Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Christmas Eve

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Well, the weather is insane here. But we have power and so many Americans and Canadians don’t. So we’re grateful. The wind is relentless; it’s been non-stop since yesterday afternoon. Wind chills are well below zero. Surprisingly, with all the rain/snow/wind and then a 40 degree drop in temperature, the driveway didn’t turn to ice. I don’t know how that came about, but again – grateful.

I made my cookies yesterday, but since I couldn’t find coconut cream, I used coconut milk, which was listed a substitute. The dough was almost unworkable. I tweaked it a bit and I managed to make the cookies, but they are not at all what they should be, so next week I will be searching for coconut cream and I’ll make another batch – though Don thinks they’re ‘great!’ At least it kept me occupied during the Bomb Cyclone. Today, Don is at the helm, making sugar-free apple pie.

We will have our usual Christmas; music playing quietly, some presents, a nice dinner. Mostly, we will express gratitude for our blessings.

I hope you’re all safe and warm as we welcome Christmas Eve and Christmas. May you find time with your loved ones. If you need quiet, I hope you have quiet. If you need lots of people and carol singing and family gathered around, I hope you have that.

Mostly, I hope you have peace.

The girls have a wish, too!

Stay safe. I’ll see you on Monday.

Happy Saturday.

Happy Christmas Eve.

 

A Little Putzing Around

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My wee attempt at making a Putz house village on the top of the piano. I had limited space, as there is a lamp and a Bose radio/CD player sharing space with it. All of these houses and churches are vintage.

We’re on the same weather rollercoaster as much of the country. Heavy rain yesterday and all night long. We’re currently in a bit of a lull, then more rain/snow around noon with temperatures plunging from 49 degrees (our current temp) to 8 degrees. The high tomorrow will only reach 16. So far the roads seem clear. I guess the determining factor is how much precipitation we get while this dramatic change is happening later in the day.

Yesterday, I was at the library when they opened to pick up that book and managed to get back home before the ‘event’ started. Later on that afternoon, I got another message from the library saying a book I had on hold had arrived. So I’ll try to get there today around noonish to pick it up because they’re closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It’s the newest Michael Connelly, by the way, and I was at least number 25 in the queue when I last checked a couple of days ago, so I have no idea how it turned up this quickly. It’s rather shocking.

Now I have three books that I have to finish by the first week of January. Hmmm. Don is now reading the book about Dorothy Kilgallen.

Our big decision: I will bake cookies today and Don will make the apple pie tomorrow. Frankly, it will help to have the oven going tomorrow – it’s going to be COLD.

Last night we watched The Shop Around the Corner. It has been a favorite of mine for years and years. And it’s now a favorite of Don’s. Ernst Lubitsch was a brilliant director and the cast is simply wonderful. Tonight, A Christmas Carol  with Alastair Sim – the only version we watch because Sim’s incredible performance spoiled us for any other. Tomorrow – It’s a Wonderful Life. On Christmas Day – White Christmas. That’s the lineup for this year.

Okay. One more post tomorrow before I take the day off on Christmas.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Bits of News

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• Today we start in with rain, snow, sleet and everything else under the sun. It will be dangerous out there for the next few days. Tomorrow’s high in the mid-fifties will drop almost 50 degrees overnight. High winds, also (you know how much I dislike that.) Insane. Lots of rain predicted, more than 2 inches. Yikes. And frigid temperatures on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If we get any snow, it will only be a bit. And that seems highly doubtful. I know the same storm is dumping lots of snow on many of you. I’d much rather have the snow.

I guess I’ll have to blare Christmas music to mute the sound of wind.

• We watched The Bishop’s Wife  last night. Love that movie.

• Don only needs 8 more subscribers to his YouTube channel to qualify for his own URL (a unique address on the web.) Thank you to those of you who graciously subscribed! Brenda, give a listen to “Nova Scotia” – I believe Don left you a message. He loved your comment yesterday.

• I received a lovely package from reader Kathy yesterday. In it were two lovely holiday plates from Target (we’re going to use them for the Linzer Tart Cookies I’m making this year.) And also included was this:

To Kill a Mockingbird  published in Estonia! It’s the hardcover version with a copyright of 1964, just two years after it was first published in America. This is the original dust jacket and the illustration/artwork is stunning! Oh my. Thank you so much, Kathy! This is amazing. I wrote you a note in yesterday’s comment, but my question is: Where, oh, where did you find this???

• Update on my job offer – The woman who is coordinating the workshop managed to come up with some more money from the producers, so I will be paid my normal fee with a little extra money to cover six days of commuting back and forth from here to the city. It worked out! And, once I got out of the way, it was effortless. A lesson I have to learn over and over again. It turned out better than I had even hoped. So, that’s taken care of and I can work with dear Darko again. Hurrah!

• And finally, the last sweater-ornament-turned-into-Blythe-sweater. This one is modeled by Madeleine.

It’s been fun adapting these sweaters to fit on my girls. I, of course, will be looking for even more of these next year. I have 8 of them and goodness knows, all 12 of my girls should have one.

• Okay. Don is baking a pie this morning. I am baking cookies tomorrow. I have to run to the library at noon (they don’t open until then) to pick up a book that has arrived – Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman. I could try to do it tomorrow, but the weather will be horrendous. As it is, I will be trying to get there and back before it starts snowing/sleeting/raining. The only other option is Tuesday and who knows if it will still be icy around here? This subzero weather that’s on the way is supposed to last through Tuesday or Wednesday.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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