Monday, December 23rd

A very nice day in the valley, although it was cloudy and the forecast rain did start about 8 PM. 
  We went out early in the morning, first to pay the cable bill at Meidacom.  They don't provide any paper trail, rather send an email that is a confirmation of payment.  It seems all this move to a paperless society is everywhere.
  After we stopped at the Ranch Market where Marg buys her vegetables. She is making a veggie tray for tomorrow evening.  Some friends are having a Christmas eve gathering and with the forecast rain tomorrow will be gathering in our breezeway.  We also have patio heaters on standby in case it turns cold, although even in the rain it is warm tonight.  She also picked up some cabbage as one of her contributions to Christmas dinner will be her lazy cabbage rolls.  I like them better than the rolled ones, as after a few people have taken theirs, the rest looks like the lazy ones anyway.  We also got a bag of oranges.  They are unbelievably fresh this time of year and were only $2 for a bag that had 10 or 12 in it.  I believe the amount of oranges we eat contributes to our winter health and absence of colds or flu.
  Our next stop was Safeway where Marg picked up the supplies for both events.  She also had some coupons that made other items a good deal.  The best one was for a free donut at the bakery, which I used for an apple fritter.  We also got 2 x a pound of butter.  The butter was regular price at $5.99, but with an e-coupon was 99 cents.  The only problem was we don't have an I phone, so can't get the coupon, another on line aggravation.  This meant a stop at the customer service desk where we got a new loyalty card and they gave us the price on the butter.  Apparently now she can get the coupons on line through that account.  There were about 8 people in line at the customer service desk, all for the same reason.
  When we got home we had a bite to eat and then went out to check the mail, nothing today.  After lunch Marg had visitors.  I went out back and discovered the water tap at the pedestal out back had been leaking for some time as the dirt was muddy around it.  I tried to tighten it, but the leak was still more than acceptable.  A trip to the hardware where I picked up a new fitting and some hose washers.  Replacing it is complicated by the connection to the trailer, it is flexible copper pipe.  When I got it all back together everything was fine again.
  After supper Marg made the lazy cabbage rolls.  To cut the cabbage heads I talked her into using the large butcher knife.  She has avoided it because she likes smaller knives.  I bought the large one last year at a park sale in a large park south of us.  I knew it was a pretty good one as it took and held an edge very well.  She suggested we google it to see how good it is.  It does say Victorianox on it so I knew it should be good, well it turns out it sells for almost $70.  Maybe now she will use it.  LOL