Busy holiday time . . .

It really doesn't matter whether or not I'm in the holiday spirit - it's still a really busy time. We had my family get-together at Mother's on Sunday. The food was wonderful - turkey and dressing, ham, pork roast, green beans, pasta salad, crockpot macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole, pineapple casserole, sweet potato souffle, potato casserole, fresh cranberry salad, deviled eggs, fresh fruit salad, german chocolate cake, pumpkin pie, derby pie, Christmas cookies, pound cake (and there was even more!) Mother always does the turkey, dressing, and gravy and the rest of us bring our specialties. Thankfully the weather cooperated with temperatures in the low 70's so we set up a couple of tables outside on the patio. That kept the crowd down in the house. There were three newbies this year - my 5 month old grandson and my brother's two new step-daughters. We are already anticipating the addition of two new ones next year - I have a new grand-daughter due the 2nd of February and my brother's daughter will make him a grandfather in July. On Friday, Mother and my boys and their families will be at my house for dinner. I have shopping completed for the grandkids, but not for the boys and their wives. I'll probably resort to gift cards. I hate to do it, but time's running out.

What I've learned . . .

This latest adventure in house 'refurbishing' has taught me several things. 1) Don't use dark paint because you will eventually want lighter colors - it took a primer coat plus two coats to cover the navy and burgandy paint in the dining room, quite a big deal when you have a limited time to paint. 2) Don't use wallpaper or wallpaper borders - I don't know what kind of paste was used, but it was really a booger to remove. 3) Don't wait 13 years to vacuum behind or underneath furniture - it's kinda telling when the carpet changes color when you vacuum! 4) When we move again, I will be sure to leave the house clean - I don't want ANYONE thinking about me what we thought of the previous resident of the house we had to clean!

Nothing even remotely 'quilty' happening here. We've spent the past week getting a house ready for renters. It's a long story how we ended up with this house. AND it has been a nightmare getting the previous occupant out. The new people are moving in at noon tomorrow and we are hoping that she can get the garage emptied by then. We were expecting her to do it today, but when we left at 7PM she hadn't made it over. AND the cat is still on the enclosed back porch. AND the new renters have two big dogs. AND Troy and I have had to do all the cleaning and painting by ourselves. AND painting is my least favorite thing to do, especially during what is supposed to be Christmas shopping time. AND it's funny how people don't mind asking us when they want something, but all our pleas for help with this project fell on deaf ears. AND Troy is not about to hire someone to do something that we can do ourselves. That's a lot of ANDS, but you see what I mean about NIGHTMARE? I've been so tired that I've been asleep by nine for the past 4 nights. Since they will be here tomorrow, it will have to be finished. Or at least my part will be finished. Troy will still have some outside work to do, but the inside will be complete. Hopefully I can get back to sewing next week.