Christmas Shopping........

Got some done today, and it's great to be in the process of getting some shopping done, and FINISHED for some folks!! Not planning on doing too much shopping, as I want to simplify and stay within budget. Mainly, I shop for my nephew and niece, and then my boyfriend, and may get one or two items for his (grown) kids, and possibly something small for his parents if we end up going to visit them for Christmas. But at least I've now got "my 2 kids" taken care of, just have to giftwrap, box up, and mail the packages off to Ireland. AGAIN, I haven't planned it far enough in advance to send their packages via surface mail instead of airmail, so the USPS will be doing well by me again this Christmas. :-/

Started working on some of my boyfriend's gifts, and was seriously irritated when I got home this evening to find one of the items purchased was missing from the bag, so I'll have to go back to the store tomorrow or this coming week to pick up. Called the store, and they indicated it was fine to do so, as long as I have my receipt..........grrrrrrr....the guy must not have put it into the bag, as I looked all over for it (it's a small item - stocking stuffer, yet something I know he'll really appreciate). Such is life, I guess.........oh well.....

Am looking to cook dinner again this year for me & my man, as it went down so well last year, but this year, I'll have him help with the grocery shopping (i.e., share the cost of buying the food), and also help out in the kitchen. Last year, he was recovering from surgery that he had 5 days before Christmas, so I forgave him for not helping out too much, if at all!!!! It was part of my Christmas gift to him anyway! Depending on if we visit his parents, we can cook for them too, as they're both elderly, and in poorer health, and so neither cooks. So, we'll see if a visit to York, PA will be on the cards, but probably will happen anyway, even if just to visit with his kids. Will make up for the fact that I won't be making back home to Ireland (again!) to visit my family, as I have such little time off, and the flights are too cost-prohibitive at this time of year too. I'm hoping to make it home for Christmas next year, as I haven't been in Ireland for Christmas since 2002 (but have been home plenty of other times since, of course!).

Anyhow, must get back to chilling and watching some TV, and getting into some knitting tonight, as I haven't touched my needles and yarn in sooooo long!! So many projects, and they've been on the needles way too long, and something needs to be done. Will have to take some photos of finished projects, hopefully, I'll have some to post in the New Year.......

Nite, nite for now...........

My boyfriend and I went hiking yesterday afternoon, at Seneca Creek Park, close to where he's found a new place to live - he'll be moving in a couple of weeks, which will end up being the w/end of my birthday (though my birthday itself falls on the Monday). He'll be living in Gaithersburg, very close to his job in Rockville, and he's excited to be moving out of where he is right now, as his landlord asked him to be out by the end of the year, as he and his wife are moving into the house, and they'll be using his room for storage space. He's just as happy to be leaving, as he was never crazy about the place anyway. I just am a little sad that he's moving further from me, but I think he'll enjoy the easier commute to work......... This is me at the park, checking out the map of where we hiked. It was a really nice place, and we plan to visit there again to go on some more hikes.... I'm looking forward to it, as I'm finding that I'm enjoying hiking, and I especially love doing it with the one that I love! The other photo is of Seneca Creek, and this is how close we got to it........ Lots of fun!

Photos to share - Baltimore's Inner Harbor on an early Fall Evening

OK, so it's been a year since I've set up my Blogging account, and I haven't had much activity in this past 12 months. I've been playing around with the blogger website over the past week or so, in an effort to familiarize myself a bit more, with layout, trying to add photos and any other tweekings, etc., but I still feel like I've a ways to go before being totally comfortable with bloggings, and the ins and outs of it.

In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans, as it is that time of year over here, and I'm looking forward to getting into the Christmas season, even though I won't be getting to visit my family in Ireland again this year, as it's not within the financial or time budget. I did get to visit home back in June/July though, which was nice, and will hopefully get back sometime in the Springtime if I can work it right......

Anyhow, am going to sign off here, as I'm tired, and haven't even managed to tune into ER tonight after all even though I had thought I would do.

Goodnight!