The touchpad on Ron’s iPhone stopped working after its last system update.

I’ve researched and tried numerous times – too many times – to get it working again.

Meanwhile, I’ve created a 2026 database for MRS and have the calendar working for both the school and the BRC.

Did laundry, changed sheets. Fixed the hasp on Ron’s “little room” door.

After some hunting around, I was able to read the Vanity Fair interview with Susie Wiles Trump’s Chief of Staff. The melodramatic reactions on both sides are overblown in my opinion.

Jett and I went to the library to drop off a book and pick one up. I brought home a kit of electrical engineering projects.

We went to Stop & Shop as well.

Gorgeous sunset.

Rain melted the rest of the snow on the deck. It was 54 or so this morning but plummeting fast.

We got a break from the rain around 3. Ron used the time to exercise Jett. I installed the web of lights on the front bushes and cleaned up Jett’s trumps in the back and side yards. Grateful that we beat the rain/snow mix which is happening now.

Earlier I made a chickpea/potato/kale stew with ras el hanout, garlic and soy sauce. Turned out well. I also made chocolate pudding.

…but I did run off the holiday card address labels. They weren’t perfect but good enough to use. Ron and I got 24 signed and stamped. We actually had enough stamps…

Also got tasks done for MRS. Loaded two more modules on their IIS server.

Yesterday I brought home groceries from the Food Pantry and the Food Project. Made a fine stir fry today from that bounty.

Also brought home two bags of pet-safe ice melt. Ron put them in a barrel; we spread a few handfuls on the deck.

Ron broke a Pyrex container with beautiful cut fruit from Williams College. There was no reason for this nor for his nerve in dictating how I should clean it up!

Good report today from my dermatologist. She doesn’t need to see me for two years.

In addition to being free of skin cancer, I am minus two unwanted skin tags.

We stopped at an art store in Bennington to see if they have material to fix a damaged picture frame but they weren’t able to help.

I’d wanted to give Jett a bath at Tractor Supply but Ron wasn’t up to it. He had plans to do errands when we got back.

We did stop at a couple of places to look at Christmas trees but too expensive.

I cleaned up trumps and played with Jett for a good while this afternoon.

Maybe it was the long sleep last night, but I got outside today. It was cold, 20 degrees. Slight wind in the afternoon made it seem colder.

Played 30 fetches with Jett, twice.

Made stir-fried vegetables with eggs for lunch.

Tried clearing the upstairs bathroom sink, again.

We did laundry.

Glad we have only ten days until Christmas.

The surgery went well and Peter has done a great job organizing for his long recupe.

I did nothing today besides make the bed and fail to print out holiday card labels.

I’ve love a Christmas tree but with Jett curious about everything, it would be nerve-wracking to put one up.

We talked about harvesting our conifers for indoor decorations; retail is so expensive.

Cancelled Jett’s grooming appointment. Turns out I have to go to Bennington that day for my annual with the dermatologist.

No interest in group activities of any kind.

Ron’s missing boots were perched on the toolbox in the kitchen.

His lost hat was hanging with his winter coat in the downstairs bathroom.

I installed a new furnace filter. It’s supposed to be good for three months.

Got more info from Peter about his surgery tomorrow.

We made the trip to Pittsfield for a new hearing aid demo. We were late getting started. We hit flurries on the way down.

Fortunately his audiologist had a cancellation, so she was able to see him.

He’s been wearing Oticons and likes them. It has a pretty nice app which is on my phone (he forgot that he brought his).

On the way back, we stopped for greens and soup at Red Jacket Farm. Their store is very nice, upscale country style, and the soup was superb: squash and red pepper.

I bought cinnamon buns at Great Falls – very expensive, won’t do that again. Also some so-so pastries at Wild Soul River. Won’t do that again, either.

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.