I began the year with a trip to Charlotte for the annual reunion of my college roommates…It just so happened that two of our daughters were there for different sports competitions. I was so grateful to my friend, who drove me to my daughter’s four games and even stood out in the freezing cold rain with me to watch a little. Now that‘s truly a good friend!

A few weeks later, our oldest headed back to school in NYC.

I went to New Jersey to visit my sister and her faithful dog Daisy.

Maybe she’s born with it? Maybe it’s Maybelline.

My apricot is blooming!

My friend Katherine and I woke up at an ungodly hour to board a 6 am flight to NYC to check in on our kids, who are both studying there…

We stayed in a hotel at Hudson Yards, right next to The Vessel.

The Vessel

Our hotel bathroom must have been three times as large as the one in my son’s apartment…

Teeny tiny sink in my son’s Lilliputian (shared) bathroom.

Brobdingnagian Friday afternoon tea at Alice’s Teacup

On Saturday we went to Chinatown for dim sum and found ourselves wading through huge crowds that had come out for the Chinese New Year parade:

This last Sunday my second son gave a sermon during the youth-led service at our church…

So proud of him. So not ready for him to leave for college next Fall.

Meanwhile, Gingersnap continues her ruthless and devastatingly efficient campaign to conquer the universe with expressions like these…

Why am I down here on the floor when I’m supposed to be enthroned upon your lap?

That’s more like it.

Even Chloe is coming around…

At the dog park today…