This morning, while Don was sleeping in, I spent some time trying to create a little bokeh with the lights of our tiny little tree in the den. I finally got it. If you don’t already know, you have to have a focal point at a distance from the lights. Focusing on this little tree allowed the tree lights to do their thing.

I will be playing with bokeh and the big tree later today.

Don’s gig was quite far away, so he didn’t get home until after midnight, hence, his sleeping in this morning. He has another gig tonight and, at the last minute, he’s subbing for someone who has Covid tomorrow afternoon. Needless to say, he enjoys it, but all the driving, along with singing for 3 hours is very tiring.

We’re getting freezing rain this morning. It was to start after midnight and I was a bit worried for Don on the drive home, but it didn’t impact his travel at all. Thank goodness!

What else? Not a whole lot. I finished the newest Michael Connelly and returned it to the library. Now, I’m reading Orbital by Samantha Harvey, which won the coveted Booker Prize this year. It’s about 6 astronauts working on the Space Station. So far, it’s quite wonderful. The newest Louise Penny is still on my TBR pile but I don’t feel moved to start it yet. I’ll know when it’s time.

Because of the rain, it’s quite foggy this morning. Actually, there’s more fog than when I first got up. As you know, I quite like it.

For the first time ever, I’m actually putting together a jigsaw puzzle that I already assembled. I’ve been needing something meditative to fill my time. I have donated the vast majority of my finished puzzles to a local senior living facility, but I did hang on to the first Laurence King puzzle I did – The World of Shakespeare. It’s been long enough that it’s almost like doing it for the first time – enough to feel the challenge and that was what I was looking for. Hurrah!

He has two new puzzles that I want to order, budget permitting: The World of Miss Marple and The World of Oscar Wilde. They’ll be perfect for the winter days ahead.

Alright, that’s it for today, my friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Good morning! It’s -1° as I write this. The weekend has been bitterly cold, but the ‘warm up’ will start today as we hit the mid 20s. Only a low of 16° tonight – positively balmy! Even though it was frigid yesterday, the sun was shining on the snow and it was quite beautiful out there.

We watched It’s a Wonderful Life  last night and, of course, I cried. Tonight, we watch A Christmas Carol  with Alastair Sim, and tomorrow, The Bishop’s Wife.

Cubby Christmas:

I have a short video of them on my IG Blythe feed from a week or two ago, but I am unable to post videos here.

Anyway, I love decorating their shelves. The view from my chair here in the den makes me smile. The cubbies are directly across the room from me and the Christmas tree is just to the right. Not bad!

I don’t have the energy to undress them all and put them in Christmas sweaters this year. It takes hours to transform and pose them, so we’re taking a break from that.

I’ll be back with a message on Christmas morning. I hope you are ready for the holiday, enjoying the decorations, spending time with family and friends. I’m especially thinking of blog readers Chris K., Brenda in Florida, Vicki in California, and Kathy, who is taking care of a family member who is seriously ill. I know they are unable to comment because of illness or commitments elsewhere. Sending love to all of you. If there are more that I’m missing, please let me know.

Much love to you.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Last night’s sunset.

We’re due for some snow today – probably about an inch – and a bit more tomorrow. Over the weekend, the temps are going to be frigid. Oh boy.

A couple of stories about age and the perception of age:

I had been rereading some old paperbacks that I read in the 70s. Comfort reads. In one of them, the characters kept talking about “Great Aunt Annie.” The descriptions painted a portrait of a very old woman who was eccentric and a bit batty. Almost Dickensian. Imagine my shock when the author said she was 72.

72! My age! I guess back in the 70s, which I remember well, 72 was considered ‘doddering?’ I don’t remember thinking that, but it does point out how concepts of aging have changed. I told this story to Don and he burst out laughing. Now, we aren’t as spry as we used to be, but we’re pretty darned vital and we certainly don’t think of ourselves as fragile or, to be honest, old.

Although, I am  a great aunt.

And in that same vein, Don got a call from CVS the other day. He gets his prescriptions through CVS/Caremark and they’re sent through the mail. He chatted with a very polite young woman and I heard him say, “No, I’m fine, but thank you.” When I asked him about it, he said “They wanted to know if I needed someone to come to the house to check my vitals.”

Cue more laughter.

I’ve heard this from our medical insurer as well.

I feel an inner “Age is just a number!” ready to burst forth. Of course I realize that many people do need these services and I’m glad they’re available, but I do feel like some entity is hovering in the background, absolutely sure that we must be feeling a certain way because of a particular number.

Last night, we watched Miracle on 34th Street. Tonight? Meet Me in St. Louis.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.