Ok. It isn’t Christmas, nor is it the Eve of Christmas. The busiest day of the year is when the family comes to gather. Like today!
Hi All! I have no time to hang in this snow globe. I gotta get out! Today’s a busy day!
All seems quiet and relaxed now. Bonaparte and I woke up at 6:00 AM. I enjoyed my morning cawfee in bed and then ran downstairs to prepare to bake a loaf of bread.
A quiet moment while the bread dough proofs–the calm before the storm of activity!
Yes. Bread has to be made because the kids are all arriving today. And thank God, I prepared much of the Christmas foodstuffs ahead of time.
Ganache for the Buche de Noel is made. I’ll probably eat most of it beforehand!
Thank God, I cleaned the baseboards and blinds. All is vacuumed. All is dusted. All is cleaned.
This lumpa dough will soon be a delicious loaf of goodness. It’s the “yeast” I can do for the kids!
But back to the busiest day.
The kids are all arriving. At almost the same time. I am picking Oona up at Philly airport. Her flight, if on time, arrives at 3:00 PM. Bonaparte’s duty is to pick the boys up at 30th St. Station in Philly. They are arriving from NYC. Luckily, Jake had a business trip and few in to NYC from LA two days ago.
Let’s hope the transportation schedules are as timely as I am!
No matter how many times I fluff the cushions on the sofas and loveseat, Chippy insists that I am making things more comfortable for him. He is getting on my last nerve right now—but I love him!
I made sure the loveseat looks perfect–right?
And look what happens. Chippy doesn’t want to sit ON the loveseat. So he plops atop the cushions instead…
And he doesn’t move….until…
I fluff the cushions in the living room sofas! I can’t win with this guy!!
And Oona has informed me that she has had a tremendously busy holiday schedule (i.e. socializing) and didn’t have time to do those loads of wash she meant to do last night to prepare for the trip home. I have enough detergent and fabric softener. And naturally, my iron will be my Zen!
Regardless of how much laundry you bring home, I still love you and I still enjoying doing it!
The table is very casually set for this evening. Very casually. I literally threw the silverware in the folds of the napkins. And before we sit down to dine, I’ll manage to take my laptop off the table!
I’m so classy. This is a very, very, maybe too very casual set table…
The height of my casuality. Literally throwing silverware into the napkin and…
….folding it. Peek-a-boo, I see you!
At least this vase of greens adds the class that I lack!
The dinner this evening will be quick. Gemelli pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage. This will be accompanied with an arugula salad and the bread that is now baking in the oven. Dessert is the cheesecake I made yesterday.
The UPS man is working hard because my newest hair just arrived. And she’s a beauty. I’ll break her in today!
My new hair! I just realized the camera lens is dirty. It’s probably bacon fat! But I love this new wig. Brown Sugar Style BS223 in the color Raisin!
I think I may wear the steal of a sweater that I got yesterday at J. Crew. I was eyeing this festive wintery Tippi Sweater but at $89.50 it was just too pricey for me at present. When what should my wandering eyes should appear—but a promotional gift card from J. Crew! For $50.00. Whatever possessed me to head to the mall yesterday I don’t know, but I did. And I wanted that sweater.
Lo and behold, there was a 40% off in-store sale. I saw the sweater and another Christmas miracle—I snagged the last sweater in size Medium. The total price after the discount and the gift card was $3.70. Yes—that $89.50 sweater cost me all of $3.70. Santa is watching out for me.
Yes. My final total for this sweater was $3.70..
And here she is. Is this Tippi sweater not adorable??
I decided to wear this ensemble to drive to the airport instead! I’m leaving now to gas up the car!! Have the best day ever!
The weather is gray. But my spirits are bright.
Have a wonderful day and a glorious night!
May your Holiday evenings be tranquil and full of happiness a
I’m wishing you a merry christmas to you and your family, I’ll be too busy tomorrow.Enjoy the time. I just love your little Chippy.
I’m in awe of your organizational and cooking/baking skills. Merry Christmas!
Enjoy your family this Christmas Cathe.
Respect girl…great bargain purchase at J. Crew! Xx
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Xoxo
Joyeux Noël à vous deux et aux enfants.
Merry Christmas to you all. We’ll be empty nesters as both kids will be on their way back from Québec. We’ll be having full house, with respective girlfriend and boyfriend, next Thursday instead. We’ll be having chapon, capon, traditionally fed with milk the last month, making for a very tender beast. Followed by bûche de Noël. Bon appétit !
Your table is great and your four-legged sofa accessory is tres chic!
Catherine, your blog is one of many I follow that is focused on life after 50ish or 60ish. I find myself reading yours first most of the time and enjoying it the most out of the ones I read.
Although I like seeing new clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. from bloggers every day, sometimes it feels a little like, “look at me, look at me; I or my husband is wealthy and all I have to do is shop, shop, shop!”. I hope that doesn’t come off as harsh because I’m sure these gals are lovely people and just like sharing their good fortune and good taste. But that is their life – buying a new luxury car, deciding which exotic locale to vacation next, etc, and that is what they are doing at the moment and are simply posting about it. I’m sure their intention is not to boast. It can seem excessive sometimes, and that is why your blog is such a breath of fresh air.
Your desire to help people who might need or want to wear a wig is very kind and generous of you. You truly make the most of every day and approach everything with an extremely positive attitude.
Thank you for the time you spend posting and sharing your life with us. I hope all your children arrive safely and that all of you have a splendid Christmas!
So AGREE ! Happy Holidays
Have a very Merry Christmas !
Joy to the world with family 🙂 but after three days,a nice goodbye it’s jolly ;);)holly 😉
Have a blast !!!!
Josephine xox from Md.
Haha my pug used to sit on the top of my sofa cushions just like that! I think she enjoyed being up at human face level with me when I was seated. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Your living room looks lovely with the tree and poinsettias!
So glad to have three days of (sort of) rest before Christmas. Doing Costco tomorrow ’cause not going anywhere near there Christmas Eve…:(
Love Chippy, what a dog!
Merry Christmas Catherine,
You’re a girl after my own heart serving broccoli rabe with sausage over pasta!
Chippy loves his perch on top of the loveseat!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Robin
Merry Christmas to you Catherine (my first social media friend) and thank you for all your wonderful IG posts, blog posts, words of wisdom, trivia, music videos, insight, honesty and fabulous witty writing. Enjoy your family for Christmas and forever. Very best Yv
Brown Sugar makes some great wigs! I just got another Jon Renau Luscious which is a headband wig – if you’ve never tried that one it, I recommend it (as long as you have enough hair at the hairline for it). It’s super-long but such a great handband that’s soft and comfy and gives full coverage…and both of my cats love that spot at the top of the sofa cushions, too. 😉