NEW YEAR'S DAY 2022

A new chapter in your journey has opened. Savor it. Embrace the possibilities.
Wisely utilize the precious time given to you. Confront the obstacles with determined courage and dignity.
Celebrate the astonishment of discovery and learning. Never discount your accomplishments or abilities.

Nothing worthwhile exists
without faith and love,   Jon 

 

Jon
sweeter than I look

 

 Kitzee
(also known as Scratch)
sweeter than me

 

Bosco
mischievous and mysterious

 

Finale, with drum roll......
another one of my piano videos

 

 NOTE:
I keep getting "error" messages every time I try to reply to your comments. Sorry about that.

NEW YEAR'S DAY

I've heard that the southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring you good luck.

I hate black-eyed peas, never eat them, and always have rotten luck. Go figure.

Last night was probably the most quiet, boring, and unremarkable New Year's Eve I've ever experienced. And I enjoyed it. 

I've had more than my share of elaborate New Year's Eves and lately I get exhausted just thinking about them. I'm glad they're a thing of the past.

I had a simple midnight dinner last night: salmon, potatoes, asparagus. With sweet potato pie and French Vanilla coffee for dessert.

Long ago I used to make fantastic New Year's Eve dinners. They always included herring, smoked salmon, smoked oysters, deviled eggs, Russian Osetra caviar, potato pancakes with sour cream (and that's only a start).

For dessert I always made three items:
A Black Forest cherry cake with real whipped cream, a chocolate cheese cake, and a simple white cake.

And always served my favorite California champagne: Le Domaine extra dry.

Last night I drank ginger ale. In a pretty glass.

I've fallen far from grace, but the landing hasn't been too painful.

 My frosted glass of ginger ale

 A group of candles

just for the heck of it

Midnight in New York

on my laptop screen 

Take ye a cuppe o kindness

for auld lang syne

 My antique New Year's Eve cup, which is over 120 years old (a little older than myself)

2018 IN ICE

 My icy bedroom window

My new year wish is that all the global warming enthusiasts will freeze to death.

I just heard the frantic scurry of offended enthusiasts fleeing from my blog.

I awoke this morning (after an hour of sleep) and tried to look out a window, but it was glazed in ice. The temperature on New Year's Eve dropped faster than the Times Square ball. It was two (2) degrees here on the mountain just after midnight.
Fortunately the clocks didn't freeze. Yet.

 Are we supposed to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day for luck?
I hate black-eyed peas and they will never touch my discerning lips....
....which is probably why I'm plagued with bad luck and my pathetic life is in varying degrees of utter chaos.

My New Year's Eve was uneventful and quiet (and frigid). I had planned on having an herbal roasted chicken dinner at midnight but was too lazy (and cold) to make it. So I had fish and chips instead.
I plan to have the herbal chicken tonight. With stuffing, potatoes, green beans, and sweet potato pie.

My present isolated New Year's Eves are a very far cry from the ones I used to know. I've never liked big NYE parties, but I always had small gatherings or intimate midnight suppers. I loved to cook - - when I had people to cook for.

I almost always had the same menu every New Year's - or similar variations:
winter fruit salad, smoked or pickled herring, smoked oysters, salmon, kolbasz, rye bread, assorted cheeses, Russian deviled eggs, assorted Italian olives, Hungarian potato pancakes with sour cream (burgonya palacsinta, as my parents called it), and lots of other delicious food.

And always Le Domaine extra dry California champagne. It was my very favorite (for the memories it evoked).

For dessert I always made a chocolate cheesecake and a white layer cake, and sometimes a Bavarian chocolate cherry cake with real whipped cream (that always took a lot of time but I loved it).

I yearn for those past glorious New Year's Eves, and often lament at how far I have fallen from grace.....

But enough of my memories. Here are a few recent photos.

 Sunset on New Year's Eve.

Early morning on New Year's Day

 Tree with pine cones and neighboring mountain.

My cat Scruffy this morning, being a wise guy. She loves to climb on places where she doesn't belong - and that's how she always winds up breaking things (see my previous post).

I deeply regret painting that old wicker bookcase yellow - but it's too late.

Ironically, my cat Scratch used to climb up on the same bookcase (when she was younger). I had a photo of her sitting up there but can't find it.
The closest I could get is this photo of her sitting near it.