Day 365 of 2025

Fireball is sporting quite the hat head

 thanks to the winter cold, a sock cap 

and all the static electricity created by taking that hat off.

 

Day 364 of 2025

Ornaments collected over the last 50 years

 are spread out on our dining table. 

This does not include the small amount I put on two trees this year 

and a couple of special collections. 

I'm hoping to reduce this significantly by first offering them to family. 

I'll be keeping some and then donating the rest.

 

Day 363 of 2025

I'm not great at just winging it when I make food, 

but tonight I took one leftover soup, 

another leftover from Big Christmas 

and two new ingredients to make a new soup. 

It turned out pretty well. 

Fireball intends to take the leftovers to work for lunch.

 

Day 362 of 2025

GB#1 is among the last to leave

 after a wonderful week of the whole family in town.

 

Day 361 of 2025

Today we had Big Christmas at our house.

 Little E crocheted chickens with their nests for all the young ones. 

They were a hit all around.

 

Day 360 of 2025

Winterlights at Newfields with the family

 

Day 359 of 2025

When some of your family members live over 3,000 miles apart, 

great hugs are in order.

Merry Christmas.

Day 358 of 2025

Christmas Eve family time.

 

Day 357 of 2025

Around the house.

 

Day 356 of 2025

If I were to go visit any of the tiny North Pole houses

 on display at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 

this one would be first.

 

Day 355 of 2025

It's fun to see what others have on their trees. 

I love this ornament.

 

Day 354 of 2025

It's another beautiful December sunset.

 

Day 353 of 2025

Company is coming. 

It's time to build a clothing rack for our guests.

 

Day 352 of 2025

It's nice to see the Christmas dish selection in action.

 

Day 351 of 2025

It's time for another school concert. 

This one is at GB#3's school.

 

Day 350 of 2025

It's beginning to look a lot (a little more) like Christmas.

 

Day 349 of 2025

I got a tree decorated today.

 

Day 348 of 2025

This morning we can see the results of yesterday's snow. 

It is expected to be very cold today and tonight 

so the roads are going to be a challenge for a while. 

Besides all that, it is a beautiful sight.

 

347 of 2025

I would ask where am I, 

but it seems pretty obvious that I am at the theater. 

I took GB#2 to see a show for her birthday. 

So the question for the day instead will be 

what show are we seeing?

What is It?

 

Day 346 of 2025

The new dining room is really coming together.

 There are just a few more things to complete here including

 setting up a Christmas tree. 

I'll take a break from pictures of this room until then.

 

Day 345 of 2025

While I had all the dishes out the china cabinet

 to move furniture around, 

it seemed like a good time to change the dishes. 

Even though we will be hosting a crowd in a couple weeks, 

this seems like way too many dishes to be out at once. 

I may put a few of them away until they are absolutely necessary.

 

Day 344 of 2025

This is what you find when you move the china cabinet

 that has been in the same place for a million years.

 

Day 343 of 2025

(picture taken 12-9-2025)

This cute little Santa suit ornament was one of the gifts I received

 at my quilt group Christmas party today.

 

Day 342 of 2025

An eye appointment and treatment and some stubborn screws

 for which I needed Fireball's help slowed my progress, 

but I have finished the final step to sideboard assembly.

 

Day 341 of 2025

There's not much new to see in the dining room 

because I'm building furniture which is not done yet.

I definitely need to have this room sorted this week

 so that will be my focus.

 

Day 340 of 2025

(picture taken 12-6-2025)

Wow! 

What a game. 

I wore my gear. 

I watched the game. 

It was well worth it.

 

Day 339 of 2025

One of the first things to go back into the new dining room

 is the quilt cabinet.

 

Day 338 of 2025

The full super moon was gorgeous tonight. 

My photo on the other hand turned out very grainy, 

but I really like it because it reminds me of children's book illustrations.

 

Day 337 of 2025

There is going to be a super moon tomorrow, 

but tonight's moon was very big and bright. 

One can never be sure if the weather will cooperate,

 so I thought it was a good idea to get a picture tonight.

 

Day 336 of 2025

While the painter works downstairs,

 I'm upstairs dreaming up quilts, 

specifically chevron quilts.

 

Day 335 of 2025

(photo taken 12-1-2025)

A few years ago I started a thing with a jar and some hearts

 to celebrate our wedding anniversary. 

These two links will explain. (heart) (hearts)

This year I made the heart early 

so I would not be rushed in the making. 

I put it in a "safe" place to bring out in May

 for a very special anniversary. 

Of course, I forgot where I put it. 

Today I found the heart

 made of gold paper for our 50th anniversary. 

I gave it to Fireball to add to the jar.

 

Day 334 of 2025

Priorities.

 

Day 333 of 2025

Our dining room transformation

 will be taking the next big step this week. 

Painting will begin and it will no longer be the red room. 

I was thinking it has been this color for about 25 years,

 but Fireball estimates that it might be closer to 30

 based on his travel schedule

 with his employer at the time.

 

Day 332 of 2025

Our old trash bin got picked up in record time on the first possible day, 

unlike Big D who has been waiting weeks for the pick up 

and finally got his bin picked up today.

 

Day 331 of 2025

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Our dinner will be served in our newly relocated dining room.

 

Day 330 of 2025

The new light has been successfully installed. 

It feels kind of magical.

 

Day 329 of 2025

Fireball and I are replacing the light in our kitchen 

which will no longer include the formal dining room. 

As is common with this type of project, 

we ran into a snag and had to wait another day to get it finished. 

I can't tell you how many times

 I tried to turn this (nonexistent) light on today.

 

Day 328 of 2025

After a procedure today, my doctor told me to go eat. 

If it had been earlier in the day

 I would have gone somewhere for pancakes, 

but my appointment was late enough in the day

 that all the restaurants that offer pancakes were closed. 

I checked their hours of operation last night

 and was pretty sure that this would be the case. 

To satisfy my craving for pancakes, 

I got the next best thing I could think of

 that was simple to fix at home. 

These waffles are so good.

 

Day 327 of 2025

We had an elaborate Sunday build happening in the den today.

Day 326 of 2025

With a large crowd of varying ages arriving soon

 to celebrate the holidays, 

I have been collecting some new games and puzzles (not shown)

 to help provide some fun, non-screen activities 

that everyone can participate in.

 

Day 325 of 2025

Without notice or instructions a new gray trash bin

 has been dropped off at each house in our neighborhood. 

I know what is going on since Big D lives near us

 and has already had this happen at his house. 

It would be nice though to get official notification

 from the new company.

 

Day 324 of 2025

Today I had a fun scrap fabric swap with a friend.

 

Day 323 of 2025

We have talked over the years about changing our living room

 into our dining room. 

When we have a crowd and the table is extended all the way, 

it is very crowded. 

Some guests cannot move once seated

 and need to ask for help getting needed items. 

Well, we've decided this year it's really going to happen. 

Last week I did the big furniture swap involving four rooms. 

This is now our much smaller, very cozy, 

everyday eating area in the kitchen.

 

Day 322 of 2025

Today was a very gray and rainy day. 

At one point this afternoon I thought I heard a very loud truck 

dropping things on my neighbor's driveway. 

I went to investigate but saw nothing. 

It was only later I realized that we were having a thunderstorm. 

Later I caught a glimpse out the kitchen window 

and noticed the eerie yellow sky. 

I took this photo through my kitchen window 

and the focus ended up on the screen. 

While this was not my intention, 

I am liking the feel of vintage pictures that this gives 

with the slight blur behind the screen and the yellow tone. 

 

Day 321 of 2025

I recently thrifted a pair of matching chairs. 

One of them has wobbly legs. 

I know I have to remove the dust cover on the corners by the legs

 to get to the bolts I need to tighten. 

That's what I'm doing today. 

I'll tighten the other chair too just for good measure. 

Tomorrow I will staple the dust covers back in place 

and give the chairs a good upholstery cleaning with my little machine.

Day 320 of 2025

The calendar isn't looking too full of appointments this week. 

I should have plenty of time to fill in things I want to get done.

 

Day 319 of 2025

We went to see GB#3 (center) in his school musical tonight. 

It was great fun for us, he was great and he had fun. 

Triple win.

 

Day 318 of 2025

Today I stopped in Target for a couple grocery items. 

I noticed that the pro sports apparel section was stocked to overflowing. 

Upon a quick look around I noticed that there were employees

 stocking Christmas stuff all around. 

I guess sports apparel must be a big seller for the season.

 

Day 317 of 2025

I found a container of photos today 

separate from most of our collection of photos. 

I don't think I've shared this one before, 

but if I have, please enjoy it again.  

Back row: My grandmother and grandfather (Dad's parents), 

my uncle (Dad's brother), 

Mom holding me at just over a month old, 

my great aunt (Dad's dad's sister)

Front row: The older of my two brothers, 

the younger of my two brothers, 

my sister (whose birthday this was)

 

Day 316 of 2025

Evidently the northern lights were visible here last night. 

I did not know about it. 

It was reported that they would be able to be seen again tonight. 

It would be harder to see and might only be visible in a photograph. 

I tried a few times but did not catch any lights. 

Possibly it was a result of living in a light polluted area. 

I did enjoy the night mode on my phone camera. 

I am amazed at how many stars are visible.