A Very Covid Christmas
Greetings loved ones! 2020 has been quite something, hasn’t it? Well, I for one, am glad it’s almost over. We hope everyone has remained safe and healthy this year. Cookiechick and Squirrel Girl have been hard at work creating goodies for your holiday enjoyment.
Mexican wedding cakes and chewy gingerbread have gone back into the vault for 2020. Thumbprints have been elevated to a semi-permanent status, for now anyway. My pick this year, in keeping with my obsession with chocolate mint cookies, is Chocolate Mint Crackles. This is a typical chocolate crackle cookie topped with a mint patty. I think will be my go-to in the future. They are very fudgy, rich, and minty. Eris’ pick this year is a twist on the elf-made Fudge Stripes, made with a peanut butter base. The two gluten-free treats are Peanut Butter Coconut Fat Bombs and Salted Caramel Chocolate Squares.
In other news, I finally finished my MPH this year, completing my final project remotely with my advisor. One of the classes in my last semester was totally timely – Outbreak Investigations in Epidemiology. I had hoped to use this to transition to a new type of work in public health, but the pandemic has thrown a wrench into this. Our research has also been put on the back burner because no one is approving new IRBs right now. I have been very busy working as a doctor during this pandemic (got my first covid vaccine 12/21!). I hope to start looking for something new soon.
Eris and Randal have been working (and schooling) from home since March. This has been actually pretty good for Eris. Her grades have improved since she is not being poisoned every day in her school building. Her school is planning a hybrid model for the next semester, but Eris has chosen to remain remote for the rest of the year. She has started the college prep process and starting to look for colleges. Randal and Eris have been playing with a 3D printer. The bust of Ceasar in the slide show (click more) was her present to her Latin teacher. Erat victoria!
We had the privilege of rescuing an orphaned squirrel this past summer. Randal found him on the ground near a tree one day when he was out on a bike ride. We took care of "Rocky" for about a week before handing him off to a wildlife rehabilitator.
I have had this unfinished piece of Mamie's needlework for many years, since just after she died. I had only the piece to work with, no yarn or instructions. I had to find matching yarn and figure out what stitches to use where. Finally finished it a couple of months ago and had it framed.
On a sadder note, we had to say goodbye to Rizza this year, just before Halloween. She was 17 and with us since she was a kitten and she followed me to my car at the hospital.
So Merry HanuRamaKwanzamanalia New Solstice everyone. Stay safe and healthy.
Click to see lots more pictures of the best parts of 2020.
