Spring Forward

Happy Daylight Savings Time!  It means we "spring forward" but it's actually snowing here and is supposed to go down to 8 degrees tonight.  That's right.  One digit.  But, this week it was up to 60 degrees one day, so there's hope.  And, we saw a picture of Washington with blossoms on the trees. 

 

In fact, it was a pretty hopeful week all around.  We got our second vaccines yesterday, an hour or so before Yo Yo Ma got his and so missed out on his impromptu cello concert for all the nurses and volunteers at the community college.  But we heard it made CNN!  We're famous.  Almost.  I wanted to go treat myself after the shot, but then I realized the shot was, in fact, the treat.  So far, not much bad reactions.

 

A lot of melting took place with the high temps this week, and we had small little lakes all over our yard.  But the basement is dry fortunately.

 

We decided after years of hemming and hawing to move forward with some renovations – mostly to carve out a bathroom and closet in our too-large master bedroom.  What convinced us to move ahead?  Part of it was the wonderful outdoor winter activities with no bath to soak in afterwards.  Part of it was the end of Covid and feeling comfortable with workers in the house.  And part of it was the record-breaking stock market.  Can't last forever.

 

We spoke to Vermont, Brazil and Washington several times. Annie and Sankar had been skiing a few times, but they're moving into their final two weeks up north. On to Asheville NC next. Brazil remains on tenderhooks because of the virus, and Joe and Leonor never know when they're going to shut everything down. And we see in both Brazil and Washington toddlers taking their first crawling movements and standing on their own.  Simon's going to be one year old coming up, right after David has his birthday.

 

A note on Mountain Springs/Poconos.  We hope to make a final decision in early April.  Talk about hemming and hawing.  One day, it doesn't look so good, and then a few days later, well, maybe.  Anyway, we'll let everyone know in a few weeks.

 

Anyone remember my quiz from last letter? "Which of the grandchildren are puppeteers?  Which are into ballet?  Who's been snowshoeing?"  Answers: Myles, Thomas and Elliot, and Donald.

 

Some sad news from Dundee.  Andrew and Lur had to put their cat down.  I can never remember whether the cat's name was Maynard or Tucker. A hunter and a character is what I do remember. He appeared in a recent weekly letter with his legs crossed. Update: I have just been informed that the cat's name was Murphy, after MRF and that stands for?

 

So, here's a weird coincidence.  As we finished one Netflix series, we turned to "All Creatures Great and Small" on PBS, and Mary remarked that we have become our parents, as the original series was one of Loretta's, and Mom and Pop's favorite shows.  Then, the weekly letter that I scanned today had this entry: "When Uncle Bob gave me a book on the Yorkshire vet of TV fame, he didn't realize that I would get out the maps and try to retrace some of the towns and places shown in such beautiful color. Nor did he suspect that I would come to the fine conclusion that Mom and I ought to try a trip to that fine land this fall. Probably just dreaming, but that can be fun, too." (May 4, 1981)

 

Even funnier, as we were watching the other night, I thought the countryside looked so beautiful, we should go to Yorkshire on a trip.  And, now that we have our second vaccine, we, too can dream a little. 

 

And, even funnier, the next weekly letter that I scanned was from April 27, 1981; it started out "Happy Daylight Savings Time.!"

 

And with that, love from up here.