Not to brag, but I don't have to go into the office again until January 2. I might check my email once or twice just to make sure I'm not heading back into absolute chaos, but I've checked out of work. Sorry, students, your "emergency" is going to have to wait (I do not deal in emergencies).
Saturday was a cold, cold day in Wisconsin. It had snowed on Friday and then the temperatures dropped into the single-digits and I forced poor Hannah to wear all of her clothes - boots and coat. Boy was she ever embarrassed.
On Saturday morning, I met up briefly with Anne to collect our holiday ceramics. I'll let her share hers if she wants, but here's my before:
And after:
And, then, get this, I hung out with Zelda on the couch. It was in the schedule.
Despite the single-digit temps, we walked over to our friends' house and hung out by a solstice bonfire. They do it every year and most years we go for about an hour and leave because we have work the next day, but this was SATURDAY NIGHT. Woot woot! We stayed for a few hours and had fun chatting with people.
I built in more couch and kitty time on Sunday, but we also did laundry and Dr. BB wrapped presents and there were chores. But the weather was into the 30s, so Hannah no longer had to wear her coat, but the shoes are still a thing because of all the salt people have put out.
If you ask Hannah, she's treated very poorly, you know?
Wish me luck today as I am head to our regular grocery store and Costco. Dr. BB is going to meet up with some friends later in the day, so I'm going to wrap his presents, clean the vacuum, and make cookies while he's gone. Don't say I don't know how to live it up when I have the house to myself.
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Tomorrow's Christmas Eve! Can you believe it?
I know, how is it Christmas already??? Enjoy your solo house time and all of the snuggles.
ReplyDeleteI like your neighbor's Solstice party! It's a day that I look forward to every year.
I really love the Solstice party! They work so hard on it and we have so much fun.
DeleteHoly crap, COSTCO TODAY!? You are seriously putting your life at risk. Be careful out there.
ReplyDeleteHannah is definitely irritated because "all the other dogs get to go naked, so why can't she?" Kids, amirite? Zydrunas loves his coat and sweater because he is a big wimp when it's cold. Also, he gets ridiculously proud whenever he wears clothes.
Your little tree came out great. Will it be your desktop tree next year?
Hannah really is embarrassed by all clothes. I get it - the humans picked it out, NOT HER.
DeleteI think I might bring my little tree into the office for the holidays next year. Why not have a little festive cheer?
Hannah looks so official in that coat! And, your tree is so fun! It's always so cool to see what the colors look like before they go into the kiln and then what color they come out as.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy what effect the kiln has on the colors. And I'm always even more impressed at how the colors don't bleed into each other. It's magic.
DeleteCleaning the vacuum- what a festive activity! Ha ha, poor Hannah, so embarrassed in her coat.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO envious you're off work!!! Enjoy every single second.
JENNY! I cleaned that vacuum like it was my JOB. And then I vacuumed everywhere and went crazy upstairs where I normally don't dare to bring the vacuum. It took HOURS. But now I can check it off my list.
DeleteI like Hanna’s coat, even if she doesn’t. I think you are doing your ‘holiday’ just about perfectly.
ReplyDeleteZelda would say that there's not nearly enough cuddles with her on the schedule.
DeleteSnow snow snow! Ours is all melted now, so Rex and I are disappointed. But whatcha gonna do? Poor Hannah, a coat AND boots, what is this bullshit??? Sweet girl. I'm sure she's absolutely loving the snow!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you have a nice long break!!! Enjoy, my friend. Happy holidays!
Today it's well above freezing and all our snow melted. Now it's muddy and wet and gross and Hannah is filthy. *sigh* Bring back the snow, we say!
DeleteBecause my in-office days are Tuesday and Wednesday, and those are state holidays this week and next, I won't have to drive into Madison until Jan. 7. This makes me very happy. (I"ll still be working, but from the comfort of my basement, which is about a thousand times better.)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your cozy work from home days!
DeleteEnjoy your cozy time, Engie...
ReplyDeleteYour ceramic tree is very festive--kudos on a new craft. Did you burn anything at the Solstice fire? My friend burned some old love letters with a vengeance...
Avoid Costco if you can; save yourself!
We went to Costco it wasn't too bad. We had to park verrrry far away, but it was well-staffed and the lines moved quickly. We survived!
DeleteWe had an empty paper bag that we breathed into stuff we want to let go in the new year - it was passed around to everybody - and then we burned the bag. It was great!
Doesn't Hannah look dashing.
ReplyDeleteWe have snow and will almost certainly have a white Christmas because it is going to stay quite cold. I think we might even get more snow tomorrow and then again on Christmas.
I'm mostly okay with it. Things are definitely getting easier as the kids get older and can do more of the prep for going outside.
Also, my brother and his wife are visiting and they are VERY easy houseguests. They are gone quite a bit doing hikes and always offer to get random things from the store. Also...it's just fun to have a lot of good food, games, meals by candlelight and to be temporarily finished with running around like a crazy woman.
I hope you had an easy, laidback Christmas. It's nice to have guests who seem to fit right into the household.
DeleteHannah has the "if you make me wear this ridiculous jacket, I won't look at the camera" look on her face in that first picture! We have warmed back up into the 30s here which feels very nice after that cold snap on Saturday. I am just glad we will have a white Christmas as that is what I prefer. Last year it was 50 and rainy which just felt WRONG.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time away from work! I am glad you get some time to disconnect! I'm taking Thur/Fri off as we head to my parents but will otherwise be working but more so "working" meaning checking emails but not really actively working on anything.
I have been very surprised at how much I have been enjoying this break. Sleeping in and taking random afternoon naps has been very pleasant!
DeleteI love your ceramic tree! What a fun project. I hope you enjoy your days off! I got your Christmas card! ❤️
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm glad those cards are making their way to their recepients!
DeleteHannah upset that she can be like the other cool kids without a coat is so relatable it made me chuckle. Are you aware that teens generally would rather die than be seen outside with anything more than a hoodie? *insert eyeroll*.
ReplyDeleteYou do know how to enjoy an empty house. I am hoping my older kids take the girls to the gym for part of the two hour window when they have the bball court reserved. Then I can wrap, or mini can. She is not a gym rat like the others.
I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve. That came out of nowhere. Sort of. My sleepless week last week did not help. I am off duty until Jan 6th and I do hope to carve out some me time whether the house is empty or not.
Merry Christmas!
YES!! I never wore a coat in high school. I just layered hoodies and flannels. LOL. Teenagers, right?
DeleteHa ha. I do love to use my time with an empty house wisely. I hope you had a quiet enough house to finish all your own holiday prep.
Good luck with your grocery run; I hope that the stores were all empty and your visit was fast and enjoyable. ;) I love Hannah's jacket; my Mom would have been happy for me to wear that while cycling! It is very bright! Happy Christmas Eve; I hope that you are Dr. BB have a great day today and tomorrow and that you maximize your relax time in the fullest. Jan 2 seems both very far and very near, and is the day that the girls will be leaving me and I will start traveling around on my own. Weird to think that it is basically only a week (and two days) away! Yikes.
ReplyDeleteJanuary 2 seemed a lot further away on the other side of Christmas! Now I really have to get my act together to make use of this time off.
DeleteLove a Christmas bonfire, or anytime really. When a bonfire's not available, may I recommend Nick Offerman's "yule log" on YouTube? lol, the best
ReplyDeleteA bonfire can't be beat!
DeleteReporting in on Christmas Eve. I can't believe you braved Costco on Dec 23, you are indeed hale and hearty! I went to 2 grocery stores yesterday, on my lunch hour because I was working, and both were VERY crowded but people were mostly behaving and they were well staffed, so it wasn't horrible. My MIL called me and said she couldn't find any Christmas Crackers for our table, would I mind going out into HELL AGAIN and get some for her? I asked if it would be the end of the world if we didn't have Christmas Crackers, and she said yes, yes it would. I steamed for a few minutes about that and then got over it. She's 87 and Ted fears this may be our last Christmas with her, and I'll not be the one to deny her Crackers. However, I was not going out again yesterday.
ReplyDeleteBUT! World Market opened at 8am this morning, and we were there when they opened and the parking lot was only about 1/8 full. We got Christmas Crackers, and then we went to the grocery store (again) and got a few things for our breakfast because I was not focused on breakfast yesterday and neglected to get anything. SIGH. All in all it was lovely and fine and we were home by 9:00. Now we're waiting for our favorite Chinese restaurant to open so we can order dinner, which we will eat in front of the TV while watching It's a Wonderful Life. Because we're fancy like that.
I worked yesterday but am off of work now until January 6th! YAY! Perhaps I will catch up on some blog reading/commenting during some of this time.
Hannah looks cozy in her clothes, though not happy about it at all. I'm glad Zelda is doing well and enjoying her cuddles. <3
I have a secret. I don't mind being out in the holiday crowds. I definitely hate the parking situation, but it feels like all the shoppers are in a similar boat. *Most* people are in good spirits and it's sort of fun. But I realize that I might be in the minority on that.
DeleteI am also off until January 2nd. It feels so decadent! I've already had 3 days off work and I have a FULL WEEK until I have to go back?! Whatever am I going to do with myself? (Read lots of books and take lots of naps, that's what.)
ReplyDeleteI had to brave the stores on Dec 23, which wasn't as bad as I had expected. I did realize I didn't have the right M&Ms for my M&M cookies (for some reason, I got peanut butter instead of plain, SIGH) and I was like "Welp, these will now be chocolate chip cookies." I was not about to go ANYWHERE on Christmas Eve!
Ha! I realized I had forgotten to buy buttermilk on Christmas Eve when I went to make my molasses cookies and I ran to the grocery store and got it and IT WAS FINE. Buttermilk acquired.
DeleteSo you had a white Christmas. I do envy you on that. Hope your had a chill and happy day. baking cookies sounds fun. Cleaning the vacuum not so much but it is a good reminder of what I need to do.
ReplyDeleteWell, it wasn't really white on Christmas, but it was definitely a white lead-in to Christmas!
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