14 small Fresh Apple Cakes made, and most already gifted, tied up prettily in cello wrap and red ribbon. 44 dozen assorted cookies made, some gifted already and some waiting until I see folks, but most going to Mom's house as she is no longer up for her historically epic baking marathons but is distressed to disappoint friends and neighbors who received her cookies and apple cakes every holiday season for many years. I only made 4 different cookies, whereas she typically made 8-10, and probably a couple of hundred dozen. So there will still be some folks left out.

No tree for me this year. My son will be going to his partner's family for Christmas and I will be at Mom's so not worth the trouble, but 2 Christmas cacti blooming well, a big poinsettia on the table, and a big vase of red roses, red and white lilies and white mums given to me by a dear colleague when I retired the first of the month.

Minimal Christmas shopping (my family draws names) but what gifts I have are wrapped and ready to be loaded in the car for the trip home to Mom's.

Trying to sit on my hands and not spend more than I can afford on my son - a perennial affliction of mothers everywhere when it comes to our kids until they are well on their own 2 feet.