The holidays get me down

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Above is my mama's children together with her in happier times.
We just lost Mama's baby (by the first marriage) so here is what is left
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Of my daddy's children, there is now only Claudelle, me and Linda.
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Claudelle is now 91.

So John had been ill for sometime, and we just lost him about a month ago

(↑Image from a cruise ship)

John R. Tippins, “Tip”, age 86, of Dartmouth and formerly of Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at St. Anne’s Hospital. He was the husband of Jeannine B. (Couture) Tippins, to whom he had been married for 66 years.

Born in Daisy, Georgia, he was the son of the late Loren and Margaret (Greene) Tippins.

A proud Veteran of the United States Air Force, John received an associate’s degree from Fisher Junior College. He worked as an Automotive Repairman for 50 years before retiring in 1999. Throughout his extensive career, he worked for several companies including Empire Chevrolet, Bristol County Dodge and Tips Arco Gas Station.

A former Deacon at Antioch Church in Georgia, John enjoyed gardening, especially planting flowers, woodworking and above all else, spending time with his family and playing with his great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife, John is survived by three children, Michael Tippins and his wife Nancy of Mattapoisett, Jeffrey Tippins and his wife Kate of Assonet, and Melanie Beatini and her husband Lou of Woonsocket; two siblings, Jerry Smith of Mableton, GA, and Linda Smith of Claxton, GA; five grandchildren, Allyson Provost and her husband John, Nicole Serio, Michael Tippins, Jr., Christopher Tippins and fiancé Caity Palomba, and Eric Tippins; two great-grandchildren, Eva and Lorelei as well as many nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Karen Serio and brother of the late Jim Tippins and Nancy Lewis.

So what do I do when I'm down?
A. I cook, and
B. I drink
Last week I used a new Sous Vide to cook an almost 3 lb bottom round: it took almost 35 hrs
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at 130-140° F
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The meat was delicious, tender but a little drier than I'd thought, not dry tho.
This was the meal I served to my neighbors and myself
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Beets, Roast, Baby Lima beans, and gravy from the roast.
Now I'm still fighting depression as I do every year at this time.
I do not like crowded rooms, even if they are family, I don't like darking bogs, I mean Barking Dogs (or crying babies for that matter)... so I am content for now to sit at home and eat too much food and drink to much wine