In other news, I have achieved tree: [link]

Tomorrow I will string lights and decorate, perhaps...

Nice tree!

I have achieved hot buttered rum. Turns out I've been making it wrong for years - it has always been fine (warm, cinnamon, hard to go wrong) but has always felt thin to me no matter the ratio or butter to rum, so it was a last-ditch warm cocktail option (when too lazy to make decent tea for toddying).

Turns out my problem was all in the rum. Golden rum (my preferred for most things, though rum isn't ever really my favorite) just doesn't work as well as a true dark rum when hotted and buttered. Gosling upped the ante significantly and this could now truly be my winter drink.

Seems to me I heard about something like that a few years ago.

ah! Ok ... I'm still confused and surprised. Maybe it's the hot toddy and the last of this cold.

Dark rum is love.

I just remembered (unfortunately) that drinking more than a single shot of rum (dark or otherwise) gives me a weird, fuzzy sort of headache less than an hour after drinking it. One of the cheap Trader Joe's beers (I think the Nametag Lager?) does exactly the same thing. One of the many mysteries of booze, I guess. But I must try to remember that on later winter nights.

I just made 3 batches of cookies, almost 3 doz each. I had most of one trial run left over. I have A LOT of cookies in my fridge. 2 batches are for the swap, one I made specially for the Y people and neighbors and neighbors will also benefit from the swap haul. It's kind of insane. I had to run to the store for more sugar.

I also managed market, a run to Target and a desperately needed pedicure. And more cookie-making booze, since I'd already run through most of a 750 mL on trials.

...I might have a cookie-making problem. Or not, since it is only a couple weeks a year that I bake like a demon and then get all burnt out until I realize it is almost the end of oven season and make a lot of banana breads and crisps from the fruit I'd frozen the summer before.

Tomorrow is a TJs run (though I have no idea where I'll put my food. These cookies store best chilled. There is no more room in the fridge!) and another load of laundry, some online shopping, swim and then swap.

I'm going to have to grocery shop soon because I do not have as much cream cheese as I thought I did. Oops. I think that's all I need though. Maybe I can get that from Port of Call and not have to drive...

I think I have decided not to prune the grapevine this year. I know you were all wondering. I can change my mind in the spring, once I can see where and how much new growth there is, or so the internet assures me. Tomorrow I will check on the oranges.

Wait, does this mean no new prom picture, Jesse?

Nope, no pictures for me. Although they did let a bunch of people take pictures with them. Mostly him, but also the ladies.

It is snowy out! And not at all plowed, at least in the direction we were going. Big props to my mom for the ride home.

Y'all have totally talked me into a hot toddy, so, thanks.

I need some help with books for my friend's kids. For a 16 yr old boy, I'm thinking The Book Thief or The Maze Runner. For the almost 9 yr old girl I was wondering about 100 Cupboards and possibly A Wrinkle In Time. The 5 yr old is getting Flawed Dogs. Thoughts? Suggestions?