*watching flocks of Sandhill Cranes flying to the fields where they feed during the day as I was driving to work
*a very restful day yesterday - like being snowed in, only we weren't

So, this potentially very busy holiday month has begun. This year, for the first time ever, all my packages except for my YLD holiday box (we do a stocking/holiday box exchange on theYLD list) are packed and ready to go and my husband has the day off from work so he's going to mail them for me. I always try to get the packages mailed early, but I've never managed to do it this early before. (My family lives in New England and I live in New Mexico so we have to mail a lot of things.) I still have gifts for people who are local to take care of, but I have more time for that.

I've been to my first holiday party, which was a pot luck, and the food was acceptable. We had a good time. I even had to do a bird imitation in front of a whole room of people for a game we played at the party. I never would have been willing to be volunteered for that years ago, but when the people at my table picked me to go do it, I was fine with it.

One of the ways I avoid stress during the holidays is to practice the traditions that I really enjoy, and then keep everything else as simple as possible. One of the holiday traditions I have always loved is advent calendars. My grandmother used to send them to us every year. We especially liked the German ones with charming little village scenes where when you open the little door, it shows you the scene inside the building. As an adult, I could never find that style of advent calendar until about 10 years ago, when I found a couple of online sources for them. So I get one for my sister and one for myself every year. I also enjoy the Jacquie Lawson animated advent calendar. So I open the window on the paper calendar in the morning, and view the animated scene or the activity for the day on the animated calendar in the evening.

Other than the advent calendars, life goes on as usual for the moment. Yesterday my husband wasn't feeling well, so we stayed home all day. We did a bit of neatening, and then watched British detective shows and I knitted while watching. It was so nice not to have to go out or do anything. We had plenty of food for lunch today, so we had omelets and toast for dinner. Funny, I love eggs and toast for lunch or dinner but almost never have it for breakfast.

How is everyone doing? Any food challenges coming up that you would like help with?
Allison