Happy New Year!

I wanted to say thanks to all who read this blog and for those who comment. I really appreciate it. 

I did manage a quick walk today. Not for long until the rain/sleet/snow came, and it ended up a really mushy day. I did manage to get to the post office before son came. He was running late due to an inspection at his current residence and tried to ring the one we were going to look at. He's having trouble with his phone, left a message but he wasn't sure they got it. When we did get to the place they were closed for lunch! I had to get moving on stuff at home, so he dropped me back and then rang them when they were done with the lunch break and managed to go back and look at the place. He liked it and has put in an application. Fingers crossed this will be his new home. 

At this point in the night - it's quarter to ten in America as I write this - I have done laundry, recharged everything that needs charging, have packed and the house is as tidy as it's going to be (why do I feel the house needs to be tidy before I leave? lol). I might or might not stay up for midnight here. I managed to find Sky News on YouTube and watched the celebration on there. It's always a time I spent with Mum and I did so again tonight and toasted with a favourite drink of hers. This always seems to be a really hard time for me. It was our time. I always loved saying I'll see you later this year, knowing that in the summer we'd get to spend time together again. My sister did ring and I got to chat with her. I did tell her that I'd see her later this year. Something to look forward to!

Tomorrow is an early and long day for me. We're off to visit Baby A and family. I am SO excited!. I actually managed to blog every day this month (YAH!) so I might take a few days off to spend time with the family. I'm taking a notebook with me to write down plans for the New Year. 

I'm also pleased to say that I have actually completed my P366 project! Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile. I gave up posting them here a while ago, but I have kept them going. The photos today are collages from this month. 

Did you stay up to see in the New Year? Do you have plans for 2025?

Monday

The rain finally stopped, and I managed to go for a walk. No sunrise but the sun did come out later - just as I was at the end of my walk of course but I did get to enjoy it a bit! The trails were very muddy and more than a little slippery. There were quite a few people out this morning though. I must not have been the only one who wanted to get outside! It was quite nice though to get outside. My walking friend was back from visiting her son and his family for the Christmas holiday and we had a little chat. 

After the walk I went to the Post Office, dropped off my packages and then stopped at the store. There were a couple of items on sale that will do well for meal planning next week when we are back. Tomorrow is going to be a crazy day, trying to get ready and go with son to look at another place and dropping a few more packages off at the post office. It's supposed to be a rainy/snowy day tomorrow but there isn't supposed to be a lot of accumulation. Maybe there won't even be a walk. Sigh. We shall see. A lot of time the weather forecast is wrong. 

I am going to try to stay up tomorrow night, but that's on the hopeful side. We want to leave quite early Wednesday morning as it is a long drive to daughter's house. My sister said she might ring (if they are home) at midnight her time so that will be fun. Hopefully I'll find somewhere to watch/listen to Big Ben. It's a bittersweet time as it was something Mum and I did together every year. I'll raise a glass to her and think of her at that moment. 

Do you have plans for New Year's Eve? Do you go out or is it spent indoors? Do you stay up or not bother? 

* Just down the bottom of this field I watched (and took photos with my camera) of three large male deer locking antlers in play fights. It was quite delightful to watch. I'll share photos soon!

Rainy Sunday

It has literally rained all day long. I don't think there has been five minutes that there hasn't been rain. The ground outside is soaking wet and everything is just yuck. It's a good thing we went out yesterday! Usually, when it's raining on a Sunday we'll find some direction that we can drive in to get out of the rain. Nope. Not today. It's all over our part of the state of Michigan. I suppose it could be worse and be snow! It's really only a few degrees of temperature difference. Right now it's only 38F/3C  (feels like 29F/-2C). It's supposed to keep raining through 3am. I am hoping it will be gone by the morning so I can get out for a walk! I'm feeling a little cooped up as I didn't go anywhere today. 

I was pretty lazy this morning. I did do a bit of tidying, got up in the craft room for a bit, read a few of those magazines that are sitting on the floor and did a bit of packaging up a few bits for shipping. My older son (who lives here) did a bit of clearing out (at last!) and there were a few bits and pieces that I was able to get rid of. He had a few games he was getting rid of that I need to check out whether they are worth selling or would be better off donating. 

Middle son came over with his girlfriend. They went to have a look around the areas that he was interested in renting to see what shops and things were in the areas. We have another viewing on Tuesday. Fingers crossed. Decisions will be made by the end of the week. 

I've got decisions to make too. I have plans for next year that I need to actually knuckle down and accomplish. I am going to document them, so I am holding myself accountable. That might have to be my word of the year next year! I really struggle with staying on track. I am finding that writing lists helps, so maybe if I write accountability lists that will help too. More to come!

Is it Saturday or Sunday?

I'm losing track of days. I know it has to do with both older son and husband being home. It didn't help that husband and I went out today instead of tomorrow - a Saturday Adventure instead of a Sunday Adventure. It's going to rain all day tomorrow. I keep hoping the weather forecast will change but no luck so far. As it was, it was dull and grey today - what a surprise it's Winter in Michigan. We went out for a drive, stopped at a couple of beaches along the lakeshore that we wandered along the beach and I took photos. It wasn't too bad. It was actually quite mild for December. 

The above is not a real lighthouse. It's apparently a replica of a lighthouse that used to be here.  

These were the only two phone photos that I took. I did take more with my camera, mostly of sand patterns and things I saw on the beach. As usual, I'm behind on sorting them. 

I must admit that I felt in a bit of a funk today. I think it's the menopause thing again. Moods lately seem a bit up and down. Ugh. Not good. I feel like bursting into tears for really no reason at all. I think sometimes daughter senses these things as she always seems to call when I'm feeling a bit down. Daughter and Baby A video called. It cheered me up no end. She's so funny! She laughed and smiled and pointed at things. Poor daughter was still coughing her heart out. She's been sick for a while now. She's on her second course of anti-biotics so I hope she feels better soon!

I did get Baby A's birthday gifts wrapped today and all of the other gifts (Christmas and things) set in one spot ready to go next week. I also started sorting through the (newly added) pile of magazines by chair. So far four have been read and recycled, two have been added to a pile that husband will take out to his friend's wife. 

Tomorrow (as it's a rainy day) will be an inside day. I have made a mini list of things I want to get done, but I also just plan on relaxing. 

Do you have plans for Sunday? 

I Saw the Sun ... well,

I did see the sun for all of about half an hour before the clouds rolled in and with it the rain lol. It was lovely while it lasted. 

The flat/apartment hunting. Sigh. If I could give up I would. Son feels the same. It's really frustrating. There must be so many people looking that they don't seem to care about bothering to try to 'sell' the viewing. We got to the place at 11am, the office was closed. No-one in sight. Son checked his email. They said they couldn't remember if he wanted to see a one bedroom or a two. He was to let them know and they would leave it open so we could look! No person in sight. He replied one bedroom. They said...oops they only left a two-bedroom open. Sigh. We did go look at it, but no person? What is that? Shaking my head. Not sure what we're doing next. 

I won't say I was productive the rest of the day. I really need to get back on the list bandwagon. Having older son and husband home isn't helping. I did 'chat' with my sister. Time seems to fly so fast! We messaged for about 3 hours. Having a good relationship with her is important so I'll put that down as time not wasted. 

Tomorrow we're probably going out for a Saturday Adventure. Sunday looks to be a day full of rain. It will be a good time to write a list for the last few days of the year and to plan some goals for next year. 

Foggy Boxing Day

Usually, husband takes the day off work (it's not a holiday here in the US) and we go out somewhere. This year I really couldn't be bothered. Sad, but true. He was glad to have a day at home cleaning up his workspace and I just went for my usual walk. It was really quiet out. I think I saw one person there the whole time I was there. It was really foggy, quite ethereal. The beavers were out for a while. 

After my walk I did pop to the shops. Daughter wanted me to see if the Christmas chocolate was on sale as she was going to make up some little party bags for the few older children (of friends) that are coming to Aurora's party. I found some and will take them with us when we go. I was rather lazy this afternoon. I had a bit of the sleepies and almost dozed off a couple of times as I sat in my chair. I hate daytime sleeping as then I have trouble sleeping at night! 

Middle son came over a bit later in the day. He was due to work today but unfortunately, just before Christmas, a friend died in a car accident and the funeral was today. He and some of their other friend group met up at the funeral. He seems to be dealing with it okay, but he's still in a bit of shock, I think. He had only been talking to him a day or so before the accident. 

Tomorrow is another 'normal' day. Husband and older son are still home. I shall get up in the morning, go for a walk and then I have to go look at another apartment/flat for middle son. We were going to go together, but he has to work and can't take any more time off as he took a day off for the funeral. I am going to go (dragging husband with me) and we're going to either take photos or video chat with son. We need to find somewhere soon!

Some phone photos from my walk

Happy Christmas

As I write this the day is almost done. There's a slight strangeness that the day I've been thinking about for so long is over. All the worry, the anxiety, anticipation and a bit of sadness is all done. I'm still not sure why I get so worked up about one day. All-in-all it wasn't a bad day. I did get up and go for a little walk. I watched the beavers - they were very busy this morning - and then I came home, and husband made a small breakfast.  Middle son came up and we opened some presents. 

My sister and I chatted for a few minutes, and she sent some photos of them celebrating as well as a video toasting Mum. That made me cry a little bit. I miss her like crazy. Sigh. I was cheered up when daughter and Baby A video chatted while Baby A opened her gifts. She does pull on the wrapping paper and - as a lot of young children are - was more interested in the wrapping paper than the gifts lol. She did play for a little bit with different toys. It was nice to see her. Certainly made my day!

Over at MIL's we had lots of food and exchanged a few more gifts. It was quite relaxing. Some nice chats. I showed MIL the video of Baby A walking. She was pleased to see it. 

Later afternoon we went back home. Middle son went on to his girlfriend's as they are spending the afternoon with her parents. It was nice and quiet at home. I relaxed for the rest of the afternoon and evening. There's some cleaning up to do but I thought I'd leave it until tomorrow. 

I hope everyone found something that made them smile today. 

I didn't take many holiday photos today but here are a few more ornaments from the tree and my stocking presents!

Well, it's Christmas Eve

A walk this morning. I made some sausage rolls (cheated with the pastry), made some Raspberry Thumbprint cookies, finished the wrapping, cleaned up a bit and then settled in to have our (small-er) Christmas Eve buffet and watch That Christmas on Netflix. It really was a lovely film. It's an animation, set in Suffolk and such a lovely story. We all enjoyed it. Well worth a Christmas watch. 

Son-in-Law sent a video and Baby A took a few steps!!! Wow! So exciting! How lovely to see. I spent an hour video chatting with daughter and Baby A this afternoon and she wasn't walking then. We'll video chat with them for a little bit tomorrow and watch Baby A open some of her gifts from us. It will be a quiet one after that. Middle son is coming over to spend a bit of time with us before heading over to his girlfriend's and they will head over to her parents' house. We'll be going to MIL's, probably eating a bit too much food and then coming home to...well, we'll probably fall asleep lol. 

I hope everyone has a peaceful day. For some people it's a really tough day. It's hard to be far away from loved ones or missing loved ones who have passed. It still seems strange not to talk to Mum, though I always find New Year's Eve harder as that was when we spent time (albeit miles away) with one another. I think there is so much pushing to be happy and jolly and talking about togetherness and it isn't like that for everyone. I'm so glad I'm able to get out somewhere peaceful for a walk as that's where I find solace. 

A few photos from today

From my walk 

The last chocolate out of the advent calendar

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Sausage Rolls

A nice cup-a-soup to relax with

Monday, Monday

It's Christmas Eve Eve. Not really a thing lol. 

I went out for a walk and as I sat watching the beavers there were a few spits of...something (?). For a few minutes I was worried it would start freezing rain, but it stopped. I did manage to get all the shopping done without anything happening (weatherwise). I have everything I need. I think. I hope. Well, it's done now. I shan't be going out tomorrow except for my walk. Is everything wrapped? Is everything ready? Well, no. I did get a bit more wrapping done and ran out of time when the guys came home. I'll finish it tomorrow. I have sausage rolls to make tomorrow and some Raspberry Almond Thumbprints to make. I'm expecting the guys to be home early tomorrow as they are usually let go from work a little early. Oldest son is taking time off work until the New Year (after we get back from daughter's - he's coming with us) and husband is taking the rest of the week off. We're not in England, but we've always tried to keep Boxing Day as a family day. 

When the children were younger, on Christmas Eve, we always had a film night and buffet. We did lots of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and all kinds of Marvel films. I always had a lot of fun that night even if I was really tired. After the films, I would read The Night Before Christmas before tucking the children into bed. We haven't done film night for a long time. Tomorrow night husband and I are going to watch the film That Christmas on Netflix. Someone on my Yes, there is an Ipswich Facebook group recommended it as they said it was set in a fictional Suffolk town. This is what I found

The town of Wellington-on-Sea is a fictitious creation for That Christmas, as no such town exists in the U.K. However, it was inspired by some real-life settings.

Director Richard Curtis told the BBC that, while Wellington-on-Sea is fictional, he took inspiration from the coastal towns of Walberswick and Southwold, with a "dab of Halesworth," which are all located in the English county of Suffolk.

The filmmaker noted how he lives on the east coast of Suffolk with his family, and that sense of "community and friendship" found there has been a "major interest in [his] life:"

It might be fun to watch - if it doesn't make me too homesick!

We are still doing a mini buffet. Not the lashings of food we used to have, but a few goodies to put out. Back when I was a child, we didn't have a lot of snacks but on Christmas, Mum always made it such a treat! We had chocolates, nuts, dates and figs put out to snack on as we wanted. It's a great memory and something I've tried to continue with. 

It's sort of fun to see what traditions daughter, her husband and their family comes up with. We were talking about this the other day. When my children were little, the smaller gifts came from Father Christmas and the larger ones came from us. That way if we couldn't afford a lot the children understood why they didn't get much. SIL's family was the opposite. They ended up comprising and are doing one big present from Father Christmas (or Santa as they call him) and smaller ones. I'm sure there are other things they will choose to do based on their memories. 

Photo today - another one of those lovely ornaments MIL made. This one is an American Robin

I can't believe I've posted every day for 23 days! Yikes, definitely a first for me!

Sunday

We went out for a little walk this morning. Not the brightest day and - eeeekkk - it was SO cold! We only lasted a little while on our first beach walk. Husband slipped on the snow and took a tumble. He didn't hurt anything badly, but he is a little sore now! The second place we stopped at it wasn't quite as cold (still below freezing lol) and I took a longer walk while husband sat in the car. The beach was absolutely deserted. Although it was quiet I had a lovely time just walking, looking at what had been washed up and patterns in the sand. It was nice not to think about things for a little while

We did stop and pick up a few bits on the way the home. The list is really small now. I am hoping to pick up the last few things tomorrow - if the weather holds! We're under another Winter Storm Advisory. It looks like maybe freezing rain and snow this time. Fingers crossed it holds off until midday or later so I can at least get to the shops after a quick walk. Otherwise, I will be braving the shops on Christmas Eve - sigh. I really don't want to. Though today when we went it was quite quiet - quieter than a normal Sunday it seemed!

We also stopped at the in-laws on the way home. Daughter was going to have Baby A open her gift from them and daughter wanted to be able to video call with them. It was rather cute. Baby A sat nicely in my daughter's lap and helped open the presents. She even said oooohhh when she saw the gifts lol. So delightful! I can't wait to see her!

Back home, I got myself a nice cup of soup and spent the rest of the afternoon warming up lol 

Hope everyone has had a good weekend and are ready for the week ahead!