Day 16.355: Happy New Year

The “official” new year around here is still ten days away, but we still marked the arrival of 2024 together after an evening of playing games. 

Day 16.354: Murder Mystery Party

One of our friends invited us to a Murder Mystery birthday party this evening. The party had a London in the 60’s theme and we were assigned the roles of a photographer and a businessman/gangster. 

We had a great time both in and out of character and even remembered to take a photo when we got home. 

Day 16.353: Ball games - indoors?

This "Boomerang Ball" that was one of Exile #4's Christmas gifts resembles a powered frisbee and requires a little finesse. We did do the first experiments outside, maybe not enough practice if the end of this video is any indication.

 

Day 16.352: Christmas gaming

There have been various video games getting some attention over the last few days, but today's post is about the new board games. I guess technically, only two of the three have a board, but you get the point.

Just One is a fun quick word game - we've played it several times.

Exile #2 has been on the winning team for Really Loud Librarians each time we've played - we suspect she has an unfair advantage (being a qualified librarian if not - in general - really loud)

At the more serious end, Wingspan is a classic that we have somehow avoided until now. Birding and gaming - not sure how we only put them together now. This was from our first game. We played again today with much less confusion. 

Day 16.351: Ferry Beach State Park

Four of us managed a walk this morning. We'd originally planned our beach/woods loop, but realizing it was high tide, we just did a loop within Ferry Beach State Park - including a brief visit to the beach.

The crew on the trail

Two distant white-winged scoters and an unidentified bird

Exile #2 and Exile #4 looking at some some tree roots washed up on the beach

At least the left one is a black scoter

This was so far away, but appears to be a common loon

Red-bellied woodpecker

And whatever this is

Day 16.350: Out and about

The weather has been unseasonably warm and it really hasn't felt much like winter most of the time, but that doesn't stop the hours of daylight being preciously short, so it was good we managed to decide on a quick outing straight after lunch as we didn't have much light left to play with.

Our outing took all five of us for a walk at the cemetery and included a few bird sightings.

The whole gang

Eastern bluebird on some decorative stonework

Red-bellied woodpecker nearly in silhouette

Yellow-bellied sapsucker showing off some impressive camouflage.

Day 16.349: Christmas fun

We had a lovely Christmas Day, including gifts, games, TV and a movie, lots of lovely food including the ritual ignition of the pudding. We had two video calls with family in the UK including a scene-stealing debut from my grand-nephew. 

Day 16.348: Merry Christmas #17

We wanted to make our traditional Christmas song video for today, but this year it felt like an odd time to be doing something light and frothy, so instead, here is a rendition of the theme song for our church's Advent services - a traditional tune from Yorkshire in England and some new words written for the occasion by Exile #2.

Wishing you all the very best this Christmas!

Day 16.347: How it started...

How it started...

Mouse caught under a bowl in late October

How it's going...

Me in full decontamination gear today

Yes, we've had a little rodent issue (not in the living areas of the house fortunately), but hopefully it's nearly resolved now.

Day 16.346: Trees for some

Today was my last day at work for the year and yesterday was E5N1’s last day of school. The rest of the family took the opportunity during the day yesterday to visit the Festival of Trees at the museum. I asked them to take some photos. Here is a selection from Exile #4.

They particularly wanted me to see that this little guy looks like he’s being strangled by the tree

Day 16.345: Brush pile squirrel perch

So far, this has been the only observed user (fairly regularly) of the brush pile:

I don't mean this particular squirrel, although it is possible it's been the same one each time.

Day 16.344: Holiday Choral

We all saw E5N1’s second night of the Holiday Choral Concents tonight. Three of us were in the live audience and one watching online and able to snag some screenshots. E5N1 is in the auditioned choir this year (as well as the full choir) following in the footsteps of both his siblings. The concert was great.  

Day 16.343: A few birds (counted)

Not only did all the birds seem to disappear at the beginning of November when Project Feederwatch started back up for the season, but they especially disappear on our counting days. The weekend before last, we saw no birds at all on either day. Happily this last weekend was a little more successful:

A little baffling, but probably a house finch

Bluebird on the bird bath...

...and taking a drink

Seven species in total and three individuals of a few of them. Not record-breaking, but much better than none.

Day 16.342: Time to edit

My Saturday excursion (including my Santa selfie) was to record the winter dance show. For the third year, this was a rendering of A Christmas Carol in a show called Bah Humbug!

It’s a great show with dance, drama and even puppets:

I have the footage, and now the real work begins. 

Day 16.341: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #463

Exile #2 writes...

I set off early yesterday morning in order to beat the traffic around the outlet malls and make it to Worcester by about 10 and home again by lunchtime with Exile #4, who has a couple of well-deserved weeks of break from college. It wasn’t too bad a journey but it was still nice to cross the Piscataqua Bridge and hear the Google maps lady welcoming us to Maine.

The bridge is one of those landmarks that lets you know you’re on the home straight, and it has a place in the hearts of many who visit or live in Maine. The Kennebunk service plaza is another, which is known for having a guy who sells bananas (or bananers, as the local pronunciation goes), market stall style.

We got back in time to see Exile #1, who was heading out to put in some hours doing one of his (volunteer) side hustles. I’m sure he’ll have more to say about that this week, though, so I won’t elaborate!

Day 16.340: Santa

I ran into Santa today and managed to snag a selfie. How this arose is a story for another day.