Time with Friends

A quick weekend away brings delights and surprises and wonderful energy to me.  And what could be better than the energy of NYC:  42nd Street, approaching Grand Central Station, Chrysler Building, Blue sky, for a visit with friends in Connecticut.

My hostess S met me at the station.

Talking, talking, talking until 1:30 AM: catching up with each other, each other's families, each other's lives.  I recognize how much my friends mean to me!

A quick drive to New Haven and Yale University.  This is the entrance to the library.

You must get really smart here!

 Gma La La & S at "The Gate"

Train travel is so civilized.  On the train back to G Town, I met a woman from Budapest and Paris now married to a professor at a university in Lancaster, PA.  We talked the whole way from CT to PA.  Driving my car never brings the pleasure of these unanticipated encounters.

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm sending you extra love today from G Town.   

Hearts, hearts, hearts.  One needs lots of hearts to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Shortbread cookies turned out to be a challenge to roll, but for just a few, I'm up for it.

First you roll and cut them out.

Then you bake.

Then you dip in chocolate.

Valentine flowers for me from my loved ones.

Valentine greetings that we sent to G Mas and G Pas from Miss C

I've been discovering a new world of crafting ideas on the internet, and have been inspired to do a little more sewing: a little "doggie" print dress for Miss C, a skirt for her little friend's upcoming birthday, a new sleepy sack, and hats, hats, hats.  Making things for little ones takes no time at all.  We also found a fabric store in G Town with great buys so my stash is growing.   It's satisfying to make something new, and I love having the time.

Snow in G Town

The side yard in the snow this morning

Puffballs of snow on the tree; fluffy, light snow.

Six inches on the post-box on the gate!

Miss C liked her first close up look at the snow

"Woof Woof" paws covered in snow!

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery, keeps one awake in the dark of a cold winter's night, last night, to be exact! 

I've also been reading Ann Patchett: Run and The Magician's Apprentice.  

My frustration is that the library limits you to five books on hold at a time. . . .

Portraits of Miss C

Is it just me, or is this one of the most angelic faces ever?

Miss C's activity level makes photography more and more difficult.  Not using flash makes the friendliest photos, but makes for lots of blurry images deleted!  Here she is getting ready to push her wagon:  

Miss C is taking step, step, step, but not on her own.  She happily walks along the sofa and around the coffee table or over to Daddy while holding your hands.  She has developed many methods of locomotion, one new one has one foot, one knee, and one hand on the floor so that the other hand can carry the object of desire.  Dancing and "mu, mu, MU!" (music) are the requests frequently.  She is grace personified.   Counting to four, recognizing colors, animal names and the sounds they make keep her busy, busy, busy.   Her language gets clearer and clearer by the day.   

Miss C -- 15 months