A lot to be thankful for 2022

Thanksgiving was great mainly because someone else cooked. This year we went with traditional since we hosted our Ukraine family, and since I didn't know the first thing about cooking a turkey and was in the last week of NaNoWriMo, Tom did the cooking. Bless his little heart.

They started the day with the annual Turkey Trot. I set the table and got out the china, much to the girl's dismay. Madison slept in. 

While we ate appetizers, I taught football to Oleg's mother and grandmother. The kids played some games. Tom slaved in the kitchen. 

Oleg made the pies again. Wine flowed. Darcy invited two guests. We all went around the table and said what we were thankful for, and by the time Oleg and his family gave theirs, we were all crying.

I'm not into hosting big get-togethers, but I enjoy them, especially when I don't have to cook! Next up - Christmas!

November Birthdays 2022

November is a big birthday month for us. First, my SIL has a birthday. A week later, I have one. Ten days after that, Madison has hers. We tend to party down all month long.

Oleg's family took me out for my birthday. We went to a restaurant called CaraCaras. I thought it was a joke when she texted me, but no, that's the name. The female chef is award-winning. It's a tapas place, and we tried all kinds of dishes. We had several drinks. We ate dessert. It was a delightful evening. Ten out of ten. The only people missing were my children. My favorite gift was a new laptop from the hubby.

For Madison's birthday, she suggested we have tea. The Ukraine family is big on tea, and since the birthday celebration fell on a Sunday, Madison didn't want anything significant since she had to return to work the next day. I took her suggestion, turned it into a tea party, and maybe went a bit crazy.

I bought some tea trays from Amazon, found a recipe for clotted cream, decorated in pinks and blues, made tea sandwiches, and offered a variety of teas. I also got to use some family tea sets and bowls I've never used before, but they fit the occasion. Madison told everyone to come in sweatpants.

The only downside to that type of celebration is a sugar overload. I definitely see why a tea party lasts for several hours. Ours, alas, did not. But, ten out ten, for originality and fun. 

Hurricane Nicole 2022

Hurricane Nicole roared in late. The season runs from June 1 to November 30; by then, we usually believe we're safe. Thankfully, like Ian before her, Nicole weakened and missed our area. We had a lot of rain and wind and got another pruning of our oak tree. 

My pineapple plant loved it. I swear the thing doubled in size. 

Let's hope this is the end of the 2022 season. Maybe by June 2023, I'll be prepared. 

2022 resolution check - ten months

Every two months, I check in to see how I'm doing on my New Year's resolutions. This year I'm changing the way I score. I'm supposed to be working throughout the course of twelve months so the scoring should reflect that. I'm scoring from 0-2 in the hopes that by the end of the year, I'll have completed the tasks with at least a score of 80 out of 120!

Let's check-in at ten months:

• To finish several projects I've started and haven't completed, including staying on Tom until we have completed our will - I have "stayed" on Tom, although I haven't made progress. I have not really completed any projects, though. Score: 1

• To establish a daily business routine with hours and keep to it - Yes! Score: 2

• Begin a healthy eating/workout regiment - Pretty much still doing okay on this one. Score: 2

• Create my author's website and increase my author's social media presence - No and yes. Score: 1

• Have a monthly dinner calendar, so I'm not struggling to know what to cook at night - Yep. I've done very well with this one, and it has made my life easier. Score: 2

• To finish my mess, that is book one. Finish book three. Edit both. Learn the self-publishing industry - Why did I cram so much into one resolution? Score: 0

• Eat weekly meals at a table and not in front of the TV - Uh, no. Score: 0

• Go on several girl trips - Done. Score: 2

• Purchase birthday cards and prepare for sending out at the beginning of the month - I'll admit that I have given up on this one. Score: 0

• Get back to blogging on my personal site. - I'm trying! Score: 1

Total For Two Months: 11 out of 20 

Total Thus far: 59.5 out of 120 - Hey, almost halfway!

Halloween 2022

Oleg's family wanted to carve pumpkins, so I threw a pumpkin carving party. Everyone had to bring a pumpkin, and because we live in Florida and pumpkins only last about forty-eight hours, I waited to buy mine the day of the party. 

Big mistake.

I traveled all over the county looking for pumpkins and gave up an hour before the party. I sent Tom out. My friend SueG sent out her daughter. Results? We ended up with more pumpkins than we needed.

Still, the party was a success. We put out tables in the driveway and sweated our way through carving several pumpkins. Tom's sister Beth, visiting from Chicago, collected the seeds. She and SueG's daughter washed, spiced, and roasted them. Grammy MaryAnne observed and judged the winner. 

We were all pretty proud of our artistic abilities, including fixing mistakes. I hope this becomes a yearly thing.

Darcy: "I hope I get invited next year."

Me: "Oops."

Sydney was the winner with the witch pumpkin.