Day 11 - Governor Newsom reinstates the mask mandate in California

12/25/21. Saturday – Xmas

Merry Xmas!!

10:30-11:00 – I’m up so I go downstairs to say good morning to the animal. She’s awake, but stretched out on the couch on her back – what a life! I sit next to her on the couch for kisses and cuddles and we eventually make it outside to the patio. I wait for her to go potty and return inside: coffee for me; cheese for her.

-I switch out the newly washed slipcovers.

11:00-2:00 – L. is up so we do our gift exchange. I get so many nice presents from L.!  In addition to the LuLu Lemon attire, L. give me 6 bottles of hand soap from Bath and Body Works; Aesop’s mandarin-rind hand soap and lotion; 3 bottles of shower gel from Lush; and eucalyptic mint and lavender “shower mist” [you spray it into your shower] from Apothecary. In the days that follow, more presents arrive from L. [“supply chain issues”]: 1) a Tocca diffuser with sticks; 2) an incense holder with Masala incense sticks; and 3) a test-tube garden so I can mount them on the exterior wall in the yard and insert a single plant inside the tube [it’s really interesting]; 4) and Sugarfina candy (my fave). I bought L. the Victoria Secret underwear she requested; mandarin-orange shower gel from Bath and Body Works; and a pink tool-box. I also bought her the Caraway cookware set that she wanted. L. pronounces the Caraway cookware  the best gift she has ever received. I feel really good about that.

-L. leaves for Vons to get ingredients for her famous butternut squash soup and flowers for her boyfriend because today is his last day at Starbucks. I break down the cardboard from the gifts we received and throw away the trash.

-I put the stuffing in the oven in preparation for Xmas dinner.

2:00-2:30 – I start the bread maker, warm up my chicken chili, and eat it upstairs.

-T. arrives to help L. with food prep.

2:30-3:30 – Shower. Lotion. Glam make-up. Hair.

3:30-4:00 – I started thawing the fully cooked turkey I received from Harry & David  many days ago so I put it in the oven now. L. is hard at work making her roasted veges and cheesy mashed potatoes. I hang three ornaments from the chandelier that hangs over the dining table and L. starts putting the table scape together at our 4-seater round table.

4:30-5:00 – I put new batteries in ALL of our flameless candles and make name placards for the table and the barstools because two of us are going to have to sit alone at the counter.  I designate that honor to my brother and I and L. puts two placemats on the counter to anchor the space. When I turn on the exterior Xmas lights, it starts raining. Again. L. and T. put the champagne glasses on the table and remove any spots from the glasses. L. puts T. in her bedroom (LOL) and returns to the kitchen.

5:00-5:30 – The bread is done so I pull it out of the bread maker and slice it, than quickly make the salad, while L. gets to work on the gravy.  

 L. and I pull the turkey out of the oven to make room for the sides that we’re putting in and the. turkey. is. COLD!! The turkey was shipped fully cooked so that’s not a concern, but who wants to eat cold turkey?! L. springs into action and starts hacking away at the turkey, cutting off pieces that will make the best presentation on the plate while I set aside the dark meat and the “carcass.” This is “crunch time” as “the guests” [my family] are scheduled to arrive in 30 minutes. L. puts the pieces of turkey on a plate and puts that plate in the microwave. We put more sliced turkey on a different plate, then put that plate of turkey in the microwave. Then, we plate the slices on a special Xmas platter.

5:30-6:00 – L. and I set out ALL the food buffet-style and it snakes around the entire counter. The kitchen is packed.  This was NOT how I envisioned “Xmas in the garage”, but it is what it is.

6:00-6:30 – Mom and Dad arrive. Mom brought deviled eggs and banana bread.

6:30 – S and M and my nephew, A., arrive. S. brings a nice bouquet of flowers and M. brings delicious oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies.     

6:30-9:00 – We have a wonderful dinner, if I do say so myself! I think all parties in attendance would agree. I don’t have time to make a plate for myself as I’m filling glasses, adding to plates, clearing the table, etc., but I don’t care. Towards the end of the evening, my Dad moves to the empty barstool where I was sitting and I talk to my Dad and brother while I do the dishes. It’s raining hard and I’m a little concerned about my family driving back to their respective houses.

9:00 – My parents leave.

9:30 – S and M and A leave.

9:30-10:30 – L., T., and I wash dishes and store food.

-L. and T. leave for his house. It’s just me and the dog.

10:30-12:30 – I dry the dishes in the dishwasher and put them away. Then, I break down the remaining cardboard from the gifts L. and I received and store the items in designated areas throughout the house.

-I finally have time to eat, so I make a plate for myself and read Dark Hours. I know I shouldn’t be eating at this late hour but, hey, it’s Xmas.

12:30-1:30 – I take the dog out, turn off all the lights, and lock up. Then, I put the placemats in the washing machine and continue reading Dark Hours.

1:30-2:00 – Nighttime routine. Bed. Xmas is finally over.