Thought I’d just do a Five on Friday today. It’s been a while. Here it’s a freezing Friday with single digit wind chills. The actual temperature is something like 19 degrees, I think. Good day to do inside things. So happy next week is supposed to be back to normal November weather around here.
First: Thanksgiving Plans Sorted 
It’s been a bit of a week between J’s birthday, my husband’s hunting, and G having a bit of car trouble. However, my brother sent me a text last night and we’re going to go over there for Thanksgiving. I’m contributing cranberry sauce (homemade, no cans here!) and a chocolate meringue pie. Both easy things, which is great as I agreed to work a full day next Wednesday.
I’m so happy to have plans for Thanksgiving and be seeing family. All our family won’t be there, just my brother hosting, my other brother, and then some of my sister-in-law’s side. A few others may or may not show. My sister and brother are still at odds, so I won’t see her or her family or my other brother who lives in Texas. I keep saying other brother and thinking of the Bob Newhart show though none of my brothers are named Larry or Darryl:
Second: Follow Through Friday
Back when I blogged over at So Not Organized, I thought I might be rich and famous for my “real life” organizing. Pausing a moment for us both to enjoy a laugh at that one. A feature I often had was “Follow Through Friday” which I now realize is basically just the Fly lady anti-procrastination day but on a Friday instead of a Wednesday. So basically, I’m spending some time today to get some tasks I’ve been avoiding checked off the list. Cleaning off the kitchen table, the sofa, finding time to look at the blender my husband bought me, bill paying, laundry, etc.
Third: Three Nice Things from The Week
- I’ll start with this sunrise from Monday. Have I mentioned it enough how much I enjoy the sunrise being at a normal time again?
- The restaurant where we ate for J’s birthday gave him his meal for free. Super nice! I really wish I’d liked the food a bit better but the red sauce on the pasta was too sweet for me. My eggplant parmigiana was great though.
- When I worked on Wednesday afternoon, a student told me that I was one of his very favorite teachers. And one of the more “spirited” students at that. Warmed my heart quite a bit.
Fourth: Too Many Sales
Warning: Grouchy rant ahead. As I glanced at the papers while cleaning off the kitchen table (just the free Wednesday grocery ads), I noticed a Lowes flyer for a Black Friday sale. Except it ended the day before Thanksgiving? Wait, what?
So many early Black Friday sale confuse me. Is the better price now or do I wait until after Thanksgiving? It’s too much. And all these one day sales (looking at you Bath and Body Works) lose my business rather than gain it. Give me a day or two to ponder things.
Tis the time of year to remind myself: There’ll always be another sale.
Ranting about it all because I’m moving into Christmas mode and starting to think about what gifts to give to the family.
Fifth: Random Stuff
Starting with another photo from my walk last Sunday.
Starting with last week, I’m planning to go for a walk at least once every week, weather permitting. Mentally prepping my Winter Wednesday posts as well.
I saw a blog post as I was messing around doing research on Pinterest where they stated the winter season November to April. Um, maybe because I live somewhere we can have all the seasons in one week (and often do) or I’m too technical…that time span seemed so wrong.
Technically it’s December 20 to March 20 in these parts. However, I’m not opposed to giving into saying it starts in December. However, I’m going to give a firm no to it stretching to April (even if we’ve seen snow on the 1st day of that month and sometimes even in May).
What time frame do you consider winter?
And with that question I’ll conclude this rambling mess of a blog post.
Hello! I bet that sweet compliment from a little one warmed your heart! Your pie sounds delicious. I am wondering if we will get a peek at it next week??!! And I am with you on those sales! What the heck? Isn’t Black Friday after Thanksgiving? Have a cozy weekend, my friend!
It really did especially coming from one that requires a lot of redirection. Oh, I should update my pie recipe post. I had it on my old blog and even that post needed an update. Thank you for the idea. Hope you had a wonderful pre-Thanksgiving weekend!
Mmmm…chocolate meringue pie….yummy! Glad you got your Thanksgiving plans sorted. As for winter, Rebecca and I were having this conversation last night as it was snowing pretty hard here and she said it’s not supposed to be winter until after her birthday (which is next Monday). It’s still fall. December through March is winter to me. Hope you have a great week!
Thank you. It is such a relief to have those plans sorted. I just saw on the news where they said the “meteorological winter” starts December 1 so I’m going with that. Happy early Birthday to Rebecca! Hope you have a great week as well and that you didn’t get too much snow.
Ahahahaha! My brother, Darryl, and my other brother, Darryl! That used to crack me up! I truly enjoyed this post…rant and all! I don’t do Black Friday sales because of that very thing. It’s all too confusing for me. I don’t even look at the ads. I loved reading your “nice things from this week” section. I’m enjoying normal time, too, and the early sunrises. I’m with you! For me winter runs December 20th to March 20th. Everything between Thanksgiving and December 20th is late fall; everything from March 1st to the 20th is late winter…at least that’s how I see it. Hope you’re having a great week! Have fun on those weekly walks and have a great Thanksgiving!
I can’t say I don’t do the Black Friday sales but probably not as much as in the past. I miss looking through the masses of ads in the paper. However, I also loved when we used to always go to Oklahoma and there were very few stores. Late fall and late winter, I like that! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving as well!
I use to follow the fly lady cleaning. Gave it up. I felt as though I started feeling obligated and got those procrastinated feelings too. I felt pushed. So, I ditched it and came up with my own cleaning routine and schedule. To my surprise, I found my joy again, I felt free, and I knew I was doing it on my time, my way. Gave me a big piece of mind. She has good ideas, I just tweeked it a little.
As far as the Thanksgiving sales go. I honestly think some are scams. I can sometimes find better deals through out the year on sale than the Black Friday sales.
I just did a video on Making The Holidays Less Stressful and I talked about this very thing. Its up on our YouTube channel.
Hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Some of the Black Friday sales probably are scams but it is still fun to find a bargain here and there, lots of traditions around it for some families. We don’t anymore but I can remember several years back my sister and I would always go out on that day (back when shopping was more “in store”) and then, going with my late MIL and aunt when we were in Oklahoma, lots of fun times. Of course, it was more about getting out together than the actual sales. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow as well!