Greetings, All and Happy New Year.
We had a nice time visiting with my family for the week. Hubby does get bored, but he had a good book along to learn more about Ham Radio. It is the noise that really bothers him. In a lake house with a two story living room, wood on the ceiling, and 7 crazy teenage boys playing video games, etc. upstairs, the house was very noisy.
I have always been impressed with my grandsons over the fact that if you ask them what they would like for a gift – they honestly say, “I don’t know.” They are not given a lot of things, nor are they deprived. They just are not greedy. They have more expertiences than things. One gift was a new Game – for the one that really likes board games. Not cheap, but just one item. The other thing that happened was they, as a group, rebuilt a computer; specifically for gaming. My SIL is a programmer,and he guided them to assemble it from parts. Cool thing to do with their dad and a nice memory.
That said, the student from China wanted to learn how to crochet a scarf. I had started a hat and he picked the same color, even adding a stripe. He had about 18 inches done in one day, double crochet with a large hook. He left on the 26th and I gave him enough yarn to finish it, plus the matching hat. Cool.
It was great to have four of the international students there for most of the week. The first one will be returning to MN after he graduates from Dental College. The four of them were calling each other “brother” and all seven get along great. We are very blessed.
That said, I enjoyed cooking with the group; even had a couple of the boys volunteer to help when they were not scheduled. We had international dishes made by the Exchange Students and old family favorites that my grandsons helped with. They mostly made their own mini-omelets for breakfast.
I payed attention to a few things, but do not know the accurate count. We must have gone through 8 dozen eggs for 11 people. Clearly, the eggs are a cheap protein, but they all added onion, peppers, mushrooms, garlic to give it flavor – and those are not so cheap or easily obtainable in the winter. So – dried or frozen; perhaps drying is something for me to look in to this winter with my frozen peppers, and make dried onions, mushrooms, etc. That will be a new skill.
Then, there was the toilet paper. We had plenty, but I was surprised at how quickly it went. How do you store TP in a house where the mice enjoy too much freedom? It just does not freeze-dry or compact very well.
I have started looking into my freezer to see what I can cook and/or can so the freezers are empty soon. This will be a big project. I like to store things and not throw things.
It is nice to be home where it is quiet, and warm, and we are in control. But, no more procrastinating. Time for projects.
Happy New Year to all of you. May your health hold and we have peace in this land.