random thoughts – Day 1,370 – (Sunday) – time spent

The morning was quiet. The midday included an excursion to a psychic fair and craft show in Andover and Aldi in Salem, NH. The evening featured domestic labor.

The psychic and craft show was interesting. Not being a psychic, it would have helped to have some guidance upon entering the room. There was a center aisle with tables of crafts on each side. That part was straightforward. There were all sorts of items available including wands, jewelry, crystals, and décor. I had a nice chat with a woman selling Herkimer diamonds mined in Herkimer, New York. The stones were fascinating with 18 facets and I was tempted by a pendant filled with tiny stones. I didn't buy it and now wish I had.

The confusing part of the event involved the "psychic" part. There was an outer ring of people at tables doing readings or waiting for people to sit for a reading. When there were signs, they were hard to read from the center aisle, so I couldn’t tell if someone was a card reader, palm reader, psychic, or what. It felt awkward walking near the tables of readers to see the signs because, in several cases, I would potentially be intruding on someone’s personal reading in progress. There was no indication who to ask for help or a listing of the types of reading available, or if signups were required.

Supplies!

The grocery store, fortunately, was blissfully straightforward. The layout, products, and process are familiar and I had a list. There were a few items needed for the baking project and baking chips, butter, and milk, plus other glamorous non-baking items like toilet paper were procured. 

The annual baking project did, indeed, begin. The kitchen gets quite a workout each year at this time. Peppermints, and later, walnuts, were smashed with a meat mallet, which is always a good time. Butter was melted and stirred and boiled with sugar. 

Tonight’s shift produced two batches of the annual Christmas Crack (saltines with candy deliciousness), followed by brownies. There are several more recipes scheduled to be dealt with each night after work. Some require the oven, others the stovetop, some others, just the microwave. Most require at least a bit of time being heated, being chilled, and later, being packed. It always feels like time well spent.