It's a sunny, though cold day at the farmette. I was going over some of my pictures from 2021, and realizing that even though it was year two of the pandemic, we managed to squeeze in quite a lot of living. Here's a quick tour of the highlights:
Maple syrup making at the Thorntons in March. Sister Sandy, niece Erin and I all had a ball that sunny, lovely day hoiking the sap from the tapped maples in the sugar bush to the big tank in preparation for the big boil down.
It's dead handy when you have Gerty, the utility vehicle who has tires in summer and tracks for winter sap collection.
May meant spring, with the trilliums bursting through on the western edge of the farmette, and wee goslings waddling around the neighbourhood in Durham.
It was especially meaningful for Sandy and I, since we got our first COVID-19 vaccinations.
We both literally cried with relief. The nurse who gave me the jab was a bit non-plussed, but I reassured her that it was pure pent-up emotion and happiness at finally seeing a potential light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.
We were back over at the Thorntons in June for an outdoor, socially distanced, small graduation party for Erin, who completed her Bachelor of Science in animal biology from the University of Guelph.
Not quite the commencement she was hoping for, but we made the best of it, with a lovely meal on the deck and a viewing of all the grads' one-minute videos.
August rolled around, and, with a slight lifting of pandemic restrictions, all three sisters (Barb, Sandy and me) plus Erin were able to do a road trip down to St. Jacobs.
By then, we were all double vaxxed, but still had to mask up and sanitize our hands when we went into the stores.
Sandy organized it and did all the driving - she's extraordinarily vigilant about making sure we get together to laugh and chat and stay sane.
I think it was a terrific break from the constant onslaught of COVID. Just look at those smiling faces.
In September, Rob and I treated ourselves to a day in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Actually, it was a 3 1/2 hour trip down, a huge lunch at a roadside diner, a wonderful play called the Raven's Curse - a Sherlock Holmes mystery, and a 3 1/2 hour trip home in time to feed the cats. A loooong day, but totally worth it.
We hosted Thanksgiving here - with just the Thorntons, and Sandy once again outdid herself with a Christmas Eve party and feast. I'm so happy and unbelievably fortunate to have had such a rich, full and lovely 2021 - in spite of COVID-19. Until next week.
