Just a couple of days ago it was 60? here and all the snow was gone and it was raining and muddy and, of course, humid . . . sort of a shock to the system after a frigid week. I mean, I had to put stuff in the refrigerator, instead of just setting it in the back vestibule.

It started yesterday – getting cold again. First we went to chilly and this morning it feels like 5? outside if you consider the wind chill. My feet are bare but warm in front of the firestove, as I slouch in the corner of the sofa with a bushel barrel of packed-up nutcrackers to my right. There are some still in the wild that have to be tracked down;  the  chubby ones – really, that’s what it said on the box – are leading a revolt I think. Heck, they can’t go far – they’re chubby. Ah, but given that line of thinking, what kind of pursuit can I generate?

Most of the ornaments are off the big tree – not that too many got on thanks to my grumpy and pouting elf brigade this year. I actually wrote on one box: “Not used in 2010 because I live with Humbug Jerks.” Yes, I am that type of person.

The Alien Tree is still on the wide windowsill across from me and to tell you the truth, I’m a little wary about approaching it with the intention of dismantling it. The Cow Tree is undone, though, and all cows are accounted for, including the one I wore on my belled headband all Christmas Day. I don’t think I got a picture of that get-up. Are you thinking small tinkling bells embedded in a knit band? It was a nice blue ribbon with larger bells dangling from it – and one cow that mooed when you touched its head. I held it on with a hair clip.

Quentin wore one of those knit hats that has the ear-covering arcs included and from each arc hangs a knitted string with a tassel. He made the riced and mixed the mashed potatoes with it on.

We don’t wear antlers anymore because they tend to squeeze your head until they work upward and pop off – or fall in front of your eyes like Jordy’s Star Trek visor when  you look down.

Oh, look, I found my camera.

See, nutcrackers in a basket.

And this is the bagpipe nutcracker giving me the eye. Is it an evil one?

Ah, the old Kris Kringle is facing the basket; bet he’s upset. Well, maybe it happened when he was transported from the top of the old radio to the porch. See that little drum at the top? I made that when I was a teenager. It’s sequins and there were once three. I remember sitting at the big oak table poking those pins in.  There is a big round classy Santa buried in the greenery. I can’t see him, but I know it

Rose just came over and looked at me and remarked to Sophie, “Oh, Lord, it’s one of THOSE days.” * Apparently, I am doing it again – the morose mood wandering thing that happens when I think about my little self. This is just what I need – Rose rallying the troops to keep me from going back to bed. Der Bingle always remarks, “You don’t want to let Rose down.”

“Okay, okay. I’m up and facing the day.” I sigh, knowing full-well Rose is going to say something about that being a start and to say it again with conviction and feeling.

*See post below

I saved the book that arrived just days after THIS POST to read after Christmas. It was hard not to fling my face into it, but I really wanted something to look forward to in that week that leads up to New Year’s and, eventually, February – that waiting room of a month between seasons. So I am reading it – The Anglo Files – and I have already had actual smiles on my face.  And I am not an easy smiler. In fact, I abhor times when people ask me to look at something funny and then watch my face for a reaction. Yes, it may be humorous but my mind registers it and goes on – except when someone is watching and I have to fake it or explain, “You know I’m not a smiler.”

I actually had to stop reading and just breathe and press my lips together after she pulled off the Wallis Simpson and “look what happened to her” comment.

But, anyway, my mind is still back in that first paragraph up there – the part about face-flinging; yes, it is a bit off the fling definition.  I have been using the verb “fling” a lot lately. I know how I was exposed: A book describing clicker training for dogs remarked that some eager little intelligent ones would learn so quickly they would fling themselves on the floor when given the down command. I don’t know why my amusement provided a pathway for the “fling” virus into my language area, but it did.

I don’t know, maybe Wallis Simpson married Edward VIII and had a fling. Well, that just popped out; I’d better put myself on lockdown until safeguards are put in place . . . or, at least, little warning signs.

I knew they would. I knew it back when Der Bingle made reservations for Quentin that he would come and then days would pass and it would be time for him to leave. And today he is . . . leaving, that is. I was going to go to the airport with Der Bingle to see him off, but thought about the hour drive there and back and the emotions and elected to stay here with Shane. We can cheer each other up . . . or at least sit together on the sofa and sigh.

I didn’t really take any pictures; I think because I want to keep the days in my heart. But I gave Quentin a camera and he has videos of Shane running and sitting and Wubba chasing and doing the “pull at your heartstrings” gaze.

My gosh, I believe I hear a bit of Kipling echoing from those photos . . .

Come back ye Quentin friend

It is wadded up in a ball in the laundry room – this white apron with a little blue print on it. I think it was made probably sometime in the 40’s or 50’s. Grandma wore it and Mother wore it and, this Christmas, I put it on. I had two reasons: I had come across it and I wanted to wear it and the second is that I forgot until I got two splashes on my shirt and put it on to cover them up.

It fared pretty well, not getting too splattered, although there are two obvious red spots where cocktail sauce dripped off the shrimp I was scarfing down while doing kitchen things.

When I took it off, I just tossed it in the laundry room, and a brief while ago, I feared I should have shown more respect. I think in the future I will take a little more care, just so I can make certain it stays around for awhile; but it is just an apron and Grandma tossed it and Mother tossed it and it was part of everyday life.

It is not a relic . . . well, maybe it is . . . but it is a used relic. I don’t want the day to come when people frame a shred of cloth that came from the True Apron.

I am having a problem with Christmas; it seems like a schedule. Perhaps that is because of the point I am at in the schedule of my life. I just don’t know, so I’m not going to write any more about it; I may not think about for a while, either.

I think I’m going to crawl into warm cozy spot and read or play some adventure game on this little old laptop. And, of course, there are the leftovers.

Shane and his Santa Wubba. He wonders, “Uh, does this mean I’m on the naughty list?”