I'm a Day Off

In my head, I keep saying Christmas is Wednesday -- I have until Wednesday to be ready.  True, not true.  We do our big dinner Christmas Eve -- what was I thinking?  Now I'm in a bit of a grind.  Not worried about the food, worried about getting the wrapping done.

Kids are over today for football and I agreed to cook -- again, what was I thinking?!?

I'll have to bag out and do some wrapping while they're here.  I've got some back breaking days ahead.  I need to split the cooking and wrapping up as much as possible to help my back.  Many Christmas Eve dinners, I've been barely able to sit at the table because my back was so tired.

Anyway ...  the winery.  Fun day.  The performer was as good as last time and we had a great table.  I tried the mulled wine (perfect for a cold day outside).  We brought Duke which attracted the farm dog who ended up joining us for the day.  What a good boy -- big, unaltered and totally calm.  He had Duke settled down in a few minutes and they were buddies.  He followed us around when we walked Duke -- so cute.  He didn't even make fun of Duke's scarf LOL -- guess he's used to the preppy little dog visiter.

We met the singer's mom -- super lady.  The room was filled with a graduation party and they shared the WHITE cake with WHITE icing -- yum!  I skipped the icing because it was the fake kind, but the cake was perfect.

Hubby, Duke
and Shooter Ray

Since we were bringing Duke, I decided to take him on a trail run to get his energy mellowed.  Boy, this dog can run.  3.2 miles of GO.  Never stopped, never looked around ... just ran.  It's hard to pace him because he's faster than me.  He loved it.  I haven't been taking him in the neighborhood because he's got some bad habits of treats at certain points, marking on certain bushes, etc.  He stops and crosses my line too many times.  One of us will get hurt -- I've come close to stepping on him, tripping over him or wrenching my back stopping short.  On the trail he has none of that distraction.  It's a paved and wood-plank trail in the woods -- about 12 feet wide.  I think I'll take him occasionally.  He was exhausted in the best way last night.

All the employees at the winery were dressed for the holidays -- elf costume and the likes (Duke was scared of them).  I decided to go festive myself.  Remember the MN painter, Ashley Mary?  I have one of her paintings now.  My introduction to her was admiring some earrings -- vintage yarn made into balls.  You can never buy them online -- they sell out instantly.  Anyway, I found similar homemade ones on Etsy.  Not vintage, but fun.  I bought red to wear at Christmas and almost forgot to wear them.  I also got red readers to have for the holidays.  Here's my "look" in front of her painting.  I need to figure out a better selfie pose and FACE -- maybe that's just my face (!!)

If you look closely, you can see the earring balls.

I'll leave with a couple of random pictures of my dogs.  Did I already post the one of my son and his chihuahua?  I can't remember so here it is again.  We are on the final countdown -- be well, my friends and take care of yourself too.  Later gators.

Happy little dog.

I can't love this more.

Dreaming of Santa Paws.