Tuesday 23 December

I didn't write yesterday. I had too much to do. I had to shovel after our sled dog run. The snow is quite deep, as it fell from Friday through Sunday. We had to find snowmobile tracks and go on them. It was quite strenuous at times but Fergus was up for it -- and Bella goes along, but boy does she pick up the pace when we turn around to head back home. Then she wants to be lead dog. She is quite strong, stronger than dear Fergus who shows not so much the effects of his age but of the Lyme Disease.

Anyway we had another rigorous run this morning but we did not go quite as far as it it below 0F this morning. Quite frosty. I was warm in my parka, tho my hair was full of frost from my breath when we got back. And then I had to put out the garbage, and feed the birds. The feeder was pecked clean. I put 4 piles of seed on the ground too. What seed I put on the ground yesterday was completely gone.

I had been tempted to call in sick today but I have decided I won't. I need my paycheck, I need to go to the market, and I want to give L&J and CW cards. M is leaving with FF at 1pm today. She will be back tomorrow evening for Christmas Eve worship. And even tho I don't have to work at my main job tomorrow, I will still have to clean the church, and that will be a major exertion with all this snow and salt.

We had choir last night and it was tolerable. DdV is losing his mind -- he said it, and he looked it. We were a ragtag rabble of singers for sure, many of us apparently coming loose at the seams. And it isn't just the holiday, but the weather too, which has been so intense and extreme for the past week and a half.

I keep thinking of more little things I want to get M for Christmas -- this time some Raspberry Zinger tea. I saw Byron's had some, and she has been plowing through the loose fruit tea I have in the cabinet.

We had a little tussle about supper last night. She didn't like what I was cooking -- my frittata variation -- and I told her quite plainly, AGAIN, that if she doesn't like what I am making, she can make her own supper. I told her what we have -- which is plenty. I can see this morning that at some point she finally heated up some of the veggie-bean soup I had made. I am not having this food war with her anymore. Nope.

Anyway. I think I might buy myself some Newcastle Brown Ale on my way home. It isn't meant to be drunk cold like most beers and so will be a welcoming and relaxing winter beverage of a cold evening. And I am tired. Flat out speechless and boring tired. I am so happy to have a holiday and time to rest ahead.