News from Dundee!

Do all roads lead to Illinois? They did this week.  What do you get when you have a holiday in Dundee? Food, and more food. Cookies, and more cookies. Kids, and more kids. Presents, and more presents. Getting the idea. A lot of fun.

Claire came home and has treated us to a veggie chili made with yellow squash and all kinds of stuff. Then, Christmas morning, homemade spinach and cheese quiche with rolls, then chocolate covered pretzels and cookies. A rib roast, mahi mahi fillet and racks of lamb, with Billy's signature creamed spinach, and roasted beans and asparagus. Livin' the dream. And, of course, leftovers.

Daniel treated Mom and Dad and Grandma to super haircuts. Quite the treat for Grandma. Daniel is starting to get back on the guitar so we are waiting for some homemade music, too. Claire had a successful December school concert, which she said went well. We know a lot of work goes into those things, even with other teachers involved. Quite a feat when it is only her. 

Had Billy and Jen and clan for Christmas eve bash. Brought back memories of long ago with small children. Lots of laughter, drama, excitement and singing! Auden got a karioke player. Lots of singing. Even Elliot chimed in. 

Lur was in charge of home decorations, and she did a great job. A wonderful tree and many Santas all over. Kids were in heaven. 

It is 50 degrees here. The weather outside is not frightful. Great dog walks and outdoor activities. But we know it is coming. What did Pop say? Winter is good, because spring is not far behind. Time to order the seeds!

Hope all is well! Hugs from Dundee!

I am a Rock

♪♪A winter's day, in a deep and dark December...... ♪♪   Except it's not winter; it's still fall, dagnabbit.  I have been waiting for Indian summer since September, and it's just not coming.  (Am I even allowed to say Indian summer anymore?)

Winter followed us down to Washington where we had another wonderful Thanksgiving.  Annie flew in from California, where she had taken to wearing face masks because of the smoke.  So, which would you rather have - cold weather or smoke?  Cold weather doesn't look so bad.

Anyway, she was able to join us at Margaret and Andrew's house for the big meal, that is getting smoother every year.  Andrew cooked a perfect turkey, and the table was full of all the side dishes and even rolls (my contribution, with a little help from a fellow called Pillsbury.)  Andrew's parents were there, as were Leonor, Joe and Thomas, his second Thanksgiving.   Do any of you remember your second Thanksgiving?

We saw a few photos of other family days, with the Peter Dicksons at Janet's cousin's house, and John and Marilyn in short-sleeves and short pants down in Florida.  They incidentally are off on a cruise to Panama, more sunny weather.  Any others?  

While in Washington, we stayed with Leonor and Joe which meant we enjoyed the good fortune to watch Thomas for an afternoon. Joe and I watched a college football game, and Mary, Margaret and Annie went to a movie called Boy Erased.  We saw our Peace Corps friends, Bob and Monette, and the days flew by.  On the way home, we stopped in and had a diner brunch with Peter and Janet but missed Johanna because of our early start, to beat the traffic.  And we did, beat the traffic, luckily as the Delaware Memorial Bridge shut down  later in the day.  Completely, in both directions.  Busiest travel day of the year.  I think there are still people waiting to get across the bridge,

What else?  We had a swim team Christmas party here yesterday, and they are a pretty rowdy bunch for such healthy people. Not really, but it was fun.  Our summertime neighbors, the Locherys, have packed up and headed back to Wales having had enough of the Berkshires winter to suit them.  And, Timmy has been nice to check in on the kitty while we're gone.

Some sad news, in fact, too much sad news.  They say news like this comes in threes, and this time that was true.  One of her swim team mates lost her husband recently, a high school friend of Mary's passed after a long illness, and her cousin Pat died after a short illness.  Too many funerals.

Filling out the routines include doctors and dentists and winterizing the place, hanging wreaths and greens for the flower pots and moving porch furniture this year in the snow.  We still haven't gotten around to getting a tree, and the paper today warns us that it may be harder to find a good tree.  We do see a tree up at Thomas' house, though.  He's so mesmerized he can't even turn around for the camera.  That's one sign of hope and joy for the dark and dreary days.

Love to all of you from up here.