Hanukkah this year is very late and starts at sundown of Christmas day. It is also my mother’s yahrzeit, the anniversary of her death. We are going over the Grotzes for dinner so I couldn’t figure out how I could say Kaddish for her and light the 25-hour candle.  So, I arbitrarily decided that Channukah would instead begin at sundown on Tuesday evening the 17th and end on sundown the 18th.

That worked out for us. Then we had smoked fish from Zabars that came via FedEx – kippered salmon, sturgeon, and nova lox on everything bagels with cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, red onions, and radishes. We had it both nights, Tuesday and Wednesday.  It was great and a perfect no work supper.  We exchanged presents Wednesday afternoon. I gave Woody a cabled navy sweater and he gave me perfume from Chanel. I also gave him a huge bag of gourmet pistachio nuts from a California farm.

We sent off Melenie and Jay’s gifts vis UPS as we won’t be seeing them on the Cape this holiday season. An air fryer! Hope they like it. Woody loves ours.

Gigi and I exchanged presents Tuesday afternoon.  I gave her a museum scarf and a blue cashmere sweater. She gave me a book, a box of delicious chocolates and a gift card to Mac’s seafood. That’s the best and we’ll use it soon. The book goes onto the pile I accumulated while my eye problem kept me from being able to read. I can read now. I’ll finish the one I began when I could finally see well enough. I have about 15 pp to go, and then I’d start on the Booker prize novel she gave me.

It has been decent weatherwise this week but starting Friday and lasting through Monday and maybe into Tuesday, we are expecting very cold temperatures and maybe even a coating of snow So far, the weather people are saying it will go down to 20 here. Woody’s truck always seems to go a bit nuts when the temperature drops realty low (the electrical system; is that why they say FORD means FIX OR REPAIR DAILY?) so he’s not looking forward to it.

We are enjoying the tree very much; so far, the cats too, especially Shaman and Willow. Because he is guarding the tree, he takes off far fewer ornaments than last year. Sometimes he succumbs to one or two but not the many attacked regularly last year. Woody has finally persuaded me I’m feeding Willow too much and she has to lose some weight. A pound, probably.

Tonight, we’re giving a small party, only nine of us. Buffet style. I’m making deviled eggs, Swedish meatballs in their sauce, spanakopita, guacamole. Woody is making noodle kugel and a cheesecake both from his grandmother’s recipe. Dale is bringing a smoked turkey dish. Tasha is bring bang-bang shrimp, Karen an antipasto, and Gigi a big green salad. Could be a nice feast!