Saturday, December 27, 2014

Keurig Convert....Perhaps???

Santa came to see me!  He did, he did!!

I know, it shocked the heck out of me, too!  I certainly wasn't expecting a visit from the jolly old man - much less a generous gift.  But, planted right there in front of the tree was a big ol' box containing a new Keurig 2.0.

Now, I didn't ask for any such thing.  In fact, I've had an ongoing love affair with a series of Black &
Decker and Mr. Coffee coffeemakers over the last five years since I took up coffee drinking.  (They never do seem to last more than a couple of years, have you noticed???)  But, there is something very satisfying about filling the carafe, pouring the water in slowly, setting the paper filter just right and scooping in the coffee grounds.....then listening to the sputtering contraption as it pours forth the 'nectar of the gods'.  Besides, those little K-cups are a bit pricey.......and I am the woman who rarely splurges for Starbucks unless I have a gift card!

But, as dusk fell on Christmas Day, I tackled the task of rearranging kitchen counter tops and finding a home for this beast of a coffee making machine.  I brewed the initial cup of hot water.  Then, I popped in a pod of coffee and watched the steady stream of blessed caffeine fall into a way-too-large cup.  I added some hazelnut creamer and thoroughly enjoyed my first cup of Keurig brewed coffee!


Although I love the convenience of having a single cup of mighty hot and tasty coffee ready in moments, I am hesitant to pack away my old Mr. Coffee.  I found a spot for it on a lower shelf, right there, steps from the new Keurig.....just in case I need to brew a pot rather than a cup.  Just for old times' sake......just because I am having a bit of apprehension and separation anxiety......just because I love the smell of it and am not quite ready to let it go.  

Having said that, I am ever so thankful for my new Keurig.  Santa (a/k/a Eddie Dale) done good, real good!  I only wish he was a coffee drinker and could enjoy a cup with me, but he can't stand the taste of the stuff.  So, this was truly a gift just for me - a very generous gift!  

Thanks, Santa Baby, from your forever sweetheart.....

Jane 

Thursday, December 25, 2014

It's a Wrap - Christmas, 2014

Christmas Day, 2014 - about to go into the history books, as it is already 10:37 pm.

But, it will go down as a terrific one!  

Our big family celebration was last night, on Christmas Eve.  As any empty nester knows, once your kids are grown and married, with families of their own, you must start sharing them with the "in-laws".  So, after attending Christmas Eve worship service, Eddie Dale and I came home to finish preparing a non-traditional TexMex dinner.  It was a fun, rather chaotic, affair here in our small and cozy cottage.  But, I wouldn't have traded it for anything!  

We stayed up late, watching "A Christmas Story" and slept in this morning.  Today was pretty low key, with a simple midday meal and plenty of time spent dozing in front of the final holiday movies on the TV.  

And, now I am sitting in Eddie Dale's recliner, Pepper snoring loudly beside me and the hubby snoring loudly in the bedroom a few feet away, watching "Julie & Julia" for about the 28th time.......

And plotting my approach for taking down and packing away all the Christmas decor tomorrow!  

I usually take everything down pretty quickly after the holiday.  My plan to get started first thing in the a.m. is intensified because an entire section of our pre-lit Christmas tree has apparently "gone out" this evening.  Being slightly OCD, this is troubling me greatly......

(A different section was not working when I dragged the tree in and started to decorate all those many weeks ago, which necessitated spending about an hour removing the pre-strung lights - stupid little plastic clips and all - and restringing it with more clear lights.  Trust me, it was frustrating and exhausting - and I only went to the trouble because it was sleeting outside that day and I was really feeling too strapped for cash to shell out money for a new tree when this one was only three years old!)

Anyway, my philosophy on un-decorating is pretty much like my philosophy on removing a band-aid - just rip it off as fast as possible!

Now that Christmas is over and done, I must admit I am ready for our home to return to "normal".  In fact, I am actually looking forward to dusting the surfaces of my furniture currently buried under layers of garlands, lights, snow globes and candlesticks - and, of course, a nice thick layer of dust!  

Before I go to bed and fall asleep to dream of the fresh and pristine place that our home will be by this time tomorrow evening, I will leave you with my favorite photo of our tree this year - by far, one of my favorite trees that has come together over the years.  This was taken last night after everybody arrived with their presents to exchange - and it is looking pretty apparent to me that the middle section of the tiny white lights was dead last night.....but, it's still pretty, don't you think?


Hoping you had a most wonderful and memorable Christmas, too!  

See you back here soon for another visit on the porch....

Jane


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