As threatened, here are photos of E’s latest creations: pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing, and cherry pie, both from scratch.  And when I say scratch, I mean the cake started with a whole pumpkin that I had cooked, puréed, and frozen ahead , and the pie began with canned tart cherries and E’s homemade pie dough.  I assure you they will be good.  Must keep up those hiber-calories.

Here is my concession to xmas: Corvid-like, it’s an excuse to gather shiny sparkly objects in a nest and stare at them.  Coincidentally, here are some now:

I helpfully “pruned” the absent neighbor’s large spruce, tied the branches together, and added lights, tinsel, and small rodents (stuffed, not live).  Blinky lights!  Even a sparkly peacock feather on top, because, why not.  It’s a crow’s nest.

Quoth the Raven, Braak, Nevermore.

Cleverly, I persuaded E to take over the kitchen and bake some of her wondrous sweet stuff, such as a cherry pie and a pumpkin bread.  I’m not demanding!  Just “delegating”.  😉  We corvids must eat.

Outside, it’s rainy and windy, supposedly with “snow” (what passes for it here) in the forecast.  We’ll see.  There are blackcaps (instead of whitecaps) on the “black lagoon” out back.  Not quite Currier & Ives material.  (Obscure oldster reference, look it up.)  Perfect grinch weather.

There will no doubt be baked goods photos later.

It’s rainy and almost balmy here, but the Skullies are prepared for any eventuality, as you can see.  As one has to be, these days.

Speaking of which, the Skullies are raising a Happy Birthday toast to a couple of family members today; you know who you are.  This fine Bell’s Michigan porter, with hints of roasty chocolate/coffee stout and just a touch of hops, fits the bill nicely.  The Skullies even have their own appropriately-sized glasses.

The biggest thing going for this state is the Big Sky.  Here’s some now.

Otherwise, it’s just a normal springlike day for Winter Solstice.  No shopping frenzy for me.  I got my booze so I’m good.  Not gloating!  

Happy Solstice, for those who indulge.  Here are flowers.

See you soon, Chanukah, in our own home in a better place.  I can drink to that.

Here is the early morning sky, a visit to HQ (the Tavern), and Mister Eko at Dark Star, predictably sleeping on the job.

We dropped in to visit and patronize some of our favorite shopkeeper friends, and invariably each one said they hate the holidays and can’t wait until they’re over.  We sympathized.  I’m sad Chanukah is over, that’s all.

The last erev (8) of Chanukah is always bittersweet, as it goes out in a blaze of light.  That’s pretty much it for our “season”, which is also a good thing.  We have a Chinese restaurant in mind for Xmas eve, then we just hunker down and let all the crazies out there do their frenzied thing.  Sirens will serenade us.

The grand finale of living in the midwest will be a bit sad and regretful for E, though not for me.  It was a place to transition for both of us, I’ll give it that.  It featured some painful disappointments, but for the most part, it served its purpose of giving us an affordable retreat to sit out our setbacks and delays.  Now we just wait for our little hobbit home to reveal itself.

I guess the saddest finale is to a dream I had of finally getting back to being some small part of my son’s life and extended family in the hills of Tennessee before I die.  We were so close to realizing it, when it suddenly got grenaded out from under us.  Life’s like that; you can’t control all the moving parts.  Now it’s like finally reaching your longed-for destination and finding a refugee camp that’s being evacuated.  You hold onto the pieces that are left, and try to make the best of it for whatever time you have left.

Part of the dream was a secluded secret garden not hemmed in by hateful peasants, where my family could visit and relax.  Gradually I’ve been letting go of most of my unrealistic expectations, and accepting that older poor people are very fortunate to even find a decent affordable roof and yard with some trees in a relatively tolerant neighborhood of a provincial city.  Having (and being) family nearby would have been the icing, but there are no guarantees.

We’re too old to be nomads, so we’ll set up camp, and try to make it a homey oasis.  And hope trump doesn’t nuke it all to hell.  I still daydream, though I don’t get my hopes up.  My son and family are still alive and surviving out there.  I still have a wonderful brother and brother-in-law, though farther away, who have always been there for me.  I’m not dead yet, so I can’t complain (though .  I have a loyal partner, who sees the bigger picture, which is more than many people can say.

I still have my little daydream… to be part of some solution, however modest, and leave the place a little better than I found it, before I go.  Not very original or ambitious, but it’s what I’ve got.

Here are some grand finale scenes, complete with a very generous and sweet See’s gift from The Bobs, who never forget, even when they’re in mourning for the loss of a sister.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  Also these very chocolatey oatmeal cookies by E.  Last but not least, the lucky dreidel came up all gimels tonight.  Maybe it’s a Sign.  To drink.   

Not that I’m drunk or anything…

Here are more latkes I made, and the Skullies amusing themselves while waiting for erev #7.  They are pyromaniacs like me.  They like getting lit up.

As a Chanukah-observer, especially when it falls before Xmas, I look around at all the stressed-out people scrambling to afford an illusion that never seems to pan out or live up to unreal expectations, and feel a mix of mystification and relief.  Mystified that people continue to put themselves through all that grief, and relieved that for the most part I’m excused!  And done!  Now all we have to do is find a Chinese restaurant that’s open on Xmas.  So simple.  So much more affordable.  We’re not gloating!