Another Trip ‘Round the Sun

Hello from a basement out here in Central Minnesota. Long time, no write/read. How are you? I hope this finds you all doing well, and feeling hearty and hale. I’m writing this in the waning hours of my birthday.

Mom’s out for a visit, and I took the day off work today and tomorrow. Started the day with a couple of cups of coffee and a plate of biscuits and gravy, followed by some banjo and singing with Grp. Spent some time outside with the kids before taking a trip to Nelson’s nursery, where Audrey picked up a strawberry plant, a geranium, and a couple petunias. My mom kindly got me a gift certificate to the nursery for future projects. We also acquired a new hummingbird feeder, and made sugar water to fill it up tomorrow.

There’s a new smokehouse in town I’d been wanting to try, and it did not disappoint. I got the brisket with mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts, and it was some of the best barbecue I’ve ever had. Instead of a cake, we had ice cream sundaes. Audrey and the kids gave me The Beatles’ Abbey Road (one of the only Beatles records I don’t have on cd) and Pixar’s Onward.

In addition to spending a lovely day in the very fine company of people I care about deeply, I also received messages throughout the day from family and friends near and far. It was a tremendous way to kick off the last year in my 30s.

Feeling tired, so I’ll close for now. Take care, friends. Heaps of huzzahs to you.