Whenever I start dreaming of cats and kittens, things go astray. Especially if I dream about unfamiliar cats and kittens. Or having a cellar full of cats that I can’t sort out from my own. The last time I had a rash of these dreams, my colon blew up and I wound up with a colostomy (concurrent with a hysterectomy) and all the joy that goes with that. The dreams have started up again, but aren’t quite as frantic as that spell back in 2007. Colon version 2.0 is cruising along fine, so I hope there isn’t another system ready to fail. I’m, quite frankly, running out of spare parts.

During my Christmas break, I did a lot of relaxing, but also tackled some long lingering pits of disorganization. Like my sock drawer. For about eight bucks, I bought this drawer-size organizational storage grid. This, plus about 15 minutes of effort, cured the jumbled sock drawer problem. My soul is now at peace.

For Christmas, I asked Santa (okay, my parents) for some Smart Wool socks and was happy to find a couple pair under the tree. It sounds extreme to say that these socks have changed my life, but they sort of have. They are colorful, warm, soft, and tough. (Like me? Maybe. Except that I’m more beige than colorful. See sock drawer above as evidence.) They’re also ungodly expensive, but oh so worth it. I used some of my Christmas money to buy two more pairs, and then my sister gave me a pair for my birthday. So now I’m awash in Smart Wool. No complaints there.

This week, my cousin sent me a pair of Darn Tough socks and they are oh so impressive. Warm, soft, darn tough, and made in Vermont. Sock heaven. I had a rotten work day last week, but these socks pulled me back from brink. That’s some powerful socks.

I used a handful of LL Bean gift certificates yesterday to order an “on sale” cabled hoodie sweater and..of course…socks. They’ll be here sometime this week.

I’m addicted. I’m a snob. Cotton socks…thy days are numbered.

We had lunch at 99 with Ed & Jeanette (joint birthday bash), where I had my favorite Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad and a cuppa chowder. The candied walnuts on the salad are the best part and I save them up for the last few bites like a happy little squirrel.

After lunch, cake back here. For an $0.89 mix, it was awesome. Moist, light, and chocolatey. We were looking at bakery cakes while we grocery shopped last night but I couldn’t bring myself to pay $10-$15 for cake. So we bought a mix and frosting, and after adding water, oil, and eggs, and a little bit of time…CAKE. And more importantly…CHEAP cake. DELICIOUS cheap cake.

This afternoon we walked the boys in Herthum. Haven’t been around our usual loop in weeks because of the never-ending chill. But there was sun today, and I think we hit the 30’s, so not too bad. Boo and Scout fought it a bit at the get-go, but once we got going they trotted along.

After the walk, I got my notes together for a church meeting tomorrow, and then got my work lists and iCal updated and printed for the week. I created a DINNER calendar in iCal so that I can do a better job of getting dinners mapped out for the next week.

Then— hot tub, hot chocolate, and a batch of molasses cookie dough (needs to chill so I’ll bake tomorrow).

I still want to read, and there are a few minutes left before the clock strikes midnight and Saturday is gone. Gone! Another Saturday gone.

Gonna go grab those minutes.

Did I mention that I made applesauce? No? Well, I did. Turns out it’s very relaxing. Just a lot of loitering and stirring while the apples mushify.

Now I’m baking molasses cookies and the house smells like Christmas.

Again, more loitering while the cookies bake.

I could get used to this.

Watch out, though…I started reading his reviews and found myself sucked into the pen heaven that is Jet Pens. (www.jetpens.com) Multi-pens are my weakness. Oh hell, any smooth writing pen is my weakness.

There I said it. I’m Mary, and I’m a pen addict. And I don’t want help.

You have no idea how much this helps.

We finally made it to Green Lakes State Park yesterday afternoon, after a day of almost solid rain on Friday (our day off). The water is incredibly clear and green for a lake in central New York. We had lunch at the little cafe at the park’s golf course…BLT for me, burger for Fred. The boys enjoyed the walk, too, though Boo kept eating pine needles. Weird dog.

Here’s some info on the lake:
The centerpieces of the park are the two glacial “green” lakes. Why are they green? The answer is complicated. For one, the lakes are deep. Round Lake is measured at 180 ft deep, while Green Lake reaches 195 ft. Deep lakes tend to appear bluish because the wavelengths of light that can penetrate (and be dispersed at) great depths are those closer to the blue end of the spectrum.

Because of their depth and the high salinity of the basin waters, the lakes are meromictic and do not turn over and intermix waters like many other lakes in this region do. The Green Lake’s cold and dense bottom waters tend to stay separate from the shallower, warmer waters. Because of this, sediment sinks and collects in the bottom and virtually doesn’t decay. Since the sediment is not kicked up by mixing, the lakes do not take on a muddy, turbid appearance like other lakes do. Meromictic lakes also have still, mirror-like waters. The Green Lakes are no exception here. Their tranquil, reflective waters make for great photography.

After accidentally pouring iced tea on my Frosted Shredded Wheat, I KNEW that I really did need a day off. I spent the morning at home…marinated a steak for dinner, made molasses cookie dough to bake tomorrow evening, ironed tomorrow’s work clothes, and updated my to-do list template for tomorrow.

Had lunch with the folks at Nola’s (very good chicken sandwich!), then visited our newly chosen graves (do we know how to have fun, or what?), handled some banking paperwork, and finally settled on their patio. Last time I was over, the chipmunks were running amok. Today, not so much. Probably because I was trying to take pictures. This little guy stuffed at least three whole peanuts (shell and all) in his cheeks, then scampered off under the air conditioning unit. On his last trip, a bird dive-bombed him. He shrieked, jumped, and never returned. I think he had to change his pants.

Gotta walk. Be back asap. (Translation: Before fall)