While we were gone, a big Nor-easter swept through the Northeast and melted the mounds of snow waiting for us when we returned. It was a minor Christmas miracle.

The snow mounds were six and seven feet high here and it was almost magical to see almost all of the snow gone. The sheep and donkeys were very happy to have some walking room.

We drove through a lot of rain without any trouble and came back to Bedlam Farm as the tail end of the Nor’easter brought a powerful and beautiful wind. I took a video of our flags blowing in the wind; I’m glad we hung a flag on the farm and claimed a piece of our country.

I think true patriots love their country and care for it. That feels good for me.

We had the sweetest and most peaceful time in our Vermont inn.

I had a challenging sleepless night two days after my surgery, but it got better as the doctors said it would. I complicated things a big by falling on my knee on the ice the day before we left.

I’ve been restored in many ways. My plan for 2021 does not include surgeries.

Nothing was broken when I fell, but there was a lot of swelling, right on my old broken kneecap injury. The whole farm was an ice sheet; it’s all gone.

We talked and read and read and found great peace and lots of rest and wonderful food. I could have used a day or two more, but the storm took away almost all of the things we needed to shovel, and we will make good use of the time.

My favorite shot of the trip was of Maria in her mask on the other side of the Christmas tree in the inn dining room.

I need another day or two of rest to get my energy back, but the healing is underway, and I am fortunate to have wounds that heal. My new gratitude necklace came in handy and reminded me to be thankful.

I polished off two books on my reading list – one on the Paradise fires, and the other a Vera Stanhope mystery from Ann Cleeves.

I still need some bed rest, so I’ll expect to knock off two more.

Maria hung some lights on the front and back porches, our Christmas tradition.

Year by year, we are zeroing in on our idea of Christmas, we turn inward, wind down, and look for peace and compassion in our lives.

Tonight, I’m up for cooking a Christmas dinner – lobster chunks mixed with light Vermont Spatzel. I can’t quite imagine where all that snow went.