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Altaira
Superuser
Dec 23 2022, 5:13pm
Post #1 of 33
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Welcome to a fa-la-la-la-la Fiesta Friday!
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Greetings friends!
As happens when time flies (hopefully while you're having fun), Christmas is almost upon us! B.G. and I got away to the warm Caribbean for a few weeks, only to return to highs of -2 f (-19 C) and lows of -18 f (-28 C) for the past two days. Burry-brrrr! Needless to say, we've been hunkering down with blankies and warm socks while gladly paying our neighbor's son to shovel the 3 or so inches of snow we got along with the cold.
Luckily, as it the way here in mostly-mild Colorado, Christmas day will see a high of about 49 f (9 C) getting up to 56 f (13 C) a few days later. How about the rest of the U.S. sibs? How cold did it get in your area?
So, what are your plans for the holiday weekend? Family visits? Nice quiet celebration at home? Dinner out? The buffet is piled high with Christmas cookies, honey-baked ham, sweet potato pie, and all your personal favorites. Mulled wine, peppermint hot chocolate, and spiked punch are the specials at the Fiesta bar today, but as always we're well-stocked with whatever strikes your fancy.
And, as is traditional at our pre-Christmas Fiesta, *kicks juke box* and the Irish Rovers' We Wish You a Merry Christmas starts to play.
*puts quarters on juke box* tee up your favorite holiday music to play next!! Here's on of mine: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole plays in the background (how can you *not* have a crush on that man  ).
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and/or a joyful weekend whatever you celebrate or do this weekend!  
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dernwyn
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Dec 23 2022, 5:44pm
Post #2 of 33
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I'll gladly take a big mug of the peppermint hot chocolate, thank you!
That storm has been blowing through here with rain - it's supposed to stay warm until late afternoon, then the plunge into the 'teens (- 10C's) begins. Many towns cancelled school, due to flooding or power outages. I'm at my school; I arrived at my usual 7:00 a.m., having scooted around three places where tree limbs were downed across my lane, hardly any traffic so it was no problem. But our superintendent was here already, getting the news on how bad the debris was on the side roads, and there were reports of trees down fully across primary roads, plus sporadic power outages. So a half-hour later he cancelled school for the day (it was going to be a half-day anyway). Those of us maintenance/support crew who were already here decided it was safer to remain until the roads were cleared. We've just been given the clearance to head home when we want and count it as a full day. So I shall finish my lunch here, clean up a bit, and head home!
We'll have Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning services, then a quiet day at home with just hubby and son and myself. Our youngest is stuck in Portland, Oregon: she'd started a long train trip around the West in early December, and was supposed to head back to her home in Chicago today, but the train has cancelled until Tuesday! So she'll be spending Christmas at a hostel - this is turning out to be quite an adventure for her.
Ah, Nat King Cole, one of my favorites too! Let me add to the queue: the classic Sleigh Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9jKyI6N9rg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Annael
Elvenhome
Dec 23 2022, 6:00pm
Post #3 of 33
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it doesn't work to get away to a warm place
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One year we went to Hawaii for Christmas, and when we came back, it was to the coldest weather I've ever experienced in Seattle. 6 degrees F, and of course our furnace broke! The weather gods do not like it when you try to flaunt them.
(Not the coldest I've ever experienced, period, but when I lived where it got to -40 at night, our house had much better insulation and a woodstove.)
I had a lovely day yesterday with my younger nephew and his wife and boys. It was too cold to do the hike I wanted to do (I'm on a campaign to make sure my great-nephews don't think of me as a decrepit old lady), so we settled for playing games at my house while also decorating cookies. I'd made a huge pot of beef stew the day before (stew is always better the next day), enough that there's still some left after three large teenage boys had their fill.
Today I'm in a reflective state. thinking over all the losses and stresses of the past three years as I prepare to say goodbye to 2022. I'm also vaguely thinking about what I want to accomplish next year, but first, I'm going to list everything I'm done with and do a burning bowl ceremony on the 31st to let go of it all.
It's going to warm up a bit today, but it's still chilly, so an Angel Mist, please, barkeep! I've got a few frosted sugar and ginger cookies to add to the pile, if you don't mind a heavy hand with the buttercream frosting and a rather slapdash approach to sprinkles.
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 23 2022, 6:03pm)
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Altaira
Superuser
Dec 23 2022, 6:08pm
Post #4 of 33
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Quiet holidays at home are perfect for nibbling favorite snacks and watching movies.
As if her train trip wasn't adventurous enough to do some train travel, getting stuck for days is! Sounds like she'll have some good stories to tell.
Merry Christmas!
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Altaira
Superuser
Dec 23 2022, 6:15pm
Post #5 of 33
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On cookies? Pile them as high as you can!!
Oooh, I like that burning bowl idea. If I did that I'd probably briskly and determinedly tear everything into small pieces first, thus deriving even more pleasure from the exercise. 
*sets an Angel Mist on the bar* Stay warm and enjoy the leftover stew and cookies!!
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Ataahua
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Dec 23 2022, 6:47pm
Post #6 of 33
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Mmmm, chaos juice - my favourite.
I can't wait for Christmas to get here so that the prep work will be done! I'm exhausted. I'm hosting Christmas lunch this year and I don't think I ever properly appreciated the amount of planning and doing that goes into it.
I've got some friends popping over this afternoon; tonight I'm making the pavlova and tomorrow morning assembling the trifle (I use brandy in mine); then it's my brother and SIL, their son and his girlfriend, and our cousin for Christmas lunch. On Boxing Day one of my sisters is visiting and sure as hell there'll be a ruthless card game while she's here. It should be a lovely time.
My doctor recently put me onto blood pressure medication and I went to the medical clinic yesterday for a BP check. The technician saw my numbers and wouldn't let me leave until I'd seen a doctor, so that's wonderful. (She doubled my dosage so we'll see if that's had any effect at my next check.) On the plus side, my resting heart-rate is better than I've ever seen it; I'll put that down to the bike-riding I've been doing for the last year.
Apart from working a couple of days next week, I'm off work until 23 January! Woo-hoo! Is anyone else feeling particularly wiped-out by 2022?
Happy weekend, everyone! And may all your Christmases be bright.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
(This post was edited by Ataahua on Dec 23 2022, 6:48pm)
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dernwyn
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Dec 24 2022, 12:45am
Post #7 of 33
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That's going to be a long list
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of everything you're done with, now that your Dad's estate is completely settled. You've had quite a year - well, couple of years!
For the burning bowl, do you have a separate piece of paper for each thing?
And I'd love to nab one of those ginger cookies with extra buttercream frosting! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Dec 24 2022, 12:51am
Post #8 of 33
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Are you planning any long bike trips during it? Oh yes, the biking would help with keeping the BP under control, and you've got good medical folks taking care of you!
Brandy trifle sounds delicious! What fruits are you using for the pavlova?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Dec 24 2022, 12:55am
Post #9 of 33
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that you couldn't bring some of that Caribbean sun back with you! But I hope you have some nice mementoes - and warm memories.
Will you also be having a quiet Christmas at home?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 24 2022, 3:40am
Post #10 of 33
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Isn't this weather crazy!? We're doing ok here in Michigan. Today it's been -12 degrees F with 55mph wind gusts, but it's supposed to be better overnight. There have been a lot of power outages, but I've been lucky and still have lights on!
Christmas will be quiet this year... thank Goodness... and thanks to the weather! I'll be getting together with the local fam once the weather calms down. I did get to go visit my Aunt down-state this week (Mom's youngest and only surviving sib). She's a hoot and we always have fun! I gave her the Bananagram game and we played it a bit. It's my all-time favourite game!
Christmas isn't Christmas unless I get it real quiet in the house and put on Cantate Domino. I love most of the album, but Stille Nacht (Silent Night) and Julsang (Christmas Song/Oh Holy Night) bring me to tears.
Thanks for taking such great care of us, Altaira... and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a fantastic holiday! *hugs to all!*
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 24 2022, 3:45am
Post #11 of 33
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I'm so glad you made it home okay! It's good that they're giving the whole day credit. Especially since it really is/was too dangerous to be out.
Sounds like a lot of your plans will be shifted a bit. Are you going to bake? Make the house smell yummy!? ;)
Take care, m'dear... and stay safe! AND have a fantastic weekend! Happy Holidays! :D
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 24 2022, 4:39am
Post #12 of 33
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There are some things that were just MADE to be a wonderful leftover... which makes it more of a "planned-for" if you think about it ;) Chili is the same way.
I'm so glad the men-folk and you had fun with the cookies! Were you an un-decrepit hobbit?
I get the same way at the end of a chapter/year. I think it's good to take stock. You last few years have been non-stop demanding... with some wonderfulness thrown in, of course :) I like that ceremony for the 31st. A purging, cleansing, celebrating, fresh start kind of thing. Keep some notes, though, since I'll bet you've got a book in there somewhere.
Have a wonderful Holiday and a safe, warm weekend!!!
We have been there and back again.
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 24 2022, 4:46am
Post #13 of 33
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Ruthless cards! Get the drinks ready ;)
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Probably not a good time to get your BP done when you're getting hammered on the party prep... eventhough you know it's going to be perfect and you're going to have a GREAT TIME! I'm really glad your resting BP is so good :D I agree your biking has got to be a big help on that!
I'm definitely with you on the wiping 2022 OUT... I mean, being wiped out. *heavy sigh* I can't think of a month that hasn't had some kind of "dealing with" element to it. This coming year will be GREAT! I put in for an order of greatness... and I got enough to share :)
I hope you enjoy your short week and have a GREAT weekend!!! And enjoy your pavl... I mean... party! ;)
We have been there and back again.
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Ataahua
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Dec 24 2022, 5:37am
Post #14 of 33
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will have kiwifruit and some of the most anaemic-looking strawberries I've ever seen for sale. The trifle will have bananas and blackberries, and the brandy snaps will have raspberries.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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dernwyn
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Dec 24 2022, 3:53pm
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The house is filled with the aroma of cardamom breads baking. And coffee!
Fortunately we never lost power, although a half-mile from here they did, branches fell across some wires. No matter how much trimming, there's always the one you'd never think would fall!
You keep warm and safe, gramma!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Dec 24 2022, 3:58pm
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Perfect for enjoying a Christmas tree lit by a glowing fire.
Glad you were able to have a fun visit with your Aunt, and have safe travels visiting the rest of the family! Have a very Merry Christmas!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Kimi
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Dec 24 2022, 8:59pm
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We've had our own taste of warmth the last few days, as the dour weather forecasts got thrown away and replaced by bright, sunny days. Lots of lounging about on the dappled shade of the terrace.
I have lovely Christmas music playing (Vivaldi, Corelli, et al). For lunch we'll have Thai fishcakes and Japanese-style dipping pancakes, and for dinner a spice-marinated leg of lamb that roasts slowly all day - and makes the most marvelous leftovers :)
We had a friend around for afternoon tea on Thursday. then on Friday Mr Kimi's niece and her partner came for lunch, and we had a lovely time with them. That's enough socialising to last me for a while, and it'll be a quiet few days for us. Some swimming, some walks, and time for contemplation, all of which I'm looking forward to immensely, as we come to the close of a year that's felt very long indeed.
Wishing peace and good fellowship to all.
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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dernwyn
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Dec 25 2022, 3:05am
Post #18 of 33
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of that roasted lamb - so mouth-watering!
Are you planning anything special to ring in the New Year?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 25 2022, 4:16pm
Post #19 of 33
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Good food! Good friends/family! Good-bye ;)
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What a fantastic blend of food, rest, family and friends; but I'm like you... the quiet after so much stimulation is welcomed!
I hope you have a fabulous Christmas!!!
We have been there and back again.
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cats16
Half-elven
Dec 26 2022, 6:04pm
Post #20 of 33
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Hope you were able to stay warm!
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And a belated Merry Christmas to all! Quite the nasty weather week, all around. It's warming up here ever so slowly. And naturally, I'll bring colder weather to SoCal when I return there. The wind chill reached -35 here at one point.
We've had a couple of family gatherings, with one more tonight (a side of the family that hasn't gotten together in 3 or 4 years, so it'll be...interesting to say the least lol). All of our gatherings are pretty low-key, except for one group on my dad's side that's refreshingly lively and involves an inappropriate gag gift exchange and ends with games (this year was...NSFW Pictionary). 
I'm mostly off work this week, so once I'm back in LA I hope to end the year with a few movies and finishing up some projects around the new apartment. A buddy is coming to town for NYE, so we'll find a few fun things to do while he's visiting too.
Hope everyone's had a great holiday weekend!
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 26 2022, 6:09pm
Post #21 of 33
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That's such bad luck, being stranded on the day where so many places are closed. But of all the places to be stuck, at least she avoided a snowy/brutally freezing city, if there's a silver lining to be had. Has she managed to get on the train yet, or is she still stranded? Sending her good vibes either way - she'll have a great party story out of this, when it's all over.
Hope you three had a nice and cozy Christmas at home!
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
(This post was edited by cats16 on Dec 26 2022, 6:10pm)
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cats16
Half-elven
Dec 26 2022, 6:21pm
Post #22 of 33
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Doing any mini-trips in that time, or just planning a staycation to recharge for the new year?
And I hope your Christmas went swimmingly! Hosting is so stressful - we're hosting a gathering tonight and half my job is reminding my mom that she doesn't have to upend the *entire* house in the process.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Dec 26 2022, 8:44pm
Post #23 of 33
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I'll be having a short holiday in the South Island, but before then I have cricket at my local park to watch and a ticket to see Jimmy Carr on 11 Jan.
Otherwise I'll be sleeping in, getting on my bike and generally doing sod-all.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Dec 26 2022, 11:02pm
Post #24 of 33
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Oops, I thought I'd posted on this thread but it appears I didn't! I'm sure I read it, I seem to remember someone calling punch 'chaos juice', which I love! All is well here, pleasant family Christmas Day was had, my daughter and hubby doing their best to ration the boys' chocolate intake etc. (Yeah right, like THAT worked!) Today I've done some work in the garden trimming back the worst of the frostbitten foliage and sweeping up ridiculously late leaf-fall, and picking away at the seasonal jigsaw during tea breaks. Next stop, New Year! I'll be staying up, but only to keep the family dog company when the fireworks - despite the cost off living crisis! - start going off to welcome 2023. I like the sound of peppermint hot chocolate - haven't tried that. Neither have I tried sweet potato pie, though I use it quite often in soups. Enjoy your festive season, folks, wherever you are.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Dec 27 2022, 4:01am
Post #25 of 33
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until the 30thl now! Fortunately she's at the home of an online friend who lives in Portland, and is giving her adventure a thumbs-up. Thank you for the good vibes, she's an amazing kid. (In her 30's now, but she'll always be our "kid".)
Christmas has been pleasant and quiet, and we just finished another watching of "White Christmas". What a classic!
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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