A New Year

 It has been really nice to stick with computer work in the mornings and get back into the shop during the afternoons. I remade the handles on our bathroom sink cabinet and that was a pain, but a big improvement. I have also been busy with more cutting boards. For some reason, I really like to make cutting boards. 

I have also been really busy with this China business. Figuring out how to get money out of that country is a big problem. I had 200 euro transferred to me, but only received 122 because of the banking fees. Ridiculous. Hopefully I can find a better way. Chinese citizens also have a cap on how much they can spend abroad every year, so that will add an extra challenge on top of the culture that simply wants to keep things local. 

The girls have enjoyed staying home, and none of us are ready to go back to school tomorrow. Luckily, we don't have to! Teaching from home is not much fun, but it is a lot less work. I can really use the time to focus on all these other projects! 

I know that 2020 was a rough year for a lot of people, but apart from not being able to travel, we have had a really good year. Grateful for that. Not sure what sort of travel will be possible this year, but it is likely our last chance to 'vacation' in the States before the permanent move happens, so we sure hope it works out. 

New handles.

We discovered 'how to draw' videos on Youtube this week.

The girls cooked our New Years dinner. It was delicous!

Progress on the cutting boards.

Storm

 We get our big fall storm today. Lots of wind and rain. I guess I won't be going for my usual run this morning! Sure am glad the days are getting longer and longer. Pretty depressing around here. 

I have started making more cutting boards in the workshop. I would like to turn some of the wood I have collected into stuff that might be sellable in Marquette. People here don't seem too interested. 

I officially have my first student in China. The parents paid for their first punch card. The bank fees were more than expected though, so we will really need to find a way to cut down on those transfer costs. Complicated to do so though. 

The girls have started to miss their friends. Hopefully they can play together in the next few days. We had a nice Christmas together, although it was a bummer that Claire and Matt couldn't come. Sure is nice to have a bit more time to work on the designs for our house though!

Christmas pictures.

Naomi and the girls worked all day to make two gingerbread houses that had trouble staying together.

Delivering the second gingerbread house to Helene.

Present time.

Christmas dinner.

Lockdown #2

 On Monday they announced the start of our second lockdown, to last at least 5 weeks. Definitely ruins our remaining holiday plans. No more swimming, museum, or zoo. I guess the girls can use a break from everything though. 

They have been adjusting to life at home really well. In the mornings they have been doing their schoolwork really nicely without being asked by us. It was a big relief for them to be home for a while. 

I don't have a problem adjusting to the online lessons, apart from the increased screen time. Combined with working on this ESL online business, there is way too much sitting in front of a computer. I was hoping to teach some twins English, but they got scared off by the international payments. I will need to work on that. May still have one student, we will see if the mom can figure out how to pay. 

No time left for my architecture or writing projects. Haven't been waking up as early in the mornings. Sure hope this business turns into something!

We found a Christmas tree! Got to pick one out of a tiny forest.

Candlelight dinner.

Girls got a special lunch with Helene.

Almost There

 Just one week left. We all really need a vacation! It has been too busy with starting up a new job (I have my first Chinese students in a few days), extra swimming lessons, Christmas prep, etc. Naomi is thinking of staying home this week as Covid is spreading so quickly now. 

Looks like all our plans for Christmas might get cancelled - can't go to Switzerland, Claire and Matt probably won't be able to come here, we reserved for the zoo and a museum but those will probably close down. Even the extra swimming lessons we booked might drop out. What a drag. 

Getting some rest is what we all need though. Hopefully the weather won't be too terrible!

Busy at school!

Sinterklaas

 Yesterday was the birthday of Sinterklaas, so his Piets knocked on the window and left a mysterious burlap sack full of presents for the girls. They got some really nice dresses, a weaving loom, round paper, books, and some other things. So much, in fact, that I think Santa must have gotten a bit lazy and asked Sinterklaas help him deliver a few presents. 

Next weekend we will get the Christmas tree, so a small break in the festivities. Sinterklaas and the Piets also came to school this week and the kids had a bit party with lots of singing, dancing, and sugar. A little monster came home looking a bit like Amélie, and it took a few bites of a sandwich before our Amélie made a reappearance. 

I have started working with a friend that I played basketball with in Jr High to start up a business tutoring Chinese students in English online. Hopefully we can make it work. Kind of complicated though with all the international stuff and trade tensions and monetary restrictions. China lets money in, but they don't want to let it out.

Fun with Kinetic Sand!

Amélie made a picture frame in the workshop (with a bit of help).

Christmas packages!!

Happy Thanksgiving

 We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday with our friends from Rotterdam again. It was a lot of fun, although they are having a rough time as his mom just passed away from Covid. We also had a family video chat which was a lot of fun - wish I could have stayed for the whole thing, but it was good to see everyone for a little bit. Sure makes me feel homesick!

I keep plugging away on the designs. Kind of obsessed. Takes forever, but okay. Hard to know what level of detail I should take things to. I have a friend in China who started an online tutoring business, and I think I might try to join him. Lots of potential, and it might be an employment bridge to the States.

Wrapped up with most of the tests at school this week. Always an intense period. Got to hang out with a friend after school on Friday, so that was fun, but now I am really, really tired! Time for a restful Sunday.

Couldn't really capture it, but the drops of water looked like Christmas lights.

Naomi made some scones.

Quite surprised to find these in the woods at the end of November - still tasty!

Broken Records

The climate milestones are stacking up here faster and faster. The latest record is the consecutive number of days with high temperatures of at least 10 degrees Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The count stopped above 240 days on Friday, when it only got up to 8. Still pretty warm for the end of November!

I have been plugging away on the digital modeling for our future house. The garage is really taking shape. Kind of addicting to keep adding to it and making changes. Sure would be nice if the software program, SketchUp, worked a bit better though! I suppose I can't complain too much since it is the free version. I wouldn't mind spending some money on it, but they ask 300 euros/year, and that is just too much!

This was the last week for the girls to go to daycare after school. Helene will start looking after them this Thursday. We are all looking forward to it! It will be more expensive, but a lot nicer for us, the girls, and Helene. 

Making some progress on the designs.