3 Days before Christmas

Twas three days before Christmas, and all through the house,
The panic was starting, and even the mouse
Knew better than stand near the kitchen and stare,
And away from the sewing room -don't even go there.
The projects to finish, the work left to do,
The presents to wrap, and more cooking, too
As aunties and uncles, grandmas and pas
and nieces and nephews expect Santa Claus,
And husbands lay low, lest they get in the way,
and children don't need an excuse to go play,
On cookies, on bread dough, on stockings, on holly,
On gooses to stuff, on cranberry jelly,
Sew last minute presents, wrap last minute toys
for almost forgotten good girls and boys.
Time is awasting! It soon will be here!
That moment we look for - Sweet Christmas cheer!
In honor of that birth down in Bethelem way,
Merry Christmas to you, and have a great day.

Twas 4 days before Christmas...

Diet thoughts: O the mixed joys of the month of December. Haven't succumbed to the desire to eat lots of rich fatty food, but O, once the weather turned cold, I have wanted to eat.

Not a whole lot extra. 200 or 300 calories...going from a pretty steady 1200 cal a day to 1400-1600. The occasional day at 2000.

I am holding my own between 187-189, while my hubby, who had lost about 10 lbs since I started dieting (compared to my 60+ lbs) has put on five.

I think it's the time of year. Cold triggers want to eat, at least at first. I've always had trouble with eating this time of the year.

But I really am happy that I have actually lost a little weight between October and Christmas.

September 18 I weighed 196. My weight's hovering 7-9 lbs. lighter during the time of the year that is hardest to lose weight.

That is not a bad accomplishment.

Life: Oldest Son came to visit a couple of days. It's so easy to forget how well everybody can fit together when the gap is closed. I can tell son hadn't been eating as well as Momma had been feeding him before he left. And it was kind of fun to do some family sized cooking. Younger son, who tends to eat on the fly (something I gave up trying to stop) actually sat down with us once. Very nice. Like a foretaste, I hope, of Christmas dinnertime.

Intentionally chose not to break the bank this year. God sons small gifts with gift cards. Present exchanges trouble me since my mom passed away, for some reason. This year, I decided since the boys are adult (mostly) to minimize the gift giving, decorated the tree very differently, and have been putting the emphasis on the religious aspects, instead of the gimme culture thing. It's been much more pleasant. I am hoping this remains true this week.

Younger son who is working bought himself a cricket phone for Christmas, which means none of his close people will be getting anything! But that's OK, too, cause he got the phone he wanted and the package he wanted, and I am glad. Maybe I can find out where he is now when he doesn't show up!

My step mom made me the most beautiful quilt. If I get a chance and the room tidy enough, I will take its picture. I don't quite have the patience do make one of that type. It's gorgeous. Of all my Christmas presents this year, that's the one I will cherish the best (especially, unless older son buys me one, I will have bought all the others! Hubby doesn't often think about spontaneous, lovely gifts. It's just not his style. I love him anyway! ) because it shows such love...I wish she didn't live so far away so I could spend more time with her...I don't know if she knows how much I think of her...She's a very special person.