Well gang, we made it! Here we are on New Year's Eve, the last day of 2023. It sure did fly by.
I hope you are well and safe and healthy as you read this. Onward and forward from here. New year, new plans, new start - here we go!
Hope everyone will let go of the drama and the pain they have in life and embrace joy and happiness instead. Keep steadfast in faith and look for miracles every day!
I saw robins in the yard again toward the end of the week! It is amazing to me. I never have robins this late in the year.
The daylight hours are very slowly starting to increase again - yay!
Last Wednesday was just 3 weeks since the kitties came inside to live. Two weeks this past Thursday was when Blackie had surgery. He did a major turnaround on Wednesday! They said a good 2 weeks for recovery. He finally decided to come out of his hidey hole (other than when eating & potty). He has been playing with Lil Bit. They have really progressed in such a short time. Bit is growing like a weed. I am so grateful they are inside, and I don't have to worry about their safety and warmth outside!
This past week:
- Monday was brothers for Christmas and family
- Got a lot of foodie gifts and useful gifts and another GC
- Paid everything I had in the house
- Caught up on laundry
- Made grape jelly from my grapes I froze this summer. 4 pints (gifting next weekend) and a bit for me. (Have enough to make another batch)
- Flea meds on kitties
- Went out to Kroger to get cabbage this week. .49/lb. I got a loaf of wheat bread, and a pack of buns on clearance for $1 ea. Got my rye bread for this coming week (Rueban). I found a pack of 10 center cut chops on clearance for 5.50 and a doz. donuts for $2.
- Cut my hair - dang it grows fast
- Cut up a big packet of chicken and cooked it all and then froze for future quick protein
- I have my new calendar sitting here by me - need to mark up today with special dates!
- Filled gas tank when out for groceries. Saved .60/gal. and paid 2.29/gal.
Meals this past week:
Chicken & dumplings (Sweet Sue) and salad
Dinner at brother's house
Homemade pizza
Breaded chicken fillets, seared cauliflower
Small batch of chicken noodle soup - 2X
Hot dogs and fries
How was your Christmas week? Are you done celebrating? Or are you like me, and have another celebration coming up? Any grand plans for NYE tonight? Me - staying home and will probably be asleep before midnight (as a friend posted yesterday on FB - it will already be NY somewhere!!!!).
Did you do any after Christmas shopping? I did NONE!
Happy anniversary Cookie.
Whatever you do - please be safe. People can be crazy out there. Be responsible and stay cozy and safe. People (and pets) love you and depend on you.
I hope the celebrations around the world are safe tonight. I do not have great expectations of that with all the garbage that is going on everywhere - but I pray it stays safe.
I hope you have a glorious start to the year, and a safe and healthy week ahead.
Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*********************************
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!
Psalms 100:1-4
Lord, we thank you for allowing us to get through this past year. Please be with each of us as we start this new year and journey on this earth. Guide us and hold us tight in your loving arms. Help us to be our best person and help others who are in need. Prayers for peace for the world. AMEN
Sounds like you had a really nice week. I've REALLY enjoyed my time off from work. It made me realize it is time to start thinking about retirement or at least something less stressful.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to hear the cats are doing well and that Blackie is truly on the mend.
We had snow Friday and Saturday. Big fat fluffy snowflakes. It was pretty and it didn't stick for long.
We may get up and go out to breakfast tomorrow morning but other than that, I want to be home for my last two days off.
Happy New Year. May 2024 be a better year for us all.
I am so happy you had time off and it does make you realize just how wonderful retirement can be! Start working on that!
DeleteThanks, the kitties are just great and such company.
Breakfast sounds nice. Enjoy your time left at home.
Have a great week and happy new year!
Happy New Year! You've had a good week. Happy Blackie and Bits have settled into indoor living. We've had warmer than usual weather, with highs in the 40s and 50s, too, but winter will arrive. They'll be glad to be warm!
ReplyDeleteA small bit of shopping was done (for food sales, etc.), but no after Christmas shopping here, either. You certainly got great deals! With son's help, we'll wash, juice and prep 16 lbs. of oranges today ($9.98) for marmalade and candied peels. Meals were Christmas ham X 2, Zach's beef enchiladas X 2, roasted chicken breasts with rice and corn X 2, and sandwiches last night. All leftovers have been sealed and frozen for future meals. Tonight will be taco salad, and our New Year's menu is pork ribs with oven fries and spinach.
Christmas is packed away. Did some cleaning this week, especially in the kitchen, and took inventory of the freezers and pantry.
Thank you--as always--for the verses and prayer. They mean a lot. God bless you and us all in 2024. --Elise
Yes they will be happy not out in the cold, and momma will be happier!
DeleteI love candied orange peels. So yummy. Your meals sound yummy and a great way to use what you had on hand. Taco salad sounds good.
You are very welcome.
Have a wonderful week and happy new year!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteSo glad the kitties are adapting and now playing with each other.
Our family has gone back north, so we are back to two...and that is fine :)
I am trying to stay optimistic about 2024, even though there are so many naysayers out there with the economy/elections and so on. We can stay in our little bubble, as we are retired.
Thank you for your blog...it brings wisdom and cheer to all. I appreciate you! xo
Jane in Florida
Hello Jane. Thanks!
DeleteGlad you now get some rest and kick back a little. I hear you. I just listen and take it in with a grain of salt. It will be what it will be and all I can do is live my best! Bubbles have much to be said for!!!
Thank you so much. I appreciate every one of you all.
Have a great week and happy new year!
Happy New Year's Eve to you, Cheryl. Like you, I'll probably be asleep when the clock strikes midnight tonight like every other night. LOL.
ReplyDeleteThank you and the same to you and your daughter.
DeleteTonight is just another night for me! LOL
Have a wonderful week! Happy new year!
Except for the big dump on the day following our move, there has been just a skiff of snow on a couple of occasions. The colder weather appears to heading our way next weekend, still warmer than normal temps for the rest of the week. I'm looking forward to a much shorter winter though the farmers in the area are already worried about the lack of moisture.
ReplyDeleteWe actually do have a few robins who over winter. Not usually and not often, and I haven't seen any this year. But my brother has seen them in the past at the farm.
All the best to you and your extended family in 2024, Cheryl!
I know farmers need to moisture in the ground - but I do not miss snow. We have had a lot of rain! Yes, each day that goes by is one closer to spring and a shorter winter (hopefully)
DeleteThank you. Have a fantastic week and a happy new year.
A very fitting devotional and prayer for the last day of 2023!
ReplyDeleteA couple of kitties are just the right accessory for a home! ha! I have seen homes without any life, no houseplants, no pets, nothing that indicates the personality of the owner.
We have not gone out for New Year's in many years. I think I have been asleep long before midnight and somehow the year comes in just fine.
Wishing you and your readers a blessed and peaceful New Year!
Thank you. I agree - a home should reflect the owner. I now have my kitties again, plants, and oh the stuff! Not sure what it is saying, but it is me!!
DeleteSame here - yep, it comes in just fine without our supervision.
Have a great week and a happy new year.
Happy New Year to everyone!
ReplyDeleteMaryB
Thank you Mary.
DeleteHave a wonderful week and a happy new year!
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Blackie is back to his old self and that he and Bits have settled in. We're back to seasonable weather but have had no real snow to speak of, for which I am grateful with all the driving I do now. We usually have a robin or two stick around, but we have at least six this year, and I sometimes see entire flocks coming through. I've been watching "Bird TV" out my window today. I feed sunflower chips and peanut pieces. I've had red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, titmouses, chickadees, goldfinches, house finches, and a beautiful male cardinal on the feeders.
ReplyDeleteNo after Christmas shopping here, just a few groceries. Ordered some more long-sleeved t-shirts for Husband while WM still had them in stock.
Today's verses and prayer are especially uplifting today as we head into the new year.
Like you, I will be sound asleep at midnight. Unfortunately, I have a touch of the stomach virus that is sweeping through our region. Husband came down with it on Christmas Day. I started feeling exhausted Friday. After laying around all day yesterday, I'm well enough today to be bored, so I guess I'm on the mend. Been eating bone broth, Ritz crackers, applesauce, and, of course, lots of water.
Wishing everyone a Blessed New Year!
--Frances
Love 'bird TV". I was watching this morning. Today there was a plethora of bids at the feeders. Somedays I see none. It sure was fun to watch. They were having a fine time.
DeleteGood to get the shirts while you can and hopefully a good price.
I hope you are both on the bend from the virus. Yes, when you start getting bored, you are mending!
Wishing you both the best. Happy new year to you both.
Hope you feel better soon, Frances. --Elise
DeleteHappy New Year Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteThank you and to you! Have a great week.
DeleteYour week looks lovely and productive, Cheryl. Thank you for the well wishes. We've been having fun reminiscing about how we met and how we started out. We got married on December 31, which was hub's day off. He had to be back to work the very next day and we didn't honeymoon until we were married for a year. We will be spending the evening at home and watching the Chiefs game this afternoon. We'll stay up as long as we can stay awake and watch the Nashville celebration as we love country music.
ReplyDeleteAside from hubs having his stitches removed it was a fairly quiet week. I did get two aprons sewn up for gifts. Finished knitting a cowl to keep my neck warm in some scoop neck shirts, cut out more hot pads, pot holders, and table runners. My favorite craft supplier was having a huge 75 percent off sale and I did fold and bought some stamps, dies and paper at unbelievably low prices. The surprise of the week was went I went outside for a walk and saw that there was lettuce growing in two of my containers, even in our very cold weather. I had let a couple of lettuce plants go to seed and thought I had collected all of the seeds, but apparently not. It was true what the original packet said: the lettuce was heat resistant, and would germinate even at temps lower than 40 degrees. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Cookie
Oh my goodness, your beginning sounds much like mine! Hey, all that matters is that it 'took'. Here you are, still married.
DeleteEnjoy your quiet evening together.
Sounds like you are gearing up for the new year in gifts! How great on the lettuce - nature sure can be surprising.
Have a great week, evening and a happy new year!
Hi Cookie and happy anniversary! Could you let me know the name of your prolific lettuce? I'm always in the market for good seeds--thanks!
Delete--Melanie
Happy Anniversary, Cookie! --Elise
DeleteHi Cheryl, Happy New Year almost! I am glad to hear your kitties are settling in ;). Christmas was fine, on my own. I went to a local buffet, and since my house is still in renovation shambles, it was a pleasant meal out and a new tradition. I think my floor will be installed in January and then I can get my furniture and boxes out of storage, so pretty soon most of this upheaval will come to an end! Yeah! But now, looking at 2024, I have started thinking about how to fill my time in my new life. Have some ideas and will be spending more time on trying out different activities. I will keep you posted! Thanks again for your optimism and kind heart. Hilogene in Az.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you get the reno done soon - that has to be maddening. How nice on the buffet - a new tradition is born!
DeleteIt is nice to think about trying new things, learning new hobbies or activities, whatever you want to do. The world is your oyster.
Ah thank you. Have a lovely week and a happy new year.
Happy New Year in a few hours Cheryl and readers. Glad Blackie is back to normal. Sounds like you have had a productive week. Last night we went to our daughter's house and has a fun evening.
ReplyDeleteOnly a few items of shopping today, eating mainly from the freezer.
Don't think we will made it to midnight but there will probably be fireworks despite the rain and winds.
Thanks - he is doing so much better.
DeleteHow fun - I bet you all had a great time. Smart gal - using that freezer.
It is drizzling here at the moment, but I bet there will be fireworks anyway tonight.
Stay in and dry. Have a good week and a happy new year.
We will stay in tonight and be in bed long before midnight but the fireworks will wake us up. We enjoy laying there in bed and listening to all the celebrating.
ReplyDeleteThat is kind of neat. I like that idea. Snuggle and listen! Sounds like a nice way to end and start a day.
DeleteHave a lovely week and happy new year.
Hope you and the kitties enjoy a nice, calm evening! So glad to hear Blackie is perking up!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We will all be sound to sleep when midnight gets here! It is so nice not having to worry about them outside.
DeleteHave a fantastic week and a happy new year.
"Hope everyone will let go of the drama and the pain they have in life and embrace joy and happiness instead. Keep steadfast in faith and look for miracles every day!" I so love this Cheryl and you are right. Our attitude is so very important. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your kitties are inside and safe. I wish my indoor cats would accept my outdoor babies but alas, they do not. I make sure the outdoor babies have a warm place to sleep and plenty of food and water.
Yes indeedy. Our attitudes are super important - we can make anything bad or good. I hope we all look for the good this year!
DeleteMine had a warm spot outside too - but they also wondered and that scared me. Animals, people, vehicles - I was always worried. Now I sleep well!
Have a great week and a happy new year!
Have a blessed New Years Eve! I am very blessed to be home in peace and quiet this evening. I went to an old historical cemetery in search of my one and only first cousin on my father's side, her grave today, she passed last Feb. We didn't find it but it was a beautiful old cemetery in the middle of the city. It hurts my heart I never met her, I was overjoyed to find her several years ago after hunting years for her, she wrote my daughter a bit on fb, but then dropped off and would never write me. She too was an artist, liked to write, loved animals and started a foundation for them, a conservative as well. Owned a factory that made plastics that she would make art out of like Disney's ballroom floor and a wall on a NY famous hotel. She was all by herself, tall like her dad with a face similar to mine, her mom was brunette too. She was 20 years older than I, also estranged from our German grandfather...so terribly sad I never met her. But it was a beautiful day no matter what.
ReplyDeleteSome of the graves were from the 1800s. A beautiful day, gorgeous markers there, some with angels, and huge old money markers. Interesting, most did not have any scripture on them.
So glad your kitties are getting so acclimated to your loving home. That is great, I don't blame you for being relieved, I would be too that they are inside now. Such nice company too, our kitties are very personable too.
Those donuts look very yummy! I did get some good deals this week, not trying but got some good deals. Our youngest and I went shopping in sweet smalltown on my bday and went into a wonderful shop and got some of the most beautiful vintage look decor for 65% off! Plus the owners were sweethearts. Everyone there in smalltown that day were. Thanks be to God. Hobby Lobby was 75% off, got some needed Christmas themed items that can be used year round.
Hope I didn't over-share here. I type very fast it's easy to do. As Hemingway said...I sit at the typewriter and "bleed"...but I don't bleed I "chat from the heart".
God bless everyone, We'll be home nice and quiet this evening, thank the good Lord. ~Amelia
Sounds like a lovely way to spend a day. Sorry you never met. I too am a bit of a cemetery nut (or used to be). We used to go to cemeteries all over, searching genealogy and I took pictures. I have so many wonderful pictures of unique headstones I have run across. I have a thing for angels.
DeleteSounds like you did get some good deals. I never even went places I could look for deals!
You enjoy your quiet evening, your upcoming week and have a happy new year.
I love looking in old cemeteries. So many stories to tell! Your cousin sounds like an amazing person. Perhaps you can visit the cemetery some time in the future when the office is open and find out her exact location and get a map.
Delete--Frances
Amelia, happy belated birthday.
DeleteI like investigating old cemeteries too. When we lived on ,Maryland we lived close to the cemetery at St Mary's Catholic Church, one of the oldest in the state. While exploring we found the resting place of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda among graves from the settling of the state . Happy new year.
You all might want to research Crown Hill Cemetary here in Indianapolis, IN. It is the oldest and largest cemetery in IN and there are so many famous people buried there. Dillinger, Pres. Harrison, James Whitcomb Riley, race car drivers, celebrities, sports people, it is amazing. It is a beautiful place. I have some family and friends there as well.
DeleteOh Cheryl, you should see some of the angels I captured, there was one huge one weeping over the grave....A little baby, from an Italian family we know, a beautiful little two year girl ( a little angel herself) grave was found from 1928. The cousin of my grandpa, who came on the ship with my Italian grandpa from Bisaquino, Sicily, we stumbled across that family too, and another little baby girl too from the family. Oh my heart.
ReplyDeleteI bet you can still get deals as you happen to go into stores, Cheryl. I think until February they are there. : )
Thank you Cheryl, I hope your evening is a sweet, quiet one too. God bless and be with you.
Hi Frances, yes, she seemed to really be a neat gal, she reminded me in her correspondence to my daughter as an 'Auntie Mame' type played by Rosalyn Russell. She was actually brought home from the hospital to the house that I grew up in later. Her daddy, my uncle Wesley died in that home in his 20s (tragic story), my dad was probably around 12 at the time. My cousin was a tot, and her mom who was separated from my uncle at the time, parted ways when my grandfather would not help out after my uncle passed. My grandfather had a way of disowning us grandchildren when our mother's didn't get along with him. It's very sad, I hunted and hunted for my cousin and was almost in tears of joy when I found her only to have her not want to communicate with me, and to think I was her only relative.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your interest, Frances. Maybe one day I'll blog on the situation, and you know? She was not far from me the entire time!
I hope you're doing well, Frances. God be with you.
Sounds a little sad, Amelia. (((Hug))) --Elise
DeleteOh my goodness, Cookie! That is incredible that you found that! The old cemeteries are truly amazing. I bet you found some serious history in that cemetery right there...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the birthday wishes, Cookie! Happy New Years to you and may God be with us in the coming year. ~Amelia
Happy New Year, Cheryl. I am changing things up a bit this year and hopefully those changes will be for the better.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Hey, changing things up is a good thing! I think we all need to do that. I am going back to basics here.
DeleteHave a great week and happy new year!
Cheryl, I hope the fireworks weren't too bad where you live. I was startled out of a sound sleep around midnight by fireworks pretty close to my house. I don't know why people feel they have to do things like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling somewhat better today. My goal for the day is to wash my bedding and take a shower. I don't feel up to driving, and it is snowing, so I think I'll try to visit Husband tomorrow.
--Frances
Thanks for asking. Not bad at all. I did wake up at midnight to a few booms - nothing too bad. Then woke again about 2AM same thing. It was pretty mild here. Some people just feel they have to show off their celebrating! NO ONE cares for it!
DeleteGlad you are feeling better. I was going to do laundry and remembered mom's 'old wives tale' - don't do laundry on NYD - you wash away luck and health! I think I will wait! LOL
Stay in and stay warm and get all healed up.
Happy New Year everyone.
ReplyDeleteThank you and the same to you! Have a great week.
DeleteNew Year, new devotional book [Called by Name]. Today's prayer is worth sharing: Oh God, King of the universe, who became flesh for me that I might participate in Your divinity, help me, in the coming year, to know You more fully and love You more deeply. Amen.
ReplyDelete--Elise
Amen
DeleteWe very purposefully stayed in NYE. People shot off fireworks for several hours. It was very loud out for about ten minutes. I have never heard so many fireworks and just from houses. We did not go out today, either. We plan to finally get our flu shots and buy a mattress this week.
ReplyDeleteI never realized you worried so much about your kitties. At least now you know where they are.
Fireworks here as well - but nothing like in July! Oh my, my neighborhood gets crazy then.
DeleteYou will love a new mattress - yours sounds very uncomfortable. They aren't cheap t all! Be prepared for that.
I worried all the time about the cats when they were outside. Just so many things that could hurt them, weather conditions, etc. I am so at ease now and know they are safe in here with me.
Have a great week and happy new year!