Feeling a bit scroogy

Wow, it seems like forever since I have been here- I had planned to do an entry yesterday but well, things got away from me as they often do.

So let's start with well - you missed the decorating of our sparkly tree...

The kids are apparently over it.  Ruby didn't come out of her room - and Henry sat and watched TV while I decorated it.  Sigh.  It was kinda nice to just get it done I guess.  That was the weekend before last.  We got lights up on the house, too.  Since then the elves have been busy - the VHM has been in the basement sawing and mitering and sanding a storm, he comes to bed after I do smelling of sawdust but this creating makes him so much happier (which makes me happier).

Dad Update: So this part I can see is going to be harder. I did speak to Dad almost every day - and certainly tried to reach him every day.  He's having some difficultly in either not hearing the phone or not understanding what he's hearing is the phone - all I know is that he's been there but hasn't answered a few times.  He reports that a staff person has drawn his attention to the fact that the phone was ringing.   He's also said a few things which have me a bit concerned - watchful anyway - referring to "the house his wife owns across the street" and when I said something like "well, I don't think it's across the street" His reply was "well, here in the immediate neighborhood."  He's remarked a number of times of not having been upstairs at the Ferndale house, or never having been places (which up until now were clear in his head).   He seems to be rather taken in with the Christmas planning, overly concerned about snow "getting in the way of your Christmas plans" etc.   At one point he said "well, I am not sure how the holiday will effect the phone company" which was totally out of context.  I do know that he got out with the gang from St. Mary's to see Christmas lights, and that he's gone regularly to his exercise class; and a couple of walks a week.   Both my little brother and sister stopped by and visited.   I hope he gets good holiday time at home - and oh, he's been approved to go to the gym and work with weights/bicycle with immediate supervision.  So that's awesome.

The week has been a blur of construction on the bathroom (now on week 3) and christmas planning and prep.  On Tuesday we went to boy-o's concert - he's come a long way on the violin and while we all were a bit "ho-hum" about the other part of the concert - at one point a sixth grader who is visually impaired (and a tiny little boy) - played the piano - brilliantly.  The kind of playing which made a bunch of us burst into tears.  That kind of playing.  The audience was stunned into silence; and erupted with applause.  A nice christmas present indeed.

Thursday was PHO night.  My first attempt.  Not so great I am afraid. It was pretty though.
















At some point, I snapped this picture while out shopping:

You can see Z's cards at the top of the rack!

Friday night the girl and her guy hung out with us oldie moldies - her guy played his guitar while we lounged about for a few hours and then we went to a very late movie (which of course I slept through at the beginning).  Kinda sucks being me sometimes.

This weekend more shopping and cleaning - we had the painter in all weekend working on the bathroom (I swear these guys all work at a snail's pace). 

This is actually an older photo - pre wall install. 

On Sat I shopped - and you know it's worrisome if there's only four carts left.  Sunday I ran some errands and then made cookies, made caramels, made roasted mushrooms and then more cookies. 

The caramel, while delicious, never set.  It's in the freezer right now in a last ditch attempt to salvage it.

Random Photo of the Week:

Girl.

The VHM says that I am shiny this time of year.  I don't feel shiny right now.  Time for some Bailey's me thinks...