We took the tree down after putting away in tissue paper all the ornaments – and you can’t imagine how many we hang on that tree.  It is as far from minimalist as you can get. A few of the ornaments are pre World War II from my mother.  Many are animals, birds, fish, vegetables.  Some are just pretty ornaments.  Some are funny.  This tree was an unusually symmetrical and bushy balsam.  We put it up early this early because the woman at Bayberry Nursery warned us there was a very early rush for trees and they couldn’t get any from Canada with the border wa closed. Indeed, they sold out early as did most nurseries or other places that sell trees on the Outer Cape.

 Wellfleet now has a much larger winter population than in previous years since we became a place where a large percentage of people have summer homes rather than year round houses.  But locals who normally spend a good part of the winter in Florida or Puerto Rico or the Caribbean are staying here for safety.  Also people who live in cities have moved here for the duration of Covid. I like Trotting Park being populated in winter, the way it used to be the first twenty years I lived here.

The cats were upset with us for taking the ornaments off and then removing the tree.  Now all the furniture is back in its usual place and the room seems much larger and lighter.  It was a beautiful tree and a pleasure for us and for them, but it’s time to get back to what passes for normal these days. 

 When my poetry group met Wednesday night. there were only five of us as one person had another commitment and one of us was ill.  I hope it isn’t Covid.  If you cough or sneeze in public, watch out.  People will glare at you and move away, as if this isn’t full cold season.  My sinuses are clogged up. Our weather which is on a see-saw, one day freezing, gale force winds, the next balmy, then back to freezing again.

I’ve begun my seed ordering already, as soon as each catalog arrives.  Some of them are quite late, and the order from Pinetree that they sent out 12 days ago till hasn’t come.

T-rump really fucked up the Post Office. I had a bill come that was due the day it arrived although it had been mailed out at least ten days before.I’m ordering seeds as early as I can as I epect with more people stuck at home and gardening that there will be fierce competition for some of the most popular varieties. 

 I am so tired of receiving at least 80 requests for money for the Georgia run-off elections.  I know how important they are and I give what I can.  but I’m pissed off when I just sent a $25 contribution and I’m asked again 30 seconds later.  I get in the same hour something headed OSTROF WINNING GEORGE and another message saying GEORGIA LOST TO DEMS.  It feels manipulative and there are ten  different entities asking for money for the same bloody race.

 It’ been a very quiet holiday season for us as for so many others.  We enjoyed the tree [and the cats even more].  We gave a more modest amount of presents than usual [not making money this year for obvious reasons].  We got Wellfleet oysters, the very best, and have been enjoying them.  I made a spoon roast ant scalloped potatoes for Dale and Stephen.  I ran out of gruyere and did the top layer of cheddar.  I’ll never do it any other way again as it made the best scalloped potatoes ever.  For New Years we’re roasting a duck with butternut squash and a red cabbage-apple dish. it should last two days so we don’t have to do more than warm up the food on Saturday.  We’re slowly decluttering, or at least I am..