Norah and Harvey Waiting

Norah and Harvey Waiting
Originally uploaded by nssmith2020

This picture in a moment perfectly speaks of this day, this February something or other, this strangely balmy middle of Northeastern winter day. We took two walks, spent time with grandparents, and then mama and daddy went to see a movie, a movie, a real, live movie. Juno it was called and it was spectacular.

Heat or Lack Thereof

Today was a 6000 dollar day. Yes, Brian and I did not know that we had to add water to our boiler and therefore it cracked which caused all of the remaining water to leak out which caused our heat to go off on one of the coldest days in the northeast which cost us 6000 dollars. A brand new boiler. And we are going to be leaving the house. Thank goodness we have the money.

The babies and I spent the morning at our friend Meri's house and we made it back home by noon. The heat was back on by 5 and we are finally warm again.

Today was Anne's birthday so she came over for dinner. I made tomato soup and parmesan bread. Yummmmmm. I actually made this early in the week and found it quite tastey. Brian wasn't as bog of a fan and enither was Norah but I made it again because I loved it. And I will have something to eat tomorrow--leftovers are the best. I used the Barefoot Contessa cookbook. I don't think I have made a single recipe that came out badly from her books.

Underwater Rainbows

One time when Norah was having a particularly bad fit, I started talking about the wonders of the ocean and what I saw when I was scuba diving. Since then, when she is feeling tired or sad, she says to be, "Talk about fishies." So I talk and talk and talk--sea horses, underwater rainbows, sharks with heads like hammers. We will get through these terrible terrible twos. Yes, we will. But we have a hard road in front of us.

I returned to the kitchen this week. Tried my hand (and failed) at making marmalade. It came out too runny. I think I did not boil it for long enough. Now a whole cast iron pot of it is sitting on my stove and I don't have the heart to throw it away or the energy to scrub the pot so there it is and there it will stay until I feel just a little bit better.



I had some good time with Norah and food this week though. She peeled her first carrot and watched me make lentil stew. Then I had the bright idea that we would enjoy leftovers on the following day on the deck--in the middle of February. I ay be ready for it, but Spring is not yet here.



I have been hard at work on several projects, and those projects have not changed. I am still knitting the stocking (Brian's this time), Stella's baby's sweater, and my socks.

Stormy, My Stormy

I just read a blog about a boxer who is losing control of his back legs and I read another one over the weekend. And Buddy, Joh MacCaffrey's dog, just died of a seizure last weekend Gary carried Stormy up the stairs last weekend because she has a hard time making it on her own these days. Brian is out of town so she slept with me on the bed but not really. She won't stay up there long anymore. I can remember the days when she would curl into the fold of my legs and we would sleep together there for hours, if not all night. She is sleeping in the sunroom right now. She is doing a lot of sleeping lately. I love her. She is not going to be here forever and I love her.

Retail Fast

Today was my second official day of babysitter and retail diet and... I am a raging success! I can not explain how great I feel when I come home and have gotten needed things done and not spent money on things that I don't need. Today I went to the post office--sent those clothes of Nevan's that Tollie lent me. I have been meaning to send them for ages and today was the day. I also got the wheels in motion for applying for Norah's passport AND I got a pedicure AND i continued to obsessively knit.

Mama's Mystery Socks
Originally uploaded by nssmith2020

I have been tugging away at my Koigu socks. The thuja pattern is actually quite nice. I think I am ready for something more interesting after it, but what? i hated the lace that I tried. The pattern was beautiful but I am not able to concentrate for extended periods of time and was never able to get into the rhythm of the sock.

I have finished Harvey's Christmas stocking which looks more like a tube than a stocking. I started Brians which will look less like a tube with any luck. i think am going to make mine out of Big Kureyon but that is a couple months down the road.

I am continuing work on Stella's baby cardigan. Sadly, I am not too excited about the project. Neither the colors nor the yarn excites me. I knew this when I bought it, but the Debbie Bliss was 35% off--hard to beat that.

And, last but not least, I am working on a matching hat for those fingerless gloves that I made last weekend out of my Lumpy Bumpy. Ahhh...life is sweet.