Who will miss the tree most when it comes down early next week? Perhaps the cats.
There is a heating vent not too far from it (unfortunately), and I cover it with a thick book (Alpine Cooking -- seems appropriate, no?) to lessen the impact on the tree. It's a perfect resting place for Dance (or Friendly -- whoever nabs it first): warm, with the smell of the forest.
The tree has remained fresh and it has continued to drink several cups of water each day. Four weeks in the stand, and still going strong! That is the longest life I've had in a tree, ever. (My daughter reports the same thing.) Did the greenhouse bring in a load of newly cut trees when we were there? Maybe, but the better explanation is that we had a very wet period in the Fall and the trees sucked in a lot of moisture then. We're reaping the benefits now.
And speaking of wet...
Yes, it's all melting and puddly and drizzly and wet outside. We have come to expect warm ups like this, but still -- it is not your typical winter day.
Breakfast: I'm taking a pause in the yummy department, reverting to oatmeal for today.
In the early afternoon we meet up at the movies. All seven of us (men are working, the youngest is napping). To see Mufasa, the Lion King prequel.
(comfy seats, once again!)
I thought it was a tiny bit terrifying. Lions kept fighting with each other. Someone pointed out that no blood was ever shed, which is true, but it looked like any minute now lion parts would come flying at you. Of course, if you've seen Lion King, the 2019 film, you know that all these characters will survive. Nonetheless the realistic animals aggressing against each other (it was never about food, but rather about power) seemed over the top. Mind you, the kids liked it! I'm just stuck in the era of more innocent stuff -- movie material that these tykes would probably find... boring.
And in the evening we eat dinner out at a place that has become a post-Christmas favorite for us -- Lucille's off the Square. It's lively and twinkly, and both the adults and kids love it, and they take reservations for 11!
Lucille's has lots of decorations. Everywhere.
A whirligig of color...
But of course, it's these guys that make me so happy there...
Desert at the ice cream cafe next door...
A grand day. More restful than any I have known this month! I'll take them all: simple or intricate. Pre-holiday, holiday, post holiday.
After, at the farmhouse, in his last effort to find a proper movie for this week, Ed came up with a British series from the seventies about the war years. We gave up on it after ten minutes.
Tomorrow -- one last gathering at the farmhouse table in the morning, followed by a gathering at my daughter's table in the evening. It can't get much better than this!
with love...
