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I cooked and baked a lot of food between December 18-30. I haven’t cooked since.

Besides heating up leftovers from the freezer or frozen chicken nuggets and tater tots, I haven’t cooked.

We were invited to dinners at friend’s homes which was well appreciated.

I guess I cooked myself out. I didn’t want to think about food, look at food on my Instagram page, or go food shopping.

So, I didn’t. I was exhausted and listened to my body and rested.

Today, I had an inkling to make Thai food. I made Thai red curry with shrimp and jasmine rice.

Then I tried something new. I make pretty good Thai food for a white girl and understand what a Thai dish needs to be in balance.

I made warm silken tofu with a sauce I never saw or tried before. I never ate silken tofu as an appetizer either.

I loved it. Marty loved the sauce. He had a hard time getting used to the texture but ate it. I think he liked it.

The texture of the silken tofu was like a panna cotta and the sauce was sour, sweet, salty, and an umami flavor bomb.

The time I’ve spent not cooking was divided by reorganizing everything and cleaning.

The house looked like someone took random shit and threw it in every corner of the house.

I had laundry up the ass which I am almost caught up with. Lots of dirty cloth napkins, several tablecloths, kitchen and bath towels, and our regular laundry. Ugh!

My pantry looked like a bomb went off with platters, bowls, and other shit piled up on the floor in front of the shelves.

I’m about 80% done. You have to understand I am a total maniac when it comes to having a clean and organized home.

At one point during the holiday week, I said fuck it and stopped being stressed by the chaos and didn’t care.

I knew everything would be cleaned up eventually. I don’t run around like an energizer bunny anymore and kill myself to get done in one or two days.

Nope, I am not doing that anymore.

I felt free doing things when I felt like it and didn’t dread the chores like I used to.

I rested when I needed to. I realized there are no awards for killing yourself and overdoing it.

I really did learn a lot about myself last year.

This was the first Christmas season where I had an actual Christmas spirit since the boys grew up.

Celebrating Christmas this year was very different for me. I had some extraordinary moments with my family.

I cooked a lot and was in my glory. I forgot to take photos of some of the dishes like the tiramisu cream puffs.

The Saturday before Christmas, my oldest son Noah, came over to wrap his girlfriend, Aja’s gifts.

It was no secret that Noah was a terrible gift wrapper. I taught him how to wrap gifts.

It was like watching a light bulb going off, he was a pro right away. We talked and ate Christmas cookies.

A perfect mother and son time spent together. I’ll cherish that day forever, it was really special.

Christmas morning with family was relaxed and very enjoyable.

Christmas Day was a lazy day, it was only the three of us. We had simple and delicious food.

We had a delayed Christmas Eve dinner on the 26th. It was great that we were able to get together and enjoy the feast of the fishes.

Sam left after breakfast this morning. My kitchen is now clean and back to normal.

All the Christmas decorations have been taken down signaling the end of another Christmas season.

Here’s to better days ahead and time to say goodbye to 2023; probably the hardest, most significant, and life-changing year.

Happy New Years my friends. I wish you all a happy and healthy year full of abundance and prosperity.

What I mean about abundance isn’t physical things but about the things you can’t see or touch like love, peace, and well-being.

I’ll talk to you all next year. Be well. Lots of love to each and every one of you. ♥️

Yes, this is me, having tea immediately after waking up.

No filter, no make up, my face ruddy and my eyes like slits. All I have is a smile.

I have that post holiday exhaustion and this weather isn’t helping my joints, which makes me even more tired.

I wanted to say hello and check in. I have a post in my head I just haven’t gotten to yet.

We are in production soon so I have to get hopping. Have a great day!

Happy Friday my friends, the last one of the year. Cheers.

The next three days I will be in culinary heaven.

Right now, I have a pot of pea soup on, blind baking a crust for quiche Lorraine, and about to start on the baked stuffed clams.

Have a very happy Christmas Eve! ♥️

🥰🎄✝️🎅🏻

We picked up Klaus’ ashes on Tuesday. Marty and I were still shell shocked and happy he was home again.

Neither of us had it in us to open the bag containing Klaus’ memorial package. The bag sat on the window seat until today.

I decided to take things out of the bag and put him where he belonged, next to Otto.

I chose to do it today while Marty was at the farmers market, he and Klaus were very close from the day Marty brought him home in the cup holder of his car.

I moved the shelves around in the living room making a proper space for my boys. I can’t lie I cried my head off while I did it.

Nelly was sitting at my feet and at the bottom of the chair I was standing on. As I took Klaus and his bag of hair out of the bag ahead of me, she got up on her hind legs.

When I was done I sat on the floor with her still crying. Then, the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me happened.

Nelly began to smell my right hand, the one I used to touch Klaus’s hair. She put her paw on my hand and began to rub her forehead on my hand.

She did this for a few minutes. It was so touching to watch and I realized that love really does know no bounds.

Klaus was her big brother who taught her the ropes and they showed each other unconditional love, the way Otto did to Klaus when he was a puppy.

I have a million things to do but I played with Nelly until she was tuckered out, just like Klaus would have done.

She crawled on my lap and eventually settled down with her chin on my hand. I knew she missed her big brother and she now knew he was still here with us.

Are you crying yet? This is my last and final sad post about my boys. Thanks for your love and support. ♥️ ~julz

***No real editing I’ve gotta get back to cleaning and holiday prep and baking.

Well I did have to edit two photos after all. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I just wanted to tell you guys how much your kind words of comfort and support meant to me.

Instead of mourning our Klausie-boy we decided to remember him as a funny goofball, protector, and love bug.

As I vacuumed up his hair and cleaned up slobber, I realized I was at peace.

The house is very quiet now and we miss him but life goes on and so will our memories of our boys.

Enjoy each day, you never know how things can change in the blink of an eye. ♥️

I’m truly not sure what’s sadder to me today Nelly, Klaus’ new Christmas stocking I got with Nelly’s or the quietness of the house.

All three I guess.

We are completely heartbroken. 💔

We had to take our Klausie-boy to the vet yesterday. Without getting into his diagnosis, he is on hospice care with us.

We may have one day, week, month, or longer. He is still in good spirits and wags his little nub whenever we say his name.

Marty and I are making sure he is living his best life. He will tell when he’s ready to go, just like Otto did the same time last year.

We are sad and so are the boys. Both will be here over the weekend and will be able to spend time with him.

As his stewart’s, we decided to not put him through any advanced medical care to prolong his live.

He is not in pain and the moment he is, we will help him.

We owe it to him the same way we did for my sweet Otto.

Knowing now how it feels when you lose a beloved pet, we are preparing for the inevitable.

What breaks my heart is poor little Nelly who loves Klaus and looks up to him. Nelly and Klaus have been inseparable.

If you can please think good thoughts that Klaus has a smooth passing we would appreciate it.

Thank you during this difficult time.