Fairwell 2022, Welcome 2023

Good tidings, 2023:  Please be gentle and joyous!

• We explored Luray Caverns
• We drove to Reston to see a friend's HS play
•  Voted by mail
• Celebrated my birthday at the WV Fairy Festival
• Wandered Luckett's Spring Fling
• Slaughtered Spotted Lantern Flies
  
• Accepted a new position and transferred
• Had a visit from a tree frog
• Picnicked in the orchard
• Adopted a kitten
• Found the famous Vegetarian Grilled Cheese food truck
• Went to the Peach Festival
• Explored another section of Shenandoah River
• Enjoyed the Firefly Festival
• Went to an Astronomy Event
• Watched a hot air balloon drift over our hood
• A family of Martins moved into the birdhouse
• My Spanish Moss BLOOMED!
• We got our boosters
• A Robin built a nest below deck
• Replaced our car engine
• Watched the lunar eclipse
• Celebrated his 17th
• Had a sunset picnic followed by a full moon hike
• Saw a meteor shower
• Made poles for string lights on our deck
  
• Discovered we have 2 species of Mantids in our garden 
• Watched many sunsets
• Visited the mountain vistas
• Explored country roads
• Read a lot of poetry
• Gardened
  
• Had my first infusion of Reclast
• Made lots of comfort food
  

Ode to December

Wherein there were sunrise commutes, an ice storm and subzero temps.  My son gave me a wonderful book.  Friends and fam sent us beautiful gifts.  Charlee the kitten was enthralled with the birds at the feeder.  We went to Luray Caverns.

Raising a teen as a widow has been emotionally challenging.  I keep the photo frame that I gave to my late husband next to my desk so I can see it every morning when I rise, and at night before bed.  The photos change and it's filled with our best memories of  our son's childhood.  I began the collection so that my husband would see all the moments he missed whilst at work.  Now it serves as a touchstone for me.  All the magic, adventure and sweetness is a reminder of who this brooding teen truly is at heart. 

Another Solstice came and went with out a party because of the pandemic.  May 2023 brings back safe gatherings and the relaunch of MGA. 

As of Dec 21st more than 1 million people died of covid.  And more than 7 million world wide.  Yet very few are wearing masks so the virus continues to mutate and spread. 

And Russia continues to attack Ukraine.  And Zelensky gave an extraordinary speech.

Gummy Snakes because he loves sweet and sour, and snakes!

Tomato Risotto w Burrata per usual