Tues 31 Dec

Nochevieja! Already! Church at 5 pm, then possibly out to eat somewhere as yet undecided. Otherwise a clear agenda today. Food: 8:00 am 101 g raspberry morning bun, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 30 Dec

The year wanes quickly now. OBT today but nothing else this week besides Bootstrap and Mass on Tues evening for the New Year solemnity. Quiet weeks are nice sometimes. Food: 8:00 am 92 g Kathy's cinnamon coffee cake, 107 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 29 Dec

Very nice brunch with John and Kathy yesterday at their house, and she sent home some of her good coffee cake to enjoy this morning. Drove down to Madison for a long day, shopping at Costco, running over to Lombardino's so we could snag the last 2-person table for dinner without a wait, delicious food (as always!), then Trader Joe's and Woodman's before driving home. Got most of my Duo done driving home, so called it "good enough" and went to bed after putting away the necessary things. Food: 8:05 am 100 g Kathy's cinnamon coffee cake, 108 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 28 Dec

Brunch with the Hartmans this morning! Grandchildren at their house have required moving the date from Christmas Eve to the following weekend when their household has settled down, but still the tradition goes on! After brunch, we're heading down to Madison for a day on our own since Laura is in Texas and Axel is in Jakarta. We'll get our erranding done and then hopefully top off with dinner at Lombardinos. Food: 8:05 am 84 g Costco cinnamon loaf, 110 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 27 Dec

Fridays certainly come around quickly when you're no longer working. Now they mean laundry is due rather than signaling the end of the week of obligation. Will go to Body Pump this morning even though it's Lisa as the instructor because there was no class on Wednesday due to Christmas and next Wednesday will be New Year's, so likely also no class. After eating all that Buche de Noel, I can't be skipping whole weeks of class. Food: 7:55 am 80 g Costco cinnamon loaf, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 26 Dec

Christmas Day was quiet and somewhat anticlimactic. Sandy was my accompanist for cantoring at morning Mass. Listened to WPR part of the morning after church. A few minutes after putting the duck into the rotisserie oven, Michael contacted Bob and said he had made too much vegan Wellington, and would we like some, so I rescued the bird which was barely getting warm and put it back into the bag for the fridge and we enjoyed amazing mushroom nut Wellington with his special roasted potatoes and Buche de Noel for a no-work Christmas dinner. Food: 8:00 am 86 g Costco cinnamon loaf, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 25 Dec

Merry Christmas! Had a wonderful Christmas Eve with Michael and Taylor, drinking champagne and opening gifts. A real family Christmas. Will do it with Laura when she returns from Texas, and hopefully we can all share a meal together then. Food: 7:30 am 58 g almond kringle, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 24 Dec

Feliz Nochebuena! Just need to get the presents wrapped, and pretty much all the holiday prep for now will be done. Michael told Bob they'd like to get together. Taylor just texted that 4:30 tonight when she finishes work will be good. Food: 7:50 am 65 g almond kringle, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 23 Dec

Christmas is coming - fast! David is scheduled to bring our Buche de Noel at 10. Still don't know if I'm paying him, but I'll have a good bottle of wine ready as a gift if he doesn't want pay. and maybe even if he does as a retirement gift. Got the cookies baked last night. Can tell I'm getting older as it took a lot out of me to stand that long. Fell back asleep after my alarm this morning, probably because I was so exhausted when I went to bed. Food: 8:20 am 92 g almond kringle, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 22 Dec

Realized that I didn't buy oysters at Costco this year, so there won't be any oyster stew for Christmas Eve this year. I know of nowhere in town where I would trust to buy oysters. Didn't get the cookie dough made yesterday, so must do so after breakfast so it has time to chill. Food: 7:55 am 87 g almond kringle, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 21 Dec

Cold morning today, only 2°. I cantor this evening, but otherwise nothing on the schedule except perhaps wrapping Christmas gifts and baking cookies! Since it's not so very busy, those things sound like fun instead of the inevitable tasks they have seemed some years. Woke up to the smell of fresh eggnog coffee being prepared - delightful! Food: 7:55 am 81 g Costco cinnamon loaf, 101 g blacbkerries, coffee

Fri 20 Dec

Didn't get as much snow as predicted yesterday, more like 3 inches or so. Enough to make things pretty before Christmas, not enough to be overly troublesome. Coffee with my Bootstrap buds this morning, so an excuse to beg off from Body Pump. Food: 8:00 am 73 g almond kringle, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 19 Dec

Snow hasn't started yet, but they say there are about 6 inches rapidly approaching. Looks like they called school in advance based on the absence of activity across the street. Wise decision if they'd have to start busing the kids back home not long after they arrived. Will have to see if Bootstrap happens if the snow is falling heavily. Food: 7:55 am 113 g almond kringle, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 18 Dec

One week til Christmas Day. I will cantor at 9 am Mass on Christmas and we'll figure out something for a special Christmas dinner. Perhaps we'll bake cookies this weekend. Food: 8:00 am 45 g pumpkin spice kringle, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 17 Dec

Mick stopped by this morning with a little fruitcake and $40 from he and Leone for Christmas. Told him we'll try to stop by on Sunday afternoon when Laura is here with their gifts. Michael texted that he had forgotten about obligations in Ironwood this weekend and can't return home til Monday so they won't be able to be a part of the celebration. I'm pretty sure Laura can't reschedule as she's leaving with her friends for Texas on the 24th for most of the remainder of her break, so we'll have to celebrate separately with the kids. Food: 8:20 am 92 g almond kringle, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 16 Dec

Drove in thick fog to Waupaca yesterday evening for a fun pizza dinner with a prime rib sandwich as takeout for sometime this week. No Dave again at OBT today as his mom is being released from the hospital, either home or rehab, he wasn't sure which. Got the menu in place for next Sunday and the stockings stuffed, now I just need to organize and wrap the gifts. Food: 8:00 am 107 g blueberry turnover, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 15 Dec

Can't believe it's only one week til the kids are here to celebrate Christmas together. Need to take stock of presents and stocking stuffers and get prepared! Food: 8:05 am 84 g almond kringle, 107 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 14 Dec

The warmer temperatures have arrived as predicted for at least a bit. It's 22° this morning instead of below zero, so we should be able to walk to the Farmer's Market in relative comfort this morning. My new slippers finally arrived last night and I love them. They were expensive, but I think they will be worth it. Food: 8:00 am 107 g blueberry turnover, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 13 Dec

11 years ago today, my mama went to her heavenly reward. Hope she is happy there with Dad and Mark and her parents and sister, as I know she is. Love you, Mom! Food: 8:00 am 117 g cherry turnover, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 12 Dec

Coldest night of the year so far, -7° on our weather station this morning. Thought of the people who were lucky enough to find beds at the warming shelter, being turned out into the day before I even crawl out of my lovely warm bed. Be with them, Lord, and keep them safe. Food: 8:00 am Cherry turnover, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 11 Dec

The cold weather comes in this afternoon for a few days. Glad we got the hot water/beverages setup in place at OBT before it hits. Food: 8:00 am 140 g almond bear claw, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 10 Dec

Already 10 days into December, the year will end before we know it. Massage today and Social Justice meeting tonight. Need to prepare a blurb for the parish time-and-talent questionnaire for One Big Tent. Food: 8:10 am 137 g almond bear claw, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 9 Dec

Had a good weekend in Door County, found lots of goodies especially at the Christmas market and the pop-up market in Ephraim. I scored a wool Pendleton shirt, a small men's but it fits fine. Food: 8:05 am Large elephant ear roll, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 6 Dec

St Nicholas Day! Heading to Door Co for the Christkindlmarkt tomorrow. Sadly learned that Fika is closed for the season so no humongous cinnamon rolls for us this weekend. Food: 8:05 am Blueberry turnover, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 5 Dec

Chilly sunny morning. Board meeting this evening. Thankfully Pia reminded me to pick her up as I'm sure I'd have forgotten. Tomorrow Door County! Food: 8:10 am 137 g morning bun, 117 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 4 Dec

Sanctuary went well again, I feel. It is a good program. Just Body Pump today. The turkey soup turned out well again and we have a ton for future meals. Food: 8:05 am 73 g julekage, 107 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 3 Dec

Temperatures still chilly but a little more moderate perhaps. Sanctuary tonight. Food: 8:00 am 83 g frosted julekage, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 2 Dec

Bob is out fixing the window on our storm door that has been falling off when the door shuts hard in the cold. I went out this morning to collect a package that had been delivered sometime yesterday, and when the door banged shut behind me, the glass window fell down (didn't break) behind me. Food: 8:00 am 137 g morning bun, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 1 Dec

First day of Advent, first day of December, approaching quickly the end of the year. Very nice day in Madison yesterday. Brunch with Laura at Sardine. Didn't need to feel guilty about excluding Axel as he was in Chicago with friends, and I was able to give my leftovers to Laura who happily accepted them. Was able to find everything on Michael and Taylor's shopping lists for TJs and Costco as well as things we wanted. Got all our steps and Rockys for supper when we got home, so a very nice day altogether. Food: 8:00 am Chocolate chunk danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee