It was a day for isolating ourselves from the world: the weather was still too frigid to go outside, plus we declared a no-news day. I prototyped a LEGO pneumatic AND gate that functions significantly better than the gates I built yesterday. However, I won’t be building a pneumatic adder any time soon because I don’t have enough pistons.
Category: Seasonal
A winter’s night with Nordic composers
Drove from heated garage to heated garage for a Minnesota Orchestra concert of music by Nordic composers. There were nods to hygge, which was fitting with temperatures staying in negative territory for a few days. We’re not leaving our building again until Wednesday.
Snow on steel
We’ve had a light dusting of snow, and temperatures have moderated, making it a perfect time for a walk outside. Traces of snow resting on steel caught my eye.
Hibernating
We’ve declared this a shut-in weekend while the cold weather continues. We both took advantage of the workout room downstairs, and Dwight started reorganizing the plants, preparing for our escape to a warmer climate (even though it’s still a month away).
Recalibrating
When I took this picture at sunrise, the outside beckoned, but the ‘feels like’ temperature was -6°F. Dwight and I agree the ‘feels like’ temperature scale should be adjusted for age: for us, it feels closer to a bone-chilling -20°F. I used to jog in this weather, but today, I’m opting for a Skyway walk.
Starting the Year Right
Our annual New Year’s Day tradition: walk then lunch at our local. Had it been any colder, we would’ve ditched the walk and gone straight for the warmth and refreshments.
Our Hogmanay Tradition
Installed VPN on the TV so we can ring in the New Year with TVE 1 (Spanish TV) at 5:00 pm Central Time, which is midnight in Spain. New this year: optional/necessary automatically generated English subtitles. Our home is filled with the wonderful aroma of sofrito, the base of the paella I’ll finish cooking once it’s midnight in Madrid.
Thank You Bear-y Much, But…
Mr. Têdé politely declined a gift of dinner for two at Owamni by the Sioux Chef, a restaurant with a national reputation and the first in the nation serving dishes made from ingredients known to the original Americans. Although it’s a short walk from our home, we’ve never been, deterred by sometimes challenging-to-secure reservations. Mr. Têdé expressed concern about the possibility of bear being on the menu.
Home for the Holidays
The two of us are cooking up a storm just for ourselves. Santa’s received the “please, no gifts” notice. “I do not want what I haven’t got,” as sung by Bettye Lavette, sums it up. Grateful and contented, I am.
Under the Tree
LEGO Snow Village designed by Dwight. 4-seasons lamp made by a former colleague of Dwight’s. My grandma’s 1940’s radio; after she passed, it was in constant use by my bedside when I was a child. Model of the family’s second farmhouse, built by Dwight’s uncle; the first house was a dugout in the earth to establish homestead rights. The small stocking belongs to my snooty teddy bear, Mr. Têdé.