Thank you. 
So do you, I’ve always thought so!
Which cracked me up, too!
Thank you. I used to go all out, but it was so much work. Now that I’m on my own, I get almost as much pleasure from the scaled-down version with a whole lot less effort. Which is a gift in and of itself.
I can totally see that in you. I made the whole meal for many others in years past, too, but have now scaled back both on how loudly the board groans and how many people are invited to partake. Letting the rough end drag these days, we are. 
Ok. Of course I was only referring to how I do things, no judgment on others who do different. I’ll happily eat off a paper plate if that’s how my host serves the food. It takes all kinds to make a world, non?
Don’t blame you there. I have a friend who makes and cares for knives, so he’s an excellent resource for sharpening. I’ve had most of my knives for approaching 50 years. I use them properly, get them sharpened on the regular and I don’t need more, so long as these continue to take an edge. I use my favorite so often that it’s getting pretty worn – may have to replace that one. I have a favored serrated one as well – picked it up in Germany 20 years ago. I use it for lots more than just cutting bread!
@fachverwirrt, do you have an MMP nickname that got past me? Are you the Pavo to whom metal mouse refers? In any case, good to hear the cats are learning! I shuddered to read about Hazel’s fascination with the disposal drain. Crazy girl!
The cost of veterinary care these days is truly staggering. You have my heartfelt empathy! I’m thankful that Ollie’s itchy skin is so vastly relieved from the anti-yeast baths that I don’t think I’m going to have to modify his diet. < whew >
I’m with you exactly on how to prepare mashed potatoes. I make mine just the same. The only thing I’ve done now and then in the past is add a few cubes of boiled celeriac, which is delicious, too – but mostly, I make them as you do. No egg here, either. Boo fae, what does the egg add?
Well done on the smaller trousers, metal mouse! Those are the best benchmarks, aren’t they?
I leave the white fairy lights in my picture in place year round. They create a warm ambiance in the house in an instant. Hope Spot continues to hold his fire on the kitty barf-o-rama!
dicey, tea with chocolate chips is something I’ve never heard of! < furiously scribbles a note > I’ll have to keep an eye out.
Enjoy your cozy sloth weekend, nut! 
Thank you! Easy as hell, too.
Another foggy, cold morning – but no worries! The wood burner does its job well! The house is actually warmer at the moment than when I leave it up to the heat pump.
I was a good, busy girl today. Arose at the stupid early hour of 5:00 a.m., washed all the sofa throws and the flokati rug, did my bi-annual trash run, rollsucked half the house, changed out the furnace filter, cleaned two of the three bathrooms top to bottom, gave Ollie another bath and brought in another load of firewood to get us through today and tonight. We’re still having overnight almost-freezing temps, so I’ll continue to baby the heat pump until tomorrow.
I defrosted meatballs and marinara sauce I made a month ago with pasta for dinner, will have that with a simple salad.
Time to throw another couple of logs on the fire. Enjoy your evenings, everyone!
