Christmas Countdown - 2018

[SnowflakeMom]

Good morning MMC! Merry Pines Day! We have a chilly start to the day! It was in the upper 50's this morning (61 by the time I came to work) but it's breezy & it feels chilly. The windows are wide open at work & I actually have my heater on!! Tonight is supposed to get down to 50º! Brrrrr!!
Work for me today, then my high school friends are getting together tonight at the local watering hole! I'll be at the Pines after, so keep the party going!
Everyone, have a great day!!!

Have a great time!! I love getting together with old friends...always fun!!

 

[SnowflakeMom]

Good Morning, MMC~

Merry Pines Day!

Last night, when I took Harlowe out before bed, I could smell campfire smoke. The air was noticeably cooler- pure magic.
And it's been such a beautiful, brisk morning, temps in the 50's earlier. We had the patio doors open, Fall is in the air!

We haven't been sleeping well lately-can't wait for the weekend where alarms don't need to be set.

I went to Home Goods yesterday, and picked up a few seasonal things. They have such cute stuff. Some Fall mugs, pumpkin harvest soap & lotion, a hand towel, and spoon rest.
It was extra nice because I had a gift card that I forgot about.

A typical day here- work, errands, etc.

Wishing you all a blessed day~

Love Homegoods too! I was there about a month ago and they were just starting to put out their fall stuff. Definitely need to go back.
Yesterday, I had to pick up dog food and I noticed the place had their mums out. I can't wait for fall flowers and I need a new fall wreath for my front door!

Have a good day SF...hope you sleep better tonight. I love not having to set the alarm such a great feeling!!

 

[Yuletide Junkie]

I'm loving all this talk about the Ber's! It's so exciting isn't! The cooler weather will be here before we know it and I'm already starting to think Fall!

My Firewood will be delivered on Friday, I ordered 2 new firewood log holders for outside, new tools, grate and screen for the inside and I got a company coming out to put a stainless steel cap on the chimney.

I'm getting ready to start going around the house to caulk, seal and close up the house to prepare for winter.

Water sealing the deck, somewhere in the next month(The weather has to be just right for 48 hours.), is the first of my pre - Winter tasks.

 

[Holiday]

Happy Pines Day, MMC!! I hope everyone is enjoying their week!! I’ve been working on cleaning out the closets and kitchen cabinets. I’m trying to get ready to decorate for fall here soon. I also have a few Christmas projects that I finally have all the supplies for. I hope everyone has a great day!!!

Well, the cleaning doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but everything else sounds like it will be pretty festive around your place soon!
Have a great day made!

 

[Holiday]

Have a great time!! I love getting together with old friends...always fun!!

Thank you! Yes, it is fun!! We've tried to get together several times & it keeps falling through. Haven't seen everyone since February!

 

[SnowDog]

I'm loving all this talk about the Ber's! It's so exciting isn't! The cooler weather will be here before we know it and I'm already starting to think Fall!

My Firewood will be delivered on Friday, I ordered 2 new firewood log holders for outside, new tools, grate and screen for the inside and I got a company coming out to put a stainless steel cap on the chimney.

I'm getting ready to start going around the house to caulk, seal and close up the house to prepare for winter.

Oh my that sounds like a lot of work but wonderful!!!! Can't believe fall is almost here! Last year after hurricane Irma there were a lot of trees down that people cut up and put on the streets to be taken away for garbage. My husband and I looked crazy at the time but we drove around to all the neighborhoods and loaded up my tiny car LOL! We let them dry in the garage all year, I can't wait to burn them this fall! Not so crazy now? Hehe!

Well, it's been raining for the past two days. We went on a little excursion yesterday to see some sights just to get out of the house. Fed some squirrels in the backyard some walnuts. I love watching them scurry off with a nut almost as big as their head.

The cooler weather was perfect for making some banana bread. We were at a place that sold honey on the weekend and tried a whole lot of different honeys. Who knew that the type of flower the bees use to get their honey affects the flavour. We tried wildflower honey, blueberry, buckwheat, and one from New Zealand called Christmas Tree. We picked up some honey, so that went into my honey oatmeal banana bread. Yum, yum.

View attachment 47878

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone.

Rain here today too, but it's a nice break from the heat... your banana bread looks amazing!!! Hmm I might just have to make some soon!!

 

[snowflake22]

Isn't that such a great smell in the cool air! It gives you such a wonderful feeling, and it reminds you that it's almost Fall.

SF, I know what you mean about the sleeping thing.

I'm telling you, I'm starting to think its the weather, or the planets are aligned and there's some kind of pull or magnetic issue going on, aliens at work, the government is doing some kind of secret chemical warfare testing, biological issues with our brains from cellphone radiation or too much organic foods.... LOL!!!

Jill loves Home Goods also. Actually, after she graduated with her Teaching Masters, she could not get hired/ find a job here in Connecticut as a teacher, so she took a job working at Home Goods for a couple years.

Isn't that such a great smell in the cool air! It gives you such a wonderful feeling, and it reminds you that it's almost Fall.

SF, I know what you mean about the sleeping thing.

I'm telling you, I'm starting to think its the weather, or the planets are aligned and there's some kind of pull or magnetic issue going on, aliens at work, the government is doing some kind of secret chemical warfare testing, biological issues with our brains from cellphone radiation or too much organic foods.... LOL!!!

Jill loves Home Goods also. Actually, after she graduated with her Teaching Masters, she could not get hired/ find a job here in Connecticut as a teacher, so she took a job working at Home Goods for a couple years.

It is, that and wood smoke are two of my favorites.

Sounds about right, you just never know...

It is a great store!
I worked at TJ Maxx part time for awhile to offset costs when I first became a Realtor. They are sister companies, as well as with Marshall's.

 

[snowflake22]

Love Homegoods too! I was there about a month ago and they were just starting to put out their fall stuff. Definitely need to go back.
Yesterday, I had to pick up dog food and I noticed the place had their mums out. I can't wait for fall flowers and I need a new fall wreath for my front door!

Have a good day SF...hope you sleep better tonight. I love not having to set the alarm such a great feeling!!

Oh how nice!! They are so beautiful.
Please share a photo of your Fall wreath!

I have a bittersweet wreath on my door, it reminds me of going to the Pumpkin Patch when I was younger, my Mom would always get a few bundles for the house.

Thank you, SFM. Not having to set an alarm sure is wonderful!

 

[SnowflakeMom]

Happy Pines Day, MMC!! I hope everyone is enjoying their week!! I’ve been working on cleaning out the closets and kitchen cabinets. I’m trying to get ready to decorate for fall here soon. I also have a few Christmas projects that I finally have all the supplies for. I hope everyone has a great day!!!

Have a great day, Made!! I am looking forward to decorating too...I think I will start first week in Sept.

 

[sugarmuffin25]

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday afternoon! The temps are beautiful today with a nice breeze, so it was great to turn off the air and open the windows. I love airing out the house, plus an open window is an automatic cat magnet so my five crazy felines are out of my hair for a few hours! Bonus!

I think my husband and I are going to my favorite farmers market this afternoon to buy a bushel of tomatoes. We have two tiny tomato plants in containers on our back porch. They give me a few tomatoes each, but if I didn't supplement with more tomatoes from the farmers market I would basically get about a tablespoon of homemade sauce! So we will buy a bushel today and cook them all down for homemade sauce to freeze for the winter. Nothing better than homemade sauce in the winter time! I hope everyone has a great day!

 

[Holiday]

Have a great day, Made!! I am looking forward to decorating too...I think I will start first week in Sept.

I would think the 1st of Sept. we'll start seeing more people with fall decs out!

 

[Holiday]

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday afternoon! The temps are beautiful today with a nice breeze, so it was great to turn off the air and open the windows. I love airing out the house, plus an open window is an automatic cat magnet so my five crazy felines are out of my hair for a few hours! Bonus!

I think my husband and I are going to my favorite farmers market this afternoon to buy a bushel of tomatoes. We have two tiny tomato plants in containers on our back porch. They give me a few tomatoes each, but if I didn't supplement with more tomatoes from the farmers market I would basically get about a tablespoon of homemade sauce! So we will buy a bushel today and cook them all down for homemade sauce to freeze for the winter. Nothing better than homemade sauce in the winter time! I hope everyone has a great day!

Sounds delicious! I don't think I need to make any sauce this year. I have plenty that I canned last year. Have fun!!!

 

[Holiday]

See you all at the Pines!!!!

 

[SnowDog]

See you all at the Pines!!!!

Sorry i'm new here but what are the pines?

 

[xmastidings]

I think my husband and I are going to my favorite farmers market this afternoon to buy a bushel of tomatoes. We have two tiny tomato plants in containers on our back porch. They give me a few tomatoes each, but if I didn't supplement with more tomatoes from the farmers market I would basically get about a tablespoon of homemade sauce! So we will buy a bushel today and cook them all down for homemade sauce to freeze for the winter. Nothing better than homemade sauce in the winter time! I hope everyone has a great day!

Nice. Do you pressure cook them, or blanch and put them in freezer bags? I used to watch and as I got old enough, to help my grandparents for many years put up jars of tomatoes for the winter. She would blanch them, peel the skins, put them in the jars, add I think a little salt and then put them in a large pot for them to boil in for awhile. Afterwards, she would put the jars on the dining room table and as they cooled, I could hear the lids popping; sealing themselves. I thought it was so cool.
I have to say, in the winter time, I would go down in the cellar with my grandfather and to see all the jars of veggies, fruits and pickled items, it was beautiful! In away, with all the red from the tomatoes and the green from string beans and such, it had a Christmas feel to it!

 

[snowflake22]

Sorry i'm new here but what are the pines?

This will help

https://mymerrychristmas.com/forum/threads/the-history-of-carl-the-pines-and-fired-twinkies.27506/

 

[snowflake22]

See you all at the Pines!!!!

See you soon, Holiday!!

 

[sugarmuffin25]

Nice. Do you pressure cook them, or blanch and put them in freezer bags? I used to watch and as I got old enough, to help my grandparents for many years put up jars of tomatoes for the winter. She would blanch them, peel the skins, put them in the jars, add I think a little salt and then put them in a large pot for them to boil in for awhile. Afterwards, she would put the jars on the dining room table and as they cooled, I could hear the lids popping; sealing themselves. I thought it was so cool.
I have to say, in the winter time, I would go down in the cellar with my grandfather and to see all the jars of veggies, fruits and pickled items, it was beautiful! In away, with all the red from the tomatoes and the green from string beans and such, it had a Christmas feel to it!

We recently bought a hand cranked food strainer that works great for tomatoes. It takes off the skin and strains out all the seeds (I'm so picky...I hate seeds in my sauce). We are basically freezing everything that is left from what we get from each batch and then when we are done for the summer we will cook everything down into sauce and vacuum seal and freeze into meal size bags! I used to do this with my parents when I was younger and loved the smell of the house when several pots of sauce were simmering away on the stove getting ready to cool and freeze. Brings back great memories!

 

[Meceka]

Merry Pines Day Friends ~
Looks like it will be a pretty busy day for me. My father was admitted into the hospital last night for heart related issues, they’re running tests today. The hospital is nearby so I will be running back and forth to visit. I have to do some apartment shopping with my youngest as well, she is definitely moving in by Friday and she has a lot to do. I’ll try and keep up with my daily chores in between but the house might have to be put on the back burner the next couple of days.
I hope everyone is well and has a nice day.
xx

Keeping your father and you in my prayers, HmG. Sending love and strength your way. {{{HUGS}}}

 

[Meceka]

Thank you, she is doing pretty good!

We are enjoying the cooler weather, and breeze as well~ feels great!

Merry Tuesday to you!!
Hope that you & Palmer have a nice evening!

You're welcome! So glad Harlowe is doing pretty good!!

Today was beautiful. The humidity was down and the dew point was 48 ~ it was very chilly this morning. Loved it!

Thank you! Palmer and I are having quite a nice evening. She was just sitting next to me, purring non-stop.
I hope you, Harlowe, and Adi have an even nicer evening! xx