Starting the New Year Right!

The calendar has turned over and I'm doing my best to turn over with it!  Some recent doc appointments have brought about some medication changes and I'm feeling much improved! What a relief! And nothing like a pretty fruit arrangement to really make your day!

 

I've been spending a lot of time at the computer lately, looking at old photos. No, not for blogging. Not even to delete the bad ones (of which there are plenty.) It is to add my own photos to the Aura photo frame that Kevin and Molly gave me for Christmas which is high on my "best gift ever" list. (Left: Covid days/egg hunt; Right: Good times in England)

 

You may have one of these, a frame connected to the internet where you can upload favorite photos that cycle through in a random slide show. They put a number of photos on it to begin with, many (especially of the kids) that I had never seen before. I love this match up of Rick with Greg and Kevin combined with Kevin with Carson and Cam! Not staged, just a happy accident!

 

Well, you know what happened next -- I had to add my own!  (Left: Carson's baptism; a 70s themed birthday party.)

And finally, a very favorite photo of Rick with Carson. You can feel the love.

There is only one problem with this frame -- and it's a big one. I set it up right above my computer on the eye-level shelf on the desk. I keep looking at it all the time; my typing constantly needs correction and I productivity has slowed because as these cycle through, I'm not only seeing new things, I'm remembering them. 

 

 

 

Another present from Team Family (actually Cam, he's 7) was this Lego cat. It has a great story.

 

Rick was kid sitting before Christmas and they went to the mall. I soon got a phone call -- a child's voice saying, "Do you like cats?" "You know I do!" I replied. "Do you like Legos." (Oh, Oh!) "Well, I don't like stepping on them in my bare feet. they hurt." "Do you like putting them together." "Well," I said, "I don't think I'm very good at it."

 

This kid is cagey! "Well, I could help you with it!"

 

And there you have it. I don't know how he talked his mom into it, but I now have a paraplegic Lego cat. Cam did the first 80 pages of the 106 page booklet. I did the rest, though by the time I got to page 104, I realized that either I had used the wrong pieces elsewhere or else they were either lost or not included! But he's cute, even though he's missing a front leg! You can also build a dog and a bird from the same pieces. Winter is long. Stay tuned.

 

That said, we had a brief spell of 55 degree weather and despite the potential of rain, it was a good day to check out the Ditch. It was a solo walk -- not even a dog walker was out, no people resting on the benches.

 

It was very quiet, very little critter action, apart from this Canada Geese family in the large pond.

 

Something relatively new though -- put up last summer -- are a number of plaques telling about what the Ditch does, what kind of life is in those ponds, and the environmental elements. They're quite interesting and a nice addition  

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On the way back, I noticed the Deflatables. I find these so sad. They may be very cheery when they are up but once they deflate, they just look sort of lost and pathetic, like Santa died. 

 

But I fault no one for having Christmas out still. I certainly do. It's slowly starting to come down, Santas replaced with Snowpeople, Christmas pillows tucked away. Here's the kitchen shelf by the sink.

 

And another kitchen shelf. They make me smile.

 

I swapped out the Christmas Tree dishes for the snowmen plates, and it was good timing! We were having friends for dinner and I wanted a festive, happy table.

 

I made the easiest and most wonderful meal I think I've done in ages and I'll do it again. You should try it too. Carole of From My Carolina Home posted this recipe for Greek Pork Tenderloin ages ago. It is so simple -- a basic, limited ingredient marinade rubbed on the tenderloin and put in a bag in the fridge for up to eight hours (made in the morning). When it came out of the fridge and onto the pan, I added the grape tomatoes and put the marinade over them.  And that was it. Just had to bake it.

 

A bit of brown rice, some haricots vert with almonds and lemon juice and a Greek salad (which I bought at a local restaurant that makes great ones) and for dessert, baklava from Costco. Everything was ready to roll so I could enjoy the good company. 

 

And grand company it was, a time filled with terrific conversation, laughter, thoughtful discussions and great camaraderie.

 

I have to do this more often.

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