S/VFreyja's Log

The last time I blogged, at the end of September, autumn was ending and we were looking forward to winter. Here it is the 3rd week in January and I am just now getting back to my blog. Autumn did not end in October as expected. We sailed through November and even into early December with warm days, just barely cool nights and many Indian summer days filled with outdoor activities like hiking, raking, planting bulbs for Spring and preparing for that day when the weather did turn into Winter. We have had plenty of snow, mostly temps in the 20’s without wind and zero storms. Not what I call storms anyway, South Dakota girl that I am!! We celebrated Thanksgiving at our home with Jack’s Mom and our friend Susan Bigley. We threw a grand Open House for all our new friends and neighbors just before Christmas. Everyone had such a good time they stayed and it became a party - filling our home with about 50 guests, laughter and love! Our God daughter, Dawn, came from Florida for a 5 day visit – she was my capable assistant at the party and we had fun entertaining her – shopping, lunching and a trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art. We are very proud of her – she will be graduating from college in April! Jack’s Mother, our dear Mina, is good. She is happy in her ALF. I volunteer there often – always playing the piano on Tuesday afternoons for Sing-a-long. I am humbled by the experience as they are all so grateful that I come and play. Mina came to our home on Christmas Eve for an early supper in front of the fire and joined us again on Christmas morning for brunch and gifts. Jack and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary on December 27! Good for us!! New Years was quiet and now it’s January. A quick trip a couple of weeks ago to Gainesville to check on my Dad found him healthy and happy and thrilled to see his daughter! What a good guy he is – my hero. We hit Cleveland’s Playhouse Square with it’s 4 historic theaters as often as we can seeing Billy Elliot in December and looking forward to South Pacific in February. I am also a subscriber and heavy attender of Cleveland Public Theater – avant garde theater, much to my liking! Not to Jack’s!! We are enjoying winter concerts of the Cleveland Orchestra, last week finding us listening to Shumann’s Concerto in A minor with Romanian pianist Radu Lupu. A take-your-breath away moment listening to him with the orchestra in perfect accompaniment. I am enjoying my Art in Books book club – such a good idea. We read a novel about art/artists and over 3 Wednesdays in succession we get an art lecture, a book discussion with the librarian and the 3rd week go into the galleries!! Very fun and very educational. I also continue spinning and pilates and enjoy long walks. Jack keeps busy as he always does with assorted house projects, reading, computer work and taking care of Dakota. Beloved Dakota. We should all learn from her – always, but always stretch each time you get up, greet your friends at the door, running in circles, dashing to and fro and kissing them on the face to let them know how glad you are to see them, curl up in a ball and snuggling up to someone you love when you are cold and snuggle up to someone you love even if you aren’t cold! Oh, and run in the snow just for the pure joy of it!! We love that dog! Here’s a few pix of what goes on here – Happy Winter!!

Indian summer hike

Fetch!

Sunset across a frozen field

First snowfall

No, really – I just found this chair stuffing already out of the chair and on the floor!!!

Jingle bell dog!

I love my Pooh!

Love that snow!

Please let me in! It’s cold out here!!

An evening with Mina decorating her tree

Christmas tree lighting at the gazebo in Medina Square

Historic State Theater for Billy Elliot

Tower City, downtown Cleveland lit for Christmas! So pretty!

Our 10 foot Christmas tree!

Dakota welcomes Dawn!

Candy Cane martini!

Brrr….Florida girl!

Christmas Eve

Love and laughter with Mina!

Christmas morning

See you in March after skiing in Steamboat!

Life in Ohio is good – and just recently got better when my girlfriends came to visit! Unfortunately, Holly couldn’t make the trip but as you will see she joined us in a unique way. The weather was a little rainy but we managed to play hard anyway. We even got Alina to church!!

Picked up Alina at the airport and Holly on a stick arrived, too!