We had a nice day in Monterey. The aquarium was absolutely packed. I am surprised they let that many people in. We saw the whole thing rather quickly because you just couldn't stand and absorb the exhibit. Baby was extremely uncomfortable, the other two girls were moderately uncomfortable. I was just a little mad because the tickets aren't cheap and we only stayed a couple hours. We had a horribly expensive lunch on Cannery Row and then took a tour of 17 Mile Drive. That was a definite hit.

I would consider that a victory!!

((Slashie)) I’m sorry!!

Good Morning!! COFFEE!!~D Whatever day this is… I don’t know!! Taking the girls to the coast for a few days. That should be fun!! I hope the weather holds for us.

Good Morning!!! COFFEE!,~D if Susan says today is Boxing Day, then Boxing Day it is. The week between Christmas and New Years is always some kind of nebulous No Man’s Land in my opinion. The house is a complete wreck. I need to do something to it today. Laundry, too. Tomorrow the girls and I are going to the coast for a couple of days so I need to get things ready for that, too,

My buche de Noel turned out great.

The Niners are completely unraveling at the hands of the Ravens.

I really just ate too many cookies.

Gotta wrap presents now. Meringue mushrooms are almost done.

I've been in the kitchen most of the afternoon. Bread is made, my buche de Noel is about half done. Dinner is in the oven. We are having Dutch oven chicken. I brown thighs, salt and pepper them well, add lots of onion and them cook for a couple hours in the dutch oven until the meat is falling off the bones. I will make mashed potatoes and gravy and roasted carrots.

😂😂😂😂 That’s awesome!!

Good Morning!!! COFFEE!!~D Sunday!! Merry Christmas Eve!! Church!! I still have some baking to do today. I need to make my buche de Noel and some bread for tomorrow.

Adorable puppy, Susan!!💕

Good Morning!!! Merry Christmas Eve Eve!! COFFEE!!~D (is not ready yet, i woke up too early. I was having bad dreams) Got all my cookies made yesterday and they look so festive on Dollar Tree plastic trays. Today is going to be busy. Family Christmas with DH’s side. that starts at 1:00. It’s Mexican themed, so I need to make my charro beans and enchiladas this morning and wrap the gifts for the kids from Grandma and Grandpa. Tonight we’re going to my Aunt and Uncle’s house. Usually that’s on Christmas Eve, but this year it’s tonight. So, busy day. Last night we watched A Christmas Story. Love that movie.

Uh….Toto, after reading your post there, I think the whole concept of “two weeks off” is lost on you!!🤣

I made one last year and it was relatively easy. and turned out great. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/269557/chocolate-yule-log/ Here’s the recipe. I’m going to do it again this year. I even made the little meringue mushrooms and they turned out perfect.

Good Morning!! COFFEE!!~D Thursday!! (I think) Or is it Friday. Actually, I think it is Friday. I am so confused. Baking cookies today. I mixed up a couple batches last night, so I just need to bake them this morning. And I need to make up a couple other batches as well. And gotta run to the Dollar Store to get some plastic trays to put them on.

Good Morning!!! COFFEE!!~D (I have quite a bit of whipped cream left over from last night’s dessert, so I got a little fancy with the COFFEE!!~D this morning) Thursday!! The girls are on vacation now, so I got to sleep a little later this morning. Today I’m going to the Big City for Christmas Shopping, part 2 (just a few last minute things to get), Costco and lunch with IRL-BFF. That should be nice. Dinner turned out well last night. Made a minestrone soup recipe that I haven’t made in years. It’s a little involved and has a lot of ingredients, but it’s yummy and perfect for a rainy night. The focaccia bread turned out great, too. And I made a yummy brownie/ice cream dessert. Then we piled into the Sienna and drove around town looking at Christmas lights. It was a nice evening.

Interesting. Introversion takes a lot of different forms. I don’t mind people coming over to my house, but I would rather chew my arm off than go to a party unless it was small and intimate and I knew everyone there.

I don’t mind hosting. I’d rather host than go to parties as an introvert because at least as a host you can always find something to do. Fill glasses, check on food, make sure the bathroom is tidy, any number of things that can take you away from socializing. When you go to a party, you have to talk with people.

Good Morning!!! COFFEE!!~D Humph Day!!! Not too much on the docket for today. The girls have a half-day of school today, and then they are on vacation. My mom, my uncle and my in-laws are coming over for dinner tonight. Soup and focaccia and then we will pile into cars and drive around town and look at Christmas lights. The focaccia recipe i’m making is different than my usual. I made this one years ago and it’s really good. You start it the night before and it ferments in the fridge first. They call the starter a “biga”, which is a pretty cool name. it’s very yummy, but a little involved, so I haven’t made it in a long time. Went to one soccer game last night. it rained off and on. Enough to make us uncomfortable, so we didn’t stay for the second. DD wasn’t going to play anyhow. The trainer thinks she has a torn muscle. I finished my Christmas cards yesterday. Started and finished them, since the cards just arrived mid morning. I need to go to the post office for stamps and then get those mailed, too.

That’s awesome. I guess you have to be local, then. Or have a really flexible vacation schedule to eat there.

Good Morning!! COFFEE!!~D Tuesday!! Rain!!🌧️ We are very thankful for our bit of rain we’re getting now. it’s been dry as a bone since last spring. But for those in the path of those mighty storms back East, stay safe and dry. Stay off of treacherous roads and don’t go swimming in the sea. Having a couple of friends over for COFFEE!!~D this morning. Then I need to go to the post office and run a few other errands. The girls have soccer games tonight. I’m not sure if I’m going to go. Depends on the weather.

I really just don’t want to do anything today, but I need to get move-on, since I have to be back in town by 3:00 to pick Baby up from school. the other girls have soccer practice after school.

At least I have dinner in the crock pot. Spicy pork and butternut squash ragu. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/spicy-pork-and-butternut-squash-ragu/. It’s yummy and I definitely recommend it on a chilly winter night. And it’s easy to throw together, if you use frozen squash or have already prepped it. I cut up a butternut squash last week and roasted half of it and the rest I put in a plastic bag so it was ready for this meal. Things like that make me feel really good about myself.