Saturday, December 29, 2012

transitions

This winter break seems to be practice in the upcoming and ongoing transitions in our family.




Thijs (my son- this is an old and proper Dutch name) is home, yet independently operating as suits his age. I am still mothering him of course, but feel well aware that he is making his own decisions about whether to take my advice or not (such as: please bring plenty of snacks and water for your track to the southern and very snowy part of the state). 


Yesterday we brought Vera and Kevin to the airport for their trip to LA to enjoy a photography meet. And the difference in weather and vegetation is not the transition I am talking about- this is a first-time trip in many ways. For instance, the girls will ring in the New Year thousands of miles apart from each other in different time zones.

from the internet


Also yesterday, we took a walk around the neighborhood where Vera, Kevin, and Jake are hoping to rent an apartment together next year. Of course there was lot of talk about which school and especially how much scholarship, the latter being a huge deciding factor in their choice. Emma may or may not choose to join the others but most likely she will follow her dreams to a different city.

my goddess-of-the-garden wearing a snow crown
And all this is continuously forcing me to look that empty-nest idea square in the eye. It is an enormously ambivalent feeling. I am very much in awe of my young adult children- and enjoy them and their friends livening up our home. I am also looking forward to the time my love and I will get to spend together. And of course the times when my growing family will be joining us home again!


Thursday, December 27, 2012

per request

The snow-road travelers wanted me to let you all know that friend-christmas was celebrated and enjoyed.



Dinner was eaten. Fun was had. Presents exchanged (I even got some too!).


And also per request, they would like to be introduced by their given names- so from left to right : Sam, Vera, Emma, Ben, Jake, Kevin. Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

snow

The city was all but closed down, we had so much snow. At least, for this region we did. Apparently it was way worse south of us.


We were lucky, we did not have a power outage, and we have enough food to survive several more days if we have to. A power outage would have been quite catastrophic just because everything in this home runs on electricity, most importantly the water pump.


By now it is early evening, it stopped snowing, and the task of picking up V's boyfriend K from the airport has become a group-undertaking. Hopefully we can welcome them all back later tonight safe and sound for a well-earned dinner.


I am feverishly working on a last present for 'friend-christmas' which they (V, E, and their friends) will celebrate either tonight (present not going to happen) or tomorrow night (small chance it will be done).


Hoping that you are all warm and safe!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

all is bright





The cats still haven't learned that the tree is not for their personal entertainment, although playing with the boxes and wrapping paper this morning was a good diversion.





We are having a good and relaxed family time. Too many presents (as usual). Baked goodness, stollen and scones. The kittens and cats making great progress in co-existing.


I was spoiled with many gifts for my hobbies, and I would like to share one that our potter made for me, a beautiful bowl to contain my yarn and guide it when I am knitting.




For tonight and tomorrow we are under blizzard warning- we haven't seen any snowflakes as of yet, but my love has chopped some wood in preparation. I love to be 'snowed in' but can't help thinking about the problems such weather can also cause for many other people. Wishing everyone a warm and safe holiday.

Friday, December 21, 2012

a hard day's work

Hi all! I'm cozy and warming up on the couch, looking at the now completely decorated living room. The two leading men in my live are cooking in the kitchen. My sink, with which I have waged war for years to stay white, is sparkling. The refrigerator is full of freshly shopped yummies, and pictures have been taken of our winter solstice weather.


That, plus more, was all my Love's labor! He was a stay-at-home-dad today while I left in the dead of morning (or so it felt, after scraping the windows of the car while scared that the creaking rustling branches would come crashing down in the high winds). I tackled yet another unit in the adult hospital world and drove home during dusk to all these surprises

and yes, a tree did fall down
And now it is weekend! I hear 'the boys' galloping around. I squint my eyes at the lights in the tree, just like when I was a little girl (oh, so many moons ago!). And I have come -once again- to the realization that only by enjoying life as much as I can, do I honor the memory of my dad. Paying attention to the quiet moments and the feeling of contentment, looking with wonder. Sharing.




Wishing you all a happy winter solstice.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

home

Yesterday I took some time to spend at home, with a long to-do list and a visit to the vet with three kittens (remind me not to agree to that again). It was good to have time to breathe, hear silence surround me. I made bread, apple cake, cleaned, cuddled with various felines, even took pictures.

currently fascinated by the grass plumes
I had some time to process, to think. Even if I was not able to cross of everything on the list, it was simply good. I realized how I had missed that solitary time.

And then came news that forced the day in a different direction. My girls came home and we looked for TV coverage of the school shootings in Connecticut.


Not much to put into words about that-


Suffice it to say that I am really really glad that T came home safe and sound from college last night and am feeling fortunate to be able to look forward to some family time around the holidays.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

a little bit

It is not looking 'a lot' like Christmas, but we are slowly getting into the holiday spirit. Trees have been set up, living-room re-arranged so we can see the tree (and more importantly I suspect, the presents under the tree).


According to our family tradition, each year we would each buy an ornament plus one that we all picked together (on sale, after the holiday) for the family tree. My love would write name and year on the ornament and we can all see our likes and tastes progress - or regress- over the years. Fun! Also according to tradition, I would have speculaas ready and put holiday music on during the tree decorating event. Of course now that T is at college, things are and feel a little different.

the kids spotted this one at a neighbor's garage sale and it was much loved for some years
to provide a little cultural balance
 Some of the ornaments are gifts, some home-made. Now we have a tree full of memories.

let's see if the gifter remembers this 


Of course we are having a bit of a difficult time convincing the cats that the trees are not  for their enjoyment. This is the third year in a row that we have new feline additions during the season. After our beloved Tribble died, we went to the humane society and brought Homer and Mila home with us.


Last year, Lucy joined us, and this year after Ginny's death we welcomed two little ones, Gus and Charlie. Of course this prompted my love to say "You can't have a new kitten every fall!". I guess not. But I am looking forward to having all of my kids and cats home for the holidays!

Friday, December 7, 2012

spirit

My best guess is, that is what has been lacking me at the moment...spirit. I have tried, I did, but I could not come up with anything to share on the blog, simply because I did not take any pictures, I did not make or bake anything, and even during a flash-visit to a dear friend who lives 'only' ten hours away by car, I did not take any pictures worth sharing. It happens.

Even this collage is from a while ago- still lovely, with all my favorite feline friends.

My guess is, that two new jobs is a bit much to process. I haven't read any books either, and I follow only a very select few of all the blogs that I find so inspiring. My head is full of the new stuff I am learning every day (and also currently in a more literal sense full with stuff that is not so nice, I have a bad cold) and the stories I hear and experience at work-  unbelievable, heartbreaking, maddening, intense stories.


I'm a real sucker for the holiday spirit, I love the lights and (some of) the music, the baking, the gifting, the anticipation, the whole seasonal spirit- it takes some effort to focus on  this year. I love online shopping and getting the packages delivered is as exciting as unwrapping a surprise myself. I just have to get inspired to pick the right present to order!

Luckily, I am now far enough in years that I know this little 'dip' shall pass and also I am very happy with even having two jobs. Every day there is so much to enjoy. But not every moment has the accompanying image to share, it is mostly in my head and heart that these moments happen.

So I'll share a favorite (one of many) painting by Monet. The magpie. Enjoy!


Thursday, November 22, 2012

not quite

Thanksgiving- a typical American holiday. During the holidays I often reflect on how much we've 'Americanized' or not, on the cultural riches we have acquired during our moves around.


We've got the day off work and school, so we may as well celebrate all that we should be thankful for. In typical thanksgiving fashion, I have been in the kitchen most of the day (and last night) however we will not have turkey or eat the dinner in the early afternoon. I enjoy putting this feast together, but am thankful that I do not have to do this every day.

The Christmas lights are already up but not on, and the girls are planning to attend 'black Friday' shopping. I did once, years ago, and learned quickly that I had once again underestimated this 'event'- it was a crazy and aggressive chaos from which I emerged triumphant but determined never to do it again.


I can't wait until my favorite kittens have properly met their big feline sibs and can frolic through the whole house instead of being in quarantine in the bedroom. The older three get along so well, I have hopes they will not mind the little ones joining them too much.

I thought I would have some time on my hands to work on Christmas gifts, socializing the kittens, reorganizing the house (this is an ongoing process...), but as it turns out, I will be working full time for a while.    Less time to take pictures and blog too, until I have adjusted to the new exciting challenges.


Monday, November 12, 2012

cozy

As promised, today was cold and wet. We even had our first snow of the season! Not much to look at on the ground, but beautiful in the air.

Of course that immediately put me in the mood for all kinds of foods such as chunky vegetable stew and speculaas. So I made focaccia to go with the barley soup that was still in the refrigerator and even though it is not December yet, I did make speculaas. The girls could hardly wait for it to cool down enough to eat.


Gus thought that the weather was perfect for some major cuddling, and I had a good time hanging with the kittens and my girls. Some time between jobs is not all that bad!


Sunday, November 11, 2012

old fashioned

While working on our dinner pizza tonight, I realized that I like different times of day for different reasons just like the changing seasons. I love working in front of the open window with the late afternoon light slanting in at a certain angle in the spring, I love the breeze in the fall and now the darkness closing in, giving the kitchen a cozy feeling.


This morning I wasn't worth much because I had my stomach all in a knot until Mila finally came home after her nightly romp - who knows where she hangs out and/or has adventures- she tries to tell me a whole lot when she runs inside and stops to hug my legs on her way to the dry food, but I don't speak much 'cat'.


Things picked up after her reappearance and I harvested, washed, and oven-dried rosemary and sage. The weather report says it will be wintry tomorrow, and I spoke to my friend in Minnesota who confirmed that she was chilled to the bone after walking her dog. Our weather usually arrives from up thereabouts, so...


I do take pleasure in harvesting some of my own herbs, but I have not tried my hand at other preservation methods such as canning. Once upon a time I used to make a lot more things from scratch on a regular basis: yogurt, ice cream, hearty pie crusts, hummus, to name a few.


Old-fashioned or not? I knit, I quilt, bake bread, and cook a meal from scratch most nights. But I am a very unmotivated house keeper. Creating, not cleaning. And, I sometimes channel my great-grandmother when I encourage my family to eat 'just a little bit' more to fatten them up some. On top of that, I have noticed a recent tendency to bring up memories. My eyes have complied with their age and don't cooperate with me without glasses to read, even the not-so-fine print. I find this amusing until I can't find those darn glasses.


Well. Back to my ironing then! Thankfully, with a modern cordless steam iron.

the eye

Although I like to create, I will readily admit that I do not possess 'the eye' for design that my daughters and some of my friends were born with. I know what I like, what moves me in art, which views in nature capture my heart, but real design/decorating- no. Of course, I am not interested enough to spend much time or effort with it, and that suits me fine.

V designed and created this last year , I love it's creepiness and it reminds me a bit of the Eye in LOTR 
If you would like to check out the blogs of two of my artist friends who definitely possess talented 'eyes' and a very creative mind: http://cowroad.blogspot.com/ and http://julierowanzoch.wordpress.com/.

We have brought our children to art museums from the time they were born- of course they do not remember those early visits but perhaps something has seeped into their unconsciousness anyway. When they became conscious, they were not always what you would call thrilled with our insistence to expose them to culture, and they were harsh in their critiques : anything abstract could not be called art.

not a great picture...name this piece and artist?
However, I think they have come around. Both my girls are busy applying to art schools and art programs around the country (and even abroad). T has voluntarily visited art museums and bought prints with his own money.


Maybe it is because I washed the windows today, or maybe E's comments, inspired by her interior decorating class, have giving me a new perspective- in any case, I am ready to get some input from my girls about design, decorating, and new wall colors.

I'm very much into grey at the moment...grey,and white.