Christmas is Coming

Christmas IS coming. Heck, even in January, Christmas is coming, even if 11 months in the future. It's certainly not 11 months away now, and I'm deep into making lists and buying. It seems to be easier each year, maybe because there are fewer people for whom to buy or more likely I make it easy on myself. For instance, I give money to my niece and her two teenage daughters, and I give mostly money to my son.

But Christmas thoughts are not what have kept me from blogging for a week and a half, and fall is still here. Today is one of the nasty days of autumn. We've had some really chilly weather and today it's raining very hard. Yesterday, though, was beautiful, and I raked a ton of leaves, dumping 9 wheelbarrows full of them back to the woods.

I had Ember Tuesday and Thursday this past week. We're all on board with potty training and Em's doing great. Most days she has no accidents or only one accident. I'm attuned to the sound of "I go pee, Grandma," and her feet running like mad to the bathroom. It's also a good thing to keep an eye on her because she will press a hand between her legs if she has to go. I can no longer call her "my baby granddaughter," because she tells me in no uncertain terms, "I a big girl gramma. I pee on the potty." Can't argue with that.

Ron's gone to camp. He left Thursday morning and is expected back Tuesday afternoon. Works for me. I'm enjoying my alone time, eating what I want when I want without any schedule but my own. Being in this big ole' house no longer makes me uncomfortable.

Wednesday of this past week I had a follow up with the gastroenterologist. Things are fine with the colitis, and if comes back, Entocort will help as in the past. Wednesday I also had my teeth cleaned and the perm cap put on my tooth. The cap fits perfectly. It feels like a real tooth.

After the doc appts I treated myself to a chicken wrap at McD's for lunch and then did some shopping. New pair of sneaks for me; FYI gift cards for birthdays of Mica and Sonny; a couple of small things (including a Raggedy Ann doll) for Em for Christmas.

There's a lot of junk stuff out there for kids. Everybody is having a difficult time finding presents for Em. I may end up by giving Michele money to help with the cost of the nursery school Em will be going to in the spring.

So I'm still alive and well in Greenville.

Gas prices- Continue to drop like stones. I paid $2.79 this week at Cumberland in Glenmont.

Weather - It's been good and nasty. Nice days followed by rainy/windy/cold days. Today, though is very nasty.