Loud

 Our new year has certainly been noisy so far as someone is doing  a lot of hammering. Whether upstairs or next door is hard to tell but either way. it is loud. Lukas has hunkered down on the loveseat closest to my desk as I write and I plan to spend the remainder of the day in my bedroom, as far away as I can get from the racket. Folks have gone back to work as well which means the sounds of road traffic compete with whatever construction is happening here. Thankfully. it is late in the day and maybe the noise will cease after five though I doubt it.

Sometimes living in small spaces with shared walls leaves a lot to be desired.

At least the neighborhood ducks are quiet. and speaking of, what do you think of this?

What began shrouded in fog

 Very early morning here, shrouded in fog, was finally quiet after 3 AM when nearby neighbors. having exhausted their ample supplies of fireworks and bottle rockets. deigned to go to sleep. That left some of the rest of us dealing with small, frightened or agitated animals who either would not sleep or who had secreted themselves not to emerge until daylight. My elderly, chronically ill cat now lies in a spent heap on his favorite chair after a night of constant pacing and hypervigilance. I finally nodded off about 5 AM and feel neither rested nor content at this moment.

I'm hoping the early morning fog isn't some strange metaphor for what lies ahead...

My intended, traditionally southern New Year lunch has now become early dinner, with hope for a blissfully quiet evening. 

I wish you all the same.