It got down to 25 degrees last night, extremely unusual for this part of the world. And when the wind picked up in the wee hours of the morning, it found its way through every tiny crack and crevice, giving us chilly spots here and there throughout the house.

Definitely sweater weather. I'm even wearing socks in the house, which is a definite sign of Winter, since my feet and hands are usually warm without additional coverings. The thermometer did its best today, topping out at a toasty 59 degrees.

I groomed the dog today and the loose fur came out in beautiful golden tufts, which the cat saw as great fun for chasing and batting around. I won, though, when I turned on the vacuum cleaner.

The below freezing temps will kill the outdoor tomatoes. As you know, I am constantly jonesing for homegrown tomatoes. Not to worry. I have started indoor tomatoes from seed and they have their first leaves. Soon now I can fret over them. Never be at a loss for frettage, say I.

A perfect day for those little pesky chores and gentle relaxations: groom the dog, do the dishes, bake a loaf of bread, fold laundry, read some more in the current mind candy book.

This is the kind of restful day that knits up the raveled sleeve of care, as Will would say.