Every Sunday evening I empty all the trash cans and bag up whatever, including litter, expired things from the fridge, and newspapers. Then I traipse out with the bags to the rolling bin, which sits against the back of the house. I push it to the front curb and come back in via the front door, wash my hands and go back to the front porch for the most important chore of the evening.

That is to sit quietly and think about the week behind and what I accomplished, didn't accomplish and the reasons why.

Then I plan as much as I can of the week ahead.

This chore is usually accompanied by a nice glass of red wine, the thinking person's companion.

Tonight I didn't take the glass with me, but I took a hot cider and watched the snow fall.

We have about two inches now, all from this afternoon and evening. By tomorrow we should have enough to shovel.

I spread some Prestone HEAT earlier on the front steps and sidewalk. Boy does that stuff work! It is less damaging than halite (salt) and it melts snow and ice as it tries to accumulate.

This is our first accumulation over an inch. It is pretty but the drivers going by should be careful. The temperature is right near the freezing point and ice forms under the snow.

I came back in, washed the cat bowls (they stand around looking forlorn when I do that.) "Hey, guyz, iz Man not ever going to feedz us again?"

Soon as I get four bowls cleaned and dried I have to feed them or I get a quarter inch of hair rubbed on my shoes.

They are very pleased with their Christmas. I put the loot away. Their new toys are in a small gift bag on the living room floor, where I reclaim as many toys as I can find each day and replace them in the bag. I will put them all in the regular toy baskets later this week.

The tree is holding up fine.No needles are on the floor.

I keep the lights on in the tree and the window wreaths at dark until nine p.m. until New Year's night. Then we begin the process of dissassembly.