Monday, December 7, 2020

Twelfth Night and Second Sunday of Advent

We had a successful run of Twelfth Night, despite the pandemic.  Lots of social distancing in our very large theatre.  Thankfully, we do have a large theatre at the high school, which in normal times can seat 1500.  We only had 182 at the largest audience, and so we definitely kept with the protocols of social distancing. 

Onward to Christmas, and already in the 2nd week of Advent.

As I wrote Christmas cards and sent out Christmas emails, I thought of so many friends, both far and near and hope that they are all experiencing a blessed season. 




Thursday, December 3, 2020

Thanksgiving & Advent begins

We had a small (just us and kids) Thanksgiving.  It was nice to all be together.  Gabriel is hunkering down at our lake house thru Christmas as he can work remotely from anywhere.  Anna is now quarantined as she was exposed to Covid this week, she will get tested and hoping for a negative test!!  (It's one test you want to fail.)

It has suddenly gotten very cold here in TN, low 30's and we are feeling it.  We even had snow to begin December.  

As I start writing my Christmas cards, I am remembering family and friends all over the country (and world).  



Thursday, October 15, 2020

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Remembering Aunt Marilyn

 Praying for the repose of the soul of Aunt Marilyn, who passed away Thursday morning.  Here are some photos from years past of her with family.








Monday, September 14, 2020

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Animal groups

We recently had a funny conversation about what groups of animals are called.  Here's a list of some of the ones we found.

Apes: a shrewdness

Badgers: a cete

Bats: a colony, cloud or camp

Bears: a sloth or sleuth

Bees: a swarm

Buffalo: a gang or obstinacy

Camels: a caravan

Cats: a clowder or glaring; Kittens: a litter or kindle; Wild cats: a destruction

Cobras: a quiver

Crocodiles: a bask

Crows: a murder

Dogs: a pack; Puppies: a litter

Donkeys: a drove

Eagles: a convocation

Elephants: a parade

Elk: a gang or a herd

Falcons: a cast

Ferrets: a business

Fish: a school

Flamingos: a stand

Foxes: a skulk or leash

Frogs: an army

Geese: a gaggle

Giraffes: a tower

Gorillas: a band

Hippopotami: a bloat

Hyenas: a cackle

Jaguars: a shadow

Jellyfish: a smack

Kangaroos: a troop or mob

Lemurs: a conspiracy

Leopards: a leap

Lions: a pride

Moles: a labor

Monkeys: a barrel or troop

Mules: a pack

Otters: a family

Oxen: a team or yoke

Owls: a parliament

Parrots: a pandemonium

Pigs: a drift or drove (younger pigs), or a sounder or team (older pigs)

Porcupines: a prickle

Rabbits: a herd

Rats: a colony

Ravens: an unkindness

Rhinoceroses: a crash

Shark: a shiver

Skunk: a stench

Snakes: a nest

Squirrels: a dray or scurry

Stingrays: a fever

Swans: a bevy or game (if in flight: a wedge)

Tigers: an ambush or streak

Toads: a knot

Turkeys: a gang or rafter

Turtles: a bale or nest

Weasels: a colony, gang or pack

Whales: a pod, school, or gam

Wolves: a pack

Zebras: a zeal

Thursday, August 6, 2020

August

While it's not Fall, school has begun in the district.  It's really an all year school, so they always start at the end of July.  

To accommodate the pandemic issues, they are having a couple changes to the usual school schedule.  The families can choose an all online option, which about 20% of the families have opted for.  The rest of the school is attending school 2 days a week, separated alphabetically.  So last names A-M attend Mondays and Thursdays, and last names N-Z attend Tuesdays and Fridays and Wednesday is an all online for all of them.  So far, it's been working fine, but it is only the 2nd week.  Sports are practicing, but no word if they will actually have games/matches, as most contact sports are not allowed.  (Fall without football!?!)

The fall play is a Shakespeare one, and we are hoping to actually perform it, with some caveats.  We'll do in person audience, separated by family units, and 6 feet apart.  We are also pursuing a pay-per-view option for people who want to watch from home.

Gabriel has made it to San Francisco, successfully!  He had a moving van and towed his car behind.  I think he has accumulated more than my girls!!  He starts work on the 17th.  

Slowly cleaning out each room, in preparation for moving next year.  The lake house is wonderful and we enjoy going on the weekends.  Bogdan has yet to get the boat working, but he has almost all the parts and will attempt again this weekend.  We have a canoe (Marian went with her boyfriend and says it is great, but needs cleaning) and a kayak (haven't tried that yet).