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Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Bright and Beautiful Wanderings

Greetings, dear bloggie frens. I am continuing to run so far behind in visiting blogs! We had a pet emergency, in that my little half-feral was evidently bitten by a rat right on his face, and has had surgery but isn't recovering quickly. We know it was a rat, because Morgy fought it, and won, right on the back patio! A Pyrrhic victory, perhaps.

Poor Morgie, or Morgy as the vet has re-spelled it (!), is wanting to be held for hours, and I am glad to do it, as he never liked being held before. But not a lot gets done when you are holding a sleeping kitty. And my knee is acting very silly lately!

I am shocked, but not really, at Hobby Lobby: They have consolidated what's left of Christmas onto two aisles, and have Valentine's and a bit of Easter up! The Christmas items must have sold in record numbers this year. I tried, but couldn't find, any boxes of unbreakable ornaments and lights after the first of December. I did get some adorable retro plastic deer, 90% off because they were missing something from their heads. Here are two of them, along with some marzipan:

marzipan and mid century modern deer

Frens, don't forget, you can always ask for a discount at stores, including Big Box stores! I wanted 90% off those deer, not the 50% they already were, but the cashiers are usually limited to 10 or 20 percent off, so just ask for the "manager on duty" and see if they'll bite! You know who asks for discounts all the time? Wealthy people! That's where I learned it.

An aside: Have you ever made a big pot of soup and have it not turn out very tasty? I am now stuck with eating a yucky, but healthy, soup for the next three days! I need to stick with a recipe. I think the cauliflower fought with the other flavors.

I'll leave you, dear bloggers, with some photos of my travels home from church. I love the lights of Christmas! Sorry if I repeat any from before.


Leaving San Albino Basilica after Mass...
san albino at christmas
(Yes, I got that piece of trash up!)

Side view of a house near Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral:
las cruces christmas near IHM cathedral 2021

This house was full of music and inflatables: A labor of love for the children of Las Cruces, found out on a county road. All are welcome to wander the grounds, so I did:




A pretty house in the part of town known as Mesilla Park. I love it when people light up their palm trees:



And here is a reminder that be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. See the doggie on the back porch? He was so smart and good! Home is where the heart is! 


Hoping your season is going well!

Kind regards,

Holly, The Olde Dame


36 comments :

  1. I hope you ate well in no time. Love the lights. And no worries about visiting us...as long as you are okay (busy).

    Poor kitty

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  2. sorry about the knee, the 3 of us are suffereing from damp and cool air coming in the winodws, upsetting the arthur we all live with. a hot tub of chocolate, OH MY.. same here with Hobby Lobby, the place was swarmed by locusts that cleared all the shelves 2 weeks ago. poor kitty, i would want to be held also

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    1. So your Hobby Lobby got cleaned out, too! I will pray for all our knees!

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  3. I love the little deer you found. I love deers and pixies and even though I didn't decorate as much this year...I have some of those out to enjoy. Hope your knee feels better as the week goes on! holiday hugs!

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    1. Oh, I'm a pixie fan, too. I hope you'll show off those deer and pixies in a post!

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  4. I love those little deer. I actually bought a pink deer like that at Target and it broke, but I've always wanted to find another one to replace it. I can't believe Hobby Lobby has Valentine stuff out already (although I love the holiday). I'm still into the Christmas decorating and baking and eating candy canes. Marzipan, I really like it! I hear people either love or hate it, and I tried some at my favorite candy store, See's, and love it. Your travels from Church photos are pretty all lit up. I like the hot cocoa blow up. I'm so sorry your doggy was bitten by a rat. They freak me out and have a dreadful fear of them. I do hope he heals from it. And I hope your knee feels better soon.

    Have a merry December week, Holly.

    ~Sheri

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    1. I ssw those resin deer at Target, but I don't buy resin because if it's breakable, I will break it! So I try to buy unbreakable stuff. These are plastic! Tacky but cute!

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  5. Love all the lights but tell us about the goodies on the plate pancakes? I have only been in hobby lobby once in my life. It was so over whelming and nothing I needed so I have never been back.
    Have a wonderful Christmas
    Cathy

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    1. Spectacular light photos!
      Soaking in some garlic bread in not so tasty soup helps. Been there too many times. :)

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    2. That's a fantastic idea! Thank you. I was dreading the next bowl of slop, oops I mean soup!

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    3. Hobby Lobby does have so very much stuff in it! Too much! The little plate has toasted marzipan confection on it. You may have seen marzipan shaped and colored like small fruits before. This is a rarer version of embossed and toasted! It's a very delicious almond candy.

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  6. Oh please....Did you have to mention making a big pot of less-than-tasty soup?? My son RARELY asks me to make anything for him (or accept what I try sending his way without asking) but he asked for my chili some time back and something kept interfering - me not feeling well, a snowstorm (or was it two??), me breaking my foot, hunting season, etc. But I finally made it today and sent it with him when he fixed my vehicle tonight. I just think it was off...I only had one jar of my home canned tomatoes I usually use left and had to "fudge." Fingers crossed it doesn't disappoint him as it was a huge pot. BEAUTIFUL lights!! I, too, love Christmas lights and seeing them is one thing I miss about my hermitage. ~Robin~ (I love the phrase "pyrrhic victory" and though I was the only one who used it LOL. Poor Morgie...hope he heals quickly...and wasn't infected with anything nasty. Scary stuff that.)

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    1. He's not too perky, will call the vet tomorrow...I sure hope that chili was good, bet it is, though!

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  7. I do hope your kitty will get well soon, and also your knee. Yikes, being bit by a rat is not a good thing. Praying all will be well. Love the photos of the lights...so pretty. And your little deer are so cute. Sometimes soup just wants a little more of something, so throw in something else and spice it up. Who says it has to stay the same? Soup is supposed to be made of anything you want to put in it...so add some love to it. I love the little camper on the back of the truck with the dog and the rocking chair on the porch. That's pretty clever. Wouldn't mind having that myself! LOL. Please take care of yourself and your sweet Morgie. Praying for you both.

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    1. I will try that good idea of spicing it up! I really didn't spice it, come to think of it! Was hurrying to get it all in the pot and cooking!

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  8. Sending pug hugs to Morgie in hopes he heals quickly.
    I have to say I was so excited when a Hobby Lobby opened a half hour from me. Then they did away with the 40% off coupon about the same time. The disappointment set in when I saw their regular prices. If items aren't on sale for 40-50% off, they are too overpriced for me. I never thought to ask for a discount at a store. I am just a bit too timid.
    Those Christmas lights. WOW! I can't imagine the hours and hours of work to get them all set up. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I used to be too shy to ask, too. Then when working for that super rich guy, I was told to always ask when negotiating even a small purchase for him! I love the Christmas lights so much. Some people work a week to prep them! Not to mention the expense.

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  9. Here's hoping your sweet Morgy recovers quickly (and your knee does too). I love the lights!

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  10. Sending hugs for Morgy.
    I HATE rats.

    I love the Christmas light tour.

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    1. I fear rats mightily, poor old things. This was a huge one!

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  11. Oh goodness, Holly. I am with you. I also hate rats. Thankfully I haven't seen any here in years. Maybe they are afraid of the two cats that live here. I hope Morgie gets better very soon and the rat wasn't rabid.

    That house with all the lights reminds me of that show where hosts went around and saw the most outrageous houses all lit up. Then a committee voted for the best house. That house would probably meet the qualifying round at least.

    Home is where the dog is. Or is that the heart? Or maybe the truck? Cute regardless!!!

    I hope your knee improves soon, dear. Take care and thanks for the tip on asking for a bigger discount.

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  12. I find cauliflower (and broccoli )to be fussy in what goes with them in soup. Cream and cheese of course, but there goes the heathy eating. I think they don't like too much competition flavor-wise. I haven't been in HL too many times, so much in there, yet not what I'm looking for.

    Ugh - rats! I know they are supposed to make good pets, but I just can't see it. I had too much time on the farm trying to do in the ones eating the corn and burrowing in the hay mow. Mice at least had courtesy to scurry away in a panic, the rats would come out and glare at me before lumbering off. I hope Morgie feels better soon!

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  13. I don’t like rats, but in the country I can hear some that are in the chimney we don’t use. This morning I tried to leave a comment but did not succeed.
    The lights of the houses are beautiful. It’s nice to get discounts, it’s sometimes hard to get one here.
    I hope you shall have a nice Christmas time. My son and his wife are arriving this weekend.

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  14. Poor poor Morgie. Hope he gets well soon. Rats scare me. The Christmas lights are just beaautiful. Hope you have Very nice Christmas.

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  15. Oh I sure hope Morgie is doing better. Such a scare when a pet needs to go to the vet. Beautiful Christmas lights! TFS Janice

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  16. Valentine stuff out already? That's really pushing it. I have noticed in various shops that not much Christmassy things are left.
    I sure hope your kitty will be okay. What a dreadful experience for him, bitten by a rat.
    I don't know if you're allowed cheese on your diet but when my soups end up kind of bland I sprinkle cheese on top. I hope you find some way of making it more palatable.

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    1. Thank you, GM. Cheese is a very good idea! I have more left so something needs to fix it up! No, not much Christmas left on the shelves here!

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  17. I have not been to HL for a couple of weeks, I usually will go spring,fall and near to Christmas or I get myself into trouble. I suppose there are truckloads of Christmas items offshore yet, the stores looks rather bleak with supply of lights, probably from last years leftovers. I didn't know about the discounts, you don't say? hmm...have to keep that in mind. I never want anything that badly that I would ask though. I have too much now especially Christmas things, I don't buy anything anymore. Hope your furry friend is feeling better.

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    1. I have been trying to stay out of Hobby Lobby, too. But I weakened! If something is scratched, dented, shopworn, dusty, etc., don't hesitate to ask the cashier for a discount due to it. They will take the discount right there at the register!

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  18. Oh yes. Many a healthy recipe has not turned out quite so delicious as claimed. But can't waste it, right? ;)
    Love all the Christmas lights! Especially the yard full of inflatables, ha ha. Love the tiny house! I want one of those eventually. Maybe a little longer, though. ;)
    Merry Christmas!

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  19. Had a hard time finding where to comment as a first time visitor. Spotted you this am on a mutual friends blog and thought I'd pop in to say hi. Always fun to meet a new blogger. I don't tend to shop at Hobby Lobby, but am floored to find they've put decorations for future holidays before we've had this one. Thanks for trick about getting discounts, I had no idea you could do that. Do swing by for a visit.

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  20. I just love that little home on wheels, that's just what I could do with now to take off into the sunset to get away from all the madness in the world. thankyou for your kind comment, it was quite upsetting to get some people's nasty remarks, I deleted them. have a lovely holiday.
    Briony
    x

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  21. Just popping by after I posted my last blog of the year to wish you all a wonderful holirday season.

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