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 "12-12-12"

 NOT MUCH OF A CHANCE, Reader Dear, that you'll ever again be jotting down this kind of threesome to represent the date.  Even if the Mayans were just snickering up their sleeves, "01-01-01" is a long way off!

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SO THEN, AS THOUGH the celebrity visit and the new phone were not enough enhancement, yesterday's evening hours elevated the day to a shining highlight (of my week, and quite possibly, Reader Dear, of an even lengthier period of time--stretching backward, say, to Thanksgiving Day).  The Little Actor extended his stay with the yard man and me and thus he got to be part of this peak.
(At this point, Dear Reader, I am wringing my hands and biting my lip.  I fear I can't adequately describe the food and the felicity with words, and I'VE GOT NO PHOTOS!)

My yard man and I strapped the Little Actor into his car seat and went off to enjoy an evening with the parents of friends, as well as those very dear friends themselves, whose parents (and in-laws) so kindly issued the dinner invitation.  By the time we were strapping that tot back into his car seat, I was sated with feelings of fullness, and, alas, Reader Dear, all I can give you is a mere run-down of the food we ate:*
Roasted turkey and filling casserole with gravy
Homegrown corn
Homegrown green beans
Homemade applesauce
A fabulous salad of  nappa cabbage and chopped apples and grated cheese and roasted pecans and...and...and...ah, I'm swooning
Homemade bread
Home-canned, homegrown peaches
Chocolate Icebox cake
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 *The fullness of gaining new folks to call friends, the camaraderie with those friends, the Christmas carolers suddenly singing in the night, the marble roller...oh, I'm simply not up to the task of elaboration, Dear Reader, dear.**
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**( I've got to say more about that Chocolate Icebox cake, however! And that salad! Stay tuned!)

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TO THE MALL I WENT.  Those were the instructions from the guy at Best Buy, after I'd purchased a replacement phone.  "Your best bet is to go to the T-Mobile kiosk at the mall," he'd said.  "They can easily replace your sim card and you'll be all set."  Though I didn't relish the thought of trotting around the mall on a Saturday in December, it proved to be an acceptable experience

In fact, there are certain benefits to be had by visiting the mall during the run-up to Christmas---free chocolate truffles were handed to me (Compliments of Harry & David [One truffle already consumed at the time of this photo, Viewer Dear!])

And the J.C. Penney store gave me lots of free buttons! (I planned  my route to take me through the Penney's store at the earnest exhortation of the Best Buy guy--"You haven't heard about Penney's buttons?!  I won $275!  Oh, you've got to go to the Penney's store and get buttons!!"

Well, then I got home just in time for a visit from the Little Actor.  And he had a present for me, as well!





Of course, the polite thing to do when presented with homemade goodies is to open right away (as suggested by the giver) and everyone have a taste!

Red and green is for Christmas!  And it's that time of year, Reader Dear!!











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PLEASE, READER DEAR, FOLLOW THE ASTERISK here before you prop your head on your hand and shake it in a "she's a hopeless mess" sort of way.

This afternoon I was running around--post office, grocery store, bank, drugstore.  I even spent a little time roaming a store that features some of  this and a lot of that and an abundance of other things--early Christmas shopping was what I attempted.  I was rather pleased with myself, too, though I'd have been an even happier errand-runner had I not had to fritter away so much time at the bank (At the drive-thru the wait seemed long. I snorted in disgust and pulled out of line, parked, entered the bank.  My goodness!  By the length of the lines inside,you'd have thought they were selling Cabbage Patch Dolls (Ah, Reader Dear, I'm jumping far out of the line-up of history, I must confess. It was an ancient time when I queued up to purchase two of these dolls!)  Well, so then I spun on my heel, exited the bank, got back in the car and returned to the drive-thru.  I heaved a big sigh and waited.

And then.  It was after I'd schlepped all my purchases into the house--I discovered I'd lost my cell phone!
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 (Yes, Reader Dear, I called the bank.  I even called the stores.  And of course I tried calling myself.  They say silence is golden, but that's downright false when one's ears are straining to hear a marvelous T-Mobile sonata!)  I challenge you, Dear Reader Dear, to tell me I must drop the word AAARRRRGHHH from my lexicon!
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TA-DA!  THE UNVEILING of the pottery! While I knew that whatever went into that kiln must come out, I wasn't sure when it was scheduled to happen.  Janie called me at noon.  Turns out it was today!  The roof was to be raised at one p.m.   
 

Reader Dear, once again my To-Do's went flying out the window!  Undoubtedly, I assured myself, opening the kiln would be more fun than loading (no wadding!), and today was not nearly so cold as Saturday.  I picked up Janie and we hurried off, got to the site in time to see Phil crank up the roof and  unveil the treasures within!

We formed a brigade and eagerly set about emptying the kiln.

 Unfortunately, there were a number of Siamese twins, even a set of triplets attached to one another.
I suppose, Dear Reader, it's a hazard of the trade (Though no one spoke of it, and eyes were averted when we came across these ruinous misfortunes).

There were some other casualties, as well, related to the temperature of the fire; but, being the novice that I am, that was all a mystery to me.         
Phil threw himself into the job of divesting the kiln of its treasures, and in less than an hour we had all the pottery creations out of the kiln and were working on scraping clean the shelves.







(Yes, Dear Reader, I discovered there was some down and dirty work involved, even in this emptying process. Ah, I should have known it wouldn't be as simple as oohing and ahhing and putting the pieces on display!)  It didn't take very long.








And then it was just a matter of packaging up our newly-fired creations and carrying them home.*

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*Arrgh, likely the easiest and most basic part of the job, and I blush to tell you, Reader Dear, here's where I failed.**
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**More than half-way home I wailed to myself, "What about my pot with the handles made out of balls of clay?!!  I'm sure that piece made it into the kiln!  I'm sure I saw it come out!" ***
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***What was most certain--
I'd forgotten it! Left one of my creations behind!****









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****Dear Viewer, you'll see this piece once I see it again myself
OR:  To be continued...

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