Haircuts, Other People & Frosty World

2020-12-01Friends, Us Standard

[Photos taken 01 – 09 December 2020, posted online 09 May 2021. We’ve had one gorgeous chilly day after another but no precipitation for weeks, and things are getting a bit dry out there.]

The hair salons got permission to restart operations as Covid numbers stayed “reasonable”, but with mask mandates etc. We used the opportunity and tidied up the family members. We also decided to visit people (!!!) and got visited. In general the world stayed pretty frozen, and my mental state began bracing for Christmas. (40-ish images).

Tuesday 01 December 2020

The Nature TV in our backyard added a cast-member one afternoon, that seemed to live under the deck. We haven’t spotted her for a long time now.
A blackbird.
Emma came home with some baking from school, and I was impressed by her meticulous decorating of the bag.
For a bit of Covid-context, the plot shows the number of people in Covid-19 isolation per day, and the arrow points to where December begins. On 06 December authorities issued restrictions that would be in effect until 12 January (or so) in an attempt to stave off a Christmas infection-explosion, and began urging people to organize Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations in “bubbles”. It would turn out to be a big success.

Wednesday 02 December 2020

The music school is now located in a small mall-ish area. It’s not super pedestrian friendly, as this part of it wasn’t zoned for a music school plus a dance studio with children in attendance.
Cold wind blowing. Thankful for my hood.
I spotted quite a few raven-pairs playing in the wind.
Resting raven.

Thursday 03 December 2020

The hair salons had gotten permission to resume business, and it sounded like they were working a lot of overtime to get everyone in before Christmas.
Bjarki newly shorn, in front of the landscape images of the Thai place next to the salon.
The backyard kept being popular.

Friday 04 December 2020

When it rains, it pours.
I noticed that we’d filled up the “Done” area of the Things-to-do board, so I documented it before tearing most of the notes down!

Saturday 05 December 2020

I went on a walkabout during Emma’s ice-skating practice. It was cold outside.
I didn’t come very prepared for a walkabout, but my chunky hood came through again.
Pretty, even though it’s frozen.
There were people doing photoshoots. They didn’t seem dressed for the cold.
A raven.
There aren’t many places with tree tunnels like that in Iceland, you’re most likely to find them in the older cemeteries.
Anna and I probably went to the library, and stopped by mom’s place for a bit. That’s Spori with his all time favorite toy.
With Covid numbers rather low, we decided to risk driving to a neighboring town to have dinner with friends. Anna got to drive, as it’s good to drive in shitty conditions when learning!
PEOPLE that are not us!!

Sunday 06 December 2020

One of my brothers decided to stop by for a quick visit with el doggo.
My ball!
Stop taking photos and throw a ball!
Anna came out to play as well.

Monday 07 December 2020

Our world stayed frozen solid, but strips of vegetation made walking downhill possible.
Emma requested a braid for gymnastics practice, which was back on!

Tuesday 08 December 2020

Kiddie-indoor-soccer-practice was also back on, except non-coaching-adults weren’t allowed inside the buildings, meaning us parents had to wait outside for the kids to appear. Brrrr….

Wednesday 09 December 2020

One of the town-papers had this photo from the our town from 1965. I’m not kidding when I said trees are a recent addition to the landscape.
This is the google street view from about the same spot.
It was time for another Wednesday-walk.
Politeness rules.
I’d spotted an ad from Ikea that they’d be giving out free cookies and hot chocolate (and selling their cookie-dough) from where Emma’s gymnastics practice is, and was happy to see it was for real. It was a balm for the soul.
Delicious!
Emma practicing her piano playing.
One image, then bedime.