Friday minutia

Last work vacation day of my holiday-vacation week. In the time leading up to it I had started a list of possible things I wanted to do, some more specific then others. I was up to 26 items when I left work last Friday... so far I've done 2 and a half. I'm at a lost how to explain it but I'm not surprised, even my annual camp vacation works out that way. One of the done items is I started my terrarium hobby. It has only been a year since coming up with that idea. After mentioning it I received Christmas gifts of a how to book about starting a terrarium and a gift card for a local greenhouse to buy plants and materials. A year later and I made some of those purchases and yesterday did my first "desert" open top terrarium. Needs a little work and I need the practice. In the long run I'll gravitate to more woodsy types. The other full item was to donate blood, did that Tuesday. They were giving out long sleeve American Red Cross T-shirts and I'll get a $10 for going in the day that I did. I would have gone in anyway seeing how I had the time but had the chance to pick a day that it was offered. The half part was just kind of a whiff of several things from the list. Not on the list was a given - read the latest Expanse book "Persepolis Rising" by James S. A. Corey. I think it's the 7th book in the series. Great read though I doubt I'll finish it before return to reality next week.

Since Tuesday the temperatures have dropped to the single and negative digit cold with wind chills adding another negative 10 to 20 below. Yesterday I bundled up to clear ice and snow that had fallen over the weekend onto my truck - took at least 2 hours including breaks to go in to warm up to keep the fingers and toes from getting frost bitten. This morning with a fairly de-iced truck and two 5-gal buckets I drove to the town salt barn to replenish my supply of salt and sand depleted after Saturday's freezing rain used on the driveway and parking area. Good to go for the next ice storm that I hope we don't have.

Ian and Ali will be arriving here in a couple of hours or so to spend the weekend with us. Time to peel the shrimp for scampi. Tomorrow it's off to the postponed Christmas get together for my side of the family so we'll close the book on that. As usual where does the time go when you are on vacation?

Christmas week vacation

Been on holiday/vacation since Saturday and finally doing a blog. Going back in time a little to mid December it seemed the stars were lined up for an incredible run on extended family Christmas get togethers finishing with a quiet Christmas at home. Saturday with my side at Mom's apartment facility's function room that we reserved for the occasion. Sunday brunch with Carol's side at our house. Unusual to be able to schedule all this on consecutive days. So the week preceding this the forecast for Saturday became an all day freezing rain. Well my siblings and I hedged at postponing as our sons, daughters, nieces and nephews and their families turnout was looking to be very good. Then Friday morning we received news that our niece Jen who was pregnant with twin boys and husband Adrian had gone into labor early, by a month and a half! Doing well. So brother Dave and Carolyn would be staying close to Jen, Adrian and the twins who are in Massachusetts. At that point between their family's absence and the deteriorating road conditions that would take place on Saturday we decided to postpone to the following Saturday with whoever can make it breaking up the dream weekend.

Sunday was a beautiful day, bright and sunny, the yard and driveway were icy. Ian had come up from Kittery the night before, Ali staying at her parents for family/church activities. After breakfast Ian and I were out breaking up ice and sanding down the driveway before the guests arrived and Carol preparing some cooking and setting up the dining, etc. Once everyone was here much talking, munching, drinks ensued followed by a sit down feast of a variety goodies from everyone with several favorites that are yearly staples.

Gift exchanging came afterward, lots of fun there, always a great time. After everyone had left Carol, Ian and I had our own gift exchange between ourselves with Ian leaving soon after to rejoin Ali for Christmas at his in-laws.

Christmas Day, Carol, the cat and me. Pretty low key, checked out the gifts we received, some Facebook time. Did not do our usual day long movie trilogy, just weren't feeling it this year. Maybe this weekend. Snowed about 12" from early morning into late afternoon. Nice not to have to travel. Once it stopped snowing we went out to clean up the driveway, deck and pathways. Ian and Ali are coming up to spent the weekend with us. Saturday is a go for my side of the family to get together. Looks like we will dodge a storm system coming toward the coast.

A lot to be thankful for: family, well being, job issue settled, a white Christmas. The twins are in a special care unit for about a month as their lungs develop otherwise in great health, made from good stuff.

Time to hunker in for a long winter.

It's starting to look a lot like...

Winter but if it was a couple of weeks from now I'd say Christmas. Snow started falling around 1 pm, I was able to get a few remaining items around the yard to where they will spend the winter. Finally dragged out the snowthrower, reset the shoes, put some gas in and fired it up. Forgot to check the oil level so I'll need to do that after it's warmed up in the morning when I go into snow removal mode. The best things about this snowfall is that it's the weekend and we did not have a need to go out and drive somewhere, did that earlier today. After breakfast tomorrow the snow will have pretty much come to an end and I can begin the cleanup and finish up in plenty of time for Carol to meet up with her sisters and mother for a trip to the Ikea in Massachusetts. By then the roads between here and there should be in good shape. Cherish the timing because more often than not most snowfalls happen on work days.