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Tag Archives: 12 Days of Christmas
The Sky Is A Hazy Shade of Winter
I forgot to post last weekend. Oops.
I haven’t been taking any photos lately. I was going to run out and get some “grim images of winter” in the yard but instead I pulled out these pretty flowers.
I learned this summer that I have been growing sunchokes (also called Jerusalem artichokes) and didn’t know it. Here’s an article about how to grow them.
I did nothing.
They showed up in my yard on their own and I have been angrily digging them up year after year and composting them only to find they always return. By the time I found out that this was an actual food thing that I would like it was late in the season and I’d lost interest in yard projects but I should have a bumper crop next year.
I like to buy these dried mushrooms at the grocery store. Earlier in the month when I was there I searched high and low and could not find this product in any of the usual and accustomed places.
I finally found someone to ask and this woman told me that NO ONE ever bought it and they were always having to throw the old ones away. She reiterated more than once that NO ONE bought it. I told her that while I understand I am only one customer, I am not no one.
That really annoyed me.
Also, last time I was there I found the product so I don’t know what her deal is.
I was trying to be on top of it and ordered our xmas cards over Thanksgiving weekend. About 2 hours after I ordered them I received an email telling me that I could come pick them up.
I waited until my next trip to the grocery store and went to the photo section which was being manned by a very nice young man, who had to be baked. Really laid back. He handed me a packet of about 17 cards which was significantly less than I ordered.
After a lot of, Whoa. And, Hm. And, Sorry ma’am, he remembers that our order broke the printer. He showed me it on the floor packed up in a box. Did anyone call me? No, of course no one called me, otherwise I wouldn’t be there.
Whoa. Hm. Sorry ma’am. I thought they called you.
To be clear: none of this annoyed me. I thought it was hilarious. If I could, I would be hanging out talking to that kid still, eating Doritos and exchanging quotes from our favorite movies.
I had to go back and get the rest of the cards on my next visit.
We’re staying in town for Christmas. I’ve got everything wrapped and ready. I’m decorating the tree and making cookies this afternoon.
Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukah. Have a great week whatever you celebrate.
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Do They Know It’s Christmas?
I’m scheduling this in advance and this is the forecast for my destination. Looks good, huh? Luckily there will be lots of food and fine company, plus puzzles and books. It’s going to be good.
60s Christmas. Are those bathrobes epic, or what? Going to be celebrating with my family again this year
There is a trio of elders in our neighborhood who walk every morning.
One morning we were going for a walk and as we made our way down our street we noticed a large number of cats lurking at the curb and watching. We were half joking about it and half creeped-out.
Then lady walker came around the corner with a little bag. She gives treats to all the cats. It’s very cute. Yesterday I was up early and I looked out the window and I saw two yellow safety vests and a third figure wearing several red blinky lights giving one of the neighbor cats a treat.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and may the new year be filled with people bringing you treats.
I’ll Take that Bag for You
I spotted this when we were having all the fires and ash everywhere. I think this is a raccoon print. I think our yard is on the raccoon circuit. We spot them sometimes if we’re up really early.
Confession: I’m writing most of these posts in bursts and then scheduling for the different days. Sorry — I just can’t reliably post every day.
I am writing this almost the same day as I’m posting.
I finally got outside and did a bunch of raking. I put the leaves in the garden areas where I want to keep the cats out. I piled leaves around Percy (fig tree that is now three sticks and no leaves) and the blueberries. The lady at the nursery said we didn’t need to worry but landscaper Vu thought we should pile him with leaves.
The garden is about 90% put to bed. I yanked the last tomato plant and harvested any tomatoes I thought might have a chance. I found a couple pounds of carrots and a million pounds of beets out there. Oh, and potatoes.
There are always potatoes.
Everything has been cleaned and prepped. Next weekend I hope to make borscht and do a quick refrigerator pickled beets.
And I’m doing my Thanksgiving menu — this always sneaks up on me. It’s summer. Summer winds down. Then it’s the holidays.
I have been searching for a new backpack. It’s like buying a car. So many kinds and options. I found one I liked but the first three reviews all said it was no good in the rain. So then I tried filtering by rain-proof backpacks and found all these ugly bags for bike messengers. Then I found the perfect backpack and bookmarked to buy later and when I checked the store was closed. Finally, I checked Waterfield where I have purchased a fantastic laptop bag plus three laptop sleeves. It was a spendy backpack but I treated myself. I admired it when it arrived then I handed it to Bob to give to me for Xmas.
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Day 12: Twelve Days of Christmas with the Rentz Girlsâ„¢
This is the card that the Xmas photo was pasted into. Instant classic!
I have to confess here that there’s a 3 year gap between the last photo and this one. My giant bag of photos doesn’t have the complete set. Sorry!
Do you ever look at old photos of yourself and you can hardly reconcile the photo with the person you are today? Look at those skinny brown legs.
That almost completes our show. I’m going to get a current photo of us at Christmas so you can see us in our middle-aged glory. That’s still to come.
Meanwhile, I’ll do a wrap-up for the holidays post and give you a great last minute gift idea tomorrow.
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Day 11: Twelve Days of Christmas with the Rentz Girlsâ„¢
Huh, we didn’t go see Santa this year. I wonder why.
I think I still have that little button on my sweater. That dog is Ginger who went on to live with Grandma and Grandpa and was a terrific dog.
Day 10: Twelve Days of Christmas with the Rentz Girlsâ„¢
Only 2 exciting days left!
Don’t I look like I’m going to a job interview?
And doesn’t this Santa look sketchy? I’m sure I didn’t notice.
See that piece of paper in my hand? The previous year when I wrote Santa a letter, he handed it to one of the elves and said, “Put this in her file.”
I HAVE A FILE!?!?!?!?
So this year, I confidently handed Santa my letter and said: “For your file.”
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Day 9: Twelve Days of Christmas with the Rentz Girlsâ„¢
That piece of paper in my hands? I decided to write Santa a letter with my Christmas list that I could hand him, so he’d have a written reference. He wouldn’t have to remember, or count on an elf to write it down correctly. Proof I have been ridiculously practical since the beginning of time.
Day 8: Twelve Days of Christmas with the Rentz Girlsâ„¢
Stripes and ponytails! No wonder Santa is making that face.
Day 7: Twelve Days of Christmas with the Rentz Girlsâ„¢
How come Santa is always looking at my sister in these photos. Although in this one, she is coming apart at the seams.
Day 6: Twelve Days of Christmas with the Rentz Girls™
I’m wearing a white tie!
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