by Judy Handley | Dec 19, 2025 | Cape Cod, USA |
2025 Life Logs, Day 353: Sam is Home for the Holidays
Date: Friday, December 19, 2025
Weather: Overcast, Rain, Wind; High Temp 56, Low 28 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
It is not quite midnight, and since I was still up, Heather sent a text to see if I would like them to stop so I could welcome Sam home with a big hug. Of course I would. Shadow was so excited and he got the first hug. But then I got mine.
Sam’s flight from London didn’t land in Boston until sometime after 7 pm, and then he had a long wait to get his luggage. Heather, Jed, Jonah, and Ollie all went to greet him at the airport, and no one had eaten dinner. So, they had a late dinner in Boston and just arrived here. Sam’s trip from the college campus to Amsterdam started at about 1:30 am today our time, so I know he is exhausted, but happy to be home. My guess is he will sleep most of the day tomorrow. Then tomorrow night the Goldstone’s host their annual solstice party, and I’ll get to see him again. Welcome home, Sam! Now we start the countdown to Christmas. 5-4-3-2-1
by Judy Handley | Dec 18, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 352: Shopping, Public Policy, Wine Group, FHS Concert
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Warm; High Temp 50, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Today was a whirlwind. I had nothing on my calendar this morning, so I took the opportunity to drive to Mashpee Commons to return a sweater I bought for myself a few weeks ago. I loved it, but it just didn’t fit right. So, I pampered myself by returning it and buying two to replace it! I also had to do some grocery shopping and while on Main Street to pick up a baguette for the gravlax, I did a little extra Christmas shopping before heading home.
It was almost 1 pm when I got home to get the gravlax appetizer ready to take to my 5 pm wine group holiday gathering. I have never made gravlax before, and somehow it was just not as good as Jed’s, but it was passable. I got it sliced and arranged on a platter with all the condiments, put the platter in my car, and headed to my monthly Exploring Public Policy meeting. Today’s presenter was Jessica Whritenour from the 300 Committee, speaking about land preservation in Falmouth. I knew I couldn’t stay for the last 20 minutes of the meeting, but I am so glad I went anyway. Her presentation was extremely informative.
But I snuck out during the Q&A and headed to the wine group party. I could only stay there long enough to present my wine and appetizer, participate in the Yankee exchange, and take a group photo before I had to leave to go Falmouth High School for the winter concert.
I look forward to this every year, and this year was special because both Jonah and Ollie were playing. There are about four middle school students who are invited to play with the high school jazz band, and Ollie is one of those. Jonah plays trombone and Ollie plays tenor sax. Jonah played with the concert band and the jazz band, but Ollie played only with the jazz band. The director, Andrew Hellwig, does a phenomenal job. I am so grateful for all of the Falmouth educators who work so hard to provide a quality education for our children.
Sam flies into Boston tomorrow evening!!! The weather looks frightening with rain and heavy winds in the afternoon, but if the forecast remains as it is now, the winds calm a couple of hours before he is scheduled to land. Hopefully there is no delay. I really am so anxious to see him.
by Judy Handley | Dec 17, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 351: Meeting, Meeting, Cookies, Concert, More Cookies
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Weather: Cloudy, Significantly Warmer; High Temp 48, Low 44 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
My meetings today were an Encore Board meeting followed by a meeting with my neighbor Andy to discuss Shadow dog sitting. The good news is that Andy will take Shadow to his house on Sunday when I head to Cambridge for Revels. I will return on Monday and pick up Shadow. Then when I leave on Wednesday for Christmas in Maine, Andy will once again take Shadow until my new neighbor Billy gets home from work on Christmas Eve to watch over Shadow until I return on Friday. Or if Any and Shadow are having a great time, maybe Andy will keep him at his house the whole time. However this turns out, I owe a big thank you to Andy and Billy for their willingness to take care of my Shadow. I know he will be well taken care of in my absence.
I then turned my attention to turning the chocolate crinkle dough Heather and I made last night into yummy cookies. And before they were completely cool, I headed to Lawrence Middle School for Ollie’s Winter Concert. He looked so handsome in his new black shirt and pants. Growing up way too fast.
And after the concert, I assisted Heather in turning the remaining sugar cookie dough into Christmas tree, star, and snowman Christmas cookies. I got home just in time to watch Donald Trump’s speech to the nation. No comment.
by Judy Handley | Dec 16, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 350: Making a List and Checking It Twice
Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Cold; High Temp 26, Low 21 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
I have had a To Do list that just gets longer and longer. But today happened to be the deadline for a number of things on that list. So, I worked on those things, got them done, and checked them off. The piles of books and papers are still stacked around the house, but the To Do is much shorter. One of the things that had to be done by today was sending Christmas packages to Puerto Rico. I sent one package yesterday but was having trouble figuring out how to send everything I wanted to send in just one more package. The cost of two more Priority Flat Rate Large boxes was outrageous, and the boxes were not big enough for everything. Today I started where I left off yesterday by getting on the computer and searching for a cheaper way to send things. I found that the US Post Office has a Click n’ Ship method where you measure and weigh the box at home, pay for the postage online, and then print your own shipping label. It took more time but saved about $20. I was able to send everything for less. That was a little win for today.
Tonight was another cookie making session at the Goldstones. I will bake one more batch tomorrow, but cookie making will then stop. From here until the new year, things are going to be happening fast and furiously. Tomorrow I have an Encore Board meeting and tomorrow night is Ollie’s middle school band concert. Thursday I have an Exploring Public Policy meeting, a holiday Wine Group get together, and that night is the high school concert where both Ollie and Jonah play.
Then Friday night, Sam comes home from the Netherlands!!! I cannot wait to see him. I sure hope college kids still give hugs to grandmothers. Saturday night is Indivisible Falmouth’s holiday party and Heather and Jed’s annual Solstice party. On Sunday we all head to Cambridge to go to Revels. For that, we will meet up with Jed’s mother and uncle, plus Jed’s brother Toby and his significant other, Stephanie. We will all spend the night in Boston, and on Monday I will drive home and the Goldstones will head on to Boothbay for Christmas. I will drive up to Boothbay on Christmas Eve and spend Christmas Day there before returning home on Boxing Day. Then I have one day to get ready for Justin and family’s arrival. Another “can’t wait to see them” moment. ‘Tis the season.
by Judy Handley | Dec 15, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs |
2025 Life Logs, Day 349: A Day Filled with Holiday Activity
Date: Monday, December 15, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Cold; High Temp 26, Low 21 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
My day started with my ‘every morning’ walk with Shadow, but today it was cut short today because it seemed to be too cold even for my snow loving dog. We had hardly gotten across the street when Shadow started hopping on 3 legs. He could not put his left rear leg on the ground. I checked his paw to see if he had ice “between his toes” but I found nothing. But whatever I did, he was able to walk normally again for a bit before he started his 3 foot hop again. At this point, we headed home.
I had a Falmouth Immigrant Rights Coalition Zoom meeting at 9:30 am, and the meeting started with a guided tour of the Immigrant Resources that Justin got put up on the Indivisible Falmouth website this weekend. He got 12 important documents posted in 5 languages. These are documents that immigrants might need to access. People were very appreciative of what he had accomplished in such a short period of time, especially over a weekend. Thank you, Justin! Your efforts are truly appreciated.
Then I turned my attention to getting Christmas gifts ready to be sent to Puerto Rico for Justin and family. This required going to the Post Office to get a Priority Flat Rate box. I got that one packed but realized I needed another box. So, I headed back to the Post Office to send the one box and pick up another. I could not believe how much the cost of sending a flat rate has gone up. It used to cost $18, then $23, and now $30. And I think the box is smaller. I have given up my Amazon Prime membership as part of an economic boycott against Jeff Bezos, but I was really missing it today. I need to send two more boxes. Ouch!
After my second trip to the Post Office, I changed gears and got a chicken in the oven to roast for dinner for Ollie and Jonah tonight. Heather had Select Board tonight and Jed had his Health Board meeting. Ollie, Jonah, and I had nice dinner and then we worked on getting Christmas cookies baked. Heather made the sugar cookie dough last night, so all Ollie and I had to do was roll out the dough and do the cut outs. Then we made another cookie, the Hershey Kisses thumbprint cookies rolled in red and green sugar. Jonah joined us in making these cookies, but it is really Ollie who is still young enough to delight in making Christmas cookies. Still, I am just glad that Jonah still joins us for some of the fun.
