Monday, January 26, 2026
Well, it is winter. She ain’t playin’ no more. Let’s link up to Sarah and Holly to share our weekends and our winter stories!
Also, be careful what you wish for. I remember myself saying I like a snow that I can watch during the daytime. Ok, I’m done.
I moved my clearance tulips to my mantel, and I have enjoyed looking at them.
Snowstorm prep for some means milk and bread and for others it means library run!
I picked up my requests on Thursday and added an interesting one I saw on the shelf:
I went into Anthro and just looked. I think I am done with my icon glasses. I have hearts, bows, and lobsters. I only have four glasses. Never say never, though!
I was next to Anthro because I did a very retired person thing. I picked up the free scoop of Chicken Salad Chick. He he. I was the youngest person there by several decades.
Have you all heard about the yogurt Biscoff cookie thing? I had both and tried it. I wasn’t going to waste too many cookies. I put two into some vanilla and it’s really good!
I’m not happy with myself. I had a Kroger pick up on Wednesday and also stopped at two other little markets. Then, on Thursday my friend made me nervous and I went in Kroger. Then, on Friday I was still nervous and went into Kroger. Sheesh.
I let the hype get to me. Do you do that?
I had a fun Friday morning! I have a former student from my second school ask me to coffee. She is 42 now! She recently moved near me and we had been wanting to get together. We talked for two plus hours in a little coffee shop.
I hope I get to see her again soon!
Friday night was Tom’s work holiday party. They have changed it to January and it’s a pretty good plan except for the weather this year. Several people weren’t able to make it because some don’t work here in town and commute or they are on job sites. It was too cold to even think of a dress and no one wore one. I went with consignment Chico’s pants, new booties, black sweater with sheer sleeves, and a black sweater vest/shawl thing that was also consignment.
It was at a distillery/bar called Uncle Boojie’s and they have a great atmosphere and creative drinks.
You were able to get a taste from this barrel. The gadget used to extract the bourbon is called a “whiskey thief”.
They had a little bluegrass band.
A rare smile caught on camera!
Since so many people cancelled and we were among the last to leave, the caterers begged us to take home the extra food. We took home bacon topped deviled eggs, chicken mac and cheese sliders, bacon jam cheeseburger sliders, bourbon balls, and fruit and cheese skewers. Sometimes it pays to close down the party, no?
I made Chex Mix Saturday morning and literally we were just waiting on the snow. Jack and his roommate came around 3:00 when the snow had just started because their workplaces closed as did most non-essentials places. I was worried about them staying warm in their old Victorian house apartment.
I went out and got one more small thing of provisions and a medicine ball tea since I woke up with a bit of a sore throat. But also, I knew cabin fever would hit so I wanted to get out while I could!
I started this:
The snow started slowly…
I laid out all the leftovers from the party and ordered pizza before it got bad.
The kids were so happy to be fed!
We got a roaring fire going and Tom and I watched stuff and I read and we just watched the snow come down.
This is what we had by evening:
and by morning…
Shovel crew:
Me too!
My sister found a photo of the lake I grew up on. I didn’t have this for Hodgepodge last week.
Our next Currently is a bit over a week away!
February 4, 2026 themes will be:
loving, baking/cooking, watching/reading, planning, and savoring. Feel free to interpret those any way you like.
When someone says “grab my graphic” the easiest thing I have found to do is to open the blog on my phone, screenshot the graphic, and then insert the graphic from my camera roll into my blog app on my phone. Let me know if you have a better way to do that for bloggers! It’s the teacher in me; I never want to assume someone knows how to do something, except my husband. He should know how to take out the trash, do the laundry, load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher…
Tell me about your weekend!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
It sounds like a nice, snowy weekend. The leftovers from the party look good! For sure stay until the end :). My husband’s work has a Christmas party in December but they used to have a spouse dinner out at a nice restaurant in January. I don’t think they’ve done it since Covid so it’s been a while but we did for close to twenty years before that! We got a bunch of snow and I also got out on Saturday before the snow started. It wasn’t supposed to get here until early evening so we had most of the day to wait for it. Have a great Monday!
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It was! I now haven’t left the house since Saturday noon except to walk in the snow.
A lot of things went away with Covid, sadly. You too!
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Since I blog on my computer I just right click on the image hit “save image as” and have a whole folder called blog photos and graphic where I save them. Then upload the image to my blog like any other photo. Ben and I had a date night Saturday night and we both agreed it was far too cold to dress up! It was probably the first time my feet weren’t killing me after walking around Foxwoods casino all night.
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Yes! I do all my photos from my phone WordPress app. I do know how to do that but since I do all my photos this way it makes it easy for me. Yes! Pants only! Good to know how much more comfy you were walking, right?
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I just saw what Joanne said about how she grabs a graphic. I do the same since I blog on my laptop just right click and save the image.
You guys really scored at Tom’s party getting all those leftovers. Perfect storm food!
Okay, did I read this correctly? Your former student is 42? It’s awesome that you got together with her. I keep trying to talk my best friend into retiring from teaching. She thinks she won’t have anything to do!
xo,
Kellyann
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Yes! I would do that but I do all my photos from my phone Worpress/Jetpack app.
Yes we did!
Yes, she is. And my first school students – if they were seniors they were 17 or 18 and I was 22. So, these kids are now in their late 40s! How crazy is that! Your friend will have some retirement growing pains and she will know when it’s right!
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I feel like this will be the never-ending weekend! I went to Aldi on Thursday and will probably go to a store tomorrow or Wednesday. Scott is working so not much is different with the weather here. Definitely too cold to walk though
It’s crazy the way we cram everything into 3 weeks in December each year…so smart to have the holiday party in January!
I right-click and just save the graphics to my desktop and then just upload whatever I need when I write the post. It’s also crazy how messy my desktop gets.
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For sure! I think the cabin fever will hit me later today and I might ask Tom to drive me somewhere. He just left for work – his work told people not to come in but they know Tom will always be there. He sent me a video of how bad the highway is.
The food around here will start getting more creative – lol. I did make a list of what I had.
I know! I agree that December can be so crazy.
Yes, I really don’t like digital clutter.
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That coffee shop looks so warm and inviting! Loved your outfit choice for the party- the bag adds a touch of festiveness and you still look so very stylish and warm at the same time. Kudos on getting to take some party food home- all sounds so delish! Hope you are staying warm
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It is Thank you! I have loved this bag. I had been eating really well and then snow comes and oops!
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You got a lot of great leftovers! The food looks delicious and the venue looks very fun! How wonderful to have a full house for the snow, and extra shovelers!
I blog from my phone and computer. On my phone, if I hold my finger on the photo it will give me the option to save the photo to my photos and then I upload it like the rest of my photos. Looking forward to the link up! Stay warm!
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Oh yes! Smarter way to do that! I use both phone and computer, too.
We did! It was nice to have a full house but now I’m tired of cooking! lol!
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I always panic-buy and this time was no exception. I think I have enough food for a month, as though we live in Antartica. We, thankfully, got very little of snow/ice but lots of rain. I’ll take it! This week is going to be exceptionally cold though. I love all of the party leftovers! The Widow is on my book list and I’m going to try The Little Lost Library. Eddie Otis is helping with the snow removal, as only a lab can do! LOL Stay warm everybody!
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I know! I was buying things I don’t normally buy. I would totally take rain! I tried to start The Widow and I’m having a little trouble with liking the main character and the writing style. It seems different. The Little Lost was good and something different for me. It was a bit cheesy but you know. Yes! But, he didn’t want to be out in the cold this am!
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It looks like you had a good weekend. I haven’t stepped outside since Friday, morning I think!
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I did! Oh wow! We do have sun today so that is nice!
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The tulips are so pretty and it looks like you were all set with all the books! Those glasses are so cute! I must buy some!
I have seen the yoghurt Biscoff thing and I am tempted to try it. Tom’s work event sounds like fun and how great that you were able to take home some of the extra food.
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Thank you! Yes! Love my library! It’s similar to the cheesecake flavor and the crust that many use. I mean – vanilla yogurt is good and the cookies are good so it was good!
Yes! So nice!
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I’m glad you had a semi full weekend before the snow started. That location where Tom’s party was at is beautiful! I love a pretty fireplace, and the ambiance it adds. It was smart to get out while you could on Saturday! I did the same Friday night with my friend Kendra and her friend Jess; I was glad I did this when I woke up Saturday morning to all the ice. I’ve read a book by the Ellery author before and I think I remember liking it?? How is the one you’re reading so far?
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Yes! That was by design! I should have done more because the snow started later than we thought. I am about 10 pages away from finishing it. I thought it was a good story!
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What a great weekend even with the impending weather. The party looks fun…& nice that they push it to January when it can be less hectic but I guess the weather could be a problem….bonus with taking home the food! Love that you had the boys home & I bet they loved being fed. Homer has liked the snow, but he doesn’t stay out long. Today is NTI day 1 for us. We’ll see what the week brings
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The worst part was the hype and uncertainty! Yes! The food was nice to have. I bet you won’t be back til Thursday at the earliest?
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I know…& we were so close to having lots of snow. We still got enough to be pretty but too much ice too.
I wonder about the entire week…but yes I think Thursday at the earliest
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Y’all got a lot of snow! I’m glad you got out and about before the snow hit. I didn’t make too many grocery trips, because we already had a lot of food. Stay warm!
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We did! That’s great! I think if it were just Tom and I it wouldn’t have been like that. We ended up having Jack and roommate so extra mouths to feed. It all worked out.
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What a weekend!! Lucky on all that food – how nice, especially since you had people at home to eat it :). Sounds like you were prepared and enjoyed watching the snow – it’s always great to WATCH, it’s the “getting out in it” that is tough :/. I bought John Grisham’s book awhile ago and started it, but my library books keep getting in the way since they need to be returned – ha! I’ve heard it’s a great book though.
Thanks for sharing about what a whiskey thief is :). I love learning things like that and hope that our visit in a couple weeks will give us more tidbits to take away. What a fun location to have a party.
I have “currently” marked down on my calendar – hope to link up with you this month 🙂
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Thank you! Yes, so nice. I don’t like being trapped for too long but my husband never gets trapped because he never thinks he can’t drive.
I want to hear about your distillery tour.
Great!
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I love to just watch the snow come down.
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Me too – if I’m not anxious about a big debilitating snowfall.
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Those are some good leftovers to bring home from the party! I hope you can get out again soon. I am hoping the same thing for myself! I think the stores and restaurants will be crowded this weekend. Have I told you that I know the Grisham family? John is older than I am, but we went to the same church and high school. Stay warm friend!
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They were nice to have! I got out at the end of yesterday when Tom picked me up for a quick Kroger trip. They were still out of stock of several things. I might try to drive later today.
I think you are right – everyone will have cabin fever.
That’s interesting!
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Looks like the holiday party was a lot of fun!! Our Chicken Salad Chick closed a few years ago, but I do love it. I would have been all over a free scoop haha!
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It was! Oh, that’s sad. I really like their crackers with it and their little cookie.
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I like to say my hubs is the reason places have to turn the lights on when they want everyone to go home : ) That looks like a fun venue. I enjoyed The Champagne Letters and you will want to have a glass to sip when you read it. We had all ice, no snow which is ugh. Our power was out for less than 24 hours so we were one of the lucky ones. Our driveway was a sheet of ice but it mostly melted today so hopefully I can get out tomorrow.
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Haha – that’s funny. I am loving the book so far but so far no champagne. I have a little cold so I’m doing electrolytes and tea. Still 24 hours is rough in this cold. Ice is the worst and I have seen some horrible photos from tn. I hope so, too.
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I went to Kroger three times, too, as well as WalMart! Our shelves were bare in Kroger. WalMart seemed better stocked. But, we’ve got lots of food, warmth, and we’re together so all is good. We got about 10 inches of snow, and I love it. The only bad thing is taking Jack out when he needs to go. He doesn’t like to stand on all four feet, but I’m not holding him while he poops! He does go faster, though! I haven’t heard of the Biscoff and yogurt thing…pray tell!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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It was insane how many times I went. Poor Jack.
You just put some cookies in a yogurt to replicate cheesecake. You let it sit in the fridge to get the cookies soggy.
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I love seeing all your snow! I’m sure it’s no longer a novelty for you, but I’m always in awe and think it would be so fun to have snow in winter. Our winters are so boring by comparison. I’ve seen the Biscoff and yoghurt trend on Instagram, and someone posted a photo of the freezers all empty because of the craze. I should get in on it and try some! I don’t think Icon glasses have made their way over here yet. Australian Google had no clue what I was asking, and then I found some at $43 each!
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I prefer seeing it in the movies! He! I wouldn’t waste too many cookies – they are so good. But a small thing of yogurt and a couple of cookies makes for a cheesecake flavor. Wow – that is expensive.
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Multiple runs to the grocery store are a necessity during storm alerts, right? I saw posts of empty shelves as early as last Wednesday! It was too cold here for snow – our temp this weekend was -18 with windchills in -40s and -50s. It caused everyone to hibernate! Your holiday party looked fun. What a cozy venue!
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