If it requires me to roll, knead and work it, I don't do it. lol The only bread I've ever made was keto bread and I loved it. There wasn't anything to it other than all the separate ingredients. Oh, and my old mixer finally gave up so if I can't stir it, then fughettaboutit.

Guess I'll just stick to pancakes, lol.

That venison recipe sounds really good. I've had ground deer meat when I was young, but they were in meatballs and I couldn't taste the difference. Other than that, I don't know how it tastes. I do envy the seasonal hunters, since they get sooo much meat when they get one.

Venison kielbasa is my favorite, but it's been a few years since we've had it.

I also hate kneading.. so unless I can make it in the bread maker, I'm not making it. Also, my house it too cold to proof.

Oh man, it's been a long time since i've made cinnamon rolls. Maybe for NYE?!

Ohhh haha I don't mix the bread dough by hand. Thats what the bread machine is for :P I gave Katie and Wesley one for Christmas, it was one of the things they wanted. You can bake bread in it, but I like to do the dough and do mini loaves. - To have it rise the last time, I put it on top of the hot oven (preheated). Usually takes 30mins to rise enough. I also put a dishtowel I soaked in hot water & wring out over the top. I've heard you can also heat the oven, then turn it off & let the bread rise in the oven. Never tried that though.

I've had deer roast, deer steaks, and deer hamburger to make things like chili and spaghetti. But to be honest. I prefer beef. Ryan used to hunt so we'd sometimes have a deer. Long ago.

Soooo Nathan didn't want "christmas socks" - I got some for Katie and Wesley. Shane didnt want any either. But today when I went to walmart for can veg, can soup and toilet paper I walked over to see if they had tanktops because he'd been asking for more of those, and I walked past these anime socks, so he got socks for christmas. But they aren't "Christmas" socks :P

UGH!!! So I just went out to start the car to let it thaw out so it'll be ready when I'm ready and had to shovel some snow... good gawd it's bitter cold and these gloves did NOTHING for my poor fingers and the snow is just too damn heavy! I have to park on the street and these jackasses always plow TOWARDS the cars that are parked on the street so I was trying to dig out my car and just gave up. Well, my fingers were feeling really bad/cold/frozen and my back was aching like no one's business so I said to hell with it. If I have to, I'll back out of my spot.

My SI joint has been giving me TOO much grief this week and doing that hard work just made me realize that it ain't getting done. It's supposed to get warm and rain later in the week so it can just sit there. The thick ass blanket thing I'm wearing didn't stop those wind gusts from getting through, either. BAAAHHH!

No bread maker for me. Not only do I not have the space for one, I wouldn't use it enough to justify having it.

Gonna get changed into THICK wears so I can feel like the little boy on A Christmas Story and get ready to deal w/ crappy roads and even crappier people, lol. Adding some ibuprofen into that mix...

Oh no! Awful. Hope you can get out. Be safe driving it that mess. When I went to start my car this morning, it didn't want to start!! I've never had one act like that before, I don't know if its because this one is a manual or what. It did crank it was just like really weird/slow/stiff to do it? And I barely got the car door to open too!!

Started up the bread machine. Going to do regular mini loaves for the guys. Then I think I will do at least one or two mini loaves of "candycane" style using some food dye hahahah! :) See how it goes. Nathan did rainbow bread earlier this year, so I know dying the dough does work.

Edit: Guys. I have always heard of people having grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup together. But I never wanted to try it. But lately I was like, I like tomato slices in my grilled cheese maybe I'll like soup too. So I made some today. And guys. I am dying laughing as I type But all I can taste is spaghettios. No noodles tho. Loving it.

Edit: eeeeeeh squeals my pictures came my pictures came!!! Now I am debating if I want to go to walmart on Christmas Eve, this time of day, just for photo frames EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK

Even though I hate the car payments, I'm very fortunate to have a newer car (2019) that works as it should, even in really bad weather. The door was a little hard to get open, but not bad. The other (passenger) side was pretty bad even after letting it warm up for 15-20min. The startup was slow but that's expected when the wind chills are -30 and my street is straight western facing, where all the winds are coming from. In years past with older cars and weaker batteries, there were times I was afraid it wouldn't start up when it got below freezing. I had one car that the door was frozen shut on and actually had to pour hot water on the side to get it to open.

I definitely DO NOT put my grilled cheese in my cooking tomato soup! Now I use the soup as a dip, of course, but that's all. Gawd that sounds really good, too.

So, I got corn muffin mix which I NEVER get b/c I'm not a big fan but wanted to bake SOMEthing, lol. Then stuff for pigs in a blanket (with cheese, of course, b/c we are mice about cheese), the pancake stuff I mentioned and for sweets I got lemon cakes and peanut butter swirled brownies. Oh, and I got some bacon and asparagus to fry up some rolled little bacon treats. YUM! Shit... I just remembered that I have no mixer, lol. Pancakes are going to be a royal PITA to mix up tomorrow.

Pancakes are one of the only things I use a whisk for, instead of a mixer :P

Oooooh, I love asparagus and bacon together! That sounds so good!

We watched The Muppets Christmas Carol and guys. It maybe as good (BUT NOT BETTER) than the Flintstones one.It's been ages since I've seen it though. Rizzo is the best!

Put the sandwich in the soup? No. I put a tomato slice in the sandwich. Its yum! I did dip the crusts into the soup a bit too ;)

Nahhh pancakes shouldn't be too hard to mix up with a whisk or even a fork. Mixer does make it easier, but you can do it w/o one. Mmm I love cornbread. I always use Jiffy mix. Hubby likes the dryer white cornbread but eh. I like my sweet Jiffy cornbread. Peanut butter swirled brownies sounds good!! Katie & Wesley got me a Ghiridelli brownie mix that is sea salt & caramel mmmm can't wait to make it tomorrow. AND I'll make cornbread tomorrow, in addition to my bread today. So yea. Lots of stuff being baked. Pies too - pumpkin pies of course :P Its about the only pie I make.

So I don't know why, other than I felt it would be less crowded than walmart, but I tried hobby lobby for frames. Ugh. Didn't like any of them AND they were waaaay more (even 50% off!!!) than what I can get at walmart. So I went to walmart. 4 picture presents wrapped up now. Katie & Wesleys, Shanes, Ryans, and one for Wesley's mom&dad. I had to kind of create my own collage for Shane, I didn't know how he wanted to put pictures in his truck, but I collaged 4 small photos (3.5x5) into a 8x10 frame. I told the kids they needed to pay for any pictures they wanted to buy for themselves, but honestly, $7 a sheet, and Katie picked out 1 sheet of 5x7s and Shane picked the 3.5x5s but was 4 sheets...and he only needs 1 picture out of each sheet......so really he only needs 1 sheet worth....so meh. I eat the cost, they get picture gifts. Is all good, I get the extra pictures hahah, and thats what I put in frames for Ryan, 3 of the 3.5x5s from the ones Shane picked.

I am sooo excited they came in before Christmas!! Even tho, meh well - two of the gifts won't be given til after. Since Katie's already left to join Wesley's family, and now she cant get hers or give to his mom til after Christmas.

Ignore the glare (thats me being bad and taking pictures of pictures lol but : [Spoiler=Pix] The family photo I chose for myself The collage I chose for myself The "wreath" collage [/spoiler] I am more and more in love with them the more I look at them hehehe :) Yes I know. I'm a bit crazy about pictures!!

Happy lumi to you all.

I’ve not started shopping for you all yet. Usually I’m done but I have this nasty flu bug. Can barely stay awake. Been at work and trying to do the festive stuff with friends but it’s really taken it out of me. So gifties will probably be late I’m so so so sorry 😢 forgive me?

It's the mashing of the bananas in w/ the pancake mix that's going to be a challenge, lol.
I picked up the Jiffy mix too, Kat. We're having crescents w/ the ham tomorrow but w/ the mashed potatoes already, I'm not really into doubling up on the starches.

Kat those pics are AMAZING!! I absolutely LOVE them!! Thanks for sharing!
I hate Hobby Lobby prices

Take care of yourself!! There's nothing more important! I hope you feel better when you start to celebrate so do all you can to give your body the rest it needs. Have a wonderful Christmas/Lumi! (and I don't think anyone here is worried about being gifted ;) )

I've got the asparagus rolls in a baking pan that I used yesterday for the bacon (with a grilling tray inside it) and still had all the bacon grease, so I figured what would be better than extra bacon grease! Plus I didn't want to stand around and fry them. After they've baked for a bit I'll put them on the tray to drain off the extra grease.

LOL I had no idea what you were talking about w/ the grilled cheese but hell, that sounds kind of good. I just love some tomato bisque though so I stick to making the soup myself.

Mash the bananas first? With a fork or potato masher? THEN mix into the pancake batter? Maybe? I never mixed bananas into pancake batter before....

:D Thanks!! <3 My heart is happy with my photos.

There is this gourmet sandwich restaurant that we sometimes get lunch from while at school - and they make a grilled cheese sandwich. They put it on a croissant or sourdough bread (I do croissant) and they put bacon, tomato avocado and umm maybe its mayo? or Ranch? not sure, some dressing of some sort. I do not get the avocado. But the sandwich is sooooooo yummy, I started doing the tomato at home in my regular grilled cheese sandwiches. Hahah yea you might as well add more bacon grease to that!

I swear, they like, double their prices so they can say "look half off!!" ugh. But sometimes I like the item and its not a bad price, but I KNEW i could get frames cheaper. And just as nice looking.

aww hun you need to look after yourself and get better!!! No worries on gifts here! Hope you feel better soon VIRTUAL ((((HUGS)))) (Not going near you with real hugs since you got the flu) hahahah :P

Awww Luce, I hope you feel better soon! :( Being sick on Christmas is no fun!

I don;t like grilled cheese OR tomato soup, so I'm staying out of that conversation :P

Kat, I LOVE them, they all turned out so well!

Also Kat, your Christmas card came today! Iz was so excited, she's really been loving getting and opening all the cards :)

Oooh yay :) Glad she enjoyed it!!

My <3 is quite full at the moment. Nathan came out and said "Mom, are we following tradition this year?" So I was like, what do you mean? "Are we going to watch movies?" What movies? "The Santa Clause, all 3 of them" If you want to. :* So my boy turned them on, and stayed out here the WHOLE TIME (mr I can't stay in one place for that long eyeroll) to watch ALL THREE MOVIES! Well, ok so we did get up several times to go let the dogs out/in, feed them, fix dinner, go potty etc, but what do you expect for THREE MOVIES!! <3 <3

Awww, that's sweet, Kat!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

And remember.. deck the halls, not your family !

Why can't I deck my family? They'd look so festive all decked out ;) (Yes I know what you meant, I had to reply with the decoration version instead) lol Mmm guys. My candycane bread turned out pretty good.

CCBread

All presents have been opened. Ryans brought Shane and his bed over, he's gone now. Ham cooking. Turkey in fridge (will heat up for dinner), debating what else to make with lunch besides ham and bread.

Your candy cane bread looks amazing Kat!

How was everyones day?

Kat, that reminds me of a story.. when I was youngish, like 11 or 12? My sister was 10 years older than me. She fell asleep on teh couch while my Nana was decorating for Christmas, and she just.. wrapped her up in lights and garland and tinsel and hung ornaments on her ears. And it was the funniest thing ever. She woke up flabberghasted and so mad, and Nana was like.. I TOLD YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

I was very close to decking my family yesterday, but did manage to avoid it. It took two jack and gingers to do so, though. I did yell a bit. Awful people. UGH.

But. Overall, it was a good day, and almost everyone had fun and enjoyed themselves.

But MAN, do I realize why they're all alcoholics.

No one got decked here. I did have to yell at Shane for cursing in my house. I know he's an adult, he can cuss if he wants to, but I am allowed to say he cannot do it in my house. I dont want to hear those words!! Ugh. Its bad enough I've THOUGHT them for the past year or two. Ugh. The boy frustrates me. Yelling on the phone to some girl, about some OTHER girl cheating on him. UGH UGH UGH. I wish he'd get better at relationships but he probably never will.

Alcohol is part of the reason I was unhappy with Ryan. He drinks. ALL THE TIME it feels like, and he - while not a terrible person - gets ugly when he's drunk. Mad, pissy, and lets it all out yelling and slamming things around. So happy not to have to deal with that anymore. He "drinks to relax" after work. Mmm hmm except you went from 1-2 beers a weekend (when you were only home on weekends), to 3-4 beers every night (when home every day). By beers, I mean alcoholic drinks, not necessarily Coors light or whatever - he drinks like Mikes hard lemonade type things. Or mixed drinks. And - he will state that he is NOT drunk, or that he did NOT drink too much. When it is obvious to everyone else that he did. However to each their own, and he can do what makes him happy, away from me. Shane was over there and got drunk with him. Yay. I got drunk texts from Ryan about what Shane was doing. Shane cannot hold his liquor at all. Gets sick almost every time he drinks. Seriously if that was me, I'd stop drinking. Oh well. You're right tho, as long as people mostly have fun and enjoy themselves and nothing too insane/intense happens, its all good :)

lol I've never had crazy holidays, but then again my older brother was moved out several years before my parents got divorced and after that, we've rarely all gotten together.

I drink and I curse! I do curb the swearing a lot in here out of respect and I always hope I'm forgiven when I get too aggravated that it just comes out but as far as the drinking, I'm a loving drunk. I laugh and enjoy everything at that time. I seriously CAN'T STAND mean drunks!!!

My oldest gets into relationships (like the one she's currently in) b/c she doesn't want to be alone. This guy is a loser, too. Anti social and too lazy to work. She's finally realizing she wants out of the relationship b/c he's such a drain on her but she hasn't figured out how. She told me some years ago that she didn't want to be alone and raising kids, the way I did. :( It wasn't all that bad. What she doesn't get is that I mostly stayed alone b/c I didn't want strange guys around my little girls.

OK SO. Here's the drama. We all know D spent Christmas Eve and Christmas here. And it was a good time! I went out and got snacks and individually wrapped a bunch of different ramens up because everyone should have stuff under the tree, it would have been unthinkable to me to have her be here and just watch everyone else unwrap stuff. We've already talked about this, so sorry :P

OK SO. It was a great Christmas, and she LOVED her silly little ramens and stuff!

We get to the in-laws.. everyone ignored her when we walked in except her sister. Then, apparently they just.. kicked her out of the kids secret santa AFTER she had already bought Iz a gift (and it's a good thing she did too, because my SiL bought her a $5 pancake pan and called it good?! for a 9 year old?!). So Ok, whatever, no secret santa.

But also.. they didn't get her presents. None. Not a single thing. They bought presents for all the grown kids, all the in-law kids, all the grandkids.. except D. What low down, petty jackasses.

THEN Lynne and Ashley and Rachel spent like, two. hours. talking shit about her and how ungrateful and awful she was. Everytime I was going to say something, Alex was like "You'll make it worse for her" and he's not wrong.. but finally I snapped and was like "Gee, I wonder why she moved out and was thinking about not coming for Christmas."

Like.. what in the actual fuck.

Also.. THREE entire BOTTLES of whiskey were drank, as well as jello shots, wine, two bottles of champagne. Like.. ridiculous. AND Cameron and Rachel were out smoking weed when they were letting the dogs out. Which, OK, whatever, IDC what you do but.. JFC Rachel, you're already obnoxious enough. She's also the one that got Iz a... a pancake pan?!

Some words I don't mind. Some words I hate hearing. Doing it occasionally doesn't bother me. Hearing the f word or another curse word every two-three words is annoying!!!

Better to be safe in that situation. Also hopefully she may come to the realization it might be better to raise them alone if the person she is with sucks .. I will be honest, in hindsight, I should have separated from hubby like 10yrs ago. I think it would have been better for everyone had I followed my thoughts of "just put the kids in the car and go to moms" back then instead of being scared of how I would do it on my own, they needed thier dad, I wanted to stay in my marriage, etc.

Oh heck no that is absolutely wrong! You do not do that to anyone. How awful for D. And umm yea, surely they know Iz better than that to pick out a better gift. I got those brownie/cookie pan sets for FUN not for a real gift....sheesh.

I hope D realizes you are in her corner. That just...really sucks for her.