Cold Temperatures

I came across a family group photo taken at our grandmother's funeral in 1994. It reminded me that it was especially cold that day, and I wondered what the temperature was. According to this site, the low on the day of her funeral, January 15, was -14. I remember all of us mourners were huddled together at the cemetery then made a quick exit to our vehicles when the committal prayers were finished.

Furthermore, the coldest temperature in ALL of 1994 was -25 on January 19.

I also remember a string of minus temperatures during January 1977. 

There was one particular day in this January when Dad drove me to work at the public library (start time was 2 p.m.). We got to downtown, and there was a train stopped on the tracks, and the library was located on the other side. It was not unusual for trains to block intersections for many minutes (MANY minutes), and Dad needed to get back to work following his lunch break. So I got out and stood on the sidewalk waiting for the train to pass. I do not recall, but I guess it did not occur to me to walk into one of the stores in that downtown area where I could escape the extreme cold. Duh.

I could probably find other remembered extreme temperatures of my life on this internet site if I wanted to.

Old Person's Oops

Yesterday at my doctor's appointment, I was asked the usual old person's questions including "Have you fallen during the past year?"

I think my question should have been "Have you spilled your tea in the past week?"

To which I would reply "Why, yes. Twice. In one week."

The first time, I set my tea mug down on the end table without paying much attention to where it would land. It tipped, and a bunch of papers got wet. Most of the wet papers were just pitched -- they should have been tossed long ago. However, there was a packet that included a detailed billing from surgery in 2022. Any time I noticed this packet I would think, I should move that. I finally did ..... after the tipped-over tea flowed through the papers.

The second time I spilled my tea, I bumped the mug against the arm of my recliner and it sloshed onto the chair. Not too terribly much, but enough to dampen a corner of the chair.

Oy vey.

New Years 2025

When I was in college, I learned from friends who were twin sisters that one should eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. It is supposed to bring good fortune in the coming year.

I have made an easy Hoppin' John Soup for our New Year's meal:

This year I did not have all the ingredients so I made-do with what I had. The soup turned out very tasty.

Christmas 2024

We traveled to Evanston Tuesday afternoon and arrived there around 3:30 p.m. The traffic was manageable. We did have problems with the GPS lady. At first she was not speaking. Then when that was corrected, she was speaking very quietly. Unusual for her. It helped when we turned off the radio racket.

Supper was home-made tourtière, a french-Canadian meat pie often served on Christmas Eve, and salad. Pumpkin pie was a homey dessert. JF's version of tourtiere has chunks of beef and pork roast plus chopped potatoes and onions. Then it's flavored with a variety of spices, some sweet. I don't know how it makes its sauce -- maybe just the natural meat juices. All inside a pie crust and bakes on very low temperature for 4 to 5 hours.

Tourtière

We explored P and JF's newly remodeled basement. It's so nice. Then after C went to bed we watched a movie, "The Fall Guy," in the new family room. First we watched that day's Jeopardy episode. One clue had P and JF puzzled. JB and I both knew the answer, and we said "What's the matter? Everyone knows that!" Guess not. They'd never heard the expression.

We heard a happy little voice Christmas morning around 7:15. Breakfast was a delicious home-baked chocolate croissant (compliments of Trader Joe's) and hot orange tea. C had yogurt and blueberries. And she got to play with Mama's tea bag and tear it apart. Oh my.

We opened presents, and we were all pleased with our gifts. C was busy tearing paper off boxes and she didn't care what was inside: wooden train set, stickers, blocks, new backpack, book, and more. 

Lunch was leftover tourtiere. Then we sampled the cookies that JB had brought. 

It was time for C's afternoon nap. The rest of us dozed or read books. P asked What's your plan for the day. I told him We're staying another night. What a reaction on his face. We stayed until C woke from her nap and said good-bye and "Merry Christmas" to all. As we drove away, P, JF, and C were headed out for an afternoon walk through the neighborhood.

The GPS lady must have woke from a long winter's nap because she was too loud. JB needs to figure out how to control her volume. We arrived back home before 6 p.m. 

Guns Kill

There was another school shooting last week.

A 14-year-old boy, using an AR-style rifle which his father gave him for Christmas, killed two students and two teachers and wounded 9 others at Apalachee High School in Georgia.

Guns kill. Books liberate. Why are books being banned, while guns are not? The majority of Americans favor sensible gun regulation. 

Sweet Corn

Squirrel

This is me walking into the kitchen.

Or any room in the house.