A couple of years ago I went to visit my Aunt Velma during the Christmas holidays and she had the most gorgeous Christmas cactus on her coffee table. I vowed that I too would have a Christmas cactus -- not just one I picked up in the grocery store on my way out, thrown in with the milk and eggs, wrapped in bright green foil -- but a Christmas cactus I'd nurtured all summer long from the year before, nurtured by ignoring it.

I had it on a table outside all summer and somewhere in September we had a fierce thunderstorm. A small branch fell from a tree and knocked half my Christmas cactus to the ground. That's why there's only one side to my beautiful flowering cactus, but one side is better by far than no side at all.
The Sunday before Christmas Billy was preaching at Emmanuel Church here in Memphis. He is there every other week and has grown so fond of the congregation. They're struggling financially so they use "supplies (Sunday substitutes)." Billy is their "Supply priest" on the first and third Sunday of each month. I stay home on Sunday mornings because I LOVE my solitude. I've said it before I'm sure, but with Billy retired he's under my feet a lot. Shooo!!! I say. Go play! Go away!

I know some Sunday mornings are for my solitude, but on the Sunday morning before Christmas I was lonely for my young friend Gus. We haven't been together much lately. He has so many activities and so do I. I called his house to see if he'd like to take a walk with Blue and me. His Daddy, Josh, talked it over with him and wrapped Gus up from head to toe. I think it must have been the coldest morning we've had all season.

We walked around the block and I asked Gus if he was ready to go home or if he'd like to walk some more. "Why don't we go to your house? I'd like that." "Me too," I said.

Gus never comes to my house that we don't read one of his favorite books, Eloise at Christmas
This is his favorite page. It's where Eloise is running through the Plaza Hotel. The page is a detailed map with dots, when E is skibbling, and dashes to show when she's running. Gus carefully studies it and always asks me what I think skibbling is. I skibble through my kitchen demonstrating the skibble.
"And Nanny do, oh do let's make cookies for Christmas! I simply ADORE making cookies with Nanny."And Gus and I have our own little version of Eloise right in my kitchen.
















Ouch! Just looking at this picture makes me tired. It was taken on one of those exhausting baking days right before Christmas. The house is dark and I'm finishing up the cinnamon rolls and getting ready to deliver them. Martha helped me all week long. I couldn't have done it without her. We worked very hard and definitely got better at what we were doing with every order -- hitting a good working rhythm.

Tomorrow I'll tell the story of my Christmas present!