Back to work today--big sigh. Still congested, can't tell if I'm getting better or not. Ray is coughing a lot. I'm glad he does not teach until next week.

Kevin and his family are driving to NY, taking some of Amelia's things, including her new ice cream maker. Kevin and Amelia and Kevin's sister, Kasey, are running in a 5K New Year's Eve. It doesn't sound like that much fun to me!

It's above freezing out--just--and I lit the fire a few minutes ago to warm up the house. The heat was set at 66 and it was 66 in the house.

Yesterday morning I made Amelia's favorite thing in the whole world, a German apple pancake. You make a puffy pancake in the oven, in a cast iron skillet. You sauteed thinly sliced apples with butter and sugar. When the pancake is done, you put it on a platter, with apples on one half and fold it over. Then we cut it in pieces. We have to do two for six of us--I ate a lot and it was good. Vanessa and Amelia peeled the apples.

Then we headed to the Fellowship. Ray decided he was well enough to do sound, as scheduled. I had volunteered to be the Religious Education instructor, not knowing how many children there would be of what ages. There were five--from about four to 12... Amelia and Molli helped me and I think we enjoyed it. We talked about the Christmas story--the story of Jesus' birth. Sometimes children have funny ideas about it. In this case, the funniest thing (not that funny) was the child who asked which one of the Three Kings was the mean one (Herod). We said he was different, not one of those three kings. We tried to get some suggestions for favorite carols, but it was not a singing group. We talked about what a manger was. I was about out of things to say after 10 minutes... Fortunately, Amelia had prepared an art activity. She drew sheep on big pieces of paper and we brought cotton balls for them to glue on. Then we brought out the snacks. Then they went and played on the playground. It was cold but sunny. No disasters. Perhaps they learned something about Christmas.

We came home and ate leftovers. We were pretty tired. Ray went to bed for most of the afternoon. Molli rushed off to visit with a friend for a little while--and pick up some lemons at the grocery store. Amelia got busy with baking--brownies and lemon squares. I tidied and looked up recipes. Captain worked outside and took the recycling in the truck. Vanessa took a shower and put on her new skirt (that I gave her for Christmas). I had planned to put on my new black velvet dress, but never got there. Molli came home and chopped veggies and Amelia made dip. I love having them cook for me! People started to arrive pretty promptly. Janna and Bertha and Dani and her partner Donna got here early to look at the garden. Vanessa made cocktails for people who wanted them. We had a few guests from the Fellowship, a few from Kenney Ridge, and some old friends. It was a great party.

After, the six of us sat around talking and nibbling on things. I thawed some lentil soup, Vanessa had cereal and milk. Amelia went to Kevin's and had a burrito with them. Ray went to bed. I still had some bread I had started making in the morning and never finished. I had to let that rise and then bake it. Molli was supposed to take it out of the oven when she got home from driving Amelia to Kevin's. I kept trying to stay awake. I began to worry as only mothers do. She said she would be back by 10 and it was almost 11 when she got home. (they were playing a game) I was dozing and worrying, but she was fine.