Saturday, December 31, 2011

hanging with the doggies

Pa has to work today, BOO-URNS. We're just haning out in our jammies with the diggies.  I'm thinking that maybe we'll take a trip to the library, but that would involve getting dressed, so... 

Friday, December 30, 2011

Waxing Snoetic.

Poems for Winter, just two of my true faves!


Winter Tenement
by Malcolm Cowley

When everything but love was spent
we climbed five flights above the street
and wintered in a tenement.
It had no bathroom and no heat
except a coal fire in the grate
that we kept burning night and day
until the fire went out in May.

There in a morning ritual,
clasping our chilblained hands, we joked
about the cobwebs on the wall,
the toilet in the public hall,
the fire that always smoked.
We shivered as we breakfasted,
then to get warm went back to bed.

In the black snows of February
that rickety bed an arm's length wide
became our daylong sanctuary,
our Garden of Eden, till we spied
one spring morning at our bedside,
resting on his dull sword,
the rancorous angel of the bored.

"We raised this cockroach shrine to love,"
I said; "here let his coffin lie.
Get up, put coffee on the stove
to drink in memory of love,
then take the uptown train, while I
sit here alone to speculate
and poke the ashes in the grate."

Oh, I LOVE THAT! Here's another one:

Winter-time
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head.
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark, I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit,
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
the colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
It's frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hills and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.

SO GOOD! Okay, one more:


Winter Days

The need I have on winter days
To sit behind the window pane
To gaze upon the frosted ground
The snowflakes coming down and down
And sit alone, a quilt around
my shoulders, legs, and let it drape
a cozy blanket, winter's cape;
I want to hug each single flake.

I think to those cold snowy nights
Our bodies hot and bundled tight
Beneath five quilts we're wound together
Joined for warmth in such cold weather.
 
How can a snowflake yet be found?
Snowflake, fall here on the ground!
Come, bring your friend and then another
to such a hopeful, wishful mother.
I'd like to hear the quietness
The snow pat-pat as it comes down;
And I'll just sit and retreat still further
and watch each flake go round and round.



When people tell you you'll never do anything with that English degree, prove 'em wrong with a blog, baby! Now I really should go clean my bathroom...  Bye!  ;0)


{this moment}

Following in the footsteps of some of the greats, I bring you...

{this moment}-a Friday ritual. A single photo- no words- capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.

(thanks for reminding me, Danna and G!)

Thursday, December 29, 2011

In this house...

In this house tonight are: THREE children who were exceptionally sweet, charming, and well-behaved today. They spent the whole day in their own world, only coming out to air the occasional grievance, have it rectified, and then returned. They just brushed their teeth (one of them brushed 4 times...) and are looking cute in their PJ's.  There's a Pa on the couch reading some engineering thing I can't decipher and who has a very wind-burned face from standing outside watching a wall being built from 7AM until dark (he says it's as fun as it sounds).  Also you can find two very loved but very stinky and shedding dogs (they're going to the groomer's tomorrow, thankfully) and a mom who just made a quick trip to the lib and made out with some borrowed treasures. Yes, somehow we all fit in that tiny little house down there!    

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

It's snowing in Canada.


My mom is in Canada right now and she sent me these pictures because she knows I love snow!  Here in CT it is pouring rain and I'm very depressed because on December 27th, all this rain really should be snow!  Maybe I should move to Canada??? I really can't last too much longer without a heavy snowfall!!! Here are my mom's pretty pictures.

Wet Heads



When it rains, she posts.

I call this series, Under Route 8.  If you're a local, try to figure out where I am!




 We had an impromtu family night at Big G's house. The menu was take-out Chinese food and lots of left-over Christmas desserts.

 Mimi forgoes the pumpkin pie and heads straight for the whipped cream.
 Gianna makes 'the morning announcements' and Mimi stands by to appreciate it.
 Pig Pile on Uncle Mark :0)
 Hamming it up.
 Mary wishes these select individuals a happy 2012! 
 My handsome brother.
 Mimi decides to pass on the red velvet cupcakes.
 A smooch for Daddy :0)
Mimi gets ready to head home in her toasy tweety hat.  Good night!  Enjoy the rainy night!

Rainy day house tour

 Jeter always keeps me company when I'm at my desk xo. Usually he likes to stick his head underneath the bed, but I guess because it was dark and rainy today he didn't feel the need to do that :)
 I took a long walk in the rain with the dogs and just got back.  I did the same thing yesterday.  My shins are killing me.  I think the dogs are pretty worn out, too.  Jillian found a spot on the laundry-and-Christmas-toy covered bed to snooze.
 I still can't figure out how to flip pictures. This is my dresser, the only one that I don't have to share with Chris.  The bottom two drawers are broken so I just have everything folded in stacks :) Max and Mimi are now using the drawers for stuffed animal beds.
 Presents of past Christmases.  The angel with the muff was made in Japan in the 40's. There's me and my mom in the background, made in the 70's :)
 Almost over...
 Just makes me happy...
 Some inspiration on the cabinet door...
 My firstborn and my two best Tweeties...
 My great Gramma and Grampa from Poland on their wedding day... Nie daj sie.
 Kokeshi keep my Great Gram company...
 Personality frogs...
An organic look into my dest. That camera takes pictures in a grid of four, about 1/2 a second apart.  I got it in Cape Cod on my honeymoon xo.  The card in front of it is our annual pass to the Truck Museum, which closed :( Some other points of interest: cute cat stickers, Maxwell's old karate patch, and Book of Mormon flash cards. Have a nice day :O) 

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Dreams come true!

I've been heavily hinting to my hubby that I want a sewing machine for Christmas, but I didn't think it was going to happen since my presents were already in tiny boxes under the tree.  One box was very cute earrings (thank you hubby) and the OTHER was THIS!!!  Nesteled inside a cream cheese box :)  This is the only pic I took on Christmas morning, I was just too tired to get the camera.  Mr. Max woke up at 5:00!!!!  But he kept himself busy arranging the presents for a good 45 minutes before he woke us up.  Mimi had already come down to our bed around midnight because the reindeer on the roof woke her up, so she was snugged in with Mommy & Pa :)   

Saturday, December 24, 2011

...nestled all snug in their beds...



Best Christmas Eve Ever!

We went to the Eggers' for Christmas Eve and spent the day in their beautiful new home, eating delicious food, and watching the kids be silly!  It was just us, Gramma Sandy, Uncle Roy & Jolene, and Grampa George came a bit later.  It was really nice, very relaxing. We all had a great time!

 Uncle Roy & Jolene bought the kids huge stuffed animals. Mimi got a lamb and Max got a horse. They were the big hit of the day!  They are super soft! Here's Pip with her lamb.
 Who is this precious little boy on the tree??? 
 It's PA!!!!
 Max and Mimi cuddling up with their new stuffed animals :)
 Gramma left for a few minutes. We told the kids that they had to wait for her to get to open presents.  Mimi kept a lookout at the door.
 Gramma's back!  Time to open! 
 Mimi models her beautiful new Christmas dress from Gramma Sandy and some lovely new accessories! 
 Pa and I attempt to take our own picture...
 Grampa George gets back to join in the fun! Every year since Chris and Roy were kids George gets them a tool and carves their name in it.  He does it for Max and Mimi too, and THIS year I also got one!  A screwdriver with my name and date :)  Thanks George!
 This is the little ornament I gave to Sandy when I was still just "the girlfriend"!  I always look for it every Christmas, and I'm always happy to see it :)  It's amazing it's didn't break yet with 6 years of kids running around the tree! 
Mimi wanted me to take a picture of her new little fairy that she put in the tree and put it on the blog!  Thanks Eggers for a really great Christmas and for all our gifts!  You always make me feel so welcome and at home. I love everything, but my favorite gift of all is a leather bound collection of the complete Grimms' fairy tales.  I'd like to sit down and read it a bit but I have to get ready for Santa- he comes tonight!  Merry Christmas!