Dec 12 - 19, New Bathroom floor, SNOW & Cinnamon Rolls

    We finally arranged to have a new floor put down in our main bathroom.  It took me a long time to find just the right color and grain of LVP (Luxury vinyl planking).  I didn't want the project to expand into replacing the cabinets, fixtures and repaint.  I just wanted a new floor to replace the old one that was curling up at the edges and was stained.  I think the old floor came with the original condo.  They had to remove the toilet and move the washer/dryer combo out of the closet.  And the crew that came didn't speak English hardly at all, so it was hard to communicate.  It took them 1/2 hour to get the toilet to work again, and I had to call the Flooring place the next day to come and fix the washer/dryer, as it wasn't exhausting to the outside anymore, but into the bathroom.  But, the floor looks great.

   We had another big snowfall--around 10 inches.  But it was fluffy and windy, so no snow was left on the trees, making it less likely to take down the power lines.  And, easier to shovel.  We don't shovel the drive or the walkway, but we did need to shovel the deck and a path to the fuel oil intake valve.  I am now allowed to feed the birds (from Dec 1 to Feb 28) again, so I need to be able to get to the birdfeeder.  It nice to see the birds out the slider again.  

   I took all of last year's photos and collages off of the refrigerator, and from my wall photo frame.  I usually keep them, so went downstairs to the bookshelf where all of the photo albums were.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, I noticed that the albums where I have been stuffing the prior year's photos was overflowing.  Thus, I spent 2 days organizing all of the collages and Xmas letters, by year, and the old refrigerator phots into a new album.  It is amazing to see how the grandkids have grown from year to year, and to remember.  I also happened to notice how young I used to look.  Sigh!

   Today, we did our traditional cinnamon roll baking, for Xmas morning, as a Zoom call with Quinn and Anica.  Claire joined in later.  Quinn kneaded the dough all by herself.   And she helped roll and assemble the rolls.  Yummy!  I made 3 & 1/2 pans full of rolls, so I will take one to Tamara and one to Claire, as I do not want to eat them all myself (Peter doesn't care for them).

New bathroom floor photos:

Cinnamon Roll Zoom call photos:

Nov 28 - Dec 11, Opacum Woods and Pond Trail, Claire's Wedding

    Nov 28th was Shanti's 46th birthday!  How can he be that old, or should I say, how can I be that old?  Since Sunday, the 29th, was a beautiful, cool, sunny day we discovered a new nearby trail to hike.  Opacum Woods is a 300 acre land trust, with a large pond and trails all around it.  Perfect walking/hiking trails -- around water, in the woods, up and down some hills, nice views, well maintained trails.  Nice day.

    We had around 5 inches of snow, and cold weather.  But on Dec 6th, Claire and Ian got married, legally.  They had Ian's sister become an officiate-for-day, so she could legally marry them.  They "signed the papers" in their snow covered backyard.  They still want an complete wedding, ceremony, reception and all, when we can all gather together in person again.  Whenever that will be.  

   I watched a movie on DisneyPlus/Zoom with Quinn (Tangled) and did a Zoom call for the 1st night of Chanukah lighting of the menorah with Anica's family.  Otherwise, our excitement has become going out to doctor's visits and grocery shopping.  Ugh!  Since the weather has become wintery, my exercise is braving the walk around the neighborhood, or I have started doing Jazzercise again with Aimee's Jazzercise studio online.  

   Since we won't be celebrating Christmas with all the families here this year, I couldn't see setting up the Christmas tree and doing all of the decorations we usually do.  Claire always helped set up the tree, and the grandkids always helped decorate it.  So, this year, I have done a minimal effort, just to remind me that it is a holiday.

   Finally, Peter wanted me to post a photo of our newest "friends".  When we do our neighborhood walk, we end up at a farm, with a horse and goats, who come out to greet us each day, before we turn around a walk home.  Photo below.

Opacum Woods trail photos:

Claire & Ian's "wedding" photos:

2020 Christmas approach to decorations photos:

Our new walking "friends" photo: