Tall Grasses in Winter

I've mentioned it each New Year's Eve.  Flower Drum Song (a fav movie of mine) has a scene where the father says it's good luck to pay outstanding debts before the New Year.  I like that idea and have tried to follow it.  * Made out any of the monthly bills I pay by check and mailed them.  * In August the plumber had replaced the hot water heater in Mjolnir.  The heater was under warrenty but he'd told me there would be a service bill.  When that bill hadn't arrived by September, I'd called and left a message w/ my name and address.  Still haven't seen a bill so called this week - of course had to leave a message again - to say if he'd call and let me know the amount I'd be happy to remit it.   * The town treasurer posted that she would be at the town hall to take property taxes in person on Saturday morning.   I bopped down, paid my taxes, and picked up Whip's metal tag proving she's registered w/ the town.   I really wanted this new tag to hang on Whip's harness.  She'd lost her old harness w/ it's tags in the spring.  The tag is not only a way to identify her if she gets lost but jingles so I can hear her when she's in the tall grass.   *  A good time to send thank you notes for the Christmas gifts.   Not actually a chore since I like picking out the on-line notes.    * The end of the year is when I make out donations to charities.   I found that, once they have your name, charities will send begging letters year round.  So I pick one date - the end of the year - to make all of my donations and then basically ignore the rest of their appeals.   That all done, I sat down on the couch and Whip curled up w/ her head on my lap.  Time for a long winter's nap.