I must have slept really well, because I can barely remember yesterday. Some mornings are like that. The sky is bright; the sun is rising on a clear and cold day. The ground is white with frost. It is warm in here, though. Ray has just built up the fire and it is very pleasant.

I stayed here yesterday and made more cookies and a rice dish (with peppers) for potluck and sent the Save-the-Dates for Molli's wedding. My Dad came about 2 and made turkey soup with the stock he had made earlier. He said he was feeling good physically but having a sad day. I wanted to be sympathetic, but I also did not want to be too sad myself, so I changed the subject. He talks a lot about the play these days and the people there. The performances will be in a little over a week. It's been a good experience and I think he will enjoy the shows, but will be a little down when they are over.

Ray came home and Captain left. We headed out about 5, putting up the chickens. They coexist peacefully, but the gray ones will chase the black ones, especially when we are trying to get them in the coop. So it is complicated. We get the gray ones in the coop, shoo them into the run (and lure them with cracked corn) and shut the door between the run and the main coop. Then we painstakingly coax the black ones in with corn (and/or shoo them with the broom and both of us). Then we open the door between the two parts again. There must be an easier way! We try to do this every day before we go feed the pigs, which we try to do before dark. It is downright dangerous walking in the "barnyard" after dark. The footing is bad these days, after the rain. There is mud to slip on, animals in your way, and uneven ground with sticks and stones. We are sometimes carrying bags or buckets of food while we do it. They are happy to see us, though, grunting and coming close to the fence. Last night, we had some food from Porterhouse the Captain had gotten: baby lettuce and asparagus that I'm sure wasn't good enough to serve. But it was hard to give it to the pigs instead of us!

Then we went to potluck and choir rehearsal. We are getting ready for a busy season of performances and missed a rehearsal last week because of Thanksgiving, so it is a little more intense than usual. I still manage to doze off a little at one point and Aleta nudges me when it's time to stand up. It is a little warm in the sanctuary; I find the thermostat and turn it down from 70 to 68. Everyone in there is wearing warm sweaters and plaid flannel shirts. Even Ray has a long-sleeved dress shirt. I am in a t-shirt. Hmm.

At home, I fall asleep watching game shows, but Ray wants to see part of the Battle for Los Angeles, about marines fighting off aliens. Much shooting of various weapons. Close shots of muddy, bloody faces. The ending is hopeful. Somehow it is almost 11 and I stumble to bed. Now I am a little keyed up and have to read some of my book (The Mysterious Benedict Society), which is also not quite boring enough, but eventually I drop off again.