Hi Karma, Yep, FIL in DH's Dad.

But after a phone call from SIL, the standing is "No!" from FIL. He has some obligations he takes seriously and is going be sure to allow help to come in and use the coal that heats the house. He is trying to heat a house with really no insulation with 2e electric heaters. He just stays in his the man areas of the house and huddles around the TV and the heaters. When if he would use coal the house can be heated uniformly and cheaper than his two heaters.
He is 86 and already has had several falls, but the last one really panicked him as it was near the street and noone stopped to help him. They probably were zipping by and weren't expecting to see someone lying on the ground.
He is now willing to wear an emergency alert device so that when he falls he can press it. That is the concession for staying in his house.
I understand completely why he wouldn't want to leave for a winter visit with us.
He wouldn't understand anxiety at all, he is losing some mental clarity and I suspect he has had a mini stroke. He is very stubborn and the 2 daughters that live near him can only do so much.
I'm like you, right now I'm not in a hurry for a tree or any decorating. I use to be, but just trying to work with this new found anxiety takes enough of my energy and to spend my energy on decorating a tree, etc. is going to be hard.
I did venture out to mail a couple letters and buy some almonds and something else healthy. Ended up buying more and studying the yogurts' ingredients along with cottage cheese. It is interesting that they put more sodium in the dairy products if there is less fat. And more sugar if there is more fat. I think I got that right.
Anyway, the roads were slick, but by the time I left the store there was powdery snow. Very pretty, but I wasn't planning on filling up a grocery cart. LOL! So that was a whole new adventure for me since I had my first panic attack, is to go grocery shopping. I'm finding it very difficult, because I'm being very choosy w/the food items.

Which is a good thing, as I'm trying to eliminate more salt, sugar and fat from my diet.
Your dog is definitely on the hunt!

We ended up getting a shock collar for my dog, because he loved to herd the cars that go by. They didn't go fast, in fact they would stop for him. Then he would get in front of their bumper and "herd" the car. It was quite funny, but dangerous and I'm sure, annoying to the drivers. We put in an invisible fence. It worked quite well, it just didn't keep the other dogs out of our yard.
I think the mufflers are a super gift!
