Christmas 2008

Dinner -- Mr T with his silly face!

Three Generations

Miss C hugged her monkey right away.  

She makes the best monkey noises. . .

Miss C loves Yule Bread

Yule Bread -- 2008 -- made for generations in the H family.  My grandmother made it, my mom made it, my brother makes it, now I'll teach my daughter and granddaughter to make it.  It's a Swedish rye bread with anise and caraway and lots of molasses.  And it passed the Miss C test.

Look What We Did

Miss C enjoying the tree

A store display inspired Mrs T and me to put this installation over the dining room table.  We finished it late last night and can't wait to see Miss C's reaction.

Lights, chains and a little garland randomly draped from the ceiling.

Three holidays are coming up: Christmas, New Year's and a wedding anniversary, 

and we're all set.

What's New With Miss C

Miss C is doing lots of new things: taking her shoes off, and socks off; crawling holding something; pulling up on things, and just today, sitting back down.  At first she would yell for help to get down, but just this morning she got herself back down to one knee, and there you are!  The other big thing is stacking blocks: she has been really good at knocking down the stack; now she puts one block on top of the other up to three.

And we have joined you in winter: 17 degrees when we took MaMa to the train this morning.  The lock on the gate was iced up; MaMa thawed it with the butane torch.  I better go: Miss C is taking all the cards out of my Christmas card basket -- once again!

Christmas in GTown

"This came to our porch!  What can it be?  Just the box is great fun!"

Having a child to lead the way for Christmas is magical.  Miss C loves everything, especially the lights "nana nana."  Light and LaLa sound the same, so I must be the Light of her Life.  I'm OK with that.

Miss C is dressed in her special Christmas outfit here for a trip to visit Santa.  We have tried twice and missed him both times.  Hopefully, the third time will charm.  Those Santa photos from my children's childhood are treasures; Mrs T is hoping to continue the tradition.

Seasonal Sunday

No snow here like on the Left Hand Coast (I'm watching out for all of you,) but there was a sheet of ice on my car this morning like I had never seen before.  I scraped it off the windshield, got myself to the store for ingredients for a fig appetizer to take to a neighborhood party.  The gate wouldn't unlock, so I had to use a candle lighter to thaw the ice that had formed on the bolt.  Driving was OK as the streets had thawed with the traffic, but the sidewalks were treacherous. 

More cooking today: some toffee that has become a part of the Christmas season.  After many failures of the butter - sugar separation kind, Mrs T "googled" the answer: unsalted butter.  When making toffee, use the salted kind or add salt.  With this new knowledge, we are back in business.  

Later the ice glistened through the sunshine creating a beautiful vista as we walked over to Walnut street for the party.  Fun to meet some of the people who live in the homes that I walk past.   

It's beginning to look a lot like . . . .

This Christmas Elf brings a smile and dancing feet to Miss C every time it comes down from the shelf.  Thank you, Auntie C for this perfect gift!

Caroling with candle light.  Miss C particularly loved all the candles.  Luminaria greeted us at the park, a brass choir provided the music, we sang carols and carols.

The library has provided us with Christmas books, but where are the ducks?  Miss C's favorite topic right now is ducks, but the Santa doesn't do ducks.  Lucky Miss C was given a rubber ducky ornament from the sweet T family in Washington.  Thank you!

Back East

Coming back east feels normal, somehow.  My little aerie on the third floor feels like home.  Luck me: I have two places to call home!

"Big Joe" has a new fan!

Miss C got some new books from my Left Hand Coast home, and she approves!  "Big Joe" was Uncle N's favorite when he was her age. . . .

Now it's time to settle in to Christmas.

St Craig Day

Today is St Craig Day!

Honor this saint by seeing a recently released movie (preferably James Bond!); eating spicy food -- Chinese or Mexican -- and taking the day off work.  All things the wonderful Craig liked to do on his birthday.  Think of him today as you drink beer, hug your spouse, say, "Hi" in an intimate way to a loved one.  I miss him and he is here with me.  

Visit to the Left Hand Coast

A visit home feels surreal: it's home, yet it's not.  Everyone is the same, yet life has gone on here without me.  My life in G Town seems far away, yet ever present in the back of my mind.

I loved seeing so many of you on Sunday; I loved being in B Ham with Mr N; yesterday, I did the vet thing with my kitty Louie; each day it's lunch with someone, dinner with someone else.  Thank you all for your open arms and making time for me in this busy season.

I'll be going back to Miss C with renewed energy and love.  

Playwright

Friday I drove north to visit Mr N and to see his play.  My son is a playwright!  His first full length, one act play, "Mo and Julie" premiered at the Community College he attends.  It's the Romeo and Juliet story set in a restaurant kitchen.  He directed and produced the play: casting, sets, lighting, EVERYTHING.  And what an effort.  It was fun, a little funny at times; thoughtful, with lines to ponder.  I am so proud.  I just must crow about this fine young man who is my son.  He also writes songs, poetry, works as a cook, attends school, paints.  My mind has trouble holding on to the variety of creativity that comes from him.

GO MR N!!

Weekend in Woodstock

Thanksgiving was a lovely day in Woodstock with Nonnie and PaPa, Daddy T's parents.  We ate too much, as is usual for the day, and slept well.  The day after Thanksgiving, we needed a little nature, so we took a walk to the Saugerties Lighthouse on the Hudson River near Woodstock.

Miss C and Mommy at the Saugerties Lighthouse on the Hudson River.

Peaceful Hudson River

My first lighthouse on a river!  And it's a house with a light on top.

The house itself is a B&B.  The weekends are all booked for this next year!

Miss C loves the water: "WaWa"  but where are the ducks, 

her current obsession?

Playing in the window of Taco Juan's, our lunch spot.  

The girl is ready for legos.

Happy Thanksgiving

Gratitudes fill my thoughts this morning:

• the opportunity to live here with Miss C and her family
• N, the great: playwright, musician, painter, poet, composer, creative force
• the upcoming trip home
• my fabulous friends whom I miss dearly
• nieces, brothers, nephews, sisters-in-laws and brothers-in-laws
• traveling here to Nonnie & Papa's
• my lonely kitty
• health, just enough wealth, and smiles and laughter every day

I pray for a peaceful world.  I pray for wisdom for our leaders.  I pray for calm to grow and spread. 

"Please Touch"

Water and Ducks, what could be better?

"Quack, quack, quack!"

The wheels on the bus go round and round!  And I'm driving!

The "Please Touch" children's museum recently moved into a new space in Memorial Hall -- the former site of an exposition to celebrate the USA's Centennial in 1876.  The building is grand, and is now filled with fun for children.  Miss C, Mrs T, and guests from Seattle, the Three C's joined us for a visit.

The girls and mommies are exploring a hollow tree with a duck's nest.

Miss C is a fan of eggs (and ducks) and is diving into the nest to get a good one.

"Eeeeeg, Eeeeg"

Where there's a mirror, there's a happy Miss C!

This is a museum for CHILDREN!!

We had a great time at the museum and purchased a membership so that we can visit again and again.

SNOW

It snowed yesterday, just flurries, and today there was a bit of snow on the ground when we woke up.  It's gone now, but maybe more, who knows?  Miss C loved watching it come down.

Blessing

One of the greatest blessings of this "year on the right hand coast" is the opportunity to spend time with my lovely daughter.  She has been living on this coast for 9 years now, so our time together has been rushed and occasional: when she comes west, she has had lots of visiting to do, when I come east, it's usually for a special occasion.  These three months have contained plenty of hang out time.  Yes, I am doing the granny-nanny thing, but I also have the chance to drop in on my daughter's life.  Precious, precious drop-in, hang-out time.  

We have also had time for projects.  

Dining Room Chair Project:

Removing the old covering -- two layers plus straw and cotton batting

Recovering chairs: the before.  Note Percy's expression: this old fabric has to go!

Removing the seat.

Percy checks out the progress.

Finished product -- almost.  The seat isn't screwed in, yet, but you get the idea.   

Also this week: hemming the curtains for Miss C's room that have been in a box since Nonnie brought them; making a sleepy sack for Miss C.  Satisfying.

Different kind of Shopping

Mrs T and I along with Miss C went into the city today to shop for fabric to re-cover the new dining room chairs.  We went to "Fabric Row" where all the fabric stores are located in Philadelphia.  Old buildings, old shops, an interesting variety of fabric, lots of rolls of fabric just like one sees on "Project Runway."  Very different from going to one of the chain fabric stores where you wait and wait for a turn at the cutting counter.  I remember when every department store had a "yardage" department.  It was a treat to go with my mom to pick our a yard of nice wool for a new skirt.  Many fabric purchases turned into something much less successful. . . .

I forgot to take my camera, as this area is picturesque in its own way.  I love finding my way (with the help of Mrs T's new cell phone's GPS) around this big interesting city.  My new plan is to haul the camera EVERYWHERE! 

And I went to Chestnut Hill today alone.  (Mrs T had the day off.)  I love being with Miss C, but a day without hefting her in and out of the car is a real treat.

Time for Tourism

Tourism has taken a big part of my Non-Miss C time this week: The Art Museum featuring an exhibit of quilts from Gees Bend, Alabama. Today (with Miss C and her mom), a visit to Betsy Ross' home and Elfreth's Ally.  The ally's homes, built in 1702, are still lived in today.  These houses were middle class homes of the day.  So many of the historic homes in the area are of the wealthy.  

Did you know that Betsy Ross had to create her flag in secret?  She could have been hung for treason by the British if they had discovered that she was making a flag for the Revolutionary Leaders.  It's interesting that she is one of the few women remembered from the early days of our country, and her daring never even dawned on me until today.  History is interesting. . . 

We also visited the F.A.N gallery to look at some paintings by a young Philadelphia artist, and the gallery owner remarked that the very building housing the gallery had been in existence during Benjamin Franklin's day; B. Franklin had probably walked up and down the street; and here we were, doing the very same thing.  The artist is Kate Kern Mundie, her Philadelphia paintings were great, especially the paintings of the picturesque City Hall at night. (www.fanartgallery.com) 

Yes, We Can

It was late last night before I could calm down and go to sleep.  After the speeches, after the declarations, after the grin had faded from my face, I could finally drift off.  Thankfully, Miss C has cooperated in her napping today to allow a tired Gma La La to catch up on her sleep.

I'm still checking the results on the Left Hand Coast races that I care about, but my, oh my.  It's a good day.  Now there's lots of work to be done.

"While we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt 

and those who tell us we can't, 

we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: 

Yes We Can."  

Barack Obama, President-Elect of the United States of America

Another Anitdote for Too Much "Pundititis"

Read the blog from a lovely young friend of mine: http://brightandbeautiful.wordpress.com

She has a wonderful, bright perspective on the world that brings a smile!

Schuylkill River Bike Trail

Near GTown are great biking paths: today I did the Schuylkill River Trail leading into the Center City area.  Here, I'm racing some practicing oarsmen.  I kept up with them!

The Water Works has always puzzled me, and today I read about the history of this place.  A dam was built across the Schuylkill to provide water to the city.  So, it's exactly as it says, the place that provided water.  No bikes on the decks, so my little ride waited for me while I snapped photos.

The dam near the water works

The Water works

Now holds a restaurant.  You can see the Art Museum just behind the WW.

The Market Street Bridge

The building behind the bridge is the train station.  Ms T gets off here to go to work every day.

The Art Museum

Wildlife in the city.

"Boathouse Row"

Schuylkill River on November 2,2008

Two more days until the election.  I had to get out of the house to get some distance from all the news, computer sites with video, etc.  I voted absentee two weeks ago, and have strong views about the outcome, but I'm weary of all the pundits, but I can't seem to quit looking at them.  My "too much news" antidote was this 10 mike bike ride.  I highly recommend it.  

Beautiful Fall

Rain, rain, rain yesterday turned into a beautiful fall day today with mild temperatures.  Miss C and her mom and I took advantage of the weather to explore the Morris Arboretum near GTown.  A lovely walk in a lovely place.

Taking a break from looking at the leaves at the Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill.

The parking lot view!  It's on the side of the hill, so you get a bit of a vista: not the usual in this flat-ish country.

Today's three generations 

Miss C in her new duds direct from L.A.  "Have a leaf!"

Opera

The lovely Miss C asking for a "book"

Daddy came home early today so Gma LaLa could meet Mrs T in downtown to attend the opera, Beethoven's Fidelio.  We sat on the main floor, and looking up, this is what you see:

This opera house really looks like an opera house.

Christine Goerke played Leonore (who disguises herself as Fidelio to rescue her imprisoned husband) and sounded appropriately grand; she's a name to watch out for.  I was happy to be sitting next to my resident opera expert, so that made the experience that much better.  The sets were avant guard, making for a memorable evening: it's the complete package -- music, story, staging, and glorious singing.