Random 5 for December 1, 2024 – Time, weather, cheesecake, security, Christmas

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Goodbye Hallmark musical toy!

Jeepers creepers! – It’s December. How the hell did that happen. It was just March or was it July? This wasn’t one of my favorite years. It started with my cat Gus’ medical issues which ended with a major surgery for him in the spring. Then we had the bath renovation which hit a bunch of bumps and delays. My sweet cat Gracie passed away unexpectedly and destroyed my fall. It is now December, and I hope it’s the best month yet! (The bar is low so maybe it will be.)

It finally got cold! – It was 23 degrees F (-5C) this morning. On my coffee run, I turned on the butt heater and the heated steering wheel. The heated steering wheel was a part of the car package that I didn’t think I needed, but I love it. My hands are always cold in the winter, and this makes driving so much easier.

You win some, you lose some – I’ve been looking for a cheesecake recipe that isn’t dense and intense. I am lactose sensitive. Cheesecake is a rental that passes through my body quickly. When I was a kid, my mom bought one that was more cake-ish than the dense mud that passes for cheesecake now. I have been trying to duplicate it. I tried a Ukrainian recipe this weekend. Yikes! That was a disaster. The closest I’ve gotten is a Japanese cheesecake recipe. It was light and airy and not real sweet. If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears.

I’m human, right? – There is a new “security” feature on some blogs. It’s a block that I must check to verify I’m human. I usually check with the cats before marking that and they agree. I am human! With opposable thumbs (very important for cats!)

It’s the holiday spirit! – After a disastrous fall (see paragraph 1), we decided to throw ourselves into Christmas. We had some decorations up before Thanksgiving. We never do that. Yesterday I pulled out more stuff and anything that doesn’t get used is being donated. We did that last year but there were some things that I couldn’t part with, yet I don’t use. (Don’t try to make sense out of that.) Anyhow, this year I’m going to be brutal. I’m sure the nursing home won’t let me in with 10 boxes of Christmas decorations that haven’t seen the light of day in decades.

So how was your week?

68 thoughts on “Random 5 for December 1, 2024 – Time, weather, cheesecake, security, Christmas”

  1. The seat and steering wheel heating sounds like a pretty good idea, honestly! The DH always requests cheesecake for his birthday. I use a quick one from Philadelphia cream cheese that uses a premade graham crumb crust. It’s just 2 packages of cream cheese, 2 eggs, a little vanilla, and around 1/2 cup of sugar. I whip it together until it’s fluffy and then bake at 350 for around 35 min (until only a little jiggle in the middle). It’s pretty quick and light.

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  3. Daughter Lise and I culled unused items from the Christmas totes this summer. They were stashed in the garage to be given away. A friend knew people who lost a lot in the recent hurricane. They have places to live now but wouldn’t spend money on decorations. We think they will be pleased to have free decorations.

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    • Today we tossed our holiday wrapping paper. It was at least 10 to 15 years old. We don’t wrap gifts anymore. If we give one, it’s usually in a gift bag. Each day we do a little more so we have a little less.

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  5. Ten boxes of ornaments? Little boxes or big ones? I gave away quite a few last year between the great moose giveaway and Winnie the pooh for Jen’s grandsons. I still could decorate at least three medium trees. Maybe I need a really big tree!

    I wish you a much better month this December.

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  6. I’ve downsized some holiday items, but it is hard because there is usually a memory attached to everything. One successful measure was to go from the regular tall tree to multiple smaller trees which are way easier to put up, take down, and store. I put our decorations up before Thanksgiving because of early darkness. It was 17 degrees here when I made coffee. December is making its presence known.

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    • It is the memories that keep you attached. This year I’m giving away a collection of Barton and Reed tree ornaments. I haven’t used them in a while but they are pretty and a memory. I’m trying to be brutal. If it doesn’t have a spot here, out it goes.

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  7. I have loads of stuff that I don’t use but cannot bear to part with, so I can completely understand you on that issue.
    Winter finally caught up with us here, too. It’s really cold but the sun deceives you into thinking it should be warm. It isn’t!
    And yes – this past year (all of it) has been hell – culminating 2 and a half months ago with the death of my youngest sister and her husband in a wholly senseless traffic accident. I won’t say it can’t get any worse because whenever I do that, it DOES.

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    • I read about the accident on your blog and I’m so sorry. I’m just hoping that enough bad stuff happened this year that we will sail through next year without tragedy.

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  8. we agree… we win some and we lose some… won a plush rat/mouse/beaver/whatever for a super price, but the bargain lost an eye because of a man who watched the dogs (and the tv) for 2 minutes… uaaah..

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  9. I have a Polish cheesecake recipe if you are interested. It has farmer’s cheese and is topped with pineapple. Uh-oh, now I am craving it. 🙂 I am doing the same with Christmas stuff even though I am not planning to move anytime soon. My rule now with anything is if it doesn’t bring me joy, out it goes.

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  10. Although I do like most cheesecakes, a light airy one sounds especially nice.

    My sister is into trying to perfect her pie crust. She made a pumpkin pie and a chocolate pecan pie for Thanksgiving. Both delicious although she’s still not satisfied.

    I’m with you. December came awfully fast. It’s that short month, November lacking a 31st day.

    I decorated a bit for Thanksgiving. Today I put those decorations away and started bringing out a few things for Christmas. I still have to decide whether to put up a tree.

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    • If it weren’t for my husband, I wouldn’t put up a tree. We don’t entertain for the holidays anymore so it’s just us and an occasional visitor. It’s a lot of work. My favorite way to make pie crust (which is so much better homemade) is to make the fat part half butter and half Crisco. All butter and it’s a harder crust. All Crisco and it’s too soft.

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  11. You have had a helluva year – all the cats would agree, especially Morgan and what about us – we have lost the best roving reporter with four paws. Since I am not a baker, I come with no recommendations for a cheesecake for lactose intolerant sufferers. I can’t remember the last time I had a slice of cheesecake. At the Firm, a shop opened up nearby that sold cheesecakes only, every flavor imaginable. So every luncheon involving a shower or going-away had to have a few cheesecakes for dessert. Collecting for cheesecakes was a lot more costly than collecting for one sheetcake. I’m going to put up a small tree this year, the first time I’ve done so since 2008. I’m still figuring out the logistics where to put it with not enough electrical outlets and at its former location I have plugged in the laptop to reach to the kitchen and cannot unplug the lamp.

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  12. It has been a helluva year. I hope things have turned the corner and there are no more curve balls for you and the kitties.

    Yeah, that whole “prove you’re a human” thing has gotten beyond ridiculous. After jumping through the hoops, the website says “nope” can’t let you in” so I have to figure out which browser the security likes and try that one. Too often it’s neither Chrome or Safari. I feel badly that some bloggers aren’t getting my comments but don’t know what to do. I wish these technology companies would learn to play nice. It makes you wary whenever you update your OS. Then there’s Adobe that no one wants to deal with and you apparently have to sell your soul to the devil in order to print a PDF or JPEG…and that’s only if you’re extremely lucky. Sigh.

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    • Amen to all of that. A lot of programs don’t like Edge (which I don’t use although Microsoft wants to make it my default browser). We have android phones. Our tech guy was out for something and he tried to manage someone on my husband’s phone. The guy said he hates android. Since we are close to upgrading I listened up and asked why. He said they are all different. If he picks up an iPhone he knows exactly what he will see. If it’s an android they are all different. He figured it out but it took some time. What’s wrong with a universal fit?

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      • Good question. I originally started with Apple because it’s quite intuitive (except I continue to go round with that Siri lady-she and I have had some royal arguments about her trying to think for me-grrr) and back in the day was less likely to be hacked or infected. Not sure that part is still true but I’ve had Apple products for ages and it’s just less of brain damage now. Don’t get me started on Microsoft-I gave up on them years ago. My frustration factor only is only so patient.

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  13. I hope the Christmas holidays are a happy time for you. I have decorations up, but no tree. I decided a long time ago that trees and cats don’t work for me. I have a snowman and grinch that stand by the front door and she thinks they’re her friends.

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  14. Being in the middle of a move has put a damper on the holidays. And on my energy level. We load the truck tomorrow and drive to our new apartment on Tuesday.

    Days ago, I envisioned having all the unpacking done this week. Now, I’ll be happy if the bed is set up so I can climb aboard, pull the covers over my head and retire until spring.

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    • Moving at the holidays is awful. We sold our home in the fall and moved in February so December was all about packing up. Not much holiday stuff going on. It was exhausting. You will deserve a nice long sleep!

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  15. I am currently debating with myself about decorating for Christmas. I was so bummed about the election results that I just couldn’t do anything for fall and Halloween. Maybe a few Christmas decorations will cheer me up. I’m with you though, if I don’t use them, I will donate.

    I most “cakey” cheesecake I’ve had was a true New York style cheesecake. I had a dormmate in college whose mother was a baker who specialized in cheesecakes. I got to try a ton of them (and probably gained a ton at the same time) and liked the pure NY style the best.

    Best wishes for a smooth, drama-free December!

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  17. Cheesecake:
    this is my recipe, maybe can you adapt it? It’s easy to make and no cooking other than melting the fat for the biscuit base.
    Our dekkies and the tree will be going up shortly before Christmas Eve. Maya has to choose her new toy from the shop (they love her there and she gets biscuits from nearly all the staff now!), I have to do the food shopping, and think what silliness I can wrap up for Hubs.
    Looking forward to our trip to the garden centre to absorb the magic of their displays and take photos, have a traditional Christmas lunch at their carvery, and hopefully get some special goodies.
    Cards will be written and posted next week, then the hand deliveries done the week before Christmas.

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  18. My favorite day during the holiday season is the day after Christmas. All the fuss and hurry-up is over and the leftovers are the star. I just feel such a relaxing comfort on that day. That is what I am wishing for you. I wish I knew a cheesecake like you are looking for because I would be eating it!

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  19. You did have a rough year…..cats, bugs, construction, time for a break for sure. Christmas is a perfect time for a break. It’s busy but it’s a different kind of busy. We don’t have the energy we used to have when decorating and we wear out more quickly while doing it (it may take a few days instead of a few hours!) but it makes us happy and reminds us of the “magic” of the season. We plan to have fires in the fireplace, Christmas music on the stereo, good food, and we’ll TRY not to get wrapped up in political drama (which means not turning on the TV unless absolutely necessary!!). Here’s to peace on earth and goodwill towards men (and women and pets).

    Hugs, Pam

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  20. Our tree arrives today and my fabulous, high end chocolate advent calendar from Andy arrived yesterday. I think I’ve recovered enough from hosting 20 on Thanksgiving to put away the fall decor and start decking the halls for Christmas. Had to promise Andy I would get rid of at least one box of Christmas stuff, though. Like you, I’m hoping winter is an improvement over ALL the other seasons.

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  22. We got the fake tree down from the attic but that’s as far as we’ve gotten so far. Heated steering wheel – never heard of that before, but I do love the heated seats in hubby’s car. Paws crossed that December is a whole lot better than many other months this year for you, especially no cat adventures.

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