I admit that these are yesterday-tracks. Today’s sunshine wiped them out, but also witnessed us emptying out Mom’s room at the assisted living place, sometimes pictured in this space as having many koi in a pond in a lovely garden with a large birdhouse-apartment on a tall pole. I will miss that garden.

Me and Mom, some years back.

Shortly after midnight, Mom left this world, without lingering or being in pain, as she had hoped. We are okay, and thanks for your concern.

As a consequence, John and I spent the day with our friend I-75.

To further remind us of her power, Mother Nature welcomed us to MI with blowing snow. Thank you, Lake Effect.

Even so, the lessons of our Midwestern teenage-driverhood refreshed quickly, and we made it (thanks to superb piloting by The Guru) past icy stretches that sent two vehicles—that we saw—into the ditch.

And the new year begins….

Equisetum spp.

We’re in the closing hours of a year, that is, by one calculation…and we are reminded that backlighting adds a lovely dimension to the every-day world.

Thanks in part to Pooh’s (aka Cyclopath’s) reminder to me of the warm saltwater gargle, my throat is better, and hopefully the improvement trend will continue.

One of the paperwhite bulbs, planted about 10 days ago, has opened two blooms. I caught a whiff as I watered them. Our future is scented!

Our wonderful, thoughtful neighbor Diane brought us hot bean and ham soup (the tastiest I’ve ever had!) and a luscious cornbread with onions and spinach that was outta-this-world, all hot and ready at lunchtime. We are lucky! (Southerners know just how to treat a neighbor’s sore throat.)

The juniper berries I found over behind the stores in Little 5. Made me think of gin. So, I’m having a medicinal gin-and-lime juice….

Red, green, and droplets.

I looked after my body today, dosing myself with a range of liquids, plus some sunshine during an early afternoon stroll to the library (yes, and back!). Since this morning, I rotated through water, café au lait, water, water, hot green tea, water, martini (and that’s where I am; I anticipate more water in the near future…ho hum).

This regime was spurred by an almost-throat tickle, and a strange backnote to my voice. Let’s hope it is not an incipient sore throat.

When we walked today, I expected to find the odd azalea bloom, but not this bulb’s flower, or the not-pictured redbud. I’m thinking this is some twist of La Niña plus global warming.

Meanwhile, we’ve spent the day periodically raiding the fridge and kitchen in general for leftovers.

Yum.

Extra points to anyone who recognizes the structure behind the bloom….

…um, no, for Santa Claus!

Not to be confused with sardonic clause. Or sumpin.

In this season, when the plants outdoors are dying back, we have bulbs being forced in the south window, and we just brought in a whole pine tree to fill one corner of the living room, severed from its roots in its youth.

Once upon a time…reflective glass balls…pretty much summed up the (Western/Christian) world. At this time of the year.

Since I spent my afternoon at a lovely party chock-full of fascinating people, you’d think I’d have taken at least one picture. But no.

Heavy traffic coming out of Atlanta….