Looking back on 2020

2020 was in the words of the old saw "the Best of times and Worst of times."  

We lost my Father-in-Law to Covid but welcomed a new Niece to the family.  

I was furloude for much of the year and that made life seem very uncertian but it gave me invaluable and worderful time with Evelyn and Ariana.  Ultimatly I returned to work but many of my collegues didn't and many friends and family are still out of work. 

Money was tight but hobby time was plentiful. I made more than double the post I made last years

Our traditional ways of playing games wasn't available but we found ways to work around that.  I think remote gaming will be a perminate part of what I do. 2021 probably won't be that different, not for a while, stay safe and healthy. Best wishes to you and yours in the New Year.  

Isolation up date. Catching up.

 I think the last time I did one of these updates was when my Father-in-law's death was acounced. The reason for this is my summer days were pretty similar.  Cooking and playing with Evelyn, watching too much Danial Tiger and occasionaly doing a remote game. There are lots of pictures.... and they will be good memories but they were dull writing.  but it looked something like htis

Walks and Rock climbing near out house

Playing in the plaground area of the Discovery Museam 

Weekend Visit with my parrents 

Evelyn has been playing doctor a lot and this is her intende job when she grows up. (we will see) 

Playing with Gramy at the cafe inside the Discovery Museam 

Dad Evelyn Birthday collage. 

Great Meadows in Concord

Pirone Park our local playground 

Great Meadows again

Discovery Museam 

Family picutes in down town Ayer. 

A fun outing with my Nephews in Main. 

Franklin Park Zoo with Gamy 

Hampton Beach (it was 70 degress on Veterans days so we took advanteag)

Photo shoot with Melissa Jean Photo Design We had a lot of time but its not exactly an exciting read week in and week out. 

Ariana went back to work in June, I returend at the end of September. Ariana is very busy at work (Emerson Hospital) I am slow (Marriot International) and  hope I will be able to contiue to work as the world seems to be heading back into lock down again. 

Tom Mills

This is not one I have looked forward to writing and I have probably put it off as long as I should. On 5/23 my father-in-law Tomas Mills died. He had been battling Parkinson's Disease for years and went into a nursing home about two years ago. He was Covid positive but its unclear if this contributed to his death.

 

I met Tom when I started dating Ariana in 2009. I think it was for the 4th of July one of her family’s favorite holiday. The dad for whom no man is good enough for his daughter is a stereotype in our society, but Tom never made me feel unwelcome or unloved. Tom loved his family, good food and games he especially loved his Granddaughter Evelyn and I hope she has some memories of him. Ariana is having a hard time with this and that difficulty is exacerbated by the lack of the rituals of morning. I am having my own difficulties in this regard, but they are pale compared to hers. Your Prays and good wishes are welcomed and apricated. I'll add the his formal obituary when its available on line. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the MSPCA www.mspca.org or the Parkinson’s Foundation www.parkinson.org.

Covid 19 update #8

We've been doing lots of walks like this one on the Nashua River Rail trail   

We also climed Oak Hill in Littleton 

Its a great view

I can now say Evelyn has had a fencing lesson... 

OK that might be a bit extreem but she did initialte plaing with dads' swords. 

Isolation Update # 7: Ayer Rocks

I'm not sure who started this but a little activity called "Ayer Rocks" has been taking place here since the Pandemic and possibly befor that.  People have been painting rocks and putting them out for people to find.  Being a painter I jumped in.

Doing free hand stuff is very differnet form what I normaly do but its a good way to pass the time and Evelyn likes sloping paint on rocks. This is one of mine I put it on one of the Trees by the Veteran's Memorial

My Wife did this one the catapiler form the very hungry catapiler placed on a bench near town hall.

Isolation Update #4

This past weekend was my first full week (it seems longer) of not working.  I miss work (ok I miss the adult interaction it gave me) a bit but we are adjusting. 

The time I get spend with my daughter is a compensation (you know except when it isn't).  One recent change is she now gets to pick out her own clothing (with mom and dad judging if its appropriate to the weather) toddler chic at its finest. 

 We’ve been doing lots of walks and as you may know Evelyn likes to pick up rocks. The other day Evelyn brought a rock to me and proclaimed, “I found an ear!”  I looked an asked if it could be a troll ear (you know like the Hobbit).  My wife immediately says, “Like in Frozen!” That sums up the difference in our thought processes when it comes to Fantasy.  Evelyn agreed with Ariana having not seen the Hobbit, the animated (and only valid movie) version is a bit beyond her thought I may need to rethink this soon.  

Still really does resemble an ear.

 We made Easter Eggs for the town wide egg hunt and placed them in our church’s Saint Andrews window because we live at the end of dead end road that is up hill and no one walks by our house.

We also did the hunt and saw the Easter bunny from a safe social distance. 

One of our neighbors who is missing her grandkids put out some eggs for Evelyn and gave her Cupcakes, which she instated on carrying herself, and some pansy’s to plant in our garden.

Easter morning Evelyn and I made blueberry muffins.

Evelyn got lots of goodies, jellybeans, teddy grams and chocolates. Also, stickers and a couple of toys.

The Princess counting cards were a particular hit. 

Easter Dinner was Pork with a Fig sauce, potatoes, squash and asparagus.  Evelyn helped with the Potatoes and Squash mixing the seasoning and helping me place them on the pan for cooking.

Isolation Update 3

Well we are still doing well. Last week was my final week of work and it dragged.  No one is booking hotels right now so I had no work at all to do. Evelyn and Ariana were wathing a cycle of cartoon movies. Anastasia, Lion king, Up and then back around.  Lots of tea parties lots of Evelyn cooking with her toy food.

We've also been doing some real cooking Evelyn helped me with making Pizza the other night I twas a great success though a two year old doesn't spread ingreadients eficiently (we got Extra etra cheese).

Its not all in door activities we've been doing lots of walking at least one long walk a day in the neighborhood, wood or railtrail.

 When we go into the woods we have Evelyn wear here rubber boots so she can wade into the big puddles she loves them

 She also seems to have a facination with rocks picking them up as tresures for here slef or mom and dad.  Martin is already offering guidence for a budding Geologist.

 Walking by the war memorial in Downtown Ayer

 Some one (or seveal someones) has been putting these rocks with images and messages on them

 This one was outside Union Coffee Roasters and awsome little coffee shop in town.  I believe they are still operating on line so if you want some excellent fairtrade coffee go place an order.

Isolation Update 2:Going on Bear Hunt!

Its no secret to anyone with kids that keeping them entertained has been a major challenge.

Our Local community Ayer Massachusetts arranged a little activity this Past Saturday A Bear hunt. Above you can see Evelyn posing with our bears.  Visible are Pink (Evelyn's) Bumby (Ariana's).  My own bear Ted is next to Bumby with pink on his lap and is not visible.  Pink came with us on the Hunt.

What's a bear hunt you ask? well people put teddy bears our in windows, or out in their yards. 

We spent two hours walking around the neighborhood spotting bears and having a good time.

We did talk several other hunters telling them where we had spotted some good bear and getting some tips from them. This was all done following social distancing rules.

Spok Bear was my personal favorite 

There Care bears were Ariana's favorite.  Evelyn's favorite bear is her bear Pink who you can see peeking out of her jacket of the same color. It was probably the most fun I've had since this whole situation started.