20 NOV 25

Rain washed night... driving west past quiet groves of low-flaming crabapples and persimmon...

While Patience is hanging with "Grandma" and the Mac boys for several hours...

...all my boys are home where I have already reminded them to stay away from Patience's rented solo dress for the next two weeks... no exceptions... “It's worth thousands and I don't want anything happening to it” // **Puck suddenly sounds interested** “I'm gonna sell it” he grins wickedly...

Meanwhile the dog is very busy ticking items off her personal morning schedule... beg for human breakfast... check... stick snout through cat door for first cat-slashing of the day... check... beg for human breakfast again... check...

And Yali makes himself equally productive by pulling out the paints to prepare a second art contest option... thoughtfully brushing out a recreation of the cosmos as I unwrap a Starburst from which he is currently forbidden... “When I'm done with these braces I'm gonna be a turtle and chew water bottle caps!” he mutters mysteriously and somewhat darkly to himself... “I wanna CHEW something!”... forbidden fruit...

Patience is working on a hot dog at the Big House when we arrive for pick-up... they spent some time at the mall where Patience smelled perfumes and was gifted the purchase of a hoodie in soft pink from Grandma...

Then home again to make cinnamon roll loaf with Patience and lasagna with Yali as a cold low mist creeps in before another run to the studio...