Warming up for Holidays

This is going to be a short post. Most of my time this past week was spent curled up on the couch, recovering from the trip to Portland and trying to fit in some rest between coughing fits. Monday was spent doing laundry and catching up with things I missed out on during our trip. 

Tuesday we had a Madroña pop-up meeting. It was nice to see everyone again, although some people were traveling. We had their El Tinto Lot 46, one of our favorites.

I did a little online shopping, choosing a doll for our honorary granddaughter, Elsie. I was able to find the kind I wanted on sale, which saved enough to more than pay for the shipping directly to her aunt, who will wrap it and deliver it for me. I picked a Hannah and her dog. This doll doesn't have elbow and knee joints, so should be easier for a younger child to pose, while still a more grownup doll than last year's.

The doll needs some clothes, of course, so I put together a packet of things to put in the mail. I needed to mail some books to friends and family members, so today I'm going to the post office. I still need a box for the doll clothes. In the envelopes are eight of my books.

I wore a mask to choir Wednesday, but I couldn't really sing. I don't think I'm still contageous, but I wanted to make sure. At least I could learn the music for the upcoming Lessons and Carols. I was hoping to be able to sing by Sunday, but my cough is worse in the morning and I was still croaking, so I stayed home. At least the anthem was going to be sung in unison, so I wasn't really needed.

The boys went to the groomer on Thursday and came home looking handsome.

The socks are coming along. Just a couple of inches to finish the second one, and I can wear them.

We're losing our wonderful Medicare Advantage plan. The insurance company is pulling out of Central Oregon, although it's still available in some other parts of the state. We were very disappointed, because they were really good. Our only remaining options are original Medicare and one other insurance company. Charlie's procedure, which will take place in March, would be in Portland and out-of-network, so only 50% covered by the new company, while original Medicare would cover most of it. We don't know how much it will cost, but with two MRIs, it's likely to be fairly expensive. He has decided to stick with straight Medicare and Part D (the drug coverage), while we decided the new Advantage plan would be better for me, since I don't have anything out-of-network expected. We spent a lot of time figuring this all out, under the pressure of the deadline (for the Advantage plans), which was yesterday, but we got me signed up for new insurance. Charlie doesn't have to do anything to revert to original Medicare. 

Now I'm working on putting together Christmas presents for the grandkids and our annual holiday letter. 

I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry, BlueSky or Spoutible if you need information.

If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon or B&N and search for Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah, Classic Tales Retold, Our Favorite Verses, More Classic Tales Retold or Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.

Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Still the Front Range Socks. Getting close to finishing the second sock.

What's on my iPhone: Still listening to Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre on the AudiobooksNow app. Not much progress this week.

What's on my sewing machine: Put away.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: This week we continue our look back on Pippa's arrival. She shows up at the door in Pippa.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog, and they are reproduced in print with a few changes.

The stories in Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Talking About Boys, Changes, Shhhhh!, Staying After and Money in a Jar.

The stories in More Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Welcoming a Stranger, The Rescue, Unmasked, Fuzzy Town––A Play and Sky Blue.

Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook. Poems included are Valentine's Day, Keeping Pets, Back to School, Victor the Vulture, The Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green Greatcoat, The Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

The stories in Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Best Buds, Getting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The stories in Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Being Little, Besties, and Distraction.

If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less, only 8%, because the vendor gets a cut. My author's page at Book Baby is here. Scroll down and click on any of the books that interest you. Find my books at Barbara's Bookstore as well, or ask your local library to order the books.

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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