Frozen Beauty

I saw the post on FB with all the beautiful pictures of frozen bubbles taken by a mother and son.

And we had bubbles.

And very freezing temperatures (8F with -14F windchill.)

So we tried it.

Our picture isn't as pretty, but it certainly was fun.

See it there on the right edge of the snow, frosted and slightly deflated?

Most of our bubbles popped in the cold, dry air, or upon impact with the cold, dry snow.  Many flew far away.  But a few, a very few, stuck to the house or the snow-filled bowl we were trying to catch them in.  They would slowly frost over and then either deflate or break.  It was fun but too cold outside to last for long.

Next time, a bigger bubble blower--our good ones are away for the winter and all we had was one tiny favor-bottle from a party with a blow hole the size of a tapestry needle's eye.  And maybe some better bubble solution.

Still, fun.

Snow Day!!

It's not the most snow ever, but it is some of the coldest it's been in years--8F with -14F wind chill.  And they've pulled out the big diggers!  We'll be inside all day (that is, three if us; Mama went to work after clearing the driveway--brrrrr!), having had snow ice cream for breakfast.

What Does the Doctor Say?

Sis made up a new song this evening, "What Does the Doctor Say?" (You know the Ylis tune so sing along!):


"What does the Doctor say?
I'm not, not, not, not from Mars . . . .

"What does Donna say?
Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi!

"What does Rose say?
Bad Wolf, Bad Wolf, Bad Wolf, Bad Wolf.

"What does the War Doctor say?
No, no, no, no, no more!

"What does River say?
Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers!

 " . . . . The secret of his name
Ancient mystery,
buried in Gallifrey
Will I ever know?
What is his name?"

--Sis Hungry (I'm very proud and impressed)

No-School Dance

That's right, no school tomorrow because of snow.

We danced in celebration--to "Vogue" and "Fame" and "You Can't Stop the Beat" (Hairspray.)  And stayed up late playing Blink (Mama and Sis) and building mini-Lego buildings (Bud) and reading about the kitchens at Hampton Court (me, squealing "We'll be there in three months!")

And now, later than planned, the kiddos are off to bed, as the snow begins to blow and pile up outside.

(Gommie and Pop called to say they just got home and were glad to escape the weather.)

Two Passings

I learned today of the deaths of two of my hospice patients.  May their families and friends be comforted.

The first patient was my longer-term one, who I had been visiting for a few months now.  We tied fleece blankets together, discussed recipes and looked at her handwritten cookbooks (I even made her cabbage soup--and it was good!), watched and laughed at "The Chew" and soap operas, sang Christmas carols, talked about her work in WWII which was one of her proudest moments, shared stories of her immigrant family especially her oldest sister, and looked at pictures of her children and grandchildren.  She was such a light, a real joy; and she was so at peace and ease with her life and its end.  I was privileged to have sat with her.

I visited my other patient only once and she died the next day.  But we helped her and her daughter share a moment and say "I love you" to each other.  That, too, was a gift.

And so I mark the passing of these patients and know I will carry each of them, as all of the others, with me.

Back to It

We're back to normal here in the new year, if waiting for a blizzard this evening can count as such.

But the kids are back at school, at least for part of the day.

Mama was off to work early, expecting to head home before the storm picks up.

Gommie and Pop are on their way to the airport, their flight tracking on time so far this afternoon.

And the cats are so grateful that both kids and guests are gone--they have their house back.  Time to nap, anywhere and everywhere.

Goodreads Reading

I haven't been too reflective this New Year's and haven't made any resolutions, not because I don't think there are things I can improve, only that resolutions don't seem to work for me.

But I did make one explicit goal:  I hope to read 50 books, tracking them on Goodreads.

Last year, I set a goal of 52, which I think I missed by 6 or so (though, I think some of them--like McCollough's Greater Journey and Ulrich's At Night's Close should have counted as more than one.)  So this year, I'm subtracting two for holidays, etc., and, besides, 50 is a nice round number.  I don't really mind that I missed my goal because I really liked working on it and feel like I read more than I ever would've otherwise.

I'm also planning a more specific theme to some of my reading this year:  I would like to revisit the 19th-century British novel.  Yep, of course Austen, but also Eliot, perhaps Dickens, Hardy, Gaskell, (Wilkie) Collins.  And Trollope, who my paternal grandmother favored so.  But no Bronte; not any of them.  I don't really like the Brontes (well, I liked Jane Eyre), despite their being my dear Aunt Sis's favorite.  I might, if time allows or interest changes, add some Wharton or James, though of course they're not British.  And, of course, there's always my mindfulness/Buddhism books, my hospice/death and dying books, my American history/historic house/social history books, my poetry books, my cookbooks/food writing/food history books, my kids/parenting/education books, and now my growing collection of Doctor Who books.  You'll notice that I don't really ever read modern American novels.  It's a lacuna--and why I can never claim to be a great reader--but I'm fine with that.

First up, The History of English Food  by Clarissa Dickson Wright, formerly one of the BBC's "Fat Ladies,"

Should be a good year.

-=-=-=-=-

Some ideas (and it's more than a year's worth . . . none of them new/current and almost all on my shelves!  I'm perpetually behind, by years, though I've read the Austens before.)

19th-century Novel

1. Eliot, Mill on the Floss
2. Eliot, Adam Bede
3. Eliot, Daniel Deronda
4. Eliot, Silas Marner
5. Hardy, Tess
6. Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd
7. Austen, Pride and Prejudice
8. Austen, Sense and Sensibility
9. Austen, Mansfield Park
10. Austen, Emma
11. Austen, Persuasion
12. Austen, Susan
13. Austen, Northanger Abbey

Food

1. Dickson Wright, A History of English Food
2. Bijan, Maman's Homesick Pie
3. Engelhardt, A Mess of Greens
4. Stavely, America's Founding Food
5. Stavely, Northern Hospitality

Buddhism, mindfulness, etc.

1. Brach, Radical Acceptance
2. Boorstein, Solid Ground
3. Salzberg, A Heart as Wide as the World

History

1. Jaffe, The King's Best Highway
2. Farrow et al, Complicity
3. McCullough, 1776
4. Philbrick, Mayflower
5. Fenn, Pox Americana
6. Withey, Dearest Friend
7. Mantel, Wolf Hall etc
8. Wood, The Story of England
9. Swerling, City of Dreams
10. Shorto, Island at the Center of the World

Hospice:

1. Spencer-Wendel, Until I Say Good-Bye
2. Watt and Tomatsu, Buddhist Care for the Dying and Bereaved
3. The Arts of Contemplative Care (collection)
4. Ware, Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
5. Levine, A Year to Live
6. Byock, Dying Well
7. Anderson, Sacred Dying

Parenting, etc

1. Steiner-Adair, The Big Disconnect
2. Ripley, The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way
3. Bauer, The Well-Trained Mind
4. Faber, Sibling Rivalry
5. Faber, How to Talk so the Kids will Listen etc.
6. Gottman, Raising an Emotionally-Intelligent Child
7. Fontana, Teaching Meditation to Children
8. Greenland, The Mindful Child
9. Kabat-Zinn, Everyday Blessings
10. Kenison, Magical Journey
11. Shumaker, It's OK Not to Share
12. Wartenberg, Bid Ideas for Little Kids
13. Hanh, Planting Seeds

Poetry

1. Cries of the Spirit (collection)

Doctor Who

1. Stone Rose
2. Only Human
3. Krillitane Storm
4. The Slitheen Excursion

Misc.

1. Thompson, Lark Rise to Candleford
2. Chevalier, Burning Bright
3. Lamott, Stitches

Gommie and Pop: New Year's Day and Goodbyes

Since we were up past midnight, we slept in some.  But I did manage to rouse myself to set out my sourdough starter and to turn on the soaked black eyes.  By mid-morning, the biscuits were golden and perfect with butter and honey; the scent of black-eyed peas warmed the house.  Later, there was ham and cornbread; later still, cranberry upside-down cake, made by Sis and me.  It was all good.

The kids played games with Gommie, who finally was tired of playing games (I would have quit days earlier!), and they went swimming.  This evening, they watched some of Despicable Me 2 with her.  And then they kissed Gommie and Pop goodbye, the kids heading to school in the morning and the grandparents heading home.

All contingent on the weather, of course, with 6-10" expected in the next 48 hours, and near-blizzard conditions at times.  Pop ordered snow, but he's not staying for it . . . at least, not planning to.

Happy New Year's Eve!

We said goodbye to Gommie and Pop after dinner and have been having our own little celebration since then.  We started by watching Despicable Me 2, which was hilarious, had a snack, and the kids are now playing MarioKart with Mama while I watch silliness on Anderson Cooper.  We're waiting til the ball drops.  Yep, we promised them they good stay up and we're having a little party.

Happy 2014, all!

Gommie and Pop: New Year's Eve Day

The kids stayed at Gommie and Pops hotel until 10 am-ish, eating a big breakfast, playing games, etc., after a night of swimming, game-playing, and Longhorn football (sadly, Pop reports that Sis asked, "what game is that?"  I hope she meant the teams, not the sport.)

I slept in and, without a car, didn't do anything.  But I did think of some of the things I should do to prep for both the holiday and the possible late-week snow.

When we all got together, we headed to the ice rink for another morning of skating.  Sis is speedy--and she does love to go fast (on her bike, scooter, and now skates; she also loves to run.)  Bud has improved his technique and didn't fall too often.  They had a wonderful time and especially enjoyed grabbing a snack (hot chocolate and a blue raspberry slushie.)

Then we stopped at the historic house for a tour and supplies drop off.  Pop hadn't been to the house before and Gommie hadn't been recently, so the kids and I gave them the tour, including the second floor and the attic.  We spread the new items around the house--a "toe toaster," a spider skillet, two paddle looms, a spindle,  a washboard, a chamber pot, and the rooker and malkin for prepping the beehive oven.

The rest of the afternoon was for games, cooking (more nuts!!), and hanging out together.

And watching weather forecasts to see if Gommie and Pop were going to get to see some snow!

Gommie and Pop: Monday, Monday

Mama went back to work, but the rest of us were in play mode today.

The highlight of the day for the kids was swimming at the pool, or more like, water sliding.  I bet they went up and down twenty-five times, loving every minute of it.  I will admit that aspects of the very tall enclosed slide (two stories?  three stories?) gave me the heebie-jeebies, but I know they've done it before and Pop and Gommie think it is safe.   I could've done without them walking back up it though.  Some things I don't need to know.

We had lunch, games, and just hung out.  Later, pizza with Mama for dinner.

And now the kids are off spending the night at Gommie and Pop's hotel room.  I imagine there will be games, perhaps more swimming, and probably some candy.  Gommie and Pop are wonderful to take them and the kids are SO EXCITED!!!!

Mama and I are enjoying a bit of holiday down time, no agenda, nothing special, just being.

Gommie and Pop: Rainy Sunday

It poured rain--Texas-like rain, well, for Connecticut--all day.  I know they wanted snow--it might snow the day they leave.

We started the day with breakfast at one of our new favorite corner restaurants--peaches and cream-stuffed French toast, African hash, crabmeat quesadillas, beef empanadas, crabcake eggs Benedict--yum!  Pop and Gommie were smitten (though, not "smitten when they were bitten by the kitten Mittens"--our wordplay of the day) and hope to go back again this trip.  We're also thinking of some Indian food later.

After some games, we went to the ice rink, where Sis tried her new skates (thanks, G&P!) and Bud tried again.  We saw a few family friends and watched everybody go round and round.  Sis definitely has skill and confidence and Bud is getting better.  And I'm always just amazed to see them tackle a new thing, pretty much all alone.

Popcorn, hot chocolate, some crocheting, and more games made up the bulk of the remainder of the day til dinner of ham, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and a batch of red beans.  Gommie and Pop retired early (our four, at least, were showing the wear of a week of late nights and activities) and the kids played a little MarioKart with Mama before heading to bed.

Bud's already asleep, with Sis on her way.

Gommie and Pop: Saturday

Gommie and Pop always squeeze in as much as possible, including, today:

• the exchanging of Christmas presents!
• big sausage and egg breakfast
• playing Mah Jongg
• going outside to ride bikes
• eating Christmas cookies
• Bud played piano for Pop and shared his Doctor Who drawings book
• Sis, Gommie, and Mama went ice-skate shopping
• Gommie and Pop took Sis and Bud swimming--lots of "slide for life!"
• Mama and I get some alone time and watch The Hobbit
• dinner of leftover standing rib roast, etc--I managed to eat a plain potato!
• watch a Doctor Who episode (last year's Christmas special)
• bedtime for all.

Gommie and Pop: A Scarf for Gommie

It's a hand-crocheted (just 4 chain stitch and then single crochet from second stitch) scarf to keep our Texan grandmother warm.

Gommie and Pop: Playing with Presents

Pop is reading the SI Civil War book we gave him, while Gommie is teaching Mama and the kiddos to play Mah Jongg.

Post-Christmas

Notes from Christmas, before I forget:

• They're still so young, so excited about presents and Christmas morning--it's a joy to wake up to that kind of joy;
• Regardless of how "simple" we say we are going to make Christmas, we don't;
• I love the sprawl of toys on the floor, the boxes and piles of new things, each in his or her own corner--even two days later, it made me happy to go downstairs to see all of it about (I missed the after-glow of Christmas yesterday, staying in bed asleep the whole day), especially because I know that sooner than I'd like, there won't be toys for Christmas anymore;
• I like that they're obsessed with Legos, AG, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Doctor Who--let them be young a little longer--what child needs to worship at the altar of fashion and 1D and scream at twentysomething boy toys?  There's time enough for that later--and that's fine, I did it for Wham!  and Culture Club and Duran Duran--but let it wait at least until they're double digits.  If that means they're nerdy, so be it (more than that, yay!);
• Sis got a rock tumbler and she's thrilled--I love it (see above)!
• I can honestly say, perhaps for one of the first times, that getting gifts myself wasn't nearly as interesting as watching the kids get theirs--not that I didn't get some good ones, just that the kids were just that much more fun . . . .
• Especially when they opened ones from each other, when they'd throw themselves at the other in a hug full of laughter.  They always choose for each other best;
• But I did wonder at times what in fact we were celebrating with all of that stuff;
• Though, I was thrilled to have genuinely surprised Mama with two antique cameras from the early 20th century;
• I don't think there was any candy . . . stockings are less important that when I was a kid;
• They didn't talk about Santa as much this year, even though he'd left notes, gotten his own glass of nog, and used his own special wrapping paper--I think they "know" but don't want to relinquish the magic;
• I can't talk about the meal, not now, maybe not ever, which is too bad, though I will say that nuts seem to be an appetizer that can be reliably and successfully served to my in laws.

They're Here!

Gommie and Pop are here!

After a day of travel, they arrived in CT to be met by Mama and kiddos at the train station.  Then they went for dinner at the hamburger place.  And came home to find me waiting (yep, I can get downstairs!  I'm feeling oh so much better, but still tired and not really eating.  It's not permanent, but I lost 9 lbs.  I'd rather have those pounds back instead, and no doubt they'll come regardless.)

The kids talked about Doctor Who most of the time and started to show off Christmas presents, including the MarioKart track, American Girl doll furniture, Friends Legos, and Millennium Falcon Legos.  And Gommie and Pop sampled most of the different kinds of Christmas cookies, including Sis's Snickerdoodles.  The kids were ready to show them a DW episode and to do a musical instrument performance, but we'll save those for other days.

We do have five full ones, after all.

Recovery

Feeling much more alive today, after sleeping for 24 hours, after being ill the 12 before that.  Ugh.  Now just exhausted.

Gommie and Pop arrived today . . . and just called to see if they should rent a car and go to Vermont!  I told them I'd let them know by the time they landed if anyone else got it!  That would not be a nice present for the grandparents.

Will write about Christmas, Doctor Who, etc., later.  But not food.  I don't ever want to eat again.

Worst Thing I've Gotten for Christmas

Stomach flu.

Please let me be the only one.

Merry Christmas NIght!

4:00 still cooking, though I had a mini-breakdown--too many new recipes, most not going smoothly, and everything needing the oven at different temperatures, all of it a little too overwhelming after a pretty stress-free lead up to the holiday and I didn't handle it skillfully; well, after a good cry and a hug from my MIL, things were better--and Mama made the popovers and Goo made the custard

5:30  DINNER!  Standing Prime Rib Roast, roasted potatoes, cauliflower cheese, green beans, braised cabbage, popovers, cheese and onion pie (with Branston pickle!)  Toasts to Christmas and family.

6:30 A call from Lambeth and Mrs. Lambeth in the UK, who didn't tell me the plot of the "Downton Abbey" Christmas special--and we'll be there in about 100 days.

7:00  Dessert--spotted dick with custard, mincemeat pie, Christmas plum pudding with brandy butter, tea, coffee, and Bud ate an entire box of Jammie Dodgers!

8:00 Ma and Gong head home; Goo stays to play MarioKart on DS

8:30  waiting for the Doctor Who Christmas special

Merry Christmas to you and yours!