I mailed a care package to my son, a bunch of stuff from the house and a loaf of pumpkin bread tucked in the middle of it all. It was kind of expensive to send it priority mail, but I didn't feel like standing in the line at the post office to mail parcel post, and the bread wouldn't be as fresh if it gets there a week later. Next time, though, I'll send the bread in a flat rate box. The oven has a great thermostat, it is spot on the right temperature and it heats very quickly, both the oven and the burners. I need to be careful they don't get too hot too fast as I adapt to the new appliance.

I also love squash - just cutting an acorn squash in half, putting the cut sides down on an oiled piece of foil and baking it till it is soft - I scoop it out with a spoon, not adding anything to it.

Susie and I have discussed our work next weekend. She has an ongoing project, I have to look around and decide which of many. I might just shift gears and say lets work on a design with beads for 30 minutes - I've been meaning to get started on a couple of projects forever.

The freeze came over the area last night, but actually didn't freeze at my house. I missed a batch of Roma tomatoes and realized this morning that they weren't frost bit so I can pick them after work.

I took the box that the new stove came in and cut out one of the sides, then slid it back into the dog's stall in the garage, and put the two dog houses back in. There isn't room for a third dog house, but the whole thing is covered with a tarp and whoever isn't in a house can sleep next to the oil heater at the side (when it's cool enough to be on). Now there is an enclosed area outside the two dog houses so all three will actually be in an enclosure if they want. I'll have to take a photo so you can see what this looks like. At any rate, the cardboard didn't go to waste.

Finally, I spoke to some of the guys in the FabLab in our library (it's a "maker space" - they're popping up everywhere these days) that has a sewing machine that none of the guys in there know how to use. I'll give them a crash course in a week or two. They're fine with computers and 3D printers, but not so fine with the older technology.

SRS