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for us and for the birds.
I'll be taking a break from this website for the holidays, but you know I can't resist the Flickr. If you think you might be the recipient of a little handmade treat from me, don't go snooping around over there! Unless you've got your heart set on ruining the surprise.
I'll be back in January. May the next few weeks be filled with peace and warmth, love and laughter for us all. And may this magic linger throughout the new year...
Cheers!
I love these deer. They're old. Probably as old as I am. Their plastic-y dime store glory pleases me a lot. I swiped them from my parent's Christmas box last weekend. Thanks, Mom.
It's officially winter break. J climbed in bed with me this morning and said, "Thursday is N's day at school, and I'm supposed to be at school, so if we were both at school, you'd have some quiet time, wouldn't you?" Uh huh. No quiet time for me. It's ok. I'm ready for some holiday fun with my family. They seem to be adjusting to this down time quite well already.
Thanks for all the advice on the camera. I *think* after your help and a call to the Canon help line, that I have narrowed it down to the card reader. Thankfully, that's the cheapest problem to remedy. Woo hoo!
After tomorrow I'll be signing off for the holidays. (It appears that I changed my mind about keeping quiet this week...)
of ice on the drive. This photo makes me a little woozy, but somehow I still like it.
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OK, my camera/photo savy friends. I need your help: You know I use a Canon Rebel XT, right? Lately, about half of the photographs have been unreadable by iPhoto. It says they are corrupt files. And I have to reformat my cf card all of the time to get it to work in the camera. Please, please, please tell me this sounds like a cf card or a card reader problem... anyone? anyone? Just not my beloved camera.
Evie, Abby and Kora. These ladies are headed to their homes here in Kansas City now.
I think I'll just post photographs this week, so I can finish up my handmade gifts.
Merry Monday!
To me, this isn't the right forum for discussing religion. In my little corner of the internet I'd rather celebrate our common goals and interests without alienating anyone. With that said, you may have figured out that we're not particularly religious. BUT I so admire those of you with strong faith and tradition, and we've been slowly trying to create some rituals and traditions that work for our little family.
I decided we should try a special dinner on Saint Lucia Day. This feast day falls on one of our darkest days of the year, and honoring this part of our season by coming together over the warmth of a big meal and candlelight feels right. St. Lucia was said to be kind, devoted, and generous. This is, of course, a hugely simplified description, but those are attributes we can all value, no matter our religious persuasion.
I had a vision of us sitting down enjoying the evening, all relaxed and twinkly, and it went a decidedly different direction: one child moaned about a tummy ache, one fidgeted and complained, there were two unavoidable phone calls regarding the buying and selling of used cars. In the end we did eat a nice meal of veggie chili with all the fixings, fruit, and a pretty loaf of St. Lucia bread. So all in all, it wasn't terrible. I think it's a tradition we can grow into; I just need to set aside my grand expectations.
p.s. Lovely weekending to you all.
I am remembering this from yesterday:
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It's eerily quiet. The power has been off for a couple hours and the house is as still as it's ever been. I'm under a blanket on the couch, and I finish up as much of the crossword puzzle as I'm going to finish. I get up to look for something to eat. Not even bothering with a plate, I lean over the sink and eat a cold, leftover cheese and chicken quesadilla. It tastes really good. I stare out the window at the ice. It is so amazing. The icicles hang down off the trees like tinsel, off the power lines like party decorations. I cut a piece of gingerbread and eat it too. I look at the crumbs in the sink. Pouring some not-quite-cold milk, I realize there's a hum to home that disappears when the electricity goes off. I can hear the milk slosh into the glass. I can hear myself think.
I go upstairs to wake up my daughter. She's a light sleeper and usually sits straight up when I open her door. But the silence and the warmth of her down comforter has gotten the better of her. She's out. I sit on the edge of the bed for several minutes, studying the tiny veins in her closed eyelids, listening to the her rhythmic breathing. Suddenly she's a baby again. I see it in her face. I stroke her cheek and she opens her eyes and smiles. Hello, sweetheart. I carry her downstairs with her head on my shoulder and quietly get her ready to go pickup the big kids. We open the garage door and the noise and cold flood in.
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Do you ever have little bits of time like this? Everyday moments that are intensely enjoyable. Time slowed down and I could feel each second pass. We've been so busy fussing over things like auto loans, interest rates and origination fees. Power outages, food spoilage, tree limbs. Yet these few minutes of total calm were meaningful to me. I felt content.
I know you've got to be tired of seeing ice photos, but I couldn't help it. The sun came out and made everything sparkly. Yet when I lifted up the camera to capture what I saw, I couldn't! It's like taking pictures of the Grand Canyon. Sometimes you just can't get the scale and beauty of nature on film. (or cf card in this case.)
Tonight I'm making a special St. Lucia dinner- something I'm inventing as I go. We're going to eat by candlelight. The power was only out for a few hours, so candlelight has not worn out its welcome here. I hope to be able to share with you tomorrow.
Take good care.
It's ice storming here. Our temps have been hovering just above 32ยบ F, so for us it's been mostly rain. Some of our neighbors to the north have not been as lucky. Stay home, local friends. Feels like a good day to "call in tired" to me.
I had a bad day yesterday filled with nasty things like multiple furnace repair men, a cut knuckle and several band-aids, a demanding toddler, a mechanic who utters the forbidden T word about my dead station wagon. Sigh.
BUT school has been canceled today. We're all still in our jammies, except for poor daddy- be careful, Brian. We love you- and we've made plans to paint gift tags and bake gingerbread. And sit at the window to listen for the smoosh of big chunks of slushy ice falling and not the much scarier crack of tree limbs. (knock, knock, knock on this pressed wood substance that is the top of my desk.) Today may just redeem yesterday.
Stay safe and warm. Please.
It is warm and cozy in here. One kid is off at school (feeling fine but with a secret stash of cough drops in his pocket.) The other is at nursery school. I have an egg and sharp cheddar cheese sandwich, a hot cup of coffee, baby doll hand-sewing in front of me.
and it's snowing.
I'm calling it good for the week. Happy weekend, my friends.
gave up on the rick rack, but it'll do for now.
at least everyone looks better by candlelight, right?
These young ladies are leaving me today.
Left to right: Annie is off to Virginia. Elsa is going to Virginia as well. Liesl is headed all the way to New Zealand. And little Sarah is going to Washington.
Safe travels, little sweeties. May the postal system be kind to you.
