Thursday, December 3, 2020

Welcome to December

This beautiful scene greeted me Monday. 

There will be more scenes like this for another week or so as I've read that we will have dry, relatively warm, sunny weather until about mid-December. Thereafter it should get a lot colder due to the effects of  La Niña, the colder counterpart to El Niño.

Welcome to December!

 


I started reading a new book. It's digital and from the library but for some reason it won't download for offline access. It means I have to read it on my browser. It's an easy read of the romance genre. One of those books that you don't have to think about while you read.  

 

I wanted to read that kind of book right now since I'm  busy with lots and lots of  'to dos', sending Christmas mail, household tasks, and looking for deals on things I need for the house.


Some sewing was involved in preparing one of the packages so I was a bit late it getting it prepared. Now that I've dusted and cleaned the grime from the sewing machine, I really should try to sew up a few other items before I decorate for Christmas.

I finally folded and boxed the too large patio cover back up. It fit into the box much easier than I was anticipating though not as good as when I bought the item new.  That's usually the case so it will have to do. By tomorrow I hope to have it returned and refunded. I'll try again and this time order on line though it may take a while as all packages are slow to be delivered right now. Canada Post is dealing with a record 2 million items delivered daily. This far surpasses their usual 1 million items delivered during Christmas. The postal business has been booming during Covid 19.


Right now I'm cooking up some cabbage, onion, potato and ground beef soup in a tomato broth. I was going to skip the ground beef but this will be our dinner so I decided to add it for more satiety.  There will be plenty left over for Friday although I have plans to make fish and chips for dinner.

 

Late at night, when I cannot sleep, I get out the app and colour. It's so addictive and I love the pretty colours.



I hope you all have a pleasant and safe weekend. Thank you for stopping by.


Joining up with Skywatch Friday.

36 comments:

Ed Dzitko said...

Definitely has that winter look and feel.

Joyful said...

Yes it does. Thank you for stopping by!

Spare Parts and Pics said...

The photo has a beautiful winter feel to it. I hadn't hear about La Nina. That's interesting!

Joyful said...

Thank you!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

The warm sunny weather is great, lovely image. I hope we do not have a really cold winter. Your soup looks delicious! You have reminded me, I need to mail off a few gifts. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend!

Tom said...

...you certainly have been busy, enjoy this special season.

Joyful said...

Thank you Tom. I've been very busy but I'm still at least a week behind in preparations. I was hoping to enjoy the whole of December until Christmas with the cosy, Christmas feeling, lol. Now I'll take what ever is left after I'm all done and ready. Enjoy the season too!

magiceye said...

Loved the 1st picture!

affectioknit said...

...love the steeple photo...it's finally gotten cold (-ish) here...we've just had our first real frost...it looks like you've been really busy and productive...
~Have a lovely day!

Red said...

I like home made soup so this catches my attention.

Joyful said...

Thank you so much. I love the tree branches - like looking through lace.

Inger said...

I like that first picture of the steeple with the mountain behind it. Hope all is well with you, I have decided to come and visit more often now. I've been a lazy blogger for way too long.

Jeannelle said...

I love your Skywatch photo! Happy weekend!

Jeanie said...

That IS a beautiful scene. We're having a temperate (40s) December so far, but I know winter will hit with a vengeance eventually. Looks tasty at your house!

Joyful said...

Thank you Inger, for your visit and your comment. All is well with me and I hope with you too! I look forward to seeing you more :-)

Joyful said...

Thank you Jeannelle (what a pretty name). I hope you have a great and happy weekend as well.

Joyful said...

Thank you Jeanie. Right now our temperature is about 52 degrees and it feels quite warm inside for me. The soup was a big hit and there is very little left, lol.

Joyful said...

It's been busy but just steady busy, not the crazy busy. It is a beautiful few days we've had. I think I'll rush outside with my phone while the sky is still pastel coloured.

Joanne Noragon said...

Beautiful pot of soup!

Pamela M. Steiner said...

I didn't know this was a "la nina" winter, but I am not surprised. I have been predicting a cold winter for a while, even though we live in Florida. The holly berries on the trees were so full the limbs were breaking, but the robins and Cedar Waxwings came through before Thankgiving and ate every last one of those berries! And the acorns on the oak trees are overflowing. We had record lows this past week, but it is back to the 70's again today. So we shall see. Your soup looks good. I make a variation of that, with carrots added to the potatoes, tomatoes and cabbage and onions and ground beef. You can also add bacon if you like. We call it "Hobo Stew", and it is great with some cornbread! Makes a good hearty meal on a chilly day! You are on the ball with your package sending, etc. I haven't even gotten started, and I guess I'd better get a move on if I am going to get anything done. I don't usually ship that much anyway. Most of our family is somewhat local and we usually see each other during the holidays...but not sure what to expect this year. Gift cards may be the "thing" to do. Enjoy your holidays and warmer weather while it lasts. Take care!

Mari said...

Such a pretty scene you captured!
Your soup looks good. I make one like that too, but just veggies. I'll have to try adding ground beef sometime.
Easy reading and coloring is good in this busy time.

Joyful said...

Thank you! Soup is great when the weather gets chilly.

Joyful said...

Hi Pamela, I didn't actually mean to add ground beef. Initially my plan was to make cabbage soup with only onions and cabbage and tomatoes but my family member needs more sustenance than that. Usually make the soup/stew like you do with the carrots but I add some elbow macaroni and fewer potatoes. This is how my mother used to make it and we just called it macaroni soup though it had meat in it. We ate it with bannock, a Scottish style bread but we made it in big slabs. Gift cards sound like a good idea for someone who lives locally or in the same country so it wouldn't have worked for me. I just came back from shopping and I'm glad I have the last of the gifts I need. Maybe I'll buy a few more stocking stuffers and that's about all I need besides the turkey and sides which I'll buy closer to Christmas. Now I have to do some cleaning now and bring out the decorations. You enjoy your preparations. Take care and stay safe. xx

Joyful said...

Hi Mari, thank you for stopping by. The soup is very versatile and so quick and easy to make. I think you will enjoy it with ground beef. Have a great weekend. xx

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

You have a lot going on.
I read pre-publication books on occasion and some of those I have to read in a browser. Once I get into it doesn't bother me much.

diane b said...

You are a busy bee.

Joyful said...

I try..

Lowcarb team member said...

Your photograph is lovely and your cabbage, onion, potato and ground beef soup in a tomato broth sounds tasty.

Enjoy your weekend.

All the best Jan

Joyful said...

Thank you Jan. You have a great weekend too!

Joyful said...

Ihank you Yogi.I have read several books on my browser but would rather download it.

Practical Parsimony said...

The first picture was beautiful. The soup picture makes me hungry. I think I will make that combination as it sounds good.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful photography ~ love the first one ~

Live with love each moment,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Joyful said...

Thank you. I hope you enjoy the soup!

Joyful said...

Thank you Carol!

Joyful said...

I love home made soup of all kinds too.

Joyful said...

Thank you Eileen. I hope it doesn't get too cold either because in October/November my electric heat usage increased by more than 30% and we haven't even hit the winter weather yet. Enjoy your day and weekend too!

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