The Years To Remember

We spent the last couple of days of my daughter's visit enjoying the area on walks, watching favorite shows, and me getting to spoil her with Mom attentions. All too soon it was time to drop her at the airport where she had an uneventful trip back to LA. A colorful sunset looking southwest toward the Catskill Mts. I met my friends Dale and Janice for breakfast on the 24th because our monthly dinner had to be postponed to January and that is just too long to wait between friends. It is always so good to see them and in this case wish them a Merry Christmas. Later that day, as I was baking cookies and apple crisp, Dale texted that she had come down with the flu and cancelled her Christmas plans. I had the flu vaccine and felt fine, so I just continued on with my plans. The day before Christmas we had some precipitation, but it was graupel - neither snow nor sleet, but something in between - like little snow pellets. The apple crisp was successful and delicious. Christmas day was deli...

A little Christmas decor.  I always think of my Dad at the solstice because he loved its hopeful nature. The returning sun, longer daylight hours, and renewal always seemed to energize him. For some reason I am embracing the solstice even more this year. I woke up at sunrise and watched it for a bit. Then I decided a dip in the hot tub with a lemon-lime ginger water would be a nice start to the day. It was sunny, calm and peaceful as I watched the birds and squirrels flitting about while I embraced gratitude.  Now, about 2 hours later, it's cloudy, windy, and we're getting a little snow. What a good reminder to enjoy each moment as it comes, because things always change.  I'm guessing this was a high school or college photo of my Dad. I never knew him with a full head of hair, as I met him when he was 35 and already balding.  He has the most serious expression - I mostly saw him smiling. Dad and I were shoveling snow while Mom and my daughter were staying warm inside...

  Just a beautifully decorated home I passed on my way to a hike this week. My daughter and I had a wonderful visit with my two sisters last weekend. They left for their homes Sunday which are 2 and 3 hours away. Just as my mom used to do, I reminded them to let me know when they arrived safely. The largest part of our time was spent chatting, laughing, and reminiscing. We did quite a bit of cooking (me), went to a Ukrainian Christmas Market, visited NightWood light and music event, and ended our visit with a late lunch at the Tipsy Moose Tavern. We made tentative plans to meet again in January to go through family photos, digitize them, and possibly create a memory book or two. This is what happens when I take a photo without my glasses - a bit blurry. We enjoyed walking the Night Woods trail and listening to the enchanting music. The Mount is such a stately house and never disappoints. The snow made it even more magical. Me and my daughter, chilly but happy. It was a sub freezing...

 12/6 Saturday I'm paying the price for going out and partying not 24 hours after general anesthesia surgery. My muscle aches started during the lunch yesterday and now I can't move without lots of body pain today. I'm hoping a full day of rest and lots of fluids will help. I'm going to lay low tomorrow as well, to give my ear every chance at healing quickly.  12/8 Monday My skinny pencil Christmas trees won't hold large ornaments, so I've taken to hanging them around doors and windows to festivate my home. Who knew rest and fluids would get me back to somewhat normal! Still no exertion allowed, so life is rather dull. Grocery shopping and light housework is all I've been doing. I did put up more than my usual amount of decorations for Christmas, though there isn't much to choose from since I've given most of it away. My daughter comes tomorrow and my two sisters will join us on the weekend. I'm very excited. I'm planning lasagna, meatballs, ...

 12/5/25 This robin looks a bit disgusted with the weather! My previous post of the 10 day weather turned out to be a bit inaccurate as usual. This morning's low was -2°F. A very chilly start to the day as evidenced by the nonstop birds getting all the suet they can. I was happy to see a red bellied woodpecker, along with the usual smaller ones. I can't get good photos of the birds because the deck is backlit by the sunny yard, and in shadow, so the photo below is one I took out my classroom window when I had my classes involved in Cornell's Project Feederwatch about 10 years ago.  Red bellied woodpecker Yesterday's surgery was interesting. I thought my eardrum was just going to be disconnected from a bone it was lying against. When the Dr tried that, it caused the eardrum to tear irreparably. He also noted the bone was damaged. So a bone was replaced, and a new silicone eardrum was installed. Sounds like I'm a major appliance now. 🤖 I did not get the info from my...

Monday 12/1 A shot during Tuesday's snowstorm. This nuthatch and lots of woodpeckers enjoyed the suet feeder.  I finally worked a shift at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve on Monday, after taking five months off. It was just as boring as I remember, but I read a new manual for docents, and caught up on The Conservationist magazine which my mother gift subscribed for me for about 25 years. I missed it and may subscribe again. Instead of taking a hike on their trails, I completed a few errands, then went for a walk in the neighborhood. It was so cold. Winter has not officially begun, but we are expecting more than 7" of snow Tuesday. A potluck dinner, for the X-Country ski group, has been rescheduled to next week when my daughter will be here, so I most likely won't go. I hate to think what it's going to be like when actual winter begins.  Downy woodpecker. Wednesday 12/3 I was forced to stay home for Tuesday's snowstorm so I was able to prepare well for my surgery on ...