Around the 'Net - A Christmas Gift Idea

 

I love a Christmas read and Debbie Macomber's books never fail to disappoint.  Her 2025 book, A Ferry Merry Christmas, was released on Tuesday (hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and Audible) and is sure to be a sweet and touching holiday read and a great Christmas gift idea.

Debbie Macomber is from my neck of the woods.  She used to have a local tearoom and a yarn shop, and I attended an afternoon tea event in 2019 where she gifted everyone with her new book, Window on the Bay.  She was a delightful speaker.  She also used to do annual book signings, but she has taken a step back from public events in recent years.

Book Signing 2014 - I surprised two friends with autographed books that Christmas

Window on the Bay afternoon tea event in 2019

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 625

 Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  Here are this week's questions, which you should answer on your own blog and then pop over to Joyce's blog (click on the graphic for the link) Wednesday to add your link to the party.

 

1. What do you like most about your family?

Togetherness and fun.  Sophia doesn't live at home any longer but when she was with us, we did a lot of fun things together.  We've done a cross-country move, sightseeing along the way and making memories we can look back on.  We've done a lot of family field trips in our local area, and we have fun times at home with games and LEGO and movie nights, themed dinners and other projects.  Now that's it's just Vic and me; we still look for the fun things to do together.  

The Badlands 2014

Our first trip to the Space Needle in Seattle 2015

  2. What's something nice that's happened to you recently? 

Vic paid me a random compliment right out of the blue the other day.  I can't remember what it was, but I know that it made me feel really special.  My chap is a keeper, he's got a great sense of humor, often does the unexpected, and still reaches for my hand whenever we go anywhere.

He's started to pay more attention to little people things.  We don't have any grandchildren yet but one day.

3. Do you like the color orange? Besides a pumpkin and an actual orange, what's something orange you love?

I can't say I'm a big fan of orange in clothing; you'd have to be really confident to carry off something in that color.  I'm a fan of mimosas, does that count?

4.  What's something you have now you couldn't have imagined having five years ago? How does that make you feel? What's possible now because of it?

Five years ago, we were in the midst of COVID and Vic was in Okinawa, so having him home every night and weekends is wonderful!  We can do all sorts of things together and he's great at those DIY jobs we put off while he was away. 

5. Let's wrap this one up with an October this or that...

• pumpkin bread or apple cider donut
• cozy sweater or cozy hoodie
• apple picking or pumpkin picking
• scary movie or Hallmark movie
• hay ride or corn maze
• twinkle lights or candles
• autumn hike or autumn bonfire

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Day Twenty-Two of the government shutdown.  Is it affecting you?  Vic got his pay statement with $0 on it, that hurts.  Thankful it's not our only income but times are going to be tough for families with a single or dual government income.  In today's economy, it's tough enough to make ends meet but to try to put something aside for an emergency such as this, it's darn near impossible.  It's not right to play with people's lives like this.

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #195

   

Next up in the London Christmas shopping series is Harrods.  Harrods has lost a bit of its shine in recent years as there are those who feel it's too touristy but what would London in December be without a trip to Harrods?

I have two ornaments on my list from Harrods.  The first is the annual bear, 2025's is Alfie and the second is a Harrods shopping bag full of gifts.

I am going to browse through the felted ornaments they have listed on their website.  Department store shopping is one of the last things during our stay so I have a feeling that I may have already found some of these at other venues.  If I'm missing any of them, Harrods should have just what I need.

Have you ever been to Harrods?  What did you think?

Life Last Week (13-19 October 2025)

   

Good morning!  Getting a bit of a late start and it's been a pretty quiet week.

The weather for the week ahead:::

Loving that rain.  The grass is SO green.

On my reading pile:::

 No change on the reading front - The Venetian Daughter by Ella Carey on my Kindle and I picked up The Last Light over Oslo by Alix Rickloff at the library.

On my TV:::

Tuned in to watch The Hardacres on Thursday only to find out that last week's episode was the last of Season 1.  So, it's just The Great British Baking Show to look forward to each week.  We've had a mismatch of TV viewing this week.

Love this mini-series - what a cast!

A couple of oldie but goodie British telly offerings.

Checked off the list:::

• Vic took down the old kitchen corner cabinet and installed the frame for the new one.  We discovered that the door style is different from the style of the rest of the kitchen cabinet doors, so we went to Lowe's to get that sorted.

The new cabinet with a pull-out spice rack on the left.  The main cabinet will have a pull-down organizer and then a shelf on top for items that I don't use very often.

• Got an alert from Replacements.com that a Longaberger wood shelf I've been searching for was available, so I ordered it.  Longaberger as it was when I bought most of my pieces, has gone out of business, so replacements are tough to find.  The photo below shows the baskets on the wrought iron shelf but there is a wood shelf that goes on here as well.

Crafts roundup:::

No change here.  Worked a little on my memory planner and then ran out of sticker label paper so will have to order more from Amazon.

 

And in other news:::

Week Eight sees us down and dirty in the heart of the home: the kitchen. It's Kitchen Week at the Holiday Grand Plan!

This week, we'll clear the decks for the holiday cooking to come with a kitchen clean-up and declutter. Routing out the year's dirt and disorder gives us a fresh, clean start for holiday cooking to come.

In holiday prep, it's Checkpoint Week to evaluate your progress and time to make plans for Halloween night.

I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

Camera roll was slim this week, but I did find these when I was grocery shopping.

"Yes please, I'll take some peppermint toad with my coffee" LOL

It's Day Twenty of the government shutdown - payday for many this coming Friday so things will be difficult for those who rely solely on a government paycheck.

Friday Favorites - October 17, 2025

  

Borrowing from L. M Montgomery's "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers", I'm so glad I live in a town where there is a World Market!

In light of my random comment in Wednesday's Hodgepodge, I'll try not to overwhelm you with photos!

There was an endcap of nutcracker-abilia including some cute mugs.

Everything one needs for holiday baking.

A Staub or Le Creuset dupe - so pretty for the holidays.

Gingerbread-abilia and a cute glass - gingerbread martini, anyone?

Favorite British biscuits but has McVitie's moved its factory to the Netherlands?

Terry's Chocolate Oranges, a UK stocking staple, but made in France now?

Love these carafes for holiday parties.

And finally, this pattern struck me as being very Pacific Northwest.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Around the 'Net

 

Do you still send Christmas cards in the mail?  I do, even though the number I get in return is less and less every year.  That's ok, I love sending them and I'm grateful for those who are still sending them as well.

I found this little tidbit intriguing.

and I have another one - in the case of a couple, never separate the man's first name from his last.  So, Jane and John Smith, never John and Jane Smith.

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 624

 Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  Here are this week's questions, which you should answer on your own blog and then pop over to Joyce's blog (click on the graphic for the link) Wednesday to add your link to the party.

 

1. Do you make an effort to see/hear live music?  Last time you went somewhere for the live music?

I really had to rack my brain on this one.  June 2018, a few months before we left Norfolk, we went to a house concert.  It's just as it sounds, a house where they book a performer, set up chairs, sound, and lights and put out a few snacks.  It was an intimate, smoke-free evening of music.  Country music singer-songwriter Kelly Willis was the performer.

I think we would make more of an effort if it wasn't so ridiculously expensive.  Between tickets and parking, it can really add up.  I need to look for more budget-friendly options.

2.According to HGTV the colors of the year for 2026 are mostly decided. Top paint companies declare a color of the year, and decorators will incorporate that into their new year home and room designs. Here's what's on tap in terms of paint trends for 2026 (check out the link here to see photos)

• Sherwin Williams-universal khaki (inspired by heavy canvas and outdoor gear)
• Behr-hidden gem (a confident shade of teal)
• Valspar-warm eucylyptus (a warm sliver tinted green)
• Dutch Boy-melodious ivory (a honey tinted beige)
• Glidden-warm mahogany (a classic brick red)
• Krylon-matte coffee bean
• Clark and Kensington -Hazelnut Crunch (warm reddish-brown)
• Graham and Brown-Divine Damson (cherry red with a subtle violet undertone)
• Dunn and Edwards-midnight garden (the green that works everywhere) 

First question-did you know there were so many different paint manufacturers? Which color on the list most appeals to you in terms of your own decorating style? Do you have plans to do any painting in your home in the coming year, and if so might you choose a color from this list? 

Now, forget painting walls, which color name appeals to you most? 

I am familiar with Sherwin Williams, Behr, Valspar, and Glidden but I've never heard of the others.  My preference would be Dutch Boy's Melodious Ivory - Vic's not a fan of colors on the walls, most of our house is Silver Bullet or Double Click.  On our to-do list is the detexturing and painting of the living room.  It's a very warm beigey color and the texture is really heavy.  It's a huge job though so I'm not sure when we will get to it.  I'm sure it will be either Silver Bullet or Double Click.

Melodious Ivory by Dutch Boy

This looks darker here than it actually is

Hazelnut Crunch is the most appealing name.

3. What's something in your life you have to do-watch-or participate in that's about as exciting as 'watching paint dry'? 

I think that would be just about any DIY job that Vic works on.  He's such a perfectionist that it takes FOREVER for him to complete a job.  I'm not complaining, though, because his work is always top-notch.

4. Tuesday, October 14th is/was National Dessert Day...did you/will you celebrate? Tell us how? What's your absolute favorite dessert. Yes, just one. I know!! 

I wasn't aware of National Dessert Day, but I have some Belgian chocolate mousse pots (from Costco) in the fridge, so we'll have one of those in celebration.  Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory is my absolute favorite dessert for an over the top, indulgent choice.  I have simpler dessert tastes as well, but you said just one!

5. Perhaps today is the day I will drink less coffee.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Do you take a lot of photos every day?  Do you post a lot of photos on your blog?  There are days that go by that I don't take a single photo.  I suppose as a memory keeper that's a bad thing as even the simplest moment is something to be remembered but I just feel that there are some blogs that are so full of photos, one would think the blogger's phone was permanently attached to their hand.  Thoughts?