Crèche

No matter how much I edit, the tiny figures of this crèche are another tradition that must be observed, and another annual Blip. Made in Peru, they were a gift many years ago from my parents. Careful observers will note the black eyepatch painstakingly put there by Tim in a somewhat sacrilegious nod to his football team of choice, the Oakland Raiders.

We were up bright and early this morning as Moises, our window washer was coming at 7:30. Since there was still frost on the roof when he arrived, we assumed he would choose to begin inside! It wasn't much warmer inside since we discovered that John had forgotten to turn the heat on when he got up. . 

We left Moises working outside when we took Spike to the 'ball field' with his squeaky ball, and on to the grocery store with a very tired dog, content to nap in the back of the car while we spent a record amount of money inside. It used to be that meat was the most expensive item on the grocery list, but we don't eat a lot of it, and other things, like cheese and fish are more pricey now. I have read that the aspiring dictator was elected not because of abortion, the environment, the Democrats or immigration, but because of the economy, and despite the fact that it is improving by some metrics, many people don't feel better off and think he will make it better. That doesn't seem to be his agenda and it doesn't seem to me that it will take long for people to realize that the only people who are likely to benefit are the super wealthy.

I hope I'm wrong. 

I added a few little touches to the holiday decor...a seasonal pillow on the chair on the front porch, precariously hanging our little terra cotta putti * from the light fixture above the table and putting a couple of wrapped gifts under the tree, and have now declared it finito.

*naked cherub replicas of the ones on the splendid Christmas tree in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.