Mid January

What direction is life taking halfway through the first month?
I made no new year's resolutions, but I do have some hopeful goals.

By the end of last week, the Colts were out of the playoffs, so now we follow the Green Bay Packers, after all we were married in Milwaukee, two family members were born in Oshkosh, and all Mike's family lives in Wisconsin. In fact, we're watching the Packer vs. Falcons game as I write.

Last Sunday morning, after the Colts' loss the night before, our overnight guests began to leave. We persuaded our DIL to stay for breakfast and church. She had come prepared to make us her wonderful egg sandwiches. As often happens with great meals, I enjoy the food so much and forget to take a picture before we dig into it.

Here we are nourishing both body and spirit. Mike discovered the Daily Audio Bible at the very start of the year and we've been listening to the readings every day during breakfast. We like the dynamic delivery and the sense of community.

Other routines at this time: Mike teaching pottery at the Red Barn MWF, and robotics TRS. I am spending time each day writing.


Mentor Mike teaching young minds how to solve problems.
(Photos of Team 1720 The Phyxtgears )

Mike often wakes up very early when he has so much on his mind. But then, midday he'll take a nap on the big sofa and I on the love seat.

Mike snapped this photo, not very flattering but it's me in real life. I love the flexibility of retirement.

When a writer stares out the window, it does not mean the mind is idle. A side benefit of those thinking times is to catch glimpses of outdoor life and beauty.

This squirrel has been building a nest all week. We don't know exactly where, or why he carries his building materials so far, all the way around the house.

 I tried three new recipes this week and was very pleased with the results, but alas, only one photo, and part way through the meal. The quesadillas de camarones were very tasty, muy sabrosas.

Another regular each week is the meal at Chef-son's. He was in Virginia all weekend  competing in an important ice carving event. Monday he arrived home at 6:15 p.m. and had a wonderful meal on the table an hour later.
My camera was not cooperating, so a phone pic will have to suffice.

Stephan wearing his long-awaited gold medals

One of the winning sculptures (photo borrowed from the Indiana Ice Studio on Facebook)--stylized cheetah.


Kinesis

Another, not so happy, family happening was an accident on an icy road. We are very grateful that Jimmy got out alive, and that Kayla was not driving at the time.

That sums up our week.