An early-morning visitor (and unexpected expenses)

Around 4:30 this morning, Sadie came to the computer room and led me to the front door, acting as though she might want out. This is unusual, because she usually sleeps in until at least 8 o'clock.

When I opened the door, my sister-in-law's soaking wet, eight-pound mini-Dachshund burst in. How in the world Sadie knew she was here, I don't know.

Sister-in-law has to go to work today, and evidently she let Angel out to potty; Angel, hating rain like all get-out, came over here thinking I'd let her in. I didn't, though, because how would Rena find her runaway if I had her inside? I told Angel to go home. Five minutes later she was still begging at the door, but next time I looked, she was gone.

Cliff went in the basement of our old house (Rena's house) a couple of days ago and noticed the water heater was leaking. It cost us over $600 for a new heater (including installation) yesterday.

Merry Christmas to us.

Did you ever know it to fail? Something unexpected and costly so often seems to happen near the holidays and tax time. Thank God such occurrences aren't as devastating to us as they once were, but it still pinches the budget.

Another package in the mail

Today I received the eggbeater a reader graciously passed along to me. And it's oh, so much better than a new one from Walmart, because this is an eggbeater with a past. It has a story to tell; and you all know how I like stories. In fact, it's a widely traveled eggbeater that has been in regions I've never visited. At this point, I'm not sure I want to use it; I might just hang it on the wall and think about where it's been.

Vicki wrote a note that I'll share with you, because things like this make blogging such a rewarding pastime.

Click on the note to make it larger.

Vicki, you won Cliff's heart by mentioning his tractor.

By the way, to those of you who sent me Christmas cards in the mail, thank you so much! I didn't send cards this year, but your cards are appreciated; they remind me that you are more than just vague, vaporous spirits lurking on the Internet: You are real people.

Just to tease you, here's "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" that we're having a drawing for, halfway in its package and ready to go to the lucky winner.

And here's a preview of the autograph inside the book. Entries are accepted down below until 6 P.M. tomorrow evening (Christmas Eve).