Some vintage celluloid reindeer are visiting the Lake House.

I wonder – will anyone let them in?

Temperatures are going to be in the 40s for the next 3 days – a definite warmup – with a lot of rain falling on Friday. I suspect that most of the snow will be gone at the end of that day. I do see some new snow in the forecast for next Tuesday and on Christmas day. I would love to see snow falling on Christmas day. Our local weather guys confirmed what both Don and I knew – this is the coldest December in over 10 years. It’s like we jumped to mid-February at the beginning of December. Very, very cold and lots of snow this year. And it’s not even Winter yet – at least, officially.

We’ve been staying close to home, still reeling from the brutal murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, by their son. This, just a week after Jubilant Sykes was murdered by his son. How awful it must be for any parent or sibling to live with a family member who is dealing with addiction and serious mental health challenges. Did the Reiners ever worry about their physical safety? Did Jubilant worry? When do you make the decision that that person is a danger to others, especially when it’s your child? And if that person is legally an adult, how much can you really do? It’s just awful. Gut wrenching,

I know how challenging it was to live with my father’s alcoholism. In that case, the worry was that he might take his own life. He certainly threatened to on many occasions. But even though he had a volatile temper, I never felt that he would harm any of us.

My heart aches for the surviving Reiner children, and the Sykes children.

Don and I search for some moments of comfort: in the beauty of our Christmas tree, in a piece of pumpkin pie, in an old movie, in conversations where we try to make sense of the senseless.

“The world is too much with us.” (Wordsworth)

I speak those words often, increasingly so since January of this year.

Sorry to be serious today and not “Merry, Merry Christmas!” There’s a time and a place. I’ll try to take some photos later  today of a cheery nature.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

I will briefly address the events of the weekend. A mass shooting at Brown University. A mass shooting at a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia. And then, late last night, the news of the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. It’s too much, too heartbreaking, too senseless. The loss is enormous.

There has been speculation about Reiner’s son, who has had serious mental health issues. But we don’t know anything for sure, except that the Reiners experienced a brutal knife attack .

Just last week, a man I worked with – Jubilant Sykes – was murdered by his son, who also used a knife.

It’s too much. The antisemitism, the damn guns, all of it.

I can’t take it all in this morning. It’s too much. I can only pray.

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In what must seem like a 180° turn, I’ll post a couple of photos.

Snow fell overnight on Saturday into yesterday morning. It’s pretty out there. Don did most of the shoveling because it was just a few inches – not worth using the snowblower.

Miyoshi gets her chance to wear the Queen for the Day crown.

Maybe she’ll bring a little smile to your face this morning.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

We’ve been spoiled by very sunny skies lately, but today promises to be cloudy all day long. Ah, well.

Decorating for the holidays is done, I think. I added a few more presents under the tree in Dove Cottage. Now I have to take pictures of everything, but the lack of light means today is not the day.

I’m finishing The Impossible Fortune  this morning as I have to get it back to the library. Two books I had reserved have arrived, and I have some books to donate, so I’ll do all of that in one visit. Then a quick trip to the grocery store. Exciting, right?

By the way, if you’re a fan of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club mysteries, this newest in the series does not disappoint. He is such a good writer.

Today is Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday! Happy Birthday, Dick!

Gosh, I don’t have a whole lot more to say this morning. We’re doing our best to protect the magic of the holidays here at the cottage. We’re staying away from the news and anything we cannot control. Sending out wishes for peace and the removal of you-know-who. In the meantime, it’s twinkling lights and Christmas music.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.