Christmas -- The Merriment Continues

I think we were like many of you, who enjoyed multiple Christmases! As you saw in the last post, we had fun with the kids, decorating Rick's trees and doing the zoo walk. That was Monday. On Tuesday, it was our "Christmas Eve." I took the morning off so I could get a couple of things done at home (like sleep) and make cookies to decorate. But soon it was time for fun! (The clean-up would be later!)

 

We (I mean the collective "we") were going to build a gingerbread house. It started out well enough. 

Smile, and Keep On Tapping

The kids have moved on to their next Christmas after a good (and exhausting!) celebration. The tree is up and will be for a bit. I need the light and to be honest, have barely had time to sit with it and fully enjoy. I've had rough holidays before. This one has been overwhelming. But, as someone once said to me when I was doing theatre and we were all tired, not always sure of the steps, "Smile, and keep on tapping!" 

At Home: The Beauty of Irises

Many of you know that it is no secret that irises are one of my favorite spring flowers (and I have many favorites!). They are showy, lovely, colorful.

 

And most of all, as some of you also know, they remind me of my Aunt Iris.

At Home: Early Spring Fun -- and Storms

I've been getting my house pulled together for Easter decorating at long last (and probably a way to go!). I did get a few things up early to celebrate the advent of spring, though you wouldn't know it from our weather.

I know many of my blog friends in Canada and New England were hit by snow and ice storms over the past couple of weeks. Michigan got them too, in the north. Power was out for close to a week (and still is in some areas) and the roads were covered with ice and downed trees. We were concerned but no one we contacted could even get out of their own yards straight away, much less check ours, in hopes none of our tall, thin pines came down. Finally, one of our down-state friends, whose cottage is near ours, went north to check on things. Here's a photo. If this is the worst we have to deal with, I can work with that. (That said, as I write this, another ice storm is in the offing up there for tonight or tomorrow, so we're not out of the woods yet, no pun intended.)

Holidays at Home: A Tale of Two Christmases!

Like so many of you, our family enjoyed more than one Christmas this year -- one at home, one at the kids' house. 

 

That was our first one and it actually began a bit earlier in the week when Rick when down to kid-sit and I followed a couple of days later. They boys are six and seven (nearly eight) so it's a fun age to be with them. They're still young enough to have some magic in them, so when we went to the bookstore we came home with the elf on the shelf. It certainly kept them occupied.

Here and There

The time leading up to our departure has been hectic. Loads of doc appointments, trips to the lake, time with family and friends. Here's a brief update.

Postcards From the Lake -- Hello, September

So, here we are. Early September. Time to start packing up. Summer is over, and though we will return to the cottage two or three more times, we have to admit, summer is over. 

Postcards From the Lake -- Summer is Ending

Summer may not officially end until mid-September but for me, Labor Day has always felt like the end of the season. Like so many, I used to judge time on when school started or classes began at the university, along with the cooler nights and shorter days. Those school days are long past -- the cooler nights and shorter days are still here (and getting cooler and shorter!) You can tell when out walking too -- the goldenrod is now out in glorious abundance!

Bits of Real-Life November

When I first started writing this -- which was mid-November, right before we visited the kids -- it was  a glorious November day, one of several. The temperature hit 65, and maybe even topped it. The sun was out and there was no real wind! It couldn't have been a better (or more unusual) day for the season. When you have a day like that, you grab it. We know what is around the corner. Today there is snow -- and so cold!

Postcards From the Lake: The Place That Owns Me

The end of season walk is quieter, more contemplative, than those during the heat of summer. In the summer, many others are encountered and conversations -- some brief, some less so -- are not uncommon. The October walk, especially on a weekday, finds that one is often alone.

 

Springtime Gatherings

It seems like everything happens in June -- graduations, weddings, parties. It's no exception here! We've had a few fun times and celebrations of late. Read on -- and don't forget to join the party with the youtube video! (And yes, Wrennie is still in residence! I wonder if she has eggs in there?)

More From Cleveland -- Art, Food and Family!

When last we left our happy travelers, we had wrapped up the Tudors at the Cleveland Art Museum. But there was much more to see and we were going to see it! So, here is some of the art that I really loved! This is an airy portrait by James Tissot.

We all know Monet painted lots of things like this...

But this one, called "The Red Kerchief," (1868-70 and an oil on fabric) rather surprised me!

Easter Weekend -- It was Eggcellent!

Easter 2023 is wrapped up and in the books for another year but it was such a terrific weekend, with kids, friends, eggs, good food and so much more, that I had to share a bit!

Life Around Here

Gray. If you had to put our month into one color it would be gray. 

Not that we haven't had the (rarely) occasional blue sky. But mostly gray. 

Postcards from the Lake: A Birthday and a Mass Invasion!

Everything this summer has been more than a little topsy turvy with a few big monkey wrenches thrown into the mix. Would my birthday be the same? Nope! It was terrific!

Postcards From the Lake: What It's All About!

What could be happier than a beautiful, sunny summer day at the lake? Spending a beautiful, sunny summer day with two little boys and their mom and dad!

Our grandlittles had a grand time at the beach when they came to visit us last week. The boys hadn't been to the cottage for a couple of years -- Covid did that to our gang! So, we were thrilled when they finally arrived! The weather couldn't have been better, which made outside time absolutely perfect!

Welcome, Spring!

Now, this is the way to spend the first day of spring!

We hadn't yet celebrated the Big Guy's birthday -- he turned five in February. So, on this glorious first day of spring, we headed to Livonia with presents and cupcakes and settled in for a day of fun!

Christmas In February

We came bearing gifts and received as well. We played with little boys and savored fabulous meals. We were with our tribe and it was wonderful.

Christmas didn't play out for us in December. Between our isolating and Covid hitting the kids' house (thank you, day care!), we were behind the game. So, we reverted to something my cousins and I actually did back in the day when families were either too large or not well enough to travel far at the holidays: Christmas in February.

Thankful for a Wonderful Holiday Weekend

I still love a four-day weekend now as much as I did when I was working. It's a different vibe, time to relax -- or work your tail off -- or see people you love. And mine was splendid.

Road Trip: Happily Ever After!

I have not been in public crowds for a very long time and I was very apprehensive about our visit to Cleveland. But my cousin Jeff was marrying the lovely Lauren and I wouldn't miss that for the world. Well, yeah, I probably would have if Covid was as bad as one year ago. But with the vaccine and booster, an N95 and another to put over it, and the promise of sitting at a vaccinated table after the outdoor wedding ceremony, I was good to go!