Now I really did it :((

[mrs-b]

Merry Christmas, ladies!

Wendy and Robert arrived a week and a half ago, and Eleanor 9 days ago, so we've been very busy. Nathaniel has been exposed to covid (his girlfriend) so he's isolating 5 days in LA and we've pushed his flight back to the 28th and intend to celebrate more comprehensively on NYE and NY Day instead. David was meant to arrive 4 hours ago, but missed his connecting flight in Indiana so is now in a hotel overnight and won't arrive till 6pm today (Christmas) - having missed most of the festivities. So we will be 5 for a smaller scale Christmas lunch instead of 7 and will push the lunch with all of us back a week. Ditto gift opening, tho I have to admit we all sneaked a few in this evening.

@missy - I hope Greg throws off what he has in double quick time and is 100% immediately! Re minoxidil - I used Rogaine for 6 months - twice. Both times it gave me heart palpitations, which stopped as soon as I stopped the Rogaine. So proceed with caution - especially if your thyroid is weak! And thank you for sharing photos of your bracelet - gorgeous!! And that tree on your beach?? I LOVE it!! You really do seem to live in paradise!

@Austina - welcome home! I get terrible jet lag, so you have my sympathies! Hoping everyone in your family is feeling better soon.

@marcy - I LOVE your bears snuggling under their blanket! I hope you have a lovely Christmas lunch! Do you ever have hot ham? I LOVE roasted ham with white sauce! MmmHMMMM!

@canuk-gal - Die Hard is on our agenda also - as is the new Knives Out movie. And I hope you get some more mild weather! Minus 19??? Nooooooo....!!

@bling_dream19 - hugs to you! I hope you and all your family have a wonderful day today!

@MamaBee - how was the power?? Did it hold out? Did you end up in PA or MD? You always seem to have so much on your plate - I hope Christmas is restful for you. (Yes pipe dreams, I know!)

@springerspaniel and @junebug17 - I hope you're both well and enjoying time with family! Hugs to you both.

Tomorrow we'll be cooking and eating and watching movies, prior to seeing the new Avatar movie on Monday. Looking forward to that a lot! Hoping David walks through the door at some point and that Nathaniel makes it out on the 28th, all tests being clear.

Seriously - when did life get so complicated?

Love to you all and wishing you the warmest wishes this merry Christmas!

Hollian. oxoxo

 

[springerspaniel]

Sounds like a "good" complicated, @mrs-b! Have a terrific Christmas, you and your family.

And Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Winter Solstice or whatever you celebrate this time of year to all of the NIRDIs!! Thank you all for sharing your hearts here.

 

[MamaBee]

@Austina Km so sorry Adam has Covid. I hope he gets well super fast..with minimal symptoms..
@mrs-b I hope Nathaniel also turns out okay..testing negative..
Everyone else..I wish you love and hugs today.
It’s showtime for Santa in a few minutes. I want to see the boys open their gifts from him..
I’m so sick..I got a bad cold from my little grandson..I’m hoping to turn the corner today because I have a lots of cooking to do. It’s not Covid..but I feel just awful.
Whatever you’re celebrating..I hope it’s wonderful..XOXO

 

[missy]

Good morning girls and happy Christmas Day!!

@mrs-b aww poor Nathaniel..I hope he is 100% healthy and able to join you on the 28th. It sounds like you have a lovely week planned and I hope you are all enjoying and having a terrific holiday week. Thank you for the heads up about Minoxidil. I actually started yesterday but took 1/4 of a pill lol. I like to start slow so we shall see. I doubt it will help TBH but I felt I had to give it a try at least. I will be aware of any weird symptoms and thank you for sharing. XOXO

@Austina how is Adam feeling today? It is freezing here too. Too cold for the feral kitties and I am praying they will be OK. Have a lovely Christmas. Big hugs

@canuk-gal I am sorry, I cannot imagine how hard it is first Christmas without your mom...sending you gentle hugs and good wishes...((((Hugs))))

@MamaBee Merry Christmas sweet friend...have a wonderful holiday and hoping you feel 100% better very soon and that your grandson is all better too. XOXO

@springerspaniel happy holidays...I hope you are staying warm and cozy and surrounded by loved ones. XOXO

@marcy speaking of warm I hope you are warm and snug as a bug in a rug and that the killer rabbits are getting along with the bears and everyone is happy and healthy. Big hugs

@bling_dream19 merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family...sending lots of love and hugs

@Slickk Happy Christmas...I hope you are enjoying a peaceful and loving time with family and all is well. XOXO

@junebug17 happy holidays...hope you are spending this time with loved ones and all is well

Hi everyone else and happy holidays!

Leaving you with Oliver and Gracie and the Christmas tree. So far no one is climbing but they are getting closer and closer to it haha


Oliver under the tree...anyone want a buff-beige-orangey kitten for Christmas? Free shipping lol


And princess Gracie on the back of the chair keeping her eye on the tree (and us)...she doesn't let anything get by her

Enjoy a holiday filled with love and joy and peace girls. XOXO

 

[Austina]

Seasons Greetings lovelies!

Sounds like you’ve got a busy time ahead @mrs-b, I hope Nathaniel turns up fit and healthy and David makes it in time to at least spend some of Christmas Day with you.

It doesn’t sound like it’s too bad for Adam @missy, the benefits of being young(ish)! I hope you, Greg and the kitties are having a lovely cosy day. Hopefully the ferals have somewhere safe to shelter until the weather eases up.

@junebug17 @MamaBee @springerspaniel @marcy @bling_dream19 @Slickk I hope whatever you’re doing today, you’re enjoying spending this time with your family and loved ones.

We’ve just had a 2hr FT call with our friends, it’s considerably warmer in England than it is here . They’re seeing their family tomorrow, so hoping the traffic isn’t going to be horrendous, as it’s a long drive.

I’ve just put the turkey crown on, so we’ll eat in a few hours, the probably fall in to a food coma

Have a lovely day lovely NIRDIs

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

My DS just said, "Isn't it a bit early for Champagne"? WOT does he know?? Will put the turkey in the oven in an hour....let the bubbles begin!!!

cheers--Sharon

 

[marcy]

Merry Christmas - and this sums me up perfectly:

 

[junebug17]

Merry Christmas everyone!

I'll BBL but just wanted to check in - Wishing everyone a happy holiday and I hope you all have a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas!

 

[marcy]

I got up early and decided the sunrise looked promising for a great photo so I read actually watched and waited for 45 minutes to see that. I got some decent photos but not great photos. Then I showered, got dressed and went to get fruit out of the refrigerator for breakfast and found a sticky mess. The two whole honey baked hams - both wrapped in foil and in a plastic bag - had thawed alright and leaked all over the refrigerator. GRR!!! What a mess. Naturally, they were on the top shelf of the refrigerator so it dripped down on everything else. Once I opened the door it ran out the door and on the floor. My shoes got sticky, the floor got sticky. I got the shelves out and washed them. Wiped down things that got dripped on in the frig and then had to use wooden floor cleaner on the floor and wipe off the bottom of my shoes. What a process.

Since I had to clean up the hams - they are bonelss whole hams and sliced - so I put them in four 9x13 tin pans and ready to heat up for tomorrow. I guess if only four of us are eating, I'll be freezing a lot of ham tomorrow.

At least it won't take me long to get out four settings of Christmas china and glassware. And far less dishes.

Marty just headed to the gym and I bet no one shows up tonight. He'll be back soon.

Have a Merry Christmas!

 

[marcy]

@junebug17 I hope you are having a nice day.

 

[missy]

Good morning girls and happy Boxing Day!
The cold weather continues here brrrr.
We went hiking yesterday and I froze my you know what off and today is a mirror image of yesterday weather wise. But with less sun. We saw the feral kitties yesterday and praying they are doing OK with this weather. It is 18 degrees F right now. Too darn cold to be living outside


@canuk-gal I am with you...it is never too early for champagne or celebrating. Hope it was a delicious day in every way

@marcy gorgeous sunrise photo Glad you froze what you couldn't eat and did Marty have anyone show at the gym? Hahaha that is me in the cartoon..I am Snoopy. Did you know Snoopy's original name was going to be Sniffy? I read all the facts about Charles Schultz and Peanuts and that was one of them. We watched a Charlie Brown Christmas on Xmas eve as we do every year. Love it. And last night we watched A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life. Did you know when it's A Wonderful Life first showed at the box office it was a bomb and it took 28 years to become a hit. I thought that was interesting and very surprising. Anyway we watched all the christmas movies we always do and it was a wonderful Christmas evening and I hope you had a wonderful time too

@bling_dream19 hope your Christmas was magical just like you sweet lady. And that you are enjoying the company of your loved ones

@Slickk hope you too had a magical holiday and that you are staying warm and enjoying this time with family

@mrs-b hoping Nathaniel is doing well and getting stronger and ready to come and visit. And that you are having a wonderful time with all your loved ones

@junebug17 glad you had a nice holiday. It goes so fast

@rainwood Another Christmas come and gone and next year I predict will be more back to normal. That is what I think and hope at least

@MamaBee girl, hope you had a fun time and the power stayed on the entire time. Proving S right but we are right of course lol. He (We) just got lucky

@Austina hope you enjoyed a terrific day and happy Boxing Day...and speaking of colder weather here yup it is too cold. My chilblains is now spreading and I am not pleased. Stupid winter cold. Brrrr. Stay warm and cozy

Hi everyone else, hope all is well.
Leaving you with some photos from yesterday


Gracie under the tree and the star on top



Pepsi outside and she seems fine fingers crossed they all are still doing OK in this brutal cold




Hiking yesterday despite the temps in the teens and windchills in the negative numbers



It was very peaceful...not a soul around but us



Have a marvelous Monday lovely ladies.
Big hugs and much love to each one of you.
Stay warm and be well

 

[missy]

 

[springerspaniel]

Hi @missy! Clyde the older springer and I went hiking yesterday and spent a lot of time avoiding large patches of ice, but it was a blast. He loves checking out the woods and still can put on bursts of speed that challenge me. I hope Greg is feeling better(?)

 

[missy]

Hi @missy! Clyde the older springer and I went hiking yesterday and spent a lot of time avoiding large patches of ice, but it was a blast. He loves checking out the woods and still can put on bursts of speed that challenge me. I hope Greg is feeling better(?)

Aww I’m so happy you all enjoyed a hike together yesterday. I live vicariously through all of you wonderful dog families. Thanks so much for asking about Greg. Fingers crossed he’s doing better and that it continues. I don’t remember if I shared he vomited bile a number of times that day I wrote how concerned I was. Mainly concerned his hpt might be returning. But since those few days he’s been a ok. Sending you and the pups big hugs and much love. Wishing a healthy and happy 2023 for all of us

 

[missy]

Good morning girls and happy terrific Tuesday! Hope everyone is enjoying a quiet week.
We went hiking yesterday and ended up at the beach. Serene and beautiful.



Have a beautiful day! XOXO

 

[Scandinavian]

Hello all!
I’ve missed you! Trying to read at least a few of your posts, and it makes me happy to see that it looks like you are all doing just fine! Even without me checking in for …. Oh. A long while. I’ll make no promises as it seems ill boding. Instead I’ll try to start making amends and paying my dues by sharing some pictures of my Christmas present from my very kind husband. To further suck up, I’ll include some photos of our new puppy
Love, Scandi

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

NIRDI shout out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went out for Boxing Day sales--a deliberate waste of time. LOL. I was masked of course. Anyway, got some lovely take out from our fav Italian place and thoroughly enjoyed that. I am thinking of getting a new phone, so I need to make an appt for that. It is just too busy just to drop in apparently. No rush at any rate.

The temp was pretty nice yesterday, 9c. A bit of rain today (??) anyway. Strange weather all over the world it seems.

@missy lovely pictures, but you have no snow!! I was thinking a going for a walk, but it looks icy.
@MamaBee I hope you are feeling better. I am officially in your NEVER cook a turkey again. It literally make me sick to smell it--I couldn't even have a bite. Dry heaves. The boys ate it--left overs went home with DS and the rest I promptly put in the compost! Big waste but I couldn't stomach having it here.

Keep well and safe folks! I feel awful for folks stranded at airports, huge reason we NEVER travel at Christmas or NY's.

Was Santa good to the NIRDI's?

cheers--Sharon

 

[Austina]

Hello lovelies

Lovely to see you again @Scandanavian and woohoo to your lovely new earrings and the even lovelier new pupster! How did the other two react to the new addition? I hope you and the munchkins are all keeping well, and look forward to hopefully seeing more of you on here next year.

Yum to Italian food @canuk-gal and warmer temperatures. It’s a balmy 13 degs C here today, a vast improvement on recent days. We’re set to be back in to the 20’s later in the week.

I’m glad to hear that Greg is doing a bit better @missy, I know it’s always a worry when your loved ones aren’t feeling well. Glad you’re still able to get out and enjoy the beach. It looks beautiful.

I hope you a great Christmas Day @MamaBee and were able to enjoy having your family all together. I thought of you when I was cooking my little Butterball turkey crown, it turned out great.

I hope you didn’t have too much ham left over @marcy, and enjoyed your meal with friends.

We had a quiet day yesterday, I ended up cleaning my hob and tidying up.

We went out today, just to get out of the house, and bought a few things, nothing exciting, just some toiletries and I managed to find some custard powder in World Market, exorbitant price, but hey ho!

We’ll probably go to Costco tomorrow, we need a few things.

 

[Scandinavian]

Good morning from Scandinavia!
Trying to read up a bit, please forgive any memory lapses
My gosh @canuk-gal, that’s a bit chilly even by our northern standards. Here, the temperature last week has mostly been around minus 14 C. No let me check. That’s approximately 6F I think. Or, my thermometer thinks, really LOL.
@Austina The puppy is really starting to get more like a dog than a pup to be honest. He is ten months now and about 26 kg. Suspect he’ll be half of me quite soon LOL. Big boy, pure muscle. So the other dogs, who both weigh in at around 17kg are probably thinking “why is this battering ram insisting on hitting me??” He still has some problems turning sharp corners fast enough when they play. Other than that, they are happy. Our oldest is soon 12 years, she has loved the puppy from day one. The middle rascal is more sceptical, probably because he has some “pain in the back” issues, quite literally, some chronic comes-and-goes strain or infection or something in his spine due to his autoimmune problems. But with a bit of time, they have all become good friends.
@missy, I hope Greg keeps improving! But, I thought there was a lot of snow and winter storms in your part of the world? Glad to se you get to enjoy walks! I’m coughing up my stomach or at least it feels like it. Not really super sick, just a flu or something. But can’t sleep too well when I’m like this, so you might add grumpy to my symptoms. Aha! It’s man flu. No wonder I’m feeling a bit off. LOL.

But seriously, I have to be super not sick by 3 January. My mother has to go to the hospital for an operation. (Returning cancer thing, very rear version) And it’s in another country and we have to fly. And she can’t go alone. So I MUST recover enough to lose my fever and stop coughing before then. (Nordic countries have specialist hospitals scattered between the countries because the population is too small for the specialists to be any good otherwise)

@marcy, how is Marty and the gym going along? Still best friends? Re food, just bring it to me. I always get hungry when I read about your dinners! Are you having black ice on your roads too? I really hate that. And my car is very well equipped for it. I just hate it non the less.

 

[springerspaniel]

HI @Scandinavian! It's great to hear from you. I missed reading about your family and seeing pictures of your lovely house. I am sorry about your mother and sincerely hope you recover enough to be able to accompany her in January. I need pictures of the pup!! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to you and yours.

 

[missy]

GM girls! Happy wonderful Wednesday!

@canuk-gal yes, same. I feel so bad for all those travelers stranded. Not fun. Glad we have no snow. I am not ready for that haha. It will be reaching 50F here over the next few days but rain is coming for the weekend. Oh well. I will take rain over snow any day.

@Scandinavian I am sending you and your mom so many good wishes and healing vibes and hoping it goes super smoothly. Big hugs and much love to you and your sweet kids and dh. I cannot believe how much time has passed since your visit to NYC! Every now and then memories pop up in my accounts and I see the photos we took of that visit. Nice memories and I hope we can repeat them after this pandemic is OVER. Please let us know how everything goes with your mom. Keeping her in my prayers.

@Austina thank you. Yes he is continuing to feel well thank goodness. We (mainly Greg) have done a good job cleaning up and straightening up as best we can. Feels much better now IMO. We had a strenuous hike yesterday and happy I didn't hurt myself lol. Hopefully Costco will be empty for you today. It was, according to Greg, pretty empty yesterday when he went to pick up a few items for us

@bling_dream19 what are your NYE plans?

@Slickk how is Bear doing and hope you are enjoying a sweet week off from work

@mrs-b hope Nathaniel is doing well and able to join in the festivities

@springerspaniel hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve whatever you are planning and wishing everyone a very happy and healthy 2023. How fast this year went. Mind boggling

Hi everyone else. So yesterday we did a very fun but strenuous hike. It was a bit hairy in certain places. Thankfully I didn't hurt myself lol and we made it through. The next two days are wonderful weather wise but I do not think we are going to be able to hike due to plans. I have a telemedicine appt right in the middle of the day today and tomorrow well long story but a friend from Australia is coming with her boyfriend and we are all testing of course but I am very nervous to get together. But she is only here till January 4th and I do not want to disappoint her. Ugh please let everyone stay well. We cannot test for flu or RSV and Covid testing is not 100%. But I know we need to live our lives and I would hate to miss seeing her after all this time.

Leaving you with some photos from yesterday. Oliver finally decided to climb the tree. Not so good for our tree lol as he is a chunky monkey. Oliver that is














LOL that's our Oliver. Oliver 1; Tree zero ( the tree got knocked around a bit)

And from our hike yesterday. It was gorgeous. Nobody around. In the middle of nature. Beautiful.








Enjoy a lovely day girls! XOXO

 

[Scandinavian]

HI @Scandinavian! It's great to hear from you. I missed reading about your family and seeing pictures of your lovely house. I am sorry about your mother and sincerely hope you recover enough to be able to accompany her in January. I need pictures of the pup!! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Hi!!
How could I possibly refuse?? LOL He is very special to me already.

These are from when he was still a baby

 

[MamaBee]

Good morning girls..I’m still very sick. They say you can’t catch the same virus from a cold again….but I was feeling a tiny bit better when my grandchildren came Christmas Eve and stayed until the day after Christmas. The little guy..Noah..is the cutie who got me sick in the first place on Sunday/Monday..The symptoms weren’t too bad so I was able to plow through the holiday..still sick but manageable and exhausted. The day they left I started coughing a lot..My nose is still a faucet..which is an increase from just before they came. I should be saying this on the complaining page.. I think he beefed up my infection when he was here because he was still having symptoms of runny nose and cough..They tested him before they came for Covid and other things..all negative. I also tested twice..no Covid..just a mutant kid virus..
The one bright spot is I decided to get lab diamond studs..I didn’t want to add any more expensive jewelry to my collection because of how old I am. I feel like I’m buying them for the people who will inherit them. I already have a few pairs of really nice mined studs..so I didn’t feel the need to get mined this time. I want a fun pair that are diamonds. I don’t care where they were born. I won’t buy any more lab jewelry..but for studs..I’m mind clean..
I know this is all about me..Sorry…I’m feeling cranky from being sick..
Hugs to all!

 

[missy]

Big hugs @MamaBee sending lots of healing vibes and well wishes. And woohoo can’t wait to see your new studs

 

[MamaBee]

Big hugs @MamaBee sending lots of healing vibes and well wishes. And woohoo can’t wait to see your new studs

Thank you Missy..They’re 1.5 ctw..so littles. I wanted to replace the little unmentionable studs I gave to my friend. Sometimes I like to wear little studs..I love that they are D color. I hope I love them when I see them. I’ll have David make me crown settings.

 

[Scandinavian]

@MamaBee Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Slickk]

Aww @MamaBee I’m also sick! I’ve been so lucky and, of course, here I am sick on holiday break. Booo. Headache, fever, body aches/pain, cough, sore throat. Negative for Covid twice so…
Prior to vacation, half my class was out with the flu for days/weeks. Thought I had escaped it.
Sending warm hugs to all the NIRDIs. I’m going to try to get some sleep now.
Feel better @MamaBee

Adding a pic of Bear who is so sweet laying around with me.

 

[missy]

Feel better @Slickk !!

 

[MamaBee]

I hope you feel better @Slickk..

 

[springerspaniel]

Hi Bear!!! You are a cutie.