The Good Day All Thread

Good preparation, Jane.
Your elderly neighbour is a bit of a worry. Good that you have her in your prep. plans. I would be very happy with a neighbour like you.

 

Good evening! Oh, dear, oh, dear, all of you in storm's way, I hope it won't be as bad as predicted! Here the snow's almost gone, we've got icy side roads and sidewalks, but will be colder again tomorrow. Christmas probably won't be white this year, but it usually isn't anyway. We just hope it will be. The prognosis warn us we might get some bad weather, like storm-bad, between Christmas and New Year's. (That week is called *romjul* in Norwegian and I think that's a very nice word.) We'll be fine as long as it's not hurricanes.

Anyways, tree's up, tablecloths, decorations, gifts ready. Husband assures me all food needed is in. I haven't got a clue if he's right. I don't shop and I don't cook. I 've baked our traditional Christmas cookies and also gingerbread cookies so we're good cookie-wise. I have to go out to light candles at the graveyard tomorrow. They're these 100-hour candles so they will burn through Christmas Day. The car lines are very long at the graveyards on Christmas Eve, and I just don't want to sit there for an hour or so just to spend five minutes to light candles.

Hope your Thursday is a good one, all!

 

@Droopy - that's a lovely tradition Droopy. Your community candle lighting sounds steeped in tradition.

I'm happy to hear how those facing the incoming storms are prepared and looking out for others. It is always nice to be on the other side of these events. It is good to have our resiliency tested from time to time, but not too much or too often. Fingers crossed for everyone.

Our cold front is begininnig to break. -38 this AM but supposed to only be -25 this evening and snowing. I cooked a ham today to have the oven going and help warm things. I'll be 40 degrees warmer in a few days with high of 3 predicted. Sheesh. The wildlife and human beans will welcome it. My face sure will.

A cougar if feasting on a deer on the mountain behind the woodshed again since yesterday. Out of sight but there, and usually eats at night. Hubby can't get firewood right now so I light up the back yard like a Christmas tree and sing my heart out when I go to get firewood. Poor cat will be hurrying up and running for the mountains sooner than later at the sound of my Christmas carols. I do not sing out of consideration for others, but I figure it will serve it's purpose here. Angus contritbutes with some good sound barking. It should move on in a couple more days. Everyone has to eat. And everyone should sing from time to time Some of us more privately than others.

 

I tried Blue and Red today Pac. I waited until Hubby was home to provide me with adult supervision. Good thing hahaha. The blue didn't appear in the mist, but the red gave a brief hint of pink before turning to snow. Lots of fun And now I have pink snow at the side where some of the water dropped. Thanks for the idea.

 

Droopy, I can only imagine what a feast it will be there.

Mel, it sounds like you need a small firecracker on hand to ward off any cougar with wrong ideas.

 

Made a pie, blueberry. Easy, because I froze the filling this summer, just had to make a crust.

Hummingbird was at the feeder, persistently trying to get nectar that ran out last night. So I made more nectar and filled the feeder.

Chickens got a heat lamp.

I have a dental hygiene appointment.

I decided to move a chest of drawers to my project room / cave / Rufus room. I didn't want the clutter, but making quilts involves keeping a lot of fabric pieces around, and other sewing supplies, and they quickly become disorganized. So it's time I added organized storage. The chest of drawers is an old one that I need to clean up first.

 

You know Sjoerd...that's a great idea. I keep some in the camper to throw into the fire at night before going to bed, or when we tent down the lake. I never thought of it in winter with the cats. Only Bears in the warmer seasons. I do believe I'm going to crawl under the tarp and dig them out of the camper. I do have other means of making noise, but outside of hunting season and with new legislation it's not recommended. So many people live in a noise radius now, especially in winter, that it's not wise.If someone calls it takes so many resources away from the main centre. I do believe I'm going to have some fun with some Black Cats tonight ( ironic name of the little crackers.) Thanks for that

 

When you do this Daniel, do you thicken it and then freeze it?

 

@Netty - I don't watch the news and TV much, but Hubby told me today it was the cold front in BC working it's way towards the East that is causing your weather event.

I would happily hold onto this cold for one more day if it allowed you to have a family Christmas. I hope it slows its creep and you and yours can be together.

 

@Melody Mc. I add everything that goes into the filling, except butter. Berries, sugar, starch (I use Clear Gel), cinnamon, salt (going by memory here). Then I freeze in a big ziplock bag. I do the same for cherry pie filling. It doesn't really thicken until hot and the juices cook into the starch and sugar. I don't know why I don't add the butter before freezing.

I'm not even sure why I add butter anyway - I've forgotten if and did not see a difference.

 

That's a new one on me Daniel, I've never used butter in a pie filling, and would imagine it gives the pie quite a few more calories. I just stew fruit and add a little sugar if really needed. There is the odd occasion I might add spices.

 

It’s 22’ today . The poor rhody’s leaves are trying to protect themselves they have rolled up into a pencil shape. Who wudda thought the big rhodie leaves could become so tiny.

Yikes sounds like ya all have had interesting day so far. From -22 degrees to cougars …that deer …. And…recipes sharing.So many of you all are so busy , busy…

I had issues with the grocery pick up…ordered grocery’s ahead of time in order to get a good time slot for pick up… waited 2 hours for them to bring my order out and half of it was not in stock… it was a small order . So messy was this system today.usually a few orders per time slot.. but when I arrived a line went all the way around the building. Yikes, sitting in the car with a long line of cars waiting in this cold weather . I ordered a rib roast on sale for 5$ a pound from nearly 20$ They posted online in a sale…depending on how aged or marbled .. I think the store was just using the sale to bait shoppers in, plus the ‘Arctic Front’ is scheduled any minute . I am so tired, and a sore bum from sitting that long….there was only one guy bringing out the pre-ordered groceries. I have a rib roast in the freezer that is aged and will be perfect for Xmas I was fixing any way. The sale roast wasn’t available when we picked up the groceries but the roast was available when I ordered it…Something is rotten in Denmark!

Ya all stay safe and warm this artic blast is really going to be naughty. The eastern US is suffering already with predictions for tornados, black outs and below freezing temps.

 

Melody… so happy to hear that the red coloring worked a little. Pink snow is better than yellow snow…

 

Mel— glad you liked that idea. When I was living in Alaska I did a lot of hiking and there was a variety of things I had with me to ward off bears, for an encounter was always possible. We had things like bells, whistles and little red firecrackers. We were never attacked but there were some that were. I have seen some very serious bear injuries over there. Bears are not to be taken lightly.

My word, Pac— what a story about the weather, the grocery order. Good grief. We order groceries as well, each month. I hope that we will have no problems.
Hang in there, meid.

 

It probably was due to the storm ‘ARTIC BLAST’ coming along with the last minute stocker uppers .. and the bait/switch roast on sale.
Hopefully this story will be a red flag - reminder in your area. Never expect the expected.. grocery stores are always a crowded mess before the Holidays. Add a storm in the mix is a recipe for over crowded circumstances.
I was more worried about DH waiting with me … just picked him up from the hospital. He’s fine and actually took a nap thru the whole thing. I made him a huge chocolate shake to snack on. So he was a happy camper.