My dotter took this photo -- her backyard Monday. We don't have this much snow, but winter is definitely here. What to do on a day when the temp is 14 and the wind is gusting up to 50 mph? Clean your house and give yourself a facial. 
This year we were going to have a slightly altered yet traditional turkey dinner: turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. The thing was frozen solid when I bought it, so I followed the directions and let it unfreeze in the fridge for 48 hours. Yesterday, I took it out of the plastic wrap and OMG it was the skankiest looking thing; definitely NOT edible! So, I poked around in the freezer and found these Gorton's fish filets (delish, btw). I also bought pecan tarts and Redi Whip (made with REAL cream!). We shook up the can as directed and pushed on the little white apparatus and out dribbled white stuff. YUK! Next year, I'm making cheeseburgers.
Bhu was happy to have us home. He got lots of pets and generally hung out at his food bowl, hoping a stray biped would treat him up with Temptations. I missed the Macy's parade and tuned in just in time to see the Pomeranian in the dog show. Later in the evening, my dotter called to say she and her friend Amery were on the Parkway driving to Atlantic City for Black Friday. They were going to stay in a hotel and get up at 4 a.m. to be first in line at the Coach outlet. I realize this is the NEW Thanksgiving Holiday, when we are thankful for the discounts. Retailers jerk our chains. I will tell you, though, if a local grocer decided to give 50% discounts on Black Diamond Cheddar starting at 4 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, I might be there! 
Tomatoes still grow in the garden!
Roses bloom as if it was May!
Black Eyed Susan has n't a care in the world! There is also a huge clematis and a few malva blooms. Long ago I built a cold frame; so clever, I was going to have fresh arugula for a holiday salad. Looks like we don't need cold frames here now! I wanted to tell you I got a flu shot the other day and as I was walking out of the building, there was a car parked in front that had written on it "We Love You Aunt Patti!" Wow! Was that for me? Bhu don't care. He sleeps. I can't even find his head to give him a pet! zzzzzzz
Something about the winter light in the house . . . the morning sun pouring in . . . Bhu settling down for a little nap next to the 'puter station. Lovely, sweet moments of life.
Sweet Gum Tree has lost most of its leaves and will be naked to the winter winds! Bhu is shedding, too. Are we ready for winter? NO! Papa has a chest cold and he is coughing and hacking and convalescing while reading "The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World." I made a big pot of Hot & Sour soup and it seemed to help a bit. 
They told us we wouldn't have a colorful Fall because we had such a cool, rainy summer. EHHH! WRONG! Sweet Gum Tree tells no lies (seefururself). 
"Me no care about ur report, which IS A DAY LATE AGAIN!" Sorry, Bhu. There is a new rub. "Belleh rub?" No, a new option I should say. "What's dat?" They are trying to get me to stay and work part-time and now I don't know what to do but I have to decide by Monday. So, we are taking a break from the Countdown to Retirement. "U iz so noo-rah-tik! Eithur U wantz to stay home with me or not. Simple choice." Well, I would be able to stay home with you more and sometimes even work in my jammies. See, they will give me more green papers to buy your Fancy Feast and Temptations! "Hmmmmmm. K. Maybe u better think about it morez."
"U did it again! Ur report for Day Four is one day late!" I know, I'm sorry Bhu. I had a rough day and a worse night. "Too much sinuses?" Yep. "Do U has pig flu?" Hope not! "So what about the countdown?"
"U missed yesterday." I did, Bhu. I mean, not missed it altogether but wasn't able to file a report about Day Five: Countdown to Retire- ment. "U makes it sound so exciting." Well, I thought you might need some help doing "house security" all day, so I would retire from my job at the University. "Me no needz halp furrum you." But wouldn't it be fun to be together all day? I would be able to give you Fancy Feast whenever you got a little hunger pang. "Furrrget it! U makez too much noise, always singin' and dancin' around. Plus sometimes U bringz out the VAKYOOM machine!" Well, if I can't stay here with you, where will I go? "Back to workz! House security is MAI job, not yours." Hmmmmmmm.
Only an hour and 30 minutes to go on Day Six: Countdown to Retirement! Last night I worried about if I was doing the "right" thing and, of course, I NEVER do the right thing, so what's the diff? But I thought [out loud, by the way] "If I go to work on the 28th, nothing good will happen to me. If I don't go to work on the 28th, something good might happen." It's the old bird-in-the-hand dilemma. 
"How U like mai license plate?" Very distinguished! Actually, I found this cute depiction of Bhu somewhere in the Cat Blogosophere, but I can't remember where. If you know who is responsible, leave a comment with the blog addy so we can all enjoy it. 
