...well...I don't really know what it makes in terms of this blog.
Obviously, it has not been high on my list lately.
Christmas was a weird blur characterized by a fairly potent case of the Bah-Hum-Bugs that didn't begin to dissipate until just a couple of days before the event itself - or the non-event as it was (almost) for us.
We used the gift-giving opportunities to catch up with a few things we've wanted that we just haven't bought for ourselves. I got a Kindle. Very cool. I had been fairly ambivilent about that, too; but now that I have one, I do totally understand the attraction. And an immersion blender and a new Wii game. Much fun.
Joel got a machine that will allow us to watch old VCR tapes while we record them on DVD's. That will keep up in movies for a very long time and give us something else to donate. (We seen to be forever in the get-rid-of-it mode around here.) She got speakers for her iPod, too, so we will have great sound for the next dance (if there ever really is one...we're thinking about a Valentines's Day Dance... we'll see.)
As usual, cooking turned me around. Planning menus for Eve and Day is always fun even though we were only having three friends over. We even managed to put up a few lights outside.
Christmas Eve was a game-day so the menu was staggered over the afternoon with lovely nibbles.
There was Queso Fondue to start, with lots of lovely things to dunk: crusty bread, veggies, meatballs, and the ubiquitous chips. Later we moved to the Shrimp Shooters: these are great little shrimp cocktails served in shot glasses.
Dinner was to be a pasta with Portobello Cream Sauce, but we didn't actually get to that for a couple of days. Just weren't hungry enough to finish it, even though the sauce was made ahead.
Christmas Day was one of the best in recent (and not so recent) memory. Just Joel and me...
We watched the Rose Parade, of course. And I made some Baked Eggs with Fontina and herbs and served it along side our favorite treat - Baked Bacon with chili flakes and a touch of brown sugar.
Thanks to the prep work in the days before, I had the Turkey Breast, the Dressing, Cranberry Sauce, etc. all prepped and so all was very easy. It was a wonderful lazy day. Joel watched some football, of course, and I played with my Kindle and soaked in a hot bath and sipped wine all day. Lovely.
A minor (temporary) issue with video signals that weekend prompted the search for new furniture to properly house all the electronics that we (Joel) own(s). Then the services of a technician to wire AND LABEL everything. I may even photograph it. Every wire has a label on both ends and every hole has one, too. Yea!!! and all the wires are controlled properly; twist-tied and wonderful. He'll be making one more trip soon to install some kind of switch and to program it all thru a universal remote. He was even able to connect Joel's (antique) Sega and Nintendo games.
AND, best of all for me, there is room inside the furniture for some of the s#%^, I mean tchotchkies, that sit all around here. Much cleaner/neater/more empty surfaces! And all is behind glass doors, so no kitties in there either.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I introduce a major change like this entertainment furniture, it impacts almost every other area of the house. So we are still in that process: where to put the piece that used to hold the stuff; made room for a great rocker that friends gave us; drag the old recliner out (it's still on the porch!) - you know how it goes. If it put that there, then that piece has to move here, then that makes this one....... and so it goes.
We've also been having behavioral issues with the cats: spraying/peeing inside in VERY inappropriate places. We eliminated any medical problems so now we know they are just CRAZY! or pissed, or something.
At our wit's end and contemplating their possible move to a no-kill shelter, we finally consulted an animal communicator. Not totally sure about this, but it seems way better than no ideas at all.
She told us that the cats didn't really understand that this house is theirs and that they belong here. She said Carmel is depressed and Mango is pissed. AND, she said they knew we were thinking of getting rid of them!
She thinks that is the reason they did not control their pet-doors. Our mudroom - well, you just wouldn't believe it - other cats have been able to get in there and the marking/spraying is just unbelievable. I have no idea why it didn't stink to high heaven.
The good news is that the whole thing is very washable and virtually everything in it was stored in plastic. I spent some time under the open stairs lining them with chicken wire, and when all the storage area is repacked I'll add lattice to close that off so all that stuff will be unaccessible to any cats.
We've just about got that area finished, but I don't think we'll reopen the pet doors. They are too far away from us - the people - and I don't trust the cats to keep the neighbors out.
We've reintroduced the cats to litter boxes and have been letting them in and out thru doors. That is working very well so we may just keep it up.
It is all a work in progress; we'll see how it develops.
Aside from that, I'm still taking bass guitar lessons and have added on some Pilates. Being lazy and totally undisciplined, I practice less than I intend, but am improving on both fronts.
I just LOVE the guitar, and Pilates is much more fun than I expected. Cool. And I've created a music room/sanctuary in the former guest room. A very nice space - must get in there more often.
Joel is having increasing trouble with her back and is now contemplating a surgical procedure. She's been researching things online, ane we will go to Albuquerque on Thrusday to see her spine doctor. He's very good; our family doctor highly recommends him; and Joel is also looking into some newer less invasive procedures that are available in Dallas. So, we'll see on that. But something must change fairly soon.
And I'm at least a month behind blogs I read regularly. and writing here. I'm not sure that is going to improve very quickly. There is much I want to do and only so much energy for it.
But, I'm not dead, yet, so there is just no telling what I might be up to next.
May all be well for you in this new year.
Ta ta for now...
