I like the white door! I'm boring.

Friends, it has been a week. I haven't wanted to post about it on my social media because of various family members, but my Aunt Nita died very suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday. I wasn't close to her anymore, but she's been a part of my life since I was born, and it's hard to think of her being gone. She was married to my Uncle Gene (my mom's older brother), who I was close to and who died in 2021. I also found out this past week that my Aunt Pat (my dad's oldest sister) has gone into hospice care and is in tremendous pain in the final stages of cancer, though they are trying to manage it. I am close to Pat; she has been one of the rocks in our family, and as a 45+ year RN (including oncology) she knew what her diagnosis meant when she got it in December. She and my dad both say they don't want me to try to get him up to see her before she passes. They spent a week together last summer when I brought him up and then ended up with Covid, stuck in my mom's guest room, and that is how they want to remember each other. But I'm worried about my dad when Pat passes. They still text each other as they watch the UConn women basketball team play, and she's who he always stayed with when he visited. It's going to be hard on him, and I'm so far away. I'm also so incredibly sad that I probably won't see Pat again before she's gone.

In more positive news, I'm recovering well post-ACL surgery. I'm out of the giant brace and improving my range of motion with PT a little more every day. I am in complete denial I have to go back to work tomorrow.

ETA: I completely forgot to wish everyone happy holidays, but whether you celebrate Passover, Easter, Ramadan, Holi, Nowruz, Ostara, or just love the coming of spring, I wish you happiness and joy.

Oh the teal, for certain.

Post box ate my post.

Sorry about your aunt, Pix.

Good news they caught your mom's stroke so early, Matt. Hope she recovers well and quickly.

Glad your visit was good, Sheryl.

Cold sufferers, may the remedies work quickly and well.

Matt, my reactions to the colors--I don't like the brown, white is boring, red or teal stand out more, make a statement, but I'm not fond of either. What about a lighter-than-cobalt blue? Anything brown-orange-dull yellow is going to blend with the brick too much. The door needs a contrast color, and a darker teal or a bright blue would work. IMO, of course.

Matt, I just read your post about your mom. My dad has had several TIAs, and they're so scary. The good news is that they often pass without lasting damage, unlike a full stroke, and I truly hope that is the case for your mom. Hugs.

There’s a Pinterest of colored doors on brick houses - because of course there is.

I’m not usually a fan of chartreuse, but it’s working for me here. [link]

I'm sorry about the bad family news, Pix.

I’m sorry about your aunts, Pix.

I'm so sorry, Pix.

One of my cousins drove up the east coast and visited a bunch of family, including the only surviving member of my father's siblings. The cousin recorded an interview with our uncle about family history and shared it on the cousins' Signal chat. So kind!

Just had a lovely hike in the woods with the family and lots of dogs. It's a gorgeous day in the Bay, sunny and warm. Really lovely. I sat outside on my adirondack chair for the first time since last fall!

Now I'm cooking up some rice to eat with roasted veggies for dinner.

I'm so sorry about your aunts, Pix.

We're flying down to Oklahoma on Wednesday for a five-day visit for a memorial to my MIL, who died suddenly in November, and for Dylan to wrap up various matters of estate business as her executor. This will be my first flight since the pandemic (though we road-tripped to Glacier NP in 2021 and I drove to a writers conference in Canada last fall). My last flight was also to OK, when we spent Thanksgiving with Dylan's family.

Thanks Pix, and hugs right back to you. Those are some rough family situations on your end.

What about a lighter-than-cobalt blue?

I don't think so for this house, Beverly. The cottage I was interested in buying last year had a blue door that looked good with its light gray stone exterior, but I've not liked the blue doors I've seen on brick homes (though I think they could be nice with gray or white brick).