Weeks of December 23 and 30, 2024

Happy new year!

This posts spans the Christmas holiday through now, because I didn’t post an update while traveling. Unfortunately those two periods of time, though only a week apart, feel more like a month apart. Here’s the abridged version:

Charlie traveled really well both there and back. We switched his car seat to face forward, which was a whole new world for him. He loves it. Amanda was able to sit in the front seat for the entire trip, both directions!

We had lots of good family time. Watching Charlie’s relationship bloom with his grandparents is special. He played really well with his cousin Nora, too.

Charlie got in the Christmas spirit and participated in/understood the Santa thing this year. It was precious.

Charlie sang Jingle Bells a lot and wished us all a Merry Christmas individually for a couple days.

I visited Bill Strohm and Chas Deremer, two mentors from high school. It has been gratifying to keep that relationship alive and relate to them now as an adult and parent rather than a teenage student. Chas brought me some fresh pheasant feathers from a bird he shot the day before!

Dad and I prepped some fly tying materials from a coyote tail and a raccoon tail. I have them drying now and will tie with them probably next month.

The bird house ornament Dad made this year was next-level. It is a mini version of my workshop!

Charlie likes Christmas Jello and fresh Hungarian sausage.

We visited my cousins the Harkers on their farm. Charlie loved the tractors.

We got to meet Sean Nelson’s little boy, Augie, and visit with his family. What a little cutie.

The daily get-togethers and being off of his routine was a bit much for Charlie. It is hard trying to pack it all into a week. We noticed a big improvement when we back into his routine again.

Some photos:

New Year’s, abridged:

We went grocery shopping, went to a cheese shop, and did fondue at home on NYE.

We tried to play outside as much as possible and get our grumps and wiggles out.

I tied a few flies before midnight.

I made a sausage, beans, and greens dish on New Year’s Day, downsized from the original plan of cassoulet because we were all a little done and ready to go back to school and work the next day.

Post New Year’s, abridged:

We went back to work and school.

We buckled down and finished an application for a school we are interested in sending Charlie to. It is wild to us that it is so soon!

I turned a few things:

A kitchen mallet as a gift for a friend

A cup for holding long feathers for fly tying that don’t fit in the bag I keep the smaller feathers and partial skins in.

We went to a friend’s birthday part.

Charlie’s swim lessons restarted. What a difference a year makes! He had fun, listened really well, and willingly did all of the exercises. I was in the pool with him and we both had a blast. Looking forward to next week.

Charlie and I went on an adventure to Bear Mountain to get our wiggles out on Saturday afternoon. The carousel was working, and our little turkey insisted on riding a turkey. After that Charlie wanted to try out the ice rink, and I couldn’t redirect him, so we rented some skates and tried it out. Mind you, I can’t really skate and I’ve been on skates a total of three times in my life. Still, we gave it a shot. I stayed on my feet the entire time and held on to Charlie, propelling us both around the outside edge for one full lap around the rink. We left without injuries and still in good spirits.

Charlie said, “We need Momma cuz we don’t know howwa ice skate. Momma will teach us.”

Charlie has been very polite lately! Lots of please, thank you, no thank you, etc.

Charlie is sick today with some stomach illness and a fever.

I tied some flies!

Pheasant tail sakasa kebari

Copper John kebari

Olive bubble kebari

Purple jun kebari

Barry Ord Clarke’s Mutantz (made with hot glue and a lighter)

Things on my mind right now:

Planning for my sabbatical (April, May, and June)

Planning a small 35th birthday party

What flies to tie next (probably more pheasant tail patterns)

What to make next in the workshop (probably more practice bowls)

What to read this year. I read mostly fiction last year and need some more non-fiction in my life. Send me your recommendations!

Reading more blogs this year. Send me your blogroll’s OPML.