Inspirations, the Stories Space Coffee House: If you're reading this it just might mean I'm back, sorta. If you're not reading this, well, congratulations.

Good morning all. Still limping around, but at least I slept well last night, which helps a lot. Calling the ortho doc today I guess.

I will try to write today, but I’m a little out of sorts, don’t know if I can get any good words written. The first step is to hobble downstairs and make some coffee. No fun at all.

I hope everyone is well.

So now, not only is my knee out, but my daughter went to the ER last night. Turns out she had...kidney stones! She's fine now, but the meds they gave her make her feel awful, so I am on my own. Except for the cats, of course, but they seem more interested in getting fed than in trying to entertain me. Plus they keep trying to trip me as I'm making my way down the stairs.

Grrr. Coffee would be swell.

Hey everyone.

I hope you all have been well. I will scroll through past posts later to learn of what I missed. I just wanted to stop by for a greeting.

verbal, I am very sorry to hear you are limping. I hope things improve.

My book club started up again. I have been spending much time reading and learning. We meet once a month for book club, dinner and dessert, wonderful conversation, and pray the Rosary together.

I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving. I certainly did. I learned how to play chess. I very much enjoy the game.

Tomorrow marks the first of 12 Days of Christmas. And December 23 is my birthday! I am very excited; for the season and my birthday.

I will try to come around more often but I am not sure if it will be on a daily basis, especially when I have to read and during the Holiday Season.

I hope everyone has a lovely day.

🌹Cora's Creations🌹

Gingerbread Cookies!

Raspberry Swirl Cookies

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Enjoy! 🤗

Cora, those cookies look fantastic, and your book club sounds fun. I was in a book club, but several people moved or couldn't attend, so I will start looking for a new one.

I usually do a lot of baking for Christmas, but I've been struggling with my grief lately, and visiting my father can be stressful. I see him every Mon, Wed, and Fri to take him swimming and hang out with him. It's so cruel that physically he is in great shape for 92, but his mind is not. My brother covers the weekend. My father also has friends who visit regularly.

Jeff. I'm sorry your knee is causing you so much trouble. I feel for your daughter; kidney stones are awful. They were worse than labor pains. I hope she feels better soon. I used to tell my cats to stop trying to trip me, but they didn't. I even told them I would not be able to feed them if they were successful, lol.

I hope everyone is having a good week, or at least a manageable one. My standards for getting through days are low. Tomorrow is Friday the 13th. I am not superstitious, and it is my youngest son's birthday. He will be thirty, so all my sons will be in their thirties. How did that happen? I feel old all of a sudden.

Take care of yourselves and try to stay healthy. Cheers.

I'm off to make more phone calls. Hopefully, these are the last few regarding my parent's estate and financial management.

Quote by gillianleeza
I feel for your daughter; kidney stones are awful. They were worse than labor pains.

You know, you're the second woman I've heard say that. I went to the cottage with my uncle and aunt once to bring Dad home when he had a stone up there and my aunt said basically the same thing. There is a propensity for them in my paternal line (grandfather, father, at least one brother) but it's a bullet I have dodged so far. Not sure why.

Vibes to Jeff and his daughter. Hope they get their respective ailments healed soon.

And Cora's back! Yay! grabs a couple raspberry swirls

Temperature took a dip last night so we are back into the cold stuff after a few somewhat warmer days. Lost some of our snow at least. The banks were getting pretty crazy high.

Good morning, everyone.

It is even colder then yesterday. Even wearing warm sweaters I still have a blanket wrapped around me.

Advent will be half over this upcoming Sunday. I like the penitential seasons; Advent and Lent. In a few days Catholics take a break from the penitential aspect and celebrate Gaudete Sunday, a day of joy. It is custom to wear pink or red. I will most likely wear a pink cardigan over my black dress. Rose petals fall from the vents in the ceiling. It is very beautiful.

I did catch up on all previous posts. I hope your backs are feeling better, Mendalla and verbal. It is nice to see you posting more frequently, gillian. I hope you and your daughter feel better soon, verbal.

I hope everyone has a lovely day.

Coffee is 12 Coffees Of Christmas blend and the specialty Peppermint Mocha Latte--with or without whipped cream. Teas are Cardamon Cinnamon and Winter Mint.

🌹Cora's Creations🌹

12 Days of the Best Christmas Cookies

Peppermint Bark

Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows and Linzer Cookies

Enjoy! 🤗

Oh oh. It's ... FRIDAY THE 13TH!!!!!

glances around nervously looking for guys in hockey masks. Then remembers it's Canada in winter and, yeah, those are everywhere.

Thanks for the setup, Cora. Winter Mint tea with Peppermint Bark sounds ... minty. WHich is to say, tres yummy.

Let's get some Guatemalan coffee going, along with Darjeeling and Orange Pekoe (black) teas, to nestle alongside Cora's goodies.

.

Quote by Cora

Hey everyone.

I hope you all have been well. I will scroll through past posts later to learn of what I missed. I just wanted to stop by for a greeting.

verbal, I am very sorry to hear you are limping. I hope things improve.

My book club started up again. I have been spending much time reading and learning. We meet once a month for book club, dinner and dessert, wonderful conversation, and pray the Rosary together.

I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving. I certainly did. I learned how to play chess. I very much enjoy the game.

Tomorrow marks the first of 12 Days of Christmas. And December 23 is my birthday! I am very excited; for the season and my birthday.

I will try to come around more often but I am not sure if it will be on a daily basis, especially when I have to read and during the Holiday Season.

.

Delicious-looking treats, Cora!

I've always thought that the 12 days of Christmas started on Christmas Day and ran through to the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6th. But what do I know?

Cora, may I humbly suggest my book, Bear and Girl, for your book club? I would be pleased to send you a complimentary copy to consider if you could PM me a mailing address. It will take some time as it comes from Amazon, but not by express courier.

Jeff, sorry to hear of your continuing problems. But, as they tell struggling actors – use it! Write a story about it. That way at least you get some value out of it.

We have our tree up, all the tree lights festooned, and the first decorations have found their way onto the tree. We have a traditional first decoration – The Pink Pig – which is a particularly ugly pink felt decoration given to Lady Jay by her (now deceased) aunt in England. We feel duty-bound to put it on the tree – but always at the back where it won't be seen. Then, next, our son and 4-year-old granddaughter hide The (glass) Pickle on the tree, which we are supposed to find once the tree is completely decorated.

All part of our Christmas traditions, of which there are a-plenty.

If you haven't yet noticed, WriterGirl swung by with a nice micro reflection on writing. Give it a look.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/micro-fiction/never-alone

Mid-morning here. Been busy with housework, now resting a bit. I'll put on some random coffee. Looks like it's a medium roast from Costa Rica. Teas? Hm. English Breakfast and Peach White. Hot water is there for other hot drinks. Lots of hot chocolate and mini marshmallows.

Quote by Mendalla

If you haven't yet noticed, WriterGirl swung by with a nice micro reflection on writing. Give it a look.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/micro-fiction/never-alone

Mid-morning here. Been busy with housework, now resting a bit. I'll put on some random coffee. Looks like it's a medium roast from Costa Rica. Teas? Hm. English Breakfast and Peach White. Hot water is there for other hot drinks. Lots of hot chocolate and mini marshmallows.

Thank you for the plug, Mr Ape! 😊 A sleepless night led to some unexpected writing. Another is in the queue. Super busy week at work next week, then I finally get some time off starting the 24th. Happy Holidays, everyone! ❤️

Jeff, hope your daughter finds relief soon!

Hey, writergirl, glad to see your face! Get through the workweek and it’s a sprint to Christmas. Looking forward to your story.

My daughter and I are both getting slowly better. Daughter is nauseous from the meds but back at work. I am able to hobble around much better, though I am still limping around. Talia home Tuesday, doctor Wednesday, so help is on the way.

Christmas shopping is nearly done, but Lord do I have a ton of wrapping and card-making to do.

Thanks for setting up Ape and Bear. I’ll have a coffee.

I am way behind on Christmas stuff. Part of it is because none of my kids will be here. They were all here for Thanksgiving, so I really can't complain. My brother and I are trying to figure out how we handle the holiday with my Dad. We will probably spend part of the day with him and take him out to eat. Currently, COVID-19 is circulating among the residents in his memory care unit. Three people are hospitalized with complications. I came home today and tried to disinfect myself, lol. I do not need Covid again.

I hope Monday is being kind to everyone. Take care of yourselves and stay healthy. Cheers.

Quote by gillianleeza

I am way behind on Christmas stuff. Part of it is because none of my kids will be here. They were all here for Thanksgiving, so I really can't complain. My brother and I are trying to figure out how we handle the holiday with my Dad. We will probably spend part of the day with him and take him out to eat. Currently, COVID-19 is circulating among the residents in his memory care unit. Three people are hospitalized with complications. I came home today and tried to disinfect myself, lol. I do not need Covid again.

I hope Monday is being kind to everyone. Take care of yourselves and stay healthy. Cheers.

No, COVID is not the kind of Christmas present you – or anyone – wants. I trust you've had the most recent vaccination. Lady Jay and I have had seven vaxxes against COVID so far, plus wearing masks almost everywhere we go, but with a 4-year-old granddaughter in school, we're likely to get anything that's going around as she visits here most days.

Treat yourself gently is the only other thing I can suggest, Gillian. And take care.

Quote by JamesPBear
with a 4-year-old granddaughter in school, we're likely to get anything that's going around as she visits here most days

Those kids, eh. Walking balls of germs. Don't miss those days. Norovirus, various flu strains, colds, you name it. COVID wasn't an issue yet, though.

Good morning people! How is life treating you? Weather has been quite meh here. Cloudy, showers. Then the temperature drops tomorrow and the snow returns. Lovely.

For coffee, we've got some Fireroasted Fireside brewing. Teas are Assam Organic and Buddha's Blend. Hot water is ready for other teas or hot chocolate (mini marshmallows are here). There's sodas in the fridge for those needing a cooler liquid refreshment.

Good morning/afternoon! Things have been a bit hectic on my end, same as everyone else's. I hope everyone can take a moment for themselves to relax, breathe, enjoy, some sweets, and perhaps write a little. Perhaps in our new competition. https://www.storiesspace.com/forum/writing-competitions-and-calls-for-submissions/the-sound-of-silence-competition

To get you started on the sweets. This is the only Christmas treat I've had time to make. They are my granny's potato candy or peanut butter pinwheels.

Quote by Molly

Good morning/afternoon! Things have been a bit hectic on my end, same as everyone else's. I hope everyone can take a moment for themselves to relax, breathe, enjoy, some sweets, and perhaps write a little. Perhaps in our new competition. https://www.storiesspace.com/forum/writing-competitions-and-calls-for-submissions/the-sound-of-silence-competition

To get you started on the sweets. This is the only Christmas treat I've had time to make. They are my granny's potato candy or peanut butter pinwheels.

Oooh, a comp! Yay Molly! Writing wheels are turning.

Talia is home today! Yay! I will spend much of the day cleaning and preparing. The cat are all atwitter!

I've never heard of potato candy.

I hope everyone is well. Gill, I am sure you will have a wonderful, if bittersweet, Christmas with your Dad. I'll be thinking of you.

Thanks for the setup Mr. Ape. I'll have a coffee and one of those potato candies.

Hey, it's hump day and a one week until Christmas!

Putting on some Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Raspberry Tea and Sencha for the tea crowd.

We are into a new comp about, of all things, silence. I have something on the go already, though I tore it apart and kind of restarted. Let's just say my love of all things metal is going to be in play. Metal and silence? How do you do that? You'll see, won't you?

I would love some coffee. Seeing the doctor today, after a week and a half of waiting. It is starting to get better all by itself. Welcome to American health care!

Still, I shan’t complain, because Talia is home, and she is driving me to the doc, and it is like coming home again to see her coming home again. I swear I am getting so emotional these days.

Hi to everyone! I will write more when I have more energy

Quote by verbal
Seeing the doctor today, after a week and a half of waiting. It is starting to get better all by itself. Welcome to American health care!

LOL. Trust me, our system isn't much better on that front. Sometimes worse. The main benefit is that most medical stuff is paid for once you get in. The getting in part can be the trick.

At least you've got Talia back to look after you now.