This week my area is having a stretch of unseasonably warm weather. Instead of a white Christmas, people in the St. Louis area will be ditching their heavy coats in favor of lightweight jackets. Today was forecast to be in the mid-60s°F, so Hubby Tony and I decided to take advantage of today's lovely temperature by combining errands with outside time.
Over the weekend we had a FaceTime call with Son Brian and family. During the call Grandson Jay told us he was doing a school report on ex-Cardinal baseball player Ozzie Smith (who played in the 1980s) and asked if Grandpa had any books about him. Tony did not, but yesterday he found out a nearby used bookstore did and put the book on hold to pick up today.
By the time we left the condo a little after 9 am the temperature was already in the 50s. I was wearing jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a fleece jacket. Tony was dressed in a similar fashion. We got to the bookstore a half hour before it opened, and used the time to walk on a nearby greenway. Halfway through the walk we both took off our jackets.
Back at the bookstore, the associates were so helpful I wished it was closer to my house so I could shop there regularly. On the way out we ran into a woman who was setting up a gift wrapping station at the front of the store. She had her golden retriever with her, who she described as her assistant. The dog was so friendly I bet he got a lot of attention from customers.
Our second destination was a kosher bagel shop a half mile away, where we would pick up breakfast for Christmas morning. This time both Tony and I left our jackets in the car and we started walking. Halfway through this one I rolled my sleeves up and wished I had on capris instead of jeans.
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Tony and I each ordered a bagel-Everything for him and Tzitzel (a St. Louis specialty which is tossed in cornmeal for a nice crunch) for me. By this time we were both hungry, so we added a Churro bagel to share today. The churro bagels were still in the oven, so while we were waiting we had a nice conversation with a woman who was doing the same thing. I learned that if I ever get back to that shop I should definitely have schmear of whitefish salad, which she said was the best she had ever tasted.
By the time we got back to the car my feet told me they were finished walking for the day. In theory, we could have run a third errand on the way home, but I was excited to get back to the condo and open up a couple of windows to let fresh air in.
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Aside from the feet at the end of the day, it sounds like a good one. I agree, I use cornmeal on the bottom of pizza dough. Similar to a bagel, nice texture.
ReplyDeleteI adore the crunch of cornmeal.
DeleteIt is nice. Made more homemade pizzas last night and we love it under that. For the homemade bagels, I added everything seasoning on the bottom of those and tops. It's really nice to have a bit more texture to the bready bakes. Happy Christmas!
DeleteSame as Ivy - cornmeal on the pizza pan then the dough. My sister and husband used to own a pizzeria in Rancho Murrieta - best pizza around. I made a few pizzas there and she gave me pizza pans and screens that I still have.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that you have items that belonged to your sister,
DeleteMeanwhile it is freezing in Toronto -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThe warm weather is making it hard to figure out what to wear for church tonight and festivities tomorrow!
DeleteThe Ozzie Smith era. When players played for a team for more than one season.
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteThere's nothing like a fresh bagel and a schmear! I'm so envious of your nice holiday weather! We're in a polar vortex here, colder than the hubs of hell, as they say.
ReplyDeleteWe've already had record-setting lows this meteorological winter, and I have no doubt there will be a lot of cold before the season is over.
DeleteIts off putting to have it this warm. 69-70 today. WTH? But im not shoving so thats the positive! Merry Christ to you and Tony!
ReplyDeleteI agree that shoveling is definitely overrated :-)
DeleteEnjoy the unusual warm Christmas. We are having an atmospheric river here in. California. Woke up, Christmas Eve morning, to a downpour. The whole state is under a weather alert due to the amount of rain in the forecast through Christmas. We are staying home for the next four days.
ReplyDeleteI've talked to both California children. Neither had any rain yet, but the one in the Central Valley said some was forecast (probably the same storm you're getting).
DeleteYour family in the San Jose area must have been in the right corner of town! It has poured in the Bay Area, even with tornado warnings.
DeleteThose bagels sound delicious. It's been terribly unnaturally warm here so far this late fall early winter. Not that I mind. Walking around in shirt sleeves in December is a little odd for here however. It pours but its still warm, oddly.
ReplyDeleteGood bagels are hard to find here.
DeleteI love bagels. What a coincidence; just had some on our return from Midnight Mass.
ReplyDeleteBlessed Christmas. God bless.
That sounds like a lovely snack. Do you go to bed immediately, or stay up and open presents before hitting the sack?
DeleteWe too are having warm weather, it's been over 80 degrees, which, even for Phoenix, is hotter than usual for the End of December. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI'd say the weather is going haywire, but looking through my blog posts this isn't the first time we've gone coatless at this time of year.
DeleteI love bagels, Kathy! Merry Christmas to you! Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Linda!
DeleteMerry Christmas to you both and bagels are on our list for the day after 🎄
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas. Bagels are lovely at any time :-)
DeleteBlessings Kathy
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWishing you and your family a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas and all the very best for 2026.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Back atcha!
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