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Uhm Val did you notice the mushrooms and black sausage?

Wow, another one of mine. Thanks bro. I sent him out to buy apples and he came back with pumpkins and colored corn. Oh, and misplaced his pants and shirt. Good thing he's pretty.

I am mostly thank you. Mum and I took her neighbors out for brunch then stopped at the Polish deli. I bought a piece of Wedding Kielbasa and a package of potato cheddar pierogies. After we got home mum said she was going to Walmart for tissue paper so we could wrap the gifts for my step-sibs. After Christmas last year we found some really nice handmade pottery Christmas soap dishes. On my last trip to Philly I bought some really nice handmade holiday scented soap to go with them. We want to pack them and ship them this week so they can have them to use for the holidays. From Walmart we went to Michael's to look for small artificial apples and lemons to update a couple of small wreathes mum hangs on the coach lamps beside the garage doors. I brought the large wreath I used to hang on my frontdoor in PA to replace an old one she had. When I made mine I used artificial apples, lemons and pomegranates along with pinecones and silk magnolia leaves interspersed within the faux evergreen wreath base. I want to make the smaller wreaths coordinate with the new one for the frontdoor. From there we bopped nextdoor to a new huge wine and beer store just to browse. I ended up with a four pack of perry imported from the UK. I'm not a beer drinker but I do enjoy an occasional cider. Now I'm relaxing hoping to ease a mild migraine without resorting to meds. Wow. I didn't ramble much in that reply 😋

Mostly, thanks. It was a good day.

It is but I also have a voice in who we invite. Two of the couples have been here for previous dinners. The third couple is usually out of town visiting relatives but not this year. When we learned that we quickly added them.

We'll be entertaining three couples that are friends of mum's. I know and like them all too.

We're having brussel sprouts roasted with shallots and bacon, balsamic glazed roasted carrots and creamed dried corn along with the usual suspects, i.e. turkey, etc.

You mean macular degeneration? Mum has that in her left eye.

Your mother and sister are disorderly?

Uhm, aren't you missing something? Maybe veggies?

Wonderful photo. Ahhh, the joys of reliable warmth. Congrats.

Mum and I made fruitcake this morning. We only made a half recipe as the full one is enough batter for two eight inch ring pans. Also, instead of making one large one we divided the batter into six smaller, 3×5 loaf pans. Once cooled completely they are covered in bourbon soaked cheesecloth to age/mature.

Dry shampoo was available begining in the 1940's or 50's. I remember using a spray type as a teen in the mid-70's.

Uhmm, wow. Beautiful lyrics Parker. Oh, you done good too Carlos.

Uhm ... hell ... o ... bro.

G'day y'all. It's chilly here this morning, 39/4° but feels colder due to the breeze. At least it's to be bright and sunny.

Fortunately it wasn't a brain muddle afterall 'cause mum doesn't like me standing on her chairs.

I didn't know this was your portrait. You're famous, well sort of.

So I was correct ... woohoo, it's not a case of early senility.

Greetings Albert. I am thank you.

You're correct. I knew someone didn't just got myself into a brain muddle as to who.

Wait, does Page eat mushrooms?

So do some people ...

Here at mum's in SC we can actually plant the bulbs outdoors in late Spring and they will bloom the following year. Provided they get enough moisture over the summer.

Purchased four amaryllis bulbs to force bloom for the holidays. Three different varieties, all red. Two bulbs are Double Dragon, the variety I grew last year. They are large deep red double flowers with multiple stems and blossoms. I'll give one of those to the neighbors, they really liked ours last year. The other bulbs are newer varieties. Inferno, another large double flowered type and Rapido, which is a smaller variety that has multiple stems. It will be fun to see what they are like.