Gatot's daily routine involves a lot of foraging, which he has now become very skilled at. His diet varies according to the numerous different fruits available to him. He also likes to eat food given to him by the keepers, such as sweet potatoes.
This month we've celebrated Penguin Awareness and Polka Dots, as well as a mention for National Bagel Day. But in the midst of the fun and the silly, January holds a very serious day, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Usually Buttercupland is a place for light topics, some information and photographs, but today we remember those murdered during the Holocaust. May their memories for for blessings.
Today also marks the eightieth liberation of Auschwitz by Russian troops. Between its establishment in 1940 in German-occupied Poland and its liberation, about 1.1 million people were killed there. This includes about a million Jews, and this was only one of a number of concentration camps established during World War II.
All four of my grandparents came to America from Eastern Europe before the First World War, but a lot of their family stayed in what was then Poland and Russia and now Ukraine and Belarus. My paternal grandmother came to America with my grandfather in 1918 and her family stayed in Russia. Excluding a few cousins, all of her family was killed. She never spoke of the family left behind and I, sadly, never asked any questions. Many years after her death in 1975 my aunt shared the few photographs of my grandmother's siblings that had been sent to her before the war. I was struck by how much her brother Leo and my father resembled each other. I've had no luck discovering what happened to my family, but today has made me begin to search again for the history of my lost family.
For all the lost families: we must remember, so they will not be forgotten.
As ever, thanks for visiting. Always appreciate your visits.
My rules for No Spending January are simple, no buying things. I can still buy groceries, tickets and household supplies, like the paper towels I need to buy this week. I am making a few exceptions to my rule. If I happen to find the holiday tissue paper I'd like for next year, it will go in my cart. So far there's no half-price tissue paper anywhere in New York City, but I'm still on the lookout.
As in the past, I'm tracking my spending when I do spend in January. I spent $2.26 this morning for two greeting cards using my $2.00 discount at CVS. I also spent $25.00 on a gift. I'm optimistic that $27.26 will be the extent of my spending for January.
Anyone else joining me in No Spending January?
I got my walk in this morning and looking forward to seeing friends this evening to celebrate Chanukah. Chanukah will officially be over at sundown, but our scheduling deferred to those who are still working. I'm also pleased to be blogging two days in a row. I've been a haphazard blogger and definitely glad to be less haphazard (so far) in 2025.
As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.
New York City New Yorker, writer, blogger, coffee drinker, traveler. Love to read, especially mysteries. I most my enjoy coffee time with friends.
Sign up with your email address to receive the latest updates straight in your inbox.