A Blank Slate

So, out with 2013 and in with 2014.

Last night was a dark starry sky filled with fireworks from the village and music, food, drink and chatter at the neighbourhood party.

A gathering of the usual suspects at Casa Faust - Dean and Michelle, Keith and Karen, Bruce and Barb, Dwight and Wendy, Doug and Samira, and Lisle and I - brought a grand pot luck feast - dips and nachos, ceasar salad, green bean salad, pulled pork, meatballs, breaded chicken, BBQ sausage, cheesy mashed potatoes, lemon cheesecake - - - along with way too much wine.

Add the requisite Roy Orbison and the evening was complete.

As enjoyable as it was, even with an afternoon nap, staying up until 1 am here is almost impossible!!!

2014 dawned at 5 am with the howlers - very close but still hidden - calling until almost 5:30, when the birds started - screeching and chattering - - waking the jungle - - then at 7 - silence!  another hour of sleep.

So I read yesterday that 2013 NYE was an especially momentous evening because it coincided with the new moon - something that happens about once every 20 years - - entering the new year with a blank slate all around.

While his last day in the office was December 13, retirement begins officially for Lisle in late January - a big change for us both - the start of a more permanent shift to Costa Rica - - this year will bring the sale of our home (hopefully soon and easily!) and the sorting of family responsibilities (Lisle's 94 year old father still needs support) - - I like the idea of a blank slate - - time to write the next chapter!!

Happy New Year to all!

Cloudy with Chance of Meatballs

Seems like an apt headline for today - it has been raining on and off since this morning - very overcast - meanwhile the meatballs are in the fridge and the tomato sauce is simmering on the stove.

This has been a very wet couple of weeks - with the exception of a couple of very nice days, there has been substantial rain every day - early morning, stopping for a couple hours and starting again - overnight with a sunny morning but rain again by 9am (today) - unusually wet.

Yesterday was the rain that was coming down so fast it was slopping over the eaves!  This morning was almost that again, but now is a gentle but steady shower.

With the rain comes the clouds.  Sometimes you are right in them and can't see past the hedge 20' away.  Other times, like today, they are higher up.  Things are misty in the valley and the clouds dance on the tops of the mountains - sending swirls down along the ridges that suddenly disappear - all the while it is clear over the ocean.

Sunset has not been much of an event, but sometimes when the clouds are cooperating you get wonderful sights.