They Come and They Go...

Birthday + 3 days. This year was an uneventful birthday. I worked. The manager from another store was there doing displays. It was okay-not too much to change after she left. I got flowers delivered from my daughter and her family:

They're really pretty, and it was nice to get the recognition during the day. Lauren went to Champlain Chocolates and brought me a little box of chocolates. That was sweet. I left just a bit early, and drove home. Then we left to meet my sister and brother-in-law for dinner at Jeff's Restaurant in town. It's a seafood restaurant and normally really good. It was good. I had seafood stuffed salmon, salad, shared a few appetizers, and each couple shared dessert. It was freezing outside and windy, and it was cold in the restaurant. We were there about 2 hours (lots of time between courses.) Then they came back to our house for a few minutes for me to open their gift-a basked filled with chocolate (a true theme this year!) lids, vanilla and a sweatshirt. I also got a movie from my daughter, one I'm really anxious to watch, a goodie box from my daughter filled with wine, cookies, crackers and bruschetta, and a gift card to get some badly needed new shoes. I have been wearing the same pair for at least 10 years, probably more. I don't wear them all that much, but they're my everyday, winter shoes outside of work. So, maybe twice a week for a few hours if I go anywhere, until I switch to sandals. But still...10 years? I got my new ones today, and promptly threw out my old ones. These are really comfortable. 

I've not written for a long time. Fall came and went:

Early in December we had the most beautiful snow since we have been here. 18" of clingy whiteness that made it a gorgeous Winter Wonderland. It came over 4 days, and the snow highlighted every branch and twig around and I oohed and ahhed my whole way into work. It was just so beautiful:

Then Christmas came and went too:

But Christmas was pretty great because my daughter, son-in-law and this cutest of all boys were here for 2 whole weeks:

He is just the most fun! I loved having him around. We had some bad colds going around during the holidays, but we managed to still have a good time. Christmas dinner included my sister and brother-in-law, and their daughter and her family. They came from Singapore and had only gotten to Vermont 2 days before Christmas, so pretty much they slept thru Christmas because of jet lag. I'm sure, in the years to come, we'll hardly be able to remember they were here at all.
Now, we are about to turn the calendar on another month. It has been a brutal, frigid, cold winter. The last time we had a high of 32° was on January 29th. Right now it's 2°. Earlier today it was 12° and with the sun shining it actually felt mild. But, so many days were  below 0 with way below 0 wind chills. We aren't even thinking of tapping the trees. Suzee and Al are on their way back from California, and should be back home on Sunday. We have been watering their plants and using their truck with the plow while they were gone. Perhaps they'll tap next weekend if we really do get above freezing in the week to come. 

All in all, I am quite close to the next decade of my life. My health is good, my memory is ok, I get around fine, I still work and drive. But sometimes it does get scary when I stop and think about how quickly the year comes and goes...