Sister Ramey, my book club's resident leader and guru (we just call her the book nazi) has been down with COVID. She's all better now, but she had still not got all her oomph back on the date of our meeting last Tuesday, she turned the proceedings over to me and dour friend Joan. I made a big pot (much too big) of vegetable beef barley soup and a pan of bacon cheese cornbread. For desert I made pecan brownies and served them with vanilla ice cream. Joan made something she calls her Christmas salad, which I believe was the most delicious salad I had ever had.
It was very hard getting all the stuff cooked and carried to the church. I had help from Jesse getting it into the car, but as I have always had trouble asking for help, I carried most of it in myself. And I think that pot of soup weighed about 57 1/2 pounds, at least.
I must have looked pretty tuckered when I got it in because Joan took over, made me sit down, and did all the serving and cleaning up afterwards. Then some of the others help me load up the car. At home, Jesse unloaded it while I got into my pajamas and got into bed. Not sure I have even yet recovered.
The book discussion (Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica) was lively and interesting. Not everyone liked the book (I did), but everyone had lots to say.
I haven't done a lot of decorating this year, compared with other years. Daughter Andy came over yesterday and put up my little (about 4 feet) tree. We looped some bead garland on it, put my angel that I made in the 70s on top and called it good. Then today I added my collection of cardinal ornaments, many of which were given to me by some of you blog readers the year Vann passed away.
Jesse replaced my sunflower quilt hanging in the foyer with my Christmas tree quilt.
I have the fireplace screen adorned with a string of colored lights, a couple of knitted Santas, and a couple of knitted stockings, and that's about it. Some other things might pop up before Christmas comes. But we're certainly not decorated to the max as in other years.
Maybe I'll get some photos later. But I'm in the midst of laundry right now.
Our holiday table at book club.
A steaming bowl of vegetable beef and barley soup hit the spot on a cold, dreary day.
Almost finished binding the Girlfriend Quilt.
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On 12/16/2024, Barbara Anne said ...
Oh, honey!
As my Grandma Hall used to say, "Get over yourself and ask for help! It is a gift to others to be allowed to be helpful." Instead you hurt yourself and that's no good and no fun.
Your soup looks delicious and I again wish I could have beef. Damn Lone Star tick!
We're having a less is more Christmas, too, but our reason is because last week DS1 and wife closed on a house here and in the coming week, they will return to FL to load up furniture and boxes to move here!!!!!!!!!!! They plan to turn in the rental truck on the 23rd and fall apart.
As long as your decorations make you smile, they are enough. Be sure to have Christmas CDs playing softly in the background for no effort holiday cheer. I recommend the gorgeous harmonies of Mannheim Steamroller's "Christmas", "Christmas is in the Aire", "Christmas Extraordinaire", "A Fresh Aire Christmas" and/or their "25th Anniversary Christmas". Joyful music, indeed.
Hugs!
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