Ok 2012 don't be like that...

I come to you long after I should.  and I cannot post what you might be looking for.  There is already loss being felt this year and I plead to the gods and goddesses that yes, you gave us a little cushion in 2011, but after 2010 -- dammit we needed a break.. and then as 2011 ended and 2012 began -- whamo.  It frightens me what this year might have in store and so I plead and pray -- Kali Ma and all of yours be easy, be kind on us mortals - be kind - be easy.

The loss I will post about tonight is a pet but a family member as well.  He was a part of the family much longer than I have been and while we may not have spent as much time with him as we should have (often it was too hot or too cold for us, but he weathered it... ) -- we did make sure special apples and carrots were delivered and pats and rubs.  At times there were snufflings of pretty girl's hair or nibbling of sweaty boy-o's hat.  Pretty sure he held tight many of Z's secrets.  He always greeted us and almost always demanded a proper goodbye. We will miss him and we know that he lived a long  love filled old man style life-- though we thought of him as a youngster.

R.I.P. Pockets

I ask all - please be kind to each other - watch out for one another - let your friends and family know you love them - let them lean on you if they need to  -- make this world a gentler kinder place if not worldwide than within your community - your family group.  Hug hard. Say I love you.  Listen.  Be present. 

Feeling a bit scroogy

Wow, it seems like forever since I have been here- I had planned to do an entry yesterday but well, things got away from me as they often do.

So let's start with well - you missed the decorating of our sparkly tree...

The kids are apparently over it.  Ruby didn't come out of her room - and Henry sat and watched TV while I decorated it.  Sigh.  It was kinda nice to just get it done I guess.  That was the weekend before last.  We got lights up on the house, too.  Since then the elves have been busy - the VHM has been in the basement sawing and mitering and sanding a storm, he comes to bed after I do smelling of sawdust but this creating makes him so much happier (which makes me happier).

Dad Update: So this part I can see is going to be harder. I did speak to Dad almost every day - and certainly tried to reach him every day.  He's having some difficultly in either not hearing the phone or not understanding what he's hearing is the phone - all I know is that he's been there but hasn't answered a few times.  He reports that a staff person has drawn his attention to the fact that the phone was ringing.   He's also said a few things which have me a bit concerned - watchful anyway - referring to "the house his wife owns across the street" and when I said something like "well, I don't think it's across the street" His reply was "well, here in the immediate neighborhood."  He's remarked a number of times of not having been upstairs at the Ferndale house, or never having been places (which up until now were clear in his head).   He seems to be rather taken in with the Christmas planning, overly concerned about snow "getting in the way of your Christmas plans" etc.   At one point he said "well, I am not sure how the holiday will effect the phone company" which was totally out of context.  I do know that he got out with the gang from St. Mary's to see Christmas lights, and that he's gone regularly to his exercise class; and a couple of walks a week.   Both my little brother and sister stopped by and visited.   I hope he gets good holiday time at home - and oh, he's been approved to go to the gym and work with weights/bicycle with immediate supervision.  So that's awesome.

The week has been a blur of construction on the bathroom (now on week 3) and christmas planning and prep.  On Tuesday we went to boy-o's concert - he's come a long way on the violin and while we all were a bit "ho-hum" about the other part of the concert - at one point a sixth grader who is visually impaired (and a tiny little boy) - played the piano - brilliantly.  The kind of playing which made a bunch of us burst into tears.  That kind of playing.  The audience was stunned into silence; and erupted with applause.  A nice christmas present indeed.

Thursday was PHO night.  My first attempt.  Not so great I am afraid. It was pretty though.
















At some point, I snapped this picture while out shopping:

You can see Z's cards at the top of the rack!

Friday night the girl and her guy hung out with us oldie moldies - her guy played his guitar while we lounged about for a few hours and then we went to a very late movie (which of course I slept through at the beginning).  Kinda sucks being me sometimes.

This weekend more shopping and cleaning - we had the painter in all weekend working on the bathroom (I swear these guys all work at a snail's pace). 

This is actually an older photo - pre wall install. 

On Sat I shopped - and you know it's worrisome if there's only four carts left.  Sunday I ran some errands and then made cookies, made caramels, made roasted mushrooms and then more cookies. 

The caramel, while delicious, never set.  It's in the freezer right now in a last ditch attempt to salvage it.

Random Photo of the Week:

Girl.

The VHM says that I am shiny this time of year.  I don't feel shiny right now.  Time for some Bailey's me thinks...

Change is good!

Ok so this blog will continue but it's moving toward a weekly post rather than a daily post - it will be more interesting (hopefully) for readers and more easy for me to manage/find interesting things to talk about.  As I move into winter I will have less time (my wednesday's off stop in January) so it's a good thing.

The bonus is that not only will this blog become way more interesting... but I have started a new one, specifically for more structured creative writing (an oxymoron so early in the day!) -- the link is in the sidebar of this blog...

Or for today - you can find it more easily here: http://beginningofaflame.blogspot.com/

I don't think (but I may change my mind) that there will be much commentary at the beginning of a flame; probably just entries of writing.  I do hope to get a post up each day - but that's subject to creative inspiration and my ability to push myself.   The nice thing is that I can post from my phone if its just text -- and that serves to make it more likely to happen even on the busiest days.

Please know that I appreciate anyone viewing and hope that all find something to brighten their day or make them think or clap with glee over me.

Anticipation

I'm building it! Right? Hopefully I have not lost my few faithful readers...

I swear it's just that when you have kids and holidays --well you have shopping, decorating, card printing, craft projects, concerts, etc. and they all take priority over writing, and blogging.

I also AM revamping the focus/format of this blog--so consider this a transition period - a palate cleanser; or perhaps an amuse-bouche.

My pickled beets came out! And this makes me happy!

Yay me!

I really am coming back...

It's just been a tough few days; and things should be a bit calmer tomorrow. Then I should be able to unveil the changes! I'm excited to see how I do--

Full belly and a little sugar

Makes for a sleepy me. After a late night slog through the Xmas crowds downtown, I met up for a late night dinner at our new Mexican restaurant. Note the capitalization, not a New Mexican restaurant, but a new Mexican one. [The VHM seems to get overly excited when I use this phrase- thus the need for clarity].

After all that, I had a shot's worth of baileys which knocked me out like a sledge hammer in the hands of the first terminator.

So, 2 hours later I'm posting this from da bed. More tomorrow if I'm inspired...

Flat Egg; I am like you.

I don't know about you but I am getting bored with this... this relating of my daily life.  It's not what this was supposed to be -- though really it wasn't supposed to be any particular thing.

Maybe by Monday I will have a new slant to this blog. Or perhaps I will start another -- thing.

Plumbers.  9am (actually a bit earlier as they could start outside with the removal of more siding). I headed off to work... leaving the girl stuck on plumber watch.  We refer to them as plumbers though the VHM reminds us often that these guys are not the plumbers but others.

the day skipped by ok. Though I can't say that I was enthusiastic about things in general -- I was informed midday that there was significant water damage in the wall of the bathroom that they feel came from the window. 

So now there's a hole in our house [there was, now they have put wall back].

I was also informed that I would be needed to be at the house tomorrow...

Dad Report: Dad and I had a short conversation - there was a disconnect at the middle of the call; a fairly long time before he hung the phone back up; and then his aide was there to take him for a walk. 

Random Photo of the Day:

I kinda liked my hair then...















I made a good dinner - steak, mashed potatos, and salad.

Then I made http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2010/11/09/cranberry-corn-muffiins-with-sweet-milk-drizzle/   But I panned them instead of making muffins.  It was ok.  I like the taste of cornbread but not the texture.  Too -- gritty.

As I went to make it - I noticed one of the eggs was odd...

Noticeably flat this egg was...

I've been avoiding the work I need to do about the house and the work I need to do next for bizbaz.

I note that both Pic*Mic Designs and Zachary C. Love's cards have been picked up as favorites on Etsy; and another one of my sister's cards was put into a treasury.  We are getting a lot of views - just not a lot of sales.  Might have to look at the pricing again...