Huh, I have lived in several states and have never seen this

I have discovered a live for house plants. My mom gave me a blue poinsettia covered in glitter. Can I keep this alive? It’s really pretty in a kitschy kind of way

Came back to say praying for your family and hope the day is special and fun

@knitgrl you are on my daily prayers list. I’m sorry for all the stress. I wish someone could just come along and spoil you for a day and take care of All. The. Things.

He loved to read, build projects around the farm, he collects record albums but rarely listens too them and some of the kids are getting him some. He loved playing certain video game with ds13. He loved to watch British tv and listen to audiobooks or podcasts while he commuted, but hasn’t really wanted to since I drive him now. Ill have to look into some of those puzzle things. Since mil’s quick descent into dementia he has been worried about keeping his mind sharp Its like a fresh little wave of grief just when we seem to get adjusted.

All the things he loved to do, he can’t really do right now. He has a bunch of audiobooks and podcasts waiting for him already. And he doesn’t need clothes. What can I get for him giving his new limited sight?!? I feel like everything I find goes with his old life Thanks in advance

Last year we hung all the Christmas cards mil received in her room, hung bright tacky tinsel and dollar store decorations. Nephew brought in a cd player so she could listen to carols and Christmas music. Everyone would wear Christmas themed colors and clothes whenever they visited. One of my kids plays guitar so played a little concert. Could you have dh give you a few things for you to pick up so he can wrap and hand out gifts of his own?

I’m sorry they weren’t more considerate of family plans. That’s super frustrating

I know, but she attaches personal feelings to the rejection of those offerings, which she genuinely likes and doesn’t understand why others don’t. And I feel bad that she’s sad, but I also think she puts a disproportionate amount of her self worth on those offerings. It’s a pattern I’m seeing emerge now that my sister and I had a coup and took over the food at holidays. Before, she did all the food. Now that we are in charge of the food, she wants to continue to contribute, but then gets mad when something I made gets entirely eaten while her contribution is barely touched. Or when she gets mad because she buys 30 hot chocolate packets and 3 get used and there is 10 of us and it’s 85 degrees in the house. I want to prevent hard feelings when I can and save my ability to tolerate for things I can’t prevent. But it feels like the only way to prevent hard feelings around her foods is to just eat it all, and that’s not feasible. I always add whatever she contributes to my plate, just like I would for anyone else whether I want it or not, but it also feels like overstepping to tell my adult kids to be sure to eat some frozen French toast when there are so many better options available. But on the other hand, isn’t it polite to at least try all the offerings? Like I should be encouraging them to try those frozen burritos? It feels like the polite thing to do. On the other hand, I’m pretty sure that dd21 only had a hot chocolate because my mom wouldn’t leave her alone about it. She just kept following her around saying “there’s hot chocolate in there” so in that sense I get frustrated and it makes me not want to prevent hard feelings. And, when asked what she could contribute, my sister told her toast, eggs, drinks, serving and tableware. She added the frozen French toast and store bought cinnamon rolls herself. I did get to the cinnamon roll pan and cut all the cinnamon rolls in half thinking that people might be more likely to take a half cinnamon roll in addition to the other offerings than a whole one. She didn’t eat any of the French toast or cinnamon rolls either because she’s diabetic and can’t have them. We have potluck buffets at my in-laws often and I have never put this much thought into what I put on my plate when we eat there. If something looks tasty it goes on my plate, if it doesn’t, I don’t take it. No one is watching and judging the choices people put on their plates. No one is standing next to their offering going “here just trrrryyy iiiiiitttt” It doesn’t seem like the food is fraught like it is at my mom’s. Maybe in taking over the food, my sister and I are actually being brats? We did it because it has always been so fraught and mom wouldn’t give any consideration to the two vegetarians or the lactose intolerant but then be mad they didn’t eat what she gave them. It was becoming this weird power struggle, so after the famous taco thanksgiving, we took the opportunity to change the status quo, but maybe that was wrong of us? I don’t know, I’m just seeing there is new pattern emerging and I don’t want to hurt her feelings or make her feel obsolete or whatever feelings she is having about the change. Even if she doesn’t extend me the same curtesy. Why is it so complicated?!?

I am so sorry that someone else is dumping trouble on you while you have SO MUCH on your plate. Can you just smile and nod?

https://princesspinkygirl.com/brownie-batter-dip/ served with pretzels. This is always a big hit and super easy another easy one- refried beans with salsa and cream cheese Gold Star dip- cream cheese topped with Gold Star (or whatever chili you like) and topped with cheddar cheese. I make in a pie plate and bake. Also can be reheated in the microwave

The only other thing that stuck in my craw about today was that she bought these frozen French toast sticks (even though my sister clearly stated she and bf were making waffles) and got annoyed when no one wanted them, choosing the fresh made waffles. So she made a show of grabbing the plate after everyone went through the line and throwing them in the trash. Also, she bought hot chocolate and mint spoons to stir them, and then was mad that only three of the kids drank the hot chocolate even though it was like 85 degrees in her house and everyone was down to their T-shirts and sweating. Like if everyone doesn’t do whatever, eat the French toast or drink a hot chocolate it literally hurts her feelings. Even if some people do, if it’s not everyone, it doesn’t count. It’s like at thanksgiving, I made two kinds of taco meat, we had all this beautiful fresh food and she was mad because she bought a bunch of frozen burritos and nobody ate them. We serve buffet style so they just were not chosen. She was mad then and made a big show of throwing them away. Not sure what if anything to do about that. I know she’s a picky eater and that she prefers frozen food. We grew up eating a ton of frozen food. But it’s like it insults her that people make different choices than she does. Prefer different foods than she does. Cooks food or does anything in a way that is different than she would, she takes it very personally. Like we are purposely insulting her because we don’t do everything like she does. Like we think we are better than her. I know that’s a her problem, but I’m not sure what to do when she gets mad people don’t choose her offerings.

I googled them, interesting!

Oh wait, I just got another call to tell me she bought a whole bunch of eggs because my sister asked her to buy eggs so she bought 3 dozen! And she was going to send the extra home with me, but she forgot. I replied that’s all right, eggs last a long time and she said I don’t eat eggs anymore! I am egged out and will never eat another egg again! I said well maybe one of your sisters can use some, so she decided she would start making some phone calls on Monday morning to find someone who might want eggs 😆

Oh I forgot to say that when I asked about spending time with my sister and bf last night when they got there, she replied, well he didn’t get on my nerves or anything 😆 Overall, this visit was the best one in a while. Maybe the secret is to do brunch or lunch? Or just invite random people who are not shy? 🤷🏼‍♀️😆

Yes! Ds23 in October and Dd19 in September! I know I would have misplaced them by then, so when she stopped mailing them, I just turned around and gave them right away. It’s funny, being ornery last year, I organized my kids to each by two gift cards to fast food restaurants in her town and we put them in cards labeled by the month. Religiously, she opened each card on the first day of the month and called whatever kid signed the card! She asked them to do it again this year because she likes the surprise. So we did! She made a big show of explaining to bf what the cards mean and how she waits until the FIRST of EVERY MONTH to open them. I always have to call when we get home so she knows we’re home. She talked about bf and how immature he is but that’s my sisters problem and how she was glad to give the kids their birthday cards. And how she knows they all read the outside of them. And I read it. And dh read it. And she expects everyone to stick to their word 😆

She won’t use the mail! She has been boycotting the post office for like 3 years! She pays all her bills in person or at Kroger’s. 😆

As soon as I said, well, ds23 has his work party tonight, bf was like yeah we need to get in the road too, 5 hour trip and all and like a whirlwind everything is being whisked out! I’m taking ds straight to his work party and she keeps trying to give him stuff to take home and not listening but other than that I think if we get out soon it went ok ish. And so far bf seems to hold his own with my sister so… he seems like a nicer version of her ex husband.

I don’t know but we are now getting ready to go. I’m done

She just got up and asked dh if he could come change this light bulb on her back porch because she can’t get the screw loose that holds the shade. Dh kind of said did you try to use a screw driver? And she said no I want you to do it. Knowing dh is not comfortable trying to do things like that in front of people now, I said I can reach it, I’ll do it. No, I want dh to do it. mom, I can change a light bulb, it’a ok. No, I want dh to do it. It’s ok, where is the light bulb? At this point dh says I’ll try, so he goes out and tries to unscrew the globe, can’t get it with his fingers, comes back and asks for a screwdriver. She gets him one and I follow him out and help guide the screw driver so he can turn it. She stands there saying Sarah he doesn’t need your help. Except HE DOES 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Bf, In an attempt to make conversation, started talking about this roast my sister made last week and my mom started laughing and asked if it tasted awful because that is NOT how you make a roast. Bf was like oh no, she made it just like my mom used to and it was delicious. My sister and I whipped around holding our breath, but she just shook her head and walked away.

Ope, bf just went into the kitchen to get a snack plate of the leftovers and mom asked him if he really needed that plate because she was trying to put the food away. In to go containers. For us to take away…

Haha all 6 kids, dh, me and my sister all got envelopes Like that 😆

I love the teeny tiny “Love Granmda”

We are celebrating Christmas early with my mom as my sister brought her boyfriend who has just moved in with her. Boyfriend seems like a wonderful person who is getting a lot of attention from my dh and kids for obvious reasons, as it’s our first time meeting him. My mom is so incredibly jealous. It’s been entertaining. Ds and her bf are taking it in the stride. Before we were even done eating mom was in her recliner shouting “presents” every few minutes. We finally got done eating and opened presents. Ds and her bf made a big production about gifts and then mom handed out gift bags to the kids. After handing out gifts, she went around and handed out next year’s birthday cards. She had called me last week wanting to know if she gave me the birthday cards would I PROMISE to give them to the kids during their birthday month. I said no I can’t promise that. I never heard anything else about that. This is what she handed out today And she made each one read it out loud before she gave it to them. Then she said if you open it up before hand I will take it back. Thats how this visit is going… dh is sitting next to the window with blinds open😆