January-February

JANUARY

A huge double snow kept us busy during the last part of our COVID quarantine.  We got at least 10 inches at first and then added another several with the second snow.

The saga of the impossible Harry Potter puzzle continues.  I've started it 3 times and never finished.  Enlisted Steve's help but then the cats knocked it off the table and I had to rebuild much of it.  The puzzle mat from Carol Ann has helped so I've taken it on two trips (the cruise and on an overnight to Ocean City).  It's still unfinished :)

FEBRUARY

We watched a TON of Beijing Winter Olympics.

Russia invaded Ukraine.

Gus is loving a new book series: The Keeper of the Lost Cities.

I am growing the world's tallest amaryllis.  This year, I've had both my bulbs re-bloom!  I think it's the summer outside that does the trick.

We took a quick (2 night) trip to Ocean City over President's Day weekend.  Went swimming & ice skating, and then Scott left for a week in Louisiana helping with home rebuilding.  He left us plenty of notes to get us through the week alone!

 I'm working on re-doing our living room right now.  So far I've painted a bunch of stuff and made an ottoman cushion.  Up next are curtains and "painting" a leather chair.  Fingers crossed on that one.  I'm also investigating going back to school in some form to study horticulture.  UMBC and Colorado State have undergrads, but I'm also looking a couple certificate programs as well.  

Still no Bethany baby...but we are number 1 on the list!

Long-COVID update: Scott has developed bronchitis and is still dealing with coughing and congestion.  The doctors say they are seeing a lot of this and don't have much to offer.  Our last step would be oral steroids but we're trying to hold off on that.  (Heather has the same thing after their family's round of COVID in January.) Otherwise, the world seems to be getting used to the idea that COVID is just going to stick around and we'll get used to it.  Kind of like the flu. Masks are optional now.