Another Day in the Neighborhood

 

I never did get out of the jammies yesterday. Just caught up on what's going on  in blogland.  I made some banana and oatmeal muffins for a potluck today, but burned them.   I decided to just go to bed instead of doing something else.

This morning I slept in and when I finally got up I decided to get ready and go to Costco to get something to take to the potluck.  Linda (the art teacher I've mentioned before) had a Christmas Potluck and Ornament Exchange at her home for all her students.

                

                                                  Lots of great food

 

                                               Ornament Exchange

Everyone had a great time, enjoyed each other's company and as usual we all ate too much.

 

When I got home I let Angel out then watched a Christmas movie and took a nap.

That was it for today.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel          whatsupwithsusanandcompany.blogspot.com/

Christmas Decorating and World Class

 

Today's post is to just catch everyone who's interested up on what we've been doing.  It was an uneventful weekend, so it was a good time to bring out the Christmas decorations.  Last year when I put everything away, I packed on container with the decorations that I will take with me once I am RVing.  If it doesn't fit it doesn't make the cut.  That is all that I am putting up this year.  The rest stays in the shed for my daughter if she wants them.

 

I pack up everything in the boxes on the right and then pack them in the big container. The ornaments over the windows are the ones for my son when he's ready to take them.  The tree has fiber optics and only red and gold poinsettias,

It was a typical work week up until Wednesday.  There was more time in between calls because they had to keep the staffing up.  The company had luncheons to celebrate our customer service World Class Status.  We were all given gift cards in addition to award certificates.  Out of all of our customer service reps, over 90% are certified as World Class.  There were three seating's, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to accommodate everyone.  I went to the one yesterday.  It was a Brunch Buffet and the food was decent.  There were a couple of egg dishes, several choices of meats, vegetables,bagels and coffeecakes.

                     

           I don't eat much since surgery, but what I had was good.

                         

                    These two tables are the people on my team.

           

   We even had entertainment.    We actually do have some fun occasionally.

It was nice to have an hour or so off the phones.  It can get really hectic and intense sometimes, but that's part of the job.

Today, I'm doing laundry and decided to change my header.  Sunset over Rancho Cordova ,CA, is the picture that I took out of my car window on my way home from work a couple of days ago.  It was too pretty to pass up.  The rest of the day will bring what it brings.

Take care and enjoy the weekend.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel

Black Friday and Hiding Angel

 

Getting out there on Black Friday is not what I usually do.  I certainly do not like crowds, especially the pushy ones that are out there early only caring about the "bargains" that bring them out at midnight or three or five in the morning.  Not that I was out there at 2 am, but I was up that early.  My #2 daughter called me because she was bored waiting for a store to open.  She thought that I would be up getting ready for work- NOT!  After I got back to sleep, #3 daughter called me somewhere around 4 am to tell me that she was out there in the crowds.  I finally got back to sleep and didn't get up until after 8 am.  I did get out there, but not until after ten o'clock.  I was only looking for some boots,Christmas gifts for my son and Angel and a new digital camera for me. 

The camera that I currently have is inexpensive and a couple of nights ago I broke the door to the battery compartment.  It still works but the door comes off too easily.  I never found the boots, but I ended up getting a Sony Cyber-shot camera with a 10x optical zoom.  It even has a timer, image stabilization and it takes panoramic pictures. Now whether or not I figure out how to actually use those functions is another story.   The camera came with the lithium battery and for an extra $49.00 I got an additional battery, a camera case and a memory card.  I also got a mini tripod.  This is what I finally used the gift card that I got for tenth anniversary at work, so I didn't go too far in debt to get it.  I also found something for Ted, but I can't  say what it is because he reads this blog.  Sorry Ted, I'm not telling.  Oh yea I also got something for Angel at Pet Smart. That was it for venturing out there  on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.  The rest of the day I caught up on reading blogs that I follow and watched a couple of Christmas movies.

Today I slept in and I haven't even gone out of the house.  I started going through papers.  I have saved some magazine articles that I wanted to read or for reference.  There are a lot of them.  I am keeping the ones that pertain to things that I can use now or once I start RVing.  I'm also keeping some about organizing and gardening that Mellissa might like to look at once she gets here.  I only made a dent in what I have.  There is so much to go through and I've been putting it off because I was getting ready for the craft fair.  No excuse now!  It has to be done and maybe it will keep me from eating out of boredom, either too much or all the wrong things.     

     

These are the pictures of Angel that I finally got last night with the new camera.  She's not begging tonight because she happy to be sleeping next to me in the recliner.

I guess that I had better finish this and get to bed.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel

Happy Thanksgiving

 

It is actually the end of Black Friday when I finally sat down to post.

Wednesday night, I picked up Samantha and her guide dog Gilbert for church.  It was a little bit different this year in as much as there was no message.  Instead we all shared what we were thankful for.   Then afterwards we had coffee and pie.  The apple slices went over well. 

Ted got in town and spent the night at Steve and Kyle's so that he could get started on dinner.  He and Kyle made pies early.  I was invited over for traditional Lox and Bagel breakfast.  Really good.  They didn't want any help, so I left only to return later for dinner.  

Since I have lost so much weight, my leather coat is way too big and I wanted to find a warm coat.   There have been stores that have been closed in the past on Thanksgiving that were actually open and I found coat that was 50% off.  I really like it because it is warm and is really light weight.

Kyle is a wonderful hostess and loves to entertain.  She and Ted prepared the best dinner.  Ted roasted brussel sprouts, (so far that is my favorite), and there were mashed potatoes, (white and sweet), green bean casserole with caramelized onions, cranberry/orange relish and of course the turkey and stuffing.  It was a wonderful meal with friend and family.  I meant to take picture but forgot and only got one of what was left of the pies and one of their dog Nicki.

         

I have so much to be thankful for, the main thing is that I live in a country that allows me to dream and live a life doing things that I enjoy.     ********   While I am writing this, Angel sits up and gives a little bark, I guess saying pay attention to me, I want to be held.  She looked so cute, so I took out the camera to get a picture and she went to hide in her tent.  *********  Angel is another thing that I am thankful for.  she adds so much more to my life. 

                              

Tomorrow is another day to catch up on what we did today, on Black Friday.

Until then,    Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel       http://whatsupwithsusanandcompany.blogspot.com/

Recipe Request and Chocolates

 

This will be a short post as an answer to Barbara of Me and My Dog.  Many years ago I got a cookbook Make a Mix Cookery .  It contains many recipes for "master" mixes.  This is from that book.

Hot Chocolate Mix

1 (25.6-oz.) box of instant nonfat dry milk (10-2/3 cups)

1 (6-oz.) jar powdered non-dairy creamer

2 cups powdered sugar

1 (16-oz.) can instant chocolate drink mix   (I used the least expensive)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix well. Put in a large airtight container.  Label.  Store in a cool, dry place.  Use within 6 months.  Makes about 17 cups of  Hot Chocolate Mix.

For 1 serving: Add 3 tablespoons Hot Chocolate Mix to 1 cup of hot water.  Stir to dissolve. 

I sometimes use vanilla flavored creamer or add mini marshmallows.  Other times I will put a little bit of vanilla extract in the cup. 

When I had kids still at home, it would last most of the winter.   ENJOY!

The Chocolate part of this post is not above, but it is the SEE's Candy that we get from work.  I will have to give it to someone else so that I don't eat it.

That's it for tonight.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel      http://whatsupwithsusanandcompany.blogspot.com

A Bit of Baking, Puzzled and Possible Search

Today I took all those apples and made a half sheet of apple slices.  It really looks good.  It will have to wait until Wednesday when I bring it to church.  Now I have to find room in the refrigerator.  The topping will go on on Wednesday afternoon.

                 

                     

           The second picture is show how big it is compared to the apple.

I of course had to make a couple of calls to Ted, since I was not using a recipe.  On one of those calls he asked for the recipe for the pumpkin pie that I make every Thanksgiving. One of the ingredients is vanilla ice cream, so I had to search for that for him.

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I would like to resize my header photo and haven't figured out how to do it. I am really technologically challenged.  It is probably something simple, but I still need help.  I usually write my blog on Live Writer and then post it.

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One of the things that I need to start some research on is finding a toad if I end up with a Class A.  That's what I'm leaning towards, but it can still change.  Is it practical to get an older car?  I won't be able to tow what I have (KIA Sedona), and I really don't want to keep it.  I think that I would love to have a little convertible, but a little truck would be more practical.  How does one even get started in the search?

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I guess it's time to start thinking about what I need for work tomorrow.  Fortunately it is a three day work week.  Yea!  (unless I get Wednesday approved)   Ted will coming in from San Francisco on Wednesday and will be cooking on Thursday but will have to go back to SF on Friday for Black Friday.  He is the manager at an Ace Hardware store there.

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Thank you all for your concern for my daughter's welfare.  She is doing better. 

Also thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel      whatsupwithsusanandcompany.blogspot.com

Catch UP with Family and Dodging the Raindrops

 

Well today I got a bit of laundry done and finally called my sister in Albuquerque.  She will not be able to go with me when I am able to go full time, too many health issues.  She is looking into moving into a manufactured home with another couple to share the cost.  I checked it out on the internet and it seems to be very nice and has many amenities that she will be able to use and there may even be a place to park an RV when I visit.

Rest of family news, Mellissa may not be able to get the transfer until maybe March.  That will be okay and might work better for financially.  It also gives me more time to purge the stuff.  My # two daughter, Sandi had an accident earlier this week- Hit and Run.  She is alright just sore.  They ended up totaling her PT Cruiser and she was able to get an '08 Chevy HHR.  The interesting part about it being a Hit and Run is that the driver left his bumper and license plate at the scene.  

                         

Angel and I headed out towards Apple Hill to get apples for a recipe for apple slices, but saw that there was a Farmers' Market on the way so I was able to get what I needed there.  They were just starting to pack up their wares because it started to rain.  On the way home I stopped to get premade piecrust.  I don't do piecrust well, so I'll cheat on that part.  The apple slices are for the fellowship that we have after the Thanksgiving Eve service at church.

                         

Ted will be here and will be fixing dinner at Steve and Kyle's house.  I love it when he cooks and I get to watch and visit. 

I hope that everyone is having a great weekend.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel        http://whatsupwithsusanandcompany.blogspot.com/