Amelia left yesterday; she called last night and arrived safely back in Durham. We managed to get the tree undecorated and taken down before she left. I don't know how we would have done it without her. I am vowing to have a smaller tree next year so we can leave it up longer and I feel able to take care of it myself. We have more decorations than we needed this year, so I should get rid of some. It is so challenging to get everything put away again. It never ends up in the same box twice.

We took a long walk down by the river and I made carrot cake. Low-fat, vegan carrot cake. It was sort of an experiment to find things for my dessert night for everyone. It was tasty and I took it to potluck.

Kevin was calling Amelia and texting her all day every day for two days to be sure she would be packed and ready to go at 4, when he was through work for the day. She spent most of the morning packing and made the deadline, so they were on the road by 4:20, complete with cat. It was great to have her here so long. Now to eat some meat. (g)

My Dad was here for a couple hours and helped take the tree out. He is feeling sick and tires easily and it bothers him. But he seemed okay to me.

We fed the pigs and went to potluck and choir rehearsal. I was falling asleep, so went right to bed when we got home.

I met with Alison about the service this Sunday, which is about death. I am going to do the sermon. I have written a lot about my mother's death, and I need to capture about 15 minutes' worth of the more emotional, less practical things I want to say. The more practical will be for the workshop at the end of the month. I hope it can help people and not be too personal. I've got some work to do. She will do the rest of the service.

At home, I made some bread, we ate lunch, and we began taking things off the tree and putting them away. Amelia and I spent some time with Janna at fabric stores and we visited Plain Jane Designs, where they have stationery. If we want them to do our invitations, I need to schedule a time to meet with the designer next week. They might be a little more expensive, but they would be what we want. Amelia and Molli would have to consult by e-mail, though. Here is their site. So much to do, must not stress...

We picked up Ray, who had been at my Dad's, hooking up a DVD player so he could watch the Dean Martin show discs he asked for and got for Christmas. He went to Atlanta with his friend David last night to see him do stand-up comedy.

We got home after dark and had to feed the pigs by moonlight. It was right around freezing and we were not dressed perfectly, but it was fine. I had lentil stew ready to go and we just had to turn it on. Also, bread rising, but it took a little longer. Amelia's friend Becky, Kevin and Kasey came over and played games with us. It was pretty fun. They went to Kevin's house for karaoke and we watched one show before I was falling asleep.

The phone rang; it was my Dad. He was leaving Atlanta and realized he had not brought his house key. So Ray had to go over there in the cold and the dark at that late hour and unlock the house for him. He said he had fun. I went to bed and was asleep when Ray got back.

I went to Rosemary's house for Samll Group Ministry. There were 5 of us. In spite of trying to get going early, since I knew it was a long way, I was 20 minutes late. Although it was good to be with everybody, I still wasn't sure it was worth the drive. Not to mention, Amelia is not here much longer and I didn't want to leave her. Ray went to give platelets at noon, before I got home.

We had leftover goodies and then I started clearing out the study, for real this time, and Amelia sketched a built-in to my specifications. I am really anxious to do this and maybe it will help with the clutter. She is afraid that she won't be able to get it done before she leaves tomorrow, but I think we can get a good start.

It was going to be really cold last night and tonight, so we covered things in the garden and cut a couple cabbages and some broccoli shoots. We fed the pigs and Ray drained the solar water heater to keep it from freezing. The chickens' water will be a solid block this morning and I will need to get them some more. Ray built up the fire, so it is fine in here, and we put a blanket on the bed.

My Dad came by as we were about to eat supper. He reported on his visit to the doctor, which involved a shot of prednisone and a prescription for cough medicine. He seemed pretty cheery and we got up a game of Oh Hell before he left. Amelia went over to Kevin's to play games with his family and Ray and I watched a little TV. Unfortunately, MI5 was on as we were turning it off. That was really intense, like the Bourne Identity, and not conducive to falling asleep. I read a good bit, but eventually turned out the light, turned on my sleep machine and closed my eyes. So far, I don't think I've had it on all night any night. I don't always know when I take it off. One time, it was still blowing away, but usually I am alert enough to turn it off. It makes my mouth and throat dry and my nose runny. We'll see what the doctor says on Thursday.

Ray and I had pancakes; Amelia arrived about 9:45, when we had finished eating. Sorry, kiddo. Ray and I walked just out to get the newspaper. Then we took showers and dressed and drove to the Fellowship, but we missed the first few minutes of the service. They insist on starting right on time. I would always wait a few minutes, if it was up to me.There weren't very many people in attendance. It was the burning bowl service and I cried a lot. I couldn't sing the hymns, I was crying too hard. You are supposed to write down on a scrap of tissue paper what you leave behind from the old year--good and bad--and then burn it. I wrote whining and complaining and making excuses. We'll see how well it works.

It was nice to see people. I had invited two people to look at the clothes in the back of my car and help themselves. A crowd gathered. It was pretty funny. Ray said it was like being in a third world country. I will bring them again on Wednesday for people in choir.

We were to meet Captain downtown at 12:30, but it took a little longer than that, what with doing business out of my car. Kevin came too. We had brunch at Porterhouse. It was good, but not exceptional. Kevin and Ray had mimosas; Amelia and I had tea; Captain had a bloody Mary. There was an interesting creamy soup, sort of like shredded chicken chowder. Good salad. The honeydew melon wasn't ripe; a perennial problem. There were omelettes and pancakes made to order. Amelia said they tasted like Biscuick pancakes. There was prime rib, very good, but not the best I ever ate, and several other dishes--chicken, pork, fish, with potatoes or rice and veggies. The veggies were, as often happens, too crunchy for me. Amelia couldn't eat any of them because they were mixed with the meat. The desserts were mediocre, so I didn't have any. My Dad seemed pretty good. I tried to get up interest in coming home and playing games, but Kevin was going to watch football and I think that's what my Dad did too.

Ray watched some football, interspersed with other things. He and I played Pairs in Pears. I am also working on sewing together a sweater I knit years ago, with penguins. I'm not sure who will wear it, but at least it will be sewed together. Amelia lay on the couch; Leia napped with her. It was warm enough, but pretty gray out. I made supper. We put up the chickens and went to feed the pigs. We walked home as the sun set; it was pretty nice.

Amelia showed me how she made the paper flowers; I think mine would look terrible. Maybe I can cut out some of the parts and she can put them together. It takes about 20 minutes to make one. This is mind-boggling to me, since you can't do anything else, like watch TV, at the same time. To make 600 will take 5 weeks of 40 hours. We need some 3rd world labor. JK

After supper, Amelia went to Kevin's and Ray and I watched a little TV. I went to bed early. Day one of the new year.

Happy New Year, y'all!

Yesterday morning I felt a little stressed, but the day was good. The three of us went to pilates and had a good workout with Amanda, although Amelia said it wasn't challenging enough for her. We went in two vehicles and Ray drove out Lexington Road to get the 5 50 pound bags of pig food that Karen F. said we needed. Amelia and I went home and ate some lunch (leftover soup! and fresh bread). We showered and dressed and rushed off to a 12:30 appointment at the Crowded Closet.

The woman who runs the place is not a very pleasant person--Amelia says most consignment store operators are like that for some reason. She looked through all the things that we brought and took quite a few of them to try to sell--still less than half. Everything in the store was 50% off, so I bought a skirt and a dress. I think she charged me $5 extra, but she took the tags off, so I am not sure. Plus there is a $5 fee to open an account there. The things I get myself into. I still can't bring myself to take the rest of Bertha's really nice clothes to Goodwill. Janna and Ron already took boxes of them there.

Then we went to the liquor store and bought champagne and a few other things. We went to Publix to get milk and some more groceries. It was about 2:30 or so by the time we got home.

Kevin and his mom and sister were coming for dinner, but we didn't know exactly when. I made a double batch of macaroni and cheese and picked up some of the mess. My Dad came for a couple of hours and Amelia and he and I tried to figure out how to play a word game we got for Christmas, a relative of bananagrams called Pairs in Pears. (Ray was asleep) It was not that fun, although I won the second time when I had a better idea what it was about. Meanwhile, I burned the macaroni. I didn't know it was possible. I had used too small a pot, not wanting to take the time to go downstairs to get a bigger one. And I didn't watch it and stir it because I was playing a game! but there was still water in it; I don't know how it could have burned. Most of it was good and I scraped some into a container for the pigs. Amelia scrubbed the pot. Then I made the sauce in an even smaller pan and that didn't work out really well either. However, in the end, we had some pretty tasty mac & cheese; Kevin kept getting himself a little more from the pan.

Ray woke up and went to feed the pigs. Amelia and I put up the chickens; the sun set on 2011. The house got tidied; some boxes went to the basement. We lit the candles on the mantel.

Amelia insisted on making corn bread, which amused me no end. Who eats cornbread with macaroni and cheese? Gloria, that's who. She arrived with a carton of buttermilk and poured it over half a pan of cornbread, broken into chunks. A soup bowl and a cereal bowl were too small--she ate from a serving bowl! Apparently, this is her favorite thing in the world, which she ate growing up poor. She didn't have any macaroni and cheese or green beans.

I also tried out a wedding punch with champagne that was quite tasty, but maybe not perfect. I need to continue on my quest--but first to drink the rest of the punch I made last night, which may take a few days. A bottle of Proseco went down quickly; note to self: buy more Proseco next time.

We played games, first Wits and Wagers with Gloria and then after she left, the five of us played some of our old games: Encore (requiring you to remember songs with certain words in the lyrics: guitar, highway, keep...) and a silly game where you make up headlines with the words you are dealt on cards: Banker Reveals Fake Mob Boss....

The young people left about 10:30 and Ray and I joined some other community members at the Commons. They were playing poker. Suzie, about 70, had never before played, so Ray was drafted to advise her when he walked in. We had champagne and snacks and other beverages. Basil and Sky, Chet and Gere and Dave and Suzie celebrated the New Year with us by teaching each other new versions and lending each other chips when we ran out. At midnight, the party broke up and we walked home. The stars were gorgeous.

It's going to be a good year.

It's the last day of 2011! Surely next year will be better.

Yesterday was fun, though. Somehow, we never get much done in the morning. I started some bread and we had a good long walk. About noon, Amelia and I headed to Janna's. We took some of her Mom's vintage jewelry to Minx, where he bought quite a bit. Then we went to Aurum Studio and Janna had one of the jewelers look at some necklaces to make sure they weren't valuable before she gave them away. We had a lovely lunch at Etienne, although expensive. We sat next to Jane and Ted M. and chatted about baking and opening a bagel restaurant in Athens. Amelia was gung-ho about food trucks and thought we should sell from a truck or even a bicycle, starting a trend in Athens.

Then Janna and Amelia and I drove south toward Madison. We stopped at Reed's Odds and Ends,  a funny little junk shop south of town on 441. Amelia and Janna had a good time. I brought in the rest of the jewelry and she gave Janna $20 for the lot. She bought several things to decorate the tables for the rehearsal dinner and she said the $20 credit was Bertha's contribution. We went on down to Madison and looked at the two stores we had been in with Molli the week before. We saw lots of great things. Amelia and Janna were particularly looking for centerpieces for the tables that were the right colors. I was pretty much just tagging along. At the last store, we went upstairs and I bought Amelia a bedside table for the red room. And, there is a china cabinet that I think will work. I need to measure and we will have to go back with the truck to get it.

We dropped Janna off and picked up the rest of the jewelry and a load of clothes to try to sell at another consignment shop today. The rest of the stuff they will box up and take to Goodwill or Project Safe.

Amelia went to Kasey's birthday party and Ray and I made the soup he had made. Delicious! Watched some TV and went to bed. Unfortunately, forgot about the bread, which I will bake today, but it will taste yeasty, I fear.

Yesterday, we wrapped and shipped the last package to my sister in Santa Fe and her family. Ray and I began packing up some of the Christmas things--dishes and glasses and candles...Karen F. picked up some things for a family she knows that had a house fire. I gave them most of our mis-matched glasses and some mugs and 4 of our older pillows and a few sweaters and sweatshirts from the bag going to Goodwill. It didn't feel especially generous, but more like clearing out, something that I could do more of, especially between Christmas and New Year's.

Lunch was leftovers and sandwiches. Then Amelia and I drove to the post office and stood in line again. She went to Michael's and got some things for little Loretta and her Mom, Becky M. When I got home, I realized I had meant to stop and buy pork chops for dinner, since Amelia was going to the Grit with her friends. I called my Dad, who was planning to go to Kroger and then come to our house, and asked him to buy a few pork chops for us. He was happy to do that. But when he arrived, he had forgotten one of the bags of groceries, the one with the pork chops. He drove back to Kroger and then back to our house. Meanwhile, Ray and I fed the pigs and put the chickens up. The pig yard is still incredibly wet and muddy from the rain. You have to wear special clothes and boots to go there and make sure the pigs don't knock you down!

Amelia left with Kevin and Ray and I had a nice supper of pork chops, baked potatoes, and salad. At lunch, we finished the last of the chocolate torte, the pies the day before, so now all we have is about a million different homemade cookies. I also bought spumoni ice cream. It seemed like a holiday thing to have around. So dessert was spumoni ice cream and cookies.

We watched four TV shows, my personal limit, but I was a little restless. I couldn't get really excited about a new knitting project and I was still awake at 9 and even 10. But I did manage to sleep until almost 7 today. I wore my sleep mask, but not sure how long. The thought of so many dead and dying was on my mind, and the loved ones left behind.

I feel a New Year coming. May it be happy and productive.