Field Notes for December

Welcome back to Field Notes - this is the last installment for 2024. Where did the year go? I have really enjoyed experimenting with this format for reporting events and discoveries made during the month. I plan to continue experimenting with Field Notes in 2025!

December 1, 2024

We have stunning sunsets in the San Francisco Bay Area this time of year (in between rainstorms). The sunsets are brief and early so you have to make a point to see them. But they are well worth the effort for the dramatic layers of colors.

Winter sunsets in the Bay Area

December 3, 2024

My Aunt Char is home after her trip to Alaska. She spent a month with my mom, dad, and brother in Juneau, and they celebrated Thanksgiving together. The last week has been dicey weatherwise, with a major winter storm rolling in several days before travel day. Luckily she made all her flight connections with no issues! 

Winter storm warning in Juneau, Alaska

December 6, 2024

What a treat to attend the annual Business Women's Network cookie exchange with my former colleagues in San Ramon. It was thoughtful of them to include retirees, and so much fun to catch up with old friends during the festive, tasty event! BWN sponsors speakers, networking events, and workshops to enrich women's careers. Many men attend the events to learn how to be supportive allies, and how to inspire and equip their daughters. Everybody wins!

 

Spoils from a Christmas cookie exchange

December 9, 2024

Our kitchen is overflowing with good eats. We're pulling out more of our favorite fall recipes and filling the house with the wonderful fragrance of good, hearty food. There's also an uptick in home-made cookie production that has everyone in the family smiling and humming along with the Christmas playlist.

More roasted vegetables - this time for a delicious tomato-based soup

Turkey cottage pie, with a fancy woven crust

December 12, 2024

My Aunt Char and I attended a local production of A Charlie Brown Christmas this week at the Contra Costa Civic Theater. It was so fun to see the Charlie Brown Christmas movie brought to life with talented actors and innovative sets. The production ended with a group-sing of favorite Christmas carols (holiday music really makes the season). Afterwards, Aunt Char and I enjoyed bowls of ice cream at her home and caught up on all the news from her trip and the folks in Alaska!

Support your local theater!

December 15, 2024

While doing holiday errands, I made a quick stop at the Castro Valley Library to pick up a Mrs. Malory mystery that was on hold. Nearby is a portion of Castro Valley Creek that has been restored with plants native to the area (and has attracted lots of birds, squirrels, and insects). I enjoyed a quick respite from my errands in the lovely library and natural park.

Late morning sun in the Castro Valley Library

Castro Valley Creek restoration

December 18, 2024

The Christmas tree is now decorated and I'm enjoying the lights, sparkle, and ornaments collected over the years. We have lots of angels and instruments and glass balls in beautiful jewel colors. Other ornaments were handmade by our son in his youth, and still others were gifts or were collected during our  travels (like the dinosaur bone ornament from our trip to Dinosaur National Monument). My small greenhouse ornament collection never fails to delight. A batch of gingerbread cookies nourished us while we decorated the tree and strolled down memory lane!

Greenhouse ornament

Another greenhouse ornament

Dancing gingerbread lady