Merry Cat-mas

The Anti-Scrooge

So it's Monday, right? And the landline rings. It's a Verizon rep in the customer loyalty department. Yes, Virginia, it seems that they do, indeed, have a department devoted to customer loyalty. He was calling to tell me about a new plan they are offering that cuts my monthly bill to nearly half of what it currently is. Sign me up! One of the things I work at is not being suspicious when something good happens out of the blue. That there has to be a downside, that old catch 22 lurking around the corner. I am choosing to embrace this windfall free from anxiety or doubt. Just don't call me during the day unless you're also on Verizon, I've just gone from unlimited talk to 700 minutes per month. Feel free to text, that's still unlimited. Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus is real!

Gettin' Ready

For some gluten free cooking and baking!

And snacking!

Since I last cooked for my elder son, he has been diagnosed with celiac disease. Which means I need to include gluten free options in my holiday cooking. For the most part Christmas day dinner will fit the bill with little alteration. But I thought it would be fun to rework some favorites like lemon bars and corn muffins so Michael would be included in the gastronomic celebration. After shopping with gluten free on my mind, I have discovered that wheat and wheat byproducts are ubiquitous! You have to become a serious label reader. I am grateful that bacon is gluten free.

Friday the Fifth

1. Dusk at this latitude arrives at precisely 4:48 pm, CST. I know this because that is when my outside lights come on, with the timer set to come on at dusk.

2. Since we are still sixteen days from the Solstice, dusk may arrive earlier tomorrow. 

3. We are a mere twelve days from the Brookings Edition of Holiday Jam 6!

4. Sam Adams Winter Lager is delicious.

5. I had a highly successful shopping expedition to Sioux Falls yesterday! 

6. Referring to Item 5, any shopping trip to SF is made that much better by a downtown lunch break with Jill.

7. I am celebrating the arrival of the first Christmas card! From dear lil' sis Martine. 

8. Referring to Item 1, I accomplished the deployment of the outdoor decorations this afternoon. 

9. Indoor decorations continue to evolve, supplemented by Item 4 and with the background filled in by holiday music and movies.

10. Despite oversleeping this morning, it has been a rather productive day, kickstarted by an early lunch date with the adorable JT Phlaan.

Leftovers

. 

Well! It's certainly too late to take this stuff down now. Because then I'd just have to put it back up again. Procrastination is my friend.

White on White

The view from my patio door. What could the cats possibly be getting all worked up over? 

Hello, Monday

It was a mismatched dishes sort of morning.