Happy new week and happy solstice!
Last week's Chat Thread is here.
For most of us, today is the Winter Solstice. Welcome back to the Sun! With the return of the light, I'd like to wish all of my dear friends on this thread a happy holiday season and a new year blessed with joy, abundance, good health, serenity, and love!
The solstice occurs on 21 December at:
2303 GMT11:03 p.m. in the U.K.6:03 p.m. in the eastern U.S.3:03 p.m. in CaliforniaAnd for AQ: Happy Summer Solstice on 22 December at 9:33 a.m.This solstice is special because it happens within 2 and a half hours of the New Moon. I'm seeing this cosmic event as a fresh start and a new beginning. Woo hoo!The photo is of the Sun in the midst of a powerful and spreading coronal mass ejection. The photo was taken by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, a partnership of the European Space Agency and NASA. The image is free for non-commercial use. SOHO (ESA & NASA)
~ A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR OSPREY FRIENDS ~
Lovely card Lindybird, gorgeous squirrels!
Morning all:
DIANE: Eeek. Fastidious not a word I'd ever apply to myself, especially as I get older! I'm going to wave the vacuum cleaner in the general direction of the carpet tomorrow (or maybe I won't), spot clean the kitchen floor of any obvious stains, and maybe dust the area under the tele. Will, however, make sure the bathrooms are sparkly, speaking of which, I bought some pretty Christmas toilet paper but when I opened the package, it was more like sandpaper! It's on top of the tank and will stay there for the duration - or maybe I should drape it around the orange tree....
ALAN: A long, happy, and safe life is the best wish for all the critters living in nature.
AQ: I always envy you when you are relaxing after Christmas and we're only getting started!
LINDYBIRD: Hope Friend's OH has a puppy on his Xmas list. :-)
OK, gotta get moving.
Went for blood tests this morning, and also a BP check as hospital panicked when I was there - it's fine at GP! Did some washing this afternoon and made "Toad in the Hole" for dinner - J's choice. Nothing planned for tomorrow - will probably do some food prep for Christmas dinner, but no worries if I don't - will just eat when it's ready on Thursday!
I hope everyone feels more able to relax now and can start enjoying the Festive Season! Wishing safe travelling for all those on the road or visitors travelling to you!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Trying to relax,OG !! Food shopping almost complete, just a couple of things to pick up tomorrow morning, beef from butcher and some salad greens for Boxing Day. Numbers have settled at 21, youngest son in law's sister is joining us as her parents are in New Zealand visiting their eldest daughter. OH and I are having a day to ourselves on Christmas Day and I think that will be wonderfully relaxing.I will cook beef, turkey and gammon on Christmas Day ready for Boxing Day which is always cold cuts with all the bits and pieces that go with them, jacket potatoes and so on, pickles etc. Plus puddings and cheeses of course :-)))
Annette: A new dog has been discussed in the household, as they recently lost theirs. I'm sure it will be well received!! Maybe they'd discussed which breed to get already. Laughed about the toilet paper. I bought some once, printed with Christmas crackers. My sons said "Oh, MUM!!" as they thought it was over the top.
Just mopped all the floors. Someone just came with a dog so it worked out well that I hadn't got around to the front porch yet, which shows most paw prints!
OG: Trying to be relaxed, but seem to be alternating it with panic !! Have bought all the food & presents etc. now so just have to do a LOT of tidying up and rearranging furniture etc.
Heather: You do seem to get real housefuls!! But what you are planning foodwise is a good idea. Hope you enjoy your quiet Christmas Day, we are doing the same but it will be the calm before the storm, I expect.
"Is It Christmas Yet?"
"NO!!"
LINDY - We are just a large family, OH and I were both widowed with children when we met. My son and family arrive on Saturday, if they were here for Christmas the gathering would be even bigger!
YIKES!!!