31

Last stretch of the morning commute, out my driver side window, while stopped to let the commuter rail train pass by just ahead.

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30

Making salads to go with dinner feels veeerrry virtuous.

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29

We went for a walk.

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28

Our weather here in the Northeast of the US continues to be strange -- warmer than usual, vicious storms that bring rain and sleet rather than snow -- and the bulbs I planted last fall are confused. It's not a good thing, actually, seeing them come up now; these tender leaves will most certainly be frozen and killed before long, leaving the bulb unlikely to have the energy to do any more once spring really comes.

Sigh.

Today I met my friend Marilyn for lunch; we are college friends and have for years gotten together for a lunch during January. We catch up, and look ahead -- it occurs to me that we rare look back. She's planning to retire soon, and move with her husband to their house on Cape Cod before eventually moving to Florida for the winters. We'll have to come up with a new tradition, and I'm not sure why thinking about that makes me so sad. Maybe just the acknowledgement that we are getting older, and that the waves of shared experiences start to take on a last-half-of-life kind of tinge (you know -- you go through those stages in life where everyone's deciding where to go to college, then when everyone's deciding what to do after graduation, then suddenly everyone's getting married, having children, etc.).

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27

Almost home, at the end of a long a trying week -- on so many levels. Nothing personal, however, outweighs the horrors unfolding at the national level. Like so, so many, I'm trying to balance staying informed, staying active and engaged, doing all that I can to fight and to support those fighting in the courts and on Capitol Hill with staying sane. It's a dark time.

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26

Our annual Diversity Day at school, when students run workshops and discussions celebrating and also dissecting issues of diversity. I started the day in a workshop on Chinese Ink Painting, taught by students from China who have been studying the art form for years. Wish the class could have lasted for weeks, rather than just over an hour.

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25

After having taken, well, about 5 weeks off from my exercise routine, I was back up and at it today. I seem to have gained a new perspective with time and with age -- what matters is moving forward, not what was or wasn't. I went into the fitness center in the pitch black dark of morning, and came out to the most gentle and reaffirming sunrise, ready for the adventure.

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24

 

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23

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22

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21

It was inspiring, breathtaking, and affirming to be in Boston with about 175,000 other people, standing in opposition to the agenda of the new administration. It was particularly moving to stand in the very place that the American Revolution began, on the same ground where the Abolitionist movement began, in the place where the Vietnam War was protested -- and to feel entirely safe and supported in a crowd with a unified voice and vision. We shall overcome.

A photo a day over at Chicken Blog, too.

20

Because no matter what, we cannot allow the light to be extinguished.

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19

The decorations on a cold January morning.

18

17

Another sunrise glimpse of a bursting moon, and a cafe I find myself dreaming of.  Mmmm, pure sugar.....

16

Took Dean back to school late this afternoon; helped him with some room cleaning and re-organizing, took home some stuff he realized he didn't need, watched him carefully arrange some Christmas gifts, and then went out to dinner together because -- why not. He has a series of goals for himself this semester and is eager to get underway. Wasn't nearly as hard as dropping him off in September, but still....

15

And a bit more making. Our school's mascot is the gryphon, and a work friend is moving on this week to new adventures in life. I made her this little gryphon from this pattern; easy enough, although I didn't realize until after making it that the pattern and instructions don't *quite* match her sample photo. Kind of hate when that happens. But, I'll make some adjustments and make up a few more (Dean seemed pretty interested...).

14

Out all together to do some errands (finally got Ken's car back, after his accident nearly 6 weeks ago), Dean remembered a great Japanese restaurant he'd discovered and was excited to recommend it for our lunch. Where did his winter break go? We had so many plans, and had wanted to get out to a nice dinner together (among so many other things) -- but this spontaneous stop was entirely delightful. Just wish we had more time together.

13

 (A streetlight masquerading as the sun, or the moon.)

When there are so many beautiful things to see in the early morning, I find myself humming happy tunes in my head on the way to work. Even though I thought for a brief instant that I *might* have just gotten up and out on a Saturday morning by mistake, once I assured myself that it really WAS Friday and I really did need to go to work I was delighted to have the moon to keep my company the whole way.

12

11

 Another very pink morning.

And although this full moon got no press that came to my attention -- no special super moon announcements -- this beauty surely qualified as super indeed.

10

The most delicate, painterly sunrise this morning. Thank you, sky.

9

Bitterly cold today; -3 c. on the car ride to school. The seed catalogs have started to arrive, tempting me to over-commit to spring and summer once again...but I've got to give morning glories another try.

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8

 Woke up to about 6 inches of bright snow; the storm began yesterday afternoon and it's always an adventure to go to bed while it's still snowing, not knowing what you'll wake up to. This, now this is manageable.

 Ken assesses.

 

Dean tackled the back deck; we are both so, so grateful for his help.

 

 

And I've still been stitching, playing, wintering, Christmasing. We were *going* to take the tree down this weekend (always have to keep it up until Epiphany, at least) but a quick vote was unanimous -- one more week.

 I see I was a little too speedy in cutting the outer disk with the scalloping shears, but I'm not too terribly concerned. I'll remember all the tricks and systems, the more I keep making.



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7

Before the storm.

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6

When I leave work, there's still light in the sky. I get to watch the sun set, through the trees and houses and storefronts as I drive the familiar route -- takes almost an hour in rush hour traffic. And by the time I get home the sun has set, but there's still a brightness to the sky and the moon says, "hello!"

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5

Morning lights.

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4

Color and texture beneath my feet; savoring the days with rain instead of snow.

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3

Nothing like the warm lights on in your own house, greeting you as you pull into the driveway. Hullo, house! Takes a little of the edge off of having had to go back to work today....

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2

 Ice sculpture in miniature, on the back railing.

 Rabbit tracks, frozen.

 Today's handmade item (not that there will be something every day, mind you, but still trying here.) My latest riff on Martha's idea -- I had to turn to polar bears eventually.

A photo a day over at Chicken Blog, too.