Happy New Year to All - Thoughts and Donations

Happy New Year to all of my friends across this wide world. We've now entered another calendar year, but the troubles and strife of the previous year has followed us as well. My prayer for this year is peace and love for all - two-footed, four-footed, finned and winged. My charitable donations for the year followed that theme, with several wildlife organizations, the Humane Society, and a generous monthly donation to St Jude Children's Hospital, public television and public radio. I'm doing more monthly donations this year since the monthly donation I already make to Trevor Project have been working out quite well. It is my personal belief that to have funds means an obligation to share those funds, and this is how I choose to do so. 

I chose St Jude Children's Research Hospital for a monthly 
donation based on one thing they did over 2020. They 
were single-handedly responsible for the evacuation of 
hundreds of desperately ill children and their parent(s) from 
Ukraine. They arranged for a full hospital train to pick 
them up and bring them out of Ukraine, where they were 
sorted out, assigned to various medical centers (including 
St Jude's in the USA) and treated for their various illnesses. 
They paid for it all, and saved hundreds of children as a 
result of this action. I think they deserve a bit of my money 
for such an amazing feat of wartime moxy. 

Tomorrow (actually later today since it's after midnight) we're heading over to my youngest niece's house for a family Christmas/New Years get-together. We haven't had one of these since pre-Covid, so it'll be pleasant to see everyone again. I wish all of my readers a safe and happy New Year and thank all of you for having been there for me when I needed you over this past year. We all need a friend to lean on every now and again, and you play that role in my life. Slava Ukraini and Happy New Year. 

Friday Was a Good Day Off - Adventures With Food

My intention yesterday, amidst many other things, was to donate to Ukraine by renting an Air B&B rental location for a day or several days. I actually had chosen a place in Irkusk, and way almost finished finishing the paperwork when Air B&B required photo identification - passport, driver's license, or one other item which I'm not remembering. I stopped there, cancelled the reservation, and I'll find a different way to donate to Ukraine. I have no faith or desire to put my personal identification into cyber space. I guess I'm too cynical to have faith, and I just don't want my identification documents in the aether. 

Although I can understand Air B&B wanting photo ID 
for reservations, I'm not going there. I'm not quite that 
trusting. I do need to get a new ID started, I finally have 
all of the documentation needed for one of the fancier 
ID cards that will allow me to fly. Right now, mine is 
good for a few more months, but that's all. 

Etsy did respond to me, and I'll be trying to get some work done on that today between other things at the shop. I really want to get this going, and it's just not clicking into place. I'm sure, if I was just an individual artist wanting to put my goods for sale onto Etsy, it wouldn't be as difficult. But I'm part of a corporation that has a bit of a convoluted corporate structure, and I suspect that's what's tripping things up. 

I'm quite happy with my new mouse, and I love 
the color. Of course, the most important thing is that 
it works, and it seems to work just fine. I was using 
my laptop for most of the day yesterday, and it 
performed well. For $20, it was a worthwhile purchase. 

I bought a new mouse (which works perfectly and is a lovely red color), and I dropped my two boxes of books off at Half-Price Books, receiving $2 for this batch. Huzzah! LOL I got my groceries for my salmon dish and looked at corned beef choices for St Patrick's Day. I'll probably head over to the store tomorrow and buy one - it would be nice to have corned beef on Thursday, I could make it on Wednesday (or maybe DH could make it on Thursday). I'm not doing potatoes, I don't eat them, but the meat would be nice and certainly won't be a problem. 

The salmon was so easy. On aluminum 
foil sprayed with non-stick spray, lay 
several fronds of fresh rosemary and 
slices of lemon. Put the salmon on 
top, with fresh minced garlic on it 
(I forgot the garlic so added minced 
garlic spice half-way through the 
bake). Bake at 375-400 for 15 
minutes or so. Then open up, and put 
under the broiler for an additional 3-4 
minutes. Really excellent! 

The salmon turned out AMAZING and so easy to make. I made enough for two meals and had the second half sitting on the stove while I ate. DH picked at it and tasted a little bit. He declared it "really good. I'd eat this if you made it again," which shocked me since he's not a fan of salmon. And yeah - I'm definitely making it again. I paired it with roasted Brussels sprouts and multi-colored heirloom carrots. It was delightful. I have the leftovers for tonight, and I'm already looking forward to dinner. 

I think I'm going to get a corned beef brisket for St 
Patrick's Day dinner. I won't eat or make the potatoes, 
that'll be up to DH if he wants them. but I have no 
problem with the meat itself. It should be a nice meal. 

So, that's all today - nothing really exciting happened yesterday, but I did get a lot accomplished. I'm looking forward to a productive day at the shop today, and a comfortable Sunday. We'll see - it doesn't take much to ruffle the waters of my life. I hope you have a fabulous weekend and I'll be back on Monday for Pi Day. LOL Peace! 

Errands and Housecleaning Managed a LOT of Mileage For Me Yesterday

I started the day out yesterday by pulling out the refrigerator shelving, taking off the tape at the end of each shelf that was keeping them in place during shipping, and washing, then replacing each one. I wanted to get a start on understanding how the shelves were assembled, where I had space and where I gave it up, and how I wanted to arrange things. By the end of my "explorations", I had removed numerous pieces of tape, removed one door shelf completely to allow space for taller bottles, and started filling the other two remaining door shelves on that side. I then made a grocery list and headed to my two favorite grocery stores - my local Target for some items, and my local grocery for the bulk. We lost a lot of refrigerated food during the past week, and needed replacements. 

It was a joy to actually be able to purchase fresh vegetables 
again yesterday. After almost a week of eating lots of pre-mixed 
salads for two or three meals a day, the opportunity to buy 
fresh veggies and make my Alkagizers again was happiness. 

It was a joy to purchase veggies again. I pulled out my blender, set it up, and immediately started making a new set of four Alkagizers. I missed my "ogre juice" SO MUCH over the past week. It was a relief to finally have my veggie smoothies again. I made four, then a few hours later, emulsified two and poured them into my travel containers. I'm ready to go now, and my salads are once again reserved for dinnertime only. Thank goodness! 

I had a long list of items that I brought to Goodwill 
yesterday. After I was finished with that and back home, 
I pulled out two large plastic bins of sweaters and 
started culling those for my next trip over. I ended up 
saving seven sweaters. The rest are in three shopping 
bags and will be taken to Goodwill next week. 

I had the back of Minion packed solidly with items to donate to Goodwill. I started a complete list of what I was donating, made sure that everything was secured with rubber bands or in baggies, and drove over, putting them into their appropriate bins, or onto the rolling table. Donations are handled a bit differently now, but that's to be expected. Covid has changed a lot of things. 

I've used Tech Dump for years to recycle old 
electronics. Some things they accept at no 
charge, others are a nominal fee. It's well 
worth it to reclaim what can be reused and 
recycle whatever we can. 

I then drove down to Tech Dump. Tech Dump is unique, as far as I know. They accept all dead computers, computer parts, televisions, etc. for rebuilding or controlled destruction. They have a classroom where they teach computer skills, and a showroom where they sell refurbished electronics. For $15 I was able to get rid of an old printer, a non-functional portable DVD player and a miscellaneous electronic something or other. Well worth the cost to me and much better for the environment. 

Home again, I continued housecleaning. I don't have a lot of time until Sharon arrives, and I'd like things to look somewhat civilized. I made a start on cleaning the computer room, did a bit more in Sharon's room, culled through the two bins of sweaters mentioned above, and started my next box for Half-Price Books. 

DH and I have season tickets for Ren Fest. We usually 
are there every Sunday during the run. Of course, 
everything was cancelled last year, so what would have 
been our 50th annual Ren Fest, is now being celebrated 
a year late. Still - 50 years is something wonderful to 
celebrate and we're looking forward to sharing the 
festivities. 

Renaissance Festival starts today, and it's looking like we'll have really fabulous weather for opening weekend. There are supposed to be thunderstorms, but not until the nights. The temps will be manageable, and I'm really looking forward to getting geared up and out to the Fest grounds on Sunday. I suppose I will continue my hunt for a new corset. My old one hasn't fit me for years - it was from the days of WAY overweight. I'm now at my wedding weight and approaching my High School weight. I need a new corset that actually fits. I'll at least try some one. 

So, my days are filled, as usual. What have you been up to? I know my friends along the East Coast will be flirting with their latest hurricane - Henri. I'm holding all of you in my thoughts, my friends. Please be careful and stay safe. I'll be back on Monday. 

Charity Begins at Home - That's the Saying, At Any Rate

It's December 30th and I'm running late. Late for what? Late for my annual charitable donations. I always allocate some of my annual spending to support charities that are important to me. I have some on monthly, automatic deduction from my bank account - Public Radio and the Trevor Project are standard for each month. But I also do annual donations to Twin Cities Public Television, Point Foundation, Out Front Organization, the ACLU and the Animal Humane Society (animals are just as important as people),. as well as a few others. I also do spot donations during the year for things that catch my attention or just to help a friend who is having a hard time. I usually have already made my donations for the year by this time. I'm going to have to rush things through in the next two days. I want my donations completed before the end of the year. 

Life for young people is hard. Life for young LGBTQ 
people can be even harder. When someone contemplates 
suicide, they'll often reach out via phone to someone ... 
anyone. When I was young and reaching out, there wasn't 
anyone there. I'm determined that won't be the case now. 

I've been very lucky in my life, but I also remember those times when I was anything but settled and was relying on good luck and food stamps for my meals. I was raised by parents who firmly believed in giving to various charitable causes and organizations that improved the lives of their community. I was NOT raised with weekly tithing to religious organizations, and I don't do that either. I look carefully through the organizations that make my short list, and I don't always choose the same charities every year, although TPT and The Trevor Project are pretty well carved in stone. I want to give where I feel it will do some good and help individual people achieve a dream or improve their lives. And of course, I love animals and want to help them have better lives and loving homes. 

The Point Foundation is a National organization that 
provides scholarship funds for higher education to 
LGBTQ youth. The scholarship funds are used for both 
classic four-year and advanced degrees, as well as 
for study at Community Colleges. As a single person, 
I can't help much with advanced education expenses, 
but combined with thousands of other people, I can 
have a positive impact on a student's dreams. 

I'm not asking any of you to go out and donate to any specific causes, and I know that donations of money are only one way to help - donations of time, materials, or labor are equally important. What I am asking is for you to be kind and if there is any way at all that you can make a difference in the life of another living creature, then please try to make it happen. The best way to achieve peace is through a single smile at a time. 

The Animal Humane Society, both National and 
International, are also high on my list for charitable 
donations. The well-being of animals and the caring 
for our fur and feathered friends can make a serious 
difference in the quality of life for both parties. 

I'm stepping off my podium now and rejoining the human rat race. Please be kind, stay safe and wear a mask. I'll be back tomorrow. 

Time For Year-End Charity Donations

It's getting towards year-end and I'm getting my annual donations decided upon and made. For the past several years I've concentrated on organizations who assist LGBTQ+ people find safety and acceptance and legal rights. I'm continuing that this year with upping my annual donation to Trevor Project to a monthly donation instead - smaller increments but a larger year-end total. I'm also donation again to Point Foundation - an organization that helps provide scholarships for higher education to kids who have no homes or whose families either kicked them out or just won't/can't provide. It's an incredible organization. 

I've made annual one-time donations to Trevor Project for several years,
and decided to change to a monthly donation beginning in 2020.
They do so much to help prevent the suicide of our youth, and they
are there with an outstretched hand when people have hit the end of
their ropes. 

On a more local front, I'll be renewing my donation to Out Front, an organization working hard to make "conversion therapy" illegal in my state. Although some cities and towns have enacted legislation against these practices, as a state we're still lagging behind. I haven't decided 100% on my fourth and final donation for the year. I usually choose four different organizations for my annual donations. 

Out Front has done some very successful lobbying against
Conversion Therapy here in the Frozen Northlands. I believe
in supporting local organizations that are effective, and
they had a winning year this past year. 

Of course, I have been giving on a monthly basis for many years to Public Television and Public Radio. I firmly believe that they have to be available, in a way it's my way of supporting a Free Press, just without the newspaper connotations. When I want true news of the world, these are where I turn. 

I'll probably give a one-time donation to Point Foundation again this
coming year. They do wonderful work helping students get a college
education. I know how much a small amount meant to me while
I was in college. Anything at all is a help, and they have helped some
really awesome students achieve their educational dreams. 

Why donate? I donate because I'm very fortunate. I have a roof over my head, heat and food in my house, and a small amount of excess funds that will go farther when joined with other people's donations than if I donated directly to a single person on my own. I'm fortunate in my life, and to not pass some of that on to others would be selfish and self-centered. I sincerely hope that I'm not either of those things. Ever. 

The ASPCA usually gets a donation from me as well. I believe in
helping those who can't help themselves and the ASPCA is
wonderful in their work for happy and healthy animals, with
rescues and shelters, meals and health care for our 4-footed friends. 

So I hope all of you contribute what you can to something that will help your fellow members of the human race. I'm not going to direct your donations, they have to come from your heart and you know your communities and where a helping hand is needed far better than I ever will. But please, if you can, choose a charity or two and donate. It doesn't have to be much - a single $10 donation can help a lot. On that note, I'm going to call this post done and I'll be back on Monday. 

BTW - In case you were wondering, yesterday's first day of our Four-Day Sale went beautifully - we were running like crazy until late in the afternoon. I hope the other three days will be as busy, despite our icy rain and possible snow. 

It's Going To Be A Busy "Hump Day"

Hurrah! It's my "day off". That's always something I look forward to, although it's actually a lot of work - just housework instead of work/work. Still, I'm not on the sales floor for a day and that's always a bit of a relief. I don't have to be front and center helpful, and I can think of my own needs and projects instead of someone else's. 

I want some "Me Time" that's actually for me instead of
for the household or the shop. I don't see that happening
for months, if I'm lucky, or more than a year, if I'm
unlucky. 

That sounds really self-centered, I know. After all, I run a retail operation, I deal with customers and assist fantastically talented (and some not so talented) crafters every day, having done so for more than 25 years. But it's nice to have a day to myself, a day when I don't have to be smiling and thinking about other people's needs. It's my day for myself and I treasure it. 

I have several boxes of books to take to Half Price for
resale. I know I'll get next-to-nothing for them, but at
least some of them will find new homes and I won't have
them around my place any more - a VERY good thing indeed! 

Today will be unusually hectic, starting with a PT appointment at 6:40 am. I wanted the first open appointment in the morning, and that's what I got. I'll be out of PT by 8:00 am, get the shop up and running and ready for my staff, and then I'll hit the grocery store earlier than usual. When I get home, after I put the food away, I'll have the rest of the day to concentrate on what I need to get done. On my agenda - four loads of laundry (pretty standard for every Wednesday), changing the linens on the beds, some basic clean-up in the house, and most important - taking several boxes of books over to Half Price Books for resale. 

Tech Dump is a wonderful recycling group where I can take
old electronics. Almost everything is accepted at no charge, and
what they do charge (for television monitors and other more
difficult items) is minimal and well worth it. They refurbish
what they can and resell it. It helps save the landfills. 

That might be the killer for me today. I'm going to PT for help with my deep muscle pain in my arm, and I'll be straining that same arm later in the day when I load box after box into my car for the trip to Half Price. But the boxes have been sitting in my entryway for several weeks and I need them gone. So, pain or not, I'm going to get this done. I also have a small load of clothing for Goodwill, and an old printer that needs to be dropped by Tech Dump. (I'll have to check their hours - it might be easier for me to do this on Thursday or Friday.)   

We're pretty low-tech with our magazine storage. There are several
long-time subscriptions for crafting magazines that we don't
want destroyed or donated. Things we actually refer to again
and again. Unfortunately, because of the length of time we have
collected them, there are a LOT of these files in a row across
many shelves. 

So it'll be a busy day. I was hoping to get back to work on Sharon's room (culling books, collecting old papers into a more coherent file, etc), but that might not happen until Sunday. I have to get that finished. I also have to find out where DH found room for a set of magazines we're keeping. I have a few out-of-order issues I found earlier this week that need to be added to their appropriate years. I took a quick look the other day, but didn't find those magazine files, but they're not at the shop either. Hmmm ... mysteries abound when cleaning house. 

It's Wednesday, so we're making our way through the week.
I hope your day is fabulous and fantastic. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday. It's always one of my favorite days - not just "hump day" but my only "day off" that's just for my own projects. One of these months I'll be able to return to that original vision and actually work on a project, instead of clean-up. I'll be back tomorrow! 

Falling Through the Cracks and Donations for 2018

Yesterday's insurance meeting found out that I'm OK - my paperwork came through, but only on the 19th so it may be a day or two before I get my confirmation. DH's paperwork, apparently got sucked into a black hole. The agent resubmitted it and will baby-sit it through as much as possible so that we don't lose him in the cracks. What a mess! I've got to give it a bit of time, no choice, but I'm not very happy about where I had to leave things. So frustrating! 

It's so easy to fall through the cracks these days. I'm
really glad I went back to the insurance company to
push a bit. Now if things could just get resolved quickly! 

We got a winter storm through the state yesterday, but the worst of it shifted course to go north of us. We did get a bit, but not much. Today, however, it will be warm enough to rain - at least until tonight when all of that lovely rain will freeze and tomorrow's driving may be a skating rink. It should be an interesting 24-36 hours of weather. *sigh* Life in the Frozen Northlands. 

It's no fun driving on ice, so I'm hoping we'll avoid the
ice and get snow instead. Snow can be a PITA too, but
all in all, it's easier to handle. 

The best thing about my Annual Year-end Sale is that it brings my long-time customers out to catch the deals. It was wonderful yesterday - we had a chance to catch up with some really good friends and customers throughout the day. It's really the best thing about the end of the year - getting a chance to catch up with people and how things have gone for them over the past few months. 

The Trevor Project fields more than 45,000 calls a year
from trouble youth dealing with their personal sexuality
and discrimination issues. Trevor is a lifeline for so many! 

I'm whittling down my donations list. I already donated to the local Animal Humane Society - a donation that I had owed from a pledge earlier this year. I also know I'll donate to The Trevor Project because they come at the head of my donate list every year. One charity that has come to my attention this year is another local one - OutFront. They are doing some wonderful work helping kids who desperately need it in the more rural areas of my state. I suspect I'll also be sending some funding to AllOut to help with global equality. That leaves one slot open and I'll figure that one out within the next day or so. I've added links to each of the charities, in case you or someone you know is looking for a great place to help through the coming year. 

OutFront Minnesota has been doing wonderful work
in rural areas of the state against conversion therapy.
They also have turned into a strong political group,
where many of their candidates won office over
this past election. 

On that note, I think I have to wrap this up. I need to shovel my driveway before I leave for the gym this morning - a little extra exercise for my morning. Oh well, maybe it will work off some of the pounds I've put on with too much Chex Mix and DH's birthday cake from yesterday. Have a wonderful Thursday and enjoy your day, I'll be back tomorrow! 

Good Solstice To All

Solstice arrives tonight. I always wonder, for those people who camp out at various power places for the turn of the year, what they actually do when Solstice or Equinox doesn't actually begin until late in the day. Imagine - you're camped out at your local power place, maybe Chaco Canyon, or how about the big cahuna - Stonehenge. You've been freezing while waiting overnight for the sun to rise. The sun finally crests the horizon and you join hundreds of other people to welcome the brilliant orb of light with dancing, song, and ceremony. BUT today's solstice arrives after 6:00 pm in my time zone. Hmmm.... It'll arrive closer to noon on the Salisbury Plain. Still hmmm....  I suspect the impact is a bit lessened without the sunrise or sunset playing its' role, so people are going to dance at sunrise irregardless of the actual timing of the event. 

Although Stonehenge gets a lot of the attention for Solstice, it isn't 
the only power zone with a solstice indicator. Here is what's known as
the Solstice Corner in Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico USA.
As an archaeologist who worked on the Chacoan outliers, it's always
had a special part of my heart. There's a lot written about Chaco
Canyon, but if you're interested in an overview, here's the link
to the Wikipedia entry. 

Still - it is Solstice today - the official move into the next season for all of us. Those in the Southern Hemisphere will be welcoming summer, those of us in the Northern climes will be bundling up for winter. Snow and ice will be forthcoming for months to come. *sigh* It's the earth's time of rest and rejuvenation, but it's my least favorite time of the year for driving to and from the shop and doing other errands. 

Although the image is a bit imaginative, it's still an amazing
place to be. Stonehenge and the other henges throughout
Britain are phenomenal places to visit and walk through.
Stonehenge itself is usually closed off - you can't walk
directly into the circle. It's opened for ceremony on the dates
of the Summer and the Winter Solstice only. 

My holiday posting schedule will be truncated - I have a few days off before diving into my end of the year 4-day sale. I'll be posting tomorrow, but then I'll probably take a few days off since I have a short holiday time myself. We'll see. 

Celebrate Winter Solstice in a way and location that is comfortable
for you. The Wheel is turning yet again and we still have so
much to learn. Peace and love to all of my readers today and
throughout the next year. 

So enjoy the Solstice, dance physically around your house or mentally around the sacred places of the world. Be kind to others to begin this next year of the Great Cycle with just a bit of love to offset the harshness and hatred so evident in our daily news. As always, do something kind, and if you can afford it, start to narrow down your choices for your end-of-the-year donations or other support. There are so many ways to help others and each bit of kindness helps - baby steps towards a better world. Have a great Friday and I'll be back tomorrow. 

Real Life vs Not - Taxes, Baking and Music

I set up our personal income tax appointment for Thursday night. We'll be finished before Project Runway starts, so no problems on that front. It does mean, however, that a large portion of my Wednesday will be spent with paperwork, getting everything together as best as possible. He always sends out an "organizer" beforehand, so I'll probably use that to make sure I have all of the correct information at hand. 

Pay $200? I'd do that in a flash if I could. It would be a
serious savings. But such things only exist in "Monopoly". 

The one thing I'm not sure about is whether we're received our property tax statements yet. We need those to file for that rebate, although we don't always qualify. Next year will be a bit crazy too with the new tax laws plus the fact that we paid off our house early this year. No sense crossing that bridge until we come to it, though. 

One of the donations I made in 2017 was to The
Trevor Project. I'm delighted with what they do to
support kids in crisis and will probably move
them to my permanent donation list within a year
or so. 

Going through tax documents, though, is never a treat. It's good to really see where the money is going, but the smaller receipts, like charitable donations and contributions, can be a pain. I'm hoping I can put my hands on each of those easily. I usually keep my records pretty much in order, but there are always the small things here and there that I either forget to pull aside or just can't find on an initial search. 

One of the really fun things in Lord of the Rings Online are
the impromptu performances by various player groups
at events or in pubs. Sometimes the performers have
similar clothing - matching in style or color, but sometimes
they are just a gathering of musicians. Some of the groups
are quite good. 

In LOTRO, the latest update finally has offered the fiddle as an instrument. There have always been a variety of instruments available for the characters, including lutes, theoboros and bagpipes (although the bagpiper don't really sound like a bagpipe), but they have never offered a fiddle. Needless to say (but of course I'll say it anyway), my High Elf immediately ran off to find a Bard and buy one. I'm looking forward to finding an isolated place and practicing. I want to play some Heavy Metal on my fiddle - LOL. 

Here are the bakers for the Spring Baking Championship Season 4. They
are already reduced by one after last night's episode. 

The Spring Baking Championship, Season 4, started last night. After the preheat challenge of a tie-dyed cheesecake, the main challenge was an ombre cake featuring a savory herb. I had never thought of an ombre cake before, always thinking of ombre in fashion where a gown or top would move through a color spectrum. These cakes were really lovely - those multi-colored layers really bright and cheerful. For me, it's better to watch the calories than indulge - LOL. 

So, I'm off to the pool. I'm almost finished with my current audio book and thinking about which book I want to start next. I'll have to return to the current series when books 3 and 4 have been put onto audio. I do have a long list of audio books to choose from (I've been buying them since 2002), so the choice will be fun. Have a happy Tuesday! 

Holiday Donations and Wishes

The Holiday clock is ticking down. I got the cards I've been so fortunate to receive from friends and relations taped across my mantlepiece, the ham and candy cane pie are in my fridge alongside the standing rib roast that we'll have for dinner on Christmas Day, and today is our final day of work until next Wednesday. I can hardly wait! I'm totally burned out and having three days off will be heaven. 

I'm totally burned out - just stick a fork in me. 

DH usually has filled the house with cookies by this time. He's been watching his weight, and I've been watching mine, so this year he tried something new. On Thursday he started making caramels, then he made some chocolate covered caramels, and then he added cashews to others of them. 

CH's truffles aren't this pretty, but it was the first
time he made them. They taste lovely, so I'm
totally in favor of his playing with chocolate. 

Yesterday, however, he continued the trend with something he's never made before - truffles! OMG - so good! He made apricot-brandy dark chocolate truffles and Irish Cream dark chocolate truffles. They are amazing! He wants to learn how to put a hard crust on the exterior of the truffle for next year. It's good to have goals - LOL. 

It's hard to decide where to donate. Do you want to keep
things local, or would you rather donate on the national
level? What causes are important to you? 

So, shifting gears. Unlike many others in the world. we're very fortunate. We won't be starving, cold, or alone over the holidays. I wish that would be the case for everyone, but I know better and so do all of you, my readers and friends. After much research, I have determined where I am donating for charity this year, in the continued hope that one day we can all live without fear, with a roof over our heads, and without worrying about when/where our next meal will come. 

The Trevor project is a crisis intervention center,
suicide hotline, and outreach program for LGBTQ
youth - a group with one of the highest suicide
rates nationwide. 

My four charities for 2018 are: The Trevor Project (click for link). As a crisis intervention center and information distribution center, the Trevor Project fights to eradicate the high suicide numbers of today's LGBTQ youth. 

Higher education is expensive and every little bit helps.
The Point Foundation's scholarships for LGBTQ students
can make a difference in buying a book or getting a meal
when needed. 

The Point Foundation (click for link) is a scholarship foundation focusing on providing financial assistance to LGBTQ youth attending college. One-third of all LGBTQ students drop out of high school. I guarantee there are some very sharp people among them who deserve a hand to achieve their goals, and I'm proud to donate again to them. 

I've been contributing to HRC for many years now. They
do great work on the political front. 

The Human Rights Campaign (click for link) is a political action campaign that I've donated to for several years. If we don't like what's happening politically, then we have to work to change it. HRC fights for LGBTQ equality. 

Although there have been some controversies re Trans
Lifeline in the past, I feel pretty comfortable choosing them. 

My final donation will be made to Trans Lifeline (click for link) - a phone link resource available for transgernder people. Although contacting Trans Lifeline is free of charge for people in the USA and Canada, people calling from outside the USA still have to pay, and they still call. There is a great need in the world to help people who are fighting to be the people they deserve to be. 

Now, it's not that I'm giving a great amount to any of these charities. I'm comfortable, but my personal funds aren't great and I haven't pulled a paycheck since the early 1990's. But I can't stand on the sidelines and let people - valuable people of all ages and genders - be wasted or be made to think they are unwanted, unloved, and useless. Thus, my small bit to help the world improve. 

Happy holidays to each of you. I'm taking a few days off to spend with DH and decompress before my four-day-sale at the shop commences (scream!!!). Have a safe and joy filled holiday and I'll be back on Wednesday morning, the 27th.