This morning we will be having stale leftover Christmas cookies compliments of loyal reader Thirkellgirl. I'm sure they'll taste just fine after being dunked in some nice hot chocolate.
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I want to thank everyone for their concern and inquiries as to our well being here "at home". We are all fine but there are lingering effects from the dual crises this fall. Both The Farmer and the Other Mother were hospitalized and the aftermath is that we were faced with some inevitable conclusions.
Conclusion #1 - None of us is as young as we used to be. (duh!)
Conclusion #2 - The Farmer and I have always been able to face the stresses and difficulties that have presented themselves in our lives. We've always said to each other, "Let's get through this and then we can go on." The truth is that it is becoming extremely difficult to muster the physical and psychic energies to face challenges without a backlash that equals the challenge in intensity. Stress and responsibility has become a vampire.
Conclusion #3 - Something's got to give. In this case it has been blogging.
It was made perfectly clear to me how all-consuming it is to be involved with the caregiving and coordinating in-home nurses, therapists, doctor's visits and more. It has taken it's toll.
The Other Mother is fully recovered and back to her nonsense. The other day I found her climbing a ladder and no amount of chiding or listing the dire consquences will get her to stop. I give up those efforts. My energies are best spent elsewhere.
The most troubling effect of the stress is that I've felt my enthusiasm and creativity drained away. I am hopeful that cutting back my commitments will result in a bubbling up of something more positive. I'm forever hopeful.
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Our holiday was nice and peaceful. It was just ourselves, the Other Mother and our children for the Christmas weekend. We cooked, ate, opened gifts and watched movies together. It was what we needed.
We drank Bloody Mary's on Christmas morning and had spinach and mushroom filled crepes.

Larger than life Bloody Mary.
Later in the day we had mussels, filet mignon, baked potatoes and brandied carrots. Yes, you need to come to my house on Christmas!
All the cooking and eating left a nasty mess which was dealt with by the trusty dishwasher.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the chore of unloading the dishwasher?
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The Daughter borrowed my flash drive while visiting and forgot to leave it when she left. No matter, it gave me the excuse to buy a new one which caught my eye on a shopping trip to the office supply store.
It makes me smile.

Yes, that's a flash drive and it's only 1 1/2 inches long. So cute and enough memory for my needs.
I seem to be on a penguin streak because here's the baby hat I'm working on for a friend's grandchild.

I'm not sure if the eyes should be crossed or not? What do you think?
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Thanks again for all you concern about our well being. It means alot to me. I would love to hear what you've been doing and also your recipe for stress-busting. I'm all ears!
........off to shovel snow.

























