We’ve been giving the cats too many treats.  It’s no problem for Schwartzie, who never gains weight no matter how much he eats.  I envy his metabolism.  But Willow has gained a little weight and has to go to the vet in three weeks for her annual checkup.  And Shaman, who is very active, has still gotten chunky.  We have to cut back on treats.  They ask for them constantly, and we have been lax.  They beg, they sulk, they look into our eyes and ask, Don’t you love me any longer? Woody thinks they’re hungry.  I know better.  But we both give way far too often for their own good.

It is still raining often and a lot.  Not like California, of course.  Just plain ordinary rain with occasional little bursts of sleet.   Still no snow.  Neither Woody or I mind that at all. I ’m still writing haikus, but did write a couple of regular poems this week.  I am making steady progress on my new book, THE HOUR OF MY DEATH. 

I’m still moving clothes around.  The weather has been so mild that I haven’t put all my lighter clothes away in the hall closet.  I finally have my sweaters out, but I’ve had to discard many of them because the moths ate them almost to shreds.  At least are unwearable and have to go out. In the after-Xmas sales, I bought two new ones and Woody gave me two and Melenie gave me one, so I am not without sweaters.  The violet sweater Woody gave me at Chanukah is my favorite.  I’ve worn it so much, I had to wash it yesterday. 

I am just starting a nonfiction book about the Vikings, CHILDREN OF ASH AND ELM  after finishing a novel called V. by Anna Solomon. Tonight, we’re going to Brewster to have dinner with friends at their house.

The seeds are arriving every other day.  I log them in on Mondays with Dale and sort them into four groups: the plants I start inside and move to the greenhouse; the seeds we can put directly in the ground when it thaws; the tender plants that can go into the ground when we’re past the frost free date and the earth is warm enough; and those that are for succession planting in late summer or early fall.

When all the seeds have come. I ‘ll make schedule of seed starting and put them in each week’s envelope.  I start seeds in the storeroom.  There is a long sink there left from my second husband Robert, who was an avid photographer and used to develop his own photos as did I in those long ago days before phones replaced cameras. It works well for seed starting. tte tender plant seedss go on heating mats farther along the sink where we have boards laid over it.

I love scallops.  They are one of my favorite seafoods along with oysters.  I like clams, but not as much.  I can’t eat mussels.  I used to be able to and enjoyed them, but now they upset my digestive system. I like fish more than Woody does, but I’ve found ways to make flounder, cod and salmon so he will eat them.  I’m taping the playoff game tonight while we’re out so we can watch it tomorrow.