20 in 20 - Weekly Photo #37 - w/c 23/11/20

Look who's here!

Say hello to our granddaughter - Ella Susan, born on 17th November.

Finally we can buy pink!

Now there are 6!

2020 has been a difficult year but for us it's also been full of blessings.

Friday's Fave Five - 13/11/20

Thanks to our host Susanne for reminding us to be mindful each week and find five things to be thankful for. You can join in by clicking on the link below:

Living to the the Story

Well we're in the second week of the second national lockdown here so it's been quiet this week but there are always things to be thankful for such as:

1)  Time with Grandson Nathan and his Mummies - yes we're in lockdown but we're in a childcare bubble with them.  Nathan is always so excited to see us.  I love being a grandparent.

2)  A shed!  We've actually had the shed for a few weeks but the installers came this week to assemble it.  They were supposed to come on Wednesday but after a couple of calls to them it turned out they couldn't make it Wednesday and they rescheduled us for the 1st December!  As you can imagine I wasn't too impressed.  Then at 7.30 pm I got an e-mail saying they could come yesterday.  Well of course I said yes and the shed is now up.  Now we can clear out the things that are in the garage and garden room that belong in the shed and that will be a bit more progress!

3)  A chat with my best friend.  She dropped a parcel off to me yesterday and we had quite a chat.  Of course she couldn't come into the house, even though she really wants to see our new home, but she did venture into the garden which can be accessed without going through the house to get a look around the outside.  Yep call me a rule breaker!  We've only seen each other  a couple of times like this since this pandemic began.  Her husband is in a vulnerable group and he also has elderly parents that they've had to protect so understandably they have been very cautious.  We're so looking forward to being able to meet up properly again and chat over a cup of tea rather than the phone.

4)  Food shopping deliveries booked up until Christmas!  Because I signed up to a delivery plan with one of our big supermarkets I save money on deliveries and get priority for things like delivery slots at Christmas.  Today was the day that the slots became available and I got one without too much waiting online.  One less thing to worry about.

5)  The realistic prospect of a vaccine for this horrible virus.  This seems the only way we will get back to anything like normality so I'm just hoping that the reality will be as good as what the trials are suggesting.

Enjoy the weekend.

Wednesday Hodgepodge - 11/11/20

Wednesday's Hodgepodge is hosted by Joyce over at "From this side of the Pond".  Pop over there to see who is playing and how to join in.  If you do join in, remember to visit your neighbour on the Linky List.  Have fun.

1. It's the 11th day of the 11th month and bloggers often make lists on days like today. Let's go with a list of eleven things you're feeling grateful for today.

1. I'm well
2. I have a roof over my head
3. I'm financially secure
4. I have a wonderful hubby
5. I have great kids who have lovely partners
   
6. I have 5 gorgeous grandsons  
7. It's not raining
8. The prospects for a Covid vaccine are looking more promising
9. The blogging community
10. Time to do the things I want
11. Online shopping
    

2. What's something you decided to do or act on at the '11th hour'? 

Sit in silence and reflect. I actually had the TV on which was showing the service at Westminster Abbey.  A very curtailed event in the current Covid situation.

3.  Apparently the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe contains 11 herbs and spices. What's a dish you make that calls for exactly eleven ingredients? Feel free to share the list and/or recipe. 

We do a pasta dish that includes macaroni, sausagemeat and carrots plus 8 other ingredients.  Quite similar to a bolognese in its method but it's really tasty.

4. Something you remember about your 11-year old self? 

Starting secondary school and feeling like a little fish in a very big sea compared to primary school.

5. The 11th of November is Veterans Day in the US of A. This is a day to honor those who have served their country in war or peace-dead or alive-although according to the government's website it's largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices. 

Memorial Day is when we honor military personnel who died in service to their country. 

Share a thought relating to Veterans Day or tell us something about a Veteran you know-love-admire.

My Dad was a veteran of WW2.  He was already in the army when war broke out - he'd enlisted as he saw it as a better alternative to working in a coal mine.  But then he found himself caught up in the war and being one of the many soldiers rescued from Dunkirk.  He saw some horrific things which he never really spoke about but he also saw a lot of places he would never have otherwise travelled to.  Plus it gave him engineering skills which served him well when he left the army.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Really glad to hear this week such positive news about a vaccine for Covid.  We need a way out of this nightmare.

Monday - again! 9/11/20

The weeks seem to be passing by far too quickly.  I hope it stays that way though as then our current lockdown won't seem so long.

I'm trying to get out for a walk each day or if it's too wet use my exercise bike.  I've managed everyday since the beginning of November apart from the day we were looking after Grandson Nathan.  However I usually get quite a bit of exercise while we're there - chasing after Nathan and doing a few chores which usually requires going up and down the stairs.  Their house is like our old house - it has lots of stairs!  Not surprising when I get home from there I just want to sink onto the sofa.

The weekend was quiet.  Hubby has discovered Netflix and spends a lot of time watching the TV.  In between the series he has found we did follow the election news from the USA.

Thanks to my American DIL I've got my head around the way the system works even though it does seem complicated.  It feels like this election is going to run and run though with all the legal challenges etc.  I hope it gets resolved quickly.  Clearly whatever the final result is it will only please half the people.  I also hope that despite all the differences people can start pulling together. 

It feels like it's the same as it was here after the BREXIT vote.  Our country was deeply divided but what's done is done.  We can't go back and undo the vote.  I might not like the decision but we have to make the best of it.  Another vote on it isn't going to happen.

At least Americans have another chance in 4 years time if they're not happy. 

But hey, enough politics, don't want to spark nasty comments.

Have a baby pic instead! (or 2 or 3 lol)

 

Can't wait for the 3rd little one to arrive.  Not long now!