Happily exhausted

Oh, my aching back! I can say this with a smile on my face and my heat pad in place, lounging on my bed. I am done for the day, but ready for another one!

Justin and I began our day with him taking me to breakfast at Grumpy's. We had such a lovely time, talking and eating, as though we hadn't seen each other in months. I ordered the single pancake which nearly covered the plate (thinking this is a lesser portion than the short stack...) plus a side of hash browns. Justin had the Grumpy's Breakfast which was two of everything. Well, not actually everything but two eggs, two sausages, two strips of bacon, that type of thing. Plus pancakes, so he could not help me finish mine. 

From Grumpy's we headed to Walgreens to take advantage of the cheap soda deal. Justin had looked it up and it was a four case per customer deal so we both went in. It was a blessing and a curse for us both to go in..oh my. The blessing was the manager taking a liking to me and saying I could take as many I liked, and even helped me to load my cart. Justin also loaded up his cart with double the amount permitted. Cool! The manager liked my accent, thinking I was from MN. He was from MI so he picked up on it right away. 

Besides my soda purchases, I picked up other things, some which were needed and some which were impulse purchases. I got a generic Alleve product to help my aching back plus some Christmas cards, my exchange gift for Monday night's Ladies' Group party (already???), some candy, and even mini-ornaments to display in a bowl. I laughed as Justin put them in the cart because stuff was supposed to be going out of the house, not bringing more in! That makes two violations of said policy this month, with the acquisition of my blue glass lantern, and now blue and silver ornaments!

We had done our grocery shopping on Tuesday afternoon so I was all ready to begin my meal prep for Thursday's feast. I began with the Jell-Os, standard fare for Lutheran events which even smelled like the holidays. I made the sweet potatoes, steamed my red creamer potatoes in two batches, made honey carrots, the green bean casserole, and was about to make the dressing when I realized I lacked the celery and onion needed. Nuts! No, I had nuts which were added to the sweet potatoes.

Justin said he would go to the store for the needed items but not immediately as he was busy cleaning in his room. Love that! He got two containers of the already chopped up veggies, so we are good to go. I can use the second container later to make sloppy joes or chili, using the fresh ground hamburger he picked up from the butcher shop on Tuesday evening. 

I also baked the pumpkin pie and while some things were baking or cooking, I could go and sit at the desk for a while to rest in between. At last I had the needed info for the newsletter and was able to get that completed and sent off. The house smelled good with the aromas mixing, and especially the pie. Yummy!

Justin and I went to church at Victory this evening for their pre-ThanksLiving service. Oh, it was lovely, with Rachel's playing of the organ being her "A-game", as Anne H. described it. She had fantastic interludes and introductions to the familiar hymns of thanksgiving and it is so great to sing in this sanctuary. Afterwards was a pie social which was great, as well. I like being able to go with him for this service, as some years he would be there with his father instead and I'd sit it out. Got to see many of my friends whom I do not see at Bible study.

When we got home, both sort of full from desserts, we opted to not have dinner per se, and got busy putting the dressing together. My bird would not allow for being stuffed so it was being baked in a casserole. It really is not a two-person job but so appreciated the company. The dishwasher got a work out, celebrating its birthday earlier this month. Would certainly have a more tired back if I had to handwash all these dishes!