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.