The little guy next door turned seven today but was too sick to celebrate. We saw him in their yard only long enough to give him his present.

I had a productive day. Retrieved Ron’s shoe shine kit, picked up a book on hold at the library and redeemed a pile of cans and bottles, $4.35 worth.

Made a casserole with spinach, rotini, mushroom soup, cheese and herbs.

The tree is very pretty. We added lights, garland, the topper and eight silver and white bulbs plus a cardboard Williamstown Historical Museum ornament.

Heard from Robert, Cindy and Cathy! Robert sent a photo; we’ve been asking for one for months.

I did a small grocery shop for essentials: ice cream, grapefruit juice, crackers and neufchatel.

Dropped off the trash at the transfer station. Did a power wash of the Corolla. It’s back in the garage, supposed to rain tonight.

We finally have a tree, and it cost us nothing. It’s a real tree and quite a pretty one. Got it at Carr’s.

After some difficulty, Ron and I got it set up in an old tree stand that has a reservoir.

I bought and wrapped Bell’s birthday present.

Made a horrible casserole of baked breaded zucchini, black beans, roasted vegetables and bitter, nasty spaghetti sauce. Maybe I can doctor up the leftovers.

I made waffles with a wafflemaker borrowed from the library.

The first batch was from a donated mix that was terrible; had expired last year. Just about every store is closed, so I made a fresh batch from scratch. That turned out well.

Sky was pretty when I got up but by now, a little after 11, it’s cloudy.

I shoveled the driveway yesterday but it probably won’t melt down for a couple of days.

Ron unwrapped our gifts from Jan. One, a mounted postcard of a group of buffaloes is gorgeous. The other, “lovebirds”, is a sinister-looking Danforth pewter piece: looks like the bird in the front has been strangled. I think I’ve watched too many murder mysteries. It did cause me to laugh off and on all day, much to Ron’s chagrin.

My “gift” from Ron was a membership in a legal insurance plan. I’d been looking for an acknowledgement and found the correspondence today in a pile of mail. Can’t register until January 1.

We did see a good two-part documentary yesterday about the people who cracked the Japanese military’s code in World War II. Also the Tyler Perry film “Six Triple Eight” about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first and only all-Black women’s unit of the Women’s Army Corps to serve overseas during World War II.

I worked for a good part of today, prepping veggies and folding laundry. Ron did the wash and is cleaning up. Boring but very healthy Christmas meal of roasted veggies and not much else.

We watched two football games.

Ron was stuffy and sneezing yesterday and went to bed early.

He did summon the energy to drive us to Bennington and back for homemade cookies and a stop at the Vermont liquor store in Pownal.

I enjoyed the Winter Solstice festivities at Wild Soul River last evening.

I made a vegetable stew from beets, potatoes, carrots, celery, mushrooms, parsnip.

We watched two football games, saw the Patriots lose to Buffalo but first half was encouraging for next season.

I transferred holiday money to Em this morning and mailed the boys their checks yesterday.

Dropped off a letter for the lad who loves science, also yesterday.

This morning, stuffed, stamped and mailed holiday greetings to our shortened 20-address list.

Brought goodies to the writing group this past Wednesday.

Gave Ron his presents: the chart of human civilizations and nicely repaired clothing, including a long sleeved shirt, a jeans shirt-jack and a gorgeous Pendleton Black Watch plaid robe.

I don’t want to do any more for pagan winter worship ripoff holidays.

I started to feel tired late morning and slept until 12:15. Felt vaguely ill so cancelled and rescheduled the follow-up appointment with my doctor that was supposed to happen at 1. Felt better after Ron made soup and grilled cheese half sandwiches for us and after a couple more hours of rest.

No word yet from Greylock about their incomprehensible request to be first payee on…something.

Holiday cards drifting in one or two at a time.

Met a terrific person this morning then ran into a couple of self-important fools this afternoon.

Did come home with a gorgeous orange diary-type notebook, though.

The credit union really screwed up with my loan application. Disorganized, incompetent. Stressed beyond all Hades.

I was able to set up meds for the next seven days, finish and print a holiday letter, print labels. Hope to get them mailed tomorrow.

Yesterday I gave a ride to a man from Louisiana who is staying at the Green Valley Motel. He’s a construction worker, missed his bus.

He said he might go home for Christmas depending on his mother, who is Peter’s age. I said he could be my grandson. He likes Toyotas. We shook hands and wished me well when we got to the motel, a gentlemanly courtesy I appreciate.

I brought home lunch from the Food Project along with loaves of bread. We won’t run out again for a while.

The Thames & Kosmos Physics Workshop arrived yesterday. I wrapped it with the last of old Christmas paper and bought a bow at Dollar General. Dropped it off at Wild Soul River. Wish I could be there when the young lad opens it.

Ron made a spice cake and it turned out perfectly!

Today I picked up groceries at the Food Pantry and Stop & Shop and attended the writers group. Picked up the last CSA share at Wild Soul River. Stopped by Remedy Hall to ask how I could contact the 12 yo who loves science.

Ron went to bed very early, at 7. He’d packed the truck for the transfer station but got there too late.

We’ve done without treats for a while so we brought home an apple crunch pie and vanilla bean ice cream along with other groceries today. Fortunately, we offset the bill with just shy of $40 in store coupons and specials. That almost covered the beer run at West’s!

Dropped off a DVD set to the library.

Changed the sheets.

Ordered a tray of holiday cookies to be picked up in Bennington on Saturday.

I do feel that we are wasting our lives by not getting outside but it’s been bloody cold, in the teens when we woke up, and the sunroom and garage are almost as unpleasant as it is outside.

I made a chunky soup today out of delicata squash, ginger, garlic, thyme, onion, curry, carrots, bok choy, radishes (really), broth and a turnip. I hydrated and cooked soy curls for protein. We finished a salad from last week and almost wiped out the quiche from the other day.

Ron is watching Buffalo vs Detroit.

In between games, we tried once more to locate the decaying board that was pointed out to us the other day. We took down at four ceiling tiles, didn’t see a thing. Ron grumbled, I put back the tiles in spite of imagined “impediments”.