2011 soon here

I've always been slow to pick up on remarks this time of year that begin with, "Last time I'll ________ this year!" I think "really!" Then it dawns on me that this is no abstention statement, it's simply a remark on the imminent change of year. Ok, so I just had my last glass of wine, my last walk to the river, my last dinner, my last (i hope) email, my last ...(actually i think that was 2009 - i'm not saying!). It is silly, and I am no fan of New Year's Eve. It has never proved more exciting that when i was 5 or 6 and awaken by my grandmother (for whom i am named); she opened the curtains to show us the fireworks in the sky over New Orleans. We were in her high 4 posted bed in great grandmother's house on St. Charles and Second Street (the iron fence is still there, but the huge house is gone, replaced by an apartment building).
I think I always have higher hopes for an entire year than possible to accomplish in 365 days! Thus New Year's Eve seems more an accounting of disappointments (such as, that Sarah Palin did not disappear from the scene or screen). Let alone the more personal reflections on the state of my Homeopathic work! But then I am delighted with the unexpected turn out for the qigong. And truly 2010 was wonderful in surprises: Mr. Lee being the biggest - ha! in the smallest of packages.
I don't want to take my family for granted; my children, their beautiful wives, my amazing grandchild are my biggest DELIGHT - beyond my expectations!
I think it is the shadow of poverty, of war, of misery, of injustice in the world that darkens the year's turn for me...I want everyone drink clean water, if I can ... my joy is diminished knowing this is not so.
(go to www.dropinthebucket.org)

supposed to be warm

but i'm chilly inside; supposed to be sunny - but we've got clouds too - think i've got a touch of cabin fever. Enjoyed playing dolls with P, so much that i'm still carrying a doll with me and she's gone home!
about to dress up for a walk to the river and to check on the state of ice and of snow. I need to feed the goats! I need to check the chicken's feeder. I'm stalled here.
Mr Lee's looking at me; he anticipates my least move - what a face! well, i'm going to get moving and see just how much snow attaches to him walking to the river and back!

First human prints in the snow to river

I shoveled out a section of the chicken yard and amazingly the hens took a walk and peck outside; leaving the light on all day has garnered me 4 eggs the last two days! Fed the baa-ing goats some corn and brought fresh water; they seem intent on finding other goodies under the snow. This evening I hiked to the river without Mr. Lee, as I worried it would be a bit much. Transfixed on the patterns the snow made falling from the trees. The forecast is for more snow tonight, but this evening the sky seems lighter - we have enough.
And this morning played with P, blowing bubbles and rocking baby, tossing new balls and singing "grandma, grandma..."! We ate popcorn and fed some to baby and we fashioned a hammock of sorts out of a scarf for baby. I was fueled by an expresso made with my new little maker - it is perfect. Oh, happiness to be snow bound with P and Mr. Lee (and dear Katrina!).

Christmas White Christmas

I am truly big with presents; the NOOK has hooked me and i know i need to eat but damn, i gotta figure out this new tech tool. I got on FB on Nook. Now i need to download a book. I did take a break and try out my new much needed snow shovel, every time i clean the deck, I look out and it is covered again. I now think that 12 days of Christmas with one gift each day, like bubble stuff one day, doll another, ball third and so forth would be easier for the little ones, and for old nanee too - i posted my TOMS show pic on TOMS page, but i need to redo as the first pic was tiny. Mr. Lee scored big time; he's napping too.
Got 4 eggs for Christmas from the hennies and gave the goats some hay - may take a walk if i can tear myself away from my new toy. making some veggie soup with broccoli and beans, some pesto and pasta.
joy, joy to the great world as it turns, we turn -

I know why I'm excited

It's Christmas eve and she doesn't know what tomorrow is, i don't think she does; but nanee is excited for her. Tomorrow is a difficult concept anyway; and Christmas is a celebration very low key here and there's no TV at her house! But the larger world sets an atmosphere of anticipation that is difficult to escape; and i am curious to see what she thinks of the baby that coos and mumbles mama...
Daylight brightening, I need to fill the bird feeders and open the chickens. Katrina plays with one of her new toys.
Mr Lee sleeps.
Evening after a most most delicious Christmas Eve dinner at the Blue house: Baba cooked a roast, mashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts - i brought a pomegranate salad and Mindy made a delicious pecan pie...i groan! the stockings are getting fat!

when here, we blow bubbles

I have yet to remember to buy bubble stuff, but i've finally made a good dish soap mix that works fairly well. Bubbles send my mind drifting. small ephemeral spheres; poof - thought gone. like the words sometimes in the old brain - or names! the weatherman saying this is the coldest December in years, this week promising to remain unmeltingly cold. But i did manage to drive up the road this morning for qigong.

oopse

the torture of the slow older brain never ceases to jolt; walked back from putting my few Christmas cards in the mailbox only to realize that the mail has most probably come and that Mindy and Baldwin picked it up on their way to play date and that that was why our mail boxes were empty altho Robin's was with package!!!!!!!!!! And since it is Saturday I think it best that i hike back up and retrieve the letters so that they won't get horribly damp over the weekend. phooey. But first i am going to walk to the river to check on the state of ice, always the place of drama this time of year. So far it is a grey day but mercifully no more snow. Today I may not dance as much as walk !

Here's a picture of the river; not as much ice as i had imagined - tho creek is frozen most of the way to the river. Looks like I am OK with the mail; turns out it is Robin's mail from yesterday. One egg today, two yesterday - after several days of none but the soft shell egg always eaten.