New Month and Being Home

      While I wasn't gone quite the whole month, coming back on a Holiday weekend felt like my trip was stretched. This will be my first December being retired. Though, while away, I received a call or text alert almost every day that substitute teachers were needed. Now, I'll only sub in my home district and prefer to only schedule in advance, but might accept a Tuesday call in when grand pup goes to doggie daycare or a Friday when he's back with my daughter. I'll have to make sure I'm prepared to accept those days the night before as for the middle or highschool I'd need to report by 7:30. 

     I sort of don't want to commit to anything though. There's so much to do here and really, Christmas is just three and 1/2 weeks away. I've got a fairly full social calendar scheduled and want to be able to get outside with the dogs in daylight, which lets face it, barely lasts 8 hours in December. It's cold, but both dogs love the snow and I've got proper gear.

     I made good choices on both my rain coat and rain booties. Though, didn't make a wise choice not wearing the rain boots on the first Saturday in London where I trusted a bad weather report. Feet aside, I stayed fairly dry when it rained, and the coat was the right weight to wear alone, or if colder, layered with a flannel or zip hoodie jacket. I'll be happy to have these for Greece in March and back home for our wet Minnesota springs.

     I went to a spruce tip arrangement workshop with the mom friends group, but life intervened so we were minus two. Sadly, one lost her dad the day before Thanksgiving. Services are next week a couple hours away but weather permitting I'll attend. I lost my mom 15 years ago the day before Thanksgiving too and know it was nice to see friends even though a busy time of year. 

My semi finished arrangement. I 
have tiny lights to add. I went with the less is more approach. The pot was from a floral arrangement from my husband's funeral. 

     Other things on my list this week is meal planning, getting the house cleaned with the plan to decorate lightly next weekend. The house is in chaos but I'm intentionally not scheduling a thing any days this week other than a couple combined errands on Tuesday out of town. I started inventorying gifts already purchased and updating my Christmas prep list.  Welcome December. 

     

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