Having promised to do this for a while once a) I could walk well enough and b) the weather was decent, I decided to check out Smokey’s route today.

He started in the back yard near the whirl-a-gig and walked about halfway around the oval, ran back to our deck, walked around the front of our house, went through the “woods” to Bakers’ back yard where he found something of interest, then walked in front of their house to their front steps.

He sunned himself on the stairs for a few minutes, then took off when he heard the mail truck. He sat under Joe’s truck for a short time, then ran home when he heard his name called.

This route involved crossing two streets, but he seems pretty vehicle-savvy.

I did a run to the Pantry this morning, late, and mowed the front and back yards, to pick up leaves. Not many leaves, but boy, were they spread out.

“Chicken pot pie” with stuffing for crust, broccoli and gravy for supper.

Watched “Sicario”. Benicio DelToro as “the revenge guy” didn’t win an Oscar but probably deserved to.

I hate this time of year.

As if the constant “Buy Buy Buy” from retailers weren’t enough, we are also beseiged with requests by phone, mail and email from charities and local do-gooders, pitching for everything from farm animals to military families.

Add bad memories, like family get-togethers and office parties. Unapologetically unhealthy cookie recipes. Holiday concerts and house tours, all carrying hefty price tags. Tales of woe about homeless families, despondent refugees, victims of crime. There was even a heartbreaker about a 5 year old boy who died, literally, in the embrace of a Santa-imposter.

Ho Ho Ho.

Our oldest grandson is right, it’s the fake cheer that gets you, especially this year when the federal government has been taken over with the help of people whose consciousness and consciences have taken leave.

You got it, Scrooge.

Saw him briefly this morning, and Ron dropped off a 6 pack of Stella d’Artois when he brought Robert home this evening.

Ron whipped out his trusty chain saw and we filled up the truck with Russian olive branches from the right side of the yard. Got it done in time to bring it to All Cape, where we met a famous dog who has lived the longest under treatment for his illness in the US.

I finished the shed! Attached the 3 hasps and the roof holder.

Ron had an appointment in Plymouth and did some shopping in Falmouth.

I took some photos with the iPhone and figured out how to upload them to iCloud, Facebook and Instagram.

Had stomach pain until 2 am this morning.

Yesterday, we changed sheets, did the transfer station run and drove the two grands to work. I made pumpkin soup and filled the window boxes with evergreens and holly boughs. Peter got back in time to pick up Alpha at 10.

The Bible defines goodness for us as “an inherent rightness of being.” It never ever mentions niceness. It never equates it with beauty or talent. It never, ever mistakes it for showmanship. (Moses himself had a lisp and timidly refused his mandate by God to lead the Jews out of Egypt.) If anything, it warns us from the very beginning to beware of pretense.

Good Versus Nice

Nice But Not Good

As the year comes to a close, we don’t know anyone personally who is worse off than us. I think that means we can honestly look the Third World in the face and not be ashamed.

Meanwhile, we managed to get the shed sides and doors on today, making me/Ron “Three Shed MacInnis”.

Here it is in the Mashpee Enterprise: Library Trustee Resigns

Good to know the 3 foot rule. We had a heat lamp installed in our bathroom years ago because using Ron’s old space heater made me nervous. I’ve wondered if it was a waste of money, but our bathroom is so small, there’s no way we’d have had 3 feet of clearance.

I cancelled tree work ($490) – stupid to have even looked into it – and finished raking the front yard ($150) at Edgewater today, about 3 hours work, total, including yesterday.

Snow blower is in the shop, the gentleman from Heights Small Engine Repair picked it up today. He was nice enough to help me put a pile of leaves on my truck. Made two trips to the transfer station today.

Brought home holly branches from Edgewater and evergreen branches (from Botello) for the window boxes.

Kitty was waiting for me when I got home, around 1:30 or so. He was here earlier this morning, around 8.

Earlier this week, I got some info on the Wound Center charges. Incredibly, insurance/Medicare paid the great bulk of it. The big benefit we get, though, are their negotiated rates. At least, it’s presented to look that way.

I enabled FindMyiPhone today. It works great!

Ron had a doctor’s appointment.

Running with great pleasure: The unhindered flow of your innate self, so an expression of the person you can be if the blockages and hesitations are dropped away.