclaimer on the P.O. site that says that sometimes a package gets marked delivered before it actually gets there. 7:30 is pretty early for a package to be delivered...I'm hoping that somehow the package got marked delivered instead of that it "is going to be delivered!" I don't want to go through the hassle of trying to track down a package or have to get the items reordered! On my multiple times to the mailbox to put Christmas cards in, I managed to get all Fall items removed from the front porch. And, did replace Fall with Christmas/Winter. Anyway, all in all today I have gotten quite a few things done. I decided that it was time to go over my Sunday School lesson notes one more time...well, I promptly dozed off...so after a nice little nap, now I will do that task! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Putting Things to Rights

Tonight's photo has a bit of a story behind it...a tradition, of sorts, for our family. The photo is supposed to give a view of the place card holder...you can see Isaac's in this photo and then to the right you can see the back of another one. Many years back, Graham found this turkey place card holder in a book of different K'nex builds. He decided to make them for our Thanksgiving tables that year. He continued to bring them over from next door (when they lived next door). He made more as our family increased. I thought about them last week, but thought that if I mentioned them and they had to look high and low for them that, that wouldn't be good...so I just remembered Graham and my K'nex days! When he was "into" K'nex so much our living room was pretty much a K'nex room! But the K'nex moved with them when they moved to the farm so I didn't know if they could be gotten to. But when Nathan came over Wednesday to help move furniture and set up tables, etc., he mentioned that he meant to bring the K'nex turkey place card holders...so I knew they were in existence still. He brought them when he came to put the turkey in the oven on Thursday morning. But I told him that I doubted that I would have time to fix them. But when his family got here, Kathy and some of the kids took over the task of writing the names on cards and then placing them. Graham was right in the midst...still...seeing that his creations of years ago were used and placed properly! A fun tradition...continued! I guess they wait each year to see who might move up to the "adult" table. This year Joy made her debut! She and Graham joined me, Melany, Wade, Nathan, and Kathy. We missed Erin, she wasn't able to come this year. We had sooooooooo much food...such a variety...even the pickiest found several things to put on their plates. One of the funniest things was when the living room eaters (Alex named that room "the Anex) finished, Alex came into the dining room with his phone saying that he had orders for "the anex" for dessert. I guess that was a hint! He forgot to offer cheesecake (Abigail's) and cranapple crisp. He went back to see if any of the orders changed and one did. So the tables were cleared and Nathan, Alex and I got busy on serving dessert. Once we all finished dessert, we adjourned. Some of the big folk got busy in the kitchen cleaning up. The kids got into the closet under the stairs and chose some games...Brooke brought some adult coloring books and markers...so some played games and some colored and some sat in the family room till we would call for help from the kitchen. Kathy washed dishes that couldn't go in the dishwasher, Melany cut the meat off the turkey, Wade and I worked on getting leftovers put away. We filled the dishwasher as full as it could be and got it washing. After the clean up, we adjourned to the family room. I had one double take when I walked into the family room...Nathan was sitting in the recliner...the recliner that Woody sat in...and I will say that I had to look twice because it was as if Woody was sitting there! Before everyone left tables were moved and furniture was put back in place, and dishes that reside up high were put back. I still had some things to do after they left, but nothing compared to what all had been done while they were here. We did make the comment that the clean up took quite a bit longer than the eating part of the day did! I have worked on putting away table cloths that I washed, putting back decorations that had to be moved...so today has been busy too. Abigail came over a little before lunch to try on a bridesmaid dress so I could pin up the hem. After she left I found time to baste up the hem. Abigail went Black Friday shopping with a friend and after she finished shopping she came back over to see if the hem was okay. It is okay...so now I need to get it trimmed off and hemmed before the wedding that is happening in two weeks! I have to put that task off for a couple of days as I REALLY need to get the Sunday School lesson prepared for Sunday. It has been hard this week to find time to work on it! And, I have to get back to my Christmas stitching! I guess we can NOW say, "Tis the Season!" To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy Thanksgiving from The Dorrells, The Proctors and the Houses!

Preparations Well Underway

I just got the living room tables set and ready for our family feast tomorrow. I still have the dining room to set. Nathan came over and helped me get tables into place and gathered the chairs from around the house and helped me get things that are stored up high. He is going to come over in the morning a little before seven to help me wrangle the bird into the roasting pan and then into the oven. The pies are baked. I still have the vegetables to slice and dice for the dressing. I also plan to put together the crumble for the top of the Cranapple Crisp. I will put the dressing together in the morning. I will have quite a bit of peeling to do...apples and potatoes. Once the turkey is out of the oven I will make gravy. Wade usually lends his hand to mashing the potatoes. We plan to eat noonish to one...we'll see how well the planning goes! I did get the two Christmas stockings made last night before I went to bed...I won't say how late that was! But I knew that I wouldn't have the time today to work on them...and I was right. I have been pretty busy today with only a break once in a while when my back objects too much! The heating pad has been my friend several times today. I know I will be ready to sleep whenever that times comes! Guess I will go chop celery, onions, etc. It will help in the morning to have those all ready when I am ready to make the dressing. Gobble! Gobble! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Signs of Thanksgiving!

Why does time fly so fast when you have lots to do?!? I think that today needed hours added to it! I spent a good part of the day working on Wade and Erin's Christmas stockings. I wish that I could say that I have at least one finished, but that is not the case. I am very close to finishing Erin's...but Wade's still has a ways to go. Just a few minutes ago I added the stack of pie crust dough discs to the refrigerator...part of tonight's photos. Getting the pie crusts to this point is all the Thanksgiving cooking that I had to do today...not so for tomorrow! But still I have lots less to do since Melany, Wade, Nathan, and Kathy are bringing most of the sides. I made pie crusts for four pies, though I may only make three. I can freeze the fourth pie dough disc if I stick with what I planned. It was just easier to make an even number of crusts, as I double the single crust recipe. This way if I decide to make the second pumpkin pie I won't have to make the crust tomorrow. I will make the pumpkin and pecan pies tomorrow and chop ingredients, etc. for things that I will put together Thanksgiving morning. I'm not used to sewing for long periods of time these days so the sewing has been tiring. I do plan to get Erin's stocking finished tonight...and...maybe...get the bias strips cut and the piping made for Wade's. That way all I would have to do tomorrow was sew the piping on the front of the stocking and then sew the stocking pieces together tomorrow. I used to burn a lot of midnight oil when sewing...these days my oomph needed to continue to sew seems to not last as long as it used to last! But it has been a good day...at least to this point! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday Sundries

I've just gotten back from the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I was greeted when I came in the door with a notification from Alexa that it was about to start to rain. I'm not sure if it has started yet, but I was very thankful that I got home and back inside with no rain. I have been pretty busy today doing all sorts of things from cleaning to sewing (well, preparing to sew). I got the whole downstairs vacuumed and dust mopped and did various other cleaning jobs here and there. I need to get the stockings made that Melany needlepointed for Wade and Erin. I want to be able to give them to her on Thursday so she can put them up as she is now in the midst of decorating. I got the needlepoint stockings trimmed around and then cut out the backings and the linings. Next, I have to cut bias strips of the backing/lining fabric so I can make cording. So I am getting closer to finishing...one step at a time. I am also trying to finish an e-book before it is whisked away into cyberspace...afraid that I won't be able to finish it since these next couple of days are going to be so busy. I have already put myself back on the hold list so I can get it back and finish it at another time. I did do more cross stitching last night...trying to finish a couple of Christmas gifts. This year, I haven't done my usual amount of cross stitching for Christmas. I guess Christmas will be just a bit different in many ways. I do have everything gathered to get my Christmas cards ready to send...cards, a Christmas note, address labels (with one of my photos of a red barn on them), address book, Christmas card list, and stamps. I think that next I will sign all the cards. So I have all sorts of little tasks lined up...some for Christmas...some for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow is pie crust making day. I will make the pie crusts and form the pie crust doe into discs that I will wrap in saran wrap and place in the refrigerator until I am ready to roll them out on Wednesday, when I make the pies. I checked today to see recommended amount of time to cook the turkey. My oven has a special program that you can plug in the weight of the turkey, etc. and it will do the rest of the settings. This will be the first time that I have used that feature as the last few years we haven't done Thanksgiving cooking here except for the pies since Woody couldn't eat most of the Thanksgiving dishes. We invented "pie day" to be our Thanksgiving with family. So we will be gathering back here as a family for Thanksgiving since before Covid. Hope I can wrangle this big bird into the oven!!!!! And, the settings on the oven that I mentioned above...well, I don't totally trust that so I am figuring out what I think the amount of time should be so I have a double check. I have an oven thermometer probe, but I also have an instant read thermometer...as another double check. I have cooked turkeys so many, many times over the last 56 years...but I will say not having cooked one in the last five makes me a little leary...but I know that it will turn out fine...and if timing is off a bit...it won't matter all that much...after we are all family!!!!!! Lots to do tomorrow...time will tell as to how much I will get done. But I will say I do love this time of the year...so thankful for family gatherings at the holidays. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorites

Simply Saturday

I got up this morning and headed to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and then go in and sit and look at my tree while I sipped it. I took some pictures and am sharing one of the tree tonight. I probably sat longer than I meant to, but finally I got moving and got ready to head to the Credit Union, JoAnn's, and the Post Office. I got some Christmas fabric and a pattern at JoAnn's and then got stamps for my Christmas cards. So all errands planned happened and I added the JoAnn's in at the last minute since I was right across the street when I was at the Credit Union. I got out Christmas mugs and some Christmas luncheon-size plates (from a box upstairs). Doing that means I have to put away some of the every day mugs so I will have a place for the Christmas ones. So I continue sort of nesting for Christmas! I am enjoying being surrounded by Christmas. I have done some planning for a party that I am doing a centerpiece for. I need to get busy on the Christmas stockings for Wade and Erin that I am supposed to finish for Melany. She did the needlepoint and I am doing the turning them into a stocking. I worked, at least in my head, on organizing what I will be doing on what days when preparing my part of the Thanksgiving meal. I actually wrote Tuesday and Wednesday and the tasks that I would do those days. I still need to look at a recipe to make sure that I have everything for it...it is for Cranapple Crisp and that recipe isn't with the other Thanksgiving recipes so forgot to look at it. I'm pretty sure I have everything that I need...since I have apples and cranberries, and oatmeal...and the other basic ingredients...I am pretty sure that I have everything...but want to look at the recipe to make sure. At this point I am just planning ahead. It really feels good that I have my decorating done...one less thing to think about...plus just had to have the mess out of the way for Thanksgiving. I am hoping to do some stitching tonight. The stitching has sort of come to a hault these last couple of days...need to get back to it. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Different Direction

I moved away from decorating and into cooking...aka...getting ready for Thanksgiving...and also cooking so I will have something to eat between now and the Thanksgiving feast! I did finish decorating last night and moved the last of the boxes upstairs today. I did finally get the pictures to post last night...I think they were too big. I did a little editing to both of them and then they posted. And, I didn't have any trouble with tonight's photo. Maybe it is just that I am now holding my mouth correctly! Last night before I went to bed, I made up my list for the grocery store...mainly concentrating on my part of the Thanksgiving meal and then added a few items to get me through till the big day. I headed off to the grocery store after 8am. I will say it was obvioius that Thanksgiving is in the air...the store was quite crowded...there were several traffic jams in the aisles...but I made it through unscathed and scored an almost 20 pound turkey. So I had my exercise today hoisting the bird around until it made it safely into my refrigerator. I got the groceries put away...except for the items that are specifically for my Thanksgiving cooking that are nonperishable. I left those in their bags near the window next to the pantry. So I don't have to go searching for them when I need them. I probably need to go through my recipes one more time and make sure that I really got everything that I need. I can remember having to send Woody to the store on cooking days when I left off one or two items from our grocery list. I'm just happy to have the turkey in my possession. Nathan stopped by to make sure that he had closed the flue when he removed my unwelcome guest. He had. I got him to wash the upper half of the kitchen window over the sink. I found another deal on pork tenderloin...not as good a bargain as last time...when I got it for less than a $1. This time I got it for less than $4 this time. I decided to cook it today as I was pretty much out of food as I had been attempting to clean out the refrigerator before Thanksgiving. I cooked them in my iron skillet. Well, my iron skillet was sticking a bit and I decided that it probably needed to be seasoned...why...I decided to do that today, I'm not sure! But I am in the process of doing that according to some instructions that I got from the internet...a bit different than when I have done it prior to this. The pan is cooling at the moment. And, at this point I haven't smoked up the kitchen which the instructions said might happen. I have put away a few more boxes...the upstairs is still pretty much upside down...but that is one of the reasons that I like having an upstairs! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!