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TundraVole of Leave
Oct. 24th, 2025 07:19 pmYesterday was not the best of days. It started off being the first anniversary of the Minister's death. I remember when Dragonfly called me with the news. I had been sick for a week and could hardly croak out a response. The next day I was slightly better and got the Sparrowhawk to take me to the florist and then over to Dragonfly's to bring her flowers. I still couldn't speak and had to stay out in the yard with my mask on, lest I add sickness to bereavement. So in that respect, this year is better! Later in the evening, another layer of sadness arrived with the news from the Nonesuch that his sister died. She hadn't been in really good health for awhile, but had to go to the hospital a week ago for emergency surgery, from which she did not bounce back. Losing a sibling rips a big hole in the fabric of the past, as I know too well. RIP.
Today I was trying to take a few steps back toward normal. I did three loads of laundry, including the sheets and towels, and did a little bathroom cleaning. The Sparrowhawk had expressed a wish, before this latest virus episode, for some oatmeal raisin cookies with chocolate chips in them. I used a recipe for cowboy cookies, and put in raisins instead of the coconut, which I don't think the Sparrowhawk likes very much. This recipe called for browned butter, which I've never done before. It seemed a bit fiddly, but I did it anyway, and I have to say, it was worth it. As advertised, it adds a very nice, caramel-adjacent flavor to the dough. The Sparrowhawk said the result exceeded his expectations--success!
Yesterday also brought a couple of small disappointments. We had been expecting two guests for October 31--the Sparrowhawk's cousin from Wisconsin, and Tron, who unexpectedly said she might come and help us hand out Halloween candy! But the cousin's schedule changed, and she will not be able to come. When we let Tron know, in hopes that this would make her own visit easier to do, she said she didn't think she was feeling up to coming after all. Tonight I mournfully made tuna salad with some nice wild-caught tuna I originally stashed in the pantry for the Lumberjack's lunch. Guess we'll have to carve our own pumpkins.
I managed to get outside for a quick walk around the block just at sunset. I was wobbly, but the cool evening air was pleasant, and I enjoyed getting a good look at the sky with all its bands of color and cloud.
Today I was trying to take a few steps back toward normal. I did three loads of laundry, including the sheets and towels, and did a little bathroom cleaning. The Sparrowhawk had expressed a wish, before this latest virus episode, for some oatmeal raisin cookies with chocolate chips in them. I used a recipe for cowboy cookies, and put in raisins instead of the coconut, which I don't think the Sparrowhawk likes very much. This recipe called for browned butter, which I've never done before. It seemed a bit fiddly, but I did it anyway, and I have to say, it was worth it. As advertised, it adds a very nice, caramel-adjacent flavor to the dough. The Sparrowhawk said the result exceeded his expectations--success!
Yesterday also brought a couple of small disappointments. We had been expecting two guests for October 31--the Sparrowhawk's cousin from Wisconsin, and Tron, who unexpectedly said she might come and help us hand out Halloween candy! But the cousin's schedule changed, and she will not be able to come. When we let Tron know, in hopes that this would make her own visit easier to do, she said she didn't think she was feeling up to coming after all. Tonight I mournfully made tuna salad with some nice wild-caught tuna I originally stashed in the pantry for the Lumberjack's lunch. Guess we'll have to carve our own pumpkins.
I managed to get outside for a quick walk around the block just at sunset. I was wobbly, but the cool evening air was pleasant, and I enjoyed getting a good look at the sky with all its bands of color and cloud.
