November 15

 Halfway through November! What??? How can this be?

Woke up to a stunning sunshiny morning and went out on to the patio for some one on one with Jesus. These days I seem to need it more and more. The wind was blowing and it was raining leaves all around me. I noticed that the tree overlooking the garage is almost barren of foliage, save for a few that are hanging on for dear life. It has been unseasonably warm and will be warmer still in the coming week. I am trying to talk the Mr. into a road trip, as we don't have anything on the schedule until next Friday. The jury is still out on whether we will go, or just hang around here at the house. 

I spent yesterday with Auntie Kathy, checking out all the local Goodwills and Habitat stores, Walmarts and Dollar Trees. I left at 10 AM and didn't get back until almost five. I was so tired that I was asleep in my big chair by 7 PM, in bed by 9, and asleep by 9:01. Well, maybe not in one minute, but not too long after my head hit the pillow. 

I don't have much to add, I guess, outside of that, except that the after I last wrote, I made the Mr. breakfast, and carried it upstairs, and then as I gained the doorway, and set the tray down, what do you think I spied, sitting on the other side of his desk....MY COFFEE! The one I had been saving for myself. I walked over and picked it up and it was completely and utterly EMPTY. Is this my coffee? The one that was in the fridge? The one that I was going to thank my future self for? He just sheepishly grinned. 

YOU OWE ME ONE. I said. And here's your breakfast. Later on he did repay me my coffee. He tried to buy me one from the gas station, but I wasn't having that. No sir, Mr.! I want the GOOD coffee! So he swung through the coffee store and got me one. I didn't share. Ha. 

The girls are going camping tonight. Kat said Arya woke her up early this morning with her backpack packed, her trail mix ready and her clothes on, all set to go. They are so excited. They came over briefly to get the air mattress and then they were on their way. In the short time that they were here we talked about Urban Air and the zipline. She finally came out with why she has been so scared to ride. I'm afraid the rope will break because of my weight she said. I told her that even grownups can ride, and that maybe when she goes with Daddy and Mama, that Daddy will ride and show her that it won't break. I can do that! said he. And then they were off to camp with the Scouts. Their cousins, almost the same age as them, are also Scouts, and so it will be a huge family thing, as well as a Scout thing. 

Speaking of cousins, tomorrow one of them will be turning 7 at Chuck E Cheese and we have been invited. Should be fun. 

Tonight I have some (gulp) gifts to wrap. I'm gulping because it just can't be time for that yet. I guess I'm still kicking and screaming about getting into the Christmas Spirit. We actually went Christmas shopping today, and I bought my first couple of gifts, but I'm really just not ready. In other news, the TPCC (Toilet Paper Christmas Choir is coming along. I have completed the restoration of Katie's carolers, and have done what I can to get the girl's carolers ready to go, but they have to be here to finish it. I must say, that I am kind of proud of the restoration project. All of the carolers are standing tall and proud. Their hats are not bent over and crushed, and their feet are all firmly on the ground, not flimsily failing to hold up their toilet paper bodies. I have touched up some of the faded areas of black where the crease lines were, although not to the point of making them look freshly painted. They look like they could go another twenty five years. Who knows, maybe they will become family heirlooms, someday. I can't wait to put them up this Christmas. I have always wanted to be an art conservator. I am ridiculously pleased at these little toilet paper follies. Now I just need to have a craft day with the girlies to finish the next generation of the TPCC. Meanwhile, here is an updated picture of the Choir. Just like all old things, they aren't perfect. They still bear the wrinkles of old age, and maybe a laugh line or two, but so much better than they were before, when they were, literally, on their last legs.  I include what they looked like at the beginning of this project. Now, I am ending this little project for the night, as I have been promised a facial by the Mr. This should be interesting. Stay tuned.