Snow Day...Slow Day

The snow has stopped but the rain and sleet have begun. I am taking a snow day. There's a chicken roasting in the oven and the house is beginning to warm up. Kitties are snoozing, Ken is working from home today and so am I. Chores are done, another lamp is rewired and a box of smalls is ready for the shop. It's almost time for lunch.

We're eating at a new table now. It's new to us but vintage for sure. Handmade out of solid walnut by my dad almost forty years ago. Its fashionable 1970's tapered legs were remade into candle sticks by my dad after mom insisted on a pedestal base. As mom says, it seats eight if you don't mind cozy...and I don't for sure.

2012 Recap

Earlier today I asked Ken if he thought it possible to sum up the year by choosing a single photo from each month that captured the essence of each month for the past year. He wasn't sure and neither was I, but here goes!

JANUARY

With the help of nurse Pippa I spent much of January recuperating from neck surgery. It was quick and easy, and almost pain-free. I have the feeling back in my feet and hands. Now on to getting my playing back again...

FEBRUARY

Ken's dad had a serious health crisis in February but miraculously he rallied and recovered in fine form. He is an inspiration.

MARCH

I brought my viola to a jam and played with friends for the first time since my surgery. I'm holding hope there'll be more of this in my future.

APRIL

April is always a hectic time at school and this year was no exception. I helped prepare more student recitals than ever.

MAY

I am always happy to turn the calendar page to May because it signifies the beginning the "Why We Live Here" season. It was an absolutely sumptuous spring and I couldn't get enough of it in person and through the camera lens.

JUNE

Three places sum up June...San Francisco, Carmel and Yosemite.

We also celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.  All in all, a fabulously fun month!

JULY

July brought some serious patio time, fireflies, sunsets, summer sounds...Grassroots, the FOUND FLEA, visits from far away friends and family. Another wonderful month.

 We said goodbye for now to Lexi and Frank who moved to NYC at the end of the month.

AUGUST

 A month of stress and multiple challenges. We moved mom into assisted living,

 

and said goodbye to her pretty condo on Lake Damon.

I shot this pic on our last trip from the condo over to mom's new place. It was bittersweet but we are so happy mom and Max are safe and happy in their new place.

SEPTEMBER

I turned 55 in September...I still have trouble wrapping my mind around this fact...
The morning of my birthday I was presented with a ginormous apple crisp made by my sweet second year students. Minutes later I walked down the hall to the dean's office and submitted my request to take a leave of absence for the 2013-2014 academic year. There is lots to ponder and figure out and I need some serious time to do it.

In the fall we splurged and got ourselves tickets to almost every concert in town. Highlights were Gordon Lightfoot, Judy Collins, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Indigo Girls.

OCTOBER

It was one of the most beautiful autumns in recent memory.

My LOA was approved. No looking back...

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving, Indian Summer, family, friends, being home...
Thanksgiving day was so warm we gave thought to eating outside. 

DECEMBER

More great music in December including Le Vent du Nord.

We had Christmas dinner with Ken's family in Philly and on the 26th we put the car on the auto train and headed down to Florida to see my mom and brother. We rang in the new year on the train back home!

And now on to 2013!