Arthur's birthday today. It was lovely. I made a special dinner of Beef Wellington and opened a bottle of wine and it was a fantastic evening, spent in the very best company. We had chocolate soufflé for dessert that was pure heaven, if I do say so myself.

The best part is Arthur's present! I arranged--through a nifty postal company in Diagon--a subscription to a Muggle magazine called Popular Mechanics. I gave him the first issue and he was beside himself for the rest of the evening.  It was all I could do to entice him to come to the bedroom to unwrap his other present.  

I haven't been troubled by a single 'episode' since Sunday morning.  I really shouldn't have waited so long to go see Severus for a potion.  Such a dear man, truly.  Which reminds me, I think I'll get started on some pies for him.  He looked a little peaky.  I wonder if he's anemic?

I have finished almost all of my Christmas sweaters--have gone through two pairs of enchanted knitting needles.  Really, I must look into buying better quality ones. Now the emphasis is on the cooking, as it should be.  With only twenty-one days until Christmas, I am quite a mess.   I still need to finalize the head count before I can finish planning the menu.  There's so much to do this time of year, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

My goodness.  I can't believe it's that time of year again; I turned fifty-two today.  Arthur, bless his heart, tried to make me breakfast, but only succeeded in setting the curtains on fire.  He's making it up to me tonight by taking me out to dinner.

I am feeling a bit melancholy today. I look back at my life and I'm it all seems a blur-when I was raising my children it felt as if they'd never grow up.  Yet here I am now in a too-large house of stillness and eerie silence.  Perhaps it is time I looked into a job? Or maybe I could volunteer somewhere?  Decisions, decisions.