The beets are starting to work their fermentation magic for barszcz z uszkami. And the first baking (though not strictly for Christmas) is done.
First Preparation
One Picture Tells the Whole Story
15
And just like that, fifteen years have passed.
We have a daughter who's thinking about college, wondering what she wants to do with her life, realizing she just has a few more years at home.
We have a daughter who now possesses a learner's permit and a strong desire to learn how to drive.
Christmas Card
K wouldn’t let me publish it until we had sent out some of the cards.
First Steps
Martial Law
Forty years ago today.
Had martial law not been declared, what would have happened? Would the Soviets have intervened? If they’d intervened, would that have hastened or delayed the fall of the Warsaw Pact? Would I have met K?
Winter Exploring
It’s been a while since the Boy and I went exploring behind our house. I can’t recall the last time — I don’t know that we did much exploring during the summer if any.
When we got to the place we first cross the creek, we discovered that our normal method was impossible: the bricks and stones we’d set up to step across were gone, washed away by one storm or another. We had to improvise. We had to make a plan. We had to find materials and rig everything together.
“You’re a scout — this is just up your alley!” I suggested.
In the end, we pulled several sticks together to spread our weight out and used another stick for balance. It gave us both a little sense of accomplishment, but I was just enjoying spending time with him.
When we got to the spot we have to cross for the second time, we discovered it too had washed away. Fortunately, there was a log nearby, and we simply had to put it in place.
At the end of our route, where we always exited the sewer easement (that’s essentially where we explore) into an empty lot, we saw that the house begun earlier this year is nearing completion, which means we might not be able to do this much more — at least exit onto the street and walk back via streets.
In the evening, some cards with K.
Nutcracker
Our friend's daughter danced Clara in tonight's Nutcracker. And a friend of L's from middle school danced the lead in the Arabian dance.
15th Birthday Party
Nordic Skiing
Looking through old pictures, I found this one — twenty years ago, when I tried my first (and only) cross-country skiing adventure. I didn’t get more than a few hundred meters before my feet — the muscles in my feet — were utterly cramped.
I must have done something wrong.