FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, COVIE AND HARVEST DAY (Week of Nov. 29)

 It's beginning to look "a bit like Christmas" with the outdoor lights installed and spreading their twinkling gaiety on our exceedingly dark neighborhood (no streetlights) on the river. I can see one lonely lighted snow person down the street and of course our neighbor and I flash our patio lights green for the Spartans on game days so both sides of the house are covered. Now trying to decide if the extravagant inside decor should commence; which takes days...

 The OH is the prime decorator; a lesson I learned many moons ago. If I placed something it was usually moved so I let him have at it. He is also a prolific collector of antique (mostly) Santa figures so we made our annual trek to the flea/second hand/antique shops this week. He came home with several new treasures so our shelf normally dedicated to various Santas is becoming an entire bookcase. 

In Covid news, our lowly virus is now associated with another greek letter, omicron, in this spelling bee that no one wants to win. Interesting factoid - in astronomy the15th letter omicron is the 15th star in a constellation. How lovely. 

We had a health scare this week as our niece was transported to emergency with difficulty breathing and the eventual development of blood clots. After a couple of days, my sister-in-law let me know it was not covid but still serious. Fortunately there was room at the inn, though they had to transport to another hospital for treatment. After breathing a sigh of relief when she was discharged my S-I-L got back to town to discover her boss had just died of covid.  This lady was unvaccinated and unabashedly vocal about her vehement skepticsim of covid being as serious as reported. Covid doesn't care. Rest in Peace.

One commentator conjectured that 25% of  the population is petrified of needles and with the constant advertisement of public stabbings on the news and commercials, we may be actually strengthening their resolve not to be poked regardless of the consequences. On the plus side, the grandson got his second shot like a trooper. My relief is stellar. 

We also picked up our massive 1/4 beefy order this week compliments of our once frolicking bovine, though 900 pounds probably doesn't frolic that much. The butcher just whipped the three boxes into the trunk with the ease of long practice and we struggled to dislodge them upon arriving at home. We won't be needing ground beef for awhile as those packages alone took over an entire freezer shelf.  Along with some succulent roasts and steaks...The OH wondered if we should name our moo-er volunteer, but that seems a bit too chummy considering his ultimate sacrifice which gives a whole new meaning of not playing with your food, or personifying it.

After several years of hinting a certain evergreen in our yard would make a perfect Christmas tree, it's fate, and, elevation occurred this year. As fitting for their first year in their new "forever" home, Kristen and Matt harvested the, by now, 12 foot tree.  This was planted on earth day by Kristen when she was in grammar school.  Almost 30 years of growth (with it's roots compromising the fence) now proudly heading to a celebration of light and color. The old Ship Master Burt spent the next 20 minutes securing it to the truck with his sailor's slip knots for transport to its ultimate glory...and demise. 

Let the Festivus celebration commence......Peace Out and Good Will Toward All