I remember you said you had a place to take some china, but I didn't make the connection between the two. I had a 12-place setting from my great grandmother's house and it took several months to list and sell all of it. But yours is the best outcome by far, keeping it in the family.

My museum tour today was with only one person, but a delightful conversation. (Last week's tour I had four Australians and even though we all speak English it was a struggle to make myself understood. They had little background in American history or local jargon to work with.) After this tour I thought I'd swing by Lowes to get the puck lights to replace the halogen puck lights. OMG. The area where that store is located (my closest store was out of stock) is so congested that the businesses along the highway are hard to reach because they were built when it was a rural backwater. I missed the exit and then missed the store and had to loop around; an easy trip took an extra 30 minutes. But I got my lights. I set them up with double-stick mounting tape and it took longer to get the tape residue off of my fingers than to assemble and place the lights.

I found a bag of xmas cookies on my doorknob when I got home today (from the nextdoor neighbors), and I have to do my part so will bake some of the cranberry bars (the cranberry pulp is thawing now) to deliver tomorrow. I'm not eating cookies because of flour and sugar, but will be able to use them for guests this week. And giving foods I don't eat seems a little contrary but will happen this year. Maybe next year I'll work out some recipe with fancy nuts.