Christmas Gatherings

My daughter has been here a week now and we have been enjoying each others company. We went to see Wicked, and have been watching Queer Eye on Netflix. We had dinner out with her ex-stepmom and another friend which was very fun. Since she works remotely, she has been busy each day with work, while I go about my business. 

I had a holiday luncheon with a large group of retired women I used to teach with. It was nice to catch up with them all. 

The theme was to wear your teacher Christmas sweaters., but I never was fond of them so had none to wear. I made due with my favorite new SmartWool forest.

These women certainly made teaching a fun career!

I went on a gentle 5 mile hike with my hiking group, and of course lunch afterwards. 

A wooded preserve near Cooperstown, NY.

There was plenty of snow here along with frosty temps. 

These were planted to make telephone poles.

While picking up dinner, Glenn and I admired a Christmas tree display near home.


The weather turned out to be 54 degrees and sunny yesterday, so I couldn't help but pack up my bike and get in a ride. 

Art along the bike trail.

When I reached the far end of the trail, a woman was struggling to take a selfie with
her bike, so I offered to take the picture. She then took mine. We chatted about
the fact that we couldn't say no to a bike ride in such beautiful and rare weather. 

The barn renovation is ongoing. It looks like they are installing siding over the old wood
and the roof is finished. 

As soon as I got home, the sky clouded up and the temperature started dropping. 

My latest project has been getting my name officially changed back to my birth name. I wanted to do it 20 years ago, but my daughter, then 7, said she'd be sad not to have the same name as I did. Then a few years ago she asked why I never changed my name back and that I should. Well after so many years of not wanting to go through the hassle, I finally got sick of a name I really don't want. Therefore I am gathering up documents, filling out forms, and visiting various offices to go back to my original name. It's going to take a few months but it will make me so very happy.

Glenn is off spending a couple of days with her father, and I'm organizing a family gathering on the weekend and a few other holiday events before she heads back to Los Angeles. 

Comments

  1. MargaretDecember 18, 2024 at 9:45 PM

    How wonderful to have your daughter there! I too made so many lifelong friendships from teaching. My Ram Ladies have been there for me in good and bad times. My Book Club is also made up of former teaching colleagues and even a former student. We have to grab those moments, don't we? Today was decent weather for a walk whereas yesterday was terrible, so I didn't get many steps in

    ReplyDelete
  2. PamDecember 24, 2024 at 3:46 PM

    That looks very chilly! I have lots of good teaching friends too. It's wonderful. I wouldn't really want to revert to my birth name, which was Smith (boring). I much prefer my married name, and would keep it even if my husband went off with a blonde. Happy Christmas to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete

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