Daily Ooos: September 25-26: Weekend Edition

[faerywings]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is the last weekend of September. What is happening here? I am not ready.
Ready for what, you ask?
I have NO idea, just that I am not ready.


Part of it is that I am not ready to have 20+ people here tomorrow, part is that I am not ready for Autumn.
I am closer to being ready for the party, the kitchen DR and LR are all scrubbed and shiny. I think I cleaned off a few months of doggy nose prints from the picture window and the room is much brighter LOL I worked my butt off yesterday which made me tired and a bit achy but happy overall. I decorated with just a few spooky things but not the full Halloween scene. I lit my pumpkin spice candle and the house smelled nice too. The only big cleaning I have left is Gary's (the main) bathroom.

Still no word from my friend. I know she is busy during the week with teaching but I hope that I hear from her soon, and not about the money, I don't care about that. I just hope her life isn't in total chaos. It is usually low-level chaos but she handles it well enough.
We are off to the FP this morning and hopefully, it will be open. I need to stop at the grocery store to pick up some bread for tomorrow.
Then I am working on some of the food and tidying the patio. I am making the Oreo Pudding and Pretzel Spider for sure, the bruschetta topping probably. Maybe the deviled egg filling.
I stress out 110% the day of a party and I am out of practice. I usually host three of these a year (May/June Bash, Sept Bash, Christmas Day) but I haven't had this many people here since 2019.

xoxoxo!!!

 

[faerywings]

@taxed4ever Hope that you had a fab time reconnecting with your old friends! Sounds like you will have so much to talk about- good and not as good. The fact that you living each day as best you can is a testament to your strength and resiliency. Hope your Gary doesn't; have to you working non-stop this weekend. *wink*

@Cherylndesigns That is one of the drawbacks to long hair, it can be a PITA to wash, esp if you are down and arm. When I had my lumpectomy, it hurt to use my right arm for a while and couldn't get the incision wet. By the time I could wash my hair, my scalp was itching me like mad, all I wanted to do was soak and scrub, scrub and soak.

Shocked, I am SHOCKED. You have a hard time asking for help? I cannot believe that.
Gary added another skeleton to the roof so we have 4 up there right now.

@nancyr I meant to ask you yesterday-- the vet thinks that W might be licking her feet so much b/c of a mild allergy. She suggested that we try Benadryl or Zyrtec. Did you ever use them for Luther? I think he is on prescriptions for allergies but was wondering if you tried OTC stuff first. I did a bit of poking around the internet yesterday and it looks like Benadryl is less expensive but more likely to make dogs lethargic (not that it would be a bad thing for W LOL) and Zyrtec is more expensive but very few side effects. I am leaning toward the Zyrtec but thought I would ask you if you had any experience with them.
haha!! I can imagine Luther grumbling to you about going to doggie daycare.

@tanteva Hope that you slept well and that Marten is doing ok. You and Urban must be exhausted for all of that driving. Give M some more snuggles from me.

@felis I shouldn't laugh at the dopamine detox but of course, that is the way it would work. Sorry to hear that you missed out on a lot of good stuff! I hope that I am not dragging you down- I wish we had our old smilies back here. I feel like when I use them, it lightened the mood a little.
I am planning on having a great time at the party, it is going to be wonderful having everyone together! My niece called Caitlyn yesterday to ask if her friend could come too. Everyone in her group at school is going home this weekend and my niece asked if she could bring her. Of course, she can- the more the merrier! And she is fully vax'd so no worries there either.
BTW- Scott and Leah got tested to be on the safe side after their trip- both negative!

The sun is shining, so it is a very pretty day. Better get going! hugs!

 

[tanteva]

I'm super tired! Mårten seems to be getting better. He sure is happy to be home. He get's 2 kinds of medication plus one supplement. Also have a third kind of medication in case he needs extra pain relief. What he seems to need most though is mama's lap. Love to have an excuse to stay in the sofa all day being a... Don't know the English word, but you know in posh families before, where the ladies had special hired "friends" to keep them company. All I can do is sit or lay here in the sofa. Been reading & watched Sharknado 5 so far.

Won't be any scrapping done this weekend! Lol

 

[taxed4ever]

Morning ladies... I am up with the birds this morning and coffee is brewed and tasting mighty good! DH is still in bed snoring and catching up on his sleep. He wakes up all week long at 5:30 am so I will let him sleep as long as he can. Lots of yard work to get done today, as the weather will be beautiful today and then the heavens open and will drench us with big downpours for about a week straight. Ugh!! Yesterday's lunch was really nice although our one friend was almost 40 mins late. Apparently she is late for everything LOL. My other friend told me that she used to invite her for lunch and tell her that lunch was at 11am so that she would be there at least by 12 noon. Oh well we are all retired so it really doesn't matter I guess. I don't like being late for anything and it was drilled into me that if you arrive 15mins early, then you are late LOL. I finished up a painting I was working on for my Sister-In-Law's partner. He wanted a Raven painted on an old Hand Saw. Here is a photo, now I just have to put a few coats of varnish on it. I kept the background pretty simple as I wanted the Raven to be the main focus.


@faerywings - Chris I hope you get all that prep work done, please try not to stress too much about it. (like you would ever listen to me LOL). Hope you hear from your friend this weekend too! It must be weighing heavy on your mind wondering if everything is ok with her! Sounds like you got lots of cleaning done too funny about the nose prints on the window. I bet there are a few there again now LOL. Your party will be so much fun! It has been far too long since you had that many people in your house! Everyone will be so happy to be together again! Wish I could come and meet everyone!

@tanteva - So glad to hear that your sweet cat is doing much better! Poor thing having to be so medicated and such a long drive home. I think it is nice that you will get to spend the day with him on the couch! Like Royalty .

@Cherylndesigns - I can't imagine how hard it must have been to get your hair washed! One reason why I don't have really long hair anymore, the length I have now is still a PITA! Although I do miss being able to put it up in a bun or have a ponytail.

@nancyr - Glad that the rain has finally stopped for your area and that there is no more flooding! Poor Luther, so afraid of the thunder! Had to laugh at the thought of him grumbling to you on the ride to the doggy day care! Hope he didn't mind having his bath and getting his nails clipped, he will be one spiffy looking German Shepherd! Thanks for the nice compliment on my cards, I really enjoy making them and find it very relaxing!

@felis - Yes wouldn't you know it, the time you took off being on social media is when all the good stuff happens!! I hope that you are able to catch up with everything, but it is a good thing to get away from all things tech for a bit! Enjoy your beautiful Fall and I hope you get lots of time to get out for walks and work in the garden with your cats!

Ok I hear DH getting up so I best grab another coffee before he drinks it all LOL. Have a lovely weekend everyone!

 

[tanteva]

@taxed4ever Absolutely love that saw! Amazing.

 

[mywisecrafts]

@taxed4ever that saw is awesome!

@faerywings you are braver than I. I think of all the prewoek, the work during the party and then I have to clean my house all over again once everyone leaves…… so then I opt to not have a party!!!

Soccer season starts next week for my daughter…. Few more weeks and my son as well! I’m sure I’ll be chatting a lot with you all from the soccer field!

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Afternoon all.

Chris, you sound like YOU worked too hard. So, I knew you'd have a hard time believing that I didn't like to ask for help. BWAHAHA I did the same thing you did with your hair when you had your lumpectomy. I just stood under the shower and let it soak on my scalp. It felt sooooooo amazing and then, I put some shampoo on it and did the one hand scrub. I have to say that my shoulder is kind of achy today and it just dawned on me that's why. Even tho I didn't use my right arm much, I still must have.

So, more skeletons on the roof, huh? I'll bet Gary is "gearing up" for Halloween. I'll have to check his fb page more often. You won't see much of him from now on, I'm sure. I hope the party is out of this world - I know it will be. I agree with Esther @mywisecrafts all I can think of now is the cleaning up after. Hahaha It's all good - when i was a cleaning freak, I did the same thing. I actually used to like to clean - what was wrong with me??? LMBO

Trudy @taxed4ever that saw you painted is awesome. You're so talented. So, your friend was 40 minutes late? Sounds like that's her MO. Your weather sounds beautiful - I went outside today and sat on the porch and it's delightful outside. I'm still not feeling confident enough to go walking - not on these knotty, rocky roads. I have to watch where I step anyway, so I don't need to be turning my ankle right now.

Waving to all and sending hugs. I still can't type for very long on my laptop. It's getting easier and at least I can do it for short periods of time. I'm sitting here with an ice pack on my shoulder. I can wedge it under my sling and it stays in place.

 

[faerywings]

*gulps*
Ok, O-Fam, it is here, the big day, and I am trying to not freak out. I got this. I know it rationally but when have you ever known me to be rational? ha!!! The only people coming here are *family* who know and love me in spite of me being me. *wink* But dang, I feel myself wanting to go into hiding. Or at least wanting to not have the responsibility of hosting. Don't get me wrong, my fam is fantastic, everyone brings food and wine, my SIL 9 times out of 10 will wash dishes when they pile up in the sink. Everyone knows to help themselves to whatever they need.

FP was amazing- it cracks me up how excited I get with some items. They had boxes and boxes of Little Bites and told us to take a lot. Cait grabbed one full box and a bunch of individual bags.

My dogs were also extremely excited because I came home with a new giant tennis ball for them (also some more treats!). Usually, they will sniff the bags and walk away. This time they know that there was something for them and were rooting around for the toy. My MIA-friend's son was there with the Eagle Scouts and I asked how his mom was- he said fine. So there's that? [no idea smilie]
I cooked the rest of the day- Oreo Pudding, Creamy Bruschetta, Deviled Eggs, and the infamous Pretzel Spider. Scott made me feel so guilty that I only made one that I was honestly wondering if I had time to make a second. I did not but I am going to have to make another one soon. This is a pretzel spider I made last year for the HalloweenTheme Night. Bummer-- he looks so much cuter than the one I made yesterday.


I have to get the vegan turk'y in the oven soon and get the plates/serving stuff ready and then I need to figure out WTH I am going to wear. One big downside in living in old ratty T-shirts and leggings is that when I do need to dress like a human adult, I have no idea what to do. Heheh

Wish me luck today!

 

[faerywings]

@tanteva Ooooh, sweet Marten! I bet that he has been very happy to snuggle on your lap and vice versa. Not you snuggling on his lap, you being happy that he is snuggling on yours.
How was Discord with him? Whenever my cats were overnight at the vet's, the other cats got so suspicious of them. I guess they could smell "hospital" on them? It usually ended up with some hissing going on. Discord is probably better behaved than my kitties were. (RIP my babies!- I really do miss my cats occasionally)

@taxed4ever How was your day outside, get everything done that you needed? I am sorry that it is supposed to rain a lot but I think the water tables will be happy. Wil lit rain enough to ease the drought restrictions?
I am the same as you, except that it was rude to be more than a few minutes early as well as a few minutes late. You had a 10-minute window to be on time. Acceptable times for an 11 am meeting were from 10:55 to 11.05
The saw is amazing!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!
Thanks for the good thoughts and yes, I wish that I could host an O-Fam get-together too!

@mywisecrafts My SIL is awesome, she offered to have the party at her house if it made it easier but then I have two drawbacks- Gary wouldn't;t be able to come with us (he is semi-housebound due to his disability, he is always nauseous so is only comfortable being away from home for short periods of time) and then I would have to drive so no wine for me. Having it here also forces me to deep clean. It's a trade-off, I suppose *G*
Good luck to DD's soccer team!! My nephew is 10 and is on traveling soccer and baseball teams right now and will be doing basketball in the winter. My brother and SIL practically live on fields too.

@Cherylndesigns Who me, work too hard? Not a chance! I did ask Scott to mow the lawn, and Caitlyn came to the FP with me. I will put money down that Tom offers to help while Caitlyn gets ready. Did I tell you that he helped me take the groceries from my car the other day? He is really excited about meeting everyone. Cait and I think he is crazy.100% off his rocker.
Skeletons on the roof: Five. We now have 5 on the roof and Braxton is looking out there saying how he is very happy to be inside. We have more skeleton "pieces" in the basement that will go on the lawn once Gary decides how he wants to set them up.
How is your shoulder doing today?

Ugh, I need to get going. xoxoxoxo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tanteva]

I'm super stressed over here as well. Not that I have anything I really have to do, but I guess the last 2 weeks chaos are catching up to me. Not eaten very well this week either. All in all - I feel crap. Tired, but having hard time sleeping. Hungry, but not feeling like eating. Basically: stress overload. And when I'm stressed - I tend to stress even over things that really isn't anything to stress over. Like my Cheery O-duties - In my mind, I know I'm on top of things - but all I can think of are the 2 kits I've downloaded, and not used.

I should be working tomorrow, but Urban will take my shift, cuz one of us must be home and give Mårten his medicine. So - I will be home Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, and besides making dinners & going to the pharmacy tomorrow, all I have to do is give Mårten his meds 2 times a day. As you hear: I will have PLENTY of time making two layouts. Still I'm stressed like an idiot. I know it's all in my head (being raised to feel guilt 24/7 - this is the result). I just need to remind myself.

And I need to get back to eating properly, not just fast carbs and quick, unhealthy snacks. I did make dinner yesterday, at least we got a proper dinner yesterday. Not sure what to make today, and it's only about 2 hrs til it's time to start cooking.

Now I'm going to go lay down on the sofa and finish my book. Done a double session of mindful meditation on my app ... not even that helped with the stress.

Any tips on good stress relief?

Oh, and Discord behaves very well. He's a bit reserved that Mårten smells a bit weird, but he's just keeping his distance. Not like Mario & Luigi that we had before. Despite being brothers, they attacked eachother when one of them came home and smelled of veterinarian. LOL

 

[taxed4ever]

Morning everyone! It is pouring rain this morning and we are so glad that we got all the yard work done yesterday in the warm sunshine! The front of the house looks so much better, we couldn't believe how much all of the shrubs and bushes had grown over the summer. DH cut the front and the back yards and then helped me with trimming all the bushes. He wanted to use his hedge trimmer, but I said no way, I don't want them butchered I just want them trimmed LOL. We have a giant Japanese Aralia bush on the front side of the house and we will have to completely cut it back before the weather turns really cold. We just didn't have the energy or the time to tackle that yesterday. We cut it right down last year and man that thing grows back twice as big every year. I decided that I did not like how bare the background was on the saw, so I painted some fluffy clouds in the sky.



@faerywings I hope that you have a wonderful time at your party! I bet everyone is thrilled to be together once again! How fun to get the goodies from the FP! Hope everyone pitches in and helps out with the clean up when the party is over! Sounds like the probably will. Have a glass of wine and put your feet up and enjoy the fun with your family! Glad that the dogs get to have fun too with their new toy and treats!

@tanteva - I am sorry that you are feeling so stressed! I hope that you get back on track with your healthy eating and that you can unwind and relax with being able to spend time at home caring for your kitty! Perhaps scrapping with the two kits will bring your stress level down?

Ok sorry ladies I have lots of laundry and cleaning to do today so I will sign off here and hope that you all have a great day!

 

[felis]

Hello girls!
Just one name ''Sex Education'', watch it alone as have lots of embarrassing scene, but it's the best teen series I'm ever watch!!! Away from the Hollywood cliches every character is meaningful and have own story! It's Netflix show and as everything good at TV it's british one. I'm dedicated most of my time this weekend to it. The only unpleasant thing about it is that the cast is so young, so it's kind of embarrassing.
This is one of the things that makes me feel old, fangirling was a part of my nature for so long, so now I'm feeling like the pleasure of following TV series is taken away of me. However the plot is really good and cover all important subjects parenting, discrimination, abortion, violence, drugs, everything painful.

Eva, Mårten is so beautiful! I wish him get well fast! Why is this urinary infections happen, the weather change or dry food allergies?
I deeply sorry to hear that you are feeling so down! Hug you! Try to rise your mood around him, because cat will catch it and will get stressed too. Did you try to listen affirmations or to meditate?

Chris, I definitely think that the family is way more rigorous when comes to visit your house then friends or strangers, but I'm sure you did everything perfect! SO fingers crossed that you'll be able to relax and really get fun on the party! Are you worried because of the Lyme, as here no one actually care anymore for distance and mask if is vaccinated?
Thanks for the book recommendation, I'll put it on the list for November 1st when is the next big book sale!

Trudy, this Hand Saw is so gorgeous! Definitely gift that will impress! Weekend spending in gardening is lovely weekend at my standards. I'm so happy for you!

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Hellllooooo! My lovely O Friends,

Chris @faerywings listen to me - YOU'VE GOT THIS! All caps because I'm NOT yelling, I'm stressing the importance of my words. BWAHAHA Seriously, You've got it, girl! For ALL the reasons you listed about your helpful famly, but just that I KNOW you (cuz we're so much alike) you'll stress out over every tiny detail, then POOF everything will work out as if by magic. I have never figured out how to make myself not stress over parties and get-togethers either, so I suck at giving you advice. I'm telling you what I should be telling myself. I can't wait until tomorrow to see how well everything went. Your food sounds divine and that's the #1 thing - "feed them". LOL

The family (all that live here) have been gone all weekend - they all went to Arkansas to that wedding that I was hoping we weren't going to be obligated to go to. Remember that one? Nancy @nancyr, you were trying to "talk me down" over that one. Hubby did NOT want to go - it was a whole weekend thing and I didnn't want to go w/o him. They were all 7 sleeping in a adjoining motel room. That's not my "bag" either. I would have had to pay for my own room for 2 nights and then probably had somebody decide they wanted to stay with me. Haha Remember my "foible" about not liking to share a bathroom? BWAHAHA Chuck and I never have except that 6 months or so we lived in that little brick house while our house was being finished up. Nancy, I think it was you who said that wouldn't work for you, too. It might have been somebody else, but it was a joke the whole time. But I digress.

I made a layout last night with one of the pictures that Adrienne and Ava sent me from after the wedding. They used the beautiful venue to take pictures of all of them. Hahaha Even the boyfriends/girlfriends went. I used one of the pictures of Adrienne and Roger for the 52 Inspirations Challenge. All we had to do was "babysit" Lila for the weekend and go check on their cat. We pushed the easy button. Haha

Trudy @taxed4ever I LOVE the addition of the clouds! What a difference it makes. It was beautiful w/o but they add so much softness. Like I said yesterday, you've a very talented artist.

Eva @tanteva, I know what you mean about being messed up from not eating right. I have a pretty strict diet (it's called not eating a LOT) and when I do, I suffer. I even have trouble sleeping. I hope you can get back on your eating regime soon and get to feeling better. As for stress, I say "breathe". My smart watch even reminds me to breathe. It's only about 5 minutes, but it really helps clear my mind. I also have special meditational music that I listen to.

Felis @felis I've never heard of that show - on Netflix, huh? Hope you're well, sweetie. I love seeing your smiling face on IG.

Waving to all and sending cyber hugs.

 

[nancyr]

good late evening - had a busy weekend. And it was fun. Sometimes my DH is so infuriating - he wanted to try another new park but I told him the park had lots of soccer fields and that the park would be filled with kids and parents. He needed to see. Guess what it was exactly as I predicted and because so crowed it took forever to get out of the park. Luther was not happy. Then he was not sure how to get back. Basically we made a great big circle to just end up back at our local park. Waste of time but we did get in a great walk. My oldest son called to ask us to go to dinner Sunday evening. My youngest son was involved with his family as next week is his fiancé's sister's wedding. They had the rehearsal dinner and birthday party. We ate at a new restaurant for my DH and I. It is called the Red Cadillac and is in fact a Mexican restaurant. OMgosh it was so good. I had strawberry glazed jalapeño chicken tacos. Just the correct mix of sweet and spicy. Now I have 3 restaurants to select from when I crave Mexican food. Had a good walk today too. And hockey games are back on TV. These are preseason and not my teams but I still love watching. I am having to decide this week whether I am going to games or not. If I take the train all have to be masked which is great for me. My DH will meet me at the end of the games to ride home together. There is one player on the team who is not vaccinated. They take precautions for the team but not sure what precautions they are taking for those of us in the stands. I have not problem when people do vaccinate as long as they are not able to make me sick. I am going to have to call my rep and see what the Devils protocols are for protecting fans.

@faerywings Chris I imagine by now you and family are relaxing and wondering why you stressed. I love that pretzel spider! Luther and allergies - We have never tried OTC remedies. We use apoquel a prescription is needed. We had Luther washed and the groomer noticed that Luther's paws are a bit rough and so suggested with put on paw balm. Luther does seem more itching and I have noticed on my walks my eyes really are watering. I know for me benedryl really makes me drowsy. Never tried the other. I love those muffins bites. My son and his kids love them too.

@taxed4ever Trudy so glad you had such a nice visit. I too have a girlfriend who is always late. We too give her an earlier time lol. Glad the yard was done before the rain! Love the raven and like the addition of clouds!

@tanteva Eva sorry you are stressed. And yes eating the correct foods are supposed to help. And I find I do so much better if I sleep. But darn sleeping some times is hard. Glad that Marten is doing better! That has to make you so happy!

@felis felis I am not sure I could watch that that show with out covering my eyes LOL. I find it easier to read that than watch it. I am so old. But so fun when you do find a show you can watch. Enjoy!

@Cherylndesigns Cheryl yes I do remember telling you not to go to that wedding. LOL Glad it worked out that you stayed home to keep an eye on the ole homestead for everyone. Hope you are taking it easy with your shoulder. My hair is so short and I love it! I do not need to arms.

Waving!