The House Wine

Our wine has been bottled (and a couple bottles drunk) - it tastes much better than I remember homemade wine to taste, perhaps because the wine kits have come a long way from 20 years ago when I last made wine and the fact that I didn't actually make it, I paid a store to do all the work and just added yeast and bottled it.  I shared this wine kit with my best friend, she took 10 and I took 20 bottles.  Including having to purchase the bottles but having the makers fee waived as was our first time the bottles come to just less than $4 a piece - all that AND IT TASTES GOOD!

I love having a case of wine in the garage and not having to go to the liquor store except for hubby (he drinks vodka and beer and only rarely wine).  This should last a while although I definitely will be making another kit.   I am so glad this worked out as I do not have the space to do all the making myself, nor is it that much cheaper than paying the store to do it.  Our garage acts as a nice wine cellar in the winter as it rarely gets below zero here.  In summer I shall put it in our crawlspace which is not as cool but works in a pinch.

I've got 3 large work projects I've been working on - we are steady busy but not crazy busy and that is a good thing.  Ever since we raised our rates we work at a more even pace - and get paid properly for it.

C word preparations have begun, a wreath went on the door yesterday as well as lights on the front of the house were hung.  Some of the blue noma lights that we use in our bushes have entire strands burnt out and couldn't be fixed by changing their fuse so today we have to actually spend some cash on 3 new strings.  This time however I will keep all boxes and the receipt and tuck them away as the current lights had a 5 year warranty but I didn't keep the proper documentation so can't get new sets under warranty.  It sure drives me bananas that things are not meant to last more than a couple of years these days - when antique things seem to last forever.

All the rest of the decorating will wait a couple more weeks and we will be getting a real tree for the first time mid-December.  I have wanted one for many years now but hated not decorating until mid-December.  This is the year though as the last time I've had a real one was when I was a little kid.

Other than a tree (there are many large farms here that grow Christmas trees and when done I will donate to my friend who uses them for kindling after Christmas) these outdoor led lights are the only money being spent on Christmas items this year - other than $15 at the thrift store on paper, cards and some vintage decorations that I collect.

I will not be partaking in Black Friday sales, other than seeing if I can get a cheaper price on some of our office supplies.  Zero standing in lines for me.  I hate crowds at the best of times so will avoid any of the craziness.

I am on a countdown now - in exactly two months we will be flying away for 8 days in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo - and I can't wait!  I love Mexico, one day I hope to spend more time each year there, maybe a couple of months in the winter.  We would pack up Buddy and our truck and rent an apartment or house there.....until then we have to enjoy our short trips!

That is what is shaking in our world - I would like to wish a happy American Thanksgiving to all my blog friends in the USA as well as my relatives.  Cheers!