The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[Candy_Kane54]

Well, it's Christmas Eve and there will be a lot of cooking going on today. Cheesecakes to be made, deviled eggs, and Chex™ party mix. At least it will keep me busy. For those on the other side of the world, Santa will be coming soon so be good for goodness' sake.

I'll do my best to keep the coffee brewing and the teapot is full and hot. There are plenty of donuts and other snacks on the counter and the eggnog is in the 'fridge. Feel free to find the gifts under the tree for you and open them tonight or in the morning, whichever tradition you have. I'll save mine for tomorrow morning.If you have a stocking hanging by the fireplace, don't forget to check it.

I don't know how much writing I'll get done today and tomorrow, but if you see me over in the corner, feel free to stop by and exchange holiday greetings. Merry Christmas to everyone. It's been a great year and I hope to see you around next year.

 

[ColtonWrites]

We are supposed to be roasting a duck tomorrow. Neither the wife nor I has ever made a whole duck.
This is bound to be interesting.

Also, the tree is not up and none of the gifts have been wrapped.

Help.

 

[sirhugs]

I have a feeling the boards are going to be very quiet the next few days.

I'm sure there will be the odd creak.

 

[SimonDoom]

Family will be getting together later today. Mom will be cooking the main dinner. I'm making patatas bravas as an appetizer. It's early in the morning and I've already gotten started on the coffee.

 

[NotWise]

My youngest won't be here until Friday, and we postpone gift-giving and the holiday meal until Saturday. That lets the other two daughters spend Christmas Day with their in-laws.

For me, Christmas Day is the day I get the amaryllis out of the garage, repot as needed, and start watering so the earliest flower by the end of January.

Our temps are still in the 60sF, but trending down. There could even be a little rain in parts of the state. Probably not here.

I got some writing done yesterday. The story moves in jumps.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Well, it's Christmas day where we were, but still a couple of hours before Father Christmas does his party trick.

The presents are wrapped and sitting in a box on the kitchen table. Someone can't be trusted with paper...



The red flecks on the carpet are from a rope toy he shredded.

 

[MrPixel]

Well, it's Christmas day where we were, but still a couple of hours before Father Christmas does his party trick.

The presents are wrapped and sitting in a box on the kitchen table. Someone can't be trusted with paper...

View attachment 2585774

The red flecks on the carpet are from a rope toy he shredded.

What happened to the puppy you recently adopted?

 

[Omenainen]

Well, it's Christmas day where we were, but still a couple of hours before Father Christmas does his party trick.

The presents are wrapped and sitting in a box on the kitchen table. Someone can't be trusted with paper...

View attachment 2585774

The red flecks on the carpet are from a rope toy he shredded.

By chance I’m spending the festivities with a doggo that looks much the same, and shares the same antics we bribed ours with his own gift so that we got to open the presents in peace.

Yes, we open the presents on Christmas Eve. That’s when Santa visits around here. Now all that remains is to stuff our faces until all Christmas food runs out, and go to sauna every once in a while.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Started cooking. DIY is done. Time for a nap before seeing what party food has been reduced in the supermarket (it's an excuse for a walk).

The spouse says the shed is not a fridge. I say, it's large and white. got a solid heavy door, and it's 4 degrees inside and full of food. Sounds like a fridge to me... Stores all reduce their veg to near nothing this week, so we now have sufficient potatoes, carrots, parsnips and cabbage to last until around March, he thinks. Late January, more like. I've currently hidden a Yule Log in my bedroom as the first two got gobbled already.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The turkey is thawed, and I have infused it with butter and herbs and stuffed it full of garlic and onions (no, I don't smoke the regular stuffing Dad makes tomorrow on our stovetop). I have the monstrous beast (23 1/4 lbs) in the fridge waiting for nightfall. I'm smoking some sausages right now and will do a roast in it tomorrow. Trying to make enough for Mum and Pops to take home plenty of food for the rest of the weekend. We are officially on staycation now. But I still have a ton of writing to do. Working on a story with Mary via Box for our alternate pen and several on my alternate pen. But hey, writing for myself is a vacation from paid work. Now, where's my friggin' French press?

 

[TheLobster]

Yes, we open the presents on Christmas Eve.

Seems pretty common in Europe. Around here we do it after the meal, though.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Christmas morning here. We're very traditional, at least on opening presents.

Seems pretty common in Europe. Around here we do it after the meal, though.

 

[dirk2024]

Well, I wrote Christmas cards yesterday. That should tell you where I'm at.

I have to make a double batch of minty gluten free brownies today, because tomorrow I'm making a double batch of chicken cassoulet. We're having the in-laws over, nine people total. My wife still has house cleaning to do, I need to clean out the fridge, and neither of us has wrapped presents.

I was hoping to watch The Family Stone tonight, and perhaps Charlie Brown Christmas. I may have to settle for listening to the music on YouTube after I go to bed.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

After record or near record temps for a few days, a 40-50 degree drop by Monday.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Stockings are filled. I was tempted to leave a snotty note from Father Christmas to the teenagers complaining about the lack of booze and snacks left out, but couldn't be bothered. The fact that they all take themselves off to bed without hysteria will do!

(clock ticks past midnight)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I've replenished the coffee and put out some hot chocolate. There's cheesecake on the counter and a big bowl of punch. Just be careful, I saw @MillieDynamite with the bottle of Jameson near the punch bowl.

 

[old_prof]

I’ve actually had a nice day visiting today. We spent the afternoon with my wife’s brother’s wife’ sister and her wife. I had met the sister before briefly but never the wife. They were truly lovely people.

Dinner tonight had more family drama but ended on a better note

I didn’t quite finish the draft of my story while we were here. Maybe waiting in the airport yomorrow

 

[NuclearFairy]

Now I'm just waiting for the kids to go to sleep so I can wrap the Santa presents and help stuff the stockings.

 

[Rustyoznail]

What happened to the puppy you recently adopted?

Yeah... He grew a bit, didn't he?

Coffee, bagels, creamed cheese and salmon for breakfast. It's going to be a bit warm, but we might go for a walk along the beach before lunch. Or maybe after lunch. We'll see.

Have a great day all!

 

[MrPixel]

Merry Christmas, all.

 

[TheLobster]

my wife’s brother’s wife’s sister and her wife

Uh, I think I lost track somewhere around the second "wife". You're gonna have to explain this to me in Lit's terms.

If you and her, hypothetically of course, would that still be T/I or not?

 

[HyunnaPark]

Merry Christmas to the best coffee shop around. I hope 2025 was as good for your writing as it was for mine, and here's to making 2026 better!

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Well, it's Christmas and I see that people have began opening their gifts. The wastebaskets are behind the counter so deposit the torn wrapping there, if you please. Thanks to my Secret Santa for the nice scarf. I really appreciate it.

There's fresh coffee brewing and the teapot is hot. There are plenty of Christmas cookies and punch on the counter. I see someone made brownies and cheesecake and the deviled eggs look delicious.

I managed to get some words down on paper yesterday so I won't be over in the corner this morning. I'll get back to writing tomorrow but for now, I need to finish up preparations for Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good day!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

A very joyous Christmas to all and a special thanks to our hostess!

 

[NotWise]

Hope you're having a very merry Christmas. Here, company's coming, so I'm cleaning. Then they're gone, and I'm cleaning because company's coming. Then they're gone and . . . You get the idea.

It's been too long since I harvested broccolini. There's a figurative ton of it ready to cut.

It's been so warm that this little gazania that volunteered under the edge of the porch,



is flowering again. The petals haven't unfurled all the way. If they do I'll try to get another picture. I don't often see summer flowers opening on Christmas Day.