Traditions

Tonight we will carry on a tradition that started somewhat organically and spontaneously and now, three years later, will continue on!

Tonight, Todd, Janet, Mike, and I will gather around the table for a meal and some Pitch playing.  Before midnight, we will all jump into the hot tub (with swimming suits - I can't believe you wondered!) and bring in the new year under the stars, with a glass of champagne (not for me, I'm on duty - drats!), and listen to Bob Dylan on the outside speakers.

There's something about traditions.  They are good.  They keep us remembering that some things are worth going to a little extra effort, making that thing priority when so many other items are pulling at that list.  And traditions are fun. 

Making New Year's resolutions are another tradition.  I like to jot down a list every year.  Try to hold myself to these lists of better-meant. 

Happy New Year's to all.  Be safe tonight and all of next year, dear ones!! 

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ― Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Dinner with Mom!

Mike and his mom Janet. What a wonderful meal at Catch 407. We have certainly eaten well this vacation!  For our last night here, oysters on the half shell, calamari, scallops and clams.  Oh my.  Oh my! Janet enjoyed venturing out into the dark New York night. It is crazy warm here. A wild and windy storm blew through last night, bringing back memories of windy nights in Illinois, childhood memories that remain embedded into my memory. 

New Years Eve is next up. Safe travels for us all. Drink lots of water as you drink up the other libations to bring in 2019. Cheers, Friends and Family, Cheers!

Merry Christmas!!

Mike and I celebrate this year's Christmas with brother Scott & Stephanie and their lovely kids Michael & Angela, Hillary & Brett, and Evan and Dani.  We are staying in their deluxe Adirondack "cabin" and we all fit very comfortably!  You can find out all about this amazing NY State inholding at Where are the Adirondaks?  We have had two clear sky days thus far and a snow storm to whiten things up for today!  Very nice!

Here is a picture from this morning's Christmas breakfast!  What a beautiful family!

Here is the beautiful house.  Stephane and Scott have it listed on Air Bnb.  Look it up at Dartbrook House  They are as thrilled with this place as we are with our Freedom place - we know that feeling - and now we understand why!  What a view looking out to the Adirondack mountains!!

Next up - Christmas Dinner!  A 8 pound beef rib roast, twice baked potatoes, all the fixin's AND a giant bottle of wine await our festive spirits!  

This Year's Gifts

Todd is my Pitch-playing partner.  He and I can cause Janet and Mike to wail in exasperation as we pull off game after game in the "Us and Them" scorecard event.  Todd likes to win.  So do I.  (Of course, so do Mike and Janet!!)

This is what Todd gave me for Christmas!  This summer, vexed with a mounting weed take-over, I grabbed an old bread knife out of the kitchen and started to de-root weeds below the service.  The knife served in other ways too; cutting broccolini, cabbage heads when they were young, and other cutting missions of the like.  I believe Todd's A.M. Leonard Soil Tool will be a much more appropriate and useful tool for the summer of 2019!  And he didn't just get me the knife....I got a PINK handled knife and the sheath to contain the thing!!  What a perfect gift!  Thank you Todd!!

Janet's cookies arrived.  They are amazing and disappearing fast.  I put most in the freezer to try to quell the magical disappearing act they were performing!

We leave Friday for New York.  Watch for more posting of travel.  Watch "It's a Wonderful Life".  Mike and I are making it an annual tradition.  Merry Christmas to all!! Stay Safe, Loved Ones!