January 1, 2022

 Alan and I wish you a most happy new year.  Like most of you, we are just happy to be finished with 2021, although Covid is still with us and going strong in our area because so many people refuse to be vaccinated.  It is so disheartening.  So we will hunker down for as long as it takes---sigh!!

We did have a wonderful Christmas week in Huntsville with Alan's family. Charlotte and Harry are wonderful, kind, loving hosts, so it is always a joy to spend Christmas in Huntsville.  Their sons Brian and Andy and families live there, too, so we get to spend time with them.  Lee came from Nashville, as well as Susie and Ed from Atlanta.   We missed seeing Andrew, who was being careful by not leaving Covid hotspot New York. 

We brought the trailer and stayed at Monte Sano State Park, as usual.  Unlike last year, it was unseasonably warm, which was most appreciated.  We had a campfire one day, and everyone came over to hang out with us and make smores.  My knee has recovered enough that I was able to take a short hike with Alan's sisters one beautiful afternoon.  Shelby came with us, as always, and enjoyed sitting under our little tree in the trailer, too.

Holding my Kindle captive

Brian, Amy, and their children gave us a great, fun trailer ornament that we put on the side of the trailer.

I have on my Cindy Lou Who hat

When we arrived after dark the first day, we found beautiful greenery that Charlotte had made and put on a tree at our site:

Christmas festivities at Charlotte and Harry's house were such fun, as always.  Having the children there made it so special.  We got to meet the newest addition to the Spear family:  Sarah and Andy's son John.  He is a delight, always smiling, ready to take off walking around or climbing the stairs.  

John with Granddad Harry

He loved playing with Alan's phone.

He wasn't sure about all the commotion,
so mom Sarah's lap was the best place to be.

Brian and Amy's children are absolute delights also.  

Logan got to "steal" a Batman Lego set
from his dad when we played Dirty Santa.

Brooke loved her Peppa Pig coloring book

Playing with the wrapping paper was a highlight for them. 
They made a huge pile of it and jumped out of it,
like children playing in leaves.

Charlotte and Harry made a special book for Logan to read,
 telling about a surprise future trip to Nashville
to visit with Uncle Lee.  The balloons were part of the presentation.

Unfortunately, the balloons escaped
to the very high ceiling of the foyer, and Brian
 had to retrieve them with a long hooked stick. 
Pretty funny.

The way home always ends up very long and grueling because we must go through Chattanooga, where traffic is bad, even on a good day.  We spent several hours in stop and go traffic, which wasn't fun.  However, I had planned for that eventuality and made reservations at a great Harvest Hosts business in Riceville, TN.  We boondocked in a large parking lot at a Greek restaurant/winery.  We really enjoyed the food and wine at the end of such a difficult day.

We got home to progress in the back of the house, where the landscapers are working on the stone courtyard and pathways, but aren't finished.  They took off the week of Christmas, which we expected.

The retaining wall is finished.  However, we have had lots of rain, so the neighbor's yard is still a muddy wreck, which is distressing.  They can't grade it until the mud dries up.  And more rain is expected.  So this part may be going on for a while.

In the meantime, the warm weather has caused the daffodils to think it is spring.  Several of them have come up and bloomed, and others are pushing through the ground.  They are in for a shock.  It is supposed to get back to the 20's and snow over the next couple of days.  In the meantime, we enjoy the little blooms:

So our life goes on. Luckily, we are healthy and don't have to go out in public unless we want to.  Please be careful!  We love you!