Merry, Merry.

12-24-23 VERMONT: Xmas eve—we expect Alison, Dan and Lily sometime today. Our annual Xmas day party happens tomorrow afternoon. Judy has been preparing all week. I have tried to stay out of the way. 

Neighbors Steve and Diana had their annual Solstice Party two days ago with a bonfire to lure the sun back to our hemisphere. It was pot luck so there was lots of food to try. 

It doesn’t feel like it, but the days are now getting longer. Maybe by the end of January you will be able to see it. 

We have little patches of snow here and there. The ponds are frozen and patches of standing water are all frozen. The waterfall is still flowing but will be frozen in a couple of days unless there’s a warm up. The sky is overcast. I filled the bird feeders yesterday and the chickadees and nuthatches were here this morning.

We usually go to a church in the Strafford Upper Village for Xmas Eve Carol sing. The minister is very open and welcoming. The service is aimed at and for kids so it's just right for us.  

Blue skies from a few days ago. The horses working their hay.

Maizie and Blue fighting with a broken branch. Blanca watches from the top of the hill.

The little church in Strafford.

The upper pond and stream to the lower pond.

The waterfall still running from all the rain last week.

Back in Vermont.

12-17-23 VERMONT: We came up yesterday in the morning. It was an easy trip. There was no snow until Norwich, and then only remnants of plow piles. Here there was shallow snow cover in places, but tonight it’s raining hard, and all the snow will soon be gone. The ponds are mostly frozen over, inlet spots are not yet frozen. 

The dogs have been roaming all over the place. The horses are in the pasture. Today we got a medium sized tree and set it up—Judy did almost all the work and decorated it. She also brought a load of wood into the house. I have been going upstairs the last two nights and sleeping in my bed after four months. 

Anna, Gardner and Emmett visited us in Short Hills the beginning of the week. He is approaching his two month birthday. 

We took pix of each other by the tree with the dogs. Judy deleted all hers, but some of mine were OK. 

Blogger with pooches.

Sleeping Swamp.

11-28-23 SHORT HILLS: Thanksgiving has come and gone. Judy did the holiday for 15 people almost by herself. The guests brought sides, and Lily and Danna were here Wednesday night and Thursday morning to help with the chores. Judy was up at 5 AM to make stuffing and start the turkey. 

I am now doing PT with 100% weight bearing, the knee is as big as a pineapple, but mostly not painful. I can see walking on the horizon. 

Emmett continues to be much photographed, which has not had any adverse effect on growth and development.

Blue and Judy just left for Blue’s first therapy visit—Good luck, Little Dog.

A few days ago we did a drive by at he Great Swamp Nature Preserve. Everything looks dormant for the winter, but the streams are not yet frozen. We did see a few ducks and a bunch of Canada geese. 

 

Emmett in a rare moment between eating and sleeping.

Great Swamp looking gray and lifeless, but just waiting for a warm Spring day to begin stirring.

Another gray swamp, the white in the center is a flock of Canada geese.

A few ducks not yet ready for the commute.

Sleeping Swamp.

Note to 'Anonymous'.

 Blue's pronouns are 'she, her'.

Blue Stars.

11-19-23 SHORT HILLS: Tomorrow I start 75% weight bearing on the healing leg and the next week full weight bearing. The knee is still the size of a cantaloupe. 

The new golden, Blue, has passed her Therapy Dog exam with Creature Comfort. It’s the culmination of months of hard work by Judy training her for the certification. There’s another exam for B & B in a few weeks. Judy has changed a fearful, anxious dog into a star performer.

Emmett, now three plus weeks old, models a new outfit almost daily, and may be the most photographed celebrity since Diana. 

Carol sent a snapshot of Judy and me from a trip to Maine with her and Ken from 30 year ago.

Blue last summer in VT.

J and H, mid-nineties trip to Maine with Ken and Carol.

Emmett.

Emmett again.

Two Weeks for Emmett, The Leg Slowly Heals.

11-10-23 SHORT HILLS: Two weeks of age now for Emmett Benton Davis, who we visited earlier this week at his home in Greenwich Village along with proud parents, Anna and Gardner, and proud Grammy, Alison. It was an easy in-and-out for us in the middle of the day. Judy and I each held and fed him. We are thrilled.

I have started PT at JagPT in Chatham, and started weight bearing on the broken leg. I am allowed 25% weight bearing on the healing leg, and next week 50%. [I have no idea how to estimate 25 or 50% while using the walker.] But progress is progress. In two weeks, it’ll be 75%, and the next week full weight bearing, also known as walking. I have home PT to do as well.

Judy is busy prepping for Turkey Day here. She is amazing—getting all the work done by herself with the least bit of help from me or Margaret. 

Feeding the baby.

The new arrival with Mom and Dad.

Anna's first Birthday. Front row-Edith and Oscar, my parents. Middle row-Valerie, Alison, Anna. Back row-Glenn, Dan, me, Judy.

Great Grandparents!

10-26-23 SHORT HILLS: Happy Birthday to a new Earthling—Emmett Fagin-Davis who arrived early this AM. This makes Judy and I Great Grandparents. Huge congrats to Anna and Gardner. Congrats also to Alison, Dan and Lily. Congrats also to Gardner Senior and to Gardner's sisters. Now everybody, including Emmett, can get some sleep.  

Family Unit.

Emmett Fagin-Davis.

Emmett and Aunt Lily.

Father and Son.

Anna and Emmett. Emmett is getting his first look at Earth.