Yesterday, we went first to Janna's for a little more sorting through Bertha's things. There were some really old handkerchiefs that were especially interesting to Amelia. I took another necklace. I'm not sure where I am going to wear all these amazing things.

We met with the florist and had a very successful time. The woman there was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and the prices seemed quite reasonable. So, I feel good about the flowers.

Then we drove downtown and looked at a vintage store next to Last Resort because it was a little early for lunch. By the time Captain and Ray got there and we put our names in for a table, we had to wait about half an hour. That was dumb on my part! We did have a great lunch, although I am missing my Mom a lot. We had lots of good meals there with her and it is hard to do these things now.

Ray and I drove to Violet Dawe's farm for a memorial service for her husband, Don. Terre, our old minister, was there to do the service. There was an oom-pah band to play polkas because Don liked to polka. We knew a lot of the people there. They had cookies and drinks (good German beer, hot apple cider) and we all took home a couple bulbs to plant.

We stopped and fed the pigs on our way home at dusk. Amelia and Captain were at our house when we got there. She had spent the afternoon cleaning his living room as a Christmas gift and he had brought her home. We made Potage Bonne Femme, a soup of leeks (from our garden), potatoes and cabbage, with cream. It was delicious, something my mother used to make, especially for Amelia, since it is meatless. Then we played the rest of our Oh Hell game. My Dad won. He was very lucky and had a great time.

He left about 9 and we didn't do much. I went to bed pretty soon after that, since I was falling asleep on the couch in front of the Christmas tree (and the woodstove). These days have been sunny during the day and cold at night, so a fire in the evening can carry us through the night until it starts warming up again. No electric heat for us!