Snow Play

Snow Day

10:30 a.m. today

Laptop

We got G a laptop for Christmas, but gave it to her early because of the amount of work she has due between now and Christmas break. We are already finding her all around the house, working (or playing!) away on it.

Cookie Walk

G and I pulled ourselves out of bed this morning to be at the head of the line at the annual cookie walk at a nearby Catholic church. Although it was flurrying, there was no ice on the roads and in the parking lot as in the past two years. The bells were chiming as we got out of our car into the swirling flakes. As G said, it was something you'd expect in a movie. We came home with 5 pounds of cookies -- heavy on the Chocolate Crinkles for G, Peanut Butter Blossoms for D, Russian Tea Cakes for Grandpa and Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies for me.

First Snow

12.03.09 @ 4:30 p.m.

Thriving

There's a small space underneath the exterior phone box where we plant alyssum every year. This year the chickens (before the fox ate them) kept digging the area up, so they didn't do very well. Then it was dry and whatever was left died. However, some time during October, a few plants emerged and now they are thriving. It's pretty amazing, since everything else has just about died off. I'm hoping they make it to December.

In a Fog

7:30 a.m.

Glee

Though my family has suspected it for weeks, today I am coming out as a full-blown *Gleek*! Drove them crazy over the weekend with YouTubing my favorite songs, so I broke down today and did a massive download from iTunes, so I can go back on the down-low with my obsession! (Very un-Kurt of me!)

Shift Change

These sunbeams are known by many names, including Jacob's Ladder and Rays of Buddha, but the technical term for them is "crepuscular rays," because they tend to occur at dawn and dusk. When I was little, I asked my great-grandmother what they were. She told me it was the light created by Angels changing shifts. (Makes total sense if you are Catholic and living in a Pennsylvania steel town.) Whenever I see them in the middle of the day, as I did today, I always wonder what in the world is going on -- like maybe the Day Shift Angels need reinforcements.

Award

It's not too often I post a picture of myself here, but I had a really great moment this past week. Educators at G's school nominated me for a community service award that is sponsored annually by a local business. There was a big shindig at the arts center and each nominee was given his or her moment in the spotlight. Though I didn't win the top award, I was incredibly honored to have been recognized for the activities I have been involved in over the past two years. Thanks THK and AH for putting my name forward!

Chula Vista

Last weekend we took a minibreak and went to the Chula Vista Resort in the Dells. Not as big as the Kalahari, but we liked it and would go back. Kind of struck out at outlet shopping and didn't get too far on Christmas shopping when we stopped in Madison. We did however enjoy lunch at Casa de Lara and walking around State Street.

Happy Halloween

G recently became hooked on NCIS, which is in almost constant rotation on the USA Network. So when she went Trick or Treating with Cha and Mara last night, it's no surprise that she dressed up as NCIS Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto!

Pumpkin Art

Fall Book Fair

It's Book Fair time again! It has been pretty much all-consuming this week. Despite my fears of massive volunteer dropouts due to all the stuff that's going around (including H1N1) and depressed sales because of the economy, only one of my co-chairs called in sick (with flu-like symptoms!) and our receipts are about where they were last year. G was pretty restrained this year and I think that even with book donations I got through the week for under $125!

Fall Visit

Last weekend Pat & Bill visited from NYC. It was an unseasonably cold and overcast weekend -- at one point there were even snow showers. It was a fairly busy pumpkin day on Sunday and Simon was a big help with getting people back and forth to the field.


G & Simon played Marathon Monopoly

Jaspar & G

Opening Weekend

Kind of a slow weekend for pumpkins, even though the Packers have a Monday night game, because the weather was so overcast, damp and cool.

Firedog

It has been chilly and damp here. Dan pulled out the chimenea as an incentive to be out in this weather. We're not the only ones who enjoy it -- Maike likes to chase the stray cinders. Here she is waiting expectantly for something to fly out the top.

Fall Colors

Front Porch

Pumpkin season is upon us

Home Improvement

We are finally redoing our ugly front porch. Yesterday G primed the door -- now we just have to decide what color to paint it.