We have an unavoidable situation in which relatives no one wants here will be here this weekend. This includes a homophobic person who will reject queer relatives from his own home, but isn't likely to feel he can say anything about it in our home.

So it was requested that I put up the flag I got to replace the one the wind destroyed last year. This one is much bigger! Our whole tiny rural town can see it!

I'm so happy with my headwrap today that it became time to change profile pictures. Also, I like to change them every now and then because I refuse to hide my aging. When I turned 40 I promised myself I would not send the message that aging makes one less beautiful.

Shai-Hulud doesn't usually rest on top of the sand like this. Maybe he's helping look for my eraser.

I walked in when he was headed to his water bowl last night. He stopped and watched like he was concerned I would want an invitation to join him.

We got a calendar that will give encouraging messages for this year.

My family really needs to start asking where the inspiration for my creative pursuits comes from before they go into encouragement mode. I don't think they understand Ian Anderson is who I picture when I'm pushing myself to figure out how my flute works.

There's a bag of birdseed on my back porch that didn't get used before the seasonal shift made it The Season of Not Walking Out to the Bird Feeder. It's been very cold lately, and we've been getting snow off an on. I'm glad the bag is there because a little friend has been finding shelter there and helping themself to the food.

I didn't take a picture of the reading I did, but I did take a picture just to show cards because I got the Good Omens deck. Time for some Nice & Accurate Prophecies!

Annnnd...of course the first reading I did called me out on my BS about getting in my own way and swimming in my lack of confidence instead of taking controlled steps to strengthen in.

So it's a good deck! I know I can work with a deck when the readings challenge me in healthy ways.

It was a good night to just draw without thinking about it. I put on some music and let my hands do whatever they did. I guess I was feeling the circles.

I use the Finch app as a To Do list and anxiety management resource. I appreciate my finch's determination.

I'm the only person in the house Santa brought a gift for this year. There are no kids here anymore, so it's just adults exchanging gifts. (I got some great scarves for headwraps from my mother-in-law!)

But there was one present from Santa. This book! It was my first favorite book. When I couldn't actually read yet, I could recite the story and turn the pages at the right times because it had been read to me so often.

Santa found a copy and brought it to me all these years later.

It's December. My outdoor plants had to come in before the end of October. We've been running heat and wearing jackets and long sleeves for a while now. We've had light snow twice.

I took this picture in my yard today.

Shai-Hulud is feeling social today. Resting with his head out isn't as rare as it used to be, but still pretty uncommon. He flicks his tongue at me if I sit and talk to him.

I have knitted 81 hexagons this year for getting started on my blanket. I'm trying not to think too much about how many need to be done (400+). Number 82 is on my needles. #CoSoKnitting

Everything is icy blue and white with sprinkles of holly and mistletoe. I'm still going with colors of The Harvest.

And still saying "The Harvest" like it's some cryptic thing that makes you want to get away before The Festivities start.

For those of us who are ready for December to be done...

Feelin' fancy today! It's been a little bit of a rough day, so feeling the "feathers" on the peacock pin move when my head moves brings some cheer.

My sister-in-law enjoys reading gay male romance novels, so I knitted a bookmark for her (with a little added crochet). Marking this as sensitive because the shape is a body part one might think of as appropriate to gay male romance. #CoSoKnitting #CoSoBooks

This is Warner. Warner is my polka dot plant. Warner can't read calendars. Warner decided "almost November" means "time to make a flower".

Tiny sweater knitting continues. Everyone in the house is getting a sweater for Christmas this year. I'll make tiny boxes and fold them up like full size sweaters, place them in their boxes, and wrap them. #CoSoKnitting

My girl caught a bug! 🌱💚 She's a Cape Sundew. If you're considering raising plants instead of children, keep in mind that Cape Sundew is easy to care for and you can be proud when they eat bugs.