First of all, thank you for the nice comments on my table and dining room!

I got back from my Thanksgiving vacation yesterday.  It was a great time, good food and fellowship.  A lot of very fun game playing.  And I met my nephew's girlfriend for the first time, and we all agree we love her already.  But there was sadness, too.  SIL's parents have been moved (against their will) to a retirement/nursing home, and they are not doing well either physically or mentally.  SIL is run ragged with trying to care for them and please them.  Also, my good friend, who I have been lunching with whenever I visit my brother, has gone into assisted living, and when I had breakfast with him this time, he was very much changed and so confused he didn't even know me at first.  My gut feeling is that I won't have him much longer.

The trip was not expensive.  Altogether I spent $59 for gas, road food, and bread & butter gifts.  I also spent $17 on a sleep sweater, because my room was cold.  My brother is having furnace problems and help is slow to come -- they are so backed up with service requests, and, of course, a labor shortage.

GS1 broke his leg and ankle!  Skateboarding.  They were clean breaks and his prognosis for a full recovery is good, but he is going to need some help now to get to school, and I will be pitching in.

My vacation spending took variables to 98%, so I'm doing no spending today.  Tomorrow I'll get some groceries and get started on Christmas shopping.