my red door days

Revisiting

November 1, 2020

A new month in an old year... I've let this space go, but this week in one of my university classes, we are talking about blogging. For the sake of academics, I've stretched my stiff and neglected blogging muscles, and here I am. 

 To catch you up on the last two years, my epic, planned road trip in 2018 ended wonderfully and dramatically with cold-weather camping, Carlsbad Caverns NP, and driving all the way across Texas in I-10. I saw family in Mississippi for Thanksgiving, met up with Eric, and got to stop at Smoky Mountains NP before arriving home at the very end of November. Since then, I did other road trips in 2019 and welcomed three new grandchildren into the family--two boys born a week apart in early spring 2019 and a girl born in October. She just celebrated her first birthday. In the middle of that, Evan got married in June 2019. 

Here's the family, except for Vivi, the youngest babe. She's just a bump in this pic. 



Since then, life had been moving along in a fairly routine and calm way. Until March 12, 2020. On that day, the world started shutting down and people started staying home to try and control the spread of a new contagious disease--2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID 19 for short. 

And now it's near the end of 2020--we are 7 months into what is now officially a pandemic, are 2 days from an important election, and it's been a wild ride. We had another young person live with us for a while and we locked down with her as COVID 19 changed all of our lives. We also combined our household with our dear next-door neighbors. So, while other families were feeling quiet isolation, we grew our adoptive tribe and have kept very busy during this whole, strange time. 

Our COVID crew on Mother's Day


In August, our lovely houseguest moved out, and Sam and Madison came to stay while they move from Mississippi to Baltimore. They've bought a house and will settle soon, but we've had a peaceful, lovely time living here together. Having the energy of granddaughters in the house has been absolutely delightful. 
Madison, Vivi, and Lydia with me (Grammy)



So, all is well. I'm grateful to be busy. And I haven't even mentioned work or the fact that I'm back in school. And how Corinne has moved back. And so many other stories. Who knows, maybe I'll take up writing here again and try to catch up. 


Revisiting

November 1, 2020

Just Writing

June 16, 2017

My energy is low right now. I have several fairly important tasks to complete before tomorrow morning, but after the tasks I completed this morning, I came home and slept. It's been my pattern for the past several days: a long afternoon nap, yet still plenty tired for a normal bedtime, up early for all the things, then crash again for the afternoon. I'm a little concerned, so I'm taking my iron supplements and trying to just sleep when I need it. I'm sure it will pass.

Just Writing

June 16, 2017

Announcements, Announcements, A-nooooouuuunnncce-ments!

April 1, 2017

Yep. It's time to tell all the people about the wedding. But wait! I haven't even really told anyone about the wedding on this blog. My blogging in general has been so sporadic lately and I was using writing time for 52 Stories. Blog fail.

Announcements, Announcements, A-nooooouuuunnncce-ments!

April 1, 2017

The Holidays

January 2, 2017

Christmas morning at our house,
as interpreted by Prisma. 
The holidays are just about over. Tomorrow I'll be taking down the decorations and cozying up the house for winter. I'm also going to start on sending some cards and letters. I always make a good try at that in the first weeks of the new year.  Later in the week, I have a something special coming--I'm attending a knitting retreat as a regular old student, not as teacher, staff, or photographer. I'm really hoping it will be lovely. Sometimes I like it better when I'm working and not just relaxing, so it will be interesting to see if I can turn my mind to engage in a different way--to receive and experience rather than facilitate so others have a good experience.  Wish me luck.

The Holidays

January 2, 2017

The Turn of the Season

October 26, 2016

It's finally feeling like fall around here. This morning I walked with my neighbors to school and had to wear a beanie and some gloves! How exciting!

The Turn of the Season

October 26, 2016

Wrong Again, I Expect

July 6, 2016


Ah, Samwise Gamgee. He is my perfect literary alter-ego. By far my favorite character in The Lord of the Rings, he lifts my spirits and reminds me regularly about being brave.

Wrong Again, I Expect

July 6, 2016

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