Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Between Holidays

Christmas was great, and mostly none the worse for being celebrated on Saturday.  The tamales I ordered from New Mexico finally got here on Saturday--but were room temperature, so weren't safe to eat.  I have a bone to pick with both the US Post Office AND the New Mexico catalog.  They were shipped from NM on Mon. the 21, Priority Rush mail, but didn't arrive for 5 days??  What's that all about?  

So we only had green chile stew, because I don't really care about cooking anyway and didn't want to spend the whole day in the kitchen. And everyone was fine with that.  Not sure what we'll do for New Year's, as we don't have a tradition for that meal, but it's all okay.

I gave J-Man a Kindle, the new edition that will audibly read to him.  Having only one hand, sometimes it's hard to do something as simple as scratch your nose when you're trying to read a book.  He's also a bit dyslexic, and the adjustable font size and limited number of lines on a "page" make it easier to keep his place. Since we gave DD the first edition last Christmas, she's been able to help him figure it out, while learning about the new features. 

J-Man gave DD money on a Visa card to start a dining room set fund.  She has 2 chairs bought for her at a yard sale, and a drop leaf sofa table also bought at a yard sale, and that's it.  When she moved into her tiny one-bedroom apartment with no dining room and minimal kitchen, she got rid of lots of her furniture, as well as her artificial Christmas tree.  Now she has lots of space, but not much else, and is slowly buying the pieces she wants. This is the year of Gifts for the Home, as the catalogs put it.

I bought her 4 place settings of open stock Oneida flatware, and she's still trying to decide if she likes this pattern or wants to exchange it for another. I also put 4 cloth napkins in her stocking, each rolled up and tied with a small ribbon.  She pulled them out with a puzzled look on her face and asked why I was giving her fat quarters!  Only a quilter's daughter would make that mistake, right?

She bought me Jinny Beyer's book, Quiltmaking by Hand, which has been on my wish list for a couple of years, and J-Man got me a new watch (I love funky watches) and this.  I saw it on Rare Bird Finds and fell in love with it.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so I will get to try it out!

J-Man says he ordered the Supreme Slider for me, but it hasn't come in yet, and knowing his aptitude (or lack thereof) with the computer, we can't be sure he really did order it.  Guess I'll have to check the bank statement, as his email box is a mess.

Anyway, it's been a great few days, as I was off for 4 nights, but now have to go back to work for a couple of nights.  It's been nuts at work--in fact, they called me Sat. night to ask me to work extra--so I'm not looking forward to it at all.  DD doesn't leave until Saturday morning, which means we'll get to watch the ball drop together.  And I've gotten her hooked on Ghost Whisperer (evil grin), so we'll spend a few hours watching back episodes.  I did get to spend some time sewing yesterday, starting the borders on the string quilt I'm making her.  It felt good to crank up the Bernina again! It won't be finished before she leaves this time, but maybe within a couple of weeks.

All in all, it was a wonderful holiday season here in the NC mountains.  Hope you were able to make some beautiful memories with your loved ones!


P.S.  There is STILL snow on the ground!

11 comments:

Julie in the Barn said...

Sounds like you had a lovely holiday, except for the bummer tamales. UPS took 16 business days to deliver Christmas packages from Calif to New Mexico one year. My step kids got their packages on New Years Eve. Sheesh. Sending you wishes for a healthy & happy new year.

jacquie said...

sounds like a wonderful time...great gifts too! sorry about the tamales. enjoy the rest of the time with your dd.

HarryJack's Mom said...

snow's still on the ground in VA, too, with weather predicted for Thursday...sheesh! It does sound like a lovely holiday, and I'm so happy for you all :-)

AnnieO said...

What a nice holiday--glad DD gets to stick around. I love Ghost Whisperer too, am a late convert but love to watch the reruns in the early evening, especially when DH is at the gym and not chomping at the bit to watch a ballgame. Hospitals are pretty full this time of year, hope you're not too overloaded with dreadfully sick folks...

Lori in South Dakota said...

sounds like a lovely Christmas! I would say I sent the snow, but my snow could have been measured in FEET not inches. Ken it itching to head home, I am drgging my feet. Have a bunch of chops to cook tomorrow, pictures agaIn tomorrow (see previous post). Working on some cajun food for new years.

MightyMom said...

glad you had a good time!!

I get to work the next 3 nights. sigh. and I still haven't made my New Year's meal yet......

but it did snow yesterday.

julieQ said...

I am so glad you had a wonderful Christmas!! Those nights off...one of the best gifts of all! Yes, the tamales would definitely be yucky after 5 days at room temp.

Karen said...

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas. That is a funny story about the napkins :)

Libby said...

Darn it - it's too bad the tamales had to go by the wayside. I'm thinking of making my own next year - gotta have them for Christmas eve *s*
Sounds like the rest was a fine holiday. Hope the new year brings you all the best in life!

Julie Stiles Mills said...

Sounds like a wonderful time with family! Praying you have a blessed 2010 - for health, protection, happiness and success!

Stephanie Hughes said...

Stephanie, I am glad to meet another quilting nurse! I work at Johns Hopkins as a NICU nurse and I have been a quilter longer than a nurse! Your blog is very interesting and I look forward to learning more about you. Happy New Year! Stephanie