It was bitter cold yesterday. We are just recovering from whatever bug hit us a couple of weeks ago and letting Jett in and out all day, keeping him company because otherwise he won’t take care of his excretory needs, wore us out.

Plus, we’ve had a slew of big bills this month and last: heating oil, first installment of homeowners insurance, excise tax, property taxes, water and sewer. It’s been brutal and we’ve stayed away from unnecessary spending.

So, we blew off the Williamstown Christmas frolic this year. No raffle, no soup contest, no dog parade, no Las Posadas, no nothing.

We were turned down for heating assistance. I spoke with someone at the Salvation Army yesterday, hoping for an appointment soon to apply for their Good Neighbors Fund.

I did stop by the Senior Art Show very briefly and watched the annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at Williams College on WilliNet and YouTube. We might do the Clark tomorrow since it’s free and maybe the Mummers Ball hosted by Wild Soul River, also free.

Ron misplaced his glasses. We looked all over for them, found them hanging from the upstairs bathroom shower.

Ron had done a lot of shoveling earlier this week and today I took a little more snow off the deck.

Great snowball and snowman snow. Jett loved eating it and trying to catch snowballs.

Ron went out this morning for cookies at Job Lot and water filters at Aubuchon. Said the roads were terrible. He stayed behind a couple of plows there and back.

Very little wind and that was a relief: no outage. We were able to cook, do laundry and watch TV.

I made a vegetarian trainwreck on two sheet pans: seasoned tofu, delicata squash, carrots, onions, potato. A bonus: found Jett’s original fetch ball in the oven drawer!

Changed the sheets.

Added a couple of apps to my cellphone.

Had to reload the brother printer. The drivers may have been corrupted.

At my request, Bennett sent samples of their writing. I think they have the knack for short stories.

Ron is worried about driving in the storm that’s supposed to start on Tuesday morning. It was only raining this afternoon, so I got tired of listening to him fuss about it and did the North Adams errands myself.

We’re down to a couple of days worth of Life’s Abundance so I started looking for retail options. Found one, Diamonds Natural, at Tractor Supply.

Turns out Tractor Supply has an unbelievable variety of dog foods and toys, including the chewy fetch balls that Jett loves.

Picked up a small bag of Diamonds Natural and since I was in the neighborhood, stopped at Walmart for a couple of groceries which I’ve forgotten more than once, fresh and frozen onions in particular.

Checked out the furnace filter the other day and wacked my head pretty good on the return duct. Aubuchon/Ace didn’t have the right size. Couldn’t believe that I forgot to look for them while I was at Walmart so ordered them to be delivered later this week.

Mixed the Diamonds Natural with Jett’s old food this evening. He seems to like it.

We watched football again today. No cooking, still working through leftovers. Want to make a soup recipe Peter sent. Bought baguettes to go with, now they are missing. Hmm.

Ron has been fussing like an old person about three to five inches of snow. If we get an inch, I’ll be moderately surprised.

Ron’s out and about. He did some errands, forgot his Neufchatel, so is out again.

Earlier today, I emptied the wastebaskets and loaded the truck. Jett and I brought trash and recyclables to the transfer station then went to the post office to mail a letter Ron had left on the tonneau cover.

Vacuumed the stairs.

Ron and Jett played fetch this evening as the snow started to wind down. It was dark and cold!

I’d made a stovetop casserole yesterday with soy curls and rice. Added cheese and mushroom gravy and it was quite good.

Today I made a “three sisters” stovetop dish with chickpeas, coconut milk, corn and pumpkin seasoned with ginger, garam masala, cumin and turmeric with brown rice and asparagus.

Also made the traditional green bean with fried onions casserole. Served it with cranberry sauce and garlic sticks for a pretty complete Thanksgiving spread. Chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert.

Leftovers tomorrow.

We watched two football games in between food prep and taking care of Jett.

I had a conversation about renewal with our homeowners insurance company. Decided to keep the coverages as they are. The savings for changes in deductibles, for example, are trivial whereas the impact would be substantial.

I wanted a copy of the revised billing schedule, may try again tomorrow.

Went over finances to be sure we can pay the 25% of annual premium due on the first.

Looked through recipes and made a shopping list but neither of us is particularly keen on going out. I’m barely feeling better and Ron is not especially energetic either.

Ron made scrambled eggs and toast for supper.

Ron took Jett out in a light rain, after dark. I vacuumed the living room rug and changed the sheets. That’s it. Seems like we let the day get away from us.

Gorgeous skies today, bright blue and grey/white clouds. Not too cold, high thirties/low forties.

Ron is on his way back from his follow-on hearing appointment in Pittsfield. I couldn’t figure out how to get Google Maps synched with his phone; very annoying and as a result, he got lost on this way there but I think is taking the pretty way home.

Driving myself nuts looking for envelopes. Finally remembered where I stored them with a bunch of kitchen clutter, in the sunroom behind a chair.

Got interested in a Christian-inspired Netflix video based on the Book of Hosea. I was quite taken with the (English) actor who played the hero: what a doll! Like my Ron was back in the day.

Feeling much better. Still oozing phlegm but can breathe more or less through my nose and cough without causing spasms.

Made breakfast for us at 5:30. Went back to bed, got up at 9. Jett kept us company.

We use about 500 gallons of oil per year. It’s come way down over the last two years, from $4.10 in October 2023 to $3.25/gallon last month. If that’s due to Trump, then thank you, Trump.

It’s cloudy and in the forties today. There are craft and food events but no wish to attend or for that matter to stand out with the North Adams anti-fascists. I’m symptomatic and thus contagious.

I tried thanking the members of Congress who publicly confirmed that members of our armed forces have the right to refuse illegal orders. Unfortunately, only three of the six make it possible to email if you aren’t in their district.

We got a referral through ARAG. Good meeting. He doesn’t think it would be to our benefit to set up a Trust for our house but will do that for us if we wish.

I’m feeling better. Ron washed the bedding, we changed the sheets. Took a shower, washed my hair.

Ordered a Walmart delivery, no fee. Forgot cheese, remembered Milk Bones.

Jett took his monthly Sentinel.

Ron went out for wine and cheddar slices. He’s outside now in below-freezing temps getting the mail and keeping an eye on Jett.

The leukocytes were working overtime last night; it was pretty uncomfortable, liquid and heavy phlem pouring out.

Ron did runs to the food pantry, transfer station town hall and library today. The last was to return the air quality monitor which reported “Good” air wherever I tested it.

Feeling better now at 2:00. Covid test was negative.

Called Mass. Senate Ways and Means and Senator Marks to request their support of the Workplace Psychological Safety Act.