All that was missing was a hearth.  Avdi and his friend J, visiting from SL, joined us for a day of sharing the erev meal, working online from the office and kitchen table, and drinks.  It was freezing out, but cozy inside with familial warmth.  It sounds ordinary, but it happens so rarely these days, that it was a special event for me.  Also fun and educational!  Now they’re off to their next out-of-state projects, so I’ll take whatever I can get.

Some of these photos represent experimenting with my new phone camera settings, with lots of help from Avdi.  I’m clueless using my own devices, let alone trying to comprehend the esoteric, rarified tech heights of what he and J do for a living.  I’d be lost without tech support.  I’m glad they’re infinitely patient with me.

Misu was happy to have her boy and new friend here.  So many laps to occupy.  She’s been adjusting amazingly well to indoor life.  Her protests and mischief are becoming lamer, just going through the motions of voicing her protest.  Just as well, it’s so cold out, there’s ice on all her drinking water.  With climate change, we now have just two settings, broil and freeze.