Pepper gets her bandage off today and I'll have them give her the Cone of Shame after all - the incision is too long and the t-shirt doesn't cover the lower end. I can't keep her from licking, so she gets the unpleasant cone. The couple of attempts have ended up in the laundry because anything that drags or dangles when it comes loose gets peed on in the yard.

We're hitting the deep freeze later this week so I have a couple of days to prepare. Break pipes deep freeze. Today I will start deliveries of gift bags to friends and neighbors, and hope to wrap it up by Wednesday.

The kitchen table is piled with the wrapping materials, they'll go away mostly today. I spent last night re-doing the strings of lights on the crape myrtle branch in a pot I described. I am realizing that I was so consumed by the work on the house this fall I didn't do my usual early shopping for the stocking-stuffer kind of items and think I'll have to do that today or tomorrow also. Practical things, often consumables, that someone might not have bought for themselves.

I'll be getting out that pair of flannel lined LLBean jeans this week. I hope they fit comfortably!