It is too cold too even think of pondering on the porch. I’m really missing the library fireplace in our home in Alex City. Chief and I spent many happy hours reading before a crackling fire.

I could turn on the gas logs here in the living room but then I’d have to sell my soul to pay the gas bill!

Only reason I like cold weather is that it might snow! I’ll stay up all night waiting for the first flake. Last year there was a 4 percent chance of snow flurries once and I stayed awake watching but nothing happened. So disappointing! When I was the library aide at an elementary school in Alexander City, they used to joke about me — “Don’t tell Lane it might snow! She’ll stare out the window all day!”

Today I’m in the lady den sitting in my easy chair, comfy in my feeted pjs, listening to Christmas music. Don’t knock adult feeted pjs till you’ve worn them! Darlings, they are just a housecoat with feet. I wear them over my clothes. I love them! I probably embarrass my children wearing them but I’m past the age of caring! One thing, though, be careful when you pull your arms out to use the bathroom or you’ll drop a sleeve in the commode! Been there, done that!

Declared today a no chore day so I’m relaxing and pondering what to write.

Penelope is snoring in my lap. She is home from vet brother’s boarding, jealously smelling doggy funk from my son Thomas’ dog, Magnolia. I know she must wonder why when she’s gone another creature is roaming her territory. But she takes it stride. She would have loved licking all the little McMurray faces and slurping up the crumbs on the floor during our family Christmas party. Plus all the times the door opened she’d have to choose between barking or escaping. Would have been exhausting!

Heard a fruit jar roll around in the sink last night and I instantly had a flashback to “jar head” cat. We had a little cat get his head caught in a pint jar. Woke up one night and heard something making noise outside the window on the porch. Sounded like a fruit jar rolling around on the cement porch, but it was a quiet, hot night with no wind.

As I pushed the cover back to get up and look out the window the noise stopped so I just went back to sleep. I heard the noise several more nights but never could decide what it was. Then I came home from work one day and saw a little cat scurry away with his head caught in a pint canning jar.

Don’t know how he drew a breath, or how he was able to run around with his head in the jar, or why he didn’t starve. Took me and Stew almost a week to catch him. I caught him by putting a laundry basket on top of him. Stew wrapped the cat in a towel and we tried to pull his head out. Would not budge!

Then I decided to try to break the jar off by whacking it gently with a hammer. Bad idea…the jar broke in two clean pieces but “jar head” cat was now “glass collar” cat. It scampered off so happy but now we had to catch it again.

The glass break was clean, no pointed sword edges to cut any of his friends. So several days passed and we clothes basketed and toweled him up again. Small tap with the hammer and now he was “regular” cat.

I hope y’all are careful to cut up the plastic circles that hold drinks together. I’ve seen some pitiful animals who’ve managed to get one of those circles around their neck. That would be an awful way to leave this earth.

Winter Cast just showed up on my phone — Snowfall, Friday 1 AM — 3 AM! If you see a flake let me know. You know I’ll be up watching!

Stay warm!