First Post

Hi everybody.

How are you?

Well, here we go into a New Year, ready or not. 

We took our traditional first walk this morning, this year through wind and a thin coat of overnight graupel. 

Some photos:

We made our usual stop at General Marshall's house to see the Marshall Plan trees. All the European trees were standing strong in spite of the wind gusts.

 

Sadly (but appropriately), however, the US tree had fallen over. It was still hanging on to most of its decorations, however. Last year when we arrived, the same thing had happened! But last year, the ornaments were everywhere, all over the lawn. So, I guess maybe this is a slight improvement?? I'll take every positive sign I can find. 

While we were at General Marshall's home, we saw our first birds of the year, American Robins. Robins are good first birds. They symbolize renewal, good luck, happiness, and new beginnings. In Native American cultures, they symbolize peace. That works for me. 

Rufus enjoyed the wind way more than the rest of us. 

A pretty dried New Year rose in Mrs. Marshall's garden.

Gnome.

First sunrise.

And Rufus got a pup cup for being a good boy in the coffee shop.

Our New Year's Eve was very low key. We listened to this record, Daph made some spaetzle, we went down a Yo Gabba Gabba YouTube rabbit hole, and we went to bed early. 

I feel cautiously optimistic that things are going to take a positive turn this year. The 2025 trajectory is unsustainable, so I hope I'm right. It will take work, though. All of us have to continue to push back. We have seen that it often works! 

So, take breaks, find small moments, and take care of yourselves and your people. But keep going. Keep resisting. I'll post specific ideas when I can. Midterms are coming. All hands on deck.

Let's make it a good year.

Onward.