Starting My Next 5000 Posts and It'll Be a Cold Swim Today

So now I take the first step onto the road to 10,000 blog posts. Who knows if I'll still be alive when I pass that number? Still, it's a nice goal to have. Hitting the 5000 mark for total daily blog posts yesterday was an accomplishment in its' own right, however, and I'm quite pleased. 

I'm quite pleased to be starting out my next 5000 blog 
posts. I might not make it to 10,000, but it's a nice goal 
to have in the back of my mind. 

I took the time to drive out to International Moulding yesterday morning. I wanted to see their layout, find out if our account had been approved, and look at their frame samples to see if they had things I could use for our artwork. I think we'll do very well with them. The frame selections are numerous in wood, metal and plastics, and they'll work with us, selling us straight stock, pre-cut to order pieces, or even totally assembled pieces if we prefer. I have a lot of artwork that needs framing before it can be sold or put into auction, so I suspect I'll be visiting often. 

I was falling in love with the Black Edged collection 
yesterday. There are a few pieces that I think would look 
outstanding in this frame. There's just a small pop of 
color in the stark black. You might be able to see that easier 
in the bottom left red or the center right yellow. 

One thing I really liked was that Rook (isn't that a great name?) said they could supply a sample of any frame I was thinking about so that I could bring it back to the shop and run it by DH before putting the order in. I have several pieces backlogged at this time and am looking for a narrow black frame for most of them. I suspect I'll be back there next week (if not tomorrow) with artwork in hand to put some stock against some pictures. 

Every vendor I've ever used for picture frame moulding has 
walls stacked with frame samples similar to this photo. It's 
fabulous, and really allows me to try this or that at the edge 
of my artwork before deciding on a particular look. I'm gong 
to be spending some serious time at International. 

When I returned home I really wanted to get moving on matting up several pieces I had waiting for me. I wasn't sure if DH would approve of the mat colors I wanted to use, though, and decided to run that by him before cutting the mats out. I had plenty of other things to do around the house that kept me busy. I consider it a fairly successful day off. I'll get more done with artwork tomorrow and maybe have a chance to get some matted pieces over to International tomorrow afternoon. It's fun to be back into framing once again. I've missed it. 

Yesterday it was raining, but it wasn't massively cold. 
Today we're 10-15 degrees colder. It's not raining, but 
it will be a very cold run in and out of the building before 
we jump into the water. 

Have an excellent Thursday. I'm heading to the swimming pool for my final swim of the week. It was raining yesterday, so we were all swimming in the rain which has its' charm. It's looking like we'll be sunny, but cold, for today's swim with outdoor temps in the low 50's F. I'm going to be very grateful that I swim in a skin suit - I'm much more covered from the outdoor temps. It'll still be a cold run out and back, though - LOL. Enjoy your day and Slava Ukraini. 

It's Post 3500! Where Has The Time Gone?

I truly have no idea when I first posted in my blog. I tried to look it up, but didn't really feel like spending what seemed like forever moving down listings of previously published content. Blogger keeps track of number of posts, however, so I know that today is rather momentous - Post Number 3500! 

Today is the 3500th post in my blog, so I'm celebrating 
with all of you. I write my blog six days a week most 
weeks, approximately 300 posts in an average year. That 
means I've been posting for almost twelve years now. 
I guess I can call this a habit. 

If you're astonished that I could find so much to blab on about for such a long time ... I am too. I never really thought I would start this and allow it to become a habit, but it's actually a good one for me. It allows me to clear my mind, organize my thoughts, and touch base with people. I suppose if I don't post for a few days and I haven't announced a vacation or other reason beforehand, the police should be called. LOL

The small wall at the upper right side is a new 
addition DH made on Saturday. Fortunately his 
saw made the two cuts he needed before it died. 
*sigh* It's another part of our never-ending 
fight with water and drainage and will help keep 
moisture away from our house foundations. 

DH and I worked on the woodshed for most of yesterday. He had hoped to get the roof put onto it, but we didn't get quite that far. Still, we got the rafters cut properly and affixed, and the fascia attached, front and back. I took photos and I'll share them a bit later in the week. We have the shed all wrapped up again now, and he said he'll start work on the second unit on Tuesday, weather permitting. He's never made something with a roof before, so it's a learning experience for him. 

On the lower yard, he extended the water 
system we already had worked on earlier this 
summer, pulling it across the yard and towards 
the creek. We're not sure we like this, and it 
may not have to be this extensive. We'll 
re-evaluate this and might pull it back out 
to where the final curve begins on the left. 

On Saturday, since it was supposed to be a rainy day (which barely happened), he concentrated on a small upper wall improvement and an extension to the drainage ditch that we may pull back out again. Or not. Crossing the extension is a PITA and he needs to bring wheelbarrows across regularly, so unless he builds a bridge (also on his "maybe" list), we'll probably pull the extension back out and replace the soil. 

On that note, I'm off to find pictures for this and then eat breakfast and leave for work. Have an excellent Monday and enjoy your day. Be kind, be safe, and please wear a mask. 

Miracle On Ice - the 40th Anniversary

Saturday was the 40th anniversary of "Miracle on Ice", the unexpected and amazing defeat of the Soviet Union hockey team by the US at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. It was a VERY big deal at the time, and it still is because it was a fairy-tale come true. Those things don't happen often. 

Here's a copy of the cover of "Sports Illustrated" celebrating
the "Miracle on Ice" from 40 years ago on the 22nd of
February. 

The team of 20 kids, many from my homeland, here in the Frozen Northlands, coached by Herb Brooks, also from my state, pulled together and became a team instead of a disparate group. That's what has to happen in team sports - individual goals and backgrounds have to be buried for the greater good. It can work well, but it can also be a problem. 

The full team from 1980 is in this photo, with coaches and
all the players. There were a lot of these boys who went on
from their college and Olympic careers to become professional
hockey players. 

For these boys, their training and their learned responses of trust in their fellow players and in what the Coach was telling them worked. It worked well. They managed to pull out an amazing win that we're all still celebrating today - 40 years after the fact. That's impressive. Keep in mind that the game against the Soviets wasn't the final game, just one of the hardest. The US had won a very difficult game in the prior level against Sweden, and they still had to win over Finland before achieving the Gold Medal. The Soviets were a powerhouse, though, comprised of mostly professional hockey players with lots of international experience. They were the expected winners and the USA managed a true miracle beating them on the ice that day. 

Brian Suter (l) and his son Ryan (r) were both members
of Olympic hockey teams. Brian has had several interviews
over the past week regarding his time with Herb Brooks
and the Miracle on Ice team. 

Training to rely on the person to your left and your right is done for team sports, and also for the military, in family dynamics (both good and bad) and in some jobs where that reliance on others is necessary for success. It can be beneficial, but also constricting. The best thing about the US Olympic team was that it was a team for less than a full year. That allowed the teamwork to develop, but also allowed the team to break apart at the end, remain friends, and bond over an incredible experience. 

So I'm going to continue enjoying the 40th anniversary of a great hockey game, and I'll hope I'm still around when it comes to the 50th anniversary in another ten years. Won't THAT be the celebration - LOL. Have an excellent Monday and I'll be back tomorrow. 

Family Ceremonies and New Beginnings

Ceremonies of life happen every day - celebrations of birth, memorial gatherings at deaths, christenings, and, of course, marriages. In the old days - those dark ages that still may exist in some cultures or families - marriage was forever. Thank goodness that's not always the case any more. These days, in most areas of the world, marriages can be ended and lives can continue on separate pathways. 

Life Bridge Brewing Co took its name from the bridge that
used to cross the St Croix River from Stillwater, Minnesota to
Houlton, Wisconsin. Although the old bridge has been
replaced by a newer one, it lives on as a pedestrian
bridge and a well-loved symbol of this riverfront town. 

Tonight, DH and I will head east to join our larger family at the wedding and celebration for our youngest nephew. It's his second marriage and he's found a really lovely person to share his life with. He has a son, I think Ian is around eleven years old now. His new bride has a daughter, a year or three younger than Ian. Together they're making a new family and I'm hoping this one will be good for everyone. They deserve it - they're all really nice people with some really cool kids. 

Founded in 2008, Lift Bridge Brewing has established itself as a
serious player in the craft brew market. They expanded their
taproom in 2018, and offer tours and other events at the brewery
throughout the year. I haven't been there before, so I'm looking
forward to this. 

The wedding itself and the celebration afterward will take place at a craft brewery in Stillwater, near the banks of the St Croix river. I dressed up for his first wedding, a large and rather pretentious gathering of two very disparate families. I'm dressing down a bit for this one - it's in a brewery, and it's a lot more laid-back and fun. So, leggings, a mustard-colored shirt and a fabulous knee-length heavily hand-painted jacket DH purchased for me in Santa Fe, New Mexico many years ago. It'll be good, and I'm looking forward to the celebration and getting together with my relatives once more. 

In addition to their beers, they also brew a non-alcoholic
root beer, some different cream sodas, and several
hard seltzers. I suspect there's something here for
almost anyone's taste buds. 

Of course, when I last saw everybody, I was fighting with my alopecia and hadn't been able to see my dermatologist yet, so I was wearing silken scarves. Now I'm bald and bold - a certain change for everyone who hasn't seen me. It should be a fun night, and I'll have a chance to see the new tattooed sleeve my youngest niece's husband was in the process of getting when I last saw him. All good. 

The old Stillwater Lift Bridge still exists, but it's restricted to pedestrian
or bicycle traffic only. The entire center section is raised to allow river
traffic to pass underneath. This would lead to long traffic jams as cars
waited for the bridge section to lower once again. A new bridge now
spans the St Croix River nearby and raising the bridge no longer causes
massive traffic backups through town. 

So have a great weekend. I'm unsure whether we'll go to the final day of Renaissance Festival or not. There's really no reason to go - we've been there each weekend and have seen it all by now. I wouldn't mind catching up on some sleep and working on the house until the football game starts in the late afternoon. We'll see. What I DO know is I'll be back on Monday. Have a truly fabulous weekend! 

Day 17 - Climbing Into the Alps, and Finally A Day Off

Yesterday's stage was rather boring, and that leads to a lack of attention and accidents. It's those pile-ups that can make the peloton so dangerous and the flat stages so challenging. Yesterday's stage was no different, with a crash in the pack taking out one of the favorites, Jakob Fuglsang (Astana Pro Team). He had been riding a terrific race with an outside shot to a podium step on Sunday, so this was an extreme disappointment for any serious TdF fan. 

Personally, I wouldn't be categorizing today's stage as "flat", but
that's the official term used. They actually are starting to climb up
to the Alps and these are the lowest of the foothills in front
of those majestic peaks. 

Today's stage is again "flat", with 200 km stretching to the foot of the Alps. We'll have mountains for Thursday through Saturday, we just have to get to them first. Anything can happen in a flat stage, as we saw yesterday. So even though the topography won't be super challenging, keeping positions and safety within the pack will be. 

Here's the "official" blurb from the Le Tour de France website. 

Stage 17 will kick off from Le Pont du Gard where the riders already passed yesterday, showcasing an extraordinary heritage. Heading to the Alps, the Mont Ventoux will offer a beautiful view at the exit of the Rhône valley where the wind could be a factor, but it’s a stage for attackers. Thomas De Gendt is up for it. Sprinters like Peter Sagan and Michael Matthews can also be ambitious, either in being part of the winning move or getting their team to set up a bunch gallop in which not all the sprinters will be in contention. The cat. 3 col de la Sentinelle with 8.5km to go is too hard for some but not all of the fast men.

Today Chickie finally returns from her vacation and I get a real "day off" - the first day off I've had in over a week. Hurrah! I'm delighted to be back on my personal schedule again, not having to compress my errands and housework into odd corners of the day. I'll catch up with her tomorrow, but from her occasional posts on Facebook, it seems it was a good time for all, despite the fact that everyone had gathered for a funeral. 

Chickie is back home and I finally get a "day off". It's time
to party! "Celebrate ... celebrate ... dance to the music ...". 

So, I'm off and running. Physical therapy, followed by a couple of quick things at the shop followed by a day of actual work in my house. Yippee! Here's hoping you have a wonderful Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow for the first of three days of the BIG mountains! 

A Very Special Anniversary

I promised that today was a VERY SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY, and indeed, it is. No, it's not a birthday. No, it's not a wedding anniversary. No, it's not a recurring event. Today is my 3000th blog post. Yes ... that's THREE THOUSAND posts in my blog. Taking an average of 300 posts a year, that's Ten Years of posting in this blog, although it's probably a bit longer than ten years. That's a lot of history. 

In 2009, I shared this artwork entitled "Dreaming" by Jo Parry. I still love
the piece - it's deceptively simple and evocative. 

Over that time I've shared a lot of things with my cyber-readers - experiences, thoughts, and lots of photos. I've shared art, architecture, sculpture and locations around the world. I've shared the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Renaissance Festival each year through thoughts and photos. I've shared joys, sorrows and those times when I'm left scratching my head in total bewilderment. 

In 2010 I shared this photo of a sun pillar taken in Wyoming. The beauty
just begged to be shared with my friends and readers. I still love looking
at natural beauties today, I'm a very early sunrise person, but sunsets are
equally exceptional. What a fabulous world we're privileged to share. 

What I haven't done a lot is share political views, spiritual viewpoints directed at any specific faith, or other possible trigger posts. I have pissed some people off - lost "friends" over a few posts, but friends lost through things like that probably weren't good friends in any case. I've also gained a few friends through my posts and discussions on other people's blogs that generated on-line conversations and new cyber-friends. It's the rhythm of life. 

In 2011, I shared that DH had purchased a Nook Color
for my holiday gift. Now, more than 1500 e-books
later and several apps ahead, I come down firmly
in the e-book section. The ability to carry 1000's
of books in the palm of my hand (or in my phone,
since that's where I read now) is a daily joy. 

Although I write this blog to clear my own thoughts for the day ahead, I'm really happy to have shared some or all of these past 3000 posts with you and I look forward to my next milestone anniversary for 5000 posts in just a few years more - LOL. Thanks for walking alongside me on this journey. 

I began studying aeolian harps in 2012, with the help of
Fiondil. I still plan to make one or more of these
wind-played harps. It's on an extensive "to do" list
for my retirement years. I suspect I'll be busier
when I retire than I ever was during my working
years. 

Have a glorious Friday and end of November. I'll return tomorrow for the beginning of December. 

Good Samhain To All

Good Samhain to all of my friends and readers today. The veils between the worlds are thin today, so take care with your choices, look twice before entering crosswalks, and watch out for tricksters when opening your doors tonight. 

Samhain weakens the walls between the worlds and realms. Be cautious
as you go about your business today, and stay far away from Fairy Hills. 

Samhain has both a sacred robe and a secular costume. Choose whichever suits you best, or combine them into your personal comfort wrap. It's all OK. 

Whether you celebrate with others or on your own, or whether you
merely enjoy the trappings of secular Halloween, it's the beginning
of a new year in the Wiccan calendar and a time for reflection and
new beginnings, as well as an acknowledgement of what has
passed during the previous year. 

We're cold up here in the Frozen Northlands, but no snow (at least none sticking on the ground for more than an hour or so). It's been wet, but it's looking like we're dry for the day and tonight. I might get some college kids trick-or-treating tonight ... or not. Not just means more candy left for DH, and a bit for me. 

Because we all need guidance in our lives, I give you crow (or raven) as
your spirit guide this Samhain. Watch carefully as he finds the
safe paths to walk. 

I'm sharing Samhain pictures with all of you today, urging you to have a wonderful and safe holiday and to watch out for things that go "bump" in the night. Hugs to all, enjoy your spooky Wednesday, and I'll be back tomorrow. 

Wearing and Flying the Flag

Earlier this week it was Canada Day (waving "Hello" to my Canadian friends), and tomorrow will be July 4th, Independence Day, here in the USA. These are days of celebration - basically large, nation-wide birthdays for our nations, and as such are celebrated throughout the country with feats, music, and often, fireworks. There will be a lot of flag-waving going on, and that sparked my interest in flags here in the USA. 

Want a flag? This place in Atlanta, Georgia has just the flag for you. 

We're a bit flag crazy here. It's not that other nations are less patriotic than we are, just that we tend to wave the flag, wear the flag, and post the flag everywhere here in the USA. Public buildings, of course - governmental halls of justice, etc - always fly the flag; always the federal flag, but also often the state flag and maybe the city one as well. But in the USA, businesses of all kinds as well as some individual people fly the national flag. The flag is everywhere. 

My own sticker is probably similar in size, but it is a
re-positionable static cling sticker that I have on the
lower passenger side front window. My car does wear
the flag, though, along with millions of others
throughout the USA. 

I admit that I have a flag sticker on my car's windshield. The sticker was given to me by an acquaintance right after 9/11. I put it on my car that day, and with the exception of moving it from my PT Cruiser to my Mazda CX-5 when I bought the new car, it's still there. I don't fly the flag at home often, but I actually do own a flag which was left in the house when we bought it, and there is a flagpole bracket near the front door. Other people in the neighborhood have individual flagpoles centrally located in their gardens and fly their flags daily. 

Abbie Hoffman wore a flag shirt in 1970. 

I remember people getting arrested in the 1960's for wearing the flag, or burning the flag during protests of the military draft and the Vietnam War. It's part of my personal history, not just something to look at with the curiosity of "Look at what those hippies were doing back then!" attitudes. A lot of people were arrested for desecrating the flag. Now wearing the flag barely causes a blink - the flag and its' image have become almost commonplace. Is this a good thing? Hard to say. 

The flag has become mainstream. Here's a flag
dress designed by Tommy Hilfiger. 

So, since tomorrow is a holiday (in spite of the fact that it's still my normal Wednesday "day off" and I'll still be shopping, doing laundry, and cleaning house while having to clean around my Hubby instead of on my own schedule) I won't be posting. I wish all of you a happy and safe Fourth of July, and I'll be back on Thursday. Enjoy your Tuesday and celebrate with your own families on Wednesday. 

Easter - Roast and JC Superstar - A Great Combo

Did you have a good Easter? After celebrating Passover with a lovely snack on Friday, DH and I moved over to Easter. We treated ourselves to Manhattan Strip Roast, twice-baked potatoes, green bean casserole, and pasta Alfredo. Dessert was a three layer Boston creme/chocolate cream layer cake that DH made on Friday. OMG - all SO good. The benefit is that we have lots of leftover roast for another dinner or two and/or some sandwiches. The negative is two pounds gained. But they'll be off soon as I get back on track in the pool and with my food choices. It was WELL worth it. 

Manhattan roasts basically cook themselves. If you follow the
directions and ignore your oven, it turns out perfect every time. 

Did any of you catch last night's "Jesus Christ Superstar Live" event? Unfortunately I had to crash and missed the final hour, but I was impressed with the staging and the cast. Of course it was a joy to listen to the music once again. 

Last night's cast included John Legend as Jesus ad
Alice Cooper as Herod. 

JC Superstar was the music of my rebellious youth. It was first performed and released on album in 1971 - when I was in high school. For well over a year, I listened to the album every Sunday. I figured it was my way of going to church, without actually going to church. Also, the music was stellar. 

Of course, I still own the original vinyl. I think DH
also has a copy in our album stack. I played mine
a LOT. Loved it. 

A mass-release movie of JC Superstar was released in 1973, filmed in Israel and directed by Norman Jewison. A second film was released in video in 2000-2001 and was aired on PBS's "Great Performances" in April 2001. It won an International Emmy award. 

Norman Jewison directed the movie, which was released in
1973. It was filmed in the desert of Israel and had lots
of controversy around the filming as well as the fact
that there was a war going on and the temperatures were
wicked. Still, I saw the film numerous times. 

I remember the 1973 movie very well. There were parts I loved and parts I hated, but I adored the Israeli location in the desert, and the concept of driving in this group of hippies, their rendition of the story of Christ, and then the untouched desert behind them as they left once again. As I recall there were protests and placards abounding around the theaters where the movie was being shown. Fun times of my youth. 

I watched last night, though, and really enjoyed it. At almost 50 years old, the music, songs, and renditions haven't lost their punch. I hope I can catch that last hour sometime in a replay. 

It looks like we're due for another 3"-8" of snow over the next 36 hours (oh joy). The happiness of Spring in the Frozen Northlands. Here's hoping you had a wonderful Easter and that you enjoy your upcoming week. Happy Monday! 

Road To The Final Three - Project Runway All Stars - SPOILER ALERT

When I left you yesterday I had mentioned the intense time-frame for the four designers to make a six-piece collection, and that each designer was suddenly faced with the need to present a finished item on the Runway on Day 3 of their seven-day challenge. This unexpected Runway showing would determine which three designers would go on to the final showing. The pressure was on! Let's take a look at the four outfits that walked the Runway. The two regular judges - Isaac Mizrahi and Georgiana Chapman were joined by the exquisite Dita Von Teese and a long-time member of the Project Runway family, Zana Roberts Rassi from "Marie Claire" magazine. 

Anthony, whose fabric was velvet-covered neoprene,
created a drop-back gown with wide straps and
a train. I loved the length change and, for
neoprene, it actually walked nicely. 

Anthony's goal was to make a collection that married the glamour of Audrey Hepburn into the sexiness of Rhianna. It was slinky and I loved the back. Isaac loved the length and the fabric, Dita loved the color and the structure. Zanna loved the straps and Alyssa loved the side of the dress. But, Georgiana hated the material that the dress was made from, and Alyssa criticized where the waist fell on the model. 

Fabio made this little top and smocked-top skirt in
homage to his Grandmother - the woman who taught
him how to sew. 

Fabio wanted to contrast old and new and created this 50's-style skirt and loose-fitting top. A more casual look, but very much Fabio. Georgiana adored the smocking and said she loves the woman that he creates clothes for. Isaac wasn't a fan of the print he used for the top, although I really enjoyed the subtle bird images. Dita loved the "modern 50's skirt" but Zanna didn't like his look at all, feeling it needed editing. Alyssa was in love with the entire outfit and wanted it. 

Ken dumped his elaborate detached sleeves as
being too "costume", and then slapped on this
organza sash. Why?  

Ken's trousers and fitted top didn't walk the Runway well. Look at those pleats around the hips of the model in the photo above. Ken said he was inspired by Harriet Tubman's bow tie, but even though I love his inspiration, to me this was a miss. Zanna wasn't a fan of the organza, and even though Dita loved the pants, she was in agreement with Zanna about the sash. Georgiana wished the look had been black and white and hated the earrings Ken chose, Isaac loved the pants and the fabrics chosen. Hmmm .... really??? Finally, Alyssa complimented his tailoring and somewhat liked the sash. 

Stanley made this black and white tuxedo shirt-front
dress with a 50's-style skirt and fitted waist. The
black leather belt, collar and shirt-front, as well
as the peeps of a black petticoat at the hem,
really made the dress stand out. 

Stanley said his inspiration was "black ladies going to church on Sundays" hats and the First Lady dresses from the Smithsonian. Georgiana loved the woman he presented but recommended dropped a few layers of petticoats. Isaac loved the simplicity of the dress. Dita loved the entire look, especially the skirt. Zanna called it "Project Runway gold". After a discussion that led to the removal of the leather collar (which I think should have been more rounded and shorter), Alyssa took control. 

Normally at this point I'd be announcing a winner, but no. As I told you yesterday, the designers were led through the back rooms and production chambers of Project Runway and into a room where they were instructed to make a single look from barrels containing the scrap remnants of clothing made earlier in the season. They had one hour in which to accomplish this. So, here's what they made. 

I'm letting this photo be a bit larger than usual because
there's so much to see. Take a look, it's impressive. 

Moving from right to left ... Anthony created this fantastic two-toned wrap dress that I almost loved more than his collection piece. It was stunning and eye-catching. Ken did a black high-cut sheath dress that was beautifully tailored. Fabio did a cropped pant with an oddly-textured oblong-dropped top. (I was super impressed that he pulled out a pair of pants in an hour like that.) Finally, Stanley did color blocking for a leather-halter and metallic mini-dress. 

I was impressed, the judges were impressed, and I wished that all four designers could have been passed on to the final round, but it's a competition and in the end there will only be a single winner. Still, to come so close must have been heartbreaking. 

Have you guessed who was sent home and who will continue into next week's final episode? 

Ken was sent home. 

The final three designers, Stanley, Fabio and Anthony, breathed a major sigh of relief, but all of the guys hugged and wept. I actually think/hope that some firm friendships may have been formed here in the Project Runway workshop. 

Oh!!! One final twist. Since the final three had already shown one outfit on the Runway, they now need to add one new outfit to their slate, making a total of seven outfits in seven days. Three of those days are now over so they are looking at a future of four days to create six complete outfits. The stress just got turned up to high. 

I'll be back on Monday. Have a wonderful Easter Sunday. DH helped me remember my own heritage last night by making me some Haroset - an apple dish usually served for the Passover Seder. It was a lovely treat and tasted fabulous. He can be a total sweetie sometimes. Enjoy your weekend! 

Back Into the Groove For a Few More Days

I'm back after three days off and I missed all of you. Did you miss me? Of course, your lives (as mine also), were taken up with friends, family and food. The dreaded trio. But I had a great three days off, and I hope your holidays were equally pleasant. 

I'm right back into my routine today and the weight I gained
should be off by the end of January (it would be sooner,
but I still have my family New Year's Eve get-together
to eat my way through, as well as a lot of left over
prime rib and ham). 

Despite the holiday cheer, I'm really looking forward to diving into work once more. I gained five pounds over the past week! It'll come off quickly, but I have another three-day weekend coming up, so it'll be a bit harder than usual. I can't wait to get into the pool today. I almost broke down and went for a swim yesterday, but figured the extra two days away from the pool would actually be good for my body. The occasional down-time can be beneficial. 

I made Prime Rib (Standing Rib Roast) on Monday for
our Christmas Day dinner. It turned out really lovely
and I have a bunch left over to eat over the next few days. 

My refrigerator is stuffed with food, but the chex mix is eaten, and I don't really care about cookies. DH made a lot of chocolates and some truffles, but I can easily eat one - or none - and ignore the rest. I have prime rib and the last of the ham in the fridge, though. Those have to be eaten or frozen. I also have pasta left from last night's dinner when I took DH out for Italian for his birthday. 

Chex Mix is always my downfall, but it's eaten
now and we're not making more until next
Christmas. It's soooooo good, but I'm happy to
have it gone for another year. 

Santa Claus was very good to me, as he always seems to be. I have cash and certificates for the next year, and I got enough Barnes & Noble gift cards to stack my account with more than $100 for e-books. It won't take me long to have that spent, but I'm going to have a delightful time choosing and then reading my books. 

DH and I went to see "The Last Jedi" yesterday. I really enjoyed
it and recommend it if you're unsure about seeing it. 

DH wanted to see "The Last Jedi" for his birthday movie, so we bundled up in the sub-zero cold and headed to the cinema yesterday. Chickie wanted to see the movie a second time, and it was $5 Tuesday, so all of us ended up at the same show, although her seat was a bit farther down the row. No spoilers from me, but I really enjoyed it and I like where they are bringing the story line. 

So, I now dive into four days of our "Year-end Four Day Sale" at the shop, then I run my year-end reports and collapse for three days off as I begin a new year. It's nice to be back! Happy Wednesday - tomorrow I'll start showing all of you some of the really lovely holiday cards I received!