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| Bonnie and Marcus Opening Christmas presents |
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| My two grown up guys, Will and Tom |
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| Day teaching Elena how to do Punch Needle, Day's newest craft. The flower in the foreground was made by Elena |
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| Sweet Nathan |
Monday, December 30, 2019
Virginia Part 2
Christmas in Georgia and Virginia
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| Bob and Jocelyn |
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| Carlene opening her new iPad |
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| Carlene, Jocelyn, Bob and Micah |
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| One of the highlights of Virginia, all of us taking turns riding around in Jackson's new BMW |
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| He's so proud of his new car--which he's working on for participating in Drift events |
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| Will, Day, Carlene, and Bonnie |
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| Day's newest quilt-in-progress All houses--I love it! |
Monday, December 23, 2019
December 23
Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, and Merry Christmas to all my friends and family!
Kasia, the Polish/British teacher of one of the Wanderlust classes, advised making a list of every gift of 2019--which I think is a good idea. "What are the gifts of the past year? And what do you want to take forward into 2020?"
Two unexpected gifts of December 23rd:
My Uber driver in San Antonio was uniquely charming and colorful. He drove a red car, wore black and white shoes a red vest, a bow tie, and a white suit with green bling. He gave me his number so I can call him directly for future airport runs. Meeting him in his Christmas attire (at 4 a.m) was a wonderful way to start this trip!
On his rearview mirror hung a string of Christmas lights and a turquoise rosary.
My Atlanta Uber driver, Jeremy Ford, has just completed his master's degree in communications at Morehouse College. He's produced a documentary, funded by Sundance, called "Nana's Kitchen" (currently showing in the African American Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.) about his grandmother's cooking and the history of soul food.
Kasia, the Polish/British teacher of one of the Wanderlust classes, advised making a list of every gift of 2019--which I think is a good idea. "What are the gifts of the past year? And what do you want to take forward into 2020?"
Two unexpected gifts of December 23rd:
My Uber driver in San Antonio was uniquely charming and colorful. He drove a red car, wore black and white shoes a red vest, a bow tie, and a white suit with green bling. He gave me his number so I can call him directly for future airport runs. Meeting him in his Christmas attire (at 4 a.m) was a wonderful way to start this trip!
On his rearview mirror hung a string of Christmas lights and a turquoise rosary.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Moonstruck
In 1987, when Cher starred in Moonstruck, the Twin Towers still shone in the light of the big moon.
It's a bit eery to see them as they were, knowing now what we know in their absence, the day the world as we knew it changed.
Travelers didn't go through security at airports in 1987. They carry bulky suitcases and walk right up to the gates. Friends and family sit with travelers sometimes, as mine did, when we tearfully parted and euphorically greeted each other on arrival.
I loved this movie when I saw it in 1987, still do all these years later--but I hadn't seen it in the intervening years. Loretta and her Italian family and friends believed in good luck and bad luck. They mostly told each other the truth--even if belatedly in one or two cases. And when the moon hit the sky like a big pizza pie, we all know that spelled amore.
"Do you love him?" Loretta's mother asked her when she fell in love with Ronny, the younger brother of her fiancé.
"I love him awful!" she replied.
When the mother asked the same question earlier, when Loretta announced that she was betrothed to the older brother, Loretta simply said, "No."
"That's good," her mother said. "It works out better when you don't love them."
It's a bit eery to see them as they were, knowing now what we know in their absence, the day the world as we knew it changed.
Travelers didn't go through security at airports in 1987. They carry bulky suitcases and walk right up to the gates. Friends and family sit with travelers sometimes, as mine did, when we tearfully parted and euphorically greeted each other on arrival.
I loved this movie when I saw it in 1987, still do all these years later--but I hadn't seen it in the intervening years. Loretta and her Italian family and friends believed in good luck and bad luck. They mostly told each other the truth--even if belatedly in one or two cases. And when the moon hit the sky like a big pizza pie, we all know that spelled amore.
"Do you love him?" Loretta's mother asked her when she fell in love with Ronny, the younger brother of her fiancé.
"I love him awful!" she replied.
When the mother asked the same question earlier, when Loretta announced that she was betrothed to the older brother, Loretta simply said, "No."
"That's good," her mother said. "It works out better when you don't love them."
Friday, December 20, 2019
What We Want
What we want
is never simple.
We move among the things
we thought we wanted:
a face, a room, an open book
and these things bear our names--
now they want us.
But what we want appears
in dreams, wearing disguises.
We fall past,
holding out our arms
and in the morning
our arms ache.
We don't remember the dream,
but the dream remembers us.
It is there all day
as an animal is there
under the table,
as the stars are there
even in full sun.
Linda Pastan
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Extroverts and Introverts
At breakfast at Supper, Kate and Charlotte and I were talking about the differences between the two. An extrovert--like Kate--is energized by parties and people, though she does like her solitary time. Charlotte and I are both card-carrying introverts, though we enjoy people, too, just not too many at one time.
If I hear the word, party, I shrink with dread--as all card-carrying introverts probably do. I know--from 71 years of experience-- that my mode a la party is to find one or two people to talk to. But when the entire group is gathered around a table or seated in a conversational circle, I'm likely not to contribute a single conversational gem or joke.
I like gatherings--like writing group--in which there's something to do besides talking. I feel I can pretty much hold my own if we're talking about what we're writing, but when the conversation slides to other topics, I'm perfectly happy listening.
In my family, Carlene and Will are extroverts, the life-of-the-party variety. They can jump right in in any crowd and tell funny stories and make conversation with twenty people at once. Elena is an extrovert. When she found out that other kids got to school half an hour earlier than she did, she insisted on getting up early so as not to miss a single potential new friend.
To the prospect of trying to be a party girl of that sort, Charlotte said, "Just give me a stick in the eye!" I feel exactly the same.
A guest list of four or five people who know each other well--that's a whole other kettle of fish, small enough not to be scary.
I always wanted to be one of those life-of-the-party types. Extroversion seems favored over introversion in our culture. But at some point, it's futile to try to be anyone but who we are, some innies, some outies, and some able to flex comfortably back and forth.
If I hear the word, party, I shrink with dread--as all card-carrying introverts probably do. I know--from 71 years of experience-- that my mode a la party is to find one or two people to talk to. But when the entire group is gathered around a table or seated in a conversational circle, I'm likely not to contribute a single conversational gem or joke.
I like gatherings--like writing group--in which there's something to do besides talking. I feel I can pretty much hold my own if we're talking about what we're writing, but when the conversation slides to other topics, I'm perfectly happy listening.
In my family, Carlene and Will are extroverts, the life-of-the-party variety. They can jump right in in any crowd and tell funny stories and make conversation with twenty people at once. Elena is an extrovert. When she found out that other kids got to school half an hour earlier than she did, she insisted on getting up early so as not to miss a single potential new friend.
To the prospect of trying to be a party girl of that sort, Charlotte said, "Just give me a stick in the eye!" I feel exactly the same.
A guest list of four or five people who know each other well--that's a whole other kettle of fish, small enough not to be scary.
I always wanted to be one of those life-of-the-party types. Extroversion seems favored over introversion in our culture. But at some point, it's futile to try to be anyone but who we are, some innies, some outies, and some able to flex comfortably back and forth.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Typed Stories
The typewriter has become a bargaining chip: Both kids love typing so much that they'll do whatever they are asked to do so that they can get on to the keyboard!
Tuesday Night
The traffic was thick between my house and Helotes, my former hometown. I was twenty minutes late, but only missed the opening song of the Christmas pageant. The cafeteria stage was full of elves and reindeer and one jolly Santa, the second graders singing along the rim of the stage. Cameras and cell phones were flashing. Parents and grandparents beamed.
Coincidentally, this was also the 78th birthday of my children's dad, so we all went to El Chaparral together for dinner after the pageant.
What used to feel strained between us has ironed itself out enough that we can share a table. As he told about our early days in Helotes, I chimed in from time to time, a story duet. Yes, Helotes was a two-lane road back then, no stores to speak of outside Loop 410. Yes, the Cornyval was a tiny little street fair back then, not a huge fair drawing thousands. Yes, there was that time when such and such happened. Facts all.
It was, after all, many years ago that we were still married, still frozen in a dance that never worked. Now we share children and grandchildren, seldom at the same time, and well-worn-from-the-telling memories.
I was kind of bittersweet-happy driving home, that for the sake of our shared children and grands, we pulled off a shared birthday meal, at opposite ends of the table. It hasn't always been that way.
Coincidentally, this was also the 78th birthday of my children's dad, so we all went to El Chaparral together for dinner after the pageant.
What used to feel strained between us has ironed itself out enough that we can share a table. As he told about our early days in Helotes, I chimed in from time to time, a story duet. Yes, Helotes was a two-lane road back then, no stores to speak of outside Loop 410. Yes, the Cornyval was a tiny little street fair back then, not a huge fair drawing thousands. Yes, there was that time when such and such happened. Facts all.
It was, after all, many years ago that we were still married, still frozen in a dance that never worked. Now we share children and grandchildren, seldom at the same time, and well-worn-from-the-telling memories.
I was kind of bittersweet-happy driving home, that for the sake of our shared children and grands, we pulled off a shared birthday meal, at opposite ends of the table. It hasn't always been that way.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Sunday, December 15, 2019
We had Christmas lunch on the porch--what a beautiful day!
Our kids played with Kate's kids, then we opened presents. Seldom does a giver of a gift get such an enthusiastic response as I got with the vintage typewriter and table. Elena screeched and jumped up and down and started typing right away. Her first words: "Best Day Ever!"
Nathan is more moderate in his response and wasn't off-the-charts thrilled with his books--but he liked his Legos and put two whole sets together during the rest of the afternoon. Watching his sister jump up and down, he said, "Girls are nuts!"
Pam came by for a visit--as did Kate and Jan and the boys. Will and Veronica learned so much from Kate--who lived in Japan for five years. They now have a better sense of what they want to do this summer when they go there for two weeks.
All around, I couldn't have had a better first-Christmas of 2019.
Our kids played with Kate's kids, then we opened presents. Seldom does a giver of a gift get such an enthusiastic response as I got with the vintage typewriter and table. Elena screeched and jumped up and down and started typing right away. Her first words: "Best Day Ever!"
Nathan is more moderate in his response and wasn't off-the-charts thrilled with his books--but he liked his Legos and put two whole sets together during the rest of the afternoon. Watching his sister jump up and down, he said, "Girls are nuts!"
Pam came by for a visit--as did Kate and Jan and the boys. Will and Veronica learned so much from Kate--who lived in Japan for five years. They now have a better sense of what they want to do this summer when they go there for two weeks.
All around, I couldn't have had a better first-Christmas of 2019.
Tell Me Who I Am (Netflix)
A documentary about twin boys, now men, one of whom lost his memory in a tragic motorcycle accident at the age of 18.
In trying to protect his twin, one of the boys held back the haunting truths of their childhood. In telling his brother happy stories about their life before the accident, he, himself, almost came to believe those made-up stories were true.
This is a riveting true story--about truth and truth-telling and the old adage that the truth, even when it's horrible, can make people free, hard as it is to tell, hard as it is to hear.
In trying to protect his twin, one of the boys held back the haunting truths of their childhood. In telling his brother happy stories about their life before the accident, he, himself, almost came to believe those made-up stories were true.
This is a riveting true story--about truth and truth-telling and the old adage that the truth, even when it's horrible, can make people free, hard as it is to tell, hard as it is to hear.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
My Christmas Eve trip #3 to Central Market
Tomorrow is Christmas at my house--an early Christmas for the Helotes bunch and me. It it's as warm and beautiful as it was today, we will eat lunch on the porch. I've already hopefully covered the table with a rose table cloth.
The first trip this morning was to get the pecan pie for Nathan and ingredients for poppy seed chicken, one of his favorites.
The second trip was to get the things I forgot--as was the third, because my menu changed a bit and I decided to make a pea salad.
On the final trip, they were giving samples of everything from apple cider to sausage to salads. I love Central Market, I do. It makes me feel festive to just walk in the door. The smells, the music, the samples, the people.
Here's Maple Roasted Sweet Potato and Pear Salad Boats--which I had to run all around the store to find ingredients for:
2 sweet potatoes, easy peasy
2-4 pears, cored and diced--also easy, as she told me she uses Bosc pears
1 finely chopped shallot
Vinegar--sherry, white condiment, rose champagne, etc. (This took a while, but I settled on white with herbs)
Extra virgin olive oil. (Another customer and I agreed that the one in the white bottle was amazing, so I spent--for the first time ever--$18 on a bottle of it and it's going to be my daily ingredient on everything.)
TREES KNEES SPICY MAPLE SYRUP: Whoever heard of spicy syrup--but it is absolutely delicious.
salt and pepper
For serving: Fresh Belgian Endive. (again, first time purchase) individual leaves washed and dried
and about 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts.
Optional: Plain Ellenos Greek Yogurt (which I didn't get)
Toss the potatoes with olive oil, shallot, salt and pepper. Spread out on parchment paper in a pan. Drizzle with syrup and roast until tender.
Toss the pear with vinegar and season and set aside.
When the potatoes are done, allow them to cool a bit before tossing with the pears. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
To serve: spoon salad into individual endive leaves and arrange on a serving platter. If using yogurt, put some of that on top of each boat and garnish with walnuts.
The first trip this morning was to get the pecan pie for Nathan and ingredients for poppy seed chicken, one of his favorites.
The second trip was to get the things I forgot--as was the third, because my menu changed a bit and I decided to make a pea salad.
On the final trip, they were giving samples of everything from apple cider to sausage to salads. I love Central Market, I do. It makes me feel festive to just walk in the door. The smells, the music, the samples, the people.
Here's Maple Roasted Sweet Potato and Pear Salad Boats--which I had to run all around the store to find ingredients for:
2 sweet potatoes, easy peasy
2-4 pears, cored and diced--also easy, as she told me she uses Bosc pears
1 finely chopped shallot
Vinegar--sherry, white condiment, rose champagne, etc. (This took a while, but I settled on white with herbs)
Extra virgin olive oil. (Another customer and I agreed that the one in the white bottle was amazing, so I spent--for the first time ever--$18 on a bottle of it and it's going to be my daily ingredient on everything.)
TREES KNEES SPICY MAPLE SYRUP: Whoever heard of spicy syrup--but it is absolutely delicious.
salt and pepper
For serving: Fresh Belgian Endive. (again, first time purchase) individual leaves washed and dried
and about 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts.
Optional: Plain Ellenos Greek Yogurt (which I didn't get)
Toss the potatoes with olive oil, shallot, salt and pepper. Spread out on parchment paper in a pan. Drizzle with syrup and roast until tender.
Toss the pear with vinegar and season and set aside.
When the potatoes are done, allow them to cool a bit before tossing with the pears. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
To serve: spoon salad into individual endive leaves and arrange on a serving platter. If using yogurt, put some of that on top of each boat and garnish with walnuts.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Friday the 13th
We have a tradition in our family of calling each other on our birthdays, and yesterday was my sweetest-ever son-in-law's 50th!
I just woke up to a thank-you-for-the gift text from Tom and realized I had snoozed during the dinner hour and didn't wake up til 2:00. What? It's not December 12th anymore? I missed it?
The second thought: "Where is it?"--the "it" being the pain in my legs that has woken me at two in the morning for weeks. So I get to bypass the middle-of-the-night hot pad and pills. Yay!
My very-young orthopedist, Dr. Skunda, had given me a cortisone shot in each knee--and had advised me not to take the oral steroids awaiting pick-up at Central Market. "These go straight into the knee where you need them," he said--as I was making appropriate sound effects at the intrusion of a needle in the knee.
I asked if I could have copies of the x-rays he had on the screen, so now I have some photos I might use on my annual Christmas cards, if I did annual Christmas cards!
I also asked, "If I had been more athletic in my youth, might I have prevented this?"
Actually, he said, some athletics are hard on the knees and contribute to arthritis, so no. It's genetic, apparently, or random, who knows? Whatever it is, it's temporarily silenced and I can gratefully get on with the holidays!
After the shots, I was woozy. Pam offered to pick me up but instead I met her at Dry Dock for yummy fried shrimp, then came home and fell asleep. I'm new to Dry Dock, but plan on being a regular. My taste buds pronounced it way better than Sea Island and other local shrimperies.
I just woke up to a thank-you-for-the gift text from Tom and realized I had snoozed during the dinner hour and didn't wake up til 2:00. What? It's not December 12th anymore? I missed it?
The second thought: "Where is it?"--the "it" being the pain in my legs that has woken me at two in the morning for weeks. So I get to bypass the middle-of-the-night hot pad and pills. Yay!
My very-young orthopedist, Dr. Skunda, had given me a cortisone shot in each knee--and had advised me not to take the oral steroids awaiting pick-up at Central Market. "These go straight into the knee where you need them," he said--as I was making appropriate sound effects at the intrusion of a needle in the knee.
I asked if I could have copies of the x-rays he had on the screen, so now I have some photos I might use on my annual Christmas cards, if I did annual Christmas cards!
I also asked, "If I had been more athletic in my youth, might I have prevented this?"
Actually, he said, some athletics are hard on the knees and contribute to arthritis, so no. It's genetic, apparently, or random, who knows? Whatever it is, it's temporarily silenced and I can gratefully get on with the holidays!
After the shots, I was woozy. Pam offered to pick me up but instead I met her at Dry Dock for yummy fried shrimp, then came home and fell asleep. I'm new to Dry Dock, but plan on being a regular. My taste buds pronounced it way better than Sea Island and other local shrimperies.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Tuesday
Just got back from a band concert at Garcia Middle School--where our little drummer boy, Nathan, played Christmas music in the concert band.
Still Making Things
Some things I make are disappointments. The size or scale is wrong, the paper is wrong, or the design is unremarkable. Or all three.... plus Je Ne Sais Pas.
And yet, I keep going. I paint over or throw away. I'm the only judge and jury in this house. Failures are inevitable, but punishment is inconsequential.
Thomas Edison said, "I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
(Not that what I'm creating is on the scale of what Edison did, but still....)
Every idea I've ever woken up in the night planning has been done before and much better than what I could do (yet), but I keep going.
I try again. I puzzle over possibilities when I'm doing other things. I attempt a particular technique over and over in hopes of mastering just this one little bit.
It's exhilarating when a page or a project works out so well that you, yourself, the creator of it, want to look at it when you get up in the middle of the night.
Overall, the best part--probably so in any endeavor--is not the product but the process, the all-absorbing process of doing and stretching outside a comfort zone and learning for one's own self what works.
And yet, I keep going. I paint over or throw away. I'm the only judge and jury in this house. Failures are inevitable, but punishment is inconsequential.
Thomas Edison said, "I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
(Not that what I'm creating is on the scale of what Edison did, but still....)
Every idea I've ever woken up in the night planning has been done before and much better than what I could do (yet), but I keep going.
I try again. I puzzle over possibilities when I'm doing other things. I attempt a particular technique over and over in hopes of mastering just this one little bit.
It's exhilarating when a page or a project works out so well that you, yourself, the creator of it, want to look at it when you get up in the middle of the night.
Overall, the best part--probably so in any endeavor--is not the product but the process, the all-absorbing process of doing and stretching outside a comfort zone and learning for one's own self what works.
Monday, December 9, 2019
Limited visibility
Thick fog this morning is like natural Gesso, whiting out everything but the Christmas lights in yards and on Broadway, as I drive toward and then down Austin Highway.
The neon orange pegasus atop a shop at the corner of Broadway and Austin Highway. White lights draping from trees. Lights starting to come on in houses, people stretching and making breakfast. A few early morning dog walkers.
I hear on NPR that visibility is limited to about a hundred yards and people are advised to leave early for work.
I love this season in San Antonio!
***
Every morning, between 2:15 and 3:15, I wake up with my leg hurting from sciatica (self-diagnosed.) I heat up a heating pad in the microwave, take some pills, and go get my morning caffeine and call Carlene. She's up, I know, because she already sent me an email about how much fun she's having watching these videos I'm sending her.
I'm reading an excellent book Jan gave me--The Portable Veblin--and the heating pad is one she made me years ago. For our gathering at Lorraine's, Jan took a picnic lunch of sandwiches, cut vegetables, chips, and chocolate cake. Lorraine got some good Juba Juices.
We talked about eating more anti-inflammatory foods, so I came home and got out my Vitamix and recipes for green drinks. I went to the all-night Wal-Mart and got spinach and blueberries and almond milk, so I'm all set.
Will and Veronica and Elena went to Dallas this weekend. The daughter of one of Veronica's oldest friends is gravely ill--a fourteen-year-old girl with complications of flu.
While Veronica was sitting with Olivia's mother in ICU, Will and Elena joined Jade--Elena's second cousin who lives in Dallas--for flower girl dress fittings.
The neon orange pegasus atop a shop at the corner of Broadway and Austin Highway. White lights draping from trees. Lights starting to come on in houses, people stretching and making breakfast. A few early morning dog walkers.
I hear on NPR that visibility is limited to about a hundred yards and people are advised to leave early for work.
I love this season in San Antonio!
***
Every morning, between 2:15 and 3:15, I wake up with my leg hurting from sciatica (self-diagnosed.) I heat up a heating pad in the microwave, take some pills, and go get my morning caffeine and call Carlene. She's up, I know, because she already sent me an email about how much fun she's having watching these videos I'm sending her.
I'm reading an excellent book Jan gave me--The Portable Veblin--and the heating pad is one she made me years ago. For our gathering at Lorraine's, Jan took a picnic lunch of sandwiches, cut vegetables, chips, and chocolate cake. Lorraine got some good Juba Juices.
We talked about eating more anti-inflammatory foods, so I came home and got out my Vitamix and recipes for green drinks. I went to the all-night Wal-Mart and got spinach and blueberries and almond milk, so I'm all set.
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| Here is Elena in Dallas, taking notes in her journal of everything she sees. |
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| And here is Marcus, my cherub of a grandson in Virginia at the Falls Church band concert. |
While Veronica was sitting with Olivia's mother in ICU, Will and Elena joined Jade--Elena's second cousin who lives in Dallas--for flower girl dress fittings.
"Creating a Life That Fits Like Skin"
Sherry, a featured blogger on "Sixty and Me," is my friend Diana's friend from their former life in Minnesota.
She leads "Writing for Discovery" workshops and lives in Bali now, and writes blog posts and describes her life in Bali:
https://writingforselfdiscovery.com/author/writingforselfdiscovery/
When women of sixty-plus pick up and move to another country (as Barbel is about to do in moving to The Netherlands), I think: what courage it must take to start over on a new continent.
"Sixty and Me" is a collection of blogs written by women over sixty. Women who are starting over, having adventures, traveling, cooking, making art, performing.
Sherry's blog subtitle: "Creating a Life That Fits Like Skin" is brilliant, I think! Skin fits close to the bone, it covers all manner of unattractive but essential organs, and while it may tighten or loosen under various circumstances, it's rare that it just hangs there with pockets filled with excess stuff. People recognize us by the shape, color, and texture of our skin.
Jan and Lorraine and I had a conversation yesterday about having the courage to say no to things we don't really want to do. On Saturday, Becky and Kara and I had a similar conversation.
As we get older, we really do want our lives to fit like skin instead of flapping around in an oversized calendar box of appointments and duties and obligations.
She leads "Writing for Discovery" workshops and lives in Bali now, and writes blog posts and describes her life in Bali:
https://writingforselfdiscovery.com/author/writingforselfdiscovery/
When women of sixty-plus pick up and move to another country (as Barbel is about to do in moving to The Netherlands), I think: what courage it must take to start over on a new continent.
"Sixty and Me" is a collection of blogs written by women over sixty. Women who are starting over, having adventures, traveling, cooking, making art, performing.
Sherry's blog subtitle: "Creating a Life That Fits Like Skin" is brilliant, I think! Skin fits close to the bone, it covers all manner of unattractive but essential organs, and while it may tighten or loosen under various circumstances, it's rare that it just hangs there with pockets filled with excess stuff. People recognize us by the shape, color, and texture of our skin.
Jan and Lorraine and I had a conversation yesterday about having the courage to say no to things we don't really want to do. On Saturday, Becky and Kara and I had a similar conversation.
As we get older, we really do want our lives to fit like skin instead of flapping around in an oversized calendar box of appointments and duties and obligations.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Happy Happy Kids!
Instead of marbling, we put up the tree and decorated it, strung lights on the fence outside, and Nathan played lively Christmas music on You Tube.
Elena was afraid the elf might be summoned by the lights on the tree and she didn't want to see Elmer. "It will take away the magic if I see him," she said.
They were both so excited--I think Nathan may still be a believer, but if he's not, he covers it well--and with each ornament unpacked, one of them said, "Oh, I remember when...." The word, remember, is what makes Christmas so special for kids as their memories already layer over each other.
Elena was afraid the elf might be summoned by the lights on the tree and she didn't want to see Elmer. "It will take away the magic if I see him," she said.
They were both so excited--I think Nathan may still be a believer, but if he's not, he covers it well--and with each ornament unpacked, one of them said, "Oh, I remember when...." The word, remember, is what makes Christmas so special for kids as their memories already layer over each other.
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| Always dancing |
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| Paco is a year old (as in their house) this Christmas |
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| Elena and her penguin |
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
The New Old Bear
Four or five years ago, a granddaughter wanted to borrow her grandmother's teddy bear, just for a few days. Reluctantly--because the grandmother liked to sleep with her bear--she said yes, of course, sure.
When a grandmother lends a little girl her bear, she doesn't really expect it back.
But sometimes the grandmother misses her big fuzzy bear--as she's always had a fondness for bears and furry company.
So one day last week, the grandmother decided to see if she could track down, say, an identical twin to her former bear. Amazon, for all it's much-publicized faults lately, was able to provide a fat and furry twin, just as cuddly as its predecessor.
Many reviewers admitted that they had adopted the bear for themselves, not for a child. "I am embarrassed to admit it," one said, "But I am seventy-years-old and I got this bear for myself."
Or: "I got one for my grandson and it was so adorable I had to order a second one, for me!"
The grandmother pressed the "Place order" button and then forgot about it.
On Sunday, she was feeling lonesome and a little bit blue. When a box was delivered in the afternoon, she said out loud, "Wonder what that could be?'
She opened the box, and to her delight, this little guy was inside!
Afraid she might be unable to get attached to a substitute bear, the grandmother left his tag on his ear until today, in case she decided to send him back.
After an afternoon watching "The Crown" together, the grandmother has decided that furry old Winston isn't going anywhere.
When a grandmother lends a little girl her bear, she doesn't really expect it back.
But sometimes the grandmother misses her big fuzzy bear--as she's always had a fondness for bears and furry company.
So one day last week, the grandmother decided to see if she could track down, say, an identical twin to her former bear. Amazon, for all it's much-publicized faults lately, was able to provide a fat and furry twin, just as cuddly as its predecessor.
Many reviewers admitted that they had adopted the bear for themselves, not for a child. "I am embarrassed to admit it," one said, "But I am seventy-years-old and I got this bear for myself."
Or: "I got one for my grandson and it was so adorable I had to order a second one, for me!"
The grandmother pressed the "Place order" button and then forgot about it.
On Sunday, she was feeling lonesome and a little bit blue. When a box was delivered in the afternoon, she said out loud, "Wonder what that could be?'
She opened the box, and to her delight, this little guy was inside!
Afraid she might be unable to get attached to a substitute bear, the grandmother left his tag on his ear until today, in case she decided to send him back.
After an afternoon watching "The Crown" together, the grandmother has decided that furry old Winston isn't going anywhere.
Marbling With Joy
It's been a beautiful day in the neighborhood--with Joy here making marbled papers together, having lunch on the porch as leaves fluttered around us.
We tried two methods of marbling and chose Joggle's Easy Marble as the simplest. Here's Joy setting up our first pour using starch and paint:
And here is the result of her first marbling--a round cocoa can:
Here are a couple of half-circle pages I made early this morning:
I'm settled in for the night finishing Season 1 of The Crown on Netflix--such a good series.
We tried two methods of marbling and chose Joggle's Easy Marble as the simplest. Here's Joy setting up our first pour using starch and paint:
And here is the result of her first marbling--a round cocoa can:
Here are a couple of half-circle pages I made early this morning:
I'm settled in for the night finishing Season 1 of The Crown on Netflix--such a good series.
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