More Christmas prep

Yesterday cookies were packaged with love to give to the neighbors. 

I delivered cookies to the  Edgewood neighbors, I'll finish delivery today.  The one Willow Street neighbor I delivered to yesterday was Jim.  He's 86 and I've known him almost all my life.  He was one of my math teachers when I was in junior high school.  He has an eye disease and is no longer able to drive.  He's at the point in his life where he is no longer "in charge" the way he used to be.  Time marches on for all of us.  He doesn't drive anymore and has gotten rid of his car.  I've given him our phone number(s) so that if he needs something and his children aren't able to help when he needs, we are here to help him.

Jim walks to the store often.  One day I saw him coming home with a reusable shopping bag from the local grocery store.  It looked a little worn and I had an idea...Make Jim a new shopping bag!!  I perused patterns online. (This Great Big Tote is from Sewing to Sell by Virginia Lindsay.)  When I went to visit Jim to make my delivery, he was tickled to get the cookies, but he actually broke down and cried when I showed him the bag.  It's dark blue denim with a gold S which is the first letter of his last name.  He hugged me and held on tight for a while.  He was so touched and grateful.  Made my heart so happy, yet a little sad.  We need to spend a little more time with Jim; he's a good man with a huge heart who is coming to the end of his earthly time.  Maybe not real soon, but soon enough that we need him to know how much we treasure him.

The basket is a gift for my husband's (and my) friend, Pete.  Rick and Pete have been friends for at least 40 or so years.  Pete owns a bar and Rick goes every Friday to shoot pool for about an hour and keep in touch with Pete.  Each year we put together a basket for him and his family.  The last few years we have gotten together with them for dinner and conversation.  Pete loves Sophie and even Sophie is invited to dinner.  It was a nice evening, no special food, just takeout, but time spent with friends is such a wonderful thing.

WHEW! Pooped out!

I couldn't even post last night, I was so tired.  Yesterday was a busy day, but we got it all done.

Sophie had a grooming appointment at 9 am and I drove her to that, then picked up a socket at Lowe's because the one in the basement came apart.  Who would have guessed...it was original to the house and our family moved here when I was 5 in 1955.  Hope the new socket lasts as long.

After that, I stopped at Walmart to return a toy that wasn't the right toy!  Off to Petco to find a new collar for Sophie.  I got a leather one this time. I wanted one with some bling, but when I looked at them (and the high price) I decided a plain one could be dressed up when I wanted that.

Hope with breakfast for Rick and me from McDonald's.  Once in a while we really enjoy a sausage mcmuffin with egg.  This one was really good!

Decluttered the kitchen so we could make cookies and sang a little song to post on FB.  Hope it will post here for prosperity!!!  Oh...I don't think this video plays here, but if you check me out on FB, you can hear me singin'!!


When I went to pick Sophie up from the groomer, I went to Duma's Meat to pick up ground beef and ground pork.  I'm making meatballs to take for Christmas dinner at Kelly and Scott's house.  I was going to make lasagna, but the kids can be a little picky and having spaghetti and meatballs leaves more choices for them.  You know, plain meatballs, meatballs with sauce, spaghetti noodles with sauce OR butter OR butter and Parmesan cheese!   I'm going to make some cabbage rolls to put in the freezer.

Cookies!  Cookies!  Cookies!  Now I took the easy road and bought cookie mixes and ready-to-bake dough from the refrigerated section at the grocery store!  (I know, it was a lazy thing to do, but we need to choose our priorities, right?)  Truly, no one cares if you make your cookies from scratch or not, unless there is one favorite cookie that you remember your mama making when you were a child.  These cookies are gifts for the neighbors.  We are taking either 8 or 9 plates of cookies to some of our neighbors.  They appreciate the gesture and we like giving them a treat.  We have two neighbors who are elderly (lost the 3rd elder this year).  Jim is 86 and GB is 90.  Love taking them treats.  GB seems to really enjoy the cookies and she has family that comes to visit, so I try to give her a larger plate.  Jim doesn't eat much anymore, so I don't go overboard.  The rest of the neighbors we give to are able-bodied folks, so it's just fun to share with them and no extra worries for them.  We will plate and wrap those today and we will deliver later this afternoon or tomorrow...maybe even as late as Saturday, depending on our schedule.