...busy elf...
So, Jer keeps asking me why I haven't written anything recently and I said, "I've been busy and I just haven't felt it."
Well, I guess tonight I feel it.
Things have been busy, though with nothing particularly unusual. The main suspect is work. It is retail's freak-out season...literally...people are freaking out! They just want a lot of assurance that they are buying the best easel, or the perfect paint colors, or the coolest sketchbook. I say chill people! The artist's in your life will love you regardless of what you get them, though unless you definitely know their art, a gift certificate is the way to go.
Otherwise:
We had a lovely visit from Joan and Rachel over Thanksgiving. It was really nice having more family around, and I enjoyed having an early morning companion to chat and drink coffee with.
Our friends Christine and Evan had a long, healthy, cute as an old man, baby boy two weeks ago. We got to meet him yesterday, and hang out with his folks. He is just sweet as pie.
Clayton is a pudge bucket who insists on only crawling backwards. He is SOOOO close to moving forward though.
Morgan consistently cracks me up whenever I talk with her. We are looking forward to spending holidays of various kinds with her and her parents.
Frank and Bones are have been particularly snuggly lately which is good considering the weather is bbrrrrr!
Snow of varying depths have fallen in our area, and the tile floor is a killer every damn morning.
More has happened I'm sure, but it is not necessary to write about it.
So...tonight I will: do dishes, eat flan Jer made last night (mmm...with bananas and coconut,) enjoy the latest issue of National Geographic, read more of Uncle Alan's book, keep my toes warm, pray I don't get sick, and fall blissfully asleep thinking of how fortunate we really are.
Monday, December 19
Monday, November 21
Thursday, November 3
Well, October has come and gone.
The birthday was a success. Twenty-seven started off with a nice party thanks to Piper and Nick.
Next came a baby shower (my first experience of throwing one) for our good friend Christine. The best part was that I got to do all the fun stuff (invitations, decorations, food) but didn't have to host it at my house, so therefore did not have to clean! Some of Christine's close relatives have severe cat allergies. They would not have done well at our place, so Christine's mom offered to host it at her house. It was really fun, and I got to make food I had been wanting to for awhile: stuffed mushrooms, roasted carrot spread with cumin, olive tapenade, hazelnut chocolate-chip cookies, Swedish pecans....yum.
Then came a Halloween party where I got to live out being a garden gnome. It's hard being a tall gnome. My hat kept getting knocked off.
Halloween itself involved a visit from Clayton dressed as a shark with Piper and Nick as dismembered beach goers. Then Jer left for work, and I handed out candy to very polite children.
Now we have begun Jer's birthday month, and I am still struggling with what I should find for him. I have a few ideas, but nothing has really screamed out as perfect yet. Blast.
Otherwise...I have been seeing a lot of shooting stars lately, "A Perfect Circle's" cover of Joni Mitchell's Fiddle and Drum is constantly in my mind...it is sung a capella(like her version,)except in three-part harmony and much more hauntingly done...beautiful!, I am currently reading "1491" and just recently finished "Wind-Up Bird Chronicles" both of which I recommend, and...blah! I don't know.
The birthday was a success. Twenty-seven started off with a nice party thanks to Piper and Nick.
Next came a baby shower (my first experience of throwing one) for our good friend Christine. The best part was that I got to do all the fun stuff (invitations, decorations, food) but didn't have to host it at my house, so therefore did not have to clean! Some of Christine's close relatives have severe cat allergies. They would not have done well at our place, so Christine's mom offered to host it at her house. It was really fun, and I got to make food I had been wanting to for awhile: stuffed mushrooms, roasted carrot spread with cumin, olive tapenade, hazelnut chocolate-chip cookies, Swedish pecans....yum.
Then came a Halloween party where I got to live out being a garden gnome. It's hard being a tall gnome. My hat kept getting knocked off.
Halloween itself involved a visit from Clayton dressed as a shark with Piper and Nick as dismembered beach goers. Then Jer left for work, and I handed out candy to very polite children.
Now we have begun Jer's birthday month, and I am still struggling with what I should find for him. I have a few ideas, but nothing has really screamed out as perfect yet. Blast.
Otherwise...I have been seeing a lot of shooting stars lately, "A Perfect Circle's" cover of Joni Mitchell's Fiddle and Drum is constantly in my mind...it is sung a capella(like her version,)except in three-part harmony and much more hauntingly done...beautiful!, I am currently reading "1491" and just recently finished "Wind-Up Bird Chronicles" both of which I recommend, and...blah! I don't know.
Monday, October 17
...fun...
Jeremy finally broke down and told me what he got me for my birthday! He figured since it was my birthday week, that I could find out, which rules 'cause I love surprises, but I love finding them out even more.
I get a...tree!
We had a tree cut down this summer in our front yard, so our paper bark maple has been all by itself. Jer was not looking specifically for another of those, but he found one. He thought it would be neat to have a pair of them, and I do too! The best part is I don't have to do any of the installation. Jeremy and our friend Matt are going to take care of it Thursday, Friday, or Saturday!
Maybe it will grow to the famed proportions our other one has. (We have the largest paper bark maple in Kansas City - if not the whole area...it's on the books!)
Otherwise, I'm pretty excited that it has been a great October. The weather has been beautiful, and I have been trying to catch up with outdoors stuff I want done before the colder weather really sets in. I can envision that a good portion of it is going to get put off until spring, but that's okay. As long as we get garlic going, everything else can wait.
Jeremy finally broke down and told me what he got me for my birthday! He figured since it was my birthday week, that I could find out, which rules 'cause I love surprises, but I love finding them out even more.
I get a...tree!
We had a tree cut down this summer in our front yard, so our paper bark maple has been all by itself. Jer was not looking specifically for another of those, but he found one. He thought it would be neat to have a pair of them, and I do too! The best part is I don't have to do any of the installation. Jeremy and our friend Matt are going to take care of it Thursday, Friday, or Saturday!
Maybe it will grow to the famed proportions our other one has. (We have the largest paper bark maple in Kansas City - if not the whole area...it's on the books!)
Otherwise, I'm pretty excited that it has been a great October. The weather has been beautiful, and I have been trying to catch up with outdoors stuff I want done before the colder weather really sets in. I can envision that a good portion of it is going to get put off until spring, but that's okay. As long as we get garlic going, everything else can wait.
Thursday, September 29
...Falling in Love...
Last night I washed and put out the flannel sheets and the thick blanket with animals on it. Fall has struck. Knowing this area, there may still be one or two hold-out days of high heat, but the majority of the days will start to require shoes with socks and longer sleeves. The house is in that in-between stage - too cool to need air-conditioning, not cool enough to need heat. But, my feet are crying out for shelter from the chilly floor, and it is much harder to make that first step out of bed into the crisp air each morning. Now is the start of the season where I really need at least an hour each morning to dedicate to hot, strong coffee and a stimulating book so my day can begin correctly.
I am vowing to be more motivated this fall than last. I WILL put in more garden beds and prepare better now for the spring planting. I WILL go to an orchard and get plenty of apples for pies, crisps, and raw crunching, as well as a belly full of hot cider and donuts. I WILL winterize the house so we don't spend another winter letting precious warmth escape to the outside. I WILL get rooms cleaned out so we have space to fulfill our plans.
So, I'm really looking forward to this Saturday. I have the day off of work, and I get to spend it: going to the farmer's market, working outside (provided the weather is not wet,)decorating the house for Halloween (I believe in decorations for all of October, as it is my favorite month!,)and then going to a party at our friends Scot and Marla's house! I'm sure there will be other activities in the day, but those are all the major ones I can think of!
Last night I washed and put out the flannel sheets and the thick blanket with animals on it. Fall has struck. Knowing this area, there may still be one or two hold-out days of high heat, but the majority of the days will start to require shoes with socks and longer sleeves. The house is in that in-between stage - too cool to need air-conditioning, not cool enough to need heat. But, my feet are crying out for shelter from the chilly floor, and it is much harder to make that first step out of bed into the crisp air each morning. Now is the start of the season where I really need at least an hour each morning to dedicate to hot, strong coffee and a stimulating book so my day can begin correctly.
I am vowing to be more motivated this fall than last. I WILL put in more garden beds and prepare better now for the spring planting. I WILL go to an orchard and get plenty of apples for pies, crisps, and raw crunching, as well as a belly full of hot cider and donuts. I WILL winterize the house so we don't spend another winter letting precious warmth escape to the outside. I WILL get rooms cleaned out so we have space to fulfill our plans.
So, I'm really looking forward to this Saturday. I have the day off of work, and I get to spend it: going to the farmer's market, working outside (provided the weather is not wet,)decorating the house for Halloween (I believe in decorations for all of October, as it is my favorite month!,)and then going to a party at our friends Scot and Marla's house! I'm sure there will be other activities in the day, but those are all the major ones I can think of!
Tuesday, September 20
...The 'couv...
We returned Sunday from our six-day adventure to Vancouver! It was great!!! The city itself is really interesting and nice, plus our traveling companions (Piper, Nick, and Clayton) were loads of fun too. Yesterday was my first day in a week without seeing little Clayton Blue. It was hard, as he is such a sweat pea. Clay was a very well-behaved baby on the flights, and was a mellow traveler. He enjoyed soaking up the city vibe.
As for things we did...went to the aquarium, Stanley park, walked around various parts, ate way too much chocolate, ate lots of other things, babysat, attended the wedding Piper and Nick were going to for about 5 minutes until Clayton had a poop explosion and we had to take him back, indulged in the city's special coffee houses, I got my first pedicure at Piper's urging, hung out with Cynthia and Ross - they live in Seattle and came up for the day Saturday, etc.
I highly recommend visiting Vancouver if you have not. The weather was fantastic (55-65 degrees!) plus they only have black squirrels!
Now it is back to regular life...dishes, laundry, work...yay.
We returned Sunday from our six-day adventure to Vancouver! It was great!!! The city itself is really interesting and nice, plus our traveling companions (Piper, Nick, and Clayton) were loads of fun too. Yesterday was my first day in a week without seeing little Clayton Blue. It was hard, as he is such a sweat pea. Clay was a very well-behaved baby on the flights, and was a mellow traveler. He enjoyed soaking up the city vibe.
As for things we did...went to the aquarium, Stanley park, walked around various parts, ate way too much chocolate, ate lots of other things, babysat, attended the wedding Piper and Nick were going to for about 5 minutes until Clayton had a poop explosion and we had to take him back, indulged in the city's special coffee houses, I got my first pedicure at Piper's urging, hung out with Cynthia and Ross - they live in Seattle and came up for the day Saturday, etc.
I highly recommend visiting Vancouver if you have not. The weather was fantastic (55-65 degrees!) plus they only have black squirrels!
Now it is back to regular life...dishes, laundry, work...yay.
Friday, September 9
...that girl is poison...
So, a couple of Sundays ago, Jeremy and I had a major yardwork day. I know that I picked some poison ivy to dispose of, but I had never gotten it before (and I know I have been exposed) plus I was wearing gloves. I guess I must have been careless while putting it in the yard-trash bag. Two days later a little patch appeared on my arm. F***! Ah well...I begin using every homemade and over-the-counter remedy known to man. I had a tiny patch appear on my other arm, then a bigger one on my side, and the one on my left arm grew much nastier looking. I fondly referred to it as my mark of the beast. Yesterday, day 11 after exposure, I made my way to Shawnee Mission Urgent Care after work on the advice of many people. The doctor said my side patch and right arm stuff looked fine, but it looked like I had a bacterial infection on the left! Yowzer. So I became the recipient of a steroid shot, antibiotic shot, and tetanus shot. I also get to take oral antibiotics for 10 days...whoo! Sure am glad we have health insurance now.
So, a couple of Sundays ago, Jeremy and I had a major yardwork day. I know that I picked some poison ivy to dispose of, but I had never gotten it before (and I know I have been exposed) plus I was wearing gloves. I guess I must have been careless while putting it in the yard-trash bag. Two days later a little patch appeared on my arm. F***! Ah well...I begin using every homemade and over-the-counter remedy known to man. I had a tiny patch appear on my other arm, then a bigger one on my side, and the one on my left arm grew much nastier looking. I fondly referred to it as my mark of the beast. Yesterday, day 11 after exposure, I made my way to Shawnee Mission Urgent Care after work on the advice of many people. The doctor said my side patch and right arm stuff looked fine, but it looked like I had a bacterial infection on the left! Yowzer. So I became the recipient of a steroid shot, antibiotic shot, and tetanus shot. I also get to take oral antibiotics for 10 days...whoo! Sure am glad we have health insurance now.
Tuesday, August 16
Life has just been happening too much for me to keep up in writing. Lots of things have taken priority. But...I woke up this morning, I don't have to go to work, it is chilly and grey outdoors, so I thought, "Ah, a perfect morning to sit down and type a bit!"
I think my favorite things so far this summer have been having Josh, Julie, and Morgan around, and having that little pickle bucket of a nephew Clayton. I love my family. I am really enjoying having a niece who I can talk with, who wants me to do things, as well as having a nephew that I can enjoy his being a baby. He has really chunked out and is just too much!
The garden was great for producing peas and carrots. It also produced tons of tomatoes, but we only got to enjoy one! F-ing squirrels! Next year I am constructing a cage of netting to protect my tasty Cherokee Purples. The herbs have provided many ingredients for salad dressing, mojitos, pesto, and future teas among other things.
There have been lots of friends buying houses, getting married, and in various stages of having babies. It's really fun to watch, and to enjoy all the happiness.
Work has been blissfully mellow, as it usually is, for the summer. The last few weeks though, our weekly trucks have been bulging and we have been stowing backstock everywhere. I've seen one or two earlybirds with their supply lists in hand. I will be enjoying my days off this week, as next starts the mad rush for inexpensive art supplies. I also told my boss, "Work me!" 'cause towards the end of that back-to-school bonanza she is letting me fly away to Vancouver with Jeremy, Piper, Nick, and Clayton! The Couv! Whee.
I hosted a fairly successful art sale in our yard a couple of weeks ago. There were four artists represented with three of us present. We all sold work, and those of us there traded work with each other. I will definitely be doing it again next year, but hopefully with more artists and better advertising.
I love summer food. The farmers market is always such a pleasure to look at. Lately there have been piles of tomatoes and potatoes of every kind you could ever dream. We've certainly been putting away our share of the goods. There has been much cooking at home and with friends this season (as usual I suppose.) Also, we recently tried out a new bistro (Grace, a Bistro on the Edge) that is two blocks away from us. Drool. The prices are low for the kind of food they are serving, but I'm not complaining. We had a mussel appetizer that was...so.damn.good. It had white wine, cream, and tons of garlic. Thankfully it was served with bread so we could sop up all of the sauce. Jer got scallops that had nice pieces of pork folded into them, served on a bed of raw green apple chunks and with really tasty green beans on the side. I got simple, yet divine, fettucinne alfredo. We managed to save room for dessert which was layers of a wafer-like material with thin smears of chocolate mousse and a smidge of apricot, then totally dunked in chocolate. In addition to serving up great food, they are super nice! Plus, they serve breakfast. Dangerous!
The weather turned from the usual August baking into a flood of water and cool-greyness a few days ago, and it hasn't changed back. I've been enjoying the rumbles of thunder while I've been writing. It is teasing me with the possibility of more rain. All I know about this change in weather is that the cicadas don't sound nearly as harsh, and dusty in their calls, and it is baby cricket fest 2005 in our basement.
Alright...I'm off like a prom dress. I have a cat that is anxious for petting and a stomach that needs a bagel with salmon and coffee.
I think my favorite things so far this summer have been having Josh, Julie, and Morgan around, and having that little pickle bucket of a nephew Clayton. I love my family. I am really enjoying having a niece who I can talk with, who wants me to do things, as well as having a nephew that I can enjoy his being a baby. He has really chunked out and is just too much!
The garden was great for producing peas and carrots. It also produced tons of tomatoes, but we only got to enjoy one! F-ing squirrels! Next year I am constructing a cage of netting to protect my tasty Cherokee Purples. The herbs have provided many ingredients for salad dressing, mojitos, pesto, and future teas among other things.
There have been lots of friends buying houses, getting married, and in various stages of having babies. It's really fun to watch, and to enjoy all the happiness.
Work has been blissfully mellow, as it usually is, for the summer. The last few weeks though, our weekly trucks have been bulging and we have been stowing backstock everywhere. I've seen one or two earlybirds with their supply lists in hand. I will be enjoying my days off this week, as next starts the mad rush for inexpensive art supplies. I also told my boss, "Work me!" 'cause towards the end of that back-to-school bonanza she is letting me fly away to Vancouver with Jeremy, Piper, Nick, and Clayton! The Couv! Whee.
I hosted a fairly successful art sale in our yard a couple of weeks ago. There were four artists represented with three of us present. We all sold work, and those of us there traded work with each other. I will definitely be doing it again next year, but hopefully with more artists and better advertising.
I love summer food. The farmers market is always such a pleasure to look at. Lately there have been piles of tomatoes and potatoes of every kind you could ever dream. We've certainly been putting away our share of the goods. There has been much cooking at home and with friends this season (as usual I suppose.) Also, we recently tried out a new bistro (Grace, a Bistro on the Edge) that is two blocks away from us. Drool. The prices are low for the kind of food they are serving, but I'm not complaining. We had a mussel appetizer that was...so.damn.good. It had white wine, cream, and tons of garlic. Thankfully it was served with bread so we could sop up all of the sauce. Jer got scallops that had nice pieces of pork folded into them, served on a bed of raw green apple chunks and with really tasty green beans on the side. I got simple, yet divine, fettucinne alfredo. We managed to save room for dessert which was layers of a wafer-like material with thin smears of chocolate mousse and a smidge of apricot, then totally dunked in chocolate. In addition to serving up great food, they are super nice! Plus, they serve breakfast. Dangerous!
The weather turned from the usual August baking into a flood of water and cool-greyness a few days ago, and it hasn't changed back. I've been enjoying the rumbles of thunder while I've been writing. It is teasing me with the possibility of more rain. All I know about this change in weather is that the cicadas don't sound nearly as harsh, and dusty in their calls, and it is baby cricket fest 2005 in our basement.
Alright...I'm off like a prom dress. I have a cat that is anxious for petting and a stomach that needs a bagel with salmon and coffee.
Thursday, July 21
Monday, June 20
...warp speed...
I feel like I have been running around non-stop, but it has been good! Last week's excitement included: Josh, Julie, and Morgan arriving in town, my manager returning from corporate meetings with high praise for our store and for some of the work I had been doing, more watching Mr. Clayton grow up so quickly (he is over 10lbs. now!), finding out - sadly - that Frank has some sort of liver problem, and trying to figure out what it is, seeing the garden burst with growth, driving to Orrick (about an hour away) to visit my cousin, and slowly getting the house back in order.
This week should be a little more calm. I don't have as many hours at work, and some of my pressing projects such as cleaning the gutters have been accomplished. I hope the streak of sunshine continues...my arms are beginning to nicely brown. I think later on in the week, I am going to be taking Morgan to see the Herbie movie. It has been so great having that family around, and it has only been a few days!
I definitely need to start getting into high gear for the art sale I am hosting in August, especially since I am taking a few days in mid-July to head to NYC.
Alright...I'll stop thinking through my weeks ahead. Right now I need a refill on my coffee, to make my lunch, and to water the garden before I head off to ye 'ol Utrecht.
I feel like I have been running around non-stop, but it has been good! Last week's excitement included: Josh, Julie, and Morgan arriving in town, my manager returning from corporate meetings with high praise for our store and for some of the work I had been doing, more watching Mr. Clayton grow up so quickly (he is over 10lbs. now!), finding out - sadly - that Frank has some sort of liver problem, and trying to figure out what it is, seeing the garden burst with growth, driving to Orrick (about an hour away) to visit my cousin, and slowly getting the house back in order.
This week should be a little more calm. I don't have as many hours at work, and some of my pressing projects such as cleaning the gutters have been accomplished. I hope the streak of sunshine continues...my arms are beginning to nicely brown. I think later on in the week, I am going to be taking Morgan to see the Herbie movie. It has been so great having that family around, and it has only been a few days!
I definitely need to start getting into high gear for the art sale I am hosting in August, especially since I am taking a few days in mid-July to head to NYC.
Alright...I'll stop thinking through my weeks ahead. Right now I need a refill on my coffee, to make my lunch, and to water the garden before I head off to ye 'ol Utrecht.