Two dozen sage and apricot cookies lie waiting to be taken to a cookie exchange that I will not attend tonight. Tom is on night call and had hoped he’d be done in time for me to go, but alas he’ll be home around 10:00- two hours two late. Scotland sleeps peacefully. What shall I do? Eat all those cookies while watching Mansfield Park or give my cabinets another slap of paint? For health’s sake I better go for the latter.

Here’s this year’s neighbor’s treat.