Maeve, you have put in quite a year! The amount of work is exponential compared to what all of the rest of us have accomplished. You and LilyFestre have been way out front, setting a great example.

This year I've decided I can't inflict the holiday calories on the office, no matter how charming and traditional. I'm headed down to my feed store in a few minutes, where I will give them $40 that they will match and add to the account that they run for the Humane Society. (N. TX Humane Society is a couple of blocks down the street from there, and is where I got my sweetheart Poppy). The donation will be in the name off the library administration. I'll scan the form and email everyone this afternoon. :)

I'll still make the rest of the holiday cookies, but I'll pass them out on modest sized plates to most neighbors, so the calories aren't an assault on good health. And I can probably time it so when the smallish-herd of grandchildren arrive next door, I'll be delivering a bit larger plate.

The box for the new computer has been flattened, and the inside box that contains the supporting styrofoam is up in the attic. I need to put the file cabinet that is in the hall in a more permanent place, and clear the front room of things set in there to get them out of the way.

I have a sewing project for over the holiday break, and I am glad that the decluttering has resulted in a well-appointed sewing room. My son agrees that swapping out the large table for the smaller comfortable office table with the keyboard tray underneath is a good move. I didn't report - we walked in and I heard "There's more room in here!" I'd taken out a set of shelves and put his big honker television (for his games) on a table I moved in, so that was just a swap, but by rearranging after the large table was out I gave him a lot of exposed floor, and that makes the room seem larger, not just less-full. The room is set now so if he has friends over, they'll have an easier time hanging out and playing games, whether on the computer or the TV. And I have more table space in the living room and kitchen for feeding them.

SRS