![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Gong Hei Fat Choy!
恭喜发财
Gong Hei Fat Choy!
恭喜发财
It's a wrap!
3 Jan 2026 16:57The season is a wrap! Last night I went w/ a couple friends to see the Christmas lights at the Botanical Garden -- this is the last week for them. It was cold, but a bit warmer than it was last week, which is when we original talked about going.
Here's a link to some pics --
Here's a link to some pics --
Happy New Year!
1 Jan 2026 00:01Happy New Year to you and all you love! Here's to a better 2026! 🤲
Link to some photos from this past year --
It was good to see friends and family throughout the year -- some of the photos --
Link to some photos from this past year --
It was good to see friends and family throughout the year -- some of the photos --
Happy Solstice!
21 Dec 2025 10:16At one point, I had thought to go down to river for sunrise when the temp was still predicted to be above 40F (4.4C). But by last night it was only going to be around 37F (2.8C), and I decided that just was a bit too chilly to be climbing over the railroad tracks and walking the trails! I did wake up just at sunrise though, for what that was worth 🙂
A sunflower and sun photo from 9 years ago --
I decided to try the 13 wishes thing this year -- (https://truenortharts.com/2025/10/25/how-to-practice-the-13-wishes-ritual/). I'll start that this evening.
A sunflower and sun photo from 9 years ago --
I decided to try the 13 wishes thing this year -- (https://truenortharts.com/2025/10/25/how-to-practice-the-13-wishes-ritual/). I'll start that this evening.
Update
When it got warmer, I went down to the trail. It was good to be there again! Most of the rocks were not accessible unless I wanted to get my shoes soaked, so I only went out as far as I could.Santa is re-considering his career choices, after realizing he has to go out in the cold to deliver presents again this year 😆
I'm a Southern boy, and cold is not my friend. And, it has been really fricken' cold this early in the winter! Tonight's forecast is 15F (-9.4ish C). Needless to say, I'm staying in.
We had our first snow of the year a couple days ago. Also as a Southern boy, of course I made 'snow cream' -- milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and .... snow (and a bit of nutmeg). It's kinda of like a snow cone. But we had it growing up, and I tend to make it when I can. The snow was perfect -- powdery; not icy.
I'm a Southern boy, and cold is not my friend. And, it has been really fricken' cold this early in the winter! Tonight's forecast is 15F (-9.4ish C). Needless to say, I'm staying in.
We had our first snow of the year a couple days ago. Also as a Southern boy, of course I made 'snow cream' -- milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and .... snow (and a bit of nutmeg). It's kinda of like a snow cone. But we had it growing up, and I tend to make it when I can. The snow was perfect -- powdery; not icy.
Wyn eal gedreas!
30 Nov 2025 16:09We are reading the first part of the Wanderer for next class. Such a cheerful poem /s 😬🙂↔️ The title of this post is one of the lines: "Wyn eal gedreas!" is "All joy has come to ruin!"
It's been a bit of a challenge to read during Thanksgiving week for lack of time, but I've gotten through it. Although not cheerful, I do like the poem -- it evokes a lot of images as you're reading. You can feel the misery in your bones when reading about his extreme loneliness and the cold out on the sea!
***
I am well stuffed after 3 separate Thanksgiving meals - 2 w/ friends and 1 w/ family. All were enjoyable!
Mom has more or less been fading ever since the emergency hospitalization last February, and I continued to see its progress yesterday. She's really lucky to have my sister and her husband (both registered nurses) to provide her care; she would be in a nursing home at this point without their support.
My sister and I walked the farm. This is the pond that used to be used for irrigation and some fishing. Now not a lot of use other than to support the ecosystem.
I enjoyed getting to visit my favorite trees; ones I knew & remembered from childhood. They are 2 Sweetgum trees, growing very close together.
It's been a bit of a challenge to read during Thanksgiving week for lack of time, but I've gotten through it. Although not cheerful, I do like the poem -- it evokes a lot of images as you're reading. You can feel the misery in your bones when reading about his extreme loneliness and the cold out on the sea!
***
I am well stuffed after 3 separate Thanksgiving meals - 2 w/ friends and 1 w/ family. All were enjoyable!
Mom has more or less been fading ever since the emergency hospitalization last February, and I continued to see its progress yesterday. She's really lucky to have my sister and her husband (both registered nurses) to provide her care; she would be in a nursing home at this point without their support.
My sister and I walked the farm. This is the pond that used to be used for irrigation and some fishing. Now not a lot of use other than to support the ecosystem.
I enjoyed getting to visit my favorite trees; ones I knew & remembered from childhood. They are 2 Sweetgum trees, growing very close together.
Catching up
22 Nov 2025 19:29I was very happy to get downtown to the river last weekend. I think this is my favorite photo. To me the clouded, weak sun looks vaguely like descriptions in SciFi novels where a sun is far from a planet. And I like the shape of the rock I'm standing on -- looks vaguely to me like a tortoise!
And got a heron shot --
So the tree is changing as I transition to LED lights. This year, it is VERY pink 😁. And I'm okay with that -- it's very festive!
And got a heron shot --
So the tree is changing as I transition to LED lights. This year, it is VERY pink 😁. And I'm okay with that -- it's very festive!
Maymont Garden Glow
6 Nov 2025 10:01Went with some friends to Maymont's Garden Glow last night. PACKED! Some years we luck out on a relatively less attended evening or time, but some years there are people everywhere!
Click the image to see the video. I debated about clipping the voice at the beginning out of the video -- the guy talking about his other teacher, Rachel. But it makes me laugh.
These birds were new to me --
Click the image to see the video. I debated about clipping the voice at the beginning out of the video -- the guy talking about his other teacher, Rachel. But it makes me laugh.
These birds were new to me --
As usual, friend came over for wine. Had 3 trick-or-treaters. Not too bad considering that the location of my house is not necessarily a 'candy value proposition' based on how many houses are here lol.
Couple decoration photos --
A still from a video of the 'girl's' blinking. This is the core circle --
Couple decoration photos --
A still from a video of the 'girl's' blinking. This is the core circle --
Lemon Tree Move
27 Oct 2025 12:07Wore a bit of Halloween (Eallra Halgena Æfen - "Eve of All Hallowed") gear for class today --
And today was the move back inside for the lemon tree -- It was heavier than I hoped because it had not dried out enough, and I forgot to put on my lifting belt. And then, I felt the soreness in my lower back 😬😐 Hopefully, "soreness" is the extent of it!
The tree was was outside 226 days (7.5ish months) — slightly above average, but pretty close to average.
And today was the move back inside for the lemon tree -- It was heavier than I hoped because it had not dried out enough, and I forgot to put on my lifting belt. And then, I felt the soreness in my lower back 😬😐 Hopefully, "soreness" is the extent of it!
The tree was was outside 226 days (7.5ish months) — slightly above average, but pretty close to average.
Halloween is coming!
17 Aug 2025 19:32Thinking about adding a new Halloween decoration this year -- I had seen a post about how to hang 3 heads in cheesecloth. Will give it a try once I get some cheesecloth, but the heads arrived today.
...no dog and goat to sacrifice, and it's way too cold to run around naked outside whipping people!
https://www.vindolanda.com/blog/lupercalia
https://www.vindolanda.com/blog/lupercalia
🎆 Gesæligne Gearesdæg! 🎆
1 Jan 2025 00:01Happy New Year!
I did not take as many photos this year because of that back/leg injury (which still is a slight issue, but much better!).
So the album of the photos I liked the best has fewer images this year, I think.
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBbhcL
I did not take as many photos this year because of that back/leg injury (which still is a slight issue, but much better!).
So the album of the photos I liked the best has fewer images this year, I think.
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBbhcL
🎄 Glæd Geol! 🎄
25 Dec 2024 09:01Having a lazy start to Christmas Day -- planning to head to the museum for a bit (kind of my normal routine when not traveling today).
Gift exchange w/ friends yesterday afternoon was fun, as was Christmas Eve dinner w/ friends last night. Wow, I am STILL stuffed -- I could have skipped the side dish or the dessert and been better for it!
I'll see family tomorrow, and then I think that Christmas 2024 will be a wrap!
Gift exchange w/ friends yesterday afternoon was fun, as was Christmas Eve dinner w/ friends last night. Wow, I am STILL stuffed -- I could have skipped the side dish or the dessert and been better for it!
I'll see family tomorrow, and then I think that Christmas 2024 will be a wrap!
Had dinner and gift exchange w/ some friends last night.
I got a couple of nice gifts. For example I had previously sent a friend a scan of a Polaroid "One Step" photo I took 30 years ago of my partner.
I had scanned the photo and have it in a small frame in the house. Every so often it fades, so I print it again. Well, he took that image file, cleaned it up in Photoshop and had it printed. It's a nice thing! And I'm deciding now where to hang it in the house.
And another friend gave me this sampler of several versions of Port -- 10, 20, 30, and 40 years old plus some chocolate from a local store and some sweets he baked! Also a nice gift!
I got a couple of nice gifts. For example I had previously sent a friend a scan of a Polaroid "One Step" photo I took 30 years ago of my partner.
I had scanned the photo and have it in a small frame in the house. Every so often it fades, so I print it again. Well, he took that image file, cleaned it up in Photoshop and had it printed. It's a nice thing! And I'm deciding now where to hang it in the house.
And another friend gave me this sampler of several versions of Port -- 10, 20, 30, and 40 years old plus some chocolate from a local store and some sweets he baked! Also a nice gift!
