Squirrels, Cookie Tins...You Know, Lockdown in Everyday Ramblings

Finally, a break in the rain. This morning it was clear enough to see a few stars then a dense fog moved in and now it is clearing again. Although the trees are almost barren and it is cold, we are hovering above freezing here in unfolding catastrophic pandemic land. I know you probably feel like it is like that where most of you are too.

I spent yesterday fussing around with technology and although I made progress, I still have a way to go. The whole model of where I make my classes available and how I get paid is changing and there are various tech platforms involved. I recorded a short practice yesterday and even though I pumped up the lighting I couldn’t get the angle right and the light is not bright enough where I need it to be. It is all an irritability magnet.

At least my live classes continue to be robust and enjoyable. My students are the best. There are so many online offerings now though from everybody with a cultural institution one can imagine that I am losing some to other events and teachers.

Has anybody watched “Jingle Jangle” on Netflix? It is so bright and over the top and fun and silly and throws in so many Christmas and kid movie tropes it is overwhelming. That said, I enjoyed it. I particularly liked the arrogant matador; they did a lot with that character. Oh, and the Pips.

After a quiet, lonely in person, week Kes is coming up for a visit today and I am walking with Mrs. Sherlock and Charity both tomorrow. We need to take advantage of the dry weather when we can find it.

I made a small batch of the new to me lemon sugar cookies on Tuesday and then proceeded to eat them all over the course of three days. They are good, they are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Kes and I are tuning in for an online talk with Melissa Clark from the New York Times about holiday cookies in a couple of weeks.

I ordered her a collection of festive cookie tins this week, as she is planning on making and gifting cookies this year. I feel bad I don’t have any cookies to share right now but she is bringing up a box each of the dark chocolate stars and Ginger-men from Trader Joe’s. I will be well supplied for cookie rationing until I am able to whip up the next batch.

Our nephew, who is a grown up, is struggling with the lockdown. He is a social guy, and this is truly hard for him. Both Kes and I are sad about this, he is in Seattle, but glad that he is reaching out to us.

In a weird way this situation we are all in is bringing us closer together even though there is distance between us. I am grateful that I don’t need to deal with complicated holiday travel logistics right now. It is so much better to stay home and stay safe.

I am still tracking my calories and while I am not losing weight as fast as I would like to take some pressure off my back and joints, at least I am not gaining.

A very rambunctious squirrel broke the bright yellow finch feeder this morning and scattered millet, sunflower chips and thistle all over my patio. They have been working on it for a few weeks and I had it rubber-banded together. It at least made the solo spotted towhee that visits happy as well as the wide variety of juncos and sparrows I get.

Another kind has been ordered and I have a thistle feeder up now that the chickadees like too. There is a couple that live just around the corner, yards away the get chestnut backed chickadees at their feeder array. It has got to be a territorial thing because we basically put out the same food.

The whole squirrel extravaganza provided entertaining reality tv for the cats this morning. Carlo was enthralled. Only two more days after today on the ear drops. He’s been better than I expected about getting them but still I will be glad when that task is over.

Okay, back to tech wizard land while I wait for Kes. Wish me insight, I need it.