Yesterday we went over to Laurie’s parents’ house for New Year’s Eve. It’s been several years since I have stayed up for the New Year. We mostly just hung out and talked, but we did bring a couple of activities. We fired off some bottle rockets and roman candles in the backyard, which the kids liked.
Mom brought a sugar cone so that we could make some sort of mulled wine that involves pouring rum on top of the sugar cone while it’s on fire. Mom hadn’t done it before but Laurie’s brother Dan and his girlfriend had, so we let them take charge of the operation. They managed to get it done without setting anything else on fire. They did note they had done it before once with another person who didn’t quite grasp the connection between the ladle of rum and fire, who, having spilled a bit. waved the ladle around while looking at the fire, spreading it around the rest of the area. It was pointed out that you really want a metal ladle, as opposed to plastic (melty) or wood (flammable). It takes a while for the heat to travel up the handle, although it’s something to watch. The bottom of the ladle gets hot enough that it makes the rum boil as it is dipped whcih was interesting.
It was also Laurie’s birthday, complete with a cake and candles, after which we partied until it was the New Year.
Bottle rocket trail