~cattleman cafe~ & another 24...

[dill]

Good morning everyone!

I posted yesterday in the morning, but my post got marked as "unapproved" so I contacted Jod and he took care of it for me! It's a mystery.

Today I'm baking cookies with my granddaughter. There won't be any tense moments as there will be just the two of us, but Rava, I can imagine tensions at a cookie decorating event! Everybody has their ideas on how should be done and there is plenty of room for conflict! Lol! Definite Hallmark material....

Martinis and cooking sounds like a huge moment of temptation. Yikes. I am sad to say I would likely have succumbed. Best for me to stay away from things like that.

Let's all continue to stay in our lane! Choose healthy living and all that goes with it. No hangovers being #1!

Not today.

[Jude58]

Rava, I used to have high expectations at Christmas and was ultimately disappointed. People strive to find the perfect gift for family and friends which can cause a lot of unneeded stress. Now I just lower my expectations and keep things simple. It will be just Mr.J and I here for Christmas and we plan on having a steak dinner instead of roasting a turkey with all of the fixings. We rarely buy steak due to it's high cost, so it will be a real treat.

We are supposed to get a few inches of snow today followed by rain, so it's unlikely that we will have a white Christmas. In the past I would have been so depressed because we didn't have any snow for the holiday. I've come to realize how ridiculous that was. It's something that is out of my control, and I need to just "Let it go."

Yesterday at the shelter many of the volunteers had given me small gifts for Christmas and I was really touched. It's the small things that count during the holidays, not how much you spend on a present. I'm glad that I didn't give up my volunteer job as I would have missed out on meeting some wonderful people.

24 more for all of us...

[abcowboy]

5:19am in Alberta, 24 more for me please, and thanks...

In the last 24 hours, these friends have joined in for 24 hours of wellness:
Jude58 Rava Ginger999 dill

Today is going to be a darn good day not to drink!

[Rava]

Good morning Cafe. Jude, how nice of your volunteers to give you little gifts. They appreciate you. Dill, I am sure I would have been drinking with that cookie making day. We have to go there for christmas and spend the night. Two years ago I caved and got so drunk Mr. R had to put me to bed. I never ever want to wake up in that house like that again. It’s an awful memory. Not to mention extremely embarrassing. I need to get my plan started for that day plus Christmas Eve where another party will be free flowing booze. I will put my Diet Coke in a wine glass and fake it until I make it. Let’s just add the stress of Christmas and being determined not to drink to add even more tension to the holiday. I will honestly be glad when it’s over. Jude, the idea of a steak dinner sounds relaxing and perfect to me. I am envious of the simplicity! Wishing everyone a safe and sober day. Waves to everyone today…

[abcowboy]

You gave me a chuckle with your Hallmark comment Rava, Bubba is addicted to those Hallmark movies lol.

The skid steer operator is pretty good Ginger, he keeps the bucket up about 4" from the grass so as not to damage anything. The tires don't even mark up the grass.

How did the cookie making and decorating go with your granddaughter dill? Do you make the sugar cookies with the Christmas design cookie cutters? Bubba doesn't do any Christmas baking, we usually end up getting so many chocolates that we don't need any more sweets in the house to temp me lol.

The price of beef is crazy high here as Jude, I don't remember the last time we bought any at all. Thankfully we still have moose in the deepfreeze. It's just going to be Bubba and me and her mom here for Christmas so we'll probably just do a small ham.

[Ginger999]

You guys are the best! As I sit and read the posts this morning, I'm reminded how random it is that we found each other in this big wide world. What a blessing!

Jude, you're so right about the little things being what's important about Christmas. I'm so glad for you and your new "framily" of volunteers.

ABC, well that makes sense about the blade height. I love to watch people run machines like that. Such a great skill set and so needed in the construction industry around here, anyway.

Rava, you got this! You can always call me, if you want. I'll be around!

Dill, I think your baking day sounds perfect! I missed our group cookie decorating party. I did get a lovely plate of cookies though. Yummy!

Dr said my knee looks great and rehab is on track. I'm so happy to have that bandage off and a little more range of motion!

Tonight is pizza and Christmas movie at the neighbors. Not sure what we are watching yet but I do know there will be no AL for me!

Hi Mul! Let's all enjoy an easy day.

[dill]

I too love to watch large machine work, Ginger! The last time we had some work done here I was in absolute awe of how masterfully the operator managed his work. He was so good he elevated his work to artist level, IMO. So glad you got that blasted bandage off! Progress!!

The baking day was lovely! I'm so glad to have a granddaughter to share time with like that. We were pretty tuckered out in the end. Yes, Cowboy, I roll out sugar cookie dough and use cutters in the shapes of Christmas Trees, holly leaves, stars and circles. We decorate them with a glaze and some colored sugar sprinkles. I have many more but those were the shapes we decided on for yesterday. I used to make more cookies but like you, we just don't need all those sweets in the house. So we just made the sugar cookies for Christmas Day and a batch of chocolate chip cookies to send home with her.

Rava, I remember you having a very bad event a couple years ago. I could easily imagine all the ways that that could happen. I lost control of my drinking years ago to the point that I stopped drinking anywhere but at home. I prefer not to remember those times, but sometimes the memories just come anyway. Ugh. Forgive yourself and let it go.

Jude, that is so sweet about the little gifts! You are so right that it isn't the size of the gift, it's just the thought that counts. It sounds like you are very much appreciated.

Waves to you, Mul!

We had the most gorgeous sunset here last night. The light cast a shade of pink on everything for a few wonderful moments. So grateful to have seen it.

Not today.