Next year?

 Yes!

Couldn't sleep.  Dim lights, total quiet, hot pack on my low back.  Ahhh.  A few Advil and a cold drink to soothe my dryness.  Monkey (Missy) staring at things that are not there is freaking me out while a loud noise of something falling behind me is puzzling.  Thought browsing a little online would be nice, lots of catching up to do.  And then I see them.  BOOM!

Huge ornaments for outdoor decorating!  How did I miss these?  I am not one to have large Christmas displays, prefer fewer and simple.  Holy balls of jingle.  I love these!!  Two on my front deck with lit tree or large hanging star and I'm in!  From Amazon, Pottery Barn, Grandin Road, many offers. Some are basically beach balls, some need a pump to keep them inflated, some ($$$$) are resin.  

If I can come up with a way to create my own, I may give it a shot next year.  Right now in the morning fog, a balance ball is all I'm coming up with that is 30" or more.  Then again, my memory issue may erase this by next year, or my meno issue may change my mind about it.

They just really struck a chord and surprised me!

Have a good day folks.  You know where I'll be.

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Winner

 Hi folks.  Back home.  Until tomorrow.

Winner of the Kogut is Cathie J.  

Thanks to all for participating! 

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The good thing

It's rain, not snow.

It's been hectic, still haven't done all that is needed.  I guess we were all hoping that she realized how safe and well loved she is there and would postpone coming home.  One of the aides actually called off the day shift because she could not bear saying goodbye.  Tearful day for all.

So .... did she make a list of food items and essentials for the house?  No.  I thought Chris was instructed, he thought I was.  Nothing.  Did she realize the fireman meetings are on Thursday from 5 to 8?  Yes and expected them to not go.  They are obligated.  Are there any caregivers in place?  Nope.  And then there's the background issue that shoves the thorn deeper.  I'm eating Tums today like M&Ms.

I am getting ready to make a kugel and soup for her for tonight and tomorrow, will be going over later.  Mark and Chris are at the facility now, bringing home the rest of her stuff along with the new huge TV.  He will come to pick me up later.  I can understand wanting to be home and not thinking you could be there for ten years!  But the timing (and its reason) is really frosting my cake.  Waiting for everything to be in place, both house and care, would have been easier on everyone.

A little peek at the blue just started at the bottom which will continue for five (?) rows.

The drawing will probably be later than I expected, and as soon as I am home and complete the task, I will post.  Sorry for the delay.  I honestly sort of ignored this, hoping the date of coming home would change.

Even when spent, expired, drained, ferns continue to show off.

I just get nastier.  And louder.

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It's a Kogut!

 This year, another Kogut chart will be my giveaway offer.

This one has not been stitched yet, and was ordered quite some time ago.  Unfortunately, with all the distractions these last two years, I did not remember that this chart was gifted to me by another stitcher.   I only need one! I have already changed my chart to reflect a shorter bottom border without his name.

If you would like this chart, please leave your full initials or email address in the comments on this post, or email me at samplersandsantas@gmail.com.  Keep in mind that 99% of comments are automatically no-reply if you are Google+ or something like that.  I never upgraded to the + and with setting changes, have remained ... replyable!  

I will have Random choose a name on Thursday at 7 pm.

Enjoy your day!!

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Simply

 Will I feel like unloading the tote of PS Santas and others?  

Probably not.

Do I know why?

Not really.

Do I like using my boxwood's cuttings and how they dry?

Yep.  

Do I love the battery candles that offer ambiance without hazard?

Absolutely.

Did I have ham and scalloped potatoes for dinner?

Ohhhh baby.

And this is where I am on Ann.  The verse appears blue in the chart photo but that is not the listed color in the legend.  But it will be.  That blue body and the bottom motifs are what attracted me to her so I will use blue.  It's not like I consistently follow chart colors.

 Busy week.  Nutty week.  Stressful week.

There are no caregivers.  Our friends lost their private aide and tried three agencies.  One girl showed up, left early, was mostly on her phone.  The other two never even showed, did not call the agency to say they weren't coming in, so they did not know the client was left alone.  Carole will be home Thursday.  Nothing in place because of that.  

When a resident is so upset about leaving the good people at her facility, the aides, the housekeepers, the nurses, the staff, the beautiful building and excellent food, the wonderful room and decor, the fabulous outdoor gardens and porches, the concerts, the game room, the pets .... you gotta wonder.  Would you leave?  Being cared for and so loved by staff, enjoying the day with laughter and friendship, every need met and pampered?  At 84 with heart failure and loss of both legs?  We all think she's foolish, especially when I spill the background and you know more.  But it's not our decision.

I'm thinking  about a small giftaway for Christmas.  Maybe a chart?

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A free day that was not

 Hello people!  With all the medical, dental, facility calls, order pickup, house modifications, and gift searching, I had a day free of obligations.  But vertigo or something like it blew my plans.  Finally feeling better this morning.  

Before that happened, we made a door for an open shelf cupboard that was constructed long ago.  Loaded with magazines and such that were favorites, I came across the old Seraph and Circa Home Living catalogs.  Remember catalogs?  From the thick JCPenney of decades ago to the thinner booklets that I've found, I studied them front to back.  And today, still being careful of my movements, I will enjoy each page of these offers and inspiration.  And then crab that I can't purchase anything right now if they are even still available.  I much prefer in hand visuals over on screen.  Still trying to get my purchased pdf charts printed, obviously possible since so many have done so.  No answer at Staples as to why the text will print, but not the graph.

The sun is out and melting the ground frost, I ordered some gifts from Boscov's site for pickup in Ohio.  Have not been in that store, but found a few bargains much less than elsewhere for gifting.  We'll take a ride tomorrow to get them, and stop at our favorite Italian store for their ravioli that we will have for all at Christmas.  Except for sauce, all else will be purchased.  Those hectic days of cooking are over.

I may be able to work on Ann since she is 30 count, I dare not strain my eyes for 36/40 until the vertigo is completely resolved.

Hope your day is good!

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