Sunday 30 December 2018

The Aftermath

The Boxing Day gathering of fifteen bodies went very well. Note to self: do NOT make as much food for appetizers if I do this again. It was simply too much. I baked too much, I set out too much, there was just too much. I have frozen a lot of my baking, and there is still half a plate of cream cheese / hot pepper jelly in the fridge, and I just dumped the rest of the cut up fruit in the chicken run for the birds. They were appreciative. We managed to fit everyone into the kitchen to eat with the help of one of those collapsible plastic tables that I got on sale before Christmas. My sister and sister-in-law were invaluable at that "crunch" time when everything is coming out of the oven and being sliced and put in serving bowls...

Then I got sick. I am hacking and coughing and trying to breath and feeling a bit like the truck of Christmas hit me, backed up, ran over me again... It was inevitable. I had three colleagues on antibiotics for strep throat before Christmas and others who were just plain sick. I had students away in the last couple of weeks leading up to Christmas holidays. Regardless of the amount of hand washing and hand sanitizing, it really was inevitable.


I'm trying this product now. I'm not sure it's doing a whole lot, but at least I feel like I'm trying. I've already set up an appointment with my doctor (the soonest I could get in was Jan. 8th!) to deal with the sinus infection which this has already turned into and will continue to be. Yes, poor me.

The house continues to be decorated to the hilts. I am in no way, shape, or form to be dismantling Christmas and hauling out the Twelve Boxes of Christmas and trying to pack and put away. It shall remain this way until I feel up to it.

One of the highlights of the holidays, however, was receiving a package through the mail.


These gorgeous tea towels were sent to me by a fellow blogger! Joanne from Cuponthebus wove these and sent them to me! I was so excited to receive them and haven't even had a chance to send her a thank you card yet. My husband suggested I use them at Christmas, but I'm glad I didn't because they wouldn't have been on display for long, as we went through several tea towels, sopping up messes, anchoring cutting boards, or just becoming drenched too quickly. No fear that they won't get used however! The one thing I love about them is how soft they are, not stiff and non-absorbant like so many of the new ones.

Husband has another round of follow up appointments for M-I-L's eye (cataract surgery) tomorrow, late in the day in a 'nearby' town. I call these Dementia Days. We've kindly been invited by old friends to join them at their cottage for New Year's Eve (just a gentle get together, not a big party) that same day. I'm hoping I can pull myself together / drug myself up enough that I can enjoy myself. We're not big New Year's Eve revellers these days, usually just staying home or maybe getting together with friends.

I hope you are all well and have survived the Christmas rush. Here's to a happy, healthy, prosperous 2019!

34 comments:

  1. That's a beautiful gift of tea towels! I hope you feel better soon. Lots of people seem to be sick this year -- there's definitely something going around.

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  2. The tea towels are very pretty! How nice :) Jenn, I hope you get better soon, that really sucks to be sick. I remember tasting Buckley's syrup back in 2012 and nearly gagged and spewed lol...I see they now have it in capsule form, easier to swallow! Hope you can get to your friends cottage for New Years!! Wishing you and your family all the best in 2019!! Oh yeah, I'll take that note too, half of my cookies are in the freezer now lol!

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    1. I've already cancelled with them. When we accepted the invite, I thought it was just a little cold, but no... I don't want to make someone else sick.

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  3. I hope you are soon feeling better Jenn. Get plenty of sleep and drink honey and lemon in warm water. x

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    1. Thanks Rachel. Try as I may to nap, it just doesn't happen.

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  4. Such lovely tea towels, one of those things that I always appreciate! I do hope you feel better soon and are able to get together with your friends for New Year's Eve. I spent the entire day yesterday preparing the leftovers for the freezer. Ah well, at least we have plenty of food for other meals :)

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    1. Decided to cancel. Don't want to make them sick, too.

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  5. So sorry that you're not well Jenn sinus infections are just horrible.
    Get well soon.
    Hugs-x-

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  6. Jenn, I am wishing you well. I hate that you got sick. A few in our family did also. I am washing my hands all the time. I try to cover my face when in elevators with others...incase they cough and don't cover. Gaa..what's up with adults not covering. Take care of yourself and get back to good health. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. I'm sure that you are being extra careful not to get sick, Susie! Thinking of you!

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  7. What a nice picture. That was a lovely red, and I'll make more of that color, for sure. You have a good new year!

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    1. The red is perfect, Joanne. I love red in the kitchen!

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  8. Oh dear, what a shame to be sick now. I have noticed that every time I spend a day storytelling in a school, I get sick soon after. A teacher friend calls school children little walking petri dishes, and I guess that's about true! I do hope you feel better soon. The towels are gorgeous, what a gift! I always stand amazed to the skill of my needle-plying friends. It does sound like a glorious get together, despite getting sick. At Thanksgivng I tossed many of the leftovers to the chickens and the dogs as I knew there was no way we would eat all of that--and didn't need it on our hips either. Like yours, my critters loved it. That's one great benefit of chickens and dogs :) Have a good New Year's, Jenn. I think we'll probably stay in as I am still whupped from all our traveling last week.

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    1. I've actually been congratulating myself on not getting sick up until this point. That's what being smug gets ya!

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  9. You were very kind to cancel your New Years plans Missus. It really burns me when people show up at my house and don't forwarn us of their illness. I try to avoid going shopping etc. during busy times at this time of year. We scrub down shopping carts with sanitizer when we do go shopping! I have to go to the hospital next week to get my meds refilled (no family doctor, no drop in clinic). I am going to avail myself of gloves and a mask so I don't pick anything up while we're there. Am I a tad paranoid......YES!

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    1. I think a waiting room at a hospital would be quite a germ infested area!

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  10. Hi Jenn! Hope you kick that cold soon. I take oregano capsules at the first sign of a cold, or sinus trouble and that really kicks the healing process off. Hope you and your family have a relaxing new year!

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    1. I have tried oregano capsules in the past, but unfortunately they didn't really help. Glad they help you, though.

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  11. Oh no on being sick. I can do 'gentle get togethers'!

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  12. My colds always turn into sinusitis, it's a horrid thing to try and shake off. I hope you feel better soon Jenn.

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    1. Thank you , Sue. Do you get antibiotics for your sinus infections?

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  13. Can't believe you have to wait so long to see your doctor! Hope you survive until then - it will probably clear up by itself beforehand.

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    1. It\s always about two weeks to get in to see him. Ridiculous.

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  14. Oh, sinus trouble is the worst, so exhausting. I hope it doesn't drag on for you. We're not NYE people at all but yesterday my brother rang with an invitation to dinner and early fireworks at his place then good friends living nearby suggested swinging by their place on the way home for the midnight fireworks. It's unnecessarily OTT in this part of the world and bah-humbug is my usual response to it all but tonight it looks like I'll be out amongst it all for once. Happy New Year, Jenn and Get Well Soon!

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  15. Joanne sent me tea towels a year or so ago and they are my favourites...so soft and absorbent....once you use them you'll want more...more...
    So sorry you are sick over the holidays...finger crossed it goes quickly. Sinus infections are the worst.

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  16. Happy New Year Jenn. I do hope you are feeling better. Just a note - I think the liquid Buckleys works better than the gels - it does taste awful but it works (at least for Mr Man & myself). ... Mary-Lou =^..^=

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  17. Happy quiet New Years and get well soon!
    Glad you got through Xmas in one piece

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  18. Oh Jenn, I hope you are feeling well enough to celebrate tonight. Sounds like you could use a party. I feel your sinus infection pain. I've had once steady headache since December 8 and yesterday was the first day without. I did antibiotics, over the counter and now on prednisone, which I hate but it works. SO many people were sick this year at Christmas. Seems like almost every blog found at least someone with their own personal version of the plague. Well, maybe we'll all start the new year on a healthy note!

    Meanwhile, I'm glad your Boxing Day party went well and hope that you'll see the new year in with returning health! Or else just be calm and happy that 2018 is over! Cheers!

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  19. Awww, Jenn, that stinks - I sure hope you can kick that cold asap!! Happy New Year to you!!

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  20. Happy New Year to you, Jen, and from this post you did have a jolly and large gathering at your place for Boxing Day. Who doesn't often do too much food -- been there and done that. We are also eating leftovers, which neither of us minds in the least as they usually taste better the next day! Hope you will be feeling better soon.

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