American Crossword Puzzle Weekend on March, 2025: So, what do YOU do everyday?

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Ohio~My days are never exactly the same, but they aren't always real different, either. I am a full-time homemaker, have been for about 26 years now. I have raised 8 kids; two still live at home. I run both girls to work and back most days. This means I take one to work at 7:50am, then she gets off anywhere from 1pm-4pm. The other one goes to work at 4pm so I take her and she gets off anywhere between 8:30-11pm. Some days it feels all I do is run with them, and I will be sooo glad when one of them gets their license, which will be soon.

I clean house. The sweeper gets run daily, the dishes are kept up, the laundry kept up, and the bathrooms kept up, but I can let the dust go awhile before it bothers me as I hate to dust! I do dust, just not like I should, but when it starts to bother me I tackle it. I try to keep my house clean, but it is always "lived in" (never pristine like a magazine cover), and everyone always tells me my home is so inviting and warm, which is more important to me. Everyone who comes feels like they can kick their feet up and relax, just like at home.

We have 2 dogs, 1 cat, 5 people living here, and we constantly have people in and out of the house (friends, kids' friends, neighbors) as we have an "open door" policy and people know they can stop by anytime. Sometimes there are weeks that go by and no one stops in, but then some days as many as 3-5 people might randomly decide to stop in to visit.

I make a nice, healthy, home cooked meal every night for my family. I know my husband works hard and he deserves to have a good nutritious meal when he gets home. Healthy means little to no processed foods, and I try to avoid over-processed foods (anything in a box!) I make my own dips, mayo, seasonings, rubs, salad dressings, cakes, puddings, pies, bread, etc. It does not take that long if you plan for it.

I babysit grandkids 4-5 days out of the week (one 3 year old, and 2 year old twins) who keep me hopping! They are a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. We have 11 grandkids so we often have grandkids here on the weekends to visit as they all love to come here. I'm a young grandma~49, so I still have plenty of energy!

I write, read, do crossword puzzles in free time, and I like to get on here (Yahoo). I also have a Home Group in my home twice a month where I mentor women in "All Things Home" and I must prepare for this. I teach nutrition, what is going on politically that affects the family and all Americans, in general (any draconian bills coming up~which there are several right now), cooking from scratch, making your own soaps, laundry soap, and other basics, and just anything to do with the home as I am home-based and love it. On the other two weeks (alternate of mine) I attend a home bible study twice monthly. This sometimes entails homework on my part.

I volunteer as I am a contact person for my church for a monthly community meal. We take 1 meal per months (there are weekly meals) and I come up with the menu we will serve that month, get volunteers to make food and deliver it, and also helpers to make this all happen. I also do a lot of cooking for this myself, and I show up to cook whenever I can, if asked, as I know how to cook for 100+ people with ease. I usually cook 2-3 times per month.

I write 3 people in prison at least once a month~this can get hard as I must find time to write~I usually write fairly long and breezy letters.

I spent the first 3 months of this year as often as I could at my parents helping to care for my brother who died of cancer (in April).....and they live about 50 minutes from me. I was blessed to be with him when he passed~he was surrounded by family, at home, as he wanted. He is sorely missed!

My life is so busy, ever changing with whatever needs there are, and I always try to keep my family first, no matter what is going on. I have some days when I take a mini vacation and do pretty much nothing so I can revamp and rejuvenate. Everyone needs some time to themselves so they can recharge, especially when you are giving all the time. I don't want to burn out. I do not have time to be bored as there is always something to do.

Life is so good~and I feel so blessed to be living it!

Who is a leading "enigmatologist" (10-letter phrase/name)? 10 points?

will shortz!!

It's 4:30 pm on Christmas Eve?

Yahoo's home page says it is. Surprisingly, some stores are open until 10 pm, & the video said that crowds had thinned out. Also, they said weekend sales had been carried over, & they were passing out savings coupons. At Toys 'R Us, someone could get $25 back from a $100 purchase. They also showed Macy's also open until 10. I checked the ads from the Sunday paper, & several were indeed open until 10.

If you don't get it all done, there are a few stores open some hours on Christmas Day: Safeway, CVS, Rite Aid, and I think Big Lots. Besides those, you could purchase restaurant gift certificates from any open restaurant or possibly online. Personally, I would be happy to receive a pumpkin pie from Coco's or Safeway or a gift card from Fresh Choice or Coco's or even Denny's or from most any restaurant.

Things you could buy from Safeway: a plant, such as a hot pink cyclamen, an assortment of flower seeds, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, pastries for Christmas morning, kid's toys, books, & stuffed animals, American Girl craft kits for pre-teens, kitchen things, such as potholders & kitchen tongs or a lime squeezer, or a paperback book or puzzle magazine. (Make mine the large print easy crosswords or a Variety Puzzles magazine--that's the viewpoint of one senior anyway.) Safeway also sells a whole rack full of gift cards from various retail chains.

The Yahoo video's featured last minute gifts such as store gift certificates, both from the store or available online. In addition, they recommended magazine subscriptions purchased online.

So, sure, call around & find a store open & do your Christmas Eve shopping. If they've closed early for Christmas Eve, they still might be open until 5 pm tomorrow.

As for me, I may be buying some paper plates & zip-lock bags in order to deliver a few home-baked cookies. It's the least I can do for a neighbor who delivered homemade grape jelly (made from Sauvignon Blanc wine, no less) to each of her neighbors on Monday morning. Now there's a thought: If it's too late to buy something--get busy baking! When it comes to cookies, I'm really not picky. If you baked them, I would know they came from the heart.