Christmastide 2026 - MLK Day: Dandelion Tea

 Monday, January 20, 2026

Dale picked up some Dandelion tea. I talked to Mom's friend Millie today who recommended it for my cough. 

Sylvester lurking in the background. 

Christmastide 2026 - MLK Weekend: Wintering

 Monday, January 19, 2026

I found the following on the Instagram account @beyondenneagram. I sums up how I've been trying to look at winter over the last several years. 

Christmastide 2026 - MLK Weekend: Christmistletoe

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Chili for dinner and chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. 

More winter coziness. 

Christmastide 2026 - MLK Weekend: Old Twelfth Night

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Cigar this afternoon. 

Listened to some music. 

Read Keeping Christmas by Henry van Dyke a charming piece about keeping Christmas in your heart all year. 

Read Keeping Christmas by Henry van Dyke a charming piece about keeping Christmas in your heart all year. 

Sylvester on my lap. 

Dinner of baked ziti. 

Dessert of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. 

Continuing to enjoy winter. 

Despite all the ICE in town. 

Christmastide In Hawaii

 Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Christmastide In Hawaii

 Sunday, January 11, 2026

Christmastide - Renee Nicole Good

  Thursday, January 8, 2026

Christmastide - Renee Nicole Good

 Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Mild weather todsay. Perfect for a cigar in the garage. 

These ginger shortbread cookies were 50% at Lunds. Dale and I loved them. They were dipped in some kind of wonderful which made them extra delicious. I get a kick how most of the world moves on from Christmas on December 26. I know, I'm willing to admit that I'M the weird one when it comes to this. However, our agrarian ancestors used January as a time of rest and reset rather than new beginnings. Technology has pulled us away from our natural rhythms and I'm aware of that bullshit more and more the older I get. 

Rene Nicole Good was murdered in cold blood today just blocks from our house. I'm holding the shock, horror, anger, and disgust within me and I recognize it is making me numb. Covid, George Floyd, the Melissa Hortman murder, the Annunciation shooting, and now this are all making a home in my nervous system. It's all too much but I will not be shaken. I and those I hold dear to me will outlast the chaos of this horrible regime. I will continue to make room for small joys like cookies and cigars and huge joys like the many people I love amidst tragedy and I will continue to do everything I can to make sure people like Rene Nicole Good, George Floyd, Melissa Hortman, the children of Annunciation parish and many others will NOT have died in vain. 

Christmastide - Epiphany 2026

 Tuesday, January 6, 2026

This goofball attacked the nice pile of socks I was assembling while folding clothes.

Mom was supposed to be transferred to the TCU yesterday but there was some snafu and it had to wait until today. I think it was a little hard for her. She really liked her doctor along with a couple of nurses at the hospital. 

Christmas Season 2025/2026 -The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Mom, First Cigar of 2026

 Monday, January 5, 2026

First cigar of the New Year. It's been since the day after Christmas. 

Mom was supposed to be transferred to the TCU this afternoon but there was a scheduling mix up and they're going to have to wait until the morning. The doctor called and said he felt confident they had done all they could for her and that she's ready for the next stage of her recovery. He also reported that she was feeling a little discouraged today. I think it's setting in for her that this is going to be a long recovery. 

Christmas Season 2025/2026 -The Eleventh Day of Christmas: Mom

 Sunday, January 4, 2025

Visited Mom today and gave Dale the day off. He's been so wonderful with all the time he spent with her while I was sick. A couple of those days were really tough days for her too. She continues to do well. Hopefully tomorrow she will be moved to the TCU.

Christmas Season 2025/2026 -The Tenth Day of Christmas: Eggnog, Livvy, Old Fashioned, Mom

 Saturday, January 3, 2026

Had some eggnog left. Added a splash of rum. It was delicious and the eggnog to rum ratio was perfect. 

Listened to a little Livvy. 

Dale and I went to lunch at The Howe. I had an Old Fashioned. It's nice to be feeling well enough to have a cocktail. 

Dale and I went to visit Mom at the hospital. It was my first time there since she was admitted on Sunday. They use this chair to help move to her lounge chair. She's doing well.