Good Morning to everyone!  I can't think of anything to write, so will just say Hi!!  Hope everyone is doing well.  My brain isn't working too well this morning, so will just sign off, wishing you all well, BJ.

How nice to see we all had a great holiday!
Anthony and his family are coming tomorrow and we will open gifts with them then.  They are going to a party and them will come here and stay the night.  Then go to Emmily's parents on Sunday morning.
Dean asked if I wanted to take the tree down today   I said no, the kids are coming tomorrow.  He laughed and said he forgot.

We had ham, sweet potaotes, green beans and noodles for Christmas dinner.  We had left overs for a couple of days and today I do not want any of that sutff!!  I will make ham salad with the left-over ham but the remaining food will be thrown out.  We don't do that usually, but I am tired of it.  We have/had way too many sweets.  Candy, cookies, home made peanut butter fudge, just to name a few.  I asked Aaron if he could take most of it to work for  his guys and he said they would appreciate it.

It was so warm here today and supposed to reach 60 degrees tomorrow.  Even the grandkids said it did not feel like Christmas due to the weather.

Judy, I have not heard of eggplant soup; I will have to look it up.  I have never tried pickled herring, but I like just about anything pickled, so would probably like it.

SANDRA and INDY we don't add anything to the jelly, some make it to add to a trifle and add fruit to settle into the bowl with it to make layers, that's the only time we'd ever add fruit. I don't care for jelly. but the boys (and the Mr) love it, too easy, add water and set in the fridge LOL 

It does look good in the layered trifle bowl - if I could be bothered doing that LOL I'm too lazy.

CHERYL I liked the herrings, not sure if they were pickled, they were raw and served on pumpernickel with some onion, they were really nice, may  have been a little pickled to take away the complete rawness (is that even a word LOL )  I will be vacuum sealing our ham soon, it's too big and we get sick of it. It lasts for months in the fridge like that, I will use it in pasta dishes and also use some for sandwiches, I make a lot of smaller packs so we don't waste it.

INDY my brother is disappointing to say the least, our mum and dad would be very unhappy with him, his wife "wears the pants" in that relationship, so he'll do what she wants, disappointed he doesn't respond to my texts, and as I've said SHE answers his phone, so I prefer texts. There comes a time when you just have to let go, and let him be, if he needs me I'll be there but I won't tolerate rudeness form any of them, I'm too old and cranky for that now.

That was funny about eating jelly with your hands, you were a cheeky one LOL 

FAMILIES !!! You should love your own - and I do, even though he drives me crazy - but more often the families you choose means more to you, like all of you here.

On eggplant - I cook it fairly often with a little onion, tomatoes, red and green peppers and zucchini. It's a good 'fridge clean out' recipe, good with steaks or fish as a side.

STRINGS The ham sandwiches sound good, we get sick of salads even in summer, so I made quiche. I love Dijon mustard on my sandwich

SANDRA did you get your laps in, I haven't been back to training yet, and now my regular Tuesday class is full. I just booked into yoga for Monday, and should book my Thursday one soon too or that will be full, last year some of the classes were not very well attended, seems like it's not the case this year, I better get more organised. 
I just found a new series (to me) on Britbox, it's got Doc Martins wife in it, Murder In Suburbia, I'll let you know as you like my kind of mystery, violence implied only  and lots of good actors.

Nothing happening here today, a bit of washing, and I made one the of Alice inWonderland blocks, it was machine appliqué. A bit fiddly, but looks OK, I will get a pic tomorrow,

Yesterday was so hot, we had dinner with Gary and it cooled down a little then, but the roof cavity was so hot it was warm all night in the house, but too cold with the A/C on. So I didn't sleep well.

I did go and get my nails done, the girls saw me and sent me to a spare set and started straight away, I heard one say "appointment" to another lady waiting LOL They are good to me, but I do give them extra and so they look after me and Megan as well, she also gives extra, they work hard and some people are so rude to the girls. They are so lovely and do a lovely job on my old hands.

We had quiche leftovers, turkey and potato salad and turkey stuffing balls, I won't get away with leftovers again tomorrow, but I do have lots of the roast meal we had -  it's been in the freezer, so it will turn into casserole for tomorrow LOL
Not a very healthy meal tonight, but we'll survive

See you later.

Last edited by tricia-anne (12/28/2024 2:30 am)

We always ate pickled herring on NY’s day. I can’t really remember the real reason.

Raining since yesterday morning and is supposed to continue through tomorrow.
Shopped yesterday but have to go back today to return some items…the single serve grape juice had little hard bits of Something in it. The milk was sour and the tiny round potatoes were soft and smelled. I usually check carefully but I slipped up.
Last night I tried a new salmon dish. We eat fish once a week. Pecan crusted baked salmon. The coating had Dijon whole grain mustard and maple syrup which is topped with panko, smoked paprika, garlic powder and chopped pecan. Bakes quick, looks nice and tasted good. A keeper.
Our winter retreat is coming up in a few weeks. I have precut and labeled all the fabric for each project so all I’ll have to do is sew, sew, sew.

Last edited by tricia-anne (12/29/2024 12:47 am)

Trish- thank you for the fun Christmas card. It came today!

Last edited by tricia-anne (12/29/2024 12:46 am)

Yes, thanks, Trish.  Mine came yesterday...(the 27th, postmarked Dec. 3rd.)  I have no idea how international mail travels.  Our US Postal Service can be so erratic these days.  I waited 16 days for my piece of jewelry.  It went from Knoxville, TN; south to N. Carolina; then north to Columbus. OH; to Chicago (50 miles away from here); north  to Pontiac, MI; then east to  Detroit; west back to Chicago and finally east to here.  Anyway, your card is so cute with the platypus.  I've learned a lot about unusual Australian animals from the zoo shows.  And, your birds are just  gorgeous.  

Our day is quite warm, 50 degrees and has this soft luminous light--no glaring sunshine.  I should pop out for a bit, but am finally getting my dining table unloaded and visible again.

Cheryl, I've had this eggplant soup recipe for ages, long before their was a internet.  It's quite simple and of course, tastes better the next day.  3/4 c. minced onion and 2 minced cloves of garlic sauteed in  a small amt. of olive oil.   Add one peeled, cubed eggplant and continue sauteing, adding a bit more  olive oil, as needed.  Add one zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced, 1-28 oz can of whole Italian-type tomatoes, chopped w/ juice, 3 cups of either beef or chicken broth and 1 tsp. salt.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Serve topped with Swiss cheese. (Swiss cheese sound odd. I never use it for anything else, but it really is a good choice.) The original recipe called for 1 can of red beans, but personally, I don't care for the texture of beans in it so I omit that.  

Linda, sounds like you had a nice, enjoyable day with your niece and grandsons.  That kind of tired is good and you can rest today. 

Devonne, sounds like the drain was ready to come out.  I'm sure it startled and scared you a bit.  Must have seem funny to be alone after several days with someone there.  Thinking of you often...

I'd better go and carry on.  Having a chicken thighs and potatoes bake for supper.  Greek flavored with lemon juice, garlic and olive oil.  New recipe so we'll see.  Can always have the  eggplant soup again!!  
Indy
 

Last edited by indyanny (12/28/2024 3:11 pm)

Thank you Trish for the Christmas card

Last edited by tricia-anne (12/29/2024 12:45 am)