Slowing the bustle as best as I can...

It's been a few years since we've had an actually cold and snowy December. It's... picturesque? Okay, also a bit inconvenient, but still, it's seasonal. And we have not had "seasons" like we have been used to. Yes, climate change is upon us, and it isn't going away. But this year, at least so far, December looks like a Currier and Ives print. 

I, for one, am grateful for winter tires. I wish I could be as excited as I used to be about snow-- now, it just presents a challenge for me. My arthritic feet and hinky knees are not great on uneven or slippery surfaces. And my winter boots are really heavy, which causes my feet and knees to hurt terribly. However! I fell into a huge deal, part of the "cyber" sales due to Black Friday. I was not going to buy anything at all during that palooza, but I got an email from Land's End, and I decided to see what was up. I am so glad. The winter moccasins that I love, that serve well as both traction and can be worn all day, were deeply discounted. And by deeply, I mean down from 80.00 to 30.00. Sold. 

I hope they are in quite soon. It will be a nice change. My old ones wore out, and at the full price, were right out of my budget. So, happy December to me, eh?

That all said, I'm glad it's Saturday. I get to sleep in a little (ok, 5:45), and I don't have to rush around. I'm happy for that, too-- 13 degrees and snowish out there. I got my sourdough starter fed to make bread later, and I have to go get groceries. That is a critical issue: I didn't buy much last week in the way of staple items, due to the Turkey Day. My fridge is pretty empty. I mean, one small yogurt, some leftover lemonade, a carton of eggs, three cans of beer, and assorted condiments kind of empty. There's also some Chinese food leftovers from last night. Not a lot to crow about. So, in a while I'll rig up to head out. But not yet. Right now, it's flannel jammies and hot coffee time.

We got the tree yesterday, and I am super glad of it. I hate bringing a wet tree into the house, and it was sunny and cold but not snowing yesterday afternoon. After G got in from work around 3:30, we packed Holly into the car, and headed downtown. It didn't take long to find a good one-- I love getting them from local tree farms. All said and done, we were there about 20 minutes, and that includes paying for it and having a nice young person tie it to the top of my car. G cut the end off, put it in the stand, filled it up with water, and huzzah-- we have a shrub in the living room. No rush to decorate it. Tomorrow, when he's home to help, we'll get the lights on and so forth. It's pretty, just as it is, really. 

Holly will be decorating her mini-tree later today. Last year, amid all the stress and so on, I decided to get her a little pre-lit white tree all her own. Her parents were in Boston, during that emergent health crisis, and I was scrambling to make holidays happen for Holly. She loves her little tree, and we left it up until Easter-- changing the decorations with each holiday. So, today, she will likely want to make some decorations, and that'll be a fun project. She does love her art projects!

I'm not baking cookies today, though. That may be tomorrow's side activity. I don't intend to pack my weekend any more full than it already is. I broke my own rule and brought home papers to grade, but that's typical. It's a Teacher Life thing. In two weeks, I'll have the Christmas break, and I am dead set not to bring home much, if anything. I need a real break. 

I hope your day is a good one. Avoid crowds if you can, and take time to breathe. Okay, I'm coaching myself here, too. Happy Weekend!

C