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Although we cannot attend country auctions during a pandemic, we can watch them online, and thereby learn that the one thing missing from our lives has been a Victorian silver string holder, made in London in 1889 by one Stuart Clifford. At least until the next auction, we want for nothing — a ball of string was included.

Sarah had a day of remote school on Friday, which gave us a three-day weekend at the farm. Here’s the full moon Friday evening above the cottage, my office away from the office.

Doing our best to beat back the relentless tide that is the Rancho Gordo Bean Club, we made a big pot of bean chili for Saturday night.

Here is Sarah, on Valentine’s Day, under the blanket she is crocheting. When not making face masks, bucket hats, or blankets, she has been creating stuffed animals. Sarah made a gift of a crocheted octopus to outdoor visitor Hugh Anthony, 18 months. It was missing a leg — making it a septapus — but Hugh seemed happy with it.

The pineapple is an old symbol of hospitality, but there is very little in the way of hospitality we can offer during a pandemic. Still we are flying the flag, and looking forward to better days when we can complain about house guests.

Daisy received this rain slicker for Christmas. She looks like the Gorton’s fisherman.

Even with two feet of snow forecast in New York, Brearley declared a day of remote learning rather than a proper snow day. Still, Sarah seemed to have a pretty light schedule. She received what are known as “asynchronous” assignments, such as go outside and play with your dog.

New Year’s Eve was, inevitably, a quiet affair. Jen made a lovely dinner of salmon in a mustard sauce, while I made, for consumption New Year’s Day, Hopping John. We stayed up until midnight listening to music and, in Sarah’s case, crocheting. We are all hoping that 2021 will bring better times.

We had a small but mighty Christmas, with a perfectly sized tree-for-three, which Sarah named Leroy. We had many presents, a Zoom call with the Burleighs, and a cassoulet dinner.

The night before, Sarah made gingerbread cookies.

When it came time to decorate them, everyone got involved.

Daisy had a particularly successful holiday, receiving, in addition to these matching Xmas pajamas, a treat-finding game, a yellow slicker, and this antler, which is no longer with us.

It was a great holiday for all.

Rhinebeck sunsets have been killing it lately. We had this one just before returning to New York Sunday afternoon.

I was very quiet in the back seat.