I had a rough cold last year at this time, something to avoid repeating for all of the reasons you describe. I had to take the recliner away from the Labrador retriever and put fresh blankets over it an sleep there myself for a couple of nights.

More volunteering today then lunch with my daughter. The salmon I took with me was some I purchased earlier in the week before the smoking project came along. I ate some, but she got most of it because I'm kind of over the smokey smell right now. My smoker is a tall aluminum box box on a square base with three wire racks. A whole salmon wouldn't fit in it whole, it is filleted then cut into segments and brined then dried and finally put on the oiled smoker racks.

Time to finish the annual letter and mail it so it arrives before the holiday. Last night I edited out a bunch of it because I started it in November before Thanksgiving and stuff has changed. Usually less is more, and I'll add a couple of photos of the dogs or the kids. :)