A New Year

 

Hiking friends sharing a New Year's Eve. Our hiking leader Jim, (maroon shirt up front)
who nearly died on a hike last year is back to his fit self leading hikes. 

I've spent plenty of New Year's Eves at home, quite happily, but the past few have been spent with this group. We started out as a hiking group, but have morphed into friends, book clubbers, and even travel companions. Several have coupled up, which is lovely, but most of us remain intrepid solos who love to plan adventures. We toasted our hosts, our friendships, and an even better year ahead to share. 

It was such a fun gathering where we celebrated the New Year in Brazil (at 10 pm). 
No one made it to midnight in NY!

Rum balls I made for the festivities. I packed them up nicely in a pretty tin.

Ten days ago, when I was on a walk, I noticed the rehab work going on at the house below. It didn’t look right to me, which is why I took a picture.

I could hardly believe my eyes - the first floor was mostly removed. I could see clear through
 to the back yard. This doesn't seem to be the work of professional builders.

The first floor was not only completely gutted, but seemed to be held up only by a series of 2 x 4’s which struck me as being much too flimsy. The new ones in the back were for an extension, and not even bearing any of the second floor's weight.

Today, Annette and I were taking a walk and it seems last week's high winds and two snowstorms had their way with the place. It is now, unexpectedly, a ranch house.

I'm guessing it's a total loss, but I don't know how insurance companies handle DIY projects
gone so terribly wrong. What a shock for the neighbors, to have heard it come down!

I've found a new reading spot, looking out at the bird feeder on my deck. The woodpeckers are definitely keeping me entertained in the most foul weather. The temperature only rarely reaches above freezing, and the snow and winds have been constant. Annette mentioned that it's odd to have a "real" winter this early.

Nuthatch and downy woodpecker.

There are at least two of the large red-bellied woodpeckers.

I see our hike for tomorrow in the Adirondacks has been changed to the Berkshires in MA, due to the brutally cold weather. I'm going to go in any case as I have become a bit fluffier than normal. I've been taking it easier due to my ear healing process too. Time to get out there and move it! 
I have grown a bit dismayed with the complete lack of hearing in my ear. I know I have to wait for the packing to dissolve, but fear of a complete loss of hearing keeps creeping into my mind. In social situations it has been difficult keeping up with conversations. I know how hearing loss can be isolating for people and I now have first hand experience of that. My optimism still holds out that my ear will improve in a bit more time.


I put out a saucer of seed to attract non-suet loving birds and caught this titmouse in flight.

I finished watching the last season of Stranger Things last night. I liked it and didn't want it to end, but it did come to a decent conclusion. It was a good mix of SciFi, Adventure, and Fantasy so it kept me happily entertained. I'm trying to make more time for reading The Night Watchman, our next book club pick, but I have a hard time sitting still!


Comments

  1. MargaretJanuary 2, 2026 at 10:36 PM

    I think we read "The Night Watchman" in Book Club but there are several books with that or a similar title. Who is the author? Your hiking group is so big and looks congenial and happy! I've been lax about walking but not so lax about eating sweets, so I need to get out there and pound some pavement. My younger daughter saw the last episode of Stranger Things and liked it but cried a bunch. Happy Hiking and New Year to you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MaureenJanuary 3, 2026 at 6:53 PM

    Louise Erdrich is the author. I too am trying to get back into some kind of fitness routine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2026 at 7:57 PM

      Yes, we did read that one. I loved Erdrich's "The Round House" but wasn't in love with "The Night Watchman" although I don't remember disliking it. We also read "Night Watch" by Jayne Anne Phillips which won the Pulitzer Prize, like "The Night Watchman." I was one of the few in BC who liked the former. I've also read "The Watchman" by Robert Crais, a mystery novel. So, you can see why I was confused!

      Delete

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