Hundred Days of Happiness - Week Six
The sun still rises even when it's behind the clouds
As our little family wound down to the last bit of “productive” December, we were all more than ready for vacation. Just had to make a little bit more effort to get through the darkness and it’s been quite dark in the Netherlands. Not only because as we approach the winter solstice the days are extremely short (only 7 hours and 43 mins of daylight on the solstice itself) – the sun rising well after school drop off (around 08:45) and setting before the work day ends (around 16:30), but also because the sun was hiding behind the clouds day after day after day. It was such a long stretch – 11 days – it made the news - it hadn’t been so sunless in 34 years. But we made it through, trying to make it as gezellig as possible with sparkling holiday lights all around.
#december #day36 #blackboots #goth #100happydays
New Stompy Goth Boots. I bought myself some stompy boots about three years ago and they finally gave up the ghost this winter. I took them to a repair shop to get the zippers replaced and they said that all the repairs needed would be the same as the cost of new boots. So, I got new boots and I 🖤 them. I always have imposter syndrome around Goth culture because I don’t fully embody it, but I still consider myself Goth-adjacent and I love the aesthetic, just don’t feel that I can fully pull it off.
#thehobbit #reading #tolkein #childhood #december #day37 #100happydays
And so it begins...
I almost feel jealous that he gets to "read" this book for the first time, but I'm thrilled that I get to read it to him. This is a beautiful edition with sketches by Tolkein himself. The chapters are long and we are breaking them up as they are too long to read a whole one at bed time, but that just means that we get to stretch the experience out even longer. Sometimes I get sad when books finish as I want more time with the characters, so am glad to take this one slowly.
#december #moonlight #clouds #nighttime #holidaylights #day38 #100happydays
This is as close to the sunlight we are these days - the sun being reflected off the moon. I miss the sun, but I am very glad to have put up gezellig lights around the house to make it cozy. One of the stars we have hung up is from our recent trip to Cologne Christmas Market. It was so pretty and delicate and brings some light into the darkness. It has honestly made the news so much that the sun has been hiding for such a long stretch. It's still there - it's just being shy.
#december #healthcare #coffee #cafeteria #breakfast #morning #day39 #100happydays
The hospital scene was pretty and the coffee and banana bread was a good morning snack before the appointment. All the results are thankfully clear and another follow up will happen in a year. Glad to be “in the system” here and the internist was nice and she was glad to give me good news. :)
#swimming #recovery #exercise #laps #december #day40 #100happydays
Super grateful to have enough stamina to go swimming once again! Went twice this week and of course no pictures in the pool area, but I could take a photo of my workout summary. Felt good!
#sunlight #wintersolstice #december #day41 #100happydays
It is a “Christmas Miracle “! The sun came out from hiding. It honestly made the news how long we were living under grey skies – 11 long grey days. It felt so good to ride my bike and get even the weak bit of sunlight on my face.
#tea #teatime #december #day42 #100happydays
There is nothing like a good cuppa tea. Especially after riding home in the wind and the rain. Not pictured are the freshly made still warm stroopwaffles that we got at the local market and brought home. They were already gobbled up! Lekkkkkkkker. We were “celebrating” the end of the fall/winter semester for David, and had a nice lunch all together and then bought the stroopwaffles to have at home as an afternoon snack. They are so different when the waffles are warm and soft and the stroop is runny instead of a hard caramel.
Hope everyone is doing well, enjoying the holidays and hopefully some down time.
Not aware of the "dark days" in Netherlands. Experiencing shorter days here in Maui despite not the duration you're experiencing. Looking forward to longer days and less darkness.
Congrats on the Goth boots. Very cool. I wear only running shoes and slippers (flip-flops) with no need for cold footwear. Such is life in Maui.
Tolkien is great and perhaps too fantastic for David. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn might be more up his alley at his age and experiences. Mark Twain made me think about prejudice and friendship even with a slave. Being Asian I related to beging different, but wanted no discrimination in my growing up. Nice to learn that Tom and Huck overcame that in their lives as kids.
Awesome Xmas tree at the hospital. Glad you got positive results from the doc. Swimming for 30 minutes is a good workout. Your cardio is making stronger and healthier. Cool watch to help you track your workouts.
I have Belgian waffles topped with blueberries a couple of times during the week. Your stroopwaffles sound delicious. I envy you.
BTW saw A Complete Unknown movie about Bob Dylan. I think your Mom and Dad would get a flashback to the times in the film with Dylan's music. Loved it.!!!
All the best to the family. Really enjoy your postings.