Most recent haircut, mussed by being slept on and covered in stocking cap! The photo in the background is one my DIL took of a windmill down near Marysville, KS on a vacation a couple of summers back. She remembered my mention of my mom's affinity for windmills and presented me with this artwork the Christmas before they married.
Sunday was the coldest it has been, waking when it was 3℉. Ember was not happy that her hu-mom didn't want to stay outside with her. Fortunately, there wasn't much of a wind, so it didn't feel as bad as I know it can.
Entertaining a dog inside when she really needs to run around? Well, you have to get her to cooperate at least a little. I paced around, dragged toys enticingly, etc., to try to get her to "follow mommy", "tug", etc. Gave her some cardboard boxes to tear up. And dragged out some "old" toys she hadn't seen in a while, too.
I've been enjoying some of the Dick Van Dyke roles they have been airing to honor his 100th birthday. Like everyone, I am dismayed by the rounds of mass violence (and less than mass violence) that are showing up on our news feeds. So sad to see darkness and hate in the season that is supposed to be about peace and light. On the other hand, what better time to remind us of the need for peace and light and to do our bit to introduce them into our world, one small act of kindness at a time!
Monday was much milder. About noonish Ember and I went outside on a leash walk. I believe the high got up to 54℉ about 3 p.m. We also got several rounds of fetch outside before that. I get such joy watching my lab retrieve, because clearly, she's enjoying it, too! Of course all the snow disappeared in the mild.
I looked out the sliding door this morning and whimsically thought that one branch of the neighbor's tree looks as though a monster has taken a bite out of it. Only a matter of time and a storm wind to come from the right direction until that one comes down.
Tuesday morning, I overslept a bit, so Ember didn't have as long a morning before going to day care. We drove around an extra block on the way and my goodness, there were cross-the-street from each other neighbors where one had about a two-story high inflatable Santa, and across the street a similarly giant-sized reindeer! Had I not turned to get out of the way of traffic, I would never have seen them!
At the daycare, I handed Ember off to a new worker. As I was going about my morning, the phone rang, and it said it was the vet center. I was a bit concerned... had my little one got sick, or been involved in an "incident" with another dog? I mean, those are the kinds of things they call you for.
Nope. Seems there are two dogs named Ember in day care today, and the other one had an appointment for vaccines. Both are labs. Go figure. Two dogs that look pretty much the same with the same name... at the same center on the same day!
They had pulled my Ember out, instead of the other one. They dosed her before checking for her last name... yikes! They were calling to fess up that my dog was given extra vaccines. They were very apologetic, assured me I would not be charged (which is of course a concern for the budget, but the primary concern is about my girl's health!) Fortunately, the vaccines she got were far enough from her most recent and upcoming ones of the same variety that the only thing that's going to result is a reshuffling of her vaccination schedule. Bet that vet tech never makes the same mistake again!
Last year I did not put up a tree at all, and Ember did not go to the family Christmas gathering, so I don't think she's ever gone nose to nose with a Christmas tree. She has seen the lights, through windows, of course, and on rides, and she's seen "human stuff" decorations on our walks. But this one is in our house.
The only Christmas decoration I had in the house last year was Frosty the Demented Cookie Jar, and I put him way up top of the TV stand. He's out this year, too, and has already been filled with cookies once.
He'll get filled again later in the week when the next round of holiday baking takes place.
If I were the kind of person that printed and mailed Christmas cards, this would be a candidate photo for it!
Wednesday was errands day, and it was mild, in terms of temperature, getting up over 50℉. Ember came along with me while I dropped something off at the little free pantry, then on to the recycle center, then to swap out books at the library. She was such a good girl, so we went on a long leash walk, and I indulged her desire to stay out longer, go around another block, and delay getting home.
I discovered that the coffee price at my favorite place has gone up for my "regular" seasonal drink, so I'm thinking I don't need those extra calories, and that might be a good thing to cut back on a bit?
Thursday is workout day once again, which means daycare for the pup, too. I have an eye toward the forecast weather as our next cold front will be speeding through Thursday and Friday, with high gusty winds making it seem colder.
Tasks for Thursday: wrap a package for the gathering and construct the cheese puff balls for freezing. Good indoor things!
With that, I'll wish Happy Holidays to all, whichever collection you celebrate for yourselves. Wishing warmth, and peace, and refuge from the news cycle! Life is good. Spark on!🎄🕎🕯✨
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