Cute!
Ninja’d… 
Used the other ~2 pounds of stew beef to make another pot of chili. Nice combination of jalapenos, chipotles and habaneros – had to use a little more sour cream and cheese than usual to tone it down. I like to make my chili so it’s a little too hot for me, because 1) I like sour cream and cheese, and 2) if it’s not too hot for me then it’s nowhere near hot enough for my daughter. (Why aren’t there chili peppers in the emoji here?)
I was thinking more like maybe they were going to Shoe’s house…
I bet you meant ‘medical’. Although you weren’t wrong with medial. The knee is a joint medial to some other joints.
Good idea about the DVT. They can be sudden and often are very painful. Nudge, nudge, get that checked out if it is not all better.
Like these?
She sure is! What a great picture. That would make a good Christmas card for 2021. She will always remember Christmas cookie fun with Grandma-my kids do from cookie making with my mom…that may be a tiny tear sliding down my cheek. Allergies I suppose.
We had Trader Joe’s pizza for supper. By the time I had gone through the snow choked streets to get cat food that was about all I could handle. At least we threw extra shredded mozzarella on it to make it traditional holiday fare.
Speaking of which, I’m about ready for some magic hot cider.
Medial professional? 
I guess I was. Nowadays I’m an unemployed wastrel. 
We had a thing happen today.
A sparrow flew into our window that we watch the birds through.
I went down to look and it was still breathing but not moving. I picked it up and brought it inside and we put it in a box with some paper towels and put it in a quiet corner.
We were afraid it was gonna die, but a little over an hour later I carried the box out on the deck and opened it. he bird looked around but didn’t move until I asked “are you ready yet?”
It flew away. Yay!
I’m getting to be a real softy in my old age.
Maybe he was hoping you’d let him stay inside where it was nice and warm til Christmas was over.
A happy Christmas Eve story. Thanks.
hippy, the hat in church was my first thought too. Sister Michael would have had words. 
doggio, I’m guessing that the not singing thing would fly out the window when listening to a Celtic band at an Irish pub. 
butters, I’m sorry that you don’t feel up to traveling to your son’s home. It sounds like rest is what you need though.
nellie, we used to have oyster stew as a starter and fried whitefish (it varied according to price and availability) for Christmas eve dinner. In a nod to that, I got seafood soup at the good Chinese takeout for supper tonight.
Another of my favorite Christmas songs is one that Marty Stuart does: Even Santa Claus Gets the Blues
I first heard it out at Johnny Cash and June Carter’s lake house when I first came to Nashville and ran with a crowd that included John Carter Cash. I still like it.
Having sung and played music as a sideline for a few years and still being involved (informally) in the folk and bluegrass scene, I wouldn’t scare small children and animals performing a tune. I always sang alto or tenor in choirs (in mixed choirs, there was usually a shortage of guys, so those of us on the lower end of alto filled in their ranks) and absolutely love singing harmony.
I knocked off irk at 1:30 this afternoon. I swung through Bojangles for lunch (the Sonic across from irk was closed) and then picked up the sweet taters that I forgot at the Pubic Sto’ in the same shopping center. I took Nelson to the dog park when I got home, but we didn’t stay long, since the temp was dipping into the mid thirties. After, we went for a ride and when we got home, the neighbor was out playing with their Great Dane mix (he’s Scooby to Nelson’s Scrappy Doo). Nelson slipped his leash getting out of the car and he chased / played with Rocky until I caught up with him. Now, we’re in for the evening.
Happy Christmas to all who celebrate and a wonderful day off to those who don’t.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
My grievance: Ruble died 10 months ago today, and I just realized that tomorrow will be my first Christmas without him since 1976. This sucks.
{{{{{{{OW}}}}}}
This is my first Christmas without Dee in 18 years. “Sucks” is an understatement.
I will be holding you in my heart tonight and tomorrow.
@silenus
I will be holding you in my heart tonight and tomorrow also.
It monsooned. I napped. It just monsooned again. Making smoked bourbon chicken with home made mac n’ cheese and peas. Getting into the holiday spirit with an Old Fashioned.
Well, after a couple of pints, I ignore the haters.
{{{{Miss_Owl}}}}
{{{{silenus}}}}
{{{{shoe}}}}
{{{{butters}}}}
BBBoo - cookie making was with Mama, not me. Some day I nay bake a cake and let he decorate it…
Hugs to all having a less-than-wonderful holiday. Even after decades, I miss Christmas with my grandparents and my dad. Holiday seem to magnify the loss. I’m glad we have each other, even if you’re all just imaginary. 
May this Christmas be filled with warm memories of better days.
Thanks for the earworm – Emmylou singing “Even Santa Gets the Blues” to the tune of “Even Cowgirls…”
{{{{Miss Owl}}}}
{{{{Butters}}}}
{{{{Thel}}}}
{{{{ }}}} <<-- free for the taking
And hope filled for more better days for all of us, our families, our friends and our countries.
butters thinking of you especially too.
Here’s me caroling outside your bedroom window tonight while visions of sugarplums dance in your head.
{{{OW}}}
{{{silenus}}}
{{{butters}}}
The firsts ache the most, IME.
Likewise from me.
Had a nice nap earlier today and the coverlet didn’t bunch up. It’s a Festivus miracle!
Dad’s still in the hospital, but sent a picture of his incision (about 7" long, with both staples and stitches, vertical, just to the side of his belly button), so I think he’s on the mend. He also sent a video of the clock in his room because he was wondering why the second hand jumps every 5 seconds.
Mom’s not getting much direct information and was only allowed the one visit. He has to poop before he can leave the hospital. I hope he can go home soon.
We bought two tetrapaks of shelf-stable eggnog, as it’s not something to find here in Switzerland. Opened the first one and found the seal was broken. Didn’t smell bad, but it was chunky. Shop’s internet site is down until 20:00 today, so I’ll find out then if it’s possible to buy more.
Planning to make lasagne for late Christmas lunch today. The temperature didn’t drop below zero and the precipitation seems to be quite light, so we’ll go for a walk before I start that. I could make the sauce before the walk, but it’s just the two of us, so no hurry.
{{{{{ }}}}} for everybody, especially Butters, OW and silenus.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 29 Amurrkin out and clear (as opposed to murky?) with a predicted high of 44 and mostly N.O.S. for the day. Definitely a cold Christmas Day in these parts. We shall lounge about da cave today in our comfys and feast upon Cornish game hens with roasted sweet N.O.T., carrots, and parsnips. Green beans with ‘shrooms and pimentos and rolls shall accompany. Plus pound cake, ambrosia and for real whipped cream! YUM! I envision havin’ that for N.O.L. followed by a food coma, aka nappage. We shall have mimosas, and cheese ring and crackers as well. Last night, partay animals that we are, we had cheese ring and crackers, and gin and tonics whilst watchin’ A Tuna Christmas. We even stayed up until almost ten o’ clock! I know, I know. Such a fast paced lifestyle!
{{{Miss_Owl, Butters and Quietly}}} first big holidays without a loved one are tough. Hope all of you have a good day and happy remembrances.
Die hope your dad poops soonest so he can get sprung. Horsepistols are big on poop before you can leave. Also, the lasagna sounds nummy. I can make a pretty good one, but have gotten lazy and usually just plop a frozen Stouffer’s lasagna in to bake.
E_H I suppose we should work on a nickname, A good nap is indeed a thing of beauty.
MOOOOOOM that pic of RoxStar made me go all AWWWWWWWWW! Such a lil’ cutie!
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, let the Christmas festivities begin! OK, now exactly then, cause OYKW is still fast asleep. The man is a marathon sleeper!
Merry Christmas or regular ol’ Happy Firday, whichever the case may be, Y’all!