January 11

Temperatures were up around 30 degrees that day, with highs above 30.

Mom and all the girls spent their morning shopping for wedding and shower gifts for the back-to-back weddings in February, which always took longer than originally expected.
While they were away, Francis watched Puck. They made a snow tower in the front yard before coming inside where Collette arrived with tangerines for the big buster.

In the afternoon…
Francis asked Collette to fry him a burger. When he turned up the heat too high and Collette didn’t notice, a spray of olive oil shot across the stove to her hands and neck. But it only burnt for a short time, and ended.
“I’m so sorry, Collette!” Francis cried.
Then he hurried to open all the doors and windows to let the smoke leave the house.

That evening before dinner, Puck was intent on his play. Collette showed him how to make Donkey talk to the other objects in his make-believe. After one time of this, Puck was hooked.
“Take Donkey, Mama!” he instructed happily. “Make him… say… say… ‘hewoh, wed cat!’ (hello red cat)”
Then he told Collette that the painted horse on the coffee table…
“He’s my best friend, Mama.”
And at dinner, while Puck munched at his bowl of blueberries, OLeif helped continue the conversation between Donkey and Puck.
“Eat, Puck! Go! Go! Go! You happy, Puck?”
“I am happy to you Donkey,” said Puck.
“I’m happy too.”
“You am?”