Through text updates and phones calls, I've been tracking the progress of my daughter and son-in-law who have been driving the moving truck and other vehicles across country. It's been fun to watch their progress and send encouraging texts and stupid one liner jokes. They left last Tuesday expecting the trip to take a week. This morning they crossed over into their second to the last state to cross, happy and relieved they'd reach their final destination by tonight. Late this afternoon I received a two word text from my son-in-law "BROKE DOWN". Veda filled in the details, well, the ones she had, a little while ago. The budget truck did indeed break down and leave them stranded on an exit ramp. After four and a half days of driving, they were within 9 to 11 hours of reaching the end of their trip, hot meal, hot showers and their families. "CHIT" says I! And "CHIT, CHIT, CHIT", says them! They don't know yet if the truck will be fixed or, if a they will get a new one and have to unload the dead truck and reload the new truck. It's a 17 footer - and it's been snowing lightly. The tow truck was in excess of $400! Veda says Budget will reimburse her for the cost of the tow, the night (or NIGHTS if they are forced to wait until Monday) in the motel and will provide them with a packing crew if the truck has to be switched over. At least they are warm and dry, will get a good nights sleep, and at least the truck didn't break down in the middle of nowhere in Nebraska!
On the Christmas side of things, I rolled, cut and baked 14 dozen sugar cookies. We have 19 more dozen to go before Monday. They still need to be frosted, sprinkled and distributed by dozens onto separate plates. We sell the cookies (after taking orders) to earn our holiday gift money. This is a tradition I started 25 years ago with Veda. Because of my trip to Utah, I didn't take as many orders as in years past. Only a total of 33 dozen this year. Last year we did 144 dozen!!!!!!! It took us two weeks and I swore I'd never make another sugar cookie again as long as I lived. Piper pulled out the "Chipmunk" face, and darned if we aren't doing more! "It's TRADITION Mom!" She was right. The Family Traditions must be honored - although I am relieved to have such a small number. The best part of last years cookie baking was that I found out Piper and I could work side by side in the same small kitchen for two weeks without killing each other even when our nerves were fried. That's always a nice thing to know!
Oh, we went to "Sherlock Homes - Game of Shadows" this afternoon - I loved it. Fu
On the Christmas side of things, I rolled, cut and baked 14 dozen sugar cookies. We have 19 more dozen to go before Monday. They still need to be frosted, sprinkled and distributed by dozens onto separate plates. We sell the cookies (after taking orders) to earn our holiday gift money. This is a tradition I started 25 years ago with Veda. Because of my trip to Utah, I didn't take as many orders as in years past. Only a total of 33 dozen this year. Last year we did 144 dozen!!!!!!! It took us two weeks and I swore I'd never make another sugar cookie again as long as I lived. Piper pulled out the "Chipmunk" face, and darned if we aren't doing more! "It's TRADITION Mom!" She was right. The Family Traditions must be honored - although I am relieved to have such a small number. The best part of last years cookie baking was that I found out Piper and I could work side by side in the same small kitchen for two weeks without killing each other even when our nerves were fried. That's always a nice thing to know!
Oh, we went to "Sherlock Homes - Game of Shadows" this afternoon - I loved it. Fu