Winter

Before and After

65 Comments

This weekend a miserable rain came, melting away most of our lovely snow. I know that for some readers, rain in December is a common occurrence. However, in Maine it is not. Or at least once upon a time it wasn’t. Back in the day, December was a cold month, and when there was precipitation, it came down as snow. This rain business feels weird, and it makes everything look dreary.

Here is before.

And here is after.

To add to the gray, nasty weekend, Dee, Clif, and I had our COVID boosters, and on Sunday, we all felt like roadkill. It was a day for eating Saltine crackers with butter, lying on the couch, and watching easy-to-take shows such as Blown Away: Christmas and 8-Bit Christmas. Although neither show is what you might call hard hitting, they are both fun, in their own way, and worth seeing.

Today, on Monday, we all feel better, and onward, ho to the holidays. Even though I am not much of a list maker, I will be making grocery lists and a cooking schedule. Although my knee is greatly improved, I can only stand for an hour or so before it starts aching. Therefore, planning ahead will be crucial.

Dee has bought the ingredients for peppermint cocktails. I’m still aiming to make a vegan tourtière pie and a tofu chocolate pie.

At our home on the edge of the woods, we know how to party. 😉

 

65 thoughts on “Before and After”

  1. I thought I was the only one getting icky side effects from the booster shot! Mine lasted about two days, give or take. I have to agree with you, Laurie: rain in December isn’t very pretty. And having a long-haired Sheltie makes it a constant challenge to keep the house clean!

    1. Well, I guess we were lucky the effects only lasted one day. Not much fun, but far better than COVID. And, yes, rain and mud on a Sheltie make house cleaning a huge challenge.

  2. We’re all boostered up here and good thing because someone we were with last week tested positive for covid. Merry Christmas to you and Clif! See you in the new year.

  3. Here we have had rain for most of the month so I have snow envy! Short days with grey skies and wet are not mood enhancing for sure. I was lucky enough to have no side effects from my booster and now this new variant is rampaging I am glad to have had it. There is talk of another lockdown here in January or at least more restrictions.

  5. Rain is pretty common here in December, but we just had another ten-day event where it rained almost all day, every day, finally ending just yesterday. Definitely a new weather pattern, one that’s been going on just for the past three or four years. When the sun finally came out again, I found myself squinting, even indoors. 🙂

    Glad you got your booster (got one myself); sorry about the bad effects but good that they didn’t last long!

  8. It got to 48 here today. Katie and I had a lovely walk in the woods, no snow left here either. But I can see your point. December without snow in Maine is just weird. Glad you guys are feeling better!

  9. Sorry to hear about the side-effects from your boosters Laurie and glad to hear you’re feeling better again. Here’s hoping the snows will soon return 💛☃️

  14. We were lucky with our shots–no ill effects from any, including boosters. Have you tried (a) arnica gel for your knee? Or, even more radical, Hemp cream? I don’t have a knee injury but I used arnica gel on a wrist injury, and also when we had our accident, and it can really help. I’m using hemp cream for my arthritis. Just a thought. Hope you feel better!

    1. Wonderful! Glad there were no ill effects from the boosters. Yes, I have used arnica. A big help. Haven’t tried hemp cream, but I will surely keep it in mind. Thanks for the recommendation. And, the knee is getting better every day!

  15. I was happy that my reaction to the booster only lasted a day, as bad as that was, I could barely imagine what two weeks of full-on symptoms would be like. I’ll take the vaccine any day!
    Glad you rallied after a day, too. Time to par-tay! 😉

      1. Numbers seem to be rising everywhere, post Thanksgiving. Probably stay that way into Jan. when folks might stay home more. I rarely leave my home, unless I must. Chicken or smart? I prefer to think the latter. 😉

  16. I had no idea what tourtière pie might be, so I looked it up. Delicious, is what it would be! Actually, that combination of pork and beef (and potatoes and onions in some recipes) sounds as though it would have a bit of the taste of Swedish potato sausage I love so much.

    I’m sorry your knee is giving you a bit of problem yet, but an hour’s endurance is better than not being able to get off the couch! Here’s to better days!

  17. Whatever the weather, I hope your preparations go according to plan and that you will enjoy a convivially festive time. Now that I have finally got most of the gifts I need, I too am going to turn my thoughts foodwards 🙂

  20. I had no reaction to the first two jabs, apart from a slightly sore arm but after my booster last week a huge bruise developed on my arm after a couple of days and I still have it now 5 days later. Luckily it’s not short sleeves weather.
    As for your photos – that is definitely the trouble with snow after the pretty bit is finished.
    I hope your knee holds up. x

    1. Isn’t it interesting how the different shots produce different results. We all sailed through the first two with little discomfort. Not so the booster. The knee gets better every day. And I think I am even able to put the cane away. Still have it out, just in case.

  21. Isn’t it interesting how the shots affected people differently. We didn’t even have a mark on our arm let alone any discomfort. I’m glad yours at least only lasted one day. I checked our rain gauge yesterday, and we had 2 1/4″ in it. The weather is unpredictable and strange for sure. Happy holidays!

    1. Yup, different bodies react in different ways. Really learned that lesson back when I had breast cancer. Despite feeling miserable for a day, we are all glad to be boosted. Happy holidays to you and yours!

  22. I hope your cookie scheduled (well paced to support your recovering knee!) brings you joy to offset that rain. And the peppermint cocktails will certainly help too! I am planning my own cookie baking too. Why do I keep adding new cookies?!

  27. The weather does feel very weird, we’re in the fifties and have rain this week with no sign of a white Christmas in the forecast. So glad I have the booster as the COVID news continues to worsen. Enjoyed 8-Bit Christmas and love the Maine spirit, hope your knee continues to improve as you party through the holidays!🙂

  28. I have caught up again. I am glad you are feeling better now, though I am sure the knee will take a bit longer with more rest. Hang in there and enjoy the holidays, Laurie and Clif!

    There is snow here in the higher elevations now, but except for a few mornings of late being below freezing, none here on the farm, yet. The days are so short now! It won’t be long before spring makes her appearance.

  29. It makes me smile to think of you partying on peppermint cocktails in a sweet cottage on the edge of the woods. Let’s hope the roadkill feelings were a sign that your immune systems are working as they should.

  30. Sorry to hear you had a bad reaction to the booster. Ours passed without incident. I had mine on the same day as a flu vaccination, but in the other arm, so finding a comfortable position for sleeping was not easy that night.

Comments are closed.