Happy 2021 ???

It is the evening of January 2, 2021 as I write this post.

I drowned my “despair in humanity (mostly US humanity) sorrows” in enjoying being outside with Auggie and Emmett … particularly with a day before New Year’s Eve day snowfall … as well as with continued enjoyment of VendeeGlobe 2020 and immersion in the stellar behavior of all involved in that event…

Like many, I looked to 2021 as a respite from 2020, although I knew that virus and political stuff would likely not resolve in the year … still, there was hope!

And on the home front, I have a number of projects that provide personal joy.

Do you sense a “but” coming?

Yes, well. A few glitches to the start of my 2021: primary computer failure, Jeep start failure … WHAT??? I had expectations of a glitch-free 2021 :)

Anyway, not major really, but …

Computer. I did what I could. Next week, I will pursue professional assistance, but in the meantime, I spent the better part of 2 days and have another good day to go to get my backup computer up to speed. And I am ordering a new computer … that was in the cards for sometime 2021 but I didn’t anticipate quite this early … oh, well. Once all shakes out, at least one of the computers will be sold.

The Jeep … the JEEP!! Ultimately, minor …. I think. I think battery and I have a service call for Monday 1/4. But, the irony [to me] was that I was headed to the hardware to get something that was my last ditch effort for my computer and then the Jeep made a “clicky-clicky-clicky” noise when I tried to start it. I had some long lost memory about starting with the gas pedal to the floor (Jeep is manual transmission, so this is clutch in) and HOO-RAH … a few chugs and Jeeper started, but stalled at idle. Retries and run with pedal to the metal and finally it was ok at idle.

I phoned neighbor Mike to discuss. (Mike and his wife, Nancy are car buffs and if I remember the story correctly, they fell in love scooting under race cars … something like that … over 30 years ago :) )

Back to subject. I initially wondered about the starter based on some history, but Mike thought battery and since the Jeep idled fine while I stood in the driveway speaking to Mike … I threw caution to the wind and went to the hardware and the grocery AND the dump. No issues.

BUT, see above. New battery on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Vendee Globe leading pack is approaching Cape Horn and it is extremely nerve wracking! Google Drakes Passage … I have become emotionally involved (virtually :) … I want them all to do well and most of all to finish!) with all of the skippers and also scared myself silly watching documentaries about Cape Horn/Drakes Passage … so have had several sleep deprived nights worrying about the fleet rounding Cape Horn.

As of this writing, the leader is around… and I think the weather is slightly better for the next group. But it will be awhile before I truly rest easy!

Okey-dokey. That’s the scoop and the current state of the fambly Summers.

Here we go with the pictures.

But, wait … even with all of the stuff … the craft projects continue and I love working on them:

The looped yarn throw … it is close to being done … another skein…

9 of 30 blocks complete. The yarn and pattern for 10-12 is on the way.

New Year’s rolls: 1/2 are cinnamon and 1/2 are chocolate-tahini. All are good!

Hopefully next weekend I can do a proper “wrap” of 2020. Spoiler … I am very happy about how many new things I learned in 2020. And despite the challenges of the year … for me, it was a pretty good … productive year.

2021: Bring it!!

Home alone

Hopefully everyone is AT.HOME.

I know that this is an unusual year for all.

We have been told to STAY.HOME.

I am appalled at how many have not headed that advice. It is one time … (although, I really think it is the first of maybe more) that we have been called to just STAY.HOME. As in not visiting family or friends.

I think the advice is as clear as the science: wear a mask, keep distance, do not travel and do not mingle outside of the people that you live with.

Honestly!!!

Anyway.

Here, at the family Summers, we LOVE being home alone :)

And the weather the last few days has been beautiful…

The road home… I took trash to the dump site … no contact… and then…

the road home.

Christmas Day: belated, i.e. the day after

I took many photos of our Christmas Day, but ran out of steam for a post…

so..

here are some views of our day!

We started together on the little sofa, with coffee and Vendee Globe catchup!

Lox, cream cheese, capers, pickled onions on my own sourdough bagels … and a side of latke to cover all of the bases :) (Hanukkah ended a week ago but ….) Christmas Breakfast!

Christmas breakfast sweet = cinnamon roll with frosting!!

We walked off the decadent breakfast!

So we could make the decadent afternoon treat…

Pull apart Christmas tree pizza roll thing…

Dip that roll in marinara and YUM!

Time for another walk…

Home sweet and cozy home.

We had a wonderful and delicious Christmas Day!

Scenes from Christmas Eve Day

Sunshine is making it’s way …

The chairs are about to get some sun :)

Auggie’s grumpy look is perhaps explained by cold feet!

So, I picked him up and took our selfie :)

Emmett assisted in making sure our firewood stockpile was adequate for Christmas coziness!

The early evening walk…

And then … I received a phone call from my neighbor: was I home and would I accept a Christmas offering? I was and I would…

Fresh and steaming from the oven: Huckleberry muffins!!

I have the best neighbors :)

I had the first muffin, probably before my neighbor left my driveway. I shared a small bit with Emmett.

And then … Emmett sat below the counter top where the other muffins were cooling.

Conclusion: Emmett LOVES huckleberry muffins as do I. Thank you neighbor, Nancy!!!

A White Christmas…

We had Winter in October and November, then not so much in December.

But, yesterday, it got cold, snow and I think it might stay cold through at least Chrismas Day.

Not a lot of snow, but enough to be pretty for a short while.

And, an early Christmas present for Emmett … a new stuffed fren: Sebastian :)

A very Merry and Happy Christmas to all!!

***hopefully some fun posts on Christmas day, but just in case … All of us wish all of you a very good and safe holiday: Joyeux Noel!

TGIF: weekly recap

I have some photos, but I have just watched the weekly recap of VendeeGlobe 2020 and nothing I have compares …

SO, even if you do not sail or know about sailing …

So much science, athleticism, technical knowledge, seamanship extraordinaire … I used to follow US sports, not for some years … and now, the idea of following “balls” and the absolutely childish behavior in US sport… Vendee Globe is above and beyond any sport that I have ever followed.

I have come to love all of the skippers and have also looked at their sponsors.  Many of the skippers are sponsored by charitable organizations (detail in future posts, hopefully!)

From somewhere in the video:

“Anyone who finishes the Vendee Globe returns a different person”

I will add … if you follow the Vendee Globe, you WILL return a different person. I am already … not quite half way through … a different person.

I hope a better person.

I hope a more civil, a more compassionate, a more respectful person.