Winter Solstice 2021, DONE!

We did it!  Shortest day is done... now we get longer days again.  It's all looking up from here.

 

We did it!  Shortest day is done... now we get longer days again.  It's all looking up from here.

 

Yay! 

And we had a gorgeous day for it up here, but it was absolutely bloody freezing!

And we had a gorgeous day for it up here, but it was absolutely bloody freezing!

That sounds like our weekend.  Beautiful clear skies, but bone-chilling cold.  My inlaws came on Saturday, and we didn't let them inside.  We visited in the garden... standing!... for several hours.  It was really nice to see them and chat, but it was so cold.

That sounds like our weekend.  Beautiful clear skies, but bone-chilling cold.  My inlaws came on Saturday, and we didn't let them inside.  We visited in the garden... standing!... for several hours.  It was really nice to see them and chat, but it was so cold.

Brrrrrr! Hot water bottles?

Beautiful here as well. We went out for a walk in the woods this morning and among the birds we saw was a woodpecker.

Brrrrrr! Hot water bottles?

I did feel a little bit guilty when my MIL remarked on the temp and said I must be so cold... I was wearing thermal leggings and top under flannel-lined jeans and a heavy pullover hoodie, and I had gloves on, and I had a combination powerbank/handwarmer thing in my pocket that I held all stealthily.  So I wasn't as cold as she was, probably.

I did feel a little bit guilty when my MIL remarked on the temp and said I must be so cold... I was wearing thermal leggings and top under flannel-lined jeans and a heavy pullover hoodie, and I had gloves on, and I had a combination powerbank/handwarmer thing in my pocket that I held all stealthily.  So I wasn't as cold as she was, probably.

A hat makes a BIG difference!

A hat makes a BIG difference!

My two winter hats look like Domo and Animal from the Muppets.  I didn't wear either of them.  Now I wish I had.  The visit was the perfect opportunity to wear them not-quite-in-public.

My two winter hats look like Domo and Animal from the Muppets.  I didn't wear either of them.  Now I wish I had.  The visit was the perfect opportunity to wear them not-quite-in-public.

Warmth trumps all! 

My wife is currently wearing a Christmas elf hat waiting to be called for her eye appointment at the hospital. Knowing how overworked the staff are here she walked up to the appointment desk and delivered a basket full of chocolate oranges and other chocolates. Not a healthy gift to give to NHS staff but it was well accepted.

I’m sitting in the hospital Costa, hanging  out with coffee and a pastry.

My wife is currently wearing a Christmas elf hat waiting to be called for her eye appointment at the hospital. Knowing how overworked the staff are here she walked up to the appointment desk and delivered a basket full of chocolate oranges and other chocolates. Not a healthy gift to give to NHS staff but it was well accepted.

I’m sitting in the hospital Costa, hanging  out with coffee and a pastry.

I love your wife for gifting the staff!  It's not the time of year or pandemic to worry about silly things like healthfulness of treats. 

It's always SO exciting to get through the shortest day, isn't it?  We shared an enthusiastic high five!

It's always SO exciting to get through the shortest day, isn't it?  We shared an enthusiastic high five!

Downhill to springtime !!

My wife is currently wearing a Christmas elf hat waiting to be called for her eye appointment at the hospital. Knowing how overworked the staff are here she walked up to the appointment desk and delivered a basket full of chocolate oranges and other chocolates. Not a healthy gift to give to NHS staff but it was well accepted.

I’m sitting in the hospital Costa, hanging  out with coffee and a pastry.

I have an appointment on NYE. Definitely bringing chocolates for the staff!