I managed to wash my hair this evening. That's the only really useful thing I did today. Even so, I was too tired to blow it out, so I'll have to flat iron it in the morning.

the end of the Black Friday sale
 

all done, yeah me!

I must say that the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker with Tendercrisp was kinda heavy! It will replace my Crock Pot, and I will be able to BBQ a chicken in it! What fun!

Will have the rest of the week to open boxes, get the other stuff packed and ready to donate, and make new space on my counter, and elsewhere.

Also, treated myself to a Greek feast platter to celebrate - absolutely delicious. I always celebrate spending money and buying things by going out and feasting.

I got _all_ my Christmas shopping done! Yay!

GeorgiaMa'am, that is an enormous accomplishment!


Lots! Kept 2 burn barrels going. I am cutting logs into thin slices. Also, dumped some used motor oil on a stump ... I was working this stump in April 2018 ... then my back went out (several ruptured discs) ... so I had to quit. I am doing great now. No surgery. Pain is not worth mentioning anymore. I can do anything I want but I am super careful about lifting heavy objects. I make sure I make my core is rock hard before the lift. Magic!! LOL! Actually lots more core building P.T. at home regularly has helped a lot.

By tomorrow evening, I expect that stump will be ready to cover with dirt and forget! YAY! :) I only have two more in the backyard to get rid of ... all the ones in the woods can rot. Stumps are a burden. The work is too hard if you don't have a stump grinder.

Happy tonight! Much progress this weekend!
:)

I went shopping: bought a few groceries, bought a couple of silk scarves and a beautiful pair of earrings; and then I stopped to get a manicure/pedicure at the spa. I decided to just go with a natural manicure, instead of doing the gel overlays on my real nails. My nails feel better now, thank heavens.

Oh, and I bought a beautiful ring for myself today too. It's handmade, and it's Italian enameled artwork (in Ivory or Aqua) depicting a turtle swimming among the coral reef (it has crystals, too, it's very sparkly and pretty). It is a Sterling Silver ring. I got it for my middle finger on my left hand. I had to get it sized to fit, though. It should be back by NYE.

Here's what the proceeds from Sea Turtle Ring goes toward: "At Belle Étoile, we are constantly inspired by the beauty of nature and we are committed to helping protect this beauty for generations to come. Through the sale of the Sea Turtle Collection, Belle Étoile is supporting the work of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, helping sea turtles all over the world. Thank you for your support." Here is what it looks like: Belle Etoile Jewelry

And...., I had my therapy visit today, somewhere in between all that shopping. I'm so glad my therapist can see me on Saturday's now.

Good for you! Me too!

Quite a few years ago, I realized that my family was not ever going to create the kind of MGM-Hollywood Christmas I wanted. So I started my own traditions, and some of them have lasted* and some have not**. But I have plenty of Christmasy-ness - and my family of choice - to spend them with now. Today, for example, I am hanging up Christmas cards and wrapping gifts with elaborate trimmings (no bags here - unless of course someone doesn't deserve extra fancy wrapping).

(*Examples of traditions that have lasted: baking cookies; giving randomly to some person who needs it; giving to charities; sending Holiday cards.

** Examples of traditions that have not lasted (and good riddance!): baking a huge, multi-course traditional meal for my biological family who will plow through the whole thing in 20 minutes and not appreciate it; and giving everyone in my biological family "extra", funny white elephant gifts, trying to jolly them into the Spirit of Christmas.

~~

A three hour nap! Boy, doing nothing really wore me out!

~
Today I got my bedroom in order!

Now IF only I was having some company to appreciate it.......:giggle:

Ummmm ive only done 2 things on my list so the rest to go.

I gave a friend some really hard news that I've been avoiding for three months. He actually took it pretty well - but we'll see how he holds up after the news sinks in. He's the nervous sort.

Did someone say bread.......:awww:

LOL not much
I cleaned off the top of the dead microwave

I finished mowing the yard

I am about to fold laundry and finish another load.

I've been awake since 4 a.m. so you can see I haven't done much today

– finished my income tax return
– finished purging the filing cabinet
– started the car since I haven’t driven in a week or so
– bought a black & white laser printer, I am over color printers

-Tidied the apartment.
-Watched some Netflix.
-Spent quality time with Monte before I had to leave.
-Kept gynecology appointment so J would quit nagging, I hate annual exams.
-Finally found a place without a wait list and enjoyed a very late lunch.
-Finished up some laundry.
-Shredded junk mail, lots and I thought it was a deluge at the old place. Hah!
-Arranged a play date with my grandson and a visit with his dad this weekend.
-Watched a little more Netflix.
-Worked on budget some more.

Nervously watched the high wind and rain whip around the tree canopy a few yards from my windows — the squirrel nest hung in there!

Looked online for bird boxes and read about them — the kind you put out in the winter not for nesting but for roosting in cold weather.

A bunch of birds at one time, even different species, will sit on the little ladder inside.

The entrance hole is at the bottom of the front panel, so their body heat will rise and stay inside.

In the spring, you switch the front panel so the hole is at the top, letting the hot air out, and they use it for nesting. When I order one, I'll affix it somehow to the wall of the balcony.

Everything else I did today pales next to my self-tutorial on bird boxes and storm watching.