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Year Four, Day 229: The Calm After Christmas

I am at the libary. I have never been so happy to be here in my life. And I have spent so many happy moments in so many libraries.

But it was closed the last two days for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Not that I would have had time to stop by either of those days.  Nope. I was knitting Christmas socks like a crazy woman, I played three church services, I made 3 dozen samosas and 3 batches of fudge.

I also made cilantro/mint/lime chutney at midnight on Christmas Eve and homemade gift bags at 1:00 in the morning.

I don't know what got into me. The only explanation I can think of was that I was home alone, unsupervised. Even Honey Dog was gone.  They were all staying with my son-in-law's sister for a big celebration.

It is all a blur. I feel like I have been run over by a semi truck.  I took two days off from my intermittent fasting. I ate a lot of meat and sugar.

I am in serious pain.

But I am happy. I am back to a good regular routine.  I made a lovely migas fritatta with spinach, tomatoes and parsley for breakfast. And a big cup of tea with ginger and lemon. Then I scrubbed the kitchen, including the stove.  And I packed my bag and headed out into the beautiful, cold December 26th day.

There is nothing really hanging over my head.  I don't have students for 2 weeks.  I just have my regular Sunday church service. And I plan on going to the gym every day while I cleanse my system of all the rich foods I ingested in the past few days.

I really overdid it at my brother's house. But I gave myself permission. And although, I am hurting today, I do not regret it.

You see, my brother makes the finest prime rib known to mankind. Or at least to our family. He also makes homemade horseradish. And yesterday he slow cooked oxtails for the au jus.

The only thing missing was my son.  But we talked to him several times on the phone. He will be leaving his intake facility in a few weeks. He was in good spirits on the phone. The female inmates cooked a turkey dinner for male intake inmates. He said it was really good.

"Much better than Inverness", he said.  I told him it was probably because the female inmates cared about their work. And they had to eat the food too, as my son's fiance wisely pointed out.

I'm just glad he got a good meal. Last year, at Thanksgiving, apparently they were each given a piece of dry bologna, stale white bread and some kind of canned fruit.

Gag.

I got to see my grandbaby before I went to dinner at my brother's house. He is so healthy, and calm!  He had his eyes open quite a bit, and even smiled at me. I made him a little hat. It is slightly big on him, but better than too small (like the last one!)

Baby AJ and me - Zma!

Baby AJ's hat


Prayer Socks. I forgot to take pictures of the Christmas socks since I was in a mad rush! These are some I knitted a few months ago. I don't even remember who I gave the to!
Overall, Christmas was very rewarding. Mostly because of time with family.  I probably didn't need to do all that manic knitting, and making gift bags after midnight. Who do I think I am, Martha Stewart?

But since I am financially deficient, this year more than ever, I feel good about my effort. My family members liked their socks. My niece and sister-in-law were wearing them when we left.

Alas, I did not finish my mom and dad's socks. I couldn't get myself to stay awake past 1 a.m. since I had to get up early and play a Christmas day service!

So I will be doing some furious knitting tonight so I can give them to my mom at our weekly breakfast tomorrow.

But first, to the gym and more importantly, to the jacuzzi!

Happy Thursday!

I hope you are enjoying the calm after Christmas!

Love,

Zita

P.S. I didn't wake up early enough to hoop today. But there is always tomorrow!

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