We’ve had some winter weather already. Snow and ice and strong wind and now today as I write, there is no ice in trees and no snow on the ground. But it is cold enough for winter hats, coats, boots and mittens. And I was glad my winter tires were on the car this past week.

I’ve been busy knitting hats and mittens for some children I will never meet. And now that I’ve handed those items over to the organizers of the program for families in need, I can knit other mittens and know three children will be warmer this winter.

During November, between knitting and other important tasks, I wrote through NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. My project evolved, shall I say, through several different project including my Christmas letter and two middle grade novels (which I know will require a heap of work in the New Year). I ended with 50,200 words.

Once my writing was done, it was time to mail the Christmas cards I’d been addressing in the evenings. Some folks get ecards and others print cards. All went out the same day.

It was finally time to put up the tree, involving my husband bringing the box up from its seasonal storage, then opening it. I put the pre-lit tree sections together and marvellously all the lights worked.

I had some help from a grandson, who’s four-and-a-half, and his Mom to decorate the tree after school one day. Of course after he’d had a snack. Having a small person help brings new perspective, with more decorations on the bottom two thirds of the tree than the top. His Mom and I took care of the top branches.

Shopping was done before the large writing project so that helped a lot. Now it’s down to food and of course, preparing ourselves to remember why we celebrate. That means bringing out the creche and finding a special place to set it. And a few more treats to give out before the big day comes.

You can find the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2 of the Holy Bible

At the moment a partly completed puzzle claims the dining room table. A beach scene, of all things, with an expanse of water and sky with a lighthouse in its background. I haven’t done a puzzle in a good while since my scrapbooking supplies claimed that space during most of covid.

Christmas is coming soon. Are you ready?