Happy New Year!

January 1, 2026

I wish everyone a healthy, happy New Year! May 2026 be a great year for you!

I realize my last few posts have been full of worry about the ups and downs of my father-in-law’s health issues.

I thought I would share more positive items from December 28 onwards.

On December 28, 2025, with the drains not working, I walked to the public toilet on the beach path. On the way back, I admired the small waves crashing onto the beach. A fisherman had set up several fishing poles. Someone was flying a kite. I stood and watched the kite for a while. My soul was refreshed.

Nox wanted to go outside and do Nox things. I watched her smell stinky squirrel footprints.

On the way to pick up my sister-in-law from the hospital, I admired the view of the salt marsh. The sun was reflected in the river.

On the way back to Jekyll Island, the setting sun was a ball of red. The sun reflected on the water as we crossed over the Sidney Lainer Bridge. While I wasn’t able to get a picture of the sun’s reflection turning the rive water red, I did snap this picture. Here the sun is sinking over the salt marsh.

We went out to eat and while we waited, we walked down to the beach to see the remains of sunset.

After the sunset faded away, we walked back to the shopping district and admired the Christmas lights.

Once back at the house, I took pictures of what was left of my mother-in-law’s recipes. Bruce’s sisters are upset that something happened to the recipe cards. My sister-in-law said there used to be two full recipe boxes, one full of savory dishes and one filled with desserts. There were only a few recipes left. I took pictures of all of them. I will be typing them up for Bruce’s sisters. Here’s just a couple. My mother-in-law took some time to type up some of the recipes.

On December 29, 2025, we arrived home and picked up our mail before driving up to the house. In the mailbox was a package from my youngest sister. She sent me pecans from her pecan trees. I opened up the bag and had a few. They are so sweet and delicious. They are the best pecans I have ever had. I need to see if she knows the variety as I want it now.

There was a large box sitting on our porch. We didn’t know what it could be. It was a welcome present from our financial services firm. I listed out my hobbies and Bruce didn’t. Can you guess who most of the presents were for?

Since the temperature was going to drop to the low 20s F, I covered my garden plants before sunset. It was already getting cold. I was impressed with how nice the plants looked after being uncovered while we were gone.

On December 30, 2025, we spent a lot of time sleeping. We were tired from the 10-hour drive and not sleeping well for the past few days. While we had sunny skies, the temperature didn’t get above 30 degrees F. It was not a good day to go outside.

On December 31, 2025, the temperature was up to the low 50s F. We uncovered the plants. I took a picture of the garlic growing through the mulch.

I took some pictures of the greens in the hoop-covered bed.

They looked a little wilted.

I took pictures of the key lime about to bloom.

The famous red pineapple! It only has a little red now.

We walked along a TVA trail to see the Wilson Dam Waterfall. The only thing the waterfall has to do with the dam is being close to it.

For our New Year’s Eve meal, I made fried oyster po’boys and heated some chicken, shrimp, and sausage gumbo from Rick’s Farm Market. Bruce drank champagne while I drank a sparkling passion fruit and mango drink. We toasted to the new year.