Said to myself before falling asleep last night, “Must get up at 9 tomorrow; it’s time to prepare for those 6 o’clock mornings that are about to resume again.” I woke at four minutes before 9, and lay there until the phone rang. It was Mom.

They’re getting a lot of snow there in Salmon Arm, Dad’s been out shovelling every day, she thanked me for the gift certificate to use at Zellers (damn, it *was* a good idea) and we had a nice chat. Dad’s birthday is tomorrow, he’ll be 64. He is the man who has everything, or goes out and buys what he wants. I bought him a golf T-shirt that says “When I die, bury my balls beside the old bag.” It’ll get a chuckle and he’ll never wear it.

My herb study coursebook says mullein is good for respiratory ailments and one of the best ways to use it is to smoke it. Loverboy gave that a try with the lung and throat thing that has recurred over the past couple days, and it gave instant relief.

I too am smoking a pipeful, just because I like to smoke. It is very mild and fairly smooth.

Hoarfrost is again glittering in the trees around the house and Loverboy asked me to accompany him on a walk to take a few pictures, but I am still in my pyjamas and in no hurry to dress and go out. Ma wants some photos taken of the cattle for their organic growers’ newsletter, so Loverboy will spend some time in the corrals.

Me, I’m going to write a little and then have a bath and dress, and wrap Don and Barney’s Christmas gifts so they’ll be ready for them when we arrive home on Saturday for our little gift-opening ceremony with them. Tomorrow Loverboy and I will go to the city and do some shopping; I want to get more gifts for the kids and Loverboy wants to take his son shopping for tools he might need in a construction job he hopes to get.

xoxo
Kate