2022 Life Logs, Day 359: A Very Merry Christmas
Date: Sunday, December 25, 2022
Weather: Cold and Snowy: High 27, Low 19 degrees F
Sunrise and Sunset: 7:08 am & 4:19 pm
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Today was one of the merriest Christmas days ever. We continued to get snowflakes falling periodically during the day making the world white and beautiful. Santa was most generous and brought everyone the ‘just right’ presents. He even brought the Goldpebbles an Xbox which they have had at the top of their Santa list for years.
Ollie and Jonah were over the top joyful, as was Sam. But Sam just stood staring at it and saying, “I have wanted this for all my life.” Well, not quite. But almost. After a morning of opening presents, I drove home to spend time with Shadow and enjoy my gifts. I put the decorative pillow appliqued with tropical fish on the bed in my guest bedroom.
Heather bought the pillow at the Old Market in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and I decided that I will decorate the walls of that room with my favorite underwater photos from around the world. I also plugged in the nightlight in that room that was a handmade gift from Ollie using shells from my collection—half cockle shells from the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia.
I made myself a cup of tea in the Woodwell cup that came in my stocking, and I sat and started reading the book Jonah gave me—Horse by Geraldine Brooks.
Then I sat in the living room watching a recording of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert while I ate lunch served on my artistically designed cutting board made by Sam. It is oak and maple and has two curved inlaid lines of dark walnut from the farm Mark and I owned in southern West Virginia.
Shadow and I then look a long winter’s nap before I returned to Heather and Jed’s for dinner. But not before transferring the contents of my little pocket wallet that is falling apart to a new dark green leather one that was a gift from Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco.
Earlier in the morning, we had a Skype video call with Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco. They were also having a wonderful Christmas. Coco got a new Chrome Book and lots of new art supplies. Ziggy got a bass guitar. He has shown some interest and will see if he wants to add bass to his piano repertoire.
After our nap, Shadow and I went outside to play fetch in the snow. He loves nothing more than burying his nose in the snow before eating it.
It was nearing dinner time when I returned to Heather and Jed’s. They had also had a wonderfully relaxing afternoon—Heather completing a complex puzzle Jed got her for Christmas and Jed reading and napping while the boys played soccer on the Xbox. Ollie also completed the assembly of the Lego app-controlled transformation vehicle I got him for Christmas.
Heather and Jed took a walk though the neighborhood delivering Christmas bread wreaths, and everyone was cleaning up the Christmas ‘mess’ in the living room when I arrived. Before fixing dinner, Heather made chocolate covered strawberries and decorated Christmas cookies for dessert.
Then she and Jed prepared a great meal of duck breast, smashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and salad. The table was set for Christmas dinner and the last night of Chanukah.
While dinner prep was happening, I played soccer on the Xbox with the boys. I had no idea what I was doing, but I kept getting accolades from the Pebbles because I was doing such a good job. I think they were just being kind, but I did have a good time. And at least I had my player running toward the right goal most of the time!
Tomorrow afternoon we all hope to be heading to Cambridge to Revels on the Harvard campus. It was cancelled on Friday due to cast illness and there is no update at this time. Online it looks like it will be happening, but we will check the website around noon to make sure it is not cancelled again. If it is a go, we will drive separately. After the show, Heather and family will head to Boothbay, Maine to spend a couple of days with Jed’s family. Then on Friday and Saturday they will snowboard in Bethel, Maine, before returning home on New Year’s Day.
