Down On The Homestead - Dec. 18th - Dec. 24th

**QuilterMom** · 12-18-2005, 12:43 PM

Rotten day here thusfar - a piece in our water softener/chlorinator/filtration system for our well water broke and of course no place that carries the part is open today so dh can fix it. I need to do a ton of laundry and can't (our water is so bad that it will ruin the clothes without the system working) plus we're going to have to go buy some bottled water to have enough for drinking and brushing our teeth until dh can get it fixed. Add to that that our air bag light is staying on constantly (started on our way home from church) which means the system is malfunctioning and I am just not a happy camper in the least. I'm so irritable over anything and everything right now and unfortunately got upset at Sunday School this morning because of things that were said to me (well-meaning, but rubbed me the wrong way). Aughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Dh's co-worker didn't come last night and dh got home much later from work than expected due to his entire work day being slowed down by heavy traffic on the roads so nothing was accomplished on the baby's room. Hopefully they will finish it today. Not sure what I'll be occupying myself with since I can't do what I really need.

Hope everyone has a great day!

**baxjul** · 12-18-2005, 03:16 PM

I'm going to relax for the rest of the day.

Kim - Hope that your day gets better!

This morning I went to the city, dd had a b-day party to go to at Chuck E. Cheese, then I went to Barnes & Noble, and Joanne's.

Doing laundry, and cleaning the living room. Then sitting down with my new book's to read.

I already have on my pajamas, so this will be a good day to relax. We are having leftovers for dinner, so no prep work there!

Have a good Sunday!

**forestdale** · 12-18-2005, 03:22 PM

I hope your day improves, Kim.

Hello Homesteaders.

I'm only here for a short while as I'm working at our store today. Another busy pre-Christmas day, no doubt. I've been rushing about lately and desperately need a few days to relax. I'm having a couple of days off after Christmas.

The past month or so I've been busy helping a neighbour who had a car accident and broke her leg and cracked her pelvis. She was in hospital for a little over a week but when she settled down and had her leg in plaster she talked her doctor into letting her go home, if she stayed in bed. She has 6 children under 7 ! The ladies in the neighbourhood got together and helped on a roster system as she needs someone there all the time during the day. Dad comes home every afternoon at 5. There is a baby just 2 months old and another 18 months old (yikes) then another 3, 4, 5 and 7. So I've spent many days at her house looking after the children, doing laundry and cooking. It's been a joy to be able to offer help and the children have been helping as best they can, so overall it's been a good experience, although very tiring. Luckily, mum is doing all the dicipline, it's just the more practical help that's needed.

Schools are closed now for 6 weks of Christmas holidays so her sister arrived yesterday and has now taken over from us roster ladies.

The sister has two of her own children (a bit older) so the place is bedlam. lol I'm still helping with cooking, but I can do that from here.

I'm looking forward to Christmas day but I have a million things to do beforehand.

I hope everyone is well and staying warm.

**Mom23boys** · 12-18-2005, 04:48 PM

Kim, I hope your Dh is able to get the well fixed soon. I know that must be hard.

Julie, enjoy your book.

Rhonda, that is very thoughtful of you and the other ladies to pitch in and help that family. I am sure they are very thankful.

The weather is wonderful today. DH decided he would BBQ. He is suppose to be working today, but he took today and tomorrow off as it is our 19th anniversary tomorrow. He wanted to be able to spend it together.

We have finished up our Christmas shopping FINALLY! Except for DH's. The boys and I are going to go Tuesday while he is at work and get him something. We already know what we want to get him though.

DH and I went to town this morning to pick up the ham and some last minute items for our Christmas dinner. We want to make sure we have evreything out of the way now. While in town I took advantage of some CVS extracare buck deals and some Walgreens FREE after rebate items.

DH took the trash out today to put in the burn barrel. He went ahead and burnt it today. This sure has been saving us money and since switching to this method, DH has taken the trash out everyday so he can take care of it.

Before the boys would take it out and put it in the trash can for the trashman to pick up.

I have lots of laundry to do today so I will be working on that most of the day.

I am so excited to be off for 2 weeks!! I love Christmas break!!

**forestdale** · 12-18-2005, 05:33 PM

Happy anniversary, Michelle. I'm so pleased you're having that time at home with your family. Enjoy yourself and don't work too hard. Pssssst, find a good book and a quiet place.

**jzkitten** · 12-18-2005, 05:47 PM

Kim- Hope your day gets better.

Happy anniversary, Michelle!

Well we had our first hard frost the past 2 days. Our driveway was so slick my DH didn't think he'd be able to get back up the hill with our truck so his aunt came to pick him up for work. Our driveway is downhill all the way to the main road with a sharp right hand turn where they meet. You miss the turn and you're over the other steep hill.

Anyway I've pretty much got everything that I don't have to go out anywhere for anything. Just need to get in gear and get the rest of my gifts finished.

Dh will be cooking dinner for me tonight so I"m going to mainly laze around today. Maybe get the tree up finally, got my fingers crossed on that one!

Have a good day everyone!

**Mom23boys** · 12-18-2005, 06:00 PM

Theresa, enjoy your relaxing day!

Thank you! I will be reading a book, but not the type I want. I have to take the THEA test before I can start college classes. I forgot some of the math, so I will be studying in the THEA book I purchased to refresh my memory.

I already took this test back in '97, but they can't locate the scores.

**seatosea** · 12-18-2005, 08:41 PM

(((((Kim)))))
Michelle and Mr. Michelle

Happy Anniversary!!!
Rhonda, wow, how wonderful of all of you to help out with all those sweet little ones!
Theresa, ice, blech!
Sounds like a peaceful day Julie!
Well, I feel like Willie Wonka! I have baked, melted, dipped and wrapped almost every candy etc. for the last two days! It is done!!!
Doing laundry now and catching up with Village happenings! I have everything set that I need to take with me to work tomorrow along with items I need to return, mail etc. I work retail and this week will be crazy!
Supposed to snow Monday and Tuesday, not sure of the forecast for the rest of the week.

**AmyBoz** · 12-18-2005, 09:11 PM

Well, this was a busy weekend.

Yesterday morning started out with breakfast at the diner, courtesy of my fil. Then we went to the pharmacy and picked up the refills of the kids vitamins. Then to WalMart to get $10 gift cards for the kids teachers, then to Barnes and Noble for a gift card for my school holiday party, then to Best Buy for a gift card for dh's holiday party. Then we came home and I baked 4 dozen cookies. I also did some laundry and cleaned out part of the house. We also bought the tree. Finally, I finished editing my novel.

Today there was grocery shopping, bagels and chatting with the in-laws at my fil's for a few hours, putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it, baking 3 dozen more cookies and organizing them according to who they'll be going to at school and dh's work, and the kids school. I did more laundry and made dinner. I just finished grading all of the papers I needed to have graded so that I can figure out the mid-marking period grades for progress reports.

Now, I'm hoping to catch a VERY good nights sleep!

**dwallyfam** · 12-18-2005, 10:15 PM

Well today started with some snow showers. DD is finally feeling better. She caught a virus and had a sore throat with fever. Dr. thought it might be the start of strep even though her culture came back negative.

Did some extra work, got laundry caught up, cleaned out the laundry area, scrapped, sewed and just hung out. Getting ready to give myself a facial and then off to bed. I don't have to get up early tomorrow since I am on vacation. Though I have to take DD to school.

**Strawberry** · 12-18-2005, 11:37 PM

Hi everyone

I've been quiet for awhile; we've had more bumps along lifes road. It's nothing too serious so don't worry

Everything will work out.

Inbetween all the appointments we've had the past week I've managed to have some "me" time and enjoy many of my "hug" gifts. They have really helped me through this past week.

We had lots of company this weekend so I haven't gotten much done around the house but oh well, it was nice to visit with friends.

This week I need to wrap the gifts; it's something I always seem to put off till the end. I know it won't take long so I should just do it

**homesteadmamma** · 12-19-2005, 10:14 AM

Good morning everyone. We had a wonderful weekend. The kids and I went into the city on Sat. I saved over $100 by going in Sat. and not waiting until Sun. There was a 2 day sale at Zellars on 2 things I wanted to get. The stores were absolutely crazy, however I knew exactly where to go and how to get out of there in about 5 minutes.

Yesterday the family drove into the city. Dd needed to pick up something for my gift and needed her dad's help. We also picked up a few groceries while there. Now the only trip I have to make is on Thurs. to pick up our familie's gift.

I haven't been doing much of anything, other than reading and a bit of quilting. I'll be so glad when I'm feeling better.

I did manage to get a turkey at 99¢ a lb. yesterday, just a very small one. We won't be having anyone home for Christmas so it will be a small dinner.

Tina, hoping everything works out. It's been a very rough year for you and your family.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

**QuilterMom** · 12-19-2005, 11:57 AM

Just popping in to tell everyone Merry Christmas! I'm taking the rest of the week away from the computer - think I just need to snuggle with ds, sleep when I can, and gorge myself on milk and cookies. Dh's family has me all upset again (why I even fathomed they wouldn't is beyond me). Dh's mom has been promising for months to send a baby gift and we've gotten nothing (1 sister has sent money, the other 2 have sent nothing), his mom promised dh on Saturday that she would call and talk to ds last night and she didn't (none of them bother to stay in touch with ds) and she claims that she and dh's oldest sister have been trying to call us for a couple of weeks yet nothing shows from either of them on our caller id and there have been no messages on our answering machine, ds is getting more rotten by the minute (jealousy issues we've been dealing with plus probably hurt feelings on his part with dh's family not giving a crap about him), and in the midst of it all I had the emotional meltdown of missing my mom (somehow I thought I would make it through this without that happening) and feeling sorry for my ds and the baby that they don't have my mom (who would've been a fabulous grandma) and instead they are stuck with dh's family. I'm sure many more tears will flow this week and I guess I just need to let them.

I hope all of you have a fabulous Christmas with your families and I'll be back online when I'm up to it, hopefully within a couple of weeks.

**Michele Annette** · 12-19-2005, 01:15 PM

Hi Everybody!

Kim- I hope you are feeling better soon!

I'm glad you are taking time for yourself this week!

Julie- Hope you're having a good day!

Rhonda- What a wonderful neighbor you are as well as all of the ladies in your neighborhood!

Michelle- Happy Anniversary and enjoy your time off!

Wow Theresa, careful in your driveway! Sounds scary!

Amy- Congratulations on editing your novel!

dwallyfam- I hope your dd is feeling better.

Tina- I'm glad to hear you are able to relax some!

CJ- I hope you will be feeling better soon! Glad you are able to take it easy.

I have been busy, but we have scaled gifts way down this year and it feels so good. This morning I mailed a package to my family in GA and DH's Grandpa in Florida. I have a bit more baking to do, but not much. I will be filling out and addressing the last of my cards. I have put some projects by the wayside as I found them to be too much with everything else. I didn't want to go overboard plus it makes for a less stressful season.

I've been feeling much better. DH started work again last week. He is still in pain, but can't seem to sit around any longer, so he has been working through the pain.

We cut and put up our tree yesterday. I was only able to get the lights on last night, but it's so beautiful! I forgot how much I missed a Christmas tree. We will continue to decorate it tonight.

We decided to make the 8 hour trip to Buffalo to visit Aaron's family and my Brother, SIL and Neice. We are going New year's week. I am so excited to see some of my family. It will be very nice to have a quiet and relaxing Christmas.

**Mamaw** · 12-19-2005, 01:49 PM

Hi everybody! I hope you all are experiencing a wonderful Christmas season with your families. This is a very sentimental time for me ( Christmas just does it to me) so I have to guard against too many tears! But heck, a good Christmas carol can make me cry! LOL I hope that everyone of you finds some time to rest, relax and enjoy this week!

I spent the weekend in a frenzy trying to get as much done as possible. But at this point, MOST of the gifts are wrapped, ALL of the cookies are made and MOST of the groceries are in the house. I still have to cook it all of course but at least I have a menu planned! Tonight and tomorrow I hope to clean in the evenings after work. Wednesday it is off for a haircut and then off to deliver some gifts. Thursday to the grocery store and starting to prep for some cooking. Friday is my cooking marathon! Then it is finally, finally Christmas Eve!!! YES!!!!! As it stands, I think all my children will still be home for Christmas...keep your fingers crossed everybody! I have not had them all home at the same time for a couple ofyears so I am looking forward to it!

DH spent the weekend finishing a repair job in the bathroom and installing a new closet in the utility room. Both jobs are almost done and both actually look pretty good! I am thrilled to say the least!!!
It is absolutely freezing here today and I understand it should be only 8 or so tonight. Need to put some extra hay in the shed for the goats and chickens. Yesterday I bathed and groomed both dogs so they looked pretty spiffy for Christmas.

well off to go back to work now. Talk to you all soon. Merry Christmas everybody!!!