More Ahhhh. . . .

Another ahhhh day. I took vacation days while my dad is here for the week. We're sitting around--Dad reading a Ken Follet book; Hubby roaming aimlessly about, now playing the piano, now doing laundry, now God knows where, but not with his feet up in the room with us--he is just not a good relaxer.

Guess I need to get around and dressed. Hubby wants to go to the store. I want to get ingredients to make cassoulet one night. I love the rosemary with the white beans. . . and the garlic. We'll also splurge on Beef Wellington one night.

I'm looking forward to having some time to enjoy all my X-mas books. Hubby got lots and lots on my Wish list: a few books by This American Life writers, as well as Roy Blount, Jr., Bailey White, and Hate That Cat--a kind of sequel to Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech. He read both of them aloud to me and Mom on X-mas night. Such lovely stories. And my sister read A Christmas Memory aloud to a roomful of people the weekend before for our X-mas exchange. Hubby gave me the DVD version with Patty Duke that I am looking forward to watching.

My oldest stepson's family was really great about giving me gifts from my wish list to inspire me to get back on track: Half-Assed by the Pastaqueen and a Moosewood cookbook and a pair of Thorlo walking socks!

I gave Hubby several books about walks around Atlanta, and he's committed to getting a puppy! The stipulation is we have to read the two raising puppy books first so we will know what we are doing. We are strongly leaning toward a golden doodle.

I haven't taken pictures yet, but seredipitiously 2 of our Santa ornaments fell off the tree during gift distribution. They both fell on their backs, legs and arms sprawled as though they fell into an exhausted, baby-in-the-cereal sleep.