Gift and Tidbits

Here is what I received for our 20th anniversary.  Hubby surprised me with this beautiful necklace.

I also got a dozen roses.  We plan to celebrate when he is off work.  Or can get work off.

Update on our sick daughter.  She did not go to the ER, but I am pretty sure she caught the actual flu - body aches, vomiting, headache, fever etc.  A friend of hers checked in on her, bringing her broth, and other "clear" foods.  Her brother also kept an eye on her, and she was able to get her work shift covered for a day of rest home in bed.

In the meantime, because she was over at our place on the 23rd, I've been sanitizing, and wiping everything people may have touched.  I'm even watching sofa blankets, as she stayed the night too.  We are doing preventative measures as well, with 4 Thieves vinegar, teas etc.

We don't have to worry about dinner prep for a few days.  We have a ton of leftovers and even breakfast from Christmas morning.  Although Hubby forgot to take a plate of goodies to work, he went with breakfast and lunch already made too.

Christmas 2018

This was the plan anyway, but.....

Jars of Wild Violet Jelly

Jars of canned corn relish

Three girls received hand embroidered kitchen towels, paired with other gifts. 


The kids all received a "Starbucks" wine cork tree ornament.

The girls received charm bracelets I put together with their favorite things.  This is just one of them. 

I hand embroidered this towel for a biker friend of ours.  We invited him out for the big party/meal.  He has very little family, and he is family to us, so I didn't want him to go home empty handed.  He does his laundry on Sunday, and it's sort of a joke, because he often says "I can't ride 'cause I have to do my laundry.

As for what didn't get gifted - the jelly and corn relish.  They had a family Christmas on Christmas day without us.   I had called my Mother to wish her a Merry Christmas.  She couldn't talk long as she was putting food in the oven for a gathering with one of my sisters and brothers.  I was not invited during the call.  We live 25 minutes from where they gathered.

 I was invited 45 minutes prior via a text, and I had rolls rising, and no car.  We had sent our Youngest to deliver some homemade ginger-ale to our 19 year-old who was very sick.  In fact, she may have gone to the ER last night.  I'll find out later.

Anyway, I now have almost 40 rolls that were not consumed with my own kids.  In fact, it was our first Christmas to eat alone.  They kept our youngest (and another daughter was there also, who was expected at our house) at the gathering for almost 5 hours.  I'll be freezing some rolls to see how well it works.

The traditional snack mix and hot cranberry punch were never made either.  I was expected to do it after they finished their own gathering, and I was quite perturbed by what had happened anyway.

Today is my 20th wedding anniversary.  I'll be back to post a picture of my gift.  Hubby has to work today, and I have a ton of dirty dishes from a meal that was to be for many and ended up for two.  I hope to have an update on our sick daughter as well.  I was very worried about her.  She had to work yesterday(and has to work today), and called saying she was laying on the floor behind the counter, and couldn't stop throwing up, even sipping homemade ginger-ale. 

I hope your Christmas was delightful, peaceful and just enjoyable.  The gathering we had with Hubby's family went fantastic.  We had somewhere between 40-50 people here and a lot of food.