Christmas Covidly

 What to expect for Christmas kept Don and me guessing.  Diana and Daniel were planning to come down, but they didn't know for sure.

What we knew for sure was that Daniel's dad, Mark, would be bringing a car to them.  He drove up from Houston, only to turn around and go home the next day.  The weather was picture perfect, so we had a meal outside on the deck.  Mark brought us some gorgeous lemons from their lemon tree in their backyard.  They were the biggest lemons I have ever seen, certainly the yellowest ones I have ever seen, and the juiciest, most delightfully tart ones ever.  What a delightful time we had!

 As we neared Christmas, Di and Daniel decided that they could arrive on Christmas Eve and leave the day after Christmas.  It was going to be quick.  But it was going to be perfect!

When they arrived, the luminarias were already set, and I was beginning to light them.  Although it was a bit windy, we were able to keep them going.  Although they are short-lived, luminarias are the prettiest Christmas decorations.  Christmas Eve in Albuquerque never leaves one's soul, but my luminarias help bring me the memories.

 

After a steak dinner, complete with twice-baked potatoes and asparagus, we spent the evening talking and opening our Christmas Eve books. The next day was a typical Christmas - opening gifts, zooming with family, and figuring out what Di and Daniel are going to take back to Colorado.  Then at 2, we went to the Gaskills for hot chocolate and cookies - outside and socially distanced.  The perfect weather enhanced the day, and we hated for it to end.  

On Saturday the kids left for Denver . . . their car filled with gifts and "stuff" that I needed to get out of the house!  Diana's stuff.  Lucky Daniel!

We had a very Merry Christmas . . . one that only a pandemic can bring.

Earthquakes

 Kansas is not normally known for its earthquakes, and I have always said I prefer tornadoes to earthquakes because at least we know tornadoes are coming.

After we had finished our Thanksgiving dinner, we heard a huge crack and felt the house shake.  Oh dear - an earthquake.  We were surprised by how loud it was, and it seemed unusual.  Turns out it was about a 2.8 magnitude - not bad, but certainly something we felt.  The city was abuzz, because it was the strongest earthquake we had felt.

We had a few aftershocks, and then things settled down . . . until about two weeks later when we had 8 or 9 earthquakes in one day.  A few of them were in the 2.8 range again, and they all began just about a mile or two from our house.  Disconcerting?  Yes.

They settled down after that day, and we have not had one through today, which is February 13, 2021, but who knows when they will strike again.  We found for a few weeks, we were all jumpy - a large truck roaring down the street would surprise us.

For Christmas we received a bottle of wine called Earthquake.  Very appropriate!

A Different Thanksgiving

We so wanted to go to Kansas City for Thanksgiving, but with Covid running rampant, Don and I just stayed home.  So it was just the two of us, and it didn't feel right.  But . . . doing dishes and cooking was a breeze.

 The thought of not decorating the table, skipping the stuffed turkey, and bailing on the persimmon pudding was just not of interest to me, so we did the whole shabang.  I did skip the potatoes and sweet potatoes, as neither of us need those calories, but we made up for it with the dressing.  Oh my - it was extra good this year.

When I was growing up, we always dressed for Thanksgiving dinner, and we usually do at our house, too - though sometimes it just doesn't work out.  This year, however, since it was just the two of us, we did.  Before Mom passed away, she had woven some white material for me to make a dress.  I was not comfortable sewing such beautifully woven cloth, so before she died, I found a seamstress to begin the dress.  Unfortunately, it did not get done for a number of years, because I kept putting on weight, taking off weight, putting on weight, the seamstress moved . . . a whole host of things.  But about five years ago, we managed to finish the dress.  And it was beautiful.  But the lining felt wonky because I had put on a few pounds, and I never wore it.

Since I have lost quite a bit of weight, I decided to try the dress on to see how it fit.  And it was perfect.  So I knew what I was going to wear for Thanksgiving dinner.  With my mom's turquoise necklace, it was just the thing.  I made sure not to spill gravy on it, and before I did the dishes, I changed out of it.  It is the first dress I have worn in way too long, but I really liked it.

Don and I are so grateful for the many blessings we have, and Thanksgiving Day was another one of those.