Eva and Samuel have been very into Alladin the last couple of days and I have the catchy tunes from that movie perpetually in my head. They really are catchy. And I have to say I love it that he chooses to free the genie in the end as his third wish (sorry if this spoils the movie for anyone). I was truly touched when I heard that. And how wonderful that the genie sticks around as his friend and helper ever after...



So sweet. Knit fairy and her horse having a little fish and water. There is also a raven sitting on a chair behind the horse who didn't make it in the photo and another fairy on the ground taking a nap or some such but I wasn't sure if she was actually a part of the scene or just haphazard chaos from earlier.

Santa brought these little guys...

fifty degrees, snow's melting away...

I like this passage from Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson:

It was a funny little path, winding here and there, dashing off in different directions, and sometimes even tying a knot in itself from sheer joy. (You don't get tired of a path like that, and I'm not sure that it doesn't get you home quicker in the end.)

And this one:

(Hemulens are generally a bit slow in grasping an idea, but they are very pleasant if you don't annoy them.)

And this one:

Enormous crabs were sidling in and out between the shells, telling each other how strange it was that the water had disappeared. They wondered who had taken it away and when it would come back. "Thank goodness I'm not a jelly-fish!" said one. "Out of the water they are nothing but miserable little splodges, but we of course are equally happy wherever we are."

I feel so sorry for anybody who wasn't born a crab," said another. "It's quite possible that this drying-up of the sea has been arranged especially so that we shall have more space to live in."

"What an excellent thought! Why not a world peopled entirely by crabs?" exclaimed a third, waving his claws.

And of course:

"Well, strike me pink!" exclaimed Moomintroll.

and those knit dinosaurs...

ellen's chocolate covered raspberries and cinnamon covered chocolate truffles!
eva roller skating around the house naked
samuel playing with one of eva's new barbies, the one with the fancy boots and making her "police-woman-barbie"!
finishing the knit dinosaurs and eva's coming to tea with her new tea set
jack and his bone and running back in the house to find it after being outdoors for a bit
devising a mending solution for the agent #4 lego set so it doesn't keep splitting in two every 10 minutes
ellen and evan visiting
fun with mario kart
wintry mix falling from the sky
kids' first white christmas
maxwell loved the market chicken
mastermind
ellen's glove animals
eva's little fairies
ladybug chocolates
lovely abundance and love for all

merry christmas and eva lost another tooth this morning (both bottom middle teeth are gone)! a second tooth in about 12 hours! she is a little hesitant about how her mouth is feeling right now. she wondered how good it could be for you to loose teeth, whether that hurts you? could you die if you lost a tooth? she is anxious for the new teeth to come in and also feeling nervous at that new sensation as well. so many changes for eva. she feels at once proud and excited that she has lost her first teeth and also apprehensive at what this means for her (and her teeth!).



fun christmas games with aunt ellen and new barbie- GRRR! ROAR! (oh yeah check out ellen in her new hat!)

eva lost her first tooth!

Oh how exciting to lose your first tooth and on Christmas Eve no less! As family lore goes, it is a pretty good story as well. Eva and Samuel went to give Jack his special bone shaped sugar cookie they made for him. While giving him the cookie, Samuel apparently blocked Eva from view (so the story goes, they have been at each other all day...) and she bit him. When she bit him, her loose tooth popped out! I heard first, "Hey! No! I wanna see!" and then "Hey, she bit me!" and then "Momma Momma my tooth came out" (while consoling the bitten one). Truth be told, I believe she did bite him but it was more of a scare tactic because it didn't leave an indent in his clothes or anything (smile).

And now the Christmas pullah which the kids braided this year and which gave me yet another good lesson on what matters and letting go-



Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Eva dressed up as a Christmas tree.

three knit fairies

I took a whole camera full of pictures yesterday of the snow and just didn't have a chance to put some of them up here. The kids and I took a wonderful walk in the snow and went sledding. I pulled Eva (and often Samuel as well) in the sled and we took Jack who is really loving this weather. It turns out every time to be a little far to walk to the sledding hill for little legs. Taking the sled helped quite a bit with that.

A few photos from out and about in the snow-



our yard back and front (maple, spruce, pin oak)



our street, one way then the other



commonwealth park



pulling the kids on the sled and winter patterns

Eva has been enjoying reading different ballets, particularly The Firebird, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty in the Usborne Ballet Treasury. When I searched for some more Firebird stories I found Imaginary Menagerie which we enjoyed reading last night. And we are just loving reading Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson, our first Moominbook! I finished up Oscar Wao and then read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I am looking forward to my next book on hold at the library. I have to say I am really enjoying reading some fiction after mainly reading non-fiction for so long.

Lots of knitting and baking today, getting ready for Christmas. Who can believe it really is the day after tomorrow! Also hoping for a snowman today to round out the snow time.

Last night we had a summer feast. I got out peaches I had canned and frozen upicked marion berries and my really yummy tomato dill soup frozen over the summer with delicious summer tomatoes (from the Moosewood cookbook...). Exceptional. No produce deliveries due to snow for the next couple of weeks and they will be out of town. Lots of oppotunities to eat thawed summer fare! And of course I have some kale!

backyard birds

Seen at the feeder, on the cracked corn pile or even in the apple tree feasting on leftover apples (and over in that bush with the greyish purpley berries)-

today's highlight spotting was a varied thrush, so like a robin and yet different, coming down from the mountains to check out my apple tree!
juncos galore
black capped chickadees
flocks of robins
spotted towhees
nuthatches
sparkly starlings
raven pair or mother and baby (from this summer)
pair of northern flickers!
mourning dove
bewick's wren (I think, some wren for certain and probably this guy)
white crowned sparrows
bushtits in groupings
scrub jays
red winged black birds
house finches
honorary squirrels

don't look ellen

I finished up ellen's Christmas hat yesterday and today, complete with ear flaps and i-cord ties. Here is Samuel modeling it!

This hat is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (Kim's hats), slightly modified to 5 stitches/inch (cast on 96 stitches, in the round), #7 needles, knit with lovely Classic Elite Inca Alpaca yarn and a couple of modified pom poms with this and that from my stash. Now I really have no reason not to get to sewing up those darn dinosaurs, except that every time I cloister myself in the utility room, Eva comes-a-knockin'...

Another knit fairy? Or Lisa asked for a baby hat. Lisa do you like that yarn or is it too dark? That could easily keep me busy enough to stay away from dinosaur sewing!

solstice

Lots of snow and ice last night! This is a real treat making it a winter wonderland. Each season brings what it will. Find beauty wherever it lies.

sleigh bells ring

I admit to keeping things quiet with regards to winter festivities this year. To be honest, the intensity gets to me and by the time the holidays are here I am all worn out. This year I scaled back even more and have basically waited until just a few days before Christmas to get the kids involved in holiday fixings- cookie baking, cake baking, bread baking, bird seed-on-pine-cones, wrapping a few gifts, if quietly, not flurrying. And I really appreciate all of the snow and its help in giving Samuel something else to think about and enjoy. It has actually been a lovely December, peaceful, with some wondering about Christmas, advent calendars, lists to Santa, tree decorating, candy canes, checking out holiday lights, without all of the wall-bouncing and intensity of previous years (I mean there is always some wall-bouncing). I don't know if this is due to the kids being a little older or my letting things flow even more and peaceful wishes or the snow or a combination (I suspect the combination) but I am actually really looking forward to Christmas and the other winter holidays this year, even looking forward to preparing for them! I am eagerly awaiting the grocery delivery this afternoon with thoughts of cookie sprinkles and peanut butter for the birds.

Eva has been checking out gifts hidden here and there and found the Christmas chocolate that Santa usually brings. I guess this year I will leave the chocolate for Santa. She found some gifts in the garage from Grandpa and of course one of her gifts was left in its original box out front when it was delivered, so I guess that will be from us as well. It is a pink big wheel and it was going to be a super surprise! I guess it still was a super surprise, just not what I had um expected (here goes some flowing...). Now she lets out little hints that she is thinking about it like, "You know momma, I think I would really like a little tricycle that is all pink...maybe even more than some other things..." So, you see, she got a pretty good look at it!

I expect to start cookie-ing tomorrow or the next day. As tomorrow is Winter Solstice, I will want to do some festive thing, probably for the birds, definitely something with candles and possibly a cake, although Eva may want the cake on Christmas. It is to be a love cake with hearts, etc but perhaps we can have it both days. Not sure how I will make pullah and cake on Christmas Eve. I assume by that point there will be wall-bouncing...

Ai yai yai the groceries are going to be late due to the weather. At least we weren't cancelled!

Yesterday


I am loving my new socks and slippers!

Today


Snow silenting...

I remember watching this for the first time one Christmas and love the song Feliz Navidad. I have had it in my head ever since!

This special has 7 parts to it, each about 10 minutes long...


Samuel and I watched a couple of the segments together tonight.

Snow people today, one princess and one knight. The knight has battled and stands no more but the princess stands on...

Kombucha update-
I see bubbles! It is definitely effervescing!

cabbage

What to do with all of that cabbage. Don't feel like any more cabbage soup? I don't blame you. Neither do I. How about Savoy Cabbage with Potatoes and Brown Butter from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison.

8 oz boiling or fingerling potatoes
1 1/2 lbs Savoy cabbage, cut into large squares or strips
3 Tbsp brown butter
1/2 cup diced taleggio or teleme
2 Tbsp Parmesan
2 Tbsp chopped sage
salt and pepper

Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch chunks or or slice diagonally into 3/8 inch chunks. Steam until tender, about 15 minutes, then remove them to bowl and cover to keep warm. Steam the cabbage until tender, 5-10 minutes. Combine vegetables in a bowl, toss with brown butter, cheeses and sage and season with salt and pepper.

What I am actually going to do is steam the potatoes, braise the cabbage, mix with potatoes, add Parmesan (maybe some cheddar as well but not taleggio or teleme as I have none) and perhaps some marjoram which I prefer to sage, although I have ample of both. The question is whether the marjoram survived the chill outside. I am also going to add a shallot and some garlic and make it moister rather than cheesier. And I just realized I am out of olive oil and will be using more butter than I initially thought!

and now tuesday

fun limerick to ponder-

There was a young lady named Bright
Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day,
In a relative way,
And returned home the previous night.

Boba Fett attacking Han in/ with his carnivorous tree; Luke nearly being eaten by same carnivorous tree. Yikes!

snow pictures

Sledding



Cold weather gear



Snow swinging



Some things never change. Jack loves to frolic in the snow!

monday (but a different monday)

Today I put the kombucha mother I have been growing into a decent amount of black tea with sugar and water and a little mature kombucha and she is now fermenting and growing in a glass bread pan on top of the microwave. Old meets new, so to speak. I think I will give a look in about a week and test her pH to see how acidic she is.

We are getting quite a snow storm here with several inches of snow falling and even lots of wind and gusting. I was joking around earlier about snowfall in Portland, but really it is coming down in such a way that most people should even stay off of the roads. I think this means (or hope!) that it will stick around for a day or two because Eva is desperate to make a snowman. Last year we got nothing. The year before? we had snow for several days complete with sledding. This year Samuel asked for snow pants and put them on willingly and asked why he didn't want to wear them before. I said I wasn't entirely certain but it had seemed so important to him, why push. I mean it is really only snow pants we are talking about here. And lookee here, age 8 1/2 and he puts them on voluntarily! I tell you these things will happen if only we can wait!

And I made this little lady today. I used an angel pattern I found online somewhere? and was going to call her a fairy but I am not sure if that will stick because Eva looked at me askance each time I said fairy but when she saw the finished product she was quite pleased. We shall see. I want to make a few more and yet they are a mite tedious so I am not sure how many I will actually make. It can be so much fun to make one small thing but I feel I am pushing it when I make more...I guess I can break it up with some other knitting and see what happens.



She is about 2 1/2 inches tall with wild hair covering her wings!

trees

It is the time of year when you drive down the road and wherever you turn, you see trees strapped to the tops of cars, launched out of trucks, toppling into houses, decked with garland and lights, ornaments hand made and store bought. Festive corn popping, hot chocolate sipping, holiday music choraling. Cats wishing for catnip, dogs dreaming of candy cane shaped bones, rats hoping for more hmmm food? Children talking of this toy or that, imagining the magic of Santa Claus. And now this house, this home, is no different. To the season we add our own tree. I have mixed feelings about bringing these trees into our homes in such quantities this time of year and would very much like to bring a live tree into the house one of these years and return it to the wild after the holidays as a planted, sustained, living tree. Someday. For now I do the best for the one we have chosen, covering it with love with my family, allowing the memories of Christmases past to flood my mind, anticipation of the Christmas to come creeping in. If I think too hard about Christmas I become as excited and enthusiastic as my children, unable to fathom that I must-wait-for-how-many-more-days until Christmas?

wednesday

this and that

We went swimming today. Eva has been so wanting to swim and we checked out a place nearby here and it was fun. I am going to try and take us once a week or at least once every two weeks because she loves it and I think it relaxes everyone so much. There is another place even closer to us that I intend to try next week. If I can keep it quick and painless, it is more interesting for Samuel as well.

Eva has been playing with paper dolls quite a bit lately. She has a couple of ballet sets that have famous ballet costumes to dress the dolls up in and was asking to reread the Firebird today. I am always up for rereading Russian stories so I put it on hold at the library. Time to check out The Nutcracker again as well.

Samuel took most of yesterday and half of today to play through the Lego Batman game which he is giving a thumbs up on. He is playing through on free play now. The Mushroom game, while interesting, was not quite a fit for him at this point.

We are going to see The Wizard of Oz tomorrow that is being put on by a local children's theatre and of course Friday is the homeschooling bazaar we have been looking forward to for so long. Samuel is pretty well set on goods at this point and still wants to make raffle tickets. Eva and I are planning to make brownies, I guess tomorrow!

Samuel has been powering through the wii games in an attempt to find one, another, any that he loves. They don't carry these at the library (yet!) so we got a little deal at Blockbuster to allow us to try out as many games as we want for a month. So far we/Samuel has tried out several-

Wii Sports- of course. Lots of fun for Samuel and daddy together.

The Force Unleashed- a huge hit and sadly very short. He finished it in just over 6 hours and replayed it a couple of times before we took it back.

De Blob- This one is good and he played it for a couple of days. We exchanged it today for some more options but we may get it again.

Boom Blox- was not appreciated, although I have to stress that Samuel was waiting tensely for The Force Unleashed and nothing compared to that anticipation...

The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels- so so, not as good as The Force Unleashed.

Mario Galaxy- nice game but Samuel was tired of it pretty quickly and took it back. He is not currently a Mario fan, although he would like to try out Mario Kart, if they ever get it back in.

Legend of Zelda- he was sadly not impressed and I think there was just too much reading at this point for him to enjoy it

My Sims- not the right kind of game right now, although cute, and Eve really enjoyed making the characters and setting up. A little frustrating to use and too much reading.

Sims Castle- the same as above only not quite as much.

Transformers- not great game play for Samuel at this time, issues with the camera and general frustration.

And then today he got Lego's Batman, which he is enjoying immensely. He wasn't interested initially because he is not a big Batman fan, but the Lego game play is just his style and he loved the Star Wars games and the more recent Indiana Jones game they made. I must stay I am happy that he found something he is enjoying playing. The alternative, constant frustration, was starting to drain away my enthusiasm.

He also found Mushroom Men: Spore Wars today and I am curious about this one as well. We are still reading Mushroom Planet books and really who knew someone made a game about mushrooms fighting?

I would like to try out Animal Crossing as well as World of Goo, which I just saw something about. We still have a little over a week of our Blockbuster thing so that gives us plenty of time. Oh, and there is interest in Wii Play because it is so similar to Wii Sports and the replay value is thought to be high.

meltybeading

First, apple juice made from braeburn and pink lady apples.
Then, apple/mandarin orange juice from braeburns, pink ladies, and satsumas.
Finally, apple/satsuma/vegetable juice with braeburns, pink ladies, satsumas, celery, beets, and carrots. Yep. Very good juice indeed. Really good juice and kombucha kicked that virus back to the bad mood it came from.



Babies getting married. They are riding in their carriage pulled by their zebra. Check out Walk Baby's new red jacket we made today. He is all set for the wedding in his Paddington hat and wedding jacket.

from a friend's blog to mine and maybe on to yours...

The following is something you can cut and paste to your blog, then bold the items you've done.

1. Started your own blog
yes!

2. Slept under the stars
I think so

3. Played in a band
no but I was in show choir :)

4. Visited Hawaii
not yet

5. Watched a meteor shower
yes and recently too!

6. Given more than you can afford to charity
hmmm...I donate a lot of goods and volunteered with La Leche League for 5! years and I like to give money to the raptors and the primates but I don't know about more than I can afford

7. Been to Disneyland/world
Disneyland once, Disneyworld a couple of times 2?3?4?

8. Climbed a mountain
I have done some hiking but not technically mountain climbed

9. Held a praying mantis
yes and when we moved to this house we took a guy who had made his home in our window and set him free here with us

10. Sang a solo
yes

11. Bungee jumped
nope. not interested.

12. Visited Paris
yes - but so long ago and I never did get up into the Eiffel Tower. I can't wait to go back.

13. Watched a lightning Storm at Sea
I don't think so but I have seen many many lightning storms which I really miss here in the Pacific NW

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
yes- knitting about 10 years ago! Still loving it! And I write, but that I was born with.

15. Adopted a child
no. we have adopted a dog and three cats and several small rodent types.

16. Had food poisoning
not sure about this one. I got blastocystis hominis when I was in Russia which is pretty close, little guys living inside you who you don't necessarily want to be there :)

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
you know we stopped half way

18. Grown your own vegetables
yes. I am even currently growing my own vegetables!

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
yes! There was a huge crowd but I saw her!

20. Slept on an overnight train
yes, several times in Russia and thereabouts.

21. Had a pillow fight
yes. I don't really like pillow fights (or dodge ball...)

22. Hitch hiked
yes, long ago with a good friend.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
yes. It is hard to do that now.

24. Built a snow fort
yes!

25. Held a lamb
no but that would be fun

26. Gone skinny dipping
hmmm

27. Run a Marathon
no

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
no but that sounds fun

29. Watched a total eclipse: Solar and lunar
yes, both

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
yes, just last night and a couple of mornings ago, thanks to Agnes :)

31. Hit a home run
no

32. Been on a cruise
no

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
no

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
yes, we drove through Southern Indiana several years ago (does that count :)

35. Seen an Amish community
yes, briefly

36. Taught yourself a new language
Well, I have a degree in Russian.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
That's mostly a choice.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
yes and you know it really does lean. I was amazed.

39. Gone rock climbing
I took my kids to a rock climbing place at a gym but I am not interested really, although more so than with bungee jumping and a lot more than say going into a submarine.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
yes!

41. Sung karaoke
yes but I would really rather go rock climbing :)

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
yes and that was cool too! I have a picture of me in front of Old Faithful erupting.

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
no but I give money to homeless people whenever I can.

44. Visited Africa
I would love to visit Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
yes

46. Been transported in an ambulance
no- wait maybe I can't remember. It was for a friend of mine who was beat up by some college thugs when we were in college.

47. Had your portrait painted
no but my mom has done some paintings about me for sure

48. Gone deep sea fishing
no

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
yes!

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
No! And there was a whole thing where I was waiting for someone else to go up and then ended up not so I will have to go back.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
no

52. Kissed in the rain
probably

53. Played in the mud
yes, just recently even

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
I think so- yes when I was really young.

55. Been in a movie
no

56. Visited the Great Wall of China
not yet

57. Started a business
not yet

58. Taken a martial arts class
no

59. Visited Russia
yes, I have a very intimate relationship with that country and it has helped shape who I am in so many ways. Maybe I will go back someday but I feel a little sick thinking about it so maybe not.

60. Served at a soup kitchen
no

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
no but I sold a lot of other things door to door when I was a kid- candles, ornaments, that sort of thing

62. Gone whale watching
not yet

63. Gotten flowers for no reason
yes! I love flowers!

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
I don't think so. I think I thought about it in college but never did it.

65. Gone sky diving
No, I would rather sing karaoke :)

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
no

67. Bounced a check
yes

68. Flown in a helicopter
no

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
yes and the kids have been playing with them lately and it is nice to see them loved again

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
yes

71. Eaten Caviar
yes- that Russia trip- ugh

72. Pieced a quilt
yes, a little one

73. Stood in Times Square
yes! And thanks to my dad, I was even there on New Years one year when I lived there.

74. Toured the Everglades
no

75. Been fired from a job
no, well there was this time at NYU when I showed up and he had replaced me so maybe I was fired but he never said anything, it was a little passive to be really fired, you know? And there wasn't really a cause, the other intern just cost less :) But it was a little weird.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
yes

77. Broken a bone
no

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
well, on a motorcycle a couple of times, not sure if it was speeding

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
yes, lovely.

80. Published a book
not yet!

81. Visited the Vatican
no, I think so.

82. Bought a brand new car
no

83. Walked in Jerusalem
no

84. Had your picture in the newspaper
yes

85. Read the entire Bible
no, I started once because of some lit class I was taking but didn't get far. I have read through the Tao Te Ching though!

86. Visited the White House
no but I have seen it

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
no

88. Had chickenpox
no

89. Saved someone’s life
not a person but other little creatures for sure

90. Sat on a jury
good grief yes, in Brooklyn for a man slaughter case ai yai yai.

91. Met someone famous
yes but I don't usually recognize them. I met Jane Goodall and that was fun.

92. Joined a book club
yes but I didn't stay for long

93. Lost a loved one
yes

94. Had a baby
two!

95. Seen the Alamo in person
no

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
yes, a couple of them.

97. Been involved in a law suit
no

98. Owned a cell phone
yes

99. Been stung by a bee
yes and a yellow jacket a couple of summers ago at the upick. He crawled into my flip flop while my foot was up! Ouch!

she's a real martian beauty

Eva has been very inspired by this vintage sesame street flick.

She has taken to drawing the martian beauty in various drawings and today gave me a sample of what types of tattoos I could have. Martian beauty was one of the options...



baby sweater knitting in background...

We went to the market today and the kale guy said he may not come next week because, after all, it is winter. I mean, sort of, I guess. We did get a frost today. The market attendance was low today and I can see that many others feel as he does. Everyone is wearing a hat. There are some coats. I feel sad when the market closes but luckily I have my produce basket to keep me in fresh produce for the next couple of months until the market (and my garden) get back into the swing of growing. I bought extra kale.

Jack was so excited by the frost that he went outside and ran around really fast, jumping up and down excitedly. He loves the cool weather and if we ever get snow, hang on as he bounds this way and that into the snow drifts.

Samuel had the idea to pour water all over the patio and then when it freezes at night, we will have an ice skating rink in our yard. They may do this. I can't say for certain but if they are inspired, this could indeed happen, at least on part of the patio.

Overheard-
Samuel, "Eva don't spit, it's not polite!" [I swear I have never ever said this.]

Driving around the neighborhood tonight looking at Holiday Lights. Eva was so happy and ooooed and ahhed and ohhhed and sighed and pointed all the way through. We listened to Christmas music while we drove around. What is my favorite Christmas song? Carol of the Bells, of course. And then? Christmas is Coming. (Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat, please to put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny, a ha-penny will do, if you haven't got a ha-penny, then God bless you...)

I got out of the habit of carrying my camera once it broke and haven't gotten used to the old one again. Tonight the kids and I looked at Venus and Jupiter in the evening sky. Here is a lovely photo of the two planets with the crescent moon. The moon is at half quarter now, so things have changed a bit, but you can still see the two planet so clearly. Really lovely.

Yesterday and today there was much crafting and arting being done by all. So many preparations for the Homeschooling Bazaar next week. Several different robot prototypes and bracelets and necklaces were made. I am of course knitting the sweater for Mary's baby and wondering when I will ever take the plunge and finish up those dinosaurs for Christmas!

mittens!

I finished Eva's mittens. Love mittens to go with her bear hat. I have been sick for the last couple of days and am feeling so much better today. We have so many overdue library items I blinked when I saw the list. Too bad they don't have a I'm-sick-can-I-have-a-few-more-days-on-the-library-books option. I suppose they would argue that people would take advantage of this. Did you know that Borders doesn't allow returns without a gift receipt (or any receipt, for that matter) because of book-return-fraud issues? True. I had a clerk tell me all about it last time I was in there trying to return a book without a receipt. I think my dog ate it? No, Eva drew on it and it is now a part of the scrapbook? They didn't believe me.

The next thing to knit is a sweater for Mary's baby (don't look Mary!) who is due very very soooon. And the kids need to work on some crafty things for a homeschool craft sale they are doing next week. We are thinking something like bracelets, melty-bead-robots (or something robot, depending...) and something like brownies because Eva doesn't want to sell anything she makes but food is OK. Maybe some little guys with eyes? We need to head over to the craft store and just get a couple of ideas, set them up on the table, and see what happens. Samuel is also planning a raffle, so it could end up he makes one of each and then just sells raffle tickets for the lot, which seems like a pretty good option at this point in the game.

When you're done, you're done. I just burned a grilled cheese. Yikes.

We watched Martian Child while I was sick and now the kids are watching the newer Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Augustus Gloop the Nincompoop...that sort of thing.

This is after our tour of the Candy Basket last month. Checking out the candy. So much candy.

I have super glue stuck to several of my fingers from gluing together Eva's crab shell that she found when we were camping at Nehalem Bay last summer. He was cracked tonight when the shell basket fell over onto the brick floor by the nature table. Samuel's space guy Beam had accidentally (or was it Reptilan Snake?) pulled it down. Samuel came in the room as I was gluing on the eye and said that I was really very brave for touching the crab eye and putting the crab back together. It got me thinking about how one thing might be easy for one person and another thing easy for another and how we pass judgment on one another for our preferences when they differ and also get upset with one another when we are too similar- hey I like that, no I like that...The tension between being the same and being different. Belonging and autonomy always seem to be tugging at one another in our culture.