We found our tree right away. It cost $39 dollars, including a plastic netting to keep it tight so we could fit it into the SUV. We planned to cut the tree down ourselves, but that didn’t work out and a young man with a chainsaw came out and did it for us. I gave him $5 for his troubles and we stuffed the tree into the car and brought it home. I am excited about Christmas. Maria and I are spending it together, with the animals and on the farm. We are mulling having some sort of party for the New Year at the new farm but we haven’t quite figured it out. Maybe cook my newest dish – vegetarian Lasagna with past, cauliflower, chard, tofu, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, fresh chopped garlic.

I am shocked how good it feels to eat well and I am surprised at how much I am enjoying the subtle flavors of vegetables cooked in different ways. My other evolving new dish is multi-grain vegetable pizza. I am getting to be a whiz at spinning the crust and sauteeing the vegetables separately. I cook the very thin crust for five minutes, then put the vegetables on (I spread olive oil with pesto and chopped garlic on the crust first with a brush) and then back the whole thing for 20 minutes.) I’m feeling the holiday spirit.