Swiss Chard

I made a delicious dish with Swiss Chard tonight.  Husband appreciated it very much.  However, the Blueberry Girls, faced with one single tiny piece, had a much more critical response on account of it being dark green.  The word "yuck"and barfing sounds featured prominently.  

My sister has two boys in the 99% percentile on the weight charts.  Her kids eat just about anything.  I am so jealous.

Ghost of Christmas just past

We just had a most marvelous Christmas.  The girls have been having a blast with the Wii that their Daddy bought them.  They have been alternating their time between the Wii and the cottage playhouse from their Grandma & Grampy.  I got lots of wonderful gifts, including a beautiful soft white sweater from Husband, bubble bath from the girls, a gorgeous recycled glass salad bowl, fair-trade ornaments, hand-made soap from my aunt, and knitting needle/crochet hook organizers hand-made by my mom.  (She did a really great job, too, and the fabric is a purple batik.  It is awesome.)

 It was a pleasantly calm, fun, relaxing day.  The clean-up is done, most of the toys are in their places.  The only thing we missed was a roaring fire in the fireplace thanks to the unseasonably warm weather.

Merry Christmas to all.

Dancing girl

I got to volunteer in Caitlin's Kindergarten classroom yesterday.  I got to read books with 14 adorable little kids.  But my favorite part was getting to observe Caitlin in her classroom.  I noticed something about her.  She dances everywhere.  If there is a break in the lesson, or the other children are still busy putting their materials away, Caitlin does an arabesque and tries to hold it as long as she can.  If she has to move to or from her table, she puts her hands on her hips and skips away like she's in her Irish dance class.   She is just a hoot!

And Gwen has some serious vocal aspirations.  We are going to have a caroling party.  Some friends are coming over, we are going to sing for a few of our neighbors, then we are going to eat pizza and christmas cookies.

Gwen has decided that her must-sing carol is Carol of the Bells a la the American Boychoir.  Not a simple tune to say the least.  I tried to explain to her that it was a multi-part song requiring, if not trained singers, at least several hours of practice.  She has reluctantly accepted my reasoning, but I can tell from the look in her eyes, that she thinks we should give it a shot anyway.  I love her.  (And who knows, maybe we'll work on it for next year.)

Oh what fun it is to ...

Gwen and I just had the best sword fight EVER.  With a used wrapping paper cardboard tube.  We were laughing so hard, neither of us could breathe.  And those tubes just make the best sound when they hit things.  Unfortunately, the cardboard tube did not not have as much fun, and is now in several pieces in the recycling bin.

This evening's spontaneous festivities have caused me to stop and ponder why I spent $$$$ on store bought toys for Christmas, when stuff like this is always the most fun.  Seriously.  We have more toys than we know what to do with, but do you know what the girls can't walk past without getting really excited?  A white-headed dandelion.  Not kidding.   And lately, the toy of choice in our house has been a very low-tech jumprope.  No lights, no sounds, no batteries, a made-of-yarn-at-a-school-festival jump rope.  Also on their list of awesome toys, the hand-made quilt they are using as an invisibility cloak.  For hours, HOURS.  And they are never tired of it.  This very evening, Caitlin, in a dead-serious voice, warned me not to touch her really super cool small gray pebbles.  Fisher-Price, eat your heart out.

Pancakes!

We made pancakes this morning, which is always a huge hit.  (Read, the children can't eat them fast enough.)  Our tradition is to make them with mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top right after you pour the batter in the pan.  For the grown-ups I make pecan pancakes.  I think any day that starts with pancakes is a good day.

Party Time

We have had quite a fabulous weekend.

Friday night, Jeff and I went to the Digi-Data Christmas Party.  My company really knows how to throw a party.  It was held in the Savage Historic Manor House, and the catering was excellent.  (The stuffed mushrooms were my personal favorite.)   It was really nice to be able to talk with my co-workers outside of work.  Ken Willis, in particular, shared some fascinating stories from the early days of computing.  Geoff and Helen told us of their many travel adventures including a somewhat perilous trip up an Mexican pyramid.  And I finally met Geoff Martin's wife, Jocelyn, a high-school English teacher. (Brave, brave woman!)

After the meal was over, the dancing began.  Frankly, I have to say,  I work with the coolest people.  Almost everyone got up and danced.  Ralph's wife Tracey danced practically every song.  The dance trophy, though, must go to Ken.  He's got knee trouble, is a grandfather, and still, he out-danced everyone there, putting even the youngsters to shame.  He had the moves and wasn't afraid to get out there and dance.  Tracey and I got to dance to "The Twist" with him, and Jeff got a great photograph of it.  

Then Saturday, we took the Blueberry Girls up to the Waldorf School of Baltimore's Winter Festival.  They had a marvelous time.  We got to see a beautiful marionette show: the Golden Slipper, a Cinderella tale from Vietnam.  Then the girls went on the Winter Walk through a classroom that had been transformed into a Winter Wonderland.  The girls heard a short story/poem from the "Winter Queen" and received a quartz crystal representing ice.  Then they went "fishing" for a little prize.   Caitlin made a handprint - a peace print, and Gwen made a jump rope from yarn.  It has been quite the popular toy.   

One of the things the Waldorf school is known for is its emphasis on the arts.  This was strongly in evidence at the school.  The student art on the walls was very impressive.  The room where the marionette show took place was painted in a gradual rainbow of pastel colors.  The winter wonderland was just amazing!  It really looked like an outdoor winter scene.  There were musical performances that, unfortunately, we didn't catch, but many of them were by parents and alumi.  The school really planted the seeds of an artistic life.

Now, this morning, we are having Dave, Judy, Ben and Erin up for a brunch.  That is always a hoot.  Jeff is experimenting with a new waffle recipe and I'm stick with my classic Frittata dish.  

Afterwards the girls have a Nutcracker performance at the Fairhaven retirement home.   

Oh Tannenbaum

Today, the Blueberry girls and I decorated the Christmas tree.   The little girls could barely contain themselves while I put up the multi-colored LED lights.  Then, boom, off they went to put up the ornaments, leaving a wake of bubble wrap and tissue paper behind them.  The decorating went very well, only minor scuffles broke out for some particularly special ornaments.  And, viola, the tree is coiffed and ready for eggnog.

Also, today was a red-letter day on account of Gwen learning to bow her viola for the first time.  The excitement!  The wonder!  The extra practice!  Honestly, I am quite impressed with the tone she is achieving.  Well above average for a novice viola player.  And accurate pitch will come with time.  (I fervently hope!)

Winter Bike Ride

In spite of the bitterly cold morning, I rode my bike to work today.  And I don't regret it one bit.  (OK, maybe a smidge, it did take about 10 minutes for my fingers to thaw out.)  However, the ride was just gorgeous.  The path I take follows a stream, passes by two lakes and I had it all to myself.  The stream just sparkled in the early morning light.   You could see all through the woods because the trees are bare, except for the little beeches that hold onto their coppery leaves till spring.   The only sounds were the small rustlings of birds and squirrels.   I'll be back on that path tomorrow morning.  (With my heavy-duty gloves this time.)  :)

Plucking Heartstrings

Gwen and her friend William are practicing their violas together this morning.  Given that they've been playing for less than 4 months, they are both incredibly brilliant.  They only play pizzicato at the moment, but it is still music to my ears.

Also, Gwen and Caitlin have decided to dress identically today.  The ensemble consists of their sparkly butterfly T-shirts, brown pants, pink shrugs (from their Easter outfits), and ponytails.  They are a sight!

A Turkey Tail

Though the Blueberry Girls and I are vegetarians, Husband and guests demand a real turkey for Thanksgiving.  And since I do the shopping, that means a local free-range turkey.  

We also have a tradition of naming the sacrifice (ie turkey).  I was voting for Sir Nicholas after Nearly Headless Nick of Harry Potter fame.  However, when Husband started preparing the bird, he insisted on a different name.  He was officially dubbed Lance Armstrong, because the turkey, having exactly 0% body fat, had the physique of an athlete.  I guess he used his free-range time really well, perhaps doing laps.  

Anyway, a good Thanksgiving was had by all.  

We're all nuts.

Coming soon...our first Nutcracker Performance at the Kennedy Krieger Festival of Trees.