My aunt and uncle are on the train heading in our direction. ETA: sometime late tonight or tomorrow morning. If it looks like it’s going to be too late, they’ll stay in a hotel. Mom’s due in on Thursday.

The knitting is limping along. No pics, sorry. I cast on (so far) six times for the smoke ring for Mom. The yarn’s slickery. I solved the problem by knitting two rows before joining into a ring or starting the pattern stitch. I’m now on row five. Keep your fingers crossed.

The secret project progressed quite a bit yesterday morning while I was sitting in for Dave and the senior center, but nothing since then. Did manage to buy a thing or two for him, though, so at least he has something to open. Or will. As soon as I wrap it.

Haven’t hidden those two ends on the scarf for my aunt yet. Must do that and wrap it this afternoon.

We’re cleaning like a couple of crazed people.

The guest bathrooms are done. The guest beds have clean sheets. I won’t even list the things that aren’t done yet.

What won’t get finished? The vacuuming. Both, yes, we have two, and both of the vacuums are now dead. Won’t get repaired before Christmas. At least Dave got most of the upstairs done before they gave out, but the bedroom floors and hallways down here are unvacuumed. Good thing it’s just family coming, and we’re not trying to impress anyone. I can just hear my mother, though. Gads. Oh well.

Dusting calls. That doesn’t take a machine, so I’ll be able to do that, anyway.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to post at all once everyone arrives for the holiday. If I don’t get the chance, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas, happy Chanukah, or whatever it is that you celebrate.

I leave you with this photo of the mountains, once again visible and covered with snow. I took this shot this morning. Good thing, too. Can’t see ‘em now.