I hear steady moderate rain out there; I've been up for about an hour and it has gotten stronger. Yesterday was gray and drizzly, but not much rain. I enjoyed being up and about with a house full of sleepers, getting food ready for them and anticipating the day's activities.

Four of us (not Adrian) went for a walk, first moving the tree onto the porch so it wouldn't get as wet. I didn't walk very much, still recovering from my cold. I was puttering around in the kitchen, when Molli and Amelia arrived back at the house, running. It was 10:35 and Molli and Adrian were due to meet with the minister at 11. She had to wake him up for starters, and not much time to eat anything.

Amelia spent some time crafting, Ray with his computer, and I was back in the kitchen. I wanted to make cookies, but need to get some more things at the grocery store. I started some beans for chili that night, and sauteed onions and garlic and peppers. I worked off and on most of the day on some spiced nuts, but I needed to use the candy thermometer to make sure they were the right temperature. Since I didn't, the coating of sugar, spices, and milk didn't coat the nuts, but rather made a puddle on the wax paper. We'll see what we've got this morning.

My Dad arrived and ate lunch with us and participated in the amusement of setting up the giant tree. I try not to give my opinion, just following orders, since there are already 5 generals! But the tree was up when I went to bed last night and I didn't hear any crash. It is tied to the upstairs railing in two places with strong twine...hope my knots are good! Amelia did the lights and hung some of the ornaments, but there's lots more tree and lots more to put on it.

After my Dad left, Ray went to feed the pigs, Amelia put the chickens up, the girls made me a hot toddy (Molli) and took over the supper. They divided the chili into two batches, one with ground beef, and added more beans and tomatoes to stretch it further. Molli made cornbread and when it was done, warm from the oven, we ate.

Amelia took Adrian to get Kevin and then they picked up the Captain and all went to the men's basketball game, courtesy of Gloria. Molli went with Ray and me to the Fellowship for the Solstice service dress rehearsal, with the musicians and the readings. It went quite well and I managed to sing most of the songs. I would rather be a little better by now, but can't really complain. I've had the cold a week and it is in the coughing your guts out stage, when I indulge in cough medicine extensively, augmented with tea and cough drops.

We drove to the coliseum to leave Molli and pick up Captain, negotiating with policemen who didn't want us driving there. We took him home; they went out. Ray and I watched a little TV (very little, I couldn't keep my eyes open, once I finished dessert--more chocolate eclipse with vanilla ice cream).

I was falling asleep nicely with my mask on, when I started choking and coughing and woke up. I decided last night I would have enough trouble sleeping without it. Woke up several times for the bathroom, more water, more cough medicine...

Amelia's cat, Leia, enjoying the preparations