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For my single readers not feeling the tradition hearts and flowers…. here’s a little something that might make you smile today.
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Sorry I was late in posting this option…
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But there still might be time for something fitting…
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🤣
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It’s bad enough I caught Covid.
And my husband caught Covid.
And it ruined my birthday.
And we had to cancel a trip.
And we were too sick to celebrate Christmas.
But now…
On New Years Eve?
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Yup.
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Our wicked expensive, wish we’d never bought it, heat pump equipped, fancy schmantsy water heater decided to die and we’ve been taking cold showers. This year is going out with a bang.
Literally… because I heard one.
Thank God for our always friendly, consistently reliable, there when you need them plumbers. They showed up 5 hours after I called and went right to work.
With no visible ass cracks. You have to love that.
Unfortunately the problem couldn’t be solved without talking to the water heater mothership and of course the manufacturer is closed for the holiday. But our guys gave us a temporary fix, and though we may have to go downstairs and flick the circuit back on ( it trips after running for a while ) … it’s better than cold showering.
They’ll be back at the end of the week.
And I’ll be ready for a cocktail.
Or two.
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Every Thanksgiving I’m asked to bring my Crab Toasties appetizer. And since I rarely make them at home because my husband doesn’t like crabmeat… I’m happy to oblige.
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It’s a treat that takes a good chunk of 💰 seeing that fresh crabmeat is currently $30 a pound and I doubled the batch and needed two pounds, but holidays are made for splurging.
Use fresh crabmeat… do not, I repeat DO NOT! use canned… here’s the recipe.
It’s quick, easy to make and oh so yummy.
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** Crab Toasties **
1 pound cooked crabmeat
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 package Thomas English muffins
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Mix first 5 ingredients together
Quarter English muffins and arrange on cookie sheet.
Spread crab mixture on muffins heavily, sprinkle with paprika and parsley flakes if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
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Easy peasy, nice and cheesy.
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper for quick clean up.
👍
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As you’re busy planning your holiday party and dinner feasts, be thankful you don’t live in one of these decades.
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Sorry, but that looks like a giant molded turd.
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Bizarre, and more than a little unappetizing.
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To this monstrosity I just say… no.
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My mother in law was the queen of ambrosia. She brought it to every gathering and pot luck. The fact that no one ate it never dissuaded her.
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We had a group of friends who regifted the same fruitcake nine Christmases in a row. Who knows… it may be circulating still.
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After careful consideration… I decided I needed some festive chickens for next year’s Christmas display.
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I mean really, how could I not? They’re delightful.
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I have to admit I was a bit put off by the price. $63 per bird seemed a trifle much.
It was then I decided to read the product reviews and see if the clucking things were worth it.
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A bright light of nothingness? How could that be! They looked so wonderful in the ad.
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Well that is a seriously disappointing hen to be sure.
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It’s…. flat.
Exactly how flat?
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Flatter than my high C note when I’m singing in the shower flat.
And no one wants that.
🥴
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This year, we took that advice to heart.
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❤️
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Wishing all my blog friends near and far a very merry and magical Christmas.
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Yes, that’s a lobster trap Christmas tree.
I live in Maine. It’s required.
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And yes, that’s me.
Though I admit the photo is slightly out of date.
😉
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Covid.
It’s ruined so many things, not to mention lives.
Every time we make a plan, the virus rears its ugly head like a demonic Jack in the Box and shrieks, I don’t think so!
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Our Christmas gatherings were cancelled last year and I was okay with that. But this time around we’re fully vaccinated and boosted and were looking forward to a get together/dinner/celebration with family and friends. A hesitant return to normalcy…
I should have known that was too good to be true.
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I’d made Sangria. And had gathered all the fixings for crabmeat toastie appetizers and my special Cappuccino Mousse Trifle dessert… but now, it looks like that will be Christmas dinner for two because the host of the gathering called late last night to cancel. Her (unvaccinated) visiting daughter in law brought the gift of Covid (worst houseguest ever!) so now they’re all quarantining.
First our Thanksgiving plans was cancelled due to an outbreak, now Christmas.
This is seriously getting old.
😡
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I used to go all out for the holidays. If it stood still? I decorated it… for Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentines Day etc.
My husband used to roll his eyes, but our neighbors loved it. Matter of fact… I never realized how much our neighbors loved it until recently.
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As I’ve said previously, this year’s decorations have been scaled down. Wreaths on windows and doors and a festive sled.
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A kissing ball.
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Candles in the windows and a ( still standing! ) lighted animated reindeer.
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The Barn Mahal has Santa in a plant pot…
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Snowflakes in the windows and twinkling trees on the porch.
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(The trees are multicolored, the snowflakes are white. But my phone apparently has a sense of humor and changes color at will. WTH?)
But even with all that I’ve done, my neighbors have repeatedly waxed nostalgic over the good old days “when you used to decorate”.
Like this year’s display is chopped liver!
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I mean, really.
There’s a feline Lord backlit by candlelight. What more do they need?
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Christmas cards started rolling in right after Thanksgiving.
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Lovingly selected and filled with handwritten sentiments of holiday cheer from friends and family scattered across the country, continent and globe.
For some of the cards we receive, it’s the only time of year we’re in contact with the sender. An annual what’s up! and long distance wave.
In an era of instant digital communication, I look forward to this tradition of old school well wishes.
And then, there are these:
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I can hear your snorts of annoyance… but please, a moment.
While I’d love to receive a current picture of you and your family in a Christmas card, I’m not a fan of the photo card in general.
Preprinted holiday greetings with no explanation of whose grandchild is who, why you’re embracing an iguana in a tropical rain forest or who the strange man with the lightning bolt tattoos hovering in the background might be. There’s no handwritten note, no unique flourished signature and Hell, a lot of people even print out their address labels.
You can hate me, but I find them impersonal.
*Disclaimer- to each his own and if you’ve included me on your list and sent me a photo card? I sincerely appreciate the thought and would rather receive one of them than nothing… it’s just my opinion*
So as you curse me for being rude and ungrateful, imagine this –
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Me. Chained to the table for days, hand cramping from writing and addressing cards and envelopes, A through H completed and rubber banded… hoping I can still my flex my fingers by Christmas Day.
🥴
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River's world..... 