the 31st, sky lanterns, jelly and wish you were here

We spent New Year's Eve at home.  Something I cannot ever remember having done.  In shorts, with my hubby, my son and his friend, we lounged around and had the most low-key, quiet evening that the 31st has ever produced. 

I reminded the 15 year olds that no-one ever said that you cannot eat your cake before dinner, especially on New Year, so I made a red velvet cake with butter icing and decorated with jelly gummy bears (my chef daughter must be cringing) and we tucked into that at about 730 pm.  It got good feedback.  

We then decided that we would, like good law abiding citizens, go and light some of our sky lanterns in a nearby open park, to be safe.  We got as far as the driveway.  The amount of lightning convinced us that we do not want to be in the park, having lightning bounce off the merry-go-round and frazzle us .... especially since without our beloved Beci, and the constant rain, our laundry is a tad in arrears .... did not want to end up in hospital in our assorted outfits ... looking a bit ... well ..... strangely uncoordinated. 

So we then settled down nearing 9pm and after finding nothing on 426 paid for channels, we hauled out an old favourite "Twilight" and put it on.  My hubby declined the invite to watch, citing "freaky shiny guys biting others" as the reason, and me and the friend won the vote 2-1 against Nic to watch it.  

Chicken roasting happily in the oven alongside some potato friends, we decided at 1030 pm to do the sky lanterns attempt no 2.  We drove because of the possibility of having to walk home in the rain and once there tried to find a well lit part of the park.  The municipality tries to keep three quarters of it in total darkness.  Great for midnight drug deals and other stuff.  

Now there is something about going into a public area, with matches, that makes one feel as if you are breaking some sort of law.  The 3 of us crept in whispering until we realised how daft we looked. 

Very often in past years, the sky lanterns have not been that successful.  It is an all or nothing process.  When they fill with hot air and launch properly it is a beautiful thing.  When they don't, it isn't.  Last year we managed to set 3 lanterns completely alight whilst still grounded and in a spectacular moment my son set his shoe alight and was left with us and my BFF's family shrieking hysterically as he ran around trying to kill the flames.  The pool came to the rescue. 

This year?  This year it was perfect.  We managed to light 2, which heated up and floated up from our hands in record time.  Then the rain returned.  They went all the way up and then just got slowly carried across the sky for a loooooong way.  We watched them until they were a fleck and finally burnt out .... still without losing height.  We made a video of the one which we sent up for my daughter who moved to CT last week for 6 months of training as part of her chef's qualification.  I naturally cried and convinced myself that she could see the lantern from CT.  Moms do that. 

We spent the rest of the pre-Auld Lang Syne time eating the roasted chicken and veg, finishing the movie and having my splendid multi layered multi coloured jelly and ice-cream (you would have been proud Jess).  With the countdown done, we ran around wishing each other... short run ... only 4 of us .... then settled down with cappuccino and champagne and those sort of "let me try make this year better" thoughts . 

Instead of crashing into New Year, we sort of just slid quietly into 2015.  I missed my BFF as we had a total miscommunication about what to do and in the end it was a bit of a bugger up ...... but given that we are still adjusting to be temporarily one short in our home, sliding in quietly seemed a bit gentler for our hearts. 

Be good to each other, and to yourself .... 

till soon 
c'est la vie