My office doesn't seem that much clearer this morning when I look for progress. At best the paper is less dense. I can see some wood on the desktop over my file cabinets and I've organized some things into the bookshelves.

The kitchen is where more progress is visible, now that much of the canning is finished (there is the possibility of one more batch as several bowls and a box of tomatoes ripen slowly).

I pulled up Consumer Reports buying guide (via my university library) and saved the PDF of the vacuum cleaner section, then had a conversation via text with my son about my short wish list for xmas this year. Susie has a Shark upright bagless vacuum that does wonders on pet hair. I have a larger Hoover with hose and attachments for all other vacuuming, but it is a struggle to keep up with pet hair and one can go through a lot of bags. My son points out that bagged cleaners are considered better on pet hair, but my point is that if I have a bagless I'm likely to use it more often because I don't have to fool with the blankety blank bag. I think the point got through, and he asked me about a model that appeared in the daily deal page at Amazon. Not rated well for pet hair, but there is a smaller and less expensive one that is, so I sent him that model number. Just because the kid is now pulling down a good salary it's no reason for overkill. I already have two vacuums, I'll be donating or selling one soon, so less is indeed more.

It's a lovely day so I'll mow and mulch leaves, trim the dead cannas, and in general do one of the last mows of the year. I'll probably have to mulch again, but this will take care of the grass in the yard. If I'm really organized I'll get out the holiday lights for the smallest Italian stone pine.

There is lots trash for Monday after all of this tossing and shredding. December is my bulky waste month (once a quarter) so if I played my cards right I'd have Antonio take a problem tree out and pile it at the curb. Alas, no cash for that. Maybe in March.

SRS