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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 9 2022, 5:01pm
Post #1 of 27
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*Grabs key & throws open doors* Welcome to Fiesta Friday!!
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Happy Fiesta Everyone!
Our wonderful Altaira is off on an adventure, so I'll be your server for today!!
As the Winter weather is making itself known here in the Northern Hemi, and the Summer weather is embracing the Southern Hemi… how are you all coming along? ;) I hope the weather is being kind wherever you're standing.
Shopping for gifts is in full swing since we've stumbled into December. I hope your lists are getting crossed-off easily and you're actually enjoying the chaos. I've been gathering gifts all year long; but now I have to find them *gulp*. At the worst, they'll be just as gifty next year ;)
THE DRINKS ARE ON THE HOUSE!!! I've got loads of hot chocolate, tea, cider and all warm potions for our Winter sibbies right here; or some tall cool fruity, beery, and other thirst-quenching drinks also ready to go for our Summer sibbies. And there's eggnog ready for one and all! What can I get ya?
DO TELL how this past week has been for you and what your plans are for the weekend.
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 9 2022, 5:30pm
Post #2 of 27
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With a generous topping of mini-mallows, thank you, gramma!
We've had some rainy days getting into the 50's (10C), but the coming week will be 40's, and dipping below freezing at night. No snow - yet! I've been writing Christmas cards, and will be mailing parcels this afternoon. Still waiting for some gifts I'm giving to arrive in the mail.
And this is a busy weekend: the local Con Brio chorus has a concert this evening, I'm helping hand out cocoa and cookies at the town's Light Parade (all floats etc. are lit up) tomorrow evening, and Sunday afternoon our community band has its holiday concert (I introduce the pieces, hubby plays euphonium).
Hmm...you didn't put those gifts in your outdoor Hobbit hole, did you, gramma? 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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cats16
Half-elven
Dec 9 2022, 5:55pm
Post #3 of 27
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Hot cocoa here as well, please!
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Getting a bit chilly (for us at least) out here lately, so I'll take all the extra warmth I can get. 
A bit of a mixed week, as my girlfriend found out yesterday morning she'd been exposed to someone who ended up testing positive for Covid. The timing stinks as we're supposed to fly back to my hometown early next week...nothing we can do at this point, for better or worse, other than waiting another day so we can start testing and hope that we've dodged it once again and can travel. Fingers crossed!
In the meantime, this weekend 'm hoping to finish a book I've been reading for quite sometime and go for some walks.
Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing weekend!
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 9 2022, 6:04pm
Post #4 of 27
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Festivities all over the place!
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*loads up* Here ya go! :D
Oh geez, your weekend sounds amazing! Concerts all over the place... and how cool that hubby and you are right up there making it happen for others! That's so much fun! I hope the weather holds mild for you sans rain... then the snow can fall :D
Oh. That hole is the one place I haven't checked yet! *runs outside*
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 9 2022, 6:12pm
Post #5 of 27
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Here's a melty-hot mug full for you. And I'm sprinkling some non-Covid magic on it so you all can dodge this "if figures" threat. I hope you can follow through with your plans and not have to worry about that hidden nasty. Good luck on finishing the book! You don't want to put it down, but the weather is not always going to be walk-inviting! Have a great weekend!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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dernwyn
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Dec 9 2022, 6:15pm
Post #6 of 27
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Heh, thank 'ee, gramma, now that's many mini mallows!
Yes, this concert will be fun, it even includes a mini-Dickens musical story.
Best of luck, may you find all the carefully-kept presents!
*hugs!*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 9 2022, 6:18pm
Post #7 of 27
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Here's hoping that everything keeps being "negative" for the next few days!
Walks when it's cool are the best, the air feels so much cleaner and refreshing. Safe travels next week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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cats16
Half-elven
Dec 9 2022, 6:40pm
Post #8 of 27
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And sounds like you have a pleasantly busy weekend in store, snow-free once again! That float parade sounds fun - and break a leg, for your concert!
I just found out we're slated for some rain this weekend in actuality, so these might have to be some strategic walks between stretches of rain. 
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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cats16
Half-elven
Dec 9 2022, 6:42pm
Post #9 of 27
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But I know it could be worse - we could have just arrived off the plane to hear the news, etc. At least we have an opportunity to test and find out the verdict before getting on the plane.
Hope you can find your presents in time for the festivities! 
Thanks, hope you have a good one too!
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Kimi
Forum Admin
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Dec 9 2022, 8:17pm
Post #10 of 27
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That sounds a lovely sort of busyness.
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Concerts and parades, hurrah! It sounds a marvellous weekend - enjoy!
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Kimi
Forum Admin
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Dec 9 2022, 8:35pm
Post #11 of 27
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is not the norm here in God's Own Country, but this week it's rather welcome! The summer weather is still making itself scarce. But we're cozy at home, with no plans to travel any distance before year's end.
I had a checkup at the dentist this week. X-rays showed nothing needed fixing, but once she started poking around with metal thingies she found one of my ancient fillings was crumbling, and needed to be replaced. Luckily for me they had a cancellation on the following day, so I could have it done then rather than waiting a few weeks (the dentist is very busy these days). All fixed, and unnaturally clean teeth.
A hinge broke on our oven door, which seemed like it might be a catastrophe. The oven is a magnificent one (we splashed out at the time) which works perfectly, but it's also well over twenty years old, and there was some doubt over whether the necessary parts were still made. It turned out they are, thank goodness! It would have been tragic to have to replace a whole appliance for the sake of a hinge. Of course that doesn't mean the repair can be done very soon, given supply delays and the busyness of electricians. But the brilliant tech support person for the brand explained how to do a repair that makes it perfectly usable for now. Definitely a two-person job, and not something we'd have been able to figure out on our job, but it's working just fine.
The Christmas tree is up and looking very pretty. I made panforte last weekend, and this weekend I might get on with the mince pies, which will complete the festive baking (fruit cake and stollen already organised). Moussaka for tonight's dinner, and muffins just out of the oven about to be served. For now, the rain may fall and the winds may blow.
Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 9 2022, 9:36pm
Post #13 of 27
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Here's one for hubby and for you :D
I can't imagine your home WITHOUT a working oven during the holidays! I'm so glad it can be fixed. Trying to replace an appliance like that nowadays is SO expensive and takes SO LONG to find one!
Happy dance on the dentist visit :D Well done on taking such great care of your teef-soldiers!!!
Happy Endings Everywhere :D Have a great weekend!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Dec 9 2022, 9:40pm)
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 9 2022, 9:55pm
Post #14 of 27
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Of all times for that to happen!
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I'm glad the techie was able to give you a work-around for the hinge, until a new one can be put in place. But what a job it must have been, to need two to do it!
And now you can spoil your clean teeth on some tasty goodies. Panforte - that's making my mouth water! What kinds of fruits and nuts do you use in it? And I'll try to make it to your home in time for the moussaka...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Kimi
Forum Admin
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Dec 9 2022, 10:15pm
Post #15 of 27
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Christmas without our slow-cooked lamb and other goodies, and just generally doing without the oven for weeks with so many people on holiday - just about the worst timing. Very grateful indeed to the techie.
I use hazelnuts and almonds, and ginger, pineapple and candied peel, along with generous amounts of spice, inclduing a hint of pepper. Now my mouth's watering! Not to be sampled till Christmas Eve, though.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Dec 10 2022, 10:20am
Post #16 of 27
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Well, we finally hit freezing here
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after a couple of morning frosts; yesterday after sun we had hail, sleet and finally snow in late afternoon. Not a lot, but enough to pretty things up and make a 25 minute drive home take an hour due to all the skiddy compacted slush on the roads. Not nice! This morning is just above freezing, with intermittent sleet. It's definitely hot chocolate weather! I'm busy sewing two patchwork blankets for the grandsons; the pieced tops are done (one with rhinos, one with sloths), now I have to attach a polar fleece backing (in lieu of wadding and backing that you usually use in quilting). That will make them easier to wash - and quicker to finish! It's an indoorsy sort of weekend. Enjoy yours, however you spend it. Cheers!
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 10 2022, 1:25pm
Post #17 of 27
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Oh my! I can imagine what a mess that would have been, on the roads, glad you got home safely!
What great presents for the boys. Are they full-size blankets, or throws? And I'm amused that one of them likes sloths - for some odd reason, kids are quite fond of that animal these days.
Yes, definitely hot cocoa weather!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 10 2022, 3:38pm
Post #18 of 27
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Pretty to see... nasty to drive!
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Slushy roads are just as dangerous as icy roads, imho! It's so scary when slush pulls your wheels this way or that! But I'm glad you have enough snowfall to help with the holiday spirit :D
Those boys are so lucky to have such a gifted and loving Grandma! You can never have enough blankets in winter... but these are especially awesome! And I think the fleece backing is perfect for this kind of blanketing ;)
HAVE FUN! And stay warm!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Dec 10 2022, 5:47pm
Post #19 of 27
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They're throws really, about 4'6" square
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They'll be good for when the boys are reading, using laptop etc. They both like sloths, but the younger one ranks rhinos higher - he still has a big squashy rhino as a bed toy.
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Dec 10 2022, 5:51pm
Post #20 of 27
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very close to freezing point, so big fat flakes, not the dry powdery stuff you get in colder temperatures. The side roads are really churned up. If it freezes on that, we'll be bouncing around the ruts tomorrow! I've started to pin the fleece to the fabric; will need to make sure it's well smoothed out before fixing the two layers together and binding the edges.
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Annael
Immortal
Dec 11 2022, 9:26pm
Post #21 of 27
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I missed Fiesta this week as I was attending the doctoral defense of a friend from school - the last person of the 12 of us who made it all the way through the program to complete her PhD. I was also on her committee, as I defended 10 years ago and so was eligible to be her reader. Six of us from the cohort flew or drove in to attend, so it was a wonderful reunion. And she NAILED IT. Excellent talk on how the hero/heroine journeys are now morphing into the "genderless journey." I'd read her dissertation several times, of course, but even so I was writing down phrases from her talk to think about later. For example, "the difficulty of dismantling the very structures you've been struggling to belong to," or "women who are waiting for the perfect man to find them, while the men are out seeking meaning in the world." After she was done and duly anointed as "Doctor," we went out for a great lunch at the place we always hung out at during school, and then to the beach house she'd rented for the night where we hung out by the fire and laughed and chatted and of course had champagne. Next day was a slow start, but we had a great brunch at Jeanine's in Montecito (great hot chocolate) before we all went our various ways. It was a wonderful weekend. And now I must go retrieve my cat from the boarder's.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
(This post was edited by Annael on Dec 11 2022, 9:27pm)
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 12 2022, 10:15pm
Post #22 of 27
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A great achievement, she must feel wonderful to have it completed after so many years - and what a nice, long follow-up party/reunion! (I took a look at the menu at Jeannine's - do they do delivery to New England?)
Does Charlie like his new kitty trees?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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cats16
Half-elven
Dec 13 2022, 6:53am
Post #23 of 27
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I'm sure it was an immense comfort for her to have you all there to support. Congrats to the Doctor!
Hope you've had a relaxing week settling back at home. We've tested negative as of tonight, so fingers crossed we can travel.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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ElanorTX
Tol Eressea
Dec 15 2022, 6:09am
Post #25 of 27
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https://www.reddit.com/r/unexpectedlotr/comments/zm2kri/one_dough_ball_to_rule_them_all/
"I shall not wholly fail if anything can still grow fair in days to come."
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