The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[Kumquatqueen]

Wait... I built this 18 foot tall straw man and now you say the celebration is cancelled?

I'm sure we can set it on fire or something.

As of today, the 13-metre tall 2024 Gåvle Goat is still standing, but there's still a week to New Year for it to be subject to arson, exploded, destroyed by jackdaws, or other method of elimination.

 

[MillieDynamite]

We're heading south now to see Mum and Dad. Or, as Donnie calls him, PaPa! Don't know if I'll be on the rest of the week or not. If not, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Sunshine reflected off snow can also give one a sunburn. One of the worst burns I’ve ever had was snowshoeing in January at minus ten. We were working so hard we doffed parkas and such and carried on in t-shirts. We were burning enough calories to feel warm, but most of us got a medium-rare grilling.

A very happy holidays to all, even those people who feel compelled to start 24 hours early.

 

[Duleigh]

I'm sure we can set it on fire or something.

As of today, the 13-metre tall 2024 Gåvle Goat is still standing, but there's still a week to New Year for it to be subject to arson, exploded, destroyed by jackdaws, or other method of elimination.

"As of December 2023, 42 out of 58 goats have been destroyed or damaged in some way. Burning or destroying the goat is illegal..." Would it get the same protection if it were a real goat? It would have survived in 2023 if they hadn't made the goat out of bird food.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I came in to make sure a fresh pot of coffee was ready and surprised a jolly fat man in a red suit putting presents under the tree. He laughed a jolly laugh and left in a hurry.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Thanks Candy. We're at my SIL's house, and their coffee machine died this morning. McDonald's coffee for breakfast, and beer from then. It's now over 30c.

Merry Christmas and a Happy

 

[NotWise]

Sunshine reflected off snow can also give one a sunburn. One of the worst burns I’ve ever had was snowshoeing in January at minus ten. We were working so hard we doffed parkas and such and carried on in t-shirts. We were burning enough calories to feel warm, but most of us got a medium-rare grilling.

A very happy holidays to all, even those people who feel compelled to start 24 hours early.

Snow blindness under those conditions is a real thing. Your eyes are protected from sunlight coming from overhead, but you don't have a defense against light reflected up from the snow. Your cornea sunburns and leaves you temporarily blinded.

The same thing can happen on a beach. I've always worn sunglasses at beaches, but not for snow.

 

[JGittes]

Merry Christmas from southeast England. We're six hours in already.

It's the only day of the year the Coop Market is closed. They're across the High Street from us, and every day starts at about 4 am with the delivery of newspapers, then a parade of delivery lorries. The greengrocer, four doors up High Street, arrives at 4:30, and we're off to the races, waking our little village for the day's custom.

Not today. Calm and quiet, no one around. In the three hours I've been awake, two cars have driven by, and one other early morning dog walker headed south toward the pond.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Merry Christmas from southeast England. We're six hours in already.

It's the only day of the year the Coop Market is closed. They're across the High Street from us, and every day starts at about 4 am with the delivery of newspapers, then a parade of delivery lorries. The greengrocer, four doors up High Street, arrives at 4:30, and we're off to the races, waking our little village for the day's custom.

Not today. Calm and quiet, no one around. In the three hours I've been awake, two cars have driven by, and one other early morning dog walker headed south toward the pond.

Merry Christmas, one and all! (It's not a Christian thing here - pure Peace and Goodwill to all men...)

I ought to get up and put the turkey in. My side road is mostly quiet (except twice a year when Mr Neighbour has a karaoke party) but the major road 100 yards away still has the open corner shop, kebab shop and petrol station. Though even that's been quiet for a couple days, mostly because the chicken shop/offie is being done up. Just as well I haven't had munchies or need of booze at 3am!

The roads are eerily quiet - most people drive to their destinations yesterday or get cabs today. My dad doesn't drink more than a glass, so happily drives here in under an hour and then home in the evening.

Right, off to do my best Nigella Christmas Domestic Goddess impersonation. Where's that meecro-wavvé...?

 

[sirhugs]

Merry Christmas from a long time absent poster

 

[Rustyoznail]

Right, off to do my best Nigella Christmas Domestic Goddess impersonation. Where's that meecro-wavvé...?

Cook books (actual paper things!) were the presents of choice this year, and the meecro-warvae got a mention.

Hi ho @sirhugs! Don't be a stranger and just hang out on the ideas board.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

The morning coffee is ready and the teapot is hot for those who want a cuppa. There's gingerbread cookies on the counter.

Great to see @sirhugs stop by. Don't forget to check under the tree for your gift. Santa left me some chocolate in my stocking so I must have been a (mostly) good girl this year. It looks like there's some stockings with coal in them so someone has been bad this year.

 

[NotWise]

The morning coffee is ready and the teapot is hot for those who want a cuppa. There's gingerbread cookies on the counter.

Great to see @sirhugs stop by. Don't forget to check under the tree for your gift. Santa left me some chocolate in my stocking so I must have been a (mostly) good girl this year. It looks like there's some stockings with coal in them so someone has been bad this year.

The dragon gets a stocking, doesn't he? He'll like the coal.

We won't have our Christmas dinner or exchange gifts until after my youngest gets here on Friday.

My Christmas ritual is to take my amaryllis out of storage and get them started. I'll pot a new one (Hippeastrum cybister "bogata"), clean the others up, and move things around to get them in a south window. They'll start flowering in a month and flower all through February.

We'll go see the grandson this afternoon. It'll also be the first time I've been inside their house since they had it torn down more than three years ago and rebuilt from the basement up. They're living in it now, even though the cabinetry and a few other details are still not done.

 

[_Lynn_]

Merry Christmas to those celebrating. I'll spend the day watching football and doing the laundry.

 

[MrPixel]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Christmas is a quiet day for us. It's just the two of us, no family to speak of on either side now. Many years ago we had a tradition of going out for Chinese since they did not observe, and their restaurants were open especially in the Jewish areas of town. However, our adopted town of 20 years is completely shuttered save for the Walgreens.

C is planning on turkey chili for dinner, a favorite we don't share often enough.

Beethoven's 8th on Pandora at the moment. Basking in the sonic splendor.

 

[NotWise]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Christmas is a quiet day for us. It's just the two of us, no family to speak of on either side now. Many years ago we had a tradition of going out for Chinese since they did not observe, and their restaurants were open especially in the Jewish areas of town. However, our adopted town of 20 years is completely shuttered save for the Walgreens.

C is planning on turkey chili for dinner, a favorite we don't share often enough.

Beethoven's 8th on Pandora at the moment. Basking in the sonic splendor.

Here it's Rach 3, and writing a sex scene.

 

[Duleigh]

Merry Christmas to my friends all over the world!​

 

[MillieDynamite]

All's quiet on the southern front. Mum and Jo are making some deserts (God help us that have gag down Jo's cookies), Pops and I are heading into his work. Donnie and the two cats are playing with the boxes and wrapping paper so much for buying him gifts. He loves to play with the cats more than the toys.

 

[Duleigh]

All's quiet on the southern front. Mum and Jo are making some deserts (God help us that have gag down Jo's cookies), Pops and I are heading into his work. Donnie and the two cats are playing with the boxes and wrapping paper so much for buying him gifts. He loves to play with the cats more than the toys.

Cats are great for little kids, you don't have to wind them up, their movement is unpredictable so they're hours of fun, and when they get tired of Butch or Sally, they teach the child a valuable lesson about retractable claws.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Neither Cat or Baby (Mum and Dad's cat) has ever clawed Donnie. He knows about their claws. He's seen what they can do to his mommies.

Cats are great for little kids, you don't have to wind them up, their movement is unpredictable so they're hours of fun, and when they get tired of Butch or Sally, they teach the child a valuable lesson about retractable claws.

 

[Norfolkguy49]

Merry Christmas all

 

[dmallord]

Happy you guys got the tree done. Very festive, thank you. Nobody managed to drop any of those thin glass ornaments, did you? Or at least swept up really well...

Got a lesson last night in doggie meds. We've been keeping our fella in check with Trazodone therapy, 200mg spaced a precise 12 hours apart. It's done wonders for all of us, and we have managed over the course of two years to rein-in his many anxieties and develop a great relationship with him. But late last night he was acting out. Wouldn't settle down, constant requests to go outside, not all "productive", Daddy would cover him with his blanket but he'd get up 10 minutes later when he'd normally go right to sleep, and he'd stand there staring at me in spite of my requests for "Sky? Dog bed!" I was up and down with him all night.

There was a reason. It so happened that he spit out his evening pill without detection. I found it on the living room floor at 4 a.m. C has a less "hands on" approach to administering his meds, letting him take it from a spoon, and she didn't catch it. (What dog wants to take pills? Ours does, usually, and will remind us when we don't do it on his schedule!) So we had an "Oh, wow!" discussion over breakfast in having seen the obvious correlation between the missed dose and his acting-out. Just amazing. We've resolved to be more attentive.

And I could use a nap right now.

I give Buddy his meds with a dab of peanut butter-easy peasy. He likes peanut butter anytime.

 

[Duleigh]

I give Buddy his meds with a dab of peanut butter-easy peasy. He likes peanut butter anytime.

With Gibbs, Ziva, and Marly it's cheese that does the trick. Nothing expensive, just a slice of american folded around the pill - it won't touch the sides going down. Just be sure to count your fingers when done.

 

[MrPixel]

One of the reasons Sky's so enthusiastic about his meds is we use coconut oil. Like I said, he bugs us if we forget or wait too long after his meal to give him the pill. He has other supplements - vitamins, glucosamine, probiotic - that he considers treats, but the trazodone tastes awful. I know, I have my own script for it.

The mistake was C lets him lick the oil with the pill in it off the spoon rather than pushing it down his throat. That actually worked for several weeks. I've always pushed it off the spoon. He's very gentle with it that way 'cause he loves the coconut oil, but C thinks the slightest tooth contact is his biting her.

Coconut oil is a staple in our household. Doggie pills, skin moisturizer, and if you've read some of my stories, there are other uses for it, too, drawn from real life. Works so well for that!

 

[NotWise]

The saying goes, "Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailors warning." We had a brilliant red sky at sunset. so tomorrow should be delightful.