by Judy Handley | Dec 10, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 344: Book Group, Early Release Afternoon
Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Weather: Mostly Cloudy and Damp, Periods of Misty Precip; High Temp 46, Low 43 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Shadow and I took our morning walk with misty precipitation falling. By 10:30 am I was out the door and on my way to my monthly book group. We discussed the thoroughly delightful book, “Iona Iverson’s Rules of Commuting.” We also chose books to read and discuss for the next few months. Two books that my friend Lynne Kirwin in New Zealand recommended were chosen. Lynne, I guess you are now an ‘unofficial’ member of our book club! I am listing the books we chose here in case you are interested.
God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Commonwealth, A Novel by Ann Patchett
The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino
Book club started late and went longer than expected, but it was so good to see everyone and catch up on what is happening in each of our lives in addition to discussing a book we all enjoyed. I stopped by Heather and Jed’s on my way home as it was an Early Release day. I knew Heather and Jed were not working at home today and I just wanted to see if the boys needed anything. Ollie and his friend Simon were outside when I arrived, and Ollie asked if I could stay so he and Simon could play at his house for a while before going to Simon’s house. I always set aside Early Release afternoons just for that reason. The boys can be at home alone, but they cannot have friends over without an adult at home. I had not read any of my emails since Sunday, so I had plenty to do while the boys played. Jonah was at home, but he is old enough to be on his own. So, when Ollie and Simon left, I left to run errands and to go home and play outside with Shadow. Then I returned to take Ollie to his saxophone lesson.
This was a much more relaxed day than yesterday. Tomorrow is another busy one, however. I have a morning Encore Board meeting and I head out to an early dinner before a Skylark concert tomorrow night. I have only one meeting on Thursday, so the remainder of that day will be spent checking the Christmas list to see what else I need to order or buy locally. I guess that makes Friday shopping day.
by Judy Handley | Dec 9, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 343: Field Trip to the MFA, Holiday Wine Group Gathering
Date: Monday, December 09, 2024
Weather: Partly Sunny turning Cloudy, Then Rain; High Temp 48, Low 45 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Yesterday was busy, but today was insanely busy. I left home at 7:45 and didn’t get home until almost 10 pm. I made a 10-minute stop at home at 5:30 pm to pick up things I needed to take to my wine group gathering and say hello to Shadow. But otherwise, I was on the move for more than 12 hours. Thanks to the Goldstones for pitching in to give Shadow a couple of outdoor breaks in the afternoon.
The field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston was with the Newcomers/Encore Field Trip group. There were only six of us who signed up to go to the special American painter Georgia O’Keefe and British sculptor Henry Moore exhibit. I invited Lily Dearman, Andrew and Lara’s daughter (summer neighbors from when I lived in the cottage in East Falmouth) to meet me there. She is now a freshman at Tufts and when she and her dad visited in mid-November she jumped at my invitation to go to the exhibit and tour with me. The rest of field trip group just went to the exhibit, ate lunch, and returned. But Lily and I took in the exhibit and then spent three hours doing a walk through of most of the museum. We then had a late lunch before heading home. The special exhibit compared O’Keefe’s iconic paintingsto Moore’s monumental sculptures.
using visual juxtapositions of each to show highlight their focus on natural forms into abstraction.
Both are considered to be among the most distinctive artists of the 20th century. Moore was 12 years younger than O’Keefe, but interestingly, both died in 1986. O’Keefe lived for 99 years and some of the best pieces on display were done in her 80’s.
I got back home just in time to pick up the Panna Cotta with Raspberry Gelee I made as my ‘red and white’ pairing to go with a port wine I was taking to the wine group holiday gathering.
I had made individual servings in wine glasses and had to pack them in a box and cover them to keep the rain off during transport. We have the “best wine group ever” and our holiday gathering was wonderful. The theme was red and white, so we were all dressed to match the theme and brought red and white wines with red and white food pairings. So much fun and holiday cheer. Thanks to Billie and Eileen Sullivan for hosting.
by Judy Handley | Dec 8, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 342: Falmouth Christmas Parade, Jed’s Birthday and Christmas Tree Decorating Party
Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Weather: Partly Sunny and Warmer; High Temp 50, Low 33 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
What a day! I spent the early morning making a dessert to take to my wine group’s holiday gathering tomorrow night and then headed downtown for Falmouth’s annual Christmas Parade. Jed walked with Heather and other town and state leaders and Jonah and Ollie marched and played with their respective school bands. Of course, there was Santa and WHOI even had ‘Dumbo’ the deep sea octopus marching with them.
The parade had more entries this year than last and the weather was perfect. It was sunny and warmer than it has been the last few days which made watching much more enjoyable. I could go on and on about the parade, but it is late and I have a very early morning heading to Boston for the day. So, I’ll get on to the next part of the day.
December 8 is Jed’s birthday, so this evening we had a combined birthday dinner and celebration plus a decorating the Christmas tree party. After the parade, Heather and gang went to buy their Christmas tree and they ended up buying a big one for the living room and a tiny one for the entry hall. Everyone was in a very festive mood, and we had a wonderful dinner and all sorts of fun while decorating the tree.
by Judy Handley | Dec 7, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 341: More Christmas Fun
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Weather: Sunny; High Temp 38, Low 33 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
With Heather in an all morning Select Board retreat, Sam taking the SAT, and Jonah and Jed up near Boston at an all day soccer tournament, Ollie and I were free to do as we pleased. We didn’t leave Heather and Jed’s until after 10:30 and decided our first stop would be the French bakery to get breakfast and take it to my house to eat. In addition to Ollie’s chocolate croissant and my quiche, we also got a small fruit tart to share with others later and a chocolate éclair for Sam as a treat after taking the SAT. Once we got our bag of goodies back to my house, we added blackberries and bacon to the menu and had a little feast.
Our next stop was to be the Congregational Church Christmas craft sale, but before we left my house, Heather called to tell us she was finished with her meeting and would like to come join us. She was downtown on her bike, so she rode to my house where we all had a small piece of fruit tart. We made it to the Church so late that the craft sale was almost over, and lunch was being served. The lunch menu included clam chowder and lobster rolls, so instead of buying Christmas presents, Ollie bought a clam chowder. Then it was on to Aldi’s to buy a gingerbread house kit. Actually, Ollie bought two in hopes of making a mega house, but in the end, shared the second one with Jonah. We went back to Heather’s so Ollie could build and decorate the gingerbread house and Heather and I took a few minutes to compare Christmas shopping lists. Ollie didn’t really need my help building,
so I took the opportunity to head to Hyannis to return some of the things I bought for Jonah to try on and to try to find a red hoodie for Ollie to wear in the Christmas parade tomorrow. Sam and I had looked at Walmart and TJ Max last night and found nada. I did a quick tour of most of the stores in the mall in Hyannis and only found one red sweatshirt. But then, that’s all I needed.
I am far from being finished with my Christmas shopping, but in just a few days, I have made a good dent in the list. Tomorrow is the Christmas parade and Jed’s birthday dinner, so Christmas preparations will be put on hold. Tomorrow I also have to get ready for my wine group Christmas gathering on Monday night. The theme is red and white, so I am making a white panna cotta topped with a red berry mixture to pair with a bottle of port. It has to be done and in the refrigerator tomorrow, as early Monday morning I head to Boston with the field trip group to go a special exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts. By the time I get home from that, it will be time to head to the wine group gathering. Tuesday is book club and Early Release Day for the boys. The December Encore Board meeting is on Wednesday and another Christmas concert on Wednesday evening. Thankfully, Thursday and Friday look a little less crazy, so hopefully I can finish up most of my Christmas shopping by week’s end.
by Judy Handley | Dec 6, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 340: Christmas Fun
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Weather: Partly Sunny, Windy, Freezing; High Temp 34, Low 24 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Late morning, Jane Woodin came over and we gathered greenery to do some Christmas decorating. Afterwards, we had tea and caught up on happenings. Then I headed to Hyannis to look for a “quality” Santa hat for Sam and some other fun things to share during our Christmas tree decorating party. Sam thinks he has outgrown the years old Santa hats in the basement, so I was happy to buy him a new one. I also found a new, crazy one for Jonah. I stopped by Macy’s to see if they might have black pants and a suit jacket for Jonah. He and Ollie have upcoming Christmas concerts and Jonah’s concert outfit from last year is getting on the small side. While shopping for things for Jonah, I found a great Santa outfit that I thought Sam might wear in the parade on Sunday and picked up something for Jed for his birthday which is also this Sunday.
The real reason I was in Hyannis was for the Cape Cod Symphony holiday concert.
Encore members all had seats in the same area. My seat was directly in front of Terry and Olivia White. I was delighted to see them there. Last year I drove with them to the concert and my back and knee were both so bad that Terry had to drop me right by the door. I painfully remember how difficult it was to walk into the high school where the concert is held and get to my seat. What a difference a year and two surgeries make. Today I was able to park far from the school entrance and walk in with no problem. It was a reminder of just how far I have come in a year. I am so very grateful to be able to walk without pain. The concert was delightful, and I am certain that everyone left in happy holiday spirit. I know I certainly did.
It was almost 7 pm when I got back to Falmouth and went to the Goldstones for their Christmas tree decorating party. But there was a problem. There was no place open after 5 pm to buy a tree, so that party will happen tomorrow or on Sunday combined with Jed’s birthday party. But Sam loved his “quality” Santa hat.
And Jonah had a good time wearing the crazy Dr. Suess type Christmas hat I bought for him.
The Santa outfit I bought for Sam was too small for him, but Heather put it on and loved it. She thinks she will just keep it on until Christmas!
After having pizza with the Goldstones, Sam and I headed to Walmart to see if they might have some other items needed for the parade on Sunday, plus I still needed to buy a hat for Ollie. Between Walmart and TJ Max, we found a few things, including the hat for O. But the hunt for other items will have to continue tomorrow.
Sam has to drive to Hyannis early tomorrow morning to take the SATs, Heather has an all morning Select Board retreat, and Jed has to take Jonah to an all-day soccer event. Ollie and I are going to decorate a gingerbread house and then Heather, Ollie, and I are going to a wreath making workshop in the afternoon. If we still have any energy left, we will gather after the sun goes down for the annual lighting of the town green. Santa’s elves are going to be busy tomorrow.
