Celestial Solstice

The sun broke through the clouds just before it went down tonight. It seemed an appropriate picture to celebrate the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. The silver lining to these clouds is the fact that the days will now slowly start getting longer....

John's thumb, sprained from too much pruning, has morphed into some sort of wrist problem which was giving him a lot of pain. My unsympathetic suggestion that he man up was rejected, I suggested that we get out of the house before the rain started again. We went to Willi’s. We went early as we thought it might be quite crowded with festive throngs, but apparently they were still all out shopping, because the only other people there were two older ladies complaining about a vegan friend ("Well, you'll never be having dinner at MY house!") and a couple sitting outside with their very large black lab named Daisy. Daisy had her own water bowl and a little dish of dog treats compliments of the chef.

Having overeaten many a time at Willi’s , usually as part of a group sharing a lot of small plates, we were very careful to order just the right amount...shared plates of pulled duck with polenta, a salad and pot stickers. I considered asking how they manage to make such rich and creamy polenta,  but decided that even if I should be so lucky to be able to replicate it, it would spoil the treat of being able to order it when we go to Willi's.

John took a nap with Blake and Ozzie and is now out blowing leaves, so the nap and the three Advil I recommended must have helped. I watched the gardeners giving rather extreme haircuts to all the grasses around here and was glad John wasn't doing it...

I'm putting a picture in extras of a nearby house with moving snowflakes projected on it. I think it's rather more peaceful and less gaudy than strings of flashing lights and blow up snowmen..It's beginning to feel like Christmas...

We’re going to try a beef Wellington for Christmas Eve dinner....