First Snow, Last Day

New Year's Eve 2015

It was 70F on Christmas Eve, unseasonably warm for New England at the end of December. In fact several local temperature records for warmest December on record have been broken here in Massachusetts. Well, that's all over. The last days of the year are living up to expectation. We've just had our first snow of the season … an inch or so … and the temps have dipped below freezing. It's pretty, but we forgot how much we dislike the cold.

The roads have been slippery and there's lots of black ice. The Massachusetts DOT reminded us to drive carefully. Good Lord, if they only knew we've been driving on the left side of the road for the past couple of years on dry pavement, they'd probably suspend our licenses. We haven't mentioned it to anyone.

We have plans for New Year's Eve. We're heading north to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for their First Night celebration. That means that we'll be outside walking in 30F temps, trying to stay warm for the last few minutes of 2015. Lin had points for free Marriott rooms, so there's no driving involved and the festivities occur within a few blocks of the hotel. There's a street dance, ice sculptures, stargazing and fireworks to keep us amused.

We have reservations for a late night dinner at Martingale Wharf where we intend to thaw out, dine in elegant style and ring in the New Year.

Hoping your New Year's Eve

is warm and wonderful.

Boxing Day 2015

Boxing Day, December 26th, is a national holiday in many British Commonwealth countries. It's not celebrated very much in the USA although my sister, Lin, celebrates it in fine fashion visiting or hosting friends. The tradition stems from “Christmas boxes” or presents given to servants the day after Christmas (because, of course, they had to work on Christmas Day). Many servants also had the day after Christmas off to spend time with their own families.

Boxing Day allows an extension of the Christmas holiday and some recovery time before the New Year's celebrations. With Christmas on a Friday this year, everyone gets a long, long Christmas weekend. Time to get away on a holiday or spend more time with friends and family. If you're in the UK, perhaps you might go on a fox hunt. Here, sports and after- Christmas-sales shopping seem to be high on the activities list.

It's also the start of the Sydney-Hobart race. A few years ago, we were at Sydney Heads on a friend's boat as the race participants flew past on their way to Hobart. The following year, we were in Hobart to watch the racers arrive. This year, we'll have to be content to see the results on the Internet.

As for us, we'll be busy entertaining more family and friends at Lin's house. The festivities are never-ending. We'll cook some more, eat some more and drink some more and then contemplate our plans for New Year's Eve … and beyond.

Happy Christmas Day!

It's been a wonderful year for Nine of Cups and crew. We know we're blessed with good fortune. We've seen so much, experienced so much, made lots of new friends, reconnected with old friends, and we're happily surrounded by family for the holiday.

We wish you all the merriest of Christmases and a happy, healthy, prosperous 2016 filled with all the magic that life can hold.

As for Nine of Cups, who knows where she'll sail in 2016? Wherever it is, you're invited to come along … it's just a little further.