It's the Holiday Season, So Where's the Holiday Cheer?

I brought my new mixer in from the car yesterday and did a little internet research into it to find out if I had a cupboard where it would fit, or if I would have to return it (which would sadden me greatly). I had purchased the smallest Artisan stand mixer available from KitchenAid, and with the head in the resting position, it's height is 12.3 inches. I have ONE cabinet that has that clearance. The opening isn't quite the high, so I'll be tilting the machine slightly in and out of the cupboard, but it fits, so I'm relieved. I probably should have taken it out of the box to make sure, but it's a holiday gift from Santa, so I wrapped it up and put it in the living room by my chair. 

I was thinking I had purchased the red version, but 
I actually purchased the matte black version. 
FUNKY! I'm going to adore my new mixer. 

I had been thinking I had purchased the bright red model, but I actually got the matte black one. Super cool! I'm going to be quite happy with this new piece of equipment. I'm already researching gluten-free breads that I can make. I used to make two loaves of bread a week while I was in college, and I adore home-made bread. With my food preferences these days, there's really only one bread available that I think has any taste at all, and I'm hoping I can find recipes that are gluten-free without refined sugars and no dairy that will be able to be mixed and then kneaded. Yeast usually requires that hand-kneading to be happy and rise well. 

I wish I could have a sweet and rather charming storefront 
like this, but my street simply doesn't support such a thing. 
Everything outside would be stolen quickly, and my windows 
are barred - custom ironwork that features our logo, but 
barred. It's the reality of being on the street in our part 
of town. It's not a BAD neighborhood, but it's not suburbia 
either. 

It's the holiday season, but business at the shop is SLOW, and that's worrying. We need a good December - with the phone transfer and other issues, we have had a lot of unexpected expenses and have had to dip into reserves that we need to replenish. So far it doesn't really seem that people are in a Holiday mood. People aren't dressed with holiday pins on their jackets and coats, holiday music isn't blasting from every doorway. It's a depressed world out here and, I suspect, in other nations as well. War and the threat of war peeks from around every corner. Threats are spoken, and people are shouting to be heard above other shouting people. Nobody is actually sitting and listening, and even those rare people who are, can do nothing. What's the old saying? "The world is going to hell in a handbasket?" or something similar? Yeah. I never wanted to live in "interesting times" and I still wish I wasn't doing so. 

There are times when I'm extremely grateful to be as old 
as I am. I'm not sure I want to see the world as it will 
be in another 50 years. I suspect it will be greatly changed, 
and I just hope that people will still look out for one 
another, help them when help is needed, and spread 
love and joy and peace. I have my doubts, however. 

So, I'm heading to the shop, hoping that the phones are completely operational but not expecting miracles, hoping for a great sales day, and who knows? Maybe I'll have it. Or not. Life will go on, and I'll be here, six days a week, sharing with all of you because you, my friends and readers, help keep me sane. It's a big burden, but it's divided among lots of you - each one of you appreciated beyond words. Have an excellent weekend and I'll be back on Monday. Slava Ukraini.