the week before Christmas...

This is how I've spent the last week or so... baking Christmas goodies to mail out to a few friends and family. We don't buy a lot of gifts anymore, but I prefer to spend the time baking and FedEx-ing it. Just seems more personal to me than sending a gift (possibly no one wants?) or a gift card that takes no time or effort. Not that I don't love Gift Cards myself... (usually use them for restaurants or getting us something we wouldn't buy for ourselves). But somehow baking something seems right for the holidays... 

As some of you already know, there are things I'm 'not supposed' to eat or drink due to various conditions... but although I follow the guidelines to some extent, I do 'cheat' a little (sometimes it doesn't matter, other times it does 😞)  But I won't give up coffee or tea completely, so here is a picture of my coffee cup.

not always with whip cream and Cinnamon...
but it's Christmas!

I have 2 dear friends that live fairly close... (one I met in our 20's and remained friends for 60 years and one I grew up with - so have known each other our whole lives) We have both moved around in the last 80 years, but fate seems to have landed us close by. However, we don't see each other as often as we used to since we don't drive anymore. We used to meet at a coffee shop or have lunch once a week. Nowadays it may be months before we can get together. 

One friend has a companion that helps her and can drive her here when she comes in town for a doctor visit. They came by last week and we exchanged Christmas gifts, had coffee, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We give each other a bag of 'little things' that we find handy to have ... in the kitchen or elsewhere (and of course we exchange Christmas cookies). One of the things she gave me this year is something I could really use. Here is a picture of it...

These bookmarks automatically 'follow the page'. The back hooks onto the back of the book and the front is put on the page you're reading. It automatically flips to the next page as you turn. Great for me - as I read in bed at night and almost always lose my place as the book falls when I fall asleep. Such a simple thing, but so-oo useful.

Guess I should close this as I have espresso shortbread in the oven and one more batch of whiskey balls to make today. Daughter and granddaughter will be here this week for a few days and I must prepare the guestroom, etc. Grandson has been off to Canada visiting friends, but will be home this week also.

Thinking about having a relaxed Christmas day dinner - just smoked turkey and ham sandwiches, home-made potato salad, and chips and dip (rum cake for dessert). May put it all out and people can help themselves and sit anywhere... rather than a sit down fancy dinner (not up to that this year). 

Hope all of you are having a good week. Sending love and good vibes to all. If I don't get to post again before Christmas...

Merry Christmas! 

Hugs (virtual), 

Rian

Christmas tree is finished!! And the Christmas train is back!

showing Mardi Gras beads!

There really are many more ornaments to add to the tree... but lately I've been just putting up the ones that hold memories: ones I made for the kids when they were babies, ones the kids made themselves, ones given to us, ones bought on travels, and a few glass ones from my parent's tree years ago (and I add Mardi Gras beads to our tree because it makes it feel more New Orlean-sy).

And I have to share my Christmas train with you! We've always had a train around the tree or elsewhere for Christmas. But the larger one got lost (or possibly one of our kids took it at some point). Then we had a small one that the grandkids played with so much, it no longer worked. So recently I saw this one on Amazon for $20 and couldn't resist. It is so cute... and makes train whistles, etc.!! 

(Remember to click on square on right to make video larger 

and to click on Esc to get back to post)

And of course I'm doing my Christmas baking. Sent off the first batch this week. Working on the 2nd batch today. Then only one more needed for family and friends close by. I usually bake Christmas tea cakes for my youngest granddaughter here and the twin girls next door - and rum cakes for the adults. 

This is a new version that I'm trying this year. I'm putting lemon curd or chocolate (maybe Nutella?) in between 2 thin teacakes with leaf cutouts in the center. Here's a picture of a few of the test ones with lemon curd (the 4 on the right):

That's all I've got to share at the moment. Hope your Christmas preparedness is under way and bringing you joy...

(This is the first Christmas since we lost our 17 year old grandson last January... so it's a bit bittersweet. My oldest son is still having a hard time dealing with it... as can be expected.)

Until next time...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

(For those interested, my eye is healing. Still on Rx antibiotic drops for the clogged tear duct, but otherwise doing fine.)

December 1, 2025 Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

OK, December is here!  and the end of 2025!  (and we're all still here... so far... but I think it's been a scary year for many)  

However, I'm going to focus on the magic of Christmas for the time being. I think we need to try to enjoy the season while it's upon us (with family, friends, food, decorations, etc.) 

A few pics from our house:

Yes, it's a bit 'cluttered'... but we like it!

this was taken at the garden center where we get our live tree...

I won't put up any pics of the tree yet... as it isn't decorated, but DH has put the lights on. We have gone from 12 ft trees to 10, then 8, and now 6 foot is what we got this time. Not only for the difficulty getting them in and set up (at our age), but also for the ridiculously increased prices. We love live trees for the aroma and just the naturalness of it. But we may end up being priced out if this continues... or we may have to get a 4-5 ft real tree and put it on a table next year.

I don't usually post much on Rabbit! Rabbit! days, but I wanted to share a little of our Christmas decor so far... 

... and also because I mentioned at some point (in a comment) about posting something in reference to the 1968 movie, "2001: a Space Odyssey". Someone brought it up in a comment on Apache Dug's post... and it reminded me of what happened almost 58 years ago. 

DH and were married in January of 1968. The movie came out in April... and we went to see it in September (or thereabout) - I was 8 months pregnant with our first child at the time. 

Do you remember the music to 2001? Well, it's very dramatic and  the baby inside me certainly responded to it. He almost kicked his way out during that movie. We thought about leaving, but didn't. Luckily he wasn't born for a few more weeks. But listening to that movie's music always brings back memories of that time and place... and confirmed that unborn babies certainly hear the sounds around them.

And the reason I'm posting this so late in the day is because DH and I went to the mall earlier today to do some Christmas shopping and I wanted to show you these 2 Lego pieces that were featured there:

full size adult Lego Santa!

and this black and white Lego Cat

How cute is that?

That's it! Try to stay warm (it's finally cold here - in the 30's). 

Hugs (virtually), 

Rian

Thanksgiving Day Nov 27, 2025

Happy Thanksgiving 2025!

 Just a few favorite memes:

... and something Jo (a Brit in Tennessee) had on her blog a while back:

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

 

Count on God instead of yourself.

~Author Unknown

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Christmas prep has started...

Now making my list for Christmas gifts and goodies... and starting to store cookie cannisters and boxes for mailing. Yes, it is only Thanksgiving next week, but that makes Christmas 4 weeks away! In that short time we need to order, buy, clean, and bake - as well as wrap and decorate. 

We usually get our tree the day after Thanksgiving (as well as any live garlands from the local nursery). DH put up our outside Christmas lights yesterday (we don't do the whole house, just across the front). 

There's not much decorating for Thanksgiving... so it goes from Halloween pumpkins to Christmas here. And I like Christmas. It's my 2nd favorite holiday (Easter being my first). But there's more 'magic' in the air at Christmas... not sure why, just always has been for me.

Also next week my youngest granddaughter becomes a teenager (13)! Hard to imagine as the time passed so quickly. 

Oh, and for the longest, the only feral cat that comes to eat regularly has been the one we call Shadow. He was born here in the yard, and once grown had gone off (as most do eventually), but he returned a few months back and has been staying around. Now he has brought a friend, a black female that could well have been part of the same litter.

The reason we believe this is because she comes right up to the door and looks in - like the ones who knew this yard from birth would do. She seems very comfortable and not at all afraid (not that she'd let us too close). Also Shadow has always been a loner... not getting to close to other grown cats. He was good around kittens - and he doesn't seem to mind her eating close to him.

We've been here 40 years and have seen many many ferals come and go. Occasionally we think maybe they come back for the holidays??

And recently, our grandson who lives with us, just had his 27th birthday! He moved in when he was 18 and his parents moved to Hawaii. He tried living there for a bit, but decided he was a Texas boy and moved back. Love having him here! We celebrated with a Tiramisu cake and dinner at a favorite Italian restaurant. Pictures of our dinner following:

My chicken Campanella

DH's Sausage & Peppers 

Grandson's Niko's Special

Bread pudding

Cannoli

And a quick update before I close this, my eye is healing well... one small problem has occurred that is keeping us watching is that my tear duct seems to be partially blocked. Apparently it has nothing to do with my surgeries, but still bothersome. I had the doctor check it and he did something (like put a tube down it and irrigated it?) and said yes, it was partially blocked. I'm using warm compresses, Systane drops, and may use a Rx antibiotic drops if it doesn't clear up soon (there is a surgery... but really really don't want another surgery 😟). If anyone out there has ever had a blocked tear duct  -  I would love to hear any advice or solutions.

a few memes:

That's it!  Wishing you a happy Sunday! 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Update on eye surgery... and a few pics

Starting this update on Monday after last Friday's surgery. All went well as far as we can tell. Eye Plastic Surgeon cut across left eyelid to lower it as it didn't quite come down as far as needed after 2nd surgery. It's swollen and blue, but seems to be ok. I see the doctor for post surgery visit on Thursday, so will know more then... and won't post this until then.

The only complication (which really wasn't one, but seemed like it) came on our way home from the surgical center Friday afternoon around 3pm. We had stopped at Whole Foods to pick up some sourdough bread and while DH went inside, I sat in the car. As he was returning, I noticed the wad of gauze in my hand was quickly filling up with blood... a little bleeding is ok, but this was more than a little... and it kept coming. I filled up another wad of gauze and DH said, "We're going back!" and we did. The doctor checked it right away and it had almost stopped by then. He said that most probably it was a blood clot that just burst.

Anyway, it's the 3rd day after surgery. I can see fine. The eyelid is lower, but still very swollen. We did cold packs for the first 2 days and start on warm compresses several times a day now. 

It's Thursday morning now and was getting ready for doctor appointments when I noticed that the shirt I was wearing and had hung up after my eye surgery last Friday has blood all down the left side. Being otherwise occupied, I hadn’t noticed it till now. Hope it comes out as it’s one of my favorite tops. 

OK, it's now Thursday after 4 pm and my post op visit is over. Doctor checked my eye and seemed a bit disappointed that it is a little 'droopy'... but believes that it's only been 6 days since the surgery and that once the swelling has gone down more, it should be better. Wants me to continue the warm compresses and ointment on the stitches (which are across the top of the eyelid and dissolvable - thank goodness!) And next appointment in one month... but said we will give it 3 months to heal.

This small growth on my left lower lid certainly turned out to be more than I'd expected. I guess I just expected the growth to be taken off... and the area stitched up. Never did I expect it to take 4 surgeries and all this time to heal. But... I'm not complaining. Truth is I'm just glad that the basal cell carcinoma is gone and my sight is not affected. If I end up with a droopy left eye, I really don't care. 

Thanks for putting up with my medical adventure. Sharing things like this helps. Not sure why. Perhaps it makes a person feel that they aren't going through it all alone. And I certainly haven't. DH, my grandson, and my kids have been with me all the way (DH crushing ice and bringing it to me to ice my eye for 10 minutes every 30 minutes the first few days and taking over the cooking, etc. for me on those days). And I love my friends and bloggers encouraging comments and texts. It all helps. Thank you.

a few funnies that fit me lately:

and...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Voice typing by Microsoft... and a recipe

I wanted to mention a new feature I just found when I went to Word on my computer the other day. It's called voice typing. And you just have to speak - and the words will be typed out for you. Voice typing launcher will appear when. You go to Word on your computer or laptop. The punctuation is a little iffy (as you can see). As it puts a period down whenever you pause. But I still think it's a neat feature.

And could be very useful for those who have any problem with their eyesight. This way they can continue blogging by simply voicing their blog instead of typing it. I'm on Windows 11 and I guess it is a new Microsoft feature. Or if it's not new. Then I just wasn't aware of it. I am using it now, as you can probably see from all the pauses and incorrect punctuation.

I will continue to use it for the first half of this post, just. To see how it works and if it's convenient, possibly for everyone. However, the incorrect punctuation can be a bit annoying...

And here are a few funny tech memes:

and...

There were many of these funny technology memes, but these 3 made me laugh... so I'm sharing.

And will also share this recipe we tried a few days ago that we all liked. It's called The Ultimate Hashbrown Casserole.

Here is a pic:

Ingredients:

4 cups diced smoked sausage

1 cup diced yellow onion

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 cups whole milk

2 cups chicken broth

4 cups shredded cheese (Colby-Jack) divided (I used 3 cheddar)

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 (30 oz) package of frozen shredded hashbrown potatoes (thawed)

Garnish with chopped green onion and black pepper if desired

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350

In large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, breaking up meat until browned (about 5 minutes). Then remove from pan with a slotted spoon. Set aside.

Add yellow onion to skillet, cook until tender (about 5 minutes).

Add butter, stirring until melted and add flour, stirring constantly for one minute.

Slowly add milk and broth, stirring constantly. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer until thickened (about 10 mins).

Add 3 cups cheese, stirring, then add sour cream, salt and pepper.

Stir in sausage and hash browns until well combined.

Bake in oven until brown and bubbly (about 45 mins). 

Sprinkle with remaining cheese (1 cup) and bake 5 mins more till cheese is melted. Garnish with green onion and pepper.

This makes a lot! You can cover leftovers in refrigerator and keep for up to 3 days. But I just made half the recipe. It was plenty for the 3 of us and even had some left-over for breakfast.

Hugs (virtual),

Rian