BYC Café

[Offshoreorca]

I like the getting together with friends and family part.
I travel through Bristol (UK) city centre most days and it's insane. People buying crap by the shedload that the recipient probably won't want.
We tried food only as gifts last year in an attempt to reduce the waste but some people just bought way too much.
This year the vote was for do what you want.

My sister lives in Shepton Mallet, so not too too far from Bristol! She’s a dairy vet out that way

And yes, I agree on the gifts. I always get people useful things - often food or treats, but also things I know they need.

 

[DobieLover]

People buying crap by the shedload that the recipient probably won't want.

I hate buying things for others at any celebration unless I know they want it because they mentioned it but said they couldn't justify buying it or specifically gave me a list.
This year I've purchased three gift cards and three gifts.
I will be buying shirts at the Salvation Army for one of my nephews. I shop there for myself and save a boat load of money and it's fun finding great deals. I am also giving him 5 cards for free cooking lessons with the recipe written on the card. Now, he'll likely hate this for a gift and may very well never "cash them in" but this guy is 32 years old today and doesn't have a clue how to adult. He has never lived independently and has never been taught the basics of running his life and what it takes to be a responsible adult. He doesn't know how to meal plan or cook a decent meal, do laundry properly, properly spend his money. My BIL had to put a spreadsheet together to show how he was wasting an average of $1,000 month on vending machine food!!! Can you imagine? And his car is going to need to be replaced soon. WTF? He could have saved enough money over the last year to buy a nice car with that kind of money.
I digress. I'm getting myself worked up. I'm going to stop right there.

 

[DobieLover]

Good morning Cafe. Coffee is ready.

We are still in the rain zone. No appreciable wind yet. It was supposed to start overnight.
All our snow is melting in the rain. Looks like we're going to have a frozen mud Christmas.

 

[aart]

I'm getting myself worked up.

I sure don't miss family holiday crap, it was deep and dark for years but is now over.
My sister has finally, pretty much accepted that my bro and I have our own traditions

8" of snow overnight, very windy, and ~5°F.
Still blowing and snowing.....truly a blizzard.
But the power is on!! I am so grateful.
Didn't even bother trying to shovel out to the coop, just trudged out there to feed and water. Birds were not perky, until I put down the pans of scratch, they all rallied and seem to be OK. Will take out some rolled oats soaked in EL/Vits later.
Single digits thru today, tomorrow in the teens but more wind and snow.
Then I'll have 3-4 days to dig out before rain and 40's come along on Th. SMH.
Did I mention that I am so grateful that the power is on?!

 

[Offshoreorca]

Good morning Cafe! Thanks for the coffee!

Just got our chapter back from the editors with some suggested revisions to be submitted by December 31st - so there will be some work done over the holidays. Overall the feedback was very positive!

It’s grey and windy here today. You can feel the storm coming!

 

[Sally PB]

I like the getting together with friends and family part.
I travel through Bristol (UK) city centre most days and it's insane. People buying crap by the shedload that the recipient probably won't want.
We tried food only as gifts last year in an attempt to reduce the waste but some people just bought way too much.
This year the vote was for do what you want.

We stopped exchanging gifts with family years ago. We have friends we exchange with, usually small useful things, or homemade food items. Last year, we were SO grateful that one of our friends was lymphoma free, and we spent some money on pretty (but useful) things.

DH and I get ourselves something big for Christmas/birthdays/anniversary. Like the plow truck. This year, it's the pantry we've said we'd build (for the last 25+ years). Oh, and we got a car.

I will be buying shirts at the Salvation Army for one of my nephews. I shop there for myself and save a boat load of money and it's fun finding great deals.

I love-love-love shopping at Goodwill! I get a lot of stuff there. Except shoes. I gotta buy new shoes and get them broken in to fit my feet.

But the power is on!! I am so grateful.

Still on here! Ditto on the gratitude. Made some PB and bread, and did a load of laundry so we'd have clean clothes. Save the generator for important things, like football on Sunday.

 

[007Sean]

Good morning Café
Coffee is ready. Hope everyone is surviving the latest artic blast! It's 16°F here, feels like 0°F, wind still blowing at 18mph, No power outtages this time, I guess ERCOT got it right.
I still wasn't taking any chances, let the sprinkler run all night, 'Welcome to Sean's Winter Wonderland'..

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and thanks for the coffee. Still raining - had this been snow it would have been significant. So far power is still on. Temp drop into single digits and high winds still predicted for this afternoon/tonight.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Good morning! It warmed up over night and the winds came in. My friend from TX called and said he had 14F down near Georgetown. He was not happy and I am sure he will have fun feeding the cows and horses this morning!
At least it is a fast moving storm hitting and running through!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning Cafe. We have rare ice storm here. They had to close the highways.
too many big rigs jack knifed.