A blustery winter day

The temperature is in the teens - before the wind chill factor. The wind is fierce. I went out with Shelly for lunch - she drove - and declined to get out again.

I don't know what we'll do Christmas Day - it depends on the weather. If my mother won't get out, I'll take stuff over to her place then go to Joe's myself later.

Tomorrow, I'm baking pumpkin pies. With heavy cream, not evaporated milk. Have to patch up one of the pie shells. I hope the pie shells taste ok, as they use vegetable oil, not lard or Crisco.

Got Joe his Boston fern. A really big one. And a large poinsettia for my mother. Checks to Annie and Jessica and Katie. Used the wrong zip code for Annie, but she got mine. Now, if she will only get the check I sent from my mother. When I copied the zip code into my address book, the pen skipped on the loop in the 9, so I thought it was a 1. Had it right on the notepad, but apparently checked the wrong one.

Haven't been to church in ages, so have been playing Christmas carols on the organ. Hope that does it.

Christmas shopping

All I have left to get is a Boston fern for Joe. Baker Floral is trying to order one for me. All Mother wanted was a poinsetta, so got her a real nice one at Baker Floral. Cost a lot more than one from Wal Mart, but it's a lot nicer, too. Have left it covered up so Boots doesn't get into it. Will take it over tomorrow.

Sent checks to Jessica & Annie & Katie. Got a copy of a picture of Jess when she was 10 and sent it to Steve.

Jessica is getting a second horse - Calabar - a former race horse with Thoroughbred hooves. She says he and Lena are both brats, which is what she likes.

Winter

Winter has arrived. It gets down in the teens overnight and stays in the 20's during the day. There is some snow on the ground with more expected today. I didn't get plowed out until Monday afternoon as there was ice as well.

Everyone in California laughs, of course, but they are getting heavy rains, which can be dangerous.
Tomorrow, I am taking my mother for a hair appointment after my hair cut. Saturday, we are scheduled at Marjorie's Tea House for lunch with friends celebrating birthdays and Christmas. Mother's sidewalk and driveway have not been shoveled, so getting her to the car is a problem.

So much for the start of winter.