And some photos.

 I wrapped up the remaining Christmas gifts (for my mom, and a box for my sister-in-law and my niece) today (My brother's gift has shipped from CVNP conservancy)

A couple pictures of the wombat (I know, it looks like a baby bear, but it's supposed to be a wombat):

I grabbed some "fun wombat facts" from a conservancy website (and yes, included both the "they have tough butts" and "they poop cubes" ones, because that is very eight year old humor and I think my niece will appreciate it). The ribbon is one that came on the boxes of amaryllises; I had just saved it and now I'm glad I did.

I wrapped them (she is also getting a book, reminiscent of the old Ed Emberley books, but aimed at older kids, on drawing, and a nice little Hello Kitty notebook I got in a loot crate and never used, and I decided maybe she could use it in her homeschooling more than I could use it). And my sister-in-law's fancy reusable bottle from Emma Bridgewater. 

My mom's socks - I had a piece of nice crinkly mylar Christmas paper that came in the yarn advent calendar friends sent me; I was able to repurpose it for her socks (and use the other two ribbons from the amaryllises). I tied it up like a big wrapped candy and was quite proud of myself for re-using but also making something that looked pretty.

So I got those off. I paid the bit extra for Priority Mail; they are SUPPOSED to arrive Friday but it seems the mail has got a bit slower again. But still, they should be there in plenty of time for Christmas and that is important to me. 

Also, a couple more ornaments for my tree (ordered off Etsy) came.

First, a set of Raggedy Ann and Andy that to me have a very 70s (or maybe very early 80s) feel. They were probably from a kit - you can still see some of the markings on the felt under the hairlines. I really like them; they are reminiscent (but not identical) of ornaments we had when I was a kid.

These came from Happy Little Charms, a shop I've bought from before. 

The second one is something I found by total chance, but when I saw it, I had to have it. It's the Clocktower! From Hudson! With a mouse!

Every year when I was a kid, there was a big mouse (it was just a simple teardrop shape with ears and a plaid coat) that was put up on the clocktower for Christmas. (Also, very early on, there was a Santa who came and sat in an fancy old-fashioned sleigh, and you could go and get your picture with him - I think my mother has a picture of me with Santa from before my brother was born)

So I have great love for the clocktower and its mouse

So when I found lifeneedsart's shop and saw them, I decided to buy one. I mentioned in the "note to artist" that I grew up in Hudson, and she put a short nice note on the receipt with it.

I stayed home today; had an eye doctor check-up this morning (minor change to my prescription; I will go in in the spring if I want new glasses - I'm a bit short of funds now and the insurance only pays a fraction of the glasses). Good news is everything else is healthy except my eyes are slightly dry, so I am trying a glycerin eye drop to see if that helps (the doctor thinks it's probably a combination of more time spent on screens - probably not blinking enough while I grade, and our extended allergy season). 

Tomorrow will be back at it with grading, though it was probably good to take a day mostly off. (I did field a LOT of e-mails from the intro students though)