Day 21: Soltice

The snow has finally melted here but brought the fog in its place. Fog and rain are the usual markers of winter here. Seems appropriate that the fog burned off and left light Given today marks the Winter Solstice.

Day 20: Joy

Persimmons in Chinese culture represents Joy especially for the New Year.  Each time when I visit the Chinese Gardens, seeing the persimmons hanging from a leaf-bare tree always brings me joy. They have a bright color – something in stark contrast to the grey days of rain that is Oregon in winter.  Joy.

Day 19: Christmoose

We’ve had this big ginger guy for a year now.  He gets up every morning and keeps me company while I have coffee (he has milk).  He torments the dogs. He talks to us.  He is truly my oldest kid’s familiar.  A year ago, he came to us just having gotten off of the streets….

Day 18: Tree

Yesterday, we got our tree up finally.  We usually like to “go hunt the wild Christmas tree”,  but the weather has forced us to a tree lot. Actually worked out fine as we got the right sized tree.  Funny how that happens. Today was an odd day. We all went to bed around midnight last…

Day 17: Cheer

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. ~Buddy Elf Bah, humbug ~Scrooge I’m feeling the latter. G has been dealing with a tooth situation that is going to have him getting a root canal after Christmas.  I’m thankful that they were able to get it fixed enough that he…

Day 14: Nature

It’s close to “Christmas tree”, right? We don’t have one yet, so I can’t post a photo of it. So I give you this: When the snow comes, the birds go crazy trying to get at my bird feeder.  This is one such bird.  It was starting to snow, and he was waiting patiently in…

Day 13: Family

Once a month, there is a family dinner of sorts held at our house.  The rugby board meeting happens.  These guys are truly family to each other.  It’s interesting how much of a kinship they have all found.  And each meeting, I make a meal for them to share.  Tonight it was soup and homemade…

Day 12: Sick Kid Edition

I have no idea what the prompt is today.  I got woken up this morning with a kid who is sick (again) and cannot seem to get well.  So, I went to the store, found that asking the butcher at the meat counter for something not advertised can turn out well, and came home to…

Day 11: Silver & Gold

I think the prompt today was “wrapping paper”……another day, another change because, well, that’s just…nah….. My youngest has been participating in a girls’ running group which meets after school.  The culmination of the program is they run a 5K together.  The catch is that each girl needed a female “running buddy” as the coaches are…