Yesterday started badly, with a call from the Shelter. The 8:00 am person did not show up for her shift, so I rushed off and spent a couple hours there. Maybe I'll pay myself overtime...she eventually called and showed up; had it down wrong on her calendar. I think that's why I'm so grumpy. I had a plan for the day...and that wasn't part of it. On the other hand, I didn't have any out-of-town guests or big plans that I had to give up. And I will get paid. And I do have a job.

I had picked out a couple recipes for dinner that needed to be made ahead. But Ray was up when I got home and we went out for a walk. It was such a beautiful sunny cool day, I worked outside a little too. My Dad had to cut down a tree; he couldn't wait, so Ray and my Mom helped with that. There were some chain saw problems too (ooo-christmas idea--heavy work gloves for Ray for moving wood, books about managing your wood for burning, product to help stack it?). I went in and started the dessert, which had to chill for several hours. It was a complicated recipe, involving lots of pans. It was supposed to be "marble", meaning two different flavors mixed separately and swirled together, so twice as much work. It was very good, as it should be, with eggs and heavy cream, but I'm not sure it was important to have the caramel and the chocolate--maybe I'll make just one half next time. Then we all had a late lunch and Ray got ready to go do the sound for a wedding at the Fellowship. My Mom and I had planned to drop him off and do a little shopping, but I was still working on the ragout when he left. It had to be ready because it had to cook for 2 hours. It was delicious I must say. Beef chunks cooked with lots of onions for a long time.

Worked a little on my sewing while it was cooking. Sewing is never as relaxing to me as cooking or knitting. Trying to quilt this huge window covering is incredibly frustrating. I am reminded of when I tried to sew the stripes down the side of Molli's TKD pants. How do you keep the thing straight?

Anyway, I was awake by 4:30 this morning. But what can I expect when I fall asleep at 8:30?