Radically Retired

NYE from Our Back Yard

Written by

Terry

in

The fireworks in our area of deep south Texas start on Christmas Eve and continue every night, with a few small bursts, until the grand finale on New Year’s Eve.

We can watch them from our back yard and if I take a walk around the yard, we’re surrounded by fireworks in all of the nearby neighbourhoods.

After the massive midnight display, the pops and big bangs continue until around 3 am and because our houses aren’t insulated and our roofs are mostly metal, sometimes a particularly loud pop nearby can sound like it’s directly over our roof or even in an adjacent room.

This was a completely foreign custom to us when we first started wintering here, but after six years, we’ve grown accustomed to it and actually look forward to it, even if it means a mostly sleepless night … thus, my late post today.

As is my custom, on New Year’s Day, I pop open a bottle of prosecco after lunch, and toast the new year with a mimosa.

Cheers to 2026, and with the new year, I look forward to positive changes in my life, and in the world at large.

I wish all of you health and happiness in the coming year!

Comments

30 responses to “NYE from Our Back Yard”

  1. Claire Avatar
    Claire

    Happy new year to you, there are fireworks here from the start of November (bonfire night is 5th November) right through until New Year. Living close to a park and the river there’s always some to see and hear and they get loaded every year ! It’s always a blessing when they eventually finish and the night is peaceful again.

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      Wow! I thought south Texas was the only place in the world that did this, lol. Happy New year to you too, Claire!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. A Creative Spirit Avatar
    A Creative Spirit

    A belated ‘Happy New Year’, Terry. You look like you had a nosiy, festive one with all the fireworks. What is a mimosa?

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      Thanks, Carole and Happy New Year to you too. A mimosa is a cocktail that is typically served with breakfast or brunch on special occasions. Fill a champagne flute or a slim wine glass 3/4 full with champagne or prosecco (I prefer the latter) and top off the glass with real orange juice. Have a great day!

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      1. A Creative Spirit Avatar
        A Creative Spirit

        Ah, okay. I’d never heard it called a mimosa. we call it Buck’s Fizz.

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      2. Terry Avatar
        Terry

        That’s a cool name too, Carole!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Charla Avatar
    Charla

    Happy New Year! I wish for you a very happy and healthy year. Fireworks until 3:00 a.m.? That must have been quite the show. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      We only watch until the big midnight display. From then on, we just listen to them from indoors. Happy New Year to you too, Charla!

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  4. explorenewness Avatar
    explorenewness

    Cheers! Happy New Year to you and yours!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      Thanks, Lenore and to you and yours as well!

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  5. Phil Strawn Avatar
    Phil Strawn

    No fireworks this year, Momo and I are in Colorado Springs, and it’s as warm as Fort Worth. Be wary of fireworks in that part of Texas, folks like to shoot their automatic weapons in the air along with their bottle rockets. A bullet goes up…it must come down.

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      Interesting you should mention that, Phil … because off in the distance, we heard what we thought were automatic weapons, but we weren’t sure. This was the first year we heard that. It wasn’t often, but it was eerily there.

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      1. Phil Strawn Avatar
        Phil Strawn

        We hear it every new year and fourth of july. We stay inside.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Forestwood Avatar
    Forestwood

    Cheers! I love Prosecco – especially the Italian varietals.

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      I like it better in mimosas than regular champagne, Amanda … and yes, the Italian varieties are especially good! Cheers to you too! 🥂

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      1. Forestwood Avatar
        Forestwood

        Ah Mimosas, that reminds me of my recent train journey. Lots of mimosa with a strawberry garnish in the lounge car. Nice…

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Terry Avatar
        Terry

        That sounds like a nice train indeed 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Forestwood Avatar
        Forestwood

        One of the few long-distance trains to have the dining and lounge car experience left in Australia. Sadly… do you have that sort of experience over your way?

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Terry Avatar
        Terry

        There are still passenger trains that travel all across Canada, Amanda … but those are tour trains.

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      5. Forestwood Avatar
        Forestwood

        Tour trains? So they have a dining car or do you dine at your seat?

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Terry Avatar
        Terry

        Via Rail – The one that does the Canadian tour, is complete with sleeper cars, dining cars, and bar cars.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Forestwood Avatar
        Forestwood

        Fantastic

        Liked by 1 person

      8. Terry Avatar
        Terry

        I rode a Via rail train many years ago, and it was wonderful back then. It’s not getting very good reviews now though, Amanda. As with almost everything these days, customer service seems to be the biggest bugbear.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Forestwood Avatar
        Forestwood

        Isn’t that a shame that the Via Rail train doesn’t have a great reputation? The 2 or 3 remaining dining car rail experiences here seems the opposite, everyone is really impressed with the service. The staff are deeply committed and passionate train buffs I think. But they are the last 3 left running as I said earlier, and very expensive. I guess the costs are too high for many people when comparing it with air travel tickets.

        Liked by 1 person

      10. Terry Avatar
        Terry

        No doubt, price is a factor in Canada too. If one is paying for luxury, one would expect exemplary service along with it. Very good point, Amanda and good on Australia for providing that.

        Liked by 1 person

      11. Forestwood Avatar
        Forestwood

        It doesn’t always happen that way, but at least in a couple of areas, it does.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Betty Avatar
    Betty

    Thank you! Happy New Year, Terry! But I am glad I don’t have to listen to fireworks until 3 am!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      Even though it’s fun, I have to admit that I’m happy it’s for one night only for the 3am stuff 🥱 Happy New Year to you too, Betty!

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  8. annemariedemyen Avatar
    annemariedemyen

    That sounds exciting – but definitely too much excitement for Molly!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Terry Avatar
      Terry

      I get that, Anne. Dogs in general in our park don’t do well on these nights. Lots of people skip the group celebration in order to stay home and comfort their pets.

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