Let it Snow!

I just finished this wall hanging last night, in time for the snow storm we are getting this evening. We probably have 2 inches out there already and aren't expecting more than 3. It's just in time for St. Nicholas' Eve. Tonight is the night we put our shoes out and St. Nicholas leaves little presents in them.

This snowman is for my Nana Betty. She has loved snowmen all her life and used to sketch them for her grandkids and on the cards she mailed us. Family legend has it that she had "hot flashes" her entire life. As a young child, she was frequently sent to the cellar to cool off because she would actually be redfaced with heat discomfort. Now near 90 and a bit off her game, I am going to hang this in her room at the nursing home.

Getting Ready...

This year has been a bit easier to get prepared for the holiday because I am actually doing less. Part of the reason is I've just been under the weather this fall and our granddaughter is getting a bit older. I love this picture of her when she was 3. She has NEVER been afraid of Santa (probably because of my husband's beard) and when she was just wee girl of 1 years old, she would run away from us to get back to Santa!

Do You EQ?

I have a list of 4 quilts I would like to design for myself and for my family. The thing is I have never used Electric Quilt and I am not sure if it would be helpful for applique or not. If you have any insight, I sure would appreciate your comment. In the meantime, here is a photo of one of the stars from one of my antique quilts. Enjoy :)

O Tannenbaum!

One of my traditions is to have the Christmas decor up and lit the day after Thanksgiving. I love to extend the Christmas season as long as possible. Having a grandchild (and now two!) has made the holiday magical again. I like to load every possible half inch of our skinny tree with merriness.

Of course this is a regular Grandparent tree. See the mitten that was Helena's? And the purple ornament she made us? Next weekend we will probably start the Christmas crafting with her. Like all good grandparent trees the branches are full of things she knows and the dancers and fun things are at the bottom of the tree where she can see them.

Next year will be completely different because Miles will be more aware and crawling--or maybe even walking. That will alter the position of ornaments again :)

Who's been sleeping in my bed?

We have always sacrificed things to our kids and animals. Like our bedroom. It's a room where the only thing you can do is sleep because it is filled with three big dog crates--that the dogs actually use. We rarely have to close the doors on the crates. They just like to go in there to feel safe sometimes when I vacuum or there is a thunderstorm or I am using a kitchen appliance. The dog that rarely feels the need to hide away is Seamus so it surprised me when I found him napping in the bedroom---IN TEDDY'S BED. Teddy has the biggest crate because of his hip. Not sure if that was the allure or Seamus just liked sleeping near his buddy's scent. I hated to chase him out but Teddy needs his safe space much more than Seamus needs his squatter rights protected.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dog Ball

I was sick all of us last week which meant I had two very bored puppies at home. Fortunately Katie and Natalie were kind enough to play Dog Ball with the boys.

Seamus becomes so happy he squeals and whines with joy.

Teddy however, prefers to preen and poise. He likes to remind the girls: "I have a ball and you don't!"

Not Seamus--he will retrieve and drop the ball for anyone with those wonderful opposable thumbs that allow them to throw that ball.

Thanks girls for exercising the boys!

Something told the Wild Geese...

There's a great song/poem I like this time of year; it tends to be included in Christmas albums although actually it is a more about the autumn season. The first stanza goes:

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go.

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered "snow."

This can be a wonderful haunting song, suited to the surreal stillness that precedes snow.

The thing is---no one told our wild geese here in the Lehigh Valley. Every time I drive buy the lakes in our area, I cannot believe how infested we are with water fowl. It's been a problem for years and doesn't seem to be getting better. I've read that this phenomenon is now referred to as "urban geese" (I'm am soooo not kidding). Geese have learned to reside year round at a number of cities, including ours. They polluted the lake and shorelines with their feces and made it a slimy mess. The geese honked and waved their wings at children as they walked by and were aggressive if nearby pedestrians had food.

About 15-20 years ago, the mayor spent a small fortune on swan decoys. The thought at the time was that swan decoys would deter the geese from staying since swans and geese are natural enemies. Someone forgot to tell the geese; they not only stayed with "woodie" but I now see a few swans existing near them--perhaps they all learned to get along.

Then the mayor decided to send the geese away--literally. A bunch were caught, tagged, and sent to some southern state where supposedly they wanted them. Like the cat who came back, the geese returned.

Someone used the geese for bow and arrow target practice about 10 years ago. The police never caught the poacher and the geese remained.

The city set off M-80s at the lake, hoping that the noise would scare off the geese. The geese stayed.

Large fines were enacted for people who fed the birds at the lakes. People respected the laws and stopped feeding the geese. Nothing changed.

The lakes were polluted with West Nile virus. Some birds died. The geese lived on.

I'm no fan of slimy lakes and I miss walking my dogs at those parks. Still, I have a bit of admiration for the resilience of this species. They have managed to humble all of us and not only adapt but endure despite us. In the last 10-15 years we have also seen a return of hawks, falcons and wild turkey to our area, who knows what will happen next in this city? Perhaps someday I will warn my grandkids that it is "a jungle out there" and I won't be exaggerating.

The Dynamic Duo