The house is quiet.  Even with five family members and two dogs in it, the prevailing sound of the afternoon is the fan in the pellet stove. 

Thank the COVID restrictions–and the wintry weather that left the hiking trails and fields around us more treacherous and fun.  The result is rare:  everyone is home at the same time.    

The day is filled with seriously productive activities.  The notorious napping couches by the fireplace have claimed their victims—twice in one day.  Others are watching TV or reading or playing video games.

Even the dogs seem to have given up on doing anything exciting.  

The end-of-year holidays are officially over after today.  I miss the normal festivities, the special times with family and friends, the scurrying about and the cleaning up. 

But…

As I look around at my family members, it seems that we’ve enjoyed this year’s way of celebrating, too.  And, as a silver lining, tomorrow we will be fully ready to start the first work week of the new year.