Time for another Caturday open thread and another visit from Storm, our favorite void, courtesy of reader Georgiana Y.
Storm is watching me and I feel like I’m being judged… which I probably am.
Weekend Open Thread
29 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread”
Comments are closed.
Good morning, Void. I’ll try not to scream too loud.
I have a dentist appointment this morning, and later I’m going with my mom to see a performance of Little Women the Musical (I didn’t know such a thing existed until a few weeks ago) at her church. We were supposed to go tomorrow afternoon but they’re predicting snow. I still have to decide where to get dinner first. Gonna swing by B&N after the dentist to get tea and see if I can get Christmas cards for my parents and brother; if not (there wasn’t much left at the store nearer my house last night) there’s a Hallmark store in the same shopping center so I’ll try there. And I will keep an eye out for a blue mailbox to drop the cards I’m mailing into. My dad and brother both asked for certain types of shirts for Christmas so I decided to take the easy route and ordered some from Kohls last night. Hopefully they come in time (it said December 17-20). Probably get some gift cards for my brother and do a donation for each of them.
Yesterday I had to go to the bank and cash some checks, and I planned to just get some cash back from that and deposit the rest. One of the checks was from the (state) government and the teller said he could only deposit the whole thing (some new DOJ rule, apparently?), so he did that and then did a separate withdrawal. Then I had to talk to someone else because when I was reconciling my last few months of bank statements the other night I noticed a transaction on my debit card that I did not make. I didn’t recognize the amount ($92 and change), or the company, and when I googled it I saw it’s an anime streaming service…I don’t watch anime and even if I did sign up for something like that, I would not use my debit card (which I almost exclusively use to get cash and I only do that from their ATMs; I would never use it online, only credit cards). She cancelled my card and made me a new one, and had me do a small deposit at the ATM to make sure it worked, and put in a dispute for the charge, so hopefully I’ll get my money back. She said they initially charged a dollar-something and then charged the rest (but I only saw the total amount on my end); must have been a test first. Guess I should check my statements more often.
A little holiday mischief making for you to puzzle out.
https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/puzzles/gingerbread-mischief-jigsaw-puzzle/
The dogs were howlin’ good this week. (As was the honorable-mention hoomin, and the people who caught her pups.)
And Javier is settling in as CEO.
We don’t deserve dogs. Good on that dog mom for her brave rescue.
And Javier is a total sweetie.
Thanks for the puzzle – the best part is the audience cheering at the end. I have a puzzle app that I really like, but it doesn’t have that.
Update: dentist appointment went well, wasn’t due for x-rays, and she said everything looks good. Guess that electric toothbrush really does make a difference.
Found some cards at B&N and also a national parks mug for my brother. With my discount it was $10 and I’ll make a donation to the National Park Foundation (his requested organization) and wrap a note in with the mug.
B&N moved two or three years ago to a different (smaller) space in the same shopping center. The old store became a temporary Spirit Halloween (because of course it did) the following fall, then was empty as far as I could tell, and today I saw it is now a Golf Galaxy (since June, Google tells me; I don’t go over there very often). The current B&N was a Modell’s Sporting Goods before. So the sports store became a bookstore and the bookstore became a sports store. 📚⛳😄
While I was over there I checked my email for Ulta coupons; had one for $10 off a $40 purchase so I went to Ulta to get a bottle of my pricey leave-in conditioner that I only buy with coupons. It comes in 200 and 400 ml sizes; the smaller bottle is $35 and the larger is $54, so I got the big one and paid only $44. (Two of the smaller bottle would be the same amount of product for $70 bucks! Insane.)
And I forgot to look for a mailbox on my route. Might just detour past the library when I go to my parents’ later. My parents decided we’d order in and eat there instead of going to a restaurant. Easier and my dad doesn’t have to make himself dinner.
Electric toothbrushes are fantastic because they massage your gums.
At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, the best thing I’ve done for my dental health was to get a water flosser like Waterpik. I have really tight spaces between my teeth so flossing doesn’t really do the job right. The Waterpik is fantastic because it’s like a mini power washer for your teeth.
The best part is the replacement heads can also be used to clean other things, like the nose pad area on my glasses. Gunk from lens cleaner gets stuck in the screw areas and it’s impossible to clean otherwise.
Can’t vouch for the portable one with the batteries, but the desktop one that plugs in is fantastic.
I’ve thought about it. I use those little floss pick things; I don’t like all the plastic but it makes me more likely to do it when I’m not cutting off the circulation in my fingers. The hygienist had trouble with the floss today but I don’t have a problem most of the time at home and the dentist said the company they use changed the floss and it kept breaking so it wasn’t really my teeth being too tight. My bathroom is tiny, though, so I have to minimize the amount of stuff on the counter. I can’t even leave my toothbrush charger plugged in because of the location of the outlet. It would just be begging to get knocked over all the time.
One more thing before I go out –
Every year A.Word.A.Day does a week of “illustrated words” (with artist Leah Palmer Preiss). Thursday’s word was
janiform
PRONUNCIATION: (JAN-uh-form)
MEANING:
adjective: Having two faces, sides, or contrasting aspects.
ETYMOLOGY:
After Janus, the Roman god of doors, gates, and transitions. Earliest documented use: 1814.
How cute is he/she…they?
Good morning everyone,
Storm really loves to sit on that wall and watch me in the kitchen and when she’s bored of me she turns around and watch the birds and squirrels in the backyard.
We had a cousins breakfast yesterday at a restaurant, not all the cousins of course only 15 people all from my husband’s side, it was noisy and fun but after 2h30 hours I was ready to get out of there. I come from a small family and I get overwhelmed when there’s too many people and a lot of noise.
It’s cold and snowing today so I’ll spend the day in slippers reading.
Hope everyone is safe and warm and has a good weekend.
Of course the void is judging you!! Or is it the statue behind Storm?? Either way, I’d definitely apologize for any and all shortcomings, lol.
Not much happening at my place. Work has been crazy since it’s the end of the year and we have to process all donations before the 31st. And because of the holiday closure we only have about a week or week and a half to get it all done. Aaargh!!!! The whole university is shut the week of Christmas and I had to take a few days to get under my time off limit or I don’t accrue any time off until I do. I know such a hard decision. Had yesterday off and mainly puttered. Dropped a book off at the library, went to the thrift store (and amazingly walked out with nothing), and built a Lego set. It was their small Christmas Gazebo. I like the three mini figs that came with it, a celloist, a singer, and a saxophonist.
Today I’m meeting up with my sketch group at the park/shopping center by the harbor. Lots of good choices for sketching- the harbor, buildings, a poinsettia holiday tree, even a carousel. Later today may go to San Diego’s Old Town Christmas celebration. Lots of old timey activities, and they do the Mexican/Spanish tradition of La Posada. That’s where they recreate the journey by Mary & Joseph going door to door asking if there’s any room for them. And it’s all done by candlelight with singing and prayers, usually ending at the church. Tomorrow will be errands. Enjoy the weekend everyone!
Storm isn’t judging–she’s supervising! Not that there’s a big difference. And she’s as beautiful as ever.
Weird weekend here. Today, I’m on call to pick up my friend from the hospital. It should be this morning but there’s no way to know. So I can’t plan out the whole day!!! It’s good for my brain to deal with some uncertainty. Then I’ll get started baking holiday cookies and maybe making some fudge for work. Yesterday was our office party, and I asked my coworkers to vote for 3 kinds of cookies. There was a tie so I’m probably making 4. I used to bake cookies every weekend for work–hopefully I haven’t lost my touch.
Hugs to you all, and happy Caturday.
Hope your friend is okay? Hugs to them. Enjoy your baking! Did you see the rum lime ginger cookies in the NYT last weekend? They sound amazing.
If I liked rum, I’d be all over those cookies!
My friend had shoulder replacement and apparently it went really well–thanks for asking. We’re hoping for a significant reduction in pain. Apparently all the bone was worn away.
Ooh, what cookies are you making, Deb? And wouldn’t it be fun to learn everybody’s favorite Christmas cookies? I love molasses sugar cookies!
Not specifically a Christmas cookie, but it’s mostly when we make them. My mom has a recipe for “Choc-top Cookies”…the cookie part is just flour, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla. You spread the dough in a pan and bake, then while it’s still hot you pour a bag of chocolate chips on top, and spread them as they melt to cover the cookie. The original calls to top with chopped nuts, but I don’t eat nuts, so my mom makes them with sprinkles for me. Then cut them into squares in the pan while they’re still warm (it’s easier to get them apart later), cool completely and cut them apart. (My mom has a done them in a mini-cupcake pan and another pan that makes flat round shapes (not sure what it’s actually meant for) which saves the cutting part but they’re just not quite the same that way.)
My favorite is just the original, but in the past she’s also used butterscotch, or white chocolate (no one seemed to like that one much), and I’ve done it with dark chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies (it’s like peppermint bark on a cookie…Pepperidge Farm makes a seasonal Milano cookie that’s similar; I picked up a bag last week).
I also used to love making the sugar cookies with the cookie press…but I think that was more about shooting cookie dough from a gun than the cookies themselves. 😄 I did like how the sprinkles melted and got crunchy, though.
We always called those cookies toffee squares, because of the Betty Crocker Cookie Book. I love them and may make a batch even though I forgot to put them on my list.
I’m making my usual Grand Chocolate Chip cookies from the ghirardelli recipe, and I sprinkle cocoa sea salt on top. They’re not really a holiday cookie, but they’re the runaway favorite at work. The cocoa sea salt is a perfect complement. It loks like Ghirardelli doesn’t make this particular chip anymore, and I didn’t have any luck finding the actual recipe online, but this video uses the same one I use: https://youtu.be/APLRgFsLMIU?si=u3KiFvWO4bEqu4Z-
Also on the list: Russian tea cakes (Mexican wedding cakes) and what Betty Crocker always called Fudge Meltaways, a base of melted choc, graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and nuts, with a white frosting on top, then melted unsweetened choc on top of that. One of my all-time faves.
Hopefully the gluten-free flour won’t affect the texture too much. One of my coworkers can’t have gluten and I don’t want to leave her out. Sadly, my choc chip cookies *are* affected by GF flour, texture-wise, but they still taste great.
I’m also
Hah! Found it! Here’s the Grand recipe. As the blogger notes, the big difference lies in melting the butter, instead of just letting it soften. Changes the whole texture of the cookie.
https://www.lovefromtheoven.com/ghirardelli-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe/
It’s been a quiet week at the Shortcakery, other than finding out that I have yet another medical problem – this time a thyroid deficency! Every time I have a blood test it seems that something new crops up.
A couple of days ago I did my bi-annual clean-up of the grass and weeds growing in front of the houses on Shortcakery Street. The weedkiller I used in summer obviously had little effect, as the almost three foot tall thistle flourishing right next to a front door had regrown to its original size. It’s amazing what can grow in a tiny amount of soil.
I’m already looking forward to my pre-Christmas trip to Stratford-upon-Avon next week. My usual B&B is closed for a few weeks so I’m returning to the Queen’s Head pub where I stayed last year. If the weather’s decent I’ll probably take an evening stroll to Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Shottery. And I’m curious to see how the repairs to Hall’s Croft are progressing after a car backed into it during my last visit!
Alice, sorry about the medical news. I hope treatment is helpful.
Alice, you need a break—but not a limb (neither yours nor a tree near your house).
Enjoy Stratford!
Greetings to all. It’s a foggy, drizzly day here, and I would very much like to go back to bed and pull Storm under the covers with me. And any other furry friends that wish to join us.
The lower part of our town is flooded from the torrential rain we had this week, and it looks like we’re in for another bout starting Monday.
As of right now, we will not be having a family gathering for Christmas. Two nieces decided that they only want immediate family around on Christmas Day, so everyone else has been planning for smaller get togethers at home. Hubby and I will have my parents, his brother (who isn’t usually part of this collection, but this year is the first year he is alone, and I refuse to make him be by himself on Christmas), and my sister who is the mother of the nieces who made all the decisions by themselves. I am seriously upset by this, because I don’t think my dad will see another Christmas, and we really wanted everyone together one last time.
Hubby won a gift card at his work party for a rather expensive specialty grocers, and we were joking that maybe we could afford lettuce now.
Next week is Christmas baking and small gatherings with friends. Maybe some aggressive cleaning here.
Have a good weekend, everyone. Going to give some thought to the going back to bed thing.
What a lovely Void Storm is. I find they make the best supervisors. I’m not biased or anything.
Took the day off yesterday and a friend and I went international food shopping. H-Mart (Korean), Reiker’s Meats (German Butcher), and Bell’s Market (aka The Russian Market) are all with in a few miles of each other in North East Philly. It’s a hassle to travel there and weekends they are a mess. This is a personal treat for myself, my annual Friday pilgrimage and I stock up on good things. Bell’s Market has an entire pickle aisle. I rest my case.
This morning my Void decided to steal my breakfast. We know he’s a foodie (named for Jacques Pepin and Jacques Torres) and he looooooves liverwurst and pungent cheese. What I did not know until this morning is that apparently my poppyseed Danish is also up for “grabs.” He yoinked it right off my plate. Yesterday I offered him some boiled chicken from my chicken soup. A nose was turned up, tail was flicked and a back was turned. My guy has delicate taste. 😆
The holidays are sneaking up on me and I’m not ready! I’m making custom crackers for the family this year. We love crackers but the toys are redundant and (I’m sorry) kinda dumb. I found this company:https://www.oldenglishcrackers.com/how-to-make-christmas-crackers/ and was able to purchase the snaps and the crowns, I just have to make the jokes. They are so easy to make! The hardest part will be transporting them to California. For the “toys” I’ve purchased eye-glass wipes from Jinkies: https://nerdwax.com/collections/jinkies They’ll stuff in there nicely, my sister is getting a hammerhead shark hair clip, my niece is getting Finding Nemo character clips, my nephew is getting ink cartridges for his fountain pen (pink and green are requested), my dad will get a library card Jinkie, and his wife will get a mini puzzle, Hokusai’s Wave. I’m using toilet paper rolls for most of them, but for the bigger stuff I bought an extra large can of Pringles. I accepted the responsibility of making the sacrifice to eat all the Pringles too – such a burden.
Tomorrow it is supposed to be snowy and I’m looking forward to it. Have a wonderful weekend all!
PS: um, will there be snow in Cutetropolis this year?❤️
I hate to be Grinchy about it, but I have awful floaters, and now cataracts as well. Those snowflakes make reading Cutetropolis an ordeal every winter. I’m glad not to have to struggle through them.
Storm is beautiful as always.
I’m afraid I’ve caught the holiday blues that were already bedeviling so many of us a few days ago. I still like “All I Want for Christmas is You,” but am no longer in the mood for it.
Le sigh.
Sorry about the holiday blues. I too have been going through the worst case ever this year.
Happy Caturday and hello to Storm. And goodbye to the storm we had last week, which saw part of the town I’m closest to evacuated due to river flooding (my BFF’s house is a block away from the evacuation zone so I worried about her all night). Hubby and I are on a hill, so we aren’t concerned about flood damage, but part of the road we’re on is now closed indefinitely due to erosion/a small landslide. It’s a dead-end road, but we can access the main road via an emergency gate that connects our road to a housing development. So a bit of a detour for the foreseeable future, but other than that not a huge deal.
Thursday night when I came home from work, there was a huge tree that had just fallen across the bottom of our road, so I had to detour around through that development anyway- luckily I was able to follow a car in through the gates since I don’t have a code. Also lucky I didn’t get home sooner, as the tree looked to be large enough that it would have killed someone if it had fallen on their car.
Then when I got home I found out that hubby had accidentally let Julius out and he took off, without his GPS collar on, in the dark. He’s only been outside after dark a handful of times, and I spent 2+ hours walking all around our property and down our road in the pouring rain trying to find him. Usually he comes when I call him, and I figured he was just hiding out in the barn on the property below ours, but I was still really worried, as we have lots of coyotes around. Finally I heard him meowing in the woods and was able to follow the sound. He was fine, and not super wet, so I suspect my theory was correct and he was napping in their barn while I was having a full-blown panic attack and getting absolutely drenched. Cat mom life, yay. 😛
All the cat moms here know what you went through. We salute you.
Storm is so beautiful. As I’ve never had a black kitty I always wonder how their black fur is so shiny.
I’m just as grumpy as ever, now because of the cold I’ve caught. It is nothing serious, but this is the second day that I spent blowing my nose night and day. My nose is just leaking and leaking and I don’t know how to turn it off… Sorry for being disgusting, it is just so annoying that I cannot do anything continuously without a nose break. I haven’t gathered the courage yet to look into the mirror – I guess I look like Rudolph on a really bad day.
Yes, I also miss the wonderful Cuteropolis snow – especially because we haven’t had snow yet.
I wasn’t going to post anything else but then I just saw this –
Mabel’s Birthday Beach Run! Can’t believe she’s nine!
Dec 13, 2025
It’s Mabel’s 9th birthday today so we went for a run on an empty beach at dawn. It’s really no more than that as a video (writing – or trying to anyway – is taking up most of my time) but I know that you like to see how they are getting on. So here is a few minutes of very little talking, plenty of running and just a bit of an escape from everything else in the world. Olive turned 13 a couple of weeks ago and happily she could still go for a jog as well, but she was left at home snoring instead.
Just going to leave this here for everyone…
Okay, one more thing before I go out again, because this made my day 😄. Rudolph was last night’s Final Jeopardy question, and then today I came across this.