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.

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.

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

2019 Life Logs, Day 351: More R & R
Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Weather: Snow Early, Turning to Rain; High 46, Low 30 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

Ugh. This cold is just not going away quickly, so I spent another day resting. Shadow and I took a couple of naps together and I did make one foray out to do a little Christmas shopping. But it was very little and then I was back home on the couch. I got a call from a cousin that I talk to about once a year, talked to Linda and Mike Stuart who called me on Skype to check in about my trip to Florida to visit with them in January, and checked in with my sister in Nashville. I am hoping that by Friday I will be ready for the weekend of holiday activities. Today I didn’t attend a holiday luncheon with my Newcomers Dining-in Group, but they sent photos so I could be with them in spirit.

2019 Life Logs, Day 350: Sam’s 7th Grade Band Concert
Date: Monday, December 16, 2019
Weather: Overcast; High 40, Low 27 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

It is hard for me to believe that I have a grandchild that is almost 13, in seventh grade, and plays drums like a rock star. How very lucky I am to live close enough to some of my grandchildren to be able to do things like attend their band concerts. Tonight was Sam’s band concert, and even though Shadow and I had slept most of the day as I have a full blown cold, I was determined to go to the concert. It filled my heart with joy to watch him play drums, especially with the jazz band where he is one of four percussion players. He was very nervous about tonight’s performance so Heather and Jed arranged for him to have a special lesson with his private drum instructor yesterday. That seemed to give him the confidence he needed to succeed tonight. And succeed, he did. His private instructor came to the concert tonight and gave him a rave review.

I have cancelled all activities for the rest of the week in hopes that I can kick this cold before the weekend of holiday fun. It starts Friday night when Ollie plays violin with the Sonnay Fiddlers at the Heritage Gardens Aglow, then a Saturday evening solstice celebration at the Goldstones, and a first night of Hanukkah celebration on Sunday evening. We then have one day off before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’m also looking forward to some holiday cooking and bread wreath making with the Goldpebbles.

2019 Life Logs, Day 349: Lunch in NH, Dinner Back on the Cape
Date: Sunday, December 15, 2019
Weather: Clearing, Lots of Wind; High 53, Low 27 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

My day started in New Hampshire and ended back here on Cape Cod. I didn’t sleep well last night as I woke up at some point with a very sore throat. But by morning that was gone. Shadow slept great, however, and didn’t wake up until the alarm went off at 7:30 am. I had set the alarm so I would have time to get Shadow outside to potty and then inside to eat breakfast before Detta and I took off with him to walk on the beach with Leslie. We met Leslie on the beach at 8:30 and walked for almost an hour. There were lots of very big dogs on the beach and I had to carry Shadow some of the time to protect him from aggressive dogs, but all worked out and we enjoyed the walk. We all then headed home to get ready for the next activity. Detta and I were taking Leslie out to brunch at a restaurant with live music. Again, Tom stayed home to babysit the dogs. I owe him big time for taking care of Shadow for me, but he did seem to enjoy it. Detta and I met Leslie at CR’s in Hampton and enjoyed the music from the jazz bar, the elegant setting, and the fabulous food. Today was Leslie’s actual birthday and we ended the celebration with Leslie’s favorite dessert, crème brûlée. Tom met us at the restaurant with my car and Shadow so I didn’t have to drive back to their house, and then I was on my way home. Again, Shadow went to sleep right away and slept most of the way home. We did make one potty stop for me and for Shadow, but he went right back to sleep. I sure hope all of our travels go this smoothly. Once home, I unpacked the car and then headed to Heather and Jed’s to drop off Shadow and then head into town to pick up sushi for all of us for dinner. We enjoyed the special treat and after dinner we got to do a little holiday planning. The festivities will start on Saturday with a Solstice Party, continue on Sunday with the first night of Hanukkah, and then on Tuesday and Wednesday with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations. On the 26th the Goldstones will head to Maine and Shadow and I will stay home to enjoy the New Year together.

2019 Life Logs, Day 348: Leslie Kole’s 70th Birthday Celebration
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2019
Weather: Overcast with Rain; High 55, Low 47 degrees
Location: At Home with Tom and Detta Porat, Greenland, NH

Shadow’s first road trip went without a hitch. He is a great little traveler. We left home at 11:15 am and arrived at Tom and Detta Porat’s in Greenland, NH, three hours later. I had planned to make a couple of shopping stops, but Shadow went to sleep as soon as we got on the road and I dared not stop and wake him up. I’ve always believed you shouldn’t wake a sleeping baby, and now I believe you shouldn’t wake a sleeping puppy while traveling. The only issue we had is that I woke up with a terrible cough. I felt fine, but the cough is not pretty. When we arrived at Detta and Tom’s, Tom announced that he also had a cold and really didn’t feel great. But he and Detta introduced their 2-year-old Golden Retriever, Addie, to Shadow. And Tom then said he was going to stay home and babysit the dogs while Detta and I attended our friend Leslie Kole’s 70th birthday celebration. I hated that Tom felt so bad, but the fact that he was going to stay with the dogs gave Detta and I wonderful chance to visit with Leslie with no worries about pups at home alone. The celebration was at Leslie’s daughter’s home. Jess and her husband Tom have two children, 4-year-old Luke and 2-year-old Piper, and both were attending the celebration for Grammie. Detta and I got there a little early to help set up, but Jess and Tom really had everything under control. And their home was decorated beautifully for the holidays and for Leslie’s birthday. Leslie lost her husband Rich in September and is still desperately struggling with that loss, but she seemed to enjoy the small gathering tonight. After the celebration, Detta and I returned home to find Shadow snuggled up to Tom. We then had a little holiday party and exchanged Christmas presents. It was a lovely evening with wonderful friends. And just seeing Leslie smile made the trip worth it.

2019 Life Logs, Day 347: Headed to NH
Date: Friday, December 13, 2019
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Rain Late; High 54, Low 46 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

After attending a late morning tea at Midge Frieswyk’s, I spent the rest of the day getting ready for my trip to New Hampshire tomorrow. The tea was lovely. There were about 15 women attending and Midge’s holiday decorations were beautiful. I especially appreciated her larger than life Nutcracker. I will be back on Sunday and I am taking Shadow with me. This will be his first road trip, so I’m hoping all goes well.

2019 Life Logs, Day 346:  Newcomers Holiday Luncheon
Date:  Thursday, December 12, 2019
Weather:  Sunny and Cold; High 43, Low 21 degrees F
Location:  At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

The Newcomers Holiday Luncheon was today at The Cape Club in North Falmouth.  We had 116 members registered and The Cape Club accommodates a large group easily, The food was great, but as always, it is the company and conversation that makes the event.  I sat at a table with my wine group and we added to the merriment by having a Yankee Exchange with a wine theme.  Great fun!  I rode to the event with Peter and Karen Baranowski.  I asked them to pick me up a few minutes early so Peter could try and get a good photo of Shadow and I posing in front of the beautifully snow-laden bushes.  It is difficult to get a puppy to pose for a photo, but Peter managed to get Shadow’s attention and got four great photos.  I will use the photos in a holiday postcard, so thanks to Peter for doing this for me.

When I got home, two technicians from RISE Engineering arrived to check the flue system for the water heater in the basement, and once again it failed the test.  The off-gassing was much less after having the  heating and plumbing guy clean out the flue system.  But the natural gas company, National Grid, cannot do the insulation work on the cottage as long as there is any off gassing.  The technicians today suggested I get a second opinion from another heating and plumbing source before deciding exactly what should be done.  But they did assure me that there is really no threat from the amount of off gassing that is currently happening.  So if nothing is done there is no physical harm but energy will continue to be wasted and I’ll continue to pay higher bills for natural gas each month.  After the technicians left, I spent some time sitting on the sofa with Shadow beside me while I booked a flight to Florida in January to visit with Mike and Linda Stuart, my biking friends, and Mark’s family.  I think I have mentioned that Mike and Linda are taking a four- or five-month break from their biking around the world adventure to visit with family here in the US.  They flew home from Thailand and I am not sure where they are going next.  But in January they will be staying in Linda’s sister’s condo in Bonita Springs and by flying down for the long MLK weekend, I’ll be able to visit with them and with Mark’s family as well.  And I have arranged the time gone, so that Heather and family will be with Shadow over the long weekend.  So this trip is a win-win. After booking the flight, I took off again . . . this time to do a little Christmas shopping.  There were some things I needed from Mashpee Commons and I needed to go to the supermarket.  I then returned home to spend the evening with a puppy who had been left alone much too much for one day.  I always feel guilty leaving him, but my hope is that absence makes the heart grow fonder.  He is doing great and I’ll continue to try and balance my time away from home.  This weekend he is going with me for his first road trip as we are going to visit with friends in New Hampshire.

2019 Life Logs, Day 344:  Edible Insects
Date as:  Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Weather:  Periods of Rain; High 61, Low 31 degrees F
Location:  At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

The rain continued today, but it was only spotty and not too much.  After yesterday’s buckets of rain, today was a delightful reprieve.  And it was also warm.  So that helped.  But overnight the temp dips below freezing and we might get some early morning snow.  I had my monthly Book Club meeting this morning and I spent the afternoon with the Goldpebbles.  It was an Early Release Day from school and I had signed the boys up to attend an Edible Insects presentation at the public library.

?

?

?

?

Sam couldn’t go as he was home sick with a cold/flu (not sure which) from school today.  So neighbor Joey Keefe went with us to the presentation.  Most of the kids attending were middle schooler, the perfect age to add the yuck factor to eating insects.  There was a presentation about the growing industry of producing insects to be used as animal feed, making flour from dried crickets, and selling dried insects as snacks.

When it came time to do some taste testing of dried grasshoppers and mealworms, the boys jumped right in.  It helped that I had promised to take them to the French bakery afterwards for a treat if they tried the dried insects.  But they loved doing it and then making a mad dash for the water fountain in the hall to wash down the crunchy snacks.  Even Jonah gave the meal worms a try.  I was actually more reluctant than the boys, but Ollie brought me a couple of meal worms and I ate them.  Crunchy with a salty taste, but the idea of eating mealworms is instinctively repulsive.  The positive side is that evidently insect products, especially flour made from crickets, pack double the protein of steak, chicken, or salmon.  The insects are farmed and sustainable.  But still the idea of eating crickets or mealworms just is not appealing.  But at least we broadened our horizons this afternoon.  If Chocolate Chirp Cookies and cricket pasta become mainstream, maybe we will be more willing to give them a try.