Wednesday, December 17, 2025

I bought a kit with the bags, clips, two needles to get out air holes and fix imperfections and a box of gel food coloring. I really need a refresher on color theory. I knew the colors I wanted, but it was hard to bring them to life! Red was the hardest. it was just hot pink for the longest time. And I had to toss one bowl when I added some wrong colors and turned it mauve. Mauve is very unChristmassy. Mixing the royal icing base was really easy. The recipe I followed used meringue powder instead of fresh eggs. So much easier! Anyway, very fun to do overall, but tiring! People who do it for a living sure make it look easy...

Sounds rather complex. But the results are great. I bet it gets easier with practice.

Sorry you didn't sleep well! Sometimes it is tough to retrain to eat without the bread and crackers but it is worth it. But boy do I miss chili. Many of my favorite foods like chili have a lot of beans which are extremely high in nickel which I am apparently quite allergic to.

Sorry you had such a bad night of sleep. No fun! Chili is one of the family favorites. It was Ben's favorite and we had it a lot. I'm good for one bowl and then I am done! Too bad it makes way more than one serving per person!

Lucky SIL Liz, to have you and DH show up and help with her tree. The way you support and care for her tells me she must be a dear person.

Peps I agree with everyone that you have such a nice way with your Dad. May we all be as well loved in our old age.

The visit with my parents went well. My Dad spent a good chunk of time showing me a plan for a wood burning furnace that he was going to build whi*****luded cutting a big hole in the house. I took a page from Peps and just listened. Let him dream. So far my Mom likes the people sent by hospice. She said she liked everything except the name. I said let's just call it comfort care then. My brother was also there and he stayed a long time, I think, because he was enjoying visiting with us too. His wife is a wonderful baker, but he said she told him she wasn't making Christmas Cookies this year, so he was happy to eat some of the cookies I brought.

Tomorrow I hope to write up my grocery list for next week. I need to plan Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners and other meals for my kids on the days they are visiting. The older I get, the more I need to have my ducks in a row well ahead of time.

Sounds like things are finally going better at your parents. What a relief that your Mom finally accepted care. I think most hospice workers are true angels, so I am not surprised that your Mom is enjoying them.

And yes, my SIL is very dear to all of us, including my DH.

So glad your visit to your parents went well and that besides the name your Mom is warming up to hospice. Unfortunately a lot of people do associate the word with a negative connotation.

Pre planning your meals is a great idea! I'm feeling a little lost with traveling and not being in my house with my kitchen for the Holiday!

Good job pivoting to be with your dad in the moment!

I think about when I would have a grandiose, "Great Idea" and be excited and talking about it with someone and they might punch the wind from my sails listing all the reasons why it won't work. The difference I guess is that I might actually do it and could probably use someone to ground me (or I use that negativity to refine my plan or firm my resolve). Your dad and Pep's dad aren't going to buy a motorcycle or build a wood furnace, so to let them live in that excited moment where all things are possible and encourage their creativity and joy is such a gift rather than potentially encouraging them to make a mistake. You're good kids!

DD so grateful that your mom is accepting hospice. Maybe call it Hospitality! So glad you had a good visit with your parents and brother without drama. Great relief. GL on xmas prep.

Diane S