No Black Friday here

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving day. It was quiet and relaxing and of course a hard day for me but I did get through the day.

I made my dinner and sat to eat around 3:15. It was a small turkey breast, sweet potato, stuffing and gravy as well as cranberry sauce with an antipasto. A glass of sparkling wine to wash it all down.  Dessert was homemade biscotti, Pizzelles, and Glenda's chocolate chip cookies.  The weather was a warm 87 and the sun was shining.
I finished the Swaddled doll #2

 I am hoping the recipient likes her. She is ready for a box and mailing. I picked out some of the print flowers to embroider and did not want to over do it.

I added the blooms to her hat for some color.  The simple embroidery looks good. I like the raised leaves which add texture. as do the French knot centers. Looking forward to making a few more.
I do not do the Black Friday shopping thing, never have. I will venture out on Saturday to just one store to get a few items for my Christmas gifts that need to be mailed. My goal is to get everything in the mail beginning of December. Key word is goal. I need to get into my Christmas decorations to find the tiny glass ornaments to do some tatting around. A gal shared her pattern and I would like to make a few. First I need to get the Bissell and Swiffer out today before I can play. I really should tackle some yard work but it can wait.
An update on our friend Lynda Ruth. She did finally have the shoulder surgery and spent 4 days in hospital but is now home recuperating. That is about it form here. It was good to visit with you and I thank you for the kind words and emails and your friendship. 

It is a good morning to bake Biscotti

Another nippy start to the day. The sun is shining and it will be in the mid 80s by noon. It is nice to finally turn off the air conditioner. While it is still cool it is a god time to put the oven on. Second laundry mixing up in the washer and the ingredients for Almond Biscotti sorted and ready.

I always leave everything to reach room temperature before baking. I just finished making some hard boiled eggs for the lunches and snacks. I had all intentions of making these biscotti all week but just could not get myself to do so. Of course the one morning that I was ready the water was off! I want to have these for tomorrow to share with my dear friends. I am so thankful for the encouragement and help that they have shown me these last 6 months. Yesterday marked 5 months since my Denny has passed.
I also worked on Baby #2

Just a few more flowers and French knots to embroider and leaves to add and she will be ready to travel. I have collected a few other things to add to the box...but I still need a box! Actually I need a few boxes for my Christmas mailings.
Why is it that I forget to use the gloves in the garden and the gloves in the house cleaning then complain that my hands are dry and sore? I wash them so often that I really need to find a lotion that truly melts into the hands so I can stitch without having greasy hands or waiting a hour or so. Any suggestions out there ???
As I sit here typing on the computer I realize my desk is a disaster...really must put it on the list To Do. I am almost finished with the sorting of my stash stuff so that is good. For every item I cross off the list there seems to be 2 added. Well it is time to get the baking started and the oven pre-heated. Glad we had time to chat today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. Take time to relax today.

A day without water

Good chilly morning. Yes, we once again start a day with chilly temps but by afternoon we will reach the mid 80s. It is the desert Autumn. I did not get my biscotti baked yesterday. It was not that I had no ambition, it was the lack of running water.
I needed to make a visit to my pain management doctor's office. Simple; he is just 5 minutes away. Go, chat, and get back to bake. Wrong. When I left I noticed The EPCOR trucks in the neighborhood. They are our water supply company. So what--- right? When I returned at 9 AM they were at the corner of my street just getting set up...so what, right? As I drove into the community driveway I noticed a couple of ladies chatting in their sleepwear?! There was a message on my phone from one of the neighbors (I am HOA Secretary so I get these calls!) She was very upset because there was no running water and what is the problem. Oh no, the trucks in the neighborhood! So, I decided to check it out. As I stopped to talk with them the trucks began to enter the individually community driveways. One of them stopped and so of course they explained there was a valve issue "up the street" and they would have it fixed in about 4 hours bringing us to noon time. The plan was to access the problem from our corner area. Okay, back home to not bake but stitch...

Baby #2 . I finally decided on the embroidery for her and so I would work on the flowers. Oh no the phone rang...not another concerned/complaining neighbor. Instead it was my sis Lynowl...so we chatted and no more stitching. After the call I decided to walk back to the corner because it was past noon and no running water yet. A large hole in the ground with 2 men down in the hole and 4 more standing looking in. Not a good sign. Me: So men, what are you doing to get this fixed? Did you break something else? The answer was ...yes...! Worker:  You do know these pipes are old and well when we tried to open the valve it broke.  Me: If you knew that it was old and a problem, did you not think to be more careful? Worker: Uh, no. Me: So how much longer can we expect this to go on. Him: Oh about 3 - 4 hours then it will be done. Shortly after getting in the house, the phone again. Luckily it was The Brother Alan. He asked how my day was going! We had some laughable moments and at one point I complained that my toilet need to be flushed. The Brother Alan suggested that I get a pan of water from the kitchen! Yes, more laughs. I decided with his suggestion to go to the market and get a couple of gallons of bottled water. Finally around 10-1/2 hours I had running water! The toilets flushed and I made myself some shrimps and drowned them in butter. Dinner was served at 8 PM and a cup of tea was made. There is hardly a dull moment around here. My Denny always kept a couple of gallons of bottled water in the cupboard. because he said "you never know" and so I guess I will get some today.
Now, are you glad you stopped by? I am. Thank you for your kind words and most of all your friendship. Let's hope for a normal day...? normal?

A good day to embroider

Not the best nights sleep, but not too unusual. Finally awake and ready for coffee at 7:30. There is a nip in the air once again but not to worry it will warm up soon. I think I will sit inside at least for now and embroider on Bay #2.

I am trying to pick out some of the print to stitch. So far getting the stems in here and there. Still trying to think about the flower part. I do love hand work...love to  do embroidery.
The Hummer feeders are clean and filled. Now they will wiz by to check out what I did before taking the nectar...so cautious they are. I moved Dennis' Lantana plant so it now is on the watering system and I won't forget to water it. Because it is in a large pot it has to be done more than if it were in the ground. I still have not changed the timer yet...hope that I can understand the directions. The older one was not easy to program.
Decided yesterday that I would make a Thanksgiving dinner for me. I bought a nice turkey breast and the fixings. I, so far, have been unable to get chestnuts. Well....that is not exactly true. AJs Fine Food ( an upscale market) has them for $15.99 a pound! Outrageous!! I will check two more places tomorrow. If I absolutely have to I will get at least 1/2 pound of the "must be made of gold" chestnuts. It is not that I really mine paying that much, but it is because you know that at least a few or more will not be any good and will be tossed in the trash. While I was at AJs I bought a couple of gifts for Christmas and this for me

Although it is sold with Christmas ornaments, it is not decorated as so . This will be kept out year round. So pretty.
I have also decided to put out the Christmas village and the tree up. I do not think I will go with as much as usual, but who knows. I love decorating for Christmas. As many times as Denny would say he did not like Christmas decorating, he would always look for a new ornament each year and help me get it all done. He really liked the village. I will need the cheer of the holiday around me especially for this first Christmas. All of it will be of good memories and times shared. He will be with me in spirit.
Later today I hope to make the Pizzelles and then the Almond Biscotti. I did promise Glenda some biscotti.  All of a sudden I am quite hungry for eggs! I best get a move on and have breakfast. It has been so nice chatting with you. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Thank you most of all for your friendship. Let's have a good day.