It was overcast and drizzly in the morning, but not cold. I did some work in the kitchen, making the crust for the quiches and mixing the dough for the orange cookies. Eventually, Molli and Adrian and I drove to the outlet mall and shopped for a while. They usually stock up on clothes when they are here. They are cheaper and more available than in Xalapa. At first, I found it soul-killing, but then I bought some things that were too inexpensive to pass up: Jeans and underwear and socks for my husband and my father, bras and Jocky underpants for me, a few additional Christmas items. It was raining pretty hard some of the time and we got wet going to the car.







It was almost 2:30 when we got home. I had arranged to watch Soli and Adah, but their Mom didn't answer the phone when I called. I guess she gave up when I was more than an hour late...leftovers for lunch. After a bit, Molli and Amelia and I went out, first to the hardware store, which is a great place to find Christmas presents and stocking stuffers. Then to the grocery store. We were looking for a certain kind of cocoa she wanted for baking (Ghirardelli), but they didn't have it at Kroger. Somehow we managed to buy more than $150 of other groceries, inclulding a beef roast. My Dad was also at the store and he offered to pay for it. There were green tomatoes too, so we can make the green tomato mincemeat that my Mom used to make. There have been times every day when I stop and cry about her being gone. Taking out the stockings to hang on the mantel is one thing that was hard. Just looking at the tree reminds me of her too. And all the cooking without her advice and help.

wrapping Nate's present

We got home about 5:30 and I got the quiches in the oven. Molli and Adrian were rushing around becuase their rings were ready to pick up downtown at the jewelry store and it closed at 6. Then they picked up my Dad and had dinner with him at Porterhouse. Adrian was wearing jeans and Molli made him change, so that slowed them down. She called Aurum and they let her come get them, even though they were closed. They were having their staff Christmas party and let her in.

The quiche was wonderful. We also had a salad. Amelia went out and picked the lettuce in the pouring rain. We were even under a tornado watch. We had scarcely finished eating before I was falling asleep. Trying to read email, trying to knit, trying to watch Wheel...I just had to go to bed--it wasn't even 8 o'clock yet...