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Post by papaof2 on Dec 18, 2021 16:41:43 GMT -6
The first batch of Christmas baking (the raspberry bars that got rave reviews last year) is in progress. Not sure how many - if any - of the family we'll see this year as one grand (high school senior) has been diagnosed with Covid (even after both vaccines) and was quarantined for 10 days - which really cuts into her social life ;-) That ends on the 23rd and she'll need one of the better tests (24 hours for results) to know if she's cleared for travel so the earliest that family can leave is the 24th. It's a 12 hour drive on a good day and a bad test means they won't be coming. We may have a lot of goodies to share with the neighbors this year...
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Post by gipsy on Dec 18, 2021 18:17:56 GMT -6
Only ones are my sister and BIL. Everybody else is 2000 miles away.
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 18, 2021 22:55:55 GMT -6
Nearest family that's likely to be here is about 200 miles, then 400 miles, then 600+ miles. You know that the likelihood of travel decreases with distance so the first group we'll probably see but the rest are iffy. Big change from a dozen years ago when we had the large dining table with both leaves in it plus an eight foot folding table at the end of it to be able to seat everyone for a holiday meal. Mass chaos but a lot of fun ;-)
I'm not expecting more than a few and those may be "drop in to eat and socialize", but with us not needing to get out an air mattress to make sleeping space for anyone ;-)
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Post by fsr on Dec 19, 2021 7:17:48 GMT -6
Not many people this year. My brother and his family are all sick with Covid but they are recovering. Most of my aunt's and uncle's are gone and my cousins live a good distance away and are tied to their healthcare jobs. MY friends are younger than me and have families. I think I will spend some time writing and working on my O gauge trains.
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Post by gipsy on Dec 19, 2021 10:01:35 GMT -6
I do miss the old days when my Mother would set up a feast and the house would be full with 20 + people and a meal fit for kings.
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 19, 2021 19:21:22 GMT -6
Our Thanksgiving was more like previous years, with five of us together - big crowd for a Covid holiday - and me smoking a turkey breast on the gas grill for the first time (multiple comments of "Moist" and "Tender" and one "Needs more smoke flavor" - not bad for the first attempt).
Christmas is likely to have no bigger groups but might have two groups that size on different days. We'll take whatever family visits we can get. If they're willing to make the drive, we'll make them welcome and be glad they're here.
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 23, 2021 20:45:02 GMT -6
This year's Christmas Eve dinner will have similar food to past years - just takeout from, instead of sitdown at, one of our favorite restaurants. We have 6 people coming here from 3 cities in 2 other states. Not the group we've had in years past but good for 2021.
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Post by gipsy on Dec 23, 2021 21:29:54 GMT -6
Hope you have a wonderful get-together.
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Post by papaof2 on Dec 23, 2021 21:31:53 GMT -6
Thank you - us too! ;-)
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