Frugal Hits & Misses: The December Report

      We've had subzero temps early this month -- which makes me sooo glad I got the rosebushes covered, and flower bulbs planted. Bo and Tiger LOVE the snow, and tear through it at top speed. Then when they get back in the house, they nibble off the snow from our boots. Silly dogs.

Tiger is definitely bigger than Bo now, but she's still top dog.

This is what they looked like when we got them in March this year.

Aunt Freya is standing by on the right. (She's smaller than both kids now.)

      I spent much of the month trying to catch up on appraisal reports, with three weeks lost to a broken laptop. The new computer needed uploading- with 28 years of appraisal reports, plus all the photos I've used for family and blog. Then I caught the flu. Oh joy. 

     Our Christmas decorating was minimal this year, something I've noticed with our friends, and even our church, in the Valley. Partly, they were heading out of town for the holidays -- partly people had commitments and illness to deal with, just like us. But it was nice to celebrate, just the same. 

FRUGAL HITS

(A few of these are from late November)

Los Pastore -- a Mexican mystery/medieval play, "The Shepherds," held at a church nearby in San Luis. It was all in Spanish, meaning I really had to concentrate. Fortunately, a friend who is fluent went, and was able to explain some 'iffy' moments. Our own personal shepherd (our pastor) came along, as well. Fun -- and some puzzlement -- was had by all.

That's Lucifer(ette) in the red cap; standing by the angel Gabriel

Grocery deals:  Jack Links beef jerky -- 20 pks for about $25; meatsticks, about the same price  (Amazon Warehouse Deals).  Bananas (25 cents/lb); flowers ($2.25-4.08 bunch); BOGO mandarin oranges, $2.50 for 3 lb each; a big 2-lb package of bratwurst, $3.87 (a bit more than 2 pounds!); potato salad, 5 lb for $4.05 (City Market/King Soopers). Potatoes, 5 lb for 97 cents!  I bought 75 pounds worth (Safeway).

    I am getting very tired of making a special trip to town for a sale item -- only to find it's out of stock, and no rainchecks! This time it was pork loin, advertised at $1.49/lb, and $1.79/dozen for eggs at City Market. Safeway is just as guilty of this practice.

*I tried hard not to shop much for groceries....and largely succeeded. Our bill was much lower this month. Not looking at the sale ads helped. So did buying milk only when necessary, and cutting back on egg consumption. I'd bought ahead for the Seven Fish Dishes, so we only needed some cod for our share (chowder).

*A $25 payment - from a Walmart class action settlement. Plus a $5 survey payment, a $25 giftcard (thank you, Swagbucks!) and a surprisingly hefty royalty payment. 

*Switched Medicare B insurance. The local med center no longer accepts Humana, so we've gone to Devoted. (Turns out they don't accept Devoted, either -- so we'll be going to a different medical center.)

*Free yak meat, thanks to the Brick. A friend offered him some. (I am not making this up. Tastes kind of like beef, but chewier.)

*Candlelight battery candles for church. Added a 'snowing' Nativity scene gifted by our friend -- it's lovely. But other than a small tree in the fellowship area, Calvary Blanca didn't have many Christmas decorations out, either. (I found a lit star to decorate the church next year -- 75% off at the thrift shop.)

*Several last-minute buys on sale -- including liqueur chocolates and Turkish Delight for snacking, plus cozy slippers for friends who are getting married. (They have practically everything else.)

*Free lunch at a LaVeta steakhouse -- for listening to a presentation. (Yes, we brought home leftovers - plus cannoli.)  We took friends out for Sunday dinner, planning to cover their meals...and another friend lunching nearby paid for everyone, instead!  (Monte, you sneaky man -- thank you.)

*An Audubon 2026 desk calendar -- for $1.50! (Thanks, Castle Rock's Treasures in the Park.)

*Got an armload of bread from the Castle Rock thrift shop -- and gave it out at church. Not one loaf left! People here in the Valley have been hurting some for funds; it's a pleasure to help out when we can.

*Son #1 got an antelope!  We always benefit, meatwise, from his harvests.

This is his earlier harvest this year -- a very nice buck

*Cut a Christmas tree from our own land.  An incredible feeling. Then we stacked and loaded wood. "Do you feel like a pioneer?" I asked the Brick.

*Christmas presents from friends:  Two plates of cookies, a new pen, olivewood Christmas nativity ornaments, panettone and tea -- and a beautiful new cloth 'grocery bag.' I had fun giving out boxes of chocolates, a few homecooked meals, blueberry muffins, a puzzle -- and a turquoise truck ornament to a friend who prides himself on his vehicles. (He said he'd keep it out all year long. He gave us Grateful Dead stickers...:)

*Watched friends' house while they were gone, checking periodically, as well as picking up their deliveries.

*Watched Christmas movies - both here and at our friends' house.  (I got several new ones thrift shopping last month, including The Santa Clause #1, #2 and #3.)

 *We now have a drivable trail to the fifth-wheel, parked nearby in our woods -- thanks to the skid steer Son #1 borrowed from his boss.

*Finished a baby quilt restoration that has literally taken years, off and on, to complete. I'm very, very glad to see it done. When the clients picked it up, they also gifted us a tin of flavored popcorn. (Nice!)

*December and January are 'off'-- I won't be doing new appraising, unless it's absolutely necessary. I need to catch up from getting behind...and having no way of accessing files for weeks. 

*Small savings to help fill Christmas stockings: free wildflower seed packets from the library; grocery items from storage (including the ubiquitous black olives); a $10 Chipotle giftcard earned from Humana; 'Chomps' meatsticks, for a bit less than $1 each. 

*Picked up a new gig, in Fort Collins! This one will be on Crazy quilts. 

*Homey stuff:  Baked French bread, biscuits, blueberry muffins, banana cake, cookies, Sachertorte. Made asparagus soup from the crunchy hard ends of asparagus -- kept the broth and threw the fibrous stuff onto the compost pile. 

*Bought more Ebay books -- buy 2, get 1 free, and free shipping! My monthly allowance will take care of these nicely. Bought some buy 3, get 1 free books, too, and got a 15% discount (and free shipping) on yet another order. BUT two of the books from the first order never showed up -- the package was open when it reached us. (The seller refunded the $$ -- thank you so much.)

*When it snowed heavily, we just Stayed Home.  We didn't go out to eat much, either.

*Thrift Shop Buys:  75% off Christmas -- 8 pottery bowls for 50 cents each, and several Christmas stockings. Plus a new dog collar for Bo ($6) -- she's outgrown her previous one.

'Mom, I'm sure that snacks have absolutely nothing to do with my current size...'

*Sent Christmas cards...fewer than last year.

*Helped out at a Dec. 26 Christmas dinner - I brought blueberry crisp, and we stayed around afterwards to help clean up. 

*Bought a corduroy shirt. For myself. (40% off)

*Went through family photos Thanksgiving night with the kids-- sorted and enjoyed, some sent to cousins and Brother, or taken home by the kids -- and some discarded. (But I kept most.) 

 *Our furnace stopped working during our Really Chilly period. (Yes, the Brick, clever guy, is nearly done fixing it.) Fortunately, regular use of the woodstove keeps things warm upstairs, and just needs regular loading of the rack from the woodpile outside. We both prefer a colder atmosphere, anyways -- that's what blankets and sweaters are for. And it certainly wasn't as bad as this.

*Wrapped a few dozen boxes of chocolates to hand out at church for Christmas. Wrapped more presents -- using sale Christmas paper, and chunks of an iridescent tablecloth that was going to get thrown away! (They look great, too.) One of the boxes was donated for a young friend's birthday tea; two more went to our mail carrier and the post office staff.

 *Borrowed Daughter #2 and Son #1's connections to watch a series I've been curious about: The Mandalorian. Here's the sad part. It was okay -- but not that great. We're doing better with Fallout, a quirky end-of-the-world series. Okey-dokey.

*A lovely Christmas spent with all four kids, plus our adopted grandson. Including the Seven Fish Dishes. 

*Advent calendars for the kids -- 

Nakatomi Plaza -- every day moves Hans Gruber closer to the ground!

A fishing lure a day made our other set of kids happy.

*Registered the Highlander. We were relieved when the licensing fees came out roughly half of what we thought we'd have to pay. The truck also got new license plates. 

     One of our friends strolled up to the Highlander, looked it over and grinned. "Where didja get the fancy car?" he said. Guess he's used to our grubby, cracked windshield Ram pickup...

*Paid upfront for a lifetime insurance plan for ambulance coverage, including air helicopter. This might have been unnecessary in Denver -- but out here, where the nearest hospital is at least 45 min. drive away, it seemed important to both of us. If we use an ambulance once, we'll have paid for the entire plan, or close to it. The plan can also be used internationally, except for (ironically) Cuba. It wasn't cheap, but we saved $300, plus another $99 because the Brick is a veteran. That was nice. We paid with a credit card for the cash back, but have enough $$ in our emergency fund to cover it. Wow -- that reassures me that continuing to be frugal is the right thing to do.

* Eye exam plus two pairs of glasses: $136. Less than what I paid two years ago...and one of the pairs are sunglasses! America's Best is okay with us.

*Did up a lot of appraisal reports -- now finishing up more, and working on a big group for the Colorado Quilt Council (CQC).

FRUGAL MISSES

Rereading these, I realized a fair amount of 'Hits' had their share of "Misses' in this month's list.

*Found money: not a cent from the City Market or Safeway change machines, or anywhere else. (sigh)

*Missed out using up some Thanksgiving leftovers. (double sigh) 

*Wasted paper on the printer. (It sometimes goes dry when we don't use it...which means huge sections of text and photos skipped. Triple sigh.)

*Tiger's latest snacks:  the Brick's work gloves (both right and left-hands this time) and a placemat. (At least it was Christmas-themed.) He must be slowing down a bit. Either that, or he's ticked that I gathered up all the remaining gloves and put them away in a box. (He gave Dad a pair of leather gloves for Christmas...which he promptly started eyeballing, until I put THEM away.)

     He and Bo nibbled on a pillow while we took a Sunday nap -- but I was able to gather up the stuffing and restitch the corner. They also decided to run off during the last pee outing -- out all night, in spite of the cold and our calling them. Brats. I stayed up until 4 a.m., waiting for them, so am still a bit punchy while writing this.

*The wear and tear report:  scratches have appeared on the Highlander, which infuriates the Brick.  I accidentally spilled blueberry juice and milk on the backseat of the Highlander, as well...so much for the 'new car' feeling. (Thankfully both stains scrubbed out.) One of our best coffee mugs got messed up. The outdoors are muddy, as much as snowy -- which means extra dirt keeps getting tracked in, rubbed on the couch and pillows, the comforter, etc. It's an ongoing battle.

Last month's report is here; last year's is here. We were barely parked in Fort Garland in December 2023; that report is here. 

     A very Merry Christmas... and a Happy New Year. 

Knowledge is Power

 

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Finishing Up

 ...and making progress. 

    We went to an interesting Nativity play this afternoon in nearly San Luis. It's a singing version of the shepherds looking for Baby Jesus -- all in Spanish, and including Lucifer! I had never seen a sword/pitchfork fight between Satan and Gabriel before -- but it sure spices up a Christmas play. 

Keeping on, getting things done. The new year's coming, and I want to be completely caught up.

Meanwhile:

Andrew Crispo died recently -- a most unusual man. (Some would say con man.)

This girl is bragging because she read 120 books in 2025.  Big Deal, Honey -- I am pretty sure I read that many books EVERY YEAR. If not more. 

The year's strangest valuable art discoveries. 

Plus the most overhyped ones!

Asian Christmas dinner recipes.    Or for New Year's!  (From Khin's Kitchen)

Could the killer connected with the Black Dahlia and Zodiac murders...be the same person?  These people obviously think so, though I'm a bit more skeptical. But it is intriguing to consider.

The Ketton Mosaic --  found on a farming family's land, while they were taking a walk. It's an interesting version of the Trojan war -- the first time it's been found mentioned in a British mosaic! The triple-panel mosaic is...

 bordered by a braided pattern often employed in ancient illustrated texts. Indeed, the brutal story reads somewhat like a Roman comic book. The first panel shows the heroes [Achilles and Hector] at full speed, spears raised and hair flowing as they charge at one another from chariots. The second offers the clash’s vindictive aftermath, as Achilles drags Hector’s bloodied body across the battlefield. The third presents the ransom of Hector’s corpse, with an enthroned Achilles poised to accept its weight in gold from Hector’s father Priam, the ruler of Troy.

Have a great week...and new year.

The King... The Child

 

Dead Beat and Plum Tuckered Out

     We got home about 11:30 p.m. last night, after a quick visit to the kids in Arvada, some 4 1/2 hours away. But the Brick did it in 3 1/2 hours last night. If you have to travel, make it on a holiday when there's no snow, and people are still 'snug in their wee little beds.' (Yes, except for a little on the mountains, Colorado is brown right now.)

      The house temp? 53 degrees. The furnace is still broken, but a roaring fire in the woodstove helped.

     Now it's on to a church supper tonight. I have mashed potatoes and a blueberry crisp to make -- had better get to it. 

Oh, and it's also our 44th anniversary!

Hopefully you can take a few days off before your schedule begins again. 

Me? I've got work to finish up.

Merry Christmas!

 

Bless the Savior... for coming to save us. 

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Last-Minute Jam

    'Whaddya mean, it's four days to Christmas?!?'  Somehow I thought one extra day was in there before our festivities. It's not.

     Hopefully I can be excused for my absentmindedness. I've been trying to jam in more reports, dealing with the flu (we both have it now), wrapping presents -- and setting up the Christmas tree. I still have to make a Sachertorte, while I'm at it. 

     Hopefully you are more ahead than I am. 

Meanwhile:

The 'Blue Book Burglar' -- who used the society listings to plan his robberies. 

Nigeria's 'Yahoo Boys' -- romance scammers extraordinaire.

Gingerbread houses that fit on your mug!  I hope to make these soon.

UFOs and Wyoming.  Hmmm...

The one present Donald Trump looks forward to every Christmas.

Drug addiction and Hollywood rich kids. Looks like the Reiners' son isn't the only one to struggle with this. 

Characteristics of debt-free people. 

Holiday deal-stacking, to save even more.  (From Surviving and Thriving)

Leftover food hacks -- otherwise known as 'scrap food. '  I'm not sure why they're bragging about this -- people have been doing this for millenia. But the ideas are good.

Katy finally got her 'oy vey' stocking holder!  (From The Nonconsumer Advocate)

A seafood platter for Christmas?  An all-purpose solution for our traditional 7 Fish Dishes, I guess. 

'Chaotic good' -- done for good. 

The couple who died in each other's arms -- after trying (and almost succeeding) to disarm one of the Bondi Beach terrorists.

The Bengals football player who lived at the stadium for two years -- then with his grandma until his fourth year in the NFL.  (I hope he paid rent to Grandma, at least!)

The scariest roads to drive on during winter in Colorado.  Needless to say, they're passes... literally!

What the Trump family enjoys eating.  No real surprises here -- your basic American he-man stuff, mostly. (Maybe it's even saving the American taxpayer some!)

Simple, filling, economical potato soup.  (From Harvest Lane Cottage)

Spoiled brats. 

Have a fun week... talk to you soon. 

Prague, Czech Republic -- one of the loveliest cities in the world

Get It?

 (Took this English major a minute, quite frankly...)

Well??

 

"Is He Coming Through the Fireplace?"  by Norman Rockwell

Darn Tootin'

 

Gotcha!

I thought you'd enjoy this apt reminder about jumping to conclusions. (I'm reminding myself, too.)

I live in a very, very small house. And have a simple lifestyle.

When I started a job in a nearby office, a lady from another department (let's call her Mrs Snob) asked me where I lived.

"Oh, you poor dear!" She says,"Maybe one day you will be able to afford a proper home!"

After this, every time I met her, Mrs Snob would come out with snide little digs at me and how poor and common I am. And how lucky I was to work with "quality" people like her.

I chose to ignore it, though it did rather grind my gears.

Then, one day, we were both having lunch at work. Another colleague asked me if I knew whether "Lord X was doing a local history talk in the near future".

Mrs Snob instantly butted in, "Lord X? He and I are great friends, you know, I could ask him if you like. "

"I don't know," I said, "He usually does them in the warmer months, so he is probably starting them again soon. "

"I can call him tonight to ask!" Mrs Snob says, glaring at me, "Seeing as I actually know him. "

My colleague laughed, and Mrs Snob looked confused.

"What's so funny?" She asks.

"That.." my colleague says, pointing to me, "is his daughter. "

And from then on, Mrs Snob tried to be super nice to me!

Oh, and yes, my dad did know her. He described her as "that snobby cow" :)

They were definitely not "great friends".

-----------------------------------------------------

More strange cases here. Thanks, Bored Panda.

Photo from GardenersPath.com 

The Story

 

     If you're stressed out, behind, nursing the flu...or just plain feeling sorry for yourself during the holidays -- 

     Try this classic Christmas tale from Harvest Lane Cottage. I try to share it every year, too.

A Christmas Miracle on the Frontier

     I remember a day one winter that stands out like a boulder in my life. The weather was unusually cold; our salary had not been regularly paid and it did not meet our needs when it was. My husband was away much of the time, traveling from one district to another. Our boys were well, but my little Ruth was ailing and at best none of us were decently clothed. I patched and re-patched, with spirits sinking to the lowest ebb. The water gave out in the well and the wind blew through the cracks in the floor.

     The people in the parish were kind, and generous too, but the settlement was new and each family was struggling for itself. Little by little, at the time I needed it most, my faith began to waver. Early in life I was taught to take God at His word, and I thought my lesson was well learned. I had lived upon the promises in dark times until I knew, as David did, who was my Fortress and my Deliverer. Now a daily prayer for forgiveness was all that I could offer.

     My husband’s overcoat was hardly thick enough for October, and he was often obliged to ride miles to attend some meeting or funeral.  Christmas was coming; the children always expected their presents. I remember the ice was thick and smooth and the boys were each craving a pair of skates. Ruth, in some unaccountable way, had taken a fancy that the dolls I had made were no longer suitable; she wanted a nice large one, and insisted on praying for it.

     I knew it was impossible, but, oh! how I wanted to give each child his present. It seemed as if God had deserted us. But I did not tell my husband all this. He worked so earnestly and heartily, I supposed him to be as hopeful as ever. I kept the sitting room cheerful with an open fire, and I tried to serve our scanty meals as invitingly as I could.

     That morning before Christmas, James was called to see a sick man. I put up a piece of bread for his lunch–it was the best I could do–wrapped my plaid shawl around his neck and then tried to whisper a promise as I often had, but the words died away upon my lips. I let him go without it.  That was a dark, hopeless day. I coaxed the children to bed early, for I could not bear their talk. When Ruth went, I listened for her prayer. She asked for the last time most explicitly for her doll and for skates for her brothers. Her bright face looked so lovely when she whispered to me, “You know I think they’ll be here early tomorrow morning, Mama” that I thought I could move Heaven and earth to save her from disappointment. I sat down alone and gave way to the most bitter tears.

     Before long James returned, chilled and exhausted. He drew off his boots. The thin stockings clipped off with them and his feet were red with cold. “I wouldn’t treat a dog that way; let alone a faithful servant,” I said. Then as I glanced up and saw the hard lines in his face and the look of despair, it flashed across me that James had let go too.

     I brought him a cup of tea, feeling sick and dizzy at the very thought. He took my hand and we sat for an hour without a word. I wanted to die and meet God and tell Him His promise wasn’t true–my soul was so full of rebellious despair.

     There came a sound of bells, a quick step and a loud knock at the door. James sprang to open it. There stood Deacon White. “A box came by express just before dark. I brought it around as soon as I could get away. Reckoned it might be for Christmas. ‘At any rate’ I said, ‘they shall have it tonight.’ Here is a turkey my wife asked me to fetch along and these other things I believe belong to you.” There were a basket of potatoes, and a bag of flour. Talking all the time, he hurried in the box and then with a hearty good night, he rode away.

     Still without speaking, James found a chisel and opened the box. He drew out first a thick red blanket and we saw that beneath it, the box was full of clothing. It seemed at that moment as if Christ fastened upon me a look of reproach. James sat down and covered his face with his hands. “I can’t touch them,” he explained. “I haven’t been true, just when God was trying me to see if I could hold out. Do you think I could not see how you were suffering? And I had no word of comfort to offer. I know now how to preach the awfulness of turning away from God.”

     “James,” I said, clinging to him, “don’t take it to heart like this. I am to blame. I ought to have helped you. We will ask Him together to forgive us.”  We poured out words of praise–Bible words, for nothing else could express our thanksgiving.  It was eleven o’ clock; the fire was low and there was the great box with nothing touched but the warm blanket we needed. We piled on some fresh logs, lighted two candles and began to examine our treasures.

     We drew out an overcoat. I made James try it on–just the right size–and I danced around him, for all my lightheartedness had returned. There was a cloak and he insisted on seeing me in it. My spirits always infected him and we both laughed like foolish children.

     There was a warm suit of clothes also and three pairs of woolen hose. There were a dress for me and yards of flannel, a pair of arctic overshoes for each of us and in mine a slip of paper. I have it now and mean to hand it down to my children. It was Jacob’s blessing to Asher: “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days so shall thy strength be.”

     In the gloves, evidently for James, the same dear hand had written: “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”  It was a wonderful box and packed with thoughtful care. There were a suit of clothes for each of the boys and a little red gown for Ruth. There were mittens, scarf, and hood, and down in the center–a box. We opened it and there was a great wax doll!! I burst into tears again and James wept with me for joy. It was too much! And then we both exclaimed again, for close behind it came two pairs of skates. There were books for us to read–some of them I had wished to see–stories for the children to read, aprons and underclothing, knots of ribbon, a gay little tidy, a lovely photograph, needles, buttons, and thread, a muff, and an envelope containing a ten dollar gold piece.

     At last we cried over everything we took up. It was past midnight and we were faint and exhausted even with happiness. I made a cup of tea, cut a fresh loaf of bread and James boiled some eggs. We drew up the table before the fire. How we enjoyed our supper! And then we sat talking over our life and how sure a help God always proved.

     You should have seen the children the next morning! The boys raised a shout at the sight of their skates–Ruth caught up her doll and hugged it tightly without a word; then she went into her room and knelt by her bed.  When she came back she whispered to me, “I knew it would be here Mama, but I wanted to thank God just the same, you know.”

     “Look here, Wife, see the difference!” We went to the window and there were the boys out of the house already and skating on the crust with all their might.  My husband and I both tried to return thanks to the church in the East that sent us the box–and have tried to return thanks unto God every day since. 

     Hard times have come again and again, but we have trusted in Him–dreading nothing so much as a doubt of His protecting care. “They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

~~~~~

Reprinted by permission from Lizzie at A Dusty Frame.   She typed it up from a very old book, The Sword Book of Treasures by Dr. John R. Rice, published in 1946 gem.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: No News to Report

 ...unless you count dealing with flu, a computer that's still not completely updated, and work deadlines. But I AM making progress. 

More soon.

Meanwhile:

Ten pieces of advice from a 100-year-old man:  Dick Van Dyke.

Are modern art values taking a back seat to the old classics?

Cool things found at thrift shops. 

The dancer who may lose his home -- without our help.

Oatmeal bar cookies -- fast, easy, delicious.  (From Little House Living)

'I have always relied on the kindness of strangers...'

Celebrating Christmas on a budget -- with kids.

Fourteen historical cases of embezzlement.  The scammers are out and about big-time this year, Gentle Readers. 

Michigan's football coach GETS FIRED?!?

Porch pirates -- funny and deserved, all at the same time. 

Where to find gold in Colorado.  (Or at least where to look for it.)  

The still unsolved mystery of Glen and Bessie Hyde.

A poverty line considered at $140,000?!?  That and more mysteries pondered by The Frugal Girl. 

Have a good week. 

Just a Week or Two More...

 "Christmas Parade" by Lynn Bywaters.

I Wouldn't...

 ...would you??

P.S. I asked the Brick about this -- he said he wouldn't do it. He already knew what electrical shocks felt like, having run his own shop in the Navy.

Jingle Bells!

 Catching up, after the laptop debacle...I have more to say, but my energy needs to go toward WORK first.

Meanwhile, this is one of Beatrix Potter's 'sort-of-Peter Rabbit' illustrations. It's lovely.

Does the song's use in minstrel shows make it any less appealing?

Or racist, because it was written by a ex-Confederate soldier? 

(Pierpont was cruel to horses, obviously. They're out in the cold, having to work, and "got upsot.")

(I guess I keep hearing White Christmas' "I'd rather see a minstrel show - 

than any other show I know...")

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

 From the 'Animals in Art Through History' FB page:

Tokuhiro Kawai’s “Ode to Sleep,” 2025, oil tempera and gold leaf on panel

The work is part of his solo exhibition "Altarpiece of Cat Adoration."

Kawai used the style of early Renaissance religious altarpieces to celebrate cats, reflecting his deep empathy as a cat lover.

The artist uses cats, who have been his lifelong companions, to explore universal themes such as connection, peace, and empathy that transcend ideological and racial divides in the modern world.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Getting Used To...

 the new laptop.  Let's put it this way: I'm not in Kansas anymore. (Nor is my name Dorothy, but I already knew that.) BUT -- the Brick says I know more than I think I do, computerwise. We'll see.

I haven't had access to my appraisal reports area -- or photos -- for nearly three weeks. Now I'm way behind, but at least there's an opportunity to catch up.

The San Luis Valley, on a very cold morning in December.

Photo by Erik Schneider

(who says he got up early, barefoot and in pajamas, to take it.)

Meanwhile:

   Ohio State lost its final college football game to Indiana?!?  Poor babies. I feel so sorry for them. (Snort)

Cheapskate moms in action:

'Luxury' items and services that really aren't worth it -- mentioned by the employees who sell them.

ONE HUNDRED abducted schoolgirls from Nigeria are supposed to be released...but if you read the article carefully, you suddenly realize there are nearly 200 more students and their teachers still captive. Christians are really being targeted in Nigeria right now.

A Pearl Harbor attack survivor remembers. Another article said there are 10 survivors left, each past 100 years old...but none could attend the ceremony this year in Honolulu. Did you realize it's been 84 years??

The New York Times finally acknowledges that there was (and is) a border crisis. Big of them.

REBUILDING  -- a new movie about losses and beginning again, filmed in the San Luis Valley!

The strange (but totally normal) reason why some of Chernobyl's feral dogs are blue.  Sometimes scientists are a bit TOO serious...

The Faberge Winter Egg -- 

The Winter Egg is one such example. A 1913 Easter gift from Nicholas II to his mother, Maria Feodorovna, it’s a chilly, serene scene formed of rock crystal, platinum, and rose-cut diamonds. For the third time in the past 30 years, the Winter Egg was auctioned...

It just sold for 30.2 million. Dollars. 

Why a decade can change everything.  From my buddies at Millenial Revolution. 

Houston's International Quilt Market has been cancelled. So has Spring Market, I found out later -- but the festivals will keep on. 

Have a great week. Stay warm.  (It's freezing out here.)

Meow!

 Now you know who gets the lovey talk in this household...

I'm Still Here...

 How 'bout dat.

The Brick has been putting in hours and hours on the new laptop, loading decades' worth of appraisal reports, plus my regular files. He has been a champ about this. 

I am trying hard not to be impatient...but I do have reports just waiting until I can get back on. Meanwhile, I've been finishing up restoring a baby quilt that is years overdue. So that's good.

We got at least 7" of snow yesterday. (I think more, up to almost a foot.) That meant we weren't going anywhere -- which was probably a good thing.

I'll finish off the quilt today or tomorrow -- then it's back to finishing up the reports. Hang in there, clients!