by Judy Handley | Dec 25, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 359: Christmas Day in Boothbay
Date: Monday, December 25, 2023
Weather: Overcast; High 45, Low 33 F
Location: At Home in Marti’s Home in Boothbay, Maine
Merry Christmas! Christmas day here in Boothbay was such a wonderful day. There were squeals of delight mixed with oohs and aahs and smiles and hugs showing thanks. We spent almost two hours opening everything in our stockings, taking a break to have some of Heather’s Monkey Bread halfway through.
Then we launched into the huge number of presents under the tree. Sam got money to put toward the purchase of a car and a load of snowboarding gear.
He might be beyond squeals of delight, but he was obviously delighted with his gifts. Jonah got a bathrobe with a hood that he loved so much he didn’t take off all day.
He also got Liverpool soccer shirts, new ear buds, and a load of other things that caused whoops of joy.
Ollie got the thing he has wished for since he was two. He has always wanted a John Deere tractor. He didn’t get that, but he got a promise from Santa that his mom and dad will search for a lawn tractor and hopefully have it by his birthday in March. He just couldn’t believe it at first,
but he was so very excited once it sunk in that it was true. He also got Lego sets that brought forth the squeals.
Heather gave everyone things she brought back from her trip to Dubai. I got a pair of earrings that are just beautiful. And I also got a very special present from Heather and Jed. They took one of Windbird’s old sails into the sail bag shop and I got a red and white bag with an anchor applied.
I will always think of Windbird when I carry the bag. Jed and Toby both got ceramic oyster platters
and Marti loved her matching cook book and dish towel representing Robert McClosky’s children’s book, “Blueberries for Sal”, which takes place in Maine.
It was sometime in the early afternoon before all the presents were opened. Ollie launched into his Lego sets and Sam and Jonah worked on finishing up their soccer projects which they proudly displayed once they were completed.
All of the adults, except for me, pitched in to help Marti get the dinner ready. We thought John, Becky, and a visiting friend were going to join us, but Becky was just not up for two nights out in a row.
Before dinner, I announced I was going to drive downtown to see the Christmas lights so Sam and Jonah joined me, with Sam driving. Downtown was like a Christmas fairy land. Jonah took photos of some of the displays, but it was impossible to capture the overall effect. We especially enjoyed the library lawn and the very Maine lobster and lobster boat.
On the way home, we went to the Boothbay Railway Village and enjoyed their display of sailboats and Santa’s sleigh. Dinner was yet another feast of fantastic food and after dinner we decided to watch a movie, an old favorite which is a satire with different twist, “The Princess Bride.”
I have not been allowed to do anything for three days because of my back nerve pain and it has been fantastic—not the pain, but the not doing anything.. I feel a bit useless, but I’ll get over that. But tomorrow, it is back to reality. I can’t thank Marti enough for inviting me to come have Christmas here in Boothbay. I think the last time I was here for Christmas was in 2007 for Sam’s first Christmas. I’ll have to do a little tour down memory lane to make sure that is correct. But whenever, it has been a very long time. This visit has been wonderful, and I think everyone had a very, very Merry Christmas. I sincerely hope you did as well.
by Judy Handley | Dec 24, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 358: On the Eve of Christmas
Date: Sunday, December 24, 2023
Weather: Mostly Cloudy; High 42, Low 34 F
Location: At Home in Marti’s Cottage in Boothbay, Maine
On this eve of Christmas, we continued our family time together working on the soccer-related building kits I got for Sam, Jonah, and Ollie. Jonah is making great progress, as is Sam, but Ollie, with the help of his ‘friends’, completed his puzzle today. Challenging, but great fun.
In the early afternoon, we took a tour of Toby and Stephani’s vacation home that is being completed just behind and beside Marti’s cottage.
It is a little over 800 square feet, has a kitchen and open dining and living room, one bathroom and a bedroom. It has lots of windows and is going to make a great get-away home for them. They live in Portland, Oregon, but are here with Marti for long periods during the year.
Next on the agenda was a trip to downtown Boothbay to go to Eventide, just because you can’t be in Boothbay without going there to taste test Eventide’s wonderful vinegars and oils, and the we were on to Sherman’s, another must to visit when in Boothbay. It is the store that has it all. They have a wonderful book selection, adult and children, kitchen gadgets, puzzles, and just about anything else you can think of to be in a specialty store. When we returned home, the boys continued to make progress on their soccer puzzle projects
. Ollie finished his Manchester United puzzle,
but Sam and Jonah have a bit to go.
Then it was time to prepare for dinner and the arrival of John and Becky, Jed’s Aunt and Uncle that live in the main farmhouse.
For health reasons, Becky has been mostly house bound for the past two years. This was her first visit in two years to Marti’s home. We sang Christmas carols as Marti played on the keyboard,
ate oyster stew that is a New Year’s tradition for the Goldstone’s and Welch’s (Becky and John). The oyster stew was followed with ham, asparagus, and a salad. All delicious.
After dinner Becky and John left, I gave Sam, Jonah, and Ollie their ornaments for 2023, another annual tradition, and Heather and Jed did the same.
As we did this, we were listening to Christmas music on the 1920’s era wind-up gramophone.
Christmas eve was certainly a joyous occasion here in Marti’s home in Boothbay.
by Judy Handley | Dec 23, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 357: Enjoying Family Time in Boothbay, Maine
Date: Friday, December 23, 2023
Weather: Overcast; High 38, Low 22 F
Location: At Home in Marti’s Cottage in Boothbay, Maine
Life is Good. I spent much of my driving and reflecting on life. I was overcome with gratitude during Revels last night and spent my driving time today reflecting on how grateful I am for family and friends who are helping me though this little ‘rough spot’ I am experiencing with my back. Compared to the health issues that many have, this issue is just a little blip. At least that is my hope. I know I am going to have to change the way I do things even after the surgery because it is only addressing the most pressing issue with my back. But I know that with the support of family and friends, I will get through this.
So I drove and shopped my way north to Boothbay to Jed’s mother’s home. Marti graciously invited me to spend the Christmas weekend here with family and we had a great beginning tonight. Heather, Jed, Sam, Jonah, and Ollie are here, along with Jed’s brother Toby and his significant other, Stephanie, and of course, Marti. Heather and family also drove and shopped their way north from Boston and we both arrived at the same time.
My car carried all of the Christmas presents, so Heather told the kids I was Santa’s appointed helper this year. The boys carried all the gifts from the car and put them under Marti’s tree,
with Jonah the appointed Santa’s helper to arrange the presents under the tree.
While Jonah was playing Santa Claus, everyone else was sitting in the living room, all on their phones.
That is the reality of life these days. Marti fixed the dinner that we all really enjoyed, ending with Heather’s poppy seed cake that we all love.
After dinner, the boys returned to the living room to be on their phones or tablet, so I decided to give them each a present to play with a little early. I had a Manchester United emblem puzzle for Ollie, a Liverpool 3-6 soccer ball that he has to build, Lego like, and Chelsea Stamford Bridge Stadium and he has to put together. Kids and adults turned the dining table into a play station and everyone worked on the various projects.
It was so much fun, and that building will continue tomorrow.
During the Revels performance we sang “All Sing”. It is a version of the traditional carol sung as an ending to the folk play in Horsham, Sussex in England. “While the details of the blessing itself may be from another era (after all, who needs more cows), the intention for goodwill lasts through the ages.” Here are the verses we all sang together at Revels while snow, artificial of course, fell upon the singers on the stage. This is what started my overwhelming feeling of gratitude, so I will share the words here for you to read. Reading the words is not inspiring like singing it together, but the feeling of goodwill is present.
Our play is done, we must be gone, we stay no longer here.
We wish you all both great and small a blessed bright new year,
A bless’d and bright new year.
God bless you all within this house with happiness beside.
Where e’er your bodies ride or walk your God must be your guide,
Your God must be your guide.
God bless this house, your children too, your cattle and your store.
The Lord increase you day by day and send you more and more.,
And send you more and more!
by Judy Handley | Dec 22, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 356: Revels
Date: Friday, December 22, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 35, Low 4 F; Sunset 4:17 pm (+/-0)
Location: At Home in the Boston Cambridge Courtyard Marriott, Cambridge, MA
By mid-afternoon, Heather, Jed, Sam, Jonah, and Ollie in their car stuffed with bags of clothes and ski gear, and I in my little FIT stuffed with Christmas presents (both mine and Heather and Jed’s), were on our way to Cambridge to attend Revels at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre.
Jed’s mother, Marti,
and his brother Toby and his significant other Stephanie took the train down from Brunswick, Maine, and met us for dinner and for the Revels performance. We arrived in time to watch a city sunset from our rooms at the hotel before heading to dinner and to Revels.
It was a wonderful family experience this year … a little more raucous humor than normal, but still with all the traditional songs. If you’ve never been, I should add that there is an audience participation element to many of the songs and this year The Twelve Days of Christmas was added. Different sections of the audience sang different parts which had everyone in the theater laughing. That is something that is so much needed in our lives these days and Revels was the answer for us tonight. Sam, Jonah, and Ollie rated this one at the top of their list of favorite Revels performances, as did I. But they didn’t rate the dinner in Harvard Square at Bosso Ramen at the top of their list, even though it was beautifully presented and certainly good.
It had ramen and sushi fare which they love, but it was just not as good as Tiger Ramen in Falmouth. I should also add that all of this was made possible for me because Heather got Uber rides for me door to door. That, plus the fact that I started a new round of Prednisone today kept the pain in control and so that I could walk short distances pain free. That was not true yesterday before I started the Prednisone. I hate taking medication, but this will get me through the New Year with not too many days left before my surgery.
Marti, Toby, Stephanie, Sam, and Jonah leave at 8:15 am to head to the North Station to get the train back to Brunswick where they left their car. We will all convene at Marti’s mid-afternoon tomorrow and continue the holiday revelry. I am looking forward to the next three days in Maine, but I miss my Shadow. He knew something was up today and sat right beside me looking up at me with forlorn eyes.
Hopefully the dog sitter makes him happy.
by Judy Handley | Dec 21, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 355: Solstice Celebration at the Goldstones
Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023, 10:27 pm
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 36, Low 23 F; Sunset 4:17 pm (+1)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today definitely felt like the coldest day and tonight is the longest night. It will continue to get colder, but the time of darkness now begins to decrease and the days slowly get longer—a wonderful reason to celebrate. Prior to Covid, Heather and Jed often had a neighborhood open house to celebrate the Solstice. Tonight, they revived that tradition. People from their old neighborhood, people from their current neighborhood, friends of the Goldpebbles and their parents, and all other myriad of friends came together tonight.
The food was scrumptious—smoked turkey, smoked ham, and gravlax prepared by Jed, salad, cheeses of all kinds, cakes, cookies,
and the crowning jewel, the Yule Log
and champagne punch made by the Lama Mama herself. Heather’s new Christmas sweater bearing an appliqued lama, gave her the new name of Lama Mama.
There is a children’s book entitled, “Is Your Mama a Lama?” Sam, Jonah, and Ollie can now say yes to that. It was a delightful evening. Thank you to Heather and Jed for hosting this wonderful gathering of friends. And now it is time to head to bed and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow morning, we pack and then head north to Boston and on to Boothbay, Maine, for Christmas.
by Judy Handley | Dec 20, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 354: On Solstice Eve
Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 41, Low 31 F; Sunset 4:16 pm (+/-0)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
I love the holiday season, but I think the day of winter solstice is my very favorite day of the year because it marks the reversal of the gradual waning of daylight hours. Starting tomorrow night, one minute at a time, our daylight hours begin to grow until summer solstice. The magic hour is 10:27 pm EST tomorrow night. I will be at the Goldstones as Heather and Jed are having a solstice open house to celebrate the occasion. Then on Friday we make our annual trek to Cambridge to attend the Christmas Revels and officially “Welcome Yule.” We join people from throughout the ages to mark the occasion of the world’s oldest winter celebration.
Today I wrapped more presents, did a little getting ready for the Christmas weekend trip to Maine, made gingerbread cookies
and chocolate kiss cookies with Ollie (with a little help from Jonah),
took Jonah and Sam downtown to do a little last-minute shopping, and then came home and collapsed. Hopefully I can get packed tomorrow, do the last bits of package wrapping, and then head out for the night of winter celebration. The weather gods must have gotten the message as it is going to be wintry cold tomorrow night. We have a winter gale warning in effect from midnight tonight through tomorrow evening. Those strong north winds will make for an appropriately chilly evening.
Then we launched into the huge number of presents under the tree. Sam got money to put toward the purchase of a car and a load of snowboarding gear.
He might be beyond squeals of delight, but he was obviously delighted with his gifts. Jonah got a bathrobe with a hood that he loved so much he didn’t take off all day.
He also got Liverpool soccer shirts, new ear buds, and a load of other things that caused whoops of joy.
Ollie got the thing he has wished for since he was two. He has always wanted a John Deere tractor. He didn’t get that, but he got a promise from Santa that his mom and dad will search for a lawn tractor and hopefully have it by his birthday in March. He just couldn’t believe it at first,
but he was so very excited once it sunk in that it was true. He also got Lego sets that brought forth the squeals.
Heather gave everyone things she brought back from her trip to Dubai. I got a pair of earrings that are just beautiful. And I also got a very special present from Heather and Jed. They took one of Windbird’s old sails into the sail bag shop and I got a red and white bag with an anchor applied.
I will always think of Windbird when I carry the bag. Jed and Toby both got ceramic oyster platters
and Marti loved her matching cook book and dish towel representing Robert McClosky’s children’s book, “Blueberries for Sal”, which takes place in Maine.
All of the adults, except for me, pitched in to help Marti get the dinner ready. We thought John, Becky, and a visiting friend were going to join us, but Becky was just not up for two nights out in a row. 
On the way home, we went to the Boothbay Railway Village and enjoyed their display of sailboats and Santa’s sleigh. Dinner was yet another feast of fantastic food and after dinner we decided to watch a movie, an old favorite which is a satire with different twist, “The Princess Bride.” 
