carry on

i'm packing.

i'm going nowhere.

big red leaves for a few days. i ususally pack for him. i like to know he has everything he needs when he's away. it's what i do. and he fills my van with gas and wiper fluid. it's what he does. it's the give and take.

i like to pack. i'm an over-packer. totally. red likes a carry-on only. checked bags? nope. he won't do it. he is so much the george clooney character in
"up in the air" when he's at the airport. he has the routine down. slip shoes off, toiletries precisely packaged, pockets emptied. by the way, did you see that movie? i loved that movie.

i want to learn to pack light. or lighter. that the option of picking up and taking off could be mine too.

where would i go? i asked r that question this morning. he had a three-way tie. italy, japan and australia. could i do that with just a carry-on? hmmm.....where would you go?


best
deborah

super traditions

big day around here yesterday. football. the superbowl.

b says it's his 4th or 5th favorite day of the year. and if the superbowl was held during the summer--it would be his 3rd favorite, no problem.

big red and i? we are not big football fans. but, we are big fans of our boys. if they're happy? we're pretty happy too.

many years, red was traveling for business on superbowl sunday. many times he was in fact, on an airplane.

so the boys and i began our own traditions. they choose the dinner menu (this year--pizza, take-out) and they can eat in front of the television (eek). three of us thought the packers would win. three of us were right. we were a house divided--split between cheering for both teams.

r constructed lego logos, or lego nameplates.


the special snack around here, isn't guacamole or chicken wings. it's ice cream--superbowl ice cream, right out of the carton--haagen dazs, strawberry. this is how i serve it up.
it's the only day of the year we do this. and now it's tradition.


best
deborah

wrestling and tackling

the boys have another snow day. it is not snowing. it is sunny and blue skies are filling my windows. it's really pretty. and really cold.

so, i can hear the boys wrestling in the family room. that will end badly. so, i'm off to encourage them to figure out something else to do. i may encourage chores;)

then, i'm tackling my studio--which is really our extra bedroom that has no bed. it does have nine lifetimes of art and craft supplies.


that room also catches everything that hasn't found a permanent home. alas, that's the problem. so, i'm going in to pick up, throw out, pack away and file neatly. i may need reinforcements. good thing it's a snow day. :)


best
deborah

snow day

it is still snowing. what do i care? i'm not shoveling. this kind of weather brings out the sexist in me. that is man's work.

big red is shoveling. we have a snowblower--he almost never uses it. he's old school. and he likes the peace and quiet without it.

i'm sending the boys out to help. so much for his peace and quiet.

he might as well fire-up that blower, now.;)

i'm waiting to hear the biggest boy say he cannot find his boots. he says it every snowfall. it's his thing. to not find his snowboots until the drive is mostly or completely cleared. it's a good move.

yet his snowboots are neatly tucked at the base of the basement steps, again. like always.

r was itching to get outside.



he wants to....wait for it....wait for it.

dig a hole.

alrighty.

i've chicken in a big pot. chicken soup for dinner. and salad and scones. i'm hooked on those scones. hooked.

the boys made forts for the kitties and have watched super bowl media hype a good part of the day.
how are you spending this snowy day? or is it balmy and sunny where you are? geez, please don't rub it in.


best
deborah

baking up a storm

i've been baking. up. a. storm.

one's coming. a snowstorm, i mean. or haven't you heard? it's all the talk at the grocery store.

anywho, i'm baking.

these scones.

three batches, so far. might even bake another batch today.

i'm pretty impressed with myself. i mean i'm no butcher, baker and candlestick maker, but i'm working on it.

feels kind of nice to treat my family to homemade goodies.


best
deborah

afternoon

last day of the semester, yesterday. thank goodness. i took b out to lunch to celebrate. two of his six teachers were sitting just 10 feet away in another booth. he didn't wave.

he did talk non-stop for an hour, though. i love when that happens. when i remember to shut-up(a phrase i really do not allow in our home) long enough to let him speak his mind and what's on his heart. love it.

after lunch, we split up in target and he found me in the baby clothes section after about 20 minutes. he was puzzled. target has really cute baby things right now--that's all.

i did manage to buy two rugs that are super gorgeous but do not work in my space and two tops that also are gorgeous that do not work on me. you know what did work and fits pertectly? this scarf. love it.



best
deborah

in my drawers....

big red was out all day on calls and whatever it is he does:)

i was alone all day with the *girls*--the kitties, who are really cats, but some people do not like cats and that seems to be alright with way too many people, in my opinion. i mean, if you have something against kitties, well--that ain't right. so the kitties and i hung out and true followed me around all day, like normal. indie found herself....er, i found her atop the fridge. (she like, never does that) and i ended up preparing a little surprise for big red.

something i knew would make him very very very happy. something he'd never suspect from me after all these years.

no, not that.

this.
red's drinking less coffee and lattes and more tea these days. so am i.

he's easy, that red. i like that about him.


best
deborah