by Judy Handley | Dec 23, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 357: Christmas Preparations
Date: Monday, December 22, 2019
Weather: Sunny and Warm; High 54, Low 33 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
It was unseasonably warm today and that was very helpful as I scurried about doing holiday food shopping. Unfortunately, my cold took a turn for the worse today and that didn’t help. I took time out of the middle of the day to take a nap and then got up and kept going. At 3 pm, 
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I picked up Sam and Jonah and they came to spend a couple of hours of my house while Heather, Jed, and Ollie went to see Frozen II. Shadow loved having the boys to play with and he holds his own with the soccer ball. While they played, I fixed mushroom, cranberry, and quinoa stuffed acorn squash for dinner. It was going to be dinner time when Heather, Jed, and Ollie returned from the movie, so they were delighted with the dinner invitation. I spent some time wrapping presents tonight, caught up on a little correspondence, and will not head to bed. I have to make one more trip to town for the last food shopping trip in the morning and will then head to Heather and Jed’s to help prepare Christmas Eve dinner. Let the festivities begin!
by Judy Handley | Dec 22, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 356: Happy Hanukkah
Date: Sunday, December 22, 2019
Weather: Partly Sunny; High 48, Low 34 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Yesterday we celebrated solstice and this evening I celebrated the first night of Hanukkah with Heather and family. Earlier in the day, we all went Christmas shopping. The melding of cultures results in an interesting approach to the holiday season. And we seem to do it all and enjoy it. Jed drove Heather and the boys over to my house just after noon. We had a last minute change of plans as Heather and Jed had planned to leave Sam and Jonah with me and they were doing with Ollie to see Frozen II. But when they arrived, the sun was shining and all three boys wanted to spend time playing with Shadow and hanging out down on the dock. It was decided to enjoy the moment, so the movie date was put off until tomorrow afternoon. Jed headed off to do his shopping while the rest of us enjoyed some time outside with Shadow. Then I took Heather and the boys shopping in Mashpee Commons. It was a fun afternoon trying to buy things and keep it a secret from everyone else. But we managed and I think all three boys finalized their Christmas shopping. I dropped Heather and boys at home and headed to downtown Falmouth to pick up a couple of other items. By the time I got home and took Shadow out for a walk, it was time to head to Heather and Jed’s for the first night of Hanukkah festivities. Shadow and I missed the lighting of the menorah, but we ate latkes and leftovers from last night’s solstice celebration and opened the Hanukkah presents I brought. 
But because I brought presents, Jonah insisted that they give me an early Christmas present first. During our shopping outing, he had bought a Christmas puzzle for me and that was presented to me tonight. I knew Heather wanted a glass and metal spinning tea light holder and I decided to give it to her tonight so they can enjoy it over the next couple of days. She was truly delighted. Evidently, she had ordered the same one for herself but was not sure it was going to arrive in time for Christmas, so getting the one tonight made her very happy. 
I had a special present for each boy from Shadow. I can’t divulge the contents as I sent the same thing to Ziggy and Coco in Puerto Rico and they will not open their present until Christmas Eve. But I will say the boys loved the small gift. They also loved the plastic dreidels filled with chocolate gelt. But the hit of the night was the book I bought for the boys but gate to Jed as it needed his dramatic flair to be properly enjoyed by all. It was a book called Meet the Latkes by Michel Silberberg. And Jed’s reading (and Ollie’s additions) did not disappoint. The book is filled with plays on words and middle school humor as it tells the story of Hanukkah and Jed’s reading had us all laughing until we cried. Another delightful evening.
by Judy Handley | Dec 22, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 355: Welcome Yule
Date: Saturday, December 21, 2019
Weather: Mostly Cloudy; High 41, Low 30 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
I spent my day with Jonah and Ollie baking Christmas cookies at my house while Sam stayed home with Heather and Jed. They spent their day preparing to host their solstice celebration for friends beginning at 4 pm. Sam helped Heather make her annual chocolate yule log. When I brought Ollie and Jonah home, Sam was obviously proud of helping to the make the log and Ollie and Jonah were proud of their Christmas cookie contribution for tonight’s celebration to usher out the shortest day of the year. Tonight is the longest night of the year. As winter begins, we start to gain more daylight. And that is something to celebrate. After dropping off Jonah and Ollie, I headed back home to spend some time with Shadow and then returned later in the evening. I missed Jed lighting the fire in the fireplace as friends arrived and Heather reading The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper. But what a beautiful poem and what a beautiful way to usher in winter and the new year. And I must add that as the moment of winter solstice arrived at 11:19 pm, Shadow and I were sitting here watching a Christmas favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life, with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. And now to bed for the longest night.
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us – Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!
by Judy Handley | Dec 21, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 354: Better Day
Date: Friday, December 20, 2019
Weather: Partly Sunny, Slowing Warming; High 34, Low 21 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
This cold is going to stay with me for bit, but today was a turning point. I am once again able to function. This afternoon I left Shadow at home and went into town to do a laundry and grocery shopping. By the time I got home, I only had about an hour and a half before leaving for Ollie’s violin concert at Heritage Gardens Aglow. I took Shadow out for a walk and then spent special time with him once back inside. But it became obvious that during this week he has gotten used to having me with him 24/7 and he was struggling when I left him in his crate. And when I got home tonight, he was a crazy dog for about an hour. But he finally settled down. At least I hope he is settled for the night!
Heritage Gardens were certainly aglow tonight with lots of Christmas lights. I didn’t arrive until 6:45 pm and Ollie’s concert began at 7 pm, so I did a very quick walk through the beginning of the gardens and then headed inside to hear Ollie and the Sonnay Fiddlers. I can’t believe that Ollie has been taking lessons for less than a year and has such a repertoire of songs he can play. Most of the fiddlers are older, but there is one little boy about a year older than Ollie and tonight there was a new boy about Ollie’s age that I have not seen play before. Most of the fiddlers are girls, so was thrilled to see three little boys. The group played mostly Christmas carols tonight which were enjoyed by all. After the concert, there was time for Ollie to dig into his bag of cookies that his teacher had given him, as well as every member of the Sonnay Fiddlers. And then we convinced Ollie to go have a talk with Santa. We were in what is referred to as the car barn where antique cars are on display and Santa was sitting in a Model T Ford. That enticed Jonah to sit in the driver’s seat and join in the conversation. I’m not sure what Santa was saying, but he had a very serious conversation with Ollie and then with Jonah. I am so glad I was able to go tonight. And now that I am feeling a bit better, the plan is still on for making Christmas cookies tomorrow. I will have boys at my house while Heather and Jed get ready for their Solstice Celebration tomorrow evening. If I am still feeling okay, I will go for a bit, but I won’t stay all evening. I am thankful that I am feeling better and can enjoy the festivities.
by Judy Handley | Dec 19, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Logs, Day 353: Struggling with the Cold(s)
Date: Thursday, December 19, 2019
Weather: Partly Sunny and Very Cold; High 27, Low 17 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
I spent another day struggling with the cold(s)—the cold I have and the cold weather. It was late morning before I realized that the indoor temperature was 63, not 68. I changed the battery in the thermostat even though the low battery indicator was not flashing, but that didn’t do the job. I must have had this problem last winter during extreme cold periods where the furnace just can’t keep up, and I do remember that when I closed off the back door with plastic wrap it really helped. I need to do that tomorrow if I can. It would also help if I could find the storm windows for the large windows in the living room. I have no idea where I put them, but tomorrow hopefully I’ll feel a bit better and do some more looking. In the meantime, I am using a small electric heater and that is keeping the living area up to temperature.
I went to the Urgent Care Center this afternoon to see a doctor. I was pretty sure he was just going to tell me that I have a cold and that rest, fluids, and time are all that can help. And, in fact, that is what he said. I just wanted to make sure that since Christmas is looming before us that I am doing everything I can to get better. Right now, I should be around no one and I would hate to spend Christmas alone. I do think I am a tad better today and I’m really hoping that I can go to hear Ollie play violin with the Sonnay Fiddlers tomorrow evening at Heritage Gardens Aglow. We think the fiddlers will be playing inside, so I will drive separately, stay just to hear the fiddlers, and skip touring the Gardens Aglow as it is going to be another really cold night. Maybe there will be a miracle and I will be better by tomorrow, but I don’t think so. I will probably have to skip the Solstice Celebration at Heather and Jed’s on Saturday evening, but I’m hoping that by Sunday I can go over for the first night of Hanukkah. What a bummer to be sick at this special time of year. But it is very comforting to have my little buddy Shadow. He continues to cuddle with me as I sleep my days away. This morning I took him to his Vet appointment to get his second round of shots. He is gaining about a pound a week and seems to be very healthy. I was able to take him for one walk today and he seems to be dealing with the limited time outside while I am sick. He loves to be outside, but maybe the extreme cold is little much for him as well.
by Judy Handley | Dec 18, 2019 | 2019 Life Logs |
2019 Life Logs, Day 352: Worse, Not Better
Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Weather: Periods of Misty Rain, Turning to Wintry Mix; High 43, Low 14 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Whatever I have is getting worse, not better. Maybe tomorrow will be the turning pointing, but I have to say that I really don’t remember feeling this bad ever. I’m sure I have, but painful memories have a way of disappearing. So, I drink tea with honey and lemon (and early this morning with whiskey), eat veggie soup with extra bone broth, and sleep. When I woke up this morning, coughing was extremely painful, thus the little dash of whiskey. That, plus getting myself upright, stopped the awful cough. All day, I slept on the sofa sitting upright. But sleep, I did. So far, Shadow has been very accommodating and sleeps with me most of the time. Tonight the temp is going to dip into the teens (ouch!) and tomorrow will be below freezing all day. I will still have to take the puppy outside, but I will put on my warmest coat, felt-lined boots, and cover my head. Then tomorrow morning, Shadow has a 9 am vet appointment for his next round of shots. Today my only foray out was to go to Heather’s to pick up the Amazon packages that were delivered there and I stopped at the drug store to buy a thermometer. I know I own two, but I couldn’t find them. The new one shows that I really don’t have a temperature. So hopefully that means I have no infection and don’t need an antibiotic. Just more R & R.
Justin and Coco called via Skype this afternoon and we had a great conversation. Ziggy was in a lesson, so they had time to talk to Oma and Coco wanted to tell me about school. Yesterday was the last day of school for them for three weeks. They had a beach party to celebrate the holidays. And as we talked, dark descended here while it was still sunny with bright blue skies in Puerto Rico. Nice!
And now for an announcement from my daughter Heather. She will start the new year in a new job that will allow her to focus on her passion, climate change. Congratulations to my beautiful, brilliant daughter!
From Heather’s Facebook Page today: As we close out the decade, I’m closing out an amazing chapter in my career. I’m leaving WCAI-FM, and the last episode of Living Lab Radio will air December 30th.
Then what? Starting in January, I’ll be leading communications at Woods Hole Research Center. I’m very excited to put all of my energy into an issue about which I am so passionate – climate change.
As it is with transitions, it’s bittersweet, and overwhelming, and amazing. I wrote more about what’s driving this shift for me: https://www.capeandislands.org/post/announcement-living-lab-radio#stream/0
