tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110642982024-03-07T02:58:41.951-05:00VelouteVeloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.comBlogger384125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-41115954322168956562010-11-12T19:39:00.004-05:002010-11-15T13:50:52.909-05:00Two Very Different Christmas ListsOne:<br /><br />"Girly" black cowboy boots<br />High heels<br />Extra lipstick (she doesn't have lipstick now)<br />Make up kit<br /> <br />Two:<br /><br />2 year Muse subscription (her paternal grandmother gets a 1 year for her every year)<br />Pencils<br />Erasers<br />Black cowboy boots, "non-girly"<br />Origami supplies, including books with new animal patterns<br />"Bright perky" Zumbuddy (she got one for her sister for her birthday)<br /><a href="http://www.mysnuggiestore.com/">Snuggie</a><br /><br />Owner of list number two also has a running commentary about which Christmas book she would like. The Christmas book appears on the end of their beds from their mom and dad every year. Owner of list two is also very much looking forward to the Christmas Eve pajamas. Owner of list one would like a bathrobe and slippers since her sister has those things. Who knows if they will get worn. (I've gotten the pajamas and slippers, but no robe yet).<br /><br />I don't know what the fascination is with black cowboy boots, and I'm even less sure if I can get "girly" ones (I think that must mean it has sparkles or the like on it).Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-35234980729070429712010-10-18T04:03:00.009-04:002010-11-15T13:43:30.824-05:00Six Years<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uvsmxMQMpO-_GBn7s-hAWj9GoI47mXnMGuRIrZ4CeG1bJanLDs-twT4OnUwvU-hridZoi2fIDG1441Do68fvs0fs4R9q1aVwUIyPaIkg6vE2iMESxzP1OR1HbCr7hZE0oDzxRw/s1600/December+074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uvsmxMQMpO-_GBn7s-hAWj9GoI47mXnMGuRIrZ4CeG1bJanLDs-twT4OnUwvU-hridZoi2fIDG1441Do68fvs0fs4R9q1aVwUIyPaIkg6vE2iMESxzP1OR1HbCr7hZE0oDzxRw/s400/December+074.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529307822460990962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_b8X5s-bSglAjr3S7D36jdfRtFetgB335kRlIpfQgxzS7b__V5AZd0S96DrSgGtQRhtQdHVtioU5hYIhRrgoXAmQCOc6b9Gh7Wx-4PGMF1_0grD5EV3kaKk7V09Ct3AgGoXTwA/s1600/Shelburne+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_b8X5s-bSglAjr3S7D36jdfRtFetgB335kRlIpfQgxzS7b__V5AZd0S96DrSgGtQRhtQdHVtioU5hYIhRrgoXAmQCOc6b9Gh7Wx-4PGMF1_0grD5EV3kaKk7V09Ct3AgGoXTwA/s400/Shelburne+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529307813899535714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYrk2H-Pf01SWnjEK4CktyDjxNyI_myJwqUN6XxMM8RAzxbdIOGElAGvTHoZrS_YWTo2QzWY_KvTpdIt_xKoQrIqCSGndUf5gnLM05oZ3VRapABRTCwue9Q1f8n_AnrgXKnDhdQ/s1600/oh+noes.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYrk2H-Pf01SWnjEK4CktyDjxNyI_myJwqUN6XxMM8RAzxbdIOGElAGvTHoZrS_YWTo2QzWY_KvTpdIt_xKoQrIqCSGndUf5gnLM05oZ3VRapABRTCwue9Q1f8n_AnrgXKnDhdQ/s400/oh+noes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529307811944714306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UtykOwZXVcQpmvRTlim_WDzdzERmf3QPntQU8CZVzhpHWVhbdLWlijH8sTPzQ-ul8aaso7nM1_If3dxjHVZNYNT_iGggLKxuVBcncFoclYkwn6W1y2jVD-rotGxjxrEJrvg98A/s1600/IMG_9152B.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UtykOwZXVcQpmvRTlim_WDzdzERmf3QPntQU8CZVzhpHWVhbdLWlijH8sTPzQ-ul8aaso7nM1_If3dxjHVZNYNT_iGggLKxuVBcncFoclYkwn6W1y2jVD-rotGxjxrEJrvg98A/s400/IMG_9152B.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529307805819568066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBbgL3XaEWkJYuwfva7bYdaPDWNr1OpBKYxS9Rg7MW30IHNTxiJZawrz97IPuX71fv467oQgnylCTQiTYR0lqy25yIEk7CWI8WRbwlHWIeLOMn57EQKhYVVoV4aebzfYpasN7tQ/s1600/June+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBbgL3XaEWkJYuwfva7bYdaPDWNr1OpBKYxS9Rg7MW30IHNTxiJZawrz97IPuX71fv467oQgnylCTQiTYR0lqy25yIEk7CWI8WRbwlHWIeLOMn57EQKhYVVoV4aebzfYpasN7tQ/s400/June+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529302259186389330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqovTbQ7Bto9BEGkbIOT7epRbldnlib_4adkjwc4YM1y2xDq9iC2Ok0jcPl5cUVWKWyxTy8s3wWjNG-a81lUoNhBTgTZS6bSXwjnkAz0NEkB-eK1DtFskqTSZKCE5beMnFXwZAQ/s1600/June+054.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsA5nNVnOXsdZXmJ6DCdlXSHFEcsfaVKr_6yyHeQUOQYhFTmgh5li4_zZX8njXwFx_0yYMwUh8TBOXZIO44dLNyUgOQ1IY03gkWCbbtSwT1sXstqrJUBePwTKZNg81dg1SNp4T8A/s400/Houston+047.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529300568338314738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS7chYgfElFlOixjAGgMFWeIwPKw56ykeiRnaVGhYjq2yMIG6Q-l42pFTTJeaAL1i8dVv24meg0xAekA02RgEjiPWz-SFJEUsC_-yB2Bo131LM2JE-6S37lBiFbTm_dA4UDi8Jw/s1600/April+060.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS7chYgfElFlOixjAGgMFWeIwPKw56ykeiRnaVGhYjq2yMIG6Q-l42pFTTJeaAL1i8dVv24meg0xAekA02RgEjiPWz-SFJEUsC_-yB2Bo131LM2JE-6S37lBiFbTm_dA4UDi8Jw/s400/April+060.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529299136340927698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8E2puZs19FFpJBUWv31_YNYPqdlZ83OEDoH93g1y6skD0dSqOCOqdKY2hfs1idCm3vg9GesVGwK9OLmP8uwSEuSg766nx_FxNg9UNOsvvJKXpbA2AotvokbB4j0bbFHOFB3yXw/s1600/August+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8E2puZs19FFpJBUWv31_YNYPqdlZ83OEDoH93g1y6skD0dSqOCOqdKY2hfs1idCm3vg9GesVGwK9OLmP8uwSEuSg766nx_FxNg9UNOsvvJKXpbA2AotvokbB4j0bbFHOFB3yXw/s400/August+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529297772407690498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqICIxgEE9rwk6eWcOgy6Pc0BehakNMKXwtZ7O7Q-iM2R5-S_-l5hI71QiY1ZhuJlPHPlTuoeUttDsd8ozg0WyAgkUPrgpW50pIAa5j3AZDYU104U498iZ7kOW2Bsca1woUsrfA/s1600/July06+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqICIxgEE9rwk6eWcOgy6Pc0BehakNMKXwtZ7O7Q-iM2R5-S_-l5hI71QiY1ZhuJlPHPlTuoeUttDsd8ozg0WyAgkUPrgpW50pIAa5j3AZDYU104U498iZ7kOW2Bsca1woUsrfA/s400/July06+027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529297141809931570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5FmU0NcfSBL4WXfmEdOap3f4qAatEoCCzfIAVEXTPQgpAEJHLdWLGYfgs8jQZ8YuQB5pXdmmPDQGVhG3Nin_bfN2xRfxkA55otP-nfVcTOQ8NBNtvhurcH7bErll87pnnVVBnA/s1600/December+043.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5FmU0NcfSBL4WXfmEdOap3f4qAatEoCCzfIAVEXTPQgpAEJHLdWLGYfgs8jQZ8YuQB5pXdmmPDQGVhG3Nin_bfN2xRfxkA55otP-nfVcTOQ8NBNtvhurcH7bErll87pnnVVBnA/s400/December+043.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529296642677027826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo2CKw5bNbqA7AUg0dNqYOlCcjpBiAa1p6IKbQb558URmQ4xpe2O9V8E7TXK2kvRgAviZFcBX2A6n9VNuUXtNZuZJ2VWvohbcruH-hCCMnWsh18E4emZStDOCazbiOr86awZ40Q/s1600/January+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo2CKw5bNbqA7AUg0dNqYOlCcjpBiAa1p6IKbQb558URmQ4xpe2O9V8E7TXK2kvRgAviZFcBX2A6n9VNuUXtNZuZJ2VWvohbcruH-hCCMnWsh18E4emZStDOCazbiOr86awZ40Q/s400/January+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529295570847156466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWJRrwYaoWhC4hUJ8X0dhYmjPqqSRTDScF6_UcZdkRVg2PvAPmUuTYpZApSVRCu__qobi6a1lovZcC4IwcSbmAHLSmSgL_6s0akmaJEITAICK4dDYZLr99nVXe44xfX32-slZ-w/s1600/172-7244_IMG.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWJRrwYaoWhC4hUJ8X0dhYmjPqqSRTDScF6_UcZdkRVg2PvAPmUuTYpZApSVRCu__qobi6a1lovZcC4IwcSbmAHLSmSgL_6s0akmaJEITAICK4dDYZLr99nVXe44xfX32-slZ-w/s400/172-7244_IMG.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529295135365544658" /></a><br /><br />Happy birthday to my amazing Sophia. I love your complicated personality. Fierce, fearless, stylish. You're only six and you have your rock moves.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-2350110029058861622010-09-06T18:47:00.002-04:002010-09-06T19:04:35.163-04:00Sophia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-6EgU_U3kBsQaZATv6bDVqLMDVkDYqIZLLx3cxHd9OUrogSV0AAhh1BbNiRuvYgntULMcYwtK-M45viANn78MexmSOyCrKPc2oRcs6NKqVu3jq1eCAUCuDdw7n6SYH2w3vQ60w/s1600/Lunch+009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-6EgU_U3kBsQaZATv6bDVqLMDVkDYqIZLLx3cxHd9OUrogSV0AAhh1BbNiRuvYgntULMcYwtK-M45viANn78MexmSOyCrKPc2oRcs6NKqVu3jq1eCAUCuDdw7n6SYH2w3vQ60w/s400/Lunch+009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513940302370406162" /></a><br />I wasn't here for this, but apparently Sophia was talking to Fiona and she said that some girls told her that God made them. She got this <i>look</i> on her face as if to say, "isn't that the craziest thing you've ever heard?". Then she said, "I told them it wasn't true; my <i>mommy</i> made me."<div><br /></div><div>The first day of school went well for Fiona and it went well for Sophia, except for the part where I came for lunch to help and she had a hard time with me leaving. That was painful. They read a book the first week of school called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Hand-Audrey-Penn/dp/0878685855">The Kissing Hand</a>, by Audrey Penn. When I left the cafeteria, Sophia was inconsolable and I was barely holding it together. Sophia's teacher told her I would kiss the palm of Sophia's hand so she could have my kiss, and Sophia would kiss the palm of my hand so I would have hers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Two weeks later, her teacher tells me that Sophia will be sitting in class, working, and occasionally brings the palm of her hand to her cheek for my kiss.</div>Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-71083843901518279642010-08-16T11:20:00.007-04:002010-09-06T19:48:33.207-04:00A Review of Summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydyRrwhwSt1VJ7Yo-P6TfQd7BDGqyVqB5Pjq2C7o1Lsu1Px6ditsgyGitKNo3yZgYNJJ2WO00wOXBepqE7Vzv8YBJE5jzidly1WW1RDx7hO62e3Y9wnGw7lgdjc2AoQyE2odKgA/s1600/Origami+015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydyRrwhwSt1VJ7Yo-P6TfQd7BDGqyVqB5Pjq2C7o1Lsu1Px6ditsgyGitKNo3yZgYNJJ2WO00wOXBepqE7Vzv8YBJE5jzidly1WW1RDx7hO62e3Y9wnGw7lgdjc2AoQyE2odKgA/s400/Origami+015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513920300251778882" /></a><br />This has been the summer of origami. My nightstand is covered with various animals. Origami has spread to the kids' grandparents' house, their cousin's house, and Triana's house. Doug's work colleagues are also the recipient of Fiona's origami creations. Sophia is starting to take an interest, too. It's great to see them so focused on something creative like this...as my dad said, the origami are like Tribbles. They are in everything at this point.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTp1N7nk6ffkFyzoWj1L1pL0G_BmNESK-dMAPvwNbONMXNm3XIKFxlfwKAH0huD8jZSwfhJcYcFogjimOKMPlF_8XOkrrqI3qlITepAp8cN1qDAmQ6RhDEvUnub6hqxeba6BM6w/s1600/Origami+031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTp1N7nk6ffkFyzoWj1L1pL0G_BmNESK-dMAPvwNbONMXNm3XIKFxlfwKAH0huD8jZSwfhJcYcFogjimOKMPlF_8XOkrrqI3qlITepAp8cN1qDAmQ6RhDEvUnub6hqxeba6BM6w/s400/Origami+031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513951129903578226" /></a><br />(Lunchbox of tribbles. I mean origami.)<br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The kids had some week long classes in June: Fiona had origami (her fascination started way before the class), a cooking class, a science class, and an engineering class. Sophia's age group had fewer choices, but she took a class about bugs. They seemed to have a good time.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHsXz7iaR_AY5ZzWUzHqdcmmrtARegrfoqSgv_KbFi6CmGAwSkxspbaGCw-K61IkPjmzm9oMMyhEMrz2g0Rq6HPO4gojy8uo3A4hAGpdXbzabhmcGRfffIOAdQ_wVnJhkBNGgWQ/s1600/Origami+and+hooping+013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHsXz7iaR_AY5ZzWUzHqdcmmrtARegrfoqSgv_KbFi6CmGAwSkxspbaGCw-K61IkPjmzm9oMMyhEMrz2g0Rq6HPO4gojy8uo3A4hAGpdXbzabhmcGRfffIOAdQ_wVnJhkBNGgWQ/s400/Origami+and+hooping+013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513920706391080130" /></a><br /></div><div>There was lots of swimming this summer, but no formal swimming lessons. We made a trip to the zoo to meet friends, which was fabulous, but ended with us all drenched in sweat. It is too hot to do much of anything during the day. Most swimming is done in the evening.</div><div><br /></div><div>School starts next week, which is leaving me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, school! They should have fun and they'll be with other kids (so far, this is a good thing). On the other hand, who will I play with? I would love a job, but it would have to be something that leaves me here in the afternoon when they get home, and would hopefully involve me having some free time on the weekend. In the meantime, there is plenty to work on in the house. I could paint any room, for a start. The kids' bathroom not only needs updating, it needs the paint/peeling wallpaper to come off. I need to get out of the house, though, or I will rave. I'm sure there is volunteer work I can do somewhere (definitely at their school).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-62067259888456099532010-02-01T15:20:00.003-05:002010-02-03T10:58:33.823-05:00February 2, 2002Fiona turns EIGHT tomorrow! She had a slumber party with three friends (only two stayed the night, though). They seemed to have a great time. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OgcgoLbrozUHOrrEdpowEKKmiJEwR7myULzzg5NwOAOik24ePKIKljT_nRXPA7LGasMGN8lX9N9P6Yn-IZ-XMvSPISiFwkG2CYJv92FYFKRKd3DYdAcHfjsExG7_32WOH_nPNw/s1600-h/Fiona's+slumber+party+%2710+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OgcgoLbrozUHOrrEdpowEKKmiJEwR7myULzzg5NwOAOik24ePKIKljT_nRXPA7LGasMGN8lX9N9P6Yn-IZ-XMvSPISiFwkG2CYJv92FYFKRKd3DYdAcHfjsExG7_32WOH_nPNw/s400/Fiona's+slumber+party+%2710+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434042989631008642" border="0" /></a><br />It was actually a great party. Fiona has great friends. Thank goodness!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMxwQxeTb7lt_yprTpsKa6keIQLpM6m73IpHVnsmV4FqOlrtHGUrNukyqG08zZdzItUK7l2U2QWV_Qt_saWNsTjvBj95YAYqkFr47jMwme377pxYh63jSGd2B5p1ty9IKMwvmsw/s1600-h/153-5359_IMG.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMxwQxeTb7lt_yprTpsKa6keIQLpM6m73IpHVnsmV4FqOlrtHGUrNukyqG08zZdzItUK7l2U2QWV_Qt_saWNsTjvBj95YAYqkFr47jMwme377pxYh63jSGd2B5p1ty9IKMwvmsw/s400/153-5359_IMG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434044508422296178" border="0" /></a><br />I can't believe it's been 8 years. I feel like this picture is not that old, but it also seems so long ago, because she looks so different and is so different now! She used to be a quiet, clingy baby who I could not put down. She did not walk until she was 17 months. At playgroups, she would sit and observe. Now? Now she's off to slumber parties, is so talkative that she sometimes has to write in the "behavior book" in her class (ahem), and is quite independent. It's been so amazing watching her grow and develop into such an interesting person. One moment, you're nursing your baby in the middle of the night, wondering if there will be no end to this (there is, obviously, but it sometimes does not feel like it at the time) and the next they're begging to spend the night at a friend's house. The <span style="font-style: italic;">whole night</span> away from you and they're <span style="font-style: italic;">relishing</span> the idea. It's a cliche that the days are long and the years are short, but it is so true.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 39px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 385px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div>Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-60716159579287032862010-01-08T17:41:00.002-05:002010-01-08T17:55:09.233-05:00Now is the Moon's Eyebrow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUDVoqJApWu_3_Pgri3VNY-j-e_ORgxBAgNy-K4auhW2QtyHFbJIpfv8hLNel2dN5SgWVXS0aqW38-uNH7Kxly3-H-vwULov0BmrTqx_bY1LCE4qWkaPzp2tvg7fdYk9T6TyUXA/s1600-h/Now_is_the_Moon_Eyebrow_1_Large.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUDVoqJApWu_3_Pgri3VNY-j-e_ORgxBAgNy-K4auhW2QtyHFbJIpfv8hLNel2dN5SgWVXS0aqW38-uNH7Kxly3-H-vwULov0BmrTqx_bY1LCE4qWkaPzp2tvg7fdYk9T6TyUXA/s400/Now_is_the_Moon_Eyebrow_1_Large.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424502947856830450" /></a><br /><br />I may have previously mentioned, that one Christmas tradition my parents did for us during our childhood was to place a book at the end of our bed (wrapped) so that we could open it first thing in the morning (and I do mean first thing). This was the book I got in 1988. I loved it then and I love it now. The whole book is based on bizarre nonsensical (some are rather poetic, some are just gloriously silly) questions like, "What is the difference between reality and a idea? Reality is what a person thinks who cannot remember." or "What is the difference between the moon and a needle and thread? The needle and thread are older." Each question and answer is accompanied by a whimsical illustration.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-70093012871597737432010-01-08T14:42:00.006-05:002010-01-08T15:01:58.922-05:00Ra Ra Ra...Smile!Sophia and I are hanging out this afternoon with new batteries in her camera. She's mostly interested in how the camera operates right now. I just taught her how to delete the pictures. Here are some that missed the axe:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d0oI_Eaw8jiztKeAhEQRO3PtPgl6m5E1CJ8liOqMjgTonlGTeEUu34Ua-nJYjeDNgr_dLfYQtLVef2adP1_cVH-3ew90h97scTkyDFaLSizaeVEL6PIQQrhLQwx67eg2BKeC9w/s1600-h/Sophia010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d0oI_Eaw8jiztKeAhEQRO3PtPgl6m5E1CJ8liOqMjgTonlGTeEUu34Ua-nJYjeDNgr_dLfYQtLVef2adP1_cVH-3ew90h97scTkyDFaLSizaeVEL6PIQQrhLQwx67eg2BKeC9w/s400/Sophia010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424457142094074994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyemzsWiUn0d-HLsCWU83T92uDIv6Ma7iU86KglvzB-sgI14NniFzmNnzr3Rz1NuvofVErL-lDMgmzxDfwp1FG9f0vsrEt41f2Iwl7IelRVZiITUKIuNYJNdbQ99lADHMFr08Ig/s1600-h/Sophia008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyemzsWiUn0d-HLsCWU83T92uDIv6Ma7iU86KglvzB-sgI14NniFzmNnzr3Rz1NuvofVErL-lDMgmzxDfwp1FG9f0vsrEt41f2Iwl7IelRVZiITUKIuNYJNdbQ99lADHMFr08Ig/s400/Sophia008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424457090802687154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nrQvE3EZ1veQ2I-bXCY0GaMiQE8DDGNAoaJKXxYUgNsxy1OKFJ3dgloREP0lvU1lcQt77STtl8rGwjK9PsEfPWmD3whDh4NIJVlyp5Jtllpp6wAp3Wfo9BGzlf2B7K66JjG5hw/s1600-h/Sophia009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nrQvE3EZ1veQ2I-bXCY0GaMiQE8DDGNAoaJKXxYUgNsxy1OKFJ3dgloREP0lvU1lcQt77STtl8rGwjK9PsEfPWmD3whDh4NIJVlyp5Jtllpp6wAp3Wfo9BGzlf2B7K66JjG5hw/s400/Sophia009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424457015363917842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_nlwhWCTCfu2WMA-cigatwNkoEZ5GD93F_yIpha-4eqK87VX3q8931qzA0DG0HgllO9jRP330E_eMt1mvjqPn3gsExjJkjxCb0ft75woIq0JrvcNId4CEtLn9TSsaeuwTdsO2g/s1600-h/Sophia016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_nlwhWCTCfu2WMA-cigatwNkoEZ5GD93F_yIpha-4eqK87VX3q8931qzA0DG0HgllO9jRP330E_eMt1mvjqPn3gsExjJkjxCb0ft75woIq0JrvcNId4CEtLn9TSsaeuwTdsO2g/s400/Sophia016.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424456961135690098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlRLQDDe5pMlCLoNwpNLMAlio4x-3tq0-f5ymYV7ZFuqxVBX9RrGjOTpWwgJhQZomjAnr8DGHraGbxQpAPDGPvk5Htbpf4K2ZzGpyQMnGKwhKhQsQ6UzZdxPD0B1VslwUALD_NQ/s1600-h/Sophia003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlRLQDDe5pMlCLoNwpNLMAlio4x-3tq0-f5ymYV7ZFuqxVBX9RrGjOTpWwgJhQZomjAnr8DGHraGbxQpAPDGPvk5Htbpf4K2ZzGpyQMnGKwhKhQsQ6UzZdxPD0B1VslwUALD_NQ/s400/Sophia003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424456857698566242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yyCB9HtzVNv3fow2eXaK_a4yaiaW_N4Bw9Y7i89lqRUbpIOGa3zabOtQy_VewzeC9iMSqbYKdyXcql0vBQ90nX5ZDZZsCPx_K8lQUJnHl6b3j3zwFK9y3vVEV3CYtgpLVfkqnw/s1600-h/Sophia019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yyCB9HtzVNv3fow2eXaK_a4yaiaW_N4Bw9Y7i89lqRUbpIOGa3zabOtQy_VewzeC9iMSqbYKdyXcql0vBQ90nX5ZDZZsCPx_K8lQUJnHl6b3j3zwFK9y3vVEV3CYtgpLVfkqnw/s400/Sophia019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424457188822597522" /></a><br /><br />Fiona had to write in the conduct book again. This time it was for throwing paper airplanes in the classroom while her teacher was out. She places a lot of the blame on C--C had all the planes in his desk, and he started it, etc etc (different C, but still a boy), but knows what she did was wrong and can't really answer why she did it--she just gets this bemused expression on her face. SIGH. In fact, it didn't even end up on her homework sheet that I sign because she came up to me in the classroom as I was leaving. I was there volunteering, saying my goodbyes to her teacher and Fiona marched up and launched into her conduct book story. Her teacher looked amused. We're going in Wednesday for a PT conference to--I'm sure talk about her behavior, which honestly seems mostly good, except when it's not--but also to revisit testing for the GT program. <br /><br />Sophia came home from school ravenous despite just having eaten most of her lunch (I usually pick her up right after lunch). She ate a bowl of my granola! I don't think she's ever eaten my granola. She ate a whole bowl of that WITH yogurt. She hasn't eaten yogurt in ages. <br /><br />It was cold enough this morning (upper 20s!) that I caught myself looking for my snow boots. Yeah, those are long gone. I know this is NOT really cold, but since we have crappy windows the cold just blasts through. People have trash bags and sheets all over their yards (to protect plants from freezing). Looks great.<br /><br />I got hooked on some new (to me) songs over the Christmas break and here is one that Sophia also likes immensely. She calls it the "Ra Ra Ra" song.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qrO4YZeyl0I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qrO4YZeyl0I&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />Right now Sophia is reading <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pigeon-Wants-Puppy-Mo-Willems/dp/1423109600">The Pigeon Wants a Puppy</a> </span>out loud. I mean out LOUD. With inflections. I'll try to catch it later on video; it's entertaining.<br /><br />One of Fiona's new favorite songs now is this (thanks, Alex!):<br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E1mU6h4Xdxc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E1mU6h4Xdxc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />I should point out they don't watch the video, only hear the song.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-12444760121341062742010-01-05T14:16:00.005-05:002010-01-05T15:29:40.001-05:00Bad Boy Influence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D1uEMG2rTxPH1xZA4y0bYoJpxCFruy8tyTzXLKAAA2JYWe15zFNnWj6299iNU4Z8dRV79BtSTFE-1f8VCFYOvdbqpIDHnlro-fcab6pEcEQuv3nOKVj4etgsAMxa_miNZfVFJA/s1600-h/Halloween2+028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D1uEMG2rTxPH1xZA4y0bYoJpxCFruy8tyTzXLKAAA2JYWe15zFNnWj6299iNU4Z8dRV79BtSTFE-1f8VCFYOvdbqpIDHnlro-fcab6pEcEQuv3nOKVj4etgsAMxa_miNZfVFJA/s400/Halloween2+028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423352975195877810" /></a><br />I guess I have acclimated to winter in Texas because it's about 46F right now and it feels COLD. However, the sun is brightly shining, so it's not so bad. We're supposed to get a hard freeze Thursday night and Friday night, so that will kill off anything that survived in the garden from the last freeze. Hopefully, this means fewer mosquitoes next summer. Sophia came home exclaiming that her teacher said we were getting snow tomorrow. There doesn't seem to be anything like that in the forecast, however. This is not a problem for me. <br /><br />Fiona got off the bus yesterday looking happy and then very serious as she said, "Can I show you something before we go inside?". Then she shows me the page I have to sign every day that has her homework assignment and things to remember for the next day. Her teacher said that Fiona had been acting <span style="font-style:italic;">very silly</span> in class today and was influenced by C (a new boy)--please talk to her. First of all, I was relieved it wasn't something worse. Fiona acting <span style="font-style:italic;">very silly</span> in class is a problem we've had to address off and on during the years and it is gradually getting better. So we did talk about it. She said, "But MOM! I'ts C's fault! C is so silly and he makes me laugh so hard! I can not help it." She has been talking about C for a while now. She loves people who make her laugh. Hopefully, today goes better. She did say that when I met her at the bus stop, I looked so happy and "smiley" that she felt "really bad" about telling me her bad news (when she is silly or talkative or not following directions, etc, she gets written up in the "conduct book"). She is very forthcoming about the conduct book. She never hides it. It's quite remarkable. I'm not sure if it's the age or her personality or both. She's not going to sit next to C in groups and will keep the silliness to recess. She asked me if she and C could still be friends. Oh, Fiona. <br /><br />On that note, though, our school (or at least her teachers) don't have any scheduled parent/teacher conferences during the year. I'm going to schedule one (for both girls) just to make sure I really know what's going on. The work that comes home looks good and Sophia is improving with reading and writing and Fiona's grades are great. I would like to try to get Fiona in the gifted/talented program, but it's a little tricky. Her teacher thinks she is more "high achieving" than gifted/talented, but said she would watch her during the year. The books that Fiona reads at school are easier than the ones she reads at home. All the other subjects seem pretty much at her level and she excels in those subjects. It's possible I don't really know what the gifted/talented program is really about. They test kids for the program in kindergarten. Obviously, we missed that since we just moved here. If it's just a matter of testing her, then I don't see why we shouldn't. <br /><br />I don't have any pictures from today, so here, completely out of context, are pictures from last Halloween, which we had a lot of fun with. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O9cW5gWdus32QirU_Upiui9sfX98MpE2FyQJyq_RmOC_mKXk7rbi3a3bs88bql_D3TNzX4jJo0Dcjzwp7sqCWk9QzaxxXxngpEc6bShliwW3YwdYwLhwlXLtAuLGfTc5huCHzg/s1600-h/Halloween2+046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O9cW5gWdus32QirU_Upiui9sfX98MpE2FyQJyq_RmOC_mKXk7rbi3a3bs88bql_D3TNzX4jJo0Dcjzwp7sqCWk9QzaxxXxngpEc6bShliwW3YwdYwLhwlXLtAuLGfTc5huCHzg/s400/Halloween2+046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423354308957820370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyUnlaFY0Ex0oi2QhmWB2sI8y4q4fnVnta7Hw3P5vIQl0JX7q34wkt3y4SfnGm1Ic_qIBbhCdt26-j_r67cpuW5fbUUGaTyjuQweAr8LC9UTp8-_RjuIwXBBq_h0TuVlMiO_Gmw/s1600-h/Halloween2+031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyUnlaFY0Ex0oi2QhmWB2sI8y4q4fnVnta7Hw3P5vIQl0JX7q34wkt3y4SfnGm1Ic_qIBbhCdt26-j_r67cpuW5fbUUGaTyjuQweAr8LC9UTp8-_RjuIwXBBq_h0TuVlMiO_Gmw/s400/Halloween2+031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423353773219830306" /></a>Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-46200419084832057522010-01-04T14:12:00.006-05:002010-01-04T14:58:55.363-05:00Books and HipsSophia survived her day at school and Fiona got off to school without a hitch (but will be glad when school has regular hours tomorrow). I just have to make sure we do violin practice this afternoon! Bonus points if we can practice a little more before bedtime. <br /><br />Fiona has started reading <span style="font-style:italic;">The Chronicles of Narnia</span> and has already finished <span style="font-style:italic;">The Magician's Nephew</span>. The strictly-reading-about-dinosaurs phase has ended (or maybe it has just been added on to, because her auntie Alex got her a huge encyclopedia on dinosaurs) and we are back to fiction! She read a cool version of the Frog Princess on our way up to Denton, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689876858/ref=oss_T15_product">finished</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374423075/ref=oss_T15_product">two</a> of her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312375980/ref=oss_T15_product">three</a> Christmas books (still working on <span style="font-style:italic;">The Saturdays</span>). <span style="font-style:italic;">Travels of Thelonious</span> was a HUGE hit (I knew it would be, and that was the book at the end of the bed). She also loved the Moomintroll book, and is asking for more. Actually, she's asking for more of both. Happily, we have a birthday coming up. Oh yeah, the slumber party. Groan. Now if she would only read <span style="font-style:italic;">The Hobbit</span>, which she got for Christmas last year. I don't know what I was thinking then. I should have waited a couple of years on that one. What I should do is read it TO her. <br /><br />Oh, and the "book at the end of the bed" is a Christmas tradition I got from my parents. Every Christmas morning, there is a book wrapped at the end of the bed signed by the parents with the date. In my case, it was always this amazing book. Sometimes I got cookbooks! I still have most, maybe all, of those books. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjwq_hNqb1A2pHaTWrQ1HQ6y9hQD_9CePd6Hb978s2x0-uS2Z_EGUsTvzTfTt5yAKNWmInJZJXradamQMIyxkKxyvfqvgtb0CEVSOVCkjJ5MgfdJkVpukhnFiM0V019TTPiAIhg/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjwq_hNqb1A2pHaTWrQ1HQ6y9hQD_9CePd6Hb978s2x0-uS2Z_EGUsTvzTfTt5yAKNWmInJZJXradamQMIyxkKxyvfqvgtb0CEVSOVCkjJ5MgfdJkVpukhnFiM0V019TTPiAIhg/s400/Christmas+2009+081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422968780580098210" /></a><br />Here is Fiona with the head of some LEGO dinosaur. I forgot that the eyes light up. She did the Stegosaurus last. She was slightly annoyed with the construction saying that the feet were incorrect. She has taken to spouting out random facts--but I have no idea if they are really facts. For instance, while we were waiting for the bus, there were 3 large black birds in our pine trees and the neighbors' trees. Fiona said they were crows (maybe they were). Then she went on to tell me that crows and owls are enemies and said something about the crows pecking the owls in the morning (???). She seemed uncertain about that last part when I asked her to clarify, but was adamant that crows and owls are enemies. (Speaking of owls, we love <a href="http://www.andyrunton.com/comics.html">Owly</a>, which you can probably get at the library. Props to <a href="http://trianat.blogspot.com/?zx=95ae7707696bdb5a">Triana</a> for introducing us!)<br /><br />Did I mention Sophia has started sucking her thumb again? It's even worse than ever. She tells me how much she likes it, especially when she goes to bed. Exasperating as it is, I can also really, really understand, because I did the same thing and I did it for a long time (until I was seven). It was so comforting! It's hell on the teeth, though. I was at least hoping it would help her cope better with situations she feels uncertain of (drop off at school, talking to people, being asked questions, being around new kids...) but I am not sure that it is helping. Maybe I just can't see it.<br /><br />I feel a strong urge to nap now, and maybe I should take it so I can be ready for encouraging Fiona to practice. That can be so draining. Especially if we HAVEN'T been practicing; then she gets really frustrated during practice (and then <span style="font-style:italic;">I</span> get really frustrated). She really has come a long way since we started in July. Maybe it would help her to see me practice the piano, which is something I should really do (and it's enjoyable once I'm there...sort of like exercise). Then it's either dinner prep time or yoga time! I should prep dinner first. I've been biking, but I think my thighs would like a respite today.<br /><br />Two amusing things: As Fiona was watching Ellen Aim open yet another MOVIE present at Christmas, she asked why Ellen didn't get any <span style="font-style:italic;">real presents</span>. She said this with a look of stern disapproval on her face (mixed with bewilderment).<br /><br />Ellen also appeared one evening wearing <a href="http://www.express.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=24004&parentCategoryId=2&categoryId=3&subCategoryId=3">this shirt</a>, which I love and probably need at least two of. Both girls loved the shirt as well. Sophia stared at the cut out in the top of the shirt and said, "I can see your HIPS". Sobo remarked to Ellen dryly, "I don't think she means your hips".Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-53140640742539965142010-01-03T15:06:00.005-05:002010-01-03T18:27:49.522-05:00Happy New Year!I spent the last two weeks in little D (otherwise known as Denton, the Home of Happiness). The kids had big fun with their grandparents and both aunties (on my side of the family). I actually went out on New Year's Eve to see <a href="http://www.myspace.com/odis">ODIS</a> with Alex and <a href="http://www.ellenaim.blogspot.com/">Ellen Aim</a>. It was fabulous. I even danced in public (shudder). <br /><br />The kids had a great first Christmas in Texas (We even got snow on Christmas Eve! Snow that didn't melt right away! Actual, big fluffy flakes! That hasn't happened since the early 1900s). <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgM_9I2MqmFLj2unopHDD8yL51mh4VFEYOrl4UADB1NMZjxmeefaHxwK3PSeTeUFfK6tnY_RDheXpmN5CL5IcCJRBtiMZqS77gvgAx-xfVf_1bdCoFY4nkwun_WsFAe8SYtj5Wg/s1600-h/Christmas+2009+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgM_9I2MqmFLj2unopHDD8yL51mh4VFEYOrl4UADB1NMZjxmeefaHxwK3PSeTeUFfK6tnY_RDheXpmN5CL5IcCJRBtiMZqS77gvgAx-xfVf_1bdCoFY4nkwun_WsFAe8SYtj5Wg/s400/Christmas+2009+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422648519172863490" /></a><br />I also got to see a movie! We saw <span style="font-style:italic;">Sherlock Holmes</span>, which was pretty silly, but a lot of fun. Favorite line: "You do realize what you're drinking is meant for eye surgery?" Also something about a package. This was a theater with wine, which helped. We may or may not have high fived during a few of the lines. It was that kind of movie.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbke7FTZf1uur3wE7R2TVyGyrEwKfzQAPe7onjnosySF6lDbKjG0b3RrjQWQl0NLV7gm6dwdvLSOqXb88iDKSKam1R5kkwJRkRsoPFOztGOeBXYW4gwFqWk_xAa8_gL9V_Yw4F3A/s1600-h/Watson.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbke7FTZf1uur3wE7R2TVyGyrEwKfzQAPe7onjnosySF6lDbKjG0b3RrjQWQl0NLV7gm6dwdvLSOqXb88iDKSKam1R5kkwJRkRsoPFOztGOeBXYW4gwFqWk_xAa8_gL9V_Yw4F3A/s400/Watson.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422652780784855586" /></a><br /> <br />Now it's a new year and tomorrow the kids go back to school. Fiona's school starts two hours later than usual, which will make things extra awkward tomorrow. I am not even 100% sure Sophia HAS school tomorrow. I guess I will find that out soon enough. She missed the last two days of school because she had a slight fever, but mostly because she was just obviously not feeling well. She has already asked me today if I will "pick her up early". This means I would pick her up at noon. She used to go all day, but they have this crazy long rest time at the school (from about 11:30 to about 2:30) and it totally screws up her bedtime. So I pick her up at noon when I can (I can't on Wednesdays and Thursdays). Honestly, I am sort of tempted to just take her out of school this year except that she IS picking up reading and writing and interacting with other kids. I miss last year when she would NOT want to come home with me and wanted to play a little longer. It was occasionally exasperating, of course, but by FAR preferable to going out of resignation. Sophia is also going through this DARLING phase of testing limits (the sequel and top volume version) and being absolutely defiant. Tell her she can't do something? "I am going to do it anyway!" She literally laughs at any discipline. I honestly have grey hairs coming in now. I've stopped counting them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3_0pDQHQPbNDAnrRFO4N1glkrRt3dP3YQRpyAgZpQa9i-FBR1qXbCCQ6Y4AKi3pBySx8K_1t5rabnzo_xZZQnNYk3UzQTAld1q2cH0L3s5FasyaksiFQfpuaXSTwyfOGTxzE8A/s1600-h/December+2009+008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3_0pDQHQPbNDAnrRFO4N1glkrRt3dP3YQRpyAgZpQa9i-FBR1qXbCCQ6Y4AKi3pBySx8K_1t5rabnzo_xZZQnNYk3UzQTAld1q2cH0L3s5FasyaksiFQfpuaXSTwyfOGTxzE8A/s400/December+2009+008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422655049921688034" /></a><br />I have been a terrible parent in terms of Fiona's violin practice (I do it with her and I just haven't on this "vacation"). Hopefully, Wednesday's lesson is not too painful (I go with her, which is why Sophia has a long day at school Wednesday). Fiona's birthday is coming up (2/2!) and she will be eight. Eight! She is pushing hard for a slumber party. She wants a handful of girls (about 5, I think) and I want ONE. Still not sure what to do about that. She did attend her first slumber party last fall and it went extremely well, but the mother certainly did not get any sleep (neither did the girls, of course). I've been volunteering in Fiona's class (one of them, anyway...she has two teachers) on Thursdays in the early afternoon. I love doing this, because then I get to meet the other kids in her class. I still feel lost at Sophia's school, but it is getting a little better because she's been invited to a few birthday parties.<br /><br />Now that it's time to get back into some sort of schedule, I'm actually making some loose "resolutions", which I don't usually do (if I want to do something, I just do it). Maybe making it a more formal declaration will help. I'm back to exercising, which is fun to do with Sophia there because she will really bust out some great dance moves. That girl can dance. I am going to try to write something every day. Hopefully, here. Facebook does not count. But if not here, somewhere. I am also going to venture into Houston once a week (probably that Wednesday) because I am tired of the weak produce at HEB. HEB can be great, but this one near our house is so-so. It's sort of like Shaw's produce at our former home. Pretty good, but the co-op had fresher. I think it's worth the trip to Whole Foods or Central Market for fresh produce. Oh, and maybe some cheese.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-79616892555447785162009-10-20T19:53:00.003-04:002009-10-20T20:08:30.240-04:00Addendum to Boston and Seneca Falls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaA1zByrzD-1K3ag_kvJociXMjoSfRpsRotY4ek28IL_V0Q0QLGJLteDZcqvg01sPXVo82UMONZh6aKKEfG8tZEmlCLuiBX4r2jts8YkiBiWZVzue87OjbwT8H0c7hzY7LVC2Cw/s1600-h/pinenuts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 342px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaA1zByrzD-1K3ag_kvJociXMjoSfRpsRotY4ek28IL_V0Q0QLGJLteDZcqvg01sPXVo82UMONZh6aKKEfG8tZEmlCLuiBX4r2jts8YkiBiWZVzue87OjbwT8H0c7hzY7LVC2Cw/s400/pinenuts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394838350484253730" /></a><br /><br />I didn't mean to leave you hanging on my mysterious symptom of having an extremely bitter taste after everything I ate. That is now gone and lasted about a week. I am pretty sure this happened because I ate <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1184261/Pine-mouth-puzzle-Why-nuts-leave-bitter-taste.html">pine nuts</a>. What this article doesn't mention, besides <span style="font-style:italic;">why</span> it happens (because nobody knows), is that, incredibly, the symptoms don't start right away. They can start <a href="http://journals.lww.com/euro-emergencymed/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2001&issue=03000&article=00036&type=fulltext">one to three days</a> after you've eaten them. In my case, salad with toasted pine nuts on a Monday or Tuesday (can't remember), symptoms on Thursday morning. This only happened to me--not to Doug. I don't know if my pine nuts came from China (most do). You can get them from Italy, but it sounds like they are harder to find. There seem to be no other ill effects. This is kind of a bummer, because I love pine nuts. I dislike that taste even more, though, so...I guess I will be looking for Italian pine nuts and see if that makes a difference. I've been eating pine nuts for years and this is the first time I've had anything like this happen!Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-58187901010494383492009-10-20T16:53:00.003-04:002009-10-20T18:06:19.019-04:00Boston and Seneca Falls, Part TwoSunday morning we had another delicious breakfast at <a href="http://www.johnmorrismanor.com/NewPages/welcome2.html">John Morris Manor Bed and Breakfast</a>. More fresh fruit, a similar egg dish to Saturday's, but with herbs, and a side of bacon, and divine French toast with an apple compote. Fresh, delicious. I had coffee instead of tea. Also delicious. Oh, and by the way, it's real tea you get to choose from. Not Lipton.<br /><br />On the way back to Ellen Aim's apartment, this time yours truly doing the driving---and screaming---, we listened to more great music. I love road trips with my iPod. We actually had very similar playlists, but notable differences, so that was fun. New stuff (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/odis">ODIS</a>!) and old/"other" stuff (mostly the kind of stuff <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNlfUWfXdvo">you</a> <a href="http://www.rickspringfield.com/">don't</a> <a href="http://www.80smusicvids.com/index.php?vid=Animotion_-_Obsession&a=a">admit</a> <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8302827438766185274&ei=VjDeSsDAIYLkrAKhiI3yAQ&q=britney+spears+video#">to</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAT5ypTjKOI">liking</a>).<br /><br />We managed to get home in one piece and then it was off to meet Ellen Aim's husband at the theater (huge) to see <a href="http://www.paranormalactivity-movie.com/">Paranormal Activity</a>. Ellen Aim thoughtfully provided us with disposable coffee cups of a bit of limoncello. I drank it a little too quickly (I felt a little odd walking around with it--we're on the subway, by the way). I also needed to eat, so we loaded up on nachos and hot dogs at the theater. YUM. Unfortunately, I did not realize the whole movie was shot with a hand held video camera. I discovered, while watching the Blair Witch Project, that I get motion sickness watching movies like that. I missed the last 5 minutes of Blair Witch to go throw up in the bathroom. Nice. So I tried to stay in the theater with my eyes closed. Impossible. It looked like it might have been a bit creepy during the moments I came up for air. Can't say. I left with about 15-20 minutes to go. It's a short movie. I also couldn't find the way OUT of the theater, so I ended up walking queasily in front of the screen. Yep, nice! I survived and didn't get sick and we made it back home. I wish we had seen <a href="http://www.zombieland.com/">Zombieland</a>! I was fine by the time I woke up at 4 AM for my flight/drive home.<br /><br />I can't wait to visit again! I think I'll wait until spring or summer, though. I think Ellen Aim is probably already making use of the box o' winter gear I sent her.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-13445680160126250892009-10-20T15:06:00.013-04:002009-10-20T15:10:44.271-04:00Sophia Takes More PicturesI couldn't resist sharing a few.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOYQi9AQ2-aP7TcPqaTYodr9_JD1noBpg8jyJBZDFeKbiisd2r-oEf_H5hh_EDBhSYadqpTpoyOxHTHvyAUcxeH4JDExewKVTUZTOkjc2iDjx581Hti62tWx1Ak2ZAesVeLiW2Q/s1600-h/Sophia077.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOYQi9AQ2-aP7TcPqaTYodr9_JD1noBpg8jyJBZDFeKbiisd2r-oEf_H5hh_EDBhSYadqpTpoyOxHTHvyAUcxeH4JDExewKVTUZTOkjc2iDjx581Hti62tWx1Ak2ZAesVeLiW2Q/s400/Sophia077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761548264765458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39N3FXPk9wj9vZy_hocXVqgSdG_QZhjlr-nmNUgh9vBZaKQV7ku3IZnPq6_RoHqlq2-sxcFaAp24bdE-YIdELzi2ItTPfYAlJNU-ALGnQMGZ3d01qf_SljeLYQnGpyGTWSXPZqw/s1600-h/Sophia062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39N3FXPk9wj9vZy_hocXVqgSdG_QZhjlr-nmNUgh9vBZaKQV7ku3IZnPq6_RoHqlq2-sxcFaAp24bdE-YIdELzi2ItTPfYAlJNU-ALGnQMGZ3d01qf_SljeLYQnGpyGTWSXPZqw/s400/Sophia062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761477424438642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA4nP1mUKPDY-g27WXptwtux0RnxaYYutYtqhDo3khGSeV5dkLMChQK1X17drDPxA01uKKoswPYrAyTePAHazct4MJZn_L_83FgGTDzvB2JTMRXz4H4VDemdiEecSeMarOwyp4w/s1600-h/Sophia040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA4nP1mUKPDY-g27WXptwtux0RnxaYYutYtqhDo3khGSeV5dkLMChQK1X17drDPxA01uKKoswPYrAyTePAHazct4MJZn_L_83FgGTDzvB2JTMRXz4H4VDemdiEecSeMarOwyp4w/s400/Sophia040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761407537710706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DJN3W1Mdzav2QZIhSjeWt6EJ0CU7gu-iqJ_wQnu2T5cti7DulLxclExkmsHJ-81mohxMLmv2oRyC7fNVeRM4538X0-dlbfZ7baL1wOQKex7pQ2PZ4XQcMBFy-5wrBZ0l9wHXDg/s1600-h/Sophia066.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DJN3W1Mdzav2QZIhSjeWt6EJ0CU7gu-iqJ_wQnu2T5cti7DulLxclExkmsHJ-81mohxMLmv2oRyC7fNVeRM4538X0-dlbfZ7baL1wOQKex7pQ2PZ4XQcMBFy-5wrBZ0l9wHXDg/s400/Sophia066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761312907598722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCh_76xqubh6Qkset4WgJyTHuzrf7k4OmYm507mxBjbYi9njYWd3BxqRS2r-CTp8qK_WpGWHgGiLCzza8oW8KXYilJ42GArvPE6sPFTqGDSyRnqXMghL8vf0-gCmO_QLlc-_98Q/s1600-h/Sophia041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCh_76xqubh6Qkset4WgJyTHuzrf7k4OmYm507mxBjbYi9njYWd3BxqRS2r-CTp8qK_WpGWHgGiLCzza8oW8KXYilJ42GArvPE6sPFTqGDSyRnqXMghL8vf0-gCmO_QLlc-_98Q/s400/Sophia041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761217779163026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YYGBSe5Dn7qOUTivn3NQS-SxeW3ZWpeQtdSiIwE489CCSujDOUO4cP1Gyt64ywUNsYWxKgHwD58xZYKZKaJNlu5TTrypHRSsyGIBqi7WcalQ2ufcHC84jp3sgsExmyLf8z6d0Q/s1600-h/Sophia022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YYGBSe5Dn7qOUTivn3NQS-SxeW3ZWpeQtdSiIwE489CCSujDOUO4cP1Gyt64ywUNsYWxKgHwD58xZYKZKaJNlu5TTrypHRSsyGIBqi7WcalQ2ufcHC84jp3sgsExmyLf8z6d0Q/s400/Sophia022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761152780275858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8kGBCYVA3O0ydB_9tn0_2fU5UHaDYEAvnUb00XgZxFBxR0da2eypGOTha5RmZkAa1b6h-taN8w_N7qmkvK4gtJ-0yXYSrVI1MzGKb3CC_dIBG1RfZJ1cztaZfMnk92zVSz9cwA/s1600-h/Sophia021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8kGBCYVA3O0ydB_9tn0_2fU5UHaDYEAvnUb00XgZxFBxR0da2eypGOTha5RmZkAa1b6h-taN8w_N7qmkvK4gtJ-0yXYSrVI1MzGKb3CC_dIBG1RfZJ1cztaZfMnk92zVSz9cwA/s400/Sophia021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761078477629746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNDeUNwPZr0oVED1ig5_fWPornnaNWm1CGuizHG_mdwkDgt4cznKGu1Ar1d2nGDtHK2xYqooCUvj7Oq4FZxZPDmC347l4rQYBU9cl3VVNsof6-5RcgvkkmLevr0vU441q9NdhQw/s1600-h/Sophia019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNDeUNwPZr0oVED1ig5_fWPornnaNWm1CGuizHG_mdwkDgt4cznKGu1Ar1d2nGDtHK2xYqooCUvj7Oq4FZxZPDmC347l4rQYBU9cl3VVNsof6-5RcgvkkmLevr0vU441q9NdhQw/s400/Sophia019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394761003236894226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokIEHvfsA-yoeE-qMvMfnrqTPjeH83qjo_ED8Pn65dXkNA8Uzb07MVU-HmQY131D9tEh8t0CTs241SuY5ByA1Bvtt-oingM1KkTwo8cmZNqlToQYnJgMoU7frEuIsYRGPqgB4Qw/s1600-h/Sophia020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokIEHvfsA-yoeE-qMvMfnrqTPjeH83qjo_ED8Pn65dXkNA8Uzb07MVU-HmQY131D9tEh8t0CTs241SuY5ByA1Bvtt-oingM1KkTwo8cmZNqlToQYnJgMoU7frEuIsYRGPqgB4Qw/s400/Sophia020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394760939521710578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FeRWkOFNpoTJca9Zix0aO4_HPy6DuQ8QoICD2vpt66hovQvZehuVUal3uPhBmCTKsMByuY2zjitA3AXLR2sfaVzXqoZ-wnJfpJZgUJxwumHcRJxFD7N-4CZ2aImW5pNLPCoBoQ/s1600-h/Sophia018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FeRWkOFNpoTJca9Zix0aO4_HPy6DuQ8QoICD2vpt66hovQvZehuVUal3uPhBmCTKsMByuY2zjitA3AXLR2sfaVzXqoZ-wnJfpJZgUJxwumHcRJxFD7N-4CZ2aImW5pNLPCoBoQ/s400/Sophia018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394760863335175906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs74D0VHgsIpMo0NWkjws0LwJToZrhInRc_V-iFyB0njJn7YhO9g55htXa1BgwtHF1SJNha4_GsdMA52A3KIc4RX-h6Xq8eMOX0wL_-ENzNmUyZ9axqAmOHjJ4puPqmgCb4pGtbw/s1600-h/Sophia002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs74D0VHgsIpMo0NWkjws0LwJToZrhInRc_V-iFyB0njJn7YhO9g55htXa1BgwtHF1SJNha4_GsdMA52A3KIc4RX-h6Xq8eMOX0wL_-ENzNmUyZ9axqAmOHjJ4puPqmgCb4pGtbw/s400/Sophia002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394760774731212418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5yn82OhT0FDisKVlUam_RvYuw_g3eROG666sV7biqXJwxeMpVNWpYvWj-eouAwKWYmxdcWYHh8CBz1nK9EhZ-kB-gs0ZtoBswVNwpGuT-VyxPjD1Lh6GT-CDzw2t2CQWsafiFw/s1600-h/Sophia006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5yn82OhT0FDisKVlUam_RvYuw_g3eROG666sV7biqXJwxeMpVNWpYvWj-eouAwKWYmxdcWYHh8CBz1nK9EhZ-kB-gs0ZtoBswVNwpGuT-VyxPjD1Lh6GT-CDzw2t2CQWsafiFw/s400/Sophia006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394760719946360130" border="0" /></a>Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-25353788495480638772009-10-20T12:08:00.005-04:002009-10-20T16:29:57.826-04:00IntermissionSelections from our road trip playlist.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l4xhZdP02sU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l4xhZdP02sU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span></div><br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XWXalOJ1xtQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XWXalOJ1xtQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/isPsxx3rOIM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/isPsxx3rOIM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br />Sorry the sound is SO crappy on this Odis video. Just trust me it rocks and buy the album. I want to see them live!<br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u9SSP7e-eqg&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u9SSP7e-eqg&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GVbo8HUZtkM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GVbo8HUZtkM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object><br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kDebwTnsud0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kDebwTnsud0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ROprP41yB_E&hl=en&fs=1&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ROprP41yB_E&hl=en&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iSaV7fP107c&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iSaV7fP107c&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zgr0syGkR9I&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zgr0syGkR9I&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/awLOiOMw0YE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/awLOiOMw0YE&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br />OMG! They have this song on YouTube! This is NOT an easy song to get a hold of. This is my favorite song. Ever. Maybe.<br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a3zB0ZeFGP8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a3zB0ZeFGP8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br />HAHAHAHA! Oh, the videos of the 1980s. Nothing quite like them.<br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlL4jCOAf_M&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlL4jCOAf_M&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />Of course, there is more, but that is a sampling.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-46108943409005594902009-10-20T10:14:00.000-04:002009-10-20T15:05:38.796-04:00Boston and Seneca Falls, Part OneI spent the weekend before last in Boston and Seneca Falls, NY with my sister, <a href="http://www.ellenaim.blogspot.com/">Ellen Aim</a>. I was lucky enough that JetBlue was the cheapest airfare I could find. I especially like <a href="http://www.jetblue.com/">JetBlue</a> when I can go through the JFK airport. It's clean, the food is decent if overpriced, and there is free wifi. Plus, so far I've had pretty good luck with making connections and the planes leaving on time (it was late leaving JFK for Houston, but I had no connections to make and no children with me, so I didn't mind, but if I had had the kids with me...ugh!). I also like the TV sets on the back of each chair. Every now and then the sets don't work, so I wouldn't totally rely on those being there. You can still check one bag for free as long as it's under 50 pounds. There are also free chips and beverages. So, there is my plug for JetBlue.<br /><br />I've been to Boston before, but driving down from Vermont. We've been to the aquarium a couple of times and the Italian district. It's totally different when you use the train/subway system and stay with someone who lives there (well, just outside of Boston, anyway). The subway system is nice (it would probably take me a while to figure it out) and I would LOVE to be able to not need a car. I hate driving in Boston. I don't like driving in Houston, and Dallas even less, but Boston? Boston is the worst. The city is great, the driving is terrifying.<br /><br />So Thursday Ellen Aim and I went to a couple of her favorite pub spots. We went to <a href="http://www.grendelsden.com/">Grendel's Den</a> where they have half-price food from 5:30 to 7 PM. The beer is great (we had the Cambridge Ale), the food is...so-so. The pretzels were fine and the spinach/artichoke/snow crab dip was oookay, but we ordered some sort of Camembert dip (I remember it was supposed to have caraway seeds in it) that was orange. The light was dim. Perhaps it was pink. We tried to like it, but after eating half of it decided it "had grown off of us". I don't see it on the website menu at the moment. Still, the pub is worth a second try next time I visit! The butternut squash ravioli with sage and brown butter (damn, everyone makes that dish, but at least it is worthy of repetition) was perhaps a special as I don't see it on the menu. This was not bad at all. Oh yes, it had pecans. Lovely pecans. So definitely worth a second try. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zWVFkY7Dris/Styh3I9llSI/AAAAAAAAACY/JdnS7GeSnq8/s1600-h/Seneca+Falls+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zWVFkY7Dris/Styh3I9llSI/AAAAAAAAACY/JdnS7GeSnq8/s320/Seneca+Falls+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394364422353687842" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zWVFkY7Dris/StyhtMGKzfI/AAAAAAAAACQ/TPnWbwjnh-0/s1600-h/Seneca+Falls+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zWVFkY7Dris/StyhtMGKzfI/AAAAAAAAACQ/TPnWbwjnh-0/s320/Seneca+Falls+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394364251396296178" border="0" /></a> After that, I am not sure what we did. There was walking around and hanging out at her apartment, visiting a cute little Japanese store, and so on. We ended up at <a href="https://www.johnharvards.com/index.shtml">John Harvard's</a>. I didn't take notes and I don't see what we had on the menu. Figures. I think we had the Oktoberfest brews (excellent), but I also had some sort of special stout, which was malty and wonderful. I'd go back for the beer. The food was not as impressive. We had mozzarella sticks, which were dry and lukewarm. However, they were very generous with the sauce. I was exhausted at this point and we went home. <div><br /></div><div>Friday! Time to drive out to Seneca Falls, where we stayed at <a href="http://www.johnmorrismanor.com/NewPages/welcome2.html">John Morris Manor Bed and Breakfast</a>. The breakfast here is absolutely wonderful. It's clean, it's cute, and I would absolutely stay here again. I love bed and breakfasts so much more than hotels! They do have two dogs, who are friendly, but also not shy. May not be the place for you if you are really not a dog person. It would be a shame to miss breakfast here, though. Seneca Falls, itself, however, was not too exciting. We had a hard time finding a place to eat. Many shops appear to be out of business. We ate at a pizza/pasta place that did not have its alcohol license yet. We ordered pasta. We were served with what looked like at least a pound of pasta each. It was unremarkable in flavor. The garlic rolls that came before the pasta were crusty, warm, and flavorful. We filled up on those. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;font-family:'Courier New';font-size:13;" ></span></div><div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zWVFkY7Dris/StzkVcB3bVI/AAAAAAAAACg/8FLcynilSvo/s1600-h/big+pasta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zWVFkY7Dris/StzkVcB3bVI/AAAAAAAAACg/8FLcynilSvo/s320/big+pasta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394437510635416914" border="0" /></a> <div> </div> </div><div>Then back to John Morris Manor (where there is no wifi, but we lived). We horked a couple of chocolate chip cookies and went to bed.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Saturday morning, we were treated to a fresh fruit plate, tea, pancakes with blueberry sauce,and a sort of baked egg frittata (but looked like it was baked in a pan and then cut into squares--very fluffy and light and delicious. I'm going to try this.) with cheese. The other guests (two couples at the same table with us) were utterly charming. There was also juice. Dogs did a bit of begging.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>I have neglected to mention that since Thursday morning (the morning I left for Boston), every thing I ate had a bitter, metallic aftertaste. Everything. Water. Bread. Worst culprits were greens and sweet things. I was so paranoid that I had some mysterious dental issue going on. It wasn't so bad the day I got to Boston, but the absolute worst day was Saturday, the day we were going on the wine trails. So that was a bit of a downer. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>So keeping in mind that I could not properly taste wine to save my life, we started at <a href="http://www.elevenlakeswinery.com/">Eleven Lakes Winery</a>, which is just down the road from John Morris Manor. This is exciting because it's new and had their grand opening on October 3rd. I bought a bottle of red for Doug. It's long gone now, but I'm pretty sure it was the Cabernet Franc. The innkeeper at John Morris Manor recommended it.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Then we had cheese further down the road. Oh, the cheese tasted so good and then the weird bitter taste symptom appeared. We both bought the Horseradish cheddar cheese (I'm sorry I don't have the name of the farm that made the cheese at the moment. I'll try to find it).</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn3TQYtfSSkKeh-5Pg3FuxkS06FLLWKS7gNMie50xK0m_rjWO8-aA3vzhwQVjGV-heNNoEMr5AquoPiCX3WSpja8m9heAtfBYdpXXff1A1ayNaTiukFrIZ7VKw2Lapjl89BD2uQ/s1600-h/Seneca+Falls+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIn3TQYtfSSkKeh-5Pg3FuxkS06FLLWKS7gNMie50xK0m_rjWO8-aA3vzhwQVjGV-heNNoEMr5AquoPiCX3WSpja8m9heAtfBYdpXXff1A1ayNaTiukFrIZ7VKw2Lapjl89BD2uQ/s400/Seneca+Falls+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394699351272262002" border="0" /></a><br />Then we went to <a href="http://www.knappwine.com/knappwinery/index.jsp">Knapp Winery</a> in Romulus (insert Star Trek joke here). Again, taste buds fail me here, but I will say putting pictures of <a href="https://checkout.inertiabev.com/knappwinery/catalog/view_product.jsp?product_id=1018&cat_id=1019">cats</a> on the label that look like they have been to the taxidermist is not a good marketing idea. There is a huge selection here. They have a whole category of <a href="https://checkout.inertiabev.com/knappwinery/catalog/index.jsp?cat_id=1013">"fruit" wines</a>, which is really not my thing, but there it is. Neither of us cared for any of the wine we tasted (I will say you can taste anything they sell in your wine tasting--I can't remember how many wines you get to have in one tasting, but it's a significant amount). However, once we realized we could taste the <a href="https://checkout.inertiabev.com/knappwinery/catalog/view_product.jsp?product_id=1037&cat_id=1014">limoncello</a> or limencello, we had to try it. The lemoncello is quite good and Ellen Aim bought a bottle (wish I had, too). Next time I'll try the limencello. Maybe I'll even try the <a href="http://www.knappwine.com/knappwinery/page/vineyard_restaurant.jsp">restaurant</a> next time! This vineyard was very popular--it was full of people and cars when we arrived.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiltIXJfl5p-s75aIZQoR0ycIXbloqkwsgOCulNMl9UvinEhy5wh7TRPiXY3nXKf0WyqJxy0ygqsRckLX9dooZqRE179v5jRCqp2V2NUJbjMQlWasIxHYesoUGoOsIAuy1rP7AaQ/s1600-h/Seneca+Falls+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiltIXJfl5p-s75aIZQoR0ycIXbloqkwsgOCulNMl9UvinEhy5wh7TRPiXY3nXKf0WyqJxy0ygqsRckLX9dooZqRE179v5jRCqp2V2NUJbjMQlWasIxHYesoUGoOsIAuy1rP7AaQ/s400/Seneca+Falls+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394705804083287138" border="0" /></a><br />Our last vineyard stop was <a href="http://www.americanavineyards.com/index.html">Americana Vineyards and Winery</a>, where we went to last year.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuTaGnIjWg7iNIOx8DV32Bio0BMfDghc-yIaYQf2LvAycbqbosscnAWgriIH0EegyNeeg2jINGmroodt1xqv8WNz3ai3Mg7lW0M580mnjbzplaRZx3zMzdCxG8uJnsk4Cptzm5Q/s1600-h/IMG_1465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuTaGnIjWg7iNIOx8DV32Bio0BMfDghc-yIaYQf2LvAycbqbosscnAWgriIH0EegyNeeg2jINGmroodt1xqv8WNz3ai3Mg7lW0M580mnjbzplaRZx3zMzdCxG8uJnsk4Cptzm5Q/s400/IMG_1465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394697385865693810" border="0" /></a><br />We resolved to go again this year, because the food there is wonderful, and the Apparition wine (blend of Cayuga grapes) was a favorite. Really, this winery is the one to go to for wine made from Cayuga grapes. The Cayuga White is also very good. Clean, crisp, dry. The Apparition is a bit sweeter (not at all too much, mind you). The Finger Lakes region seems better suited to white wines in my very limited experience so far. The winery also had a tasting menu of blueberry wines, which we had to try. Avoid that. The best of those was the last item on the tasting menu, which was the dessert wine. That was okay.<br /><br />Waiting for a table at lunch was a long 45 minutes or so.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkskHAnwqWaBfhDc36wy_wgi6bp8FGniIhgLs49jHoe8Agci0PinSTLj6_z0XQ2AkkQM99wFZlq3Dwingny7gIv6eAP_nCeIFNILoNYbrcD2VxFEbwA75cZ2yc7AJzt9Q_n-St7w/s1600-h/Seneca+Falls+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkskHAnwqWaBfhDc36wy_wgi6bp8FGniIhgLs49jHoe8Agci0PinSTLj6_z0XQ2AkkQM99wFZlq3Dwingny7gIv6eAP_nCeIFNILoNYbrcD2VxFEbwA75cZ2yc7AJzt9Q_n-St7w/s400/Seneca+Falls+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394699777886113266" border="0" /></a><br />It was worth the wait. Everything tastes fresh and in-house. The bread on the sandwiches is very classy. The menu was different than last year, so we couldn't get the little dish full of nibblies we had last year. I had a grilled chicken sandwich with arugula pesto and sweet potato fries (not soggy! crispy! delightful!) and Ellen Aim had pork chops with mashed red potatoes and kale. Oh, the kale was sort of disappointing. It had sliced carrots in it and what tasted like reduced apple cider in it. It was too sweet for me. I am noticing a trend here. It may not escape your notice I'm not a huge fan of sweet things. Really, I like sweet things. In moderation. It didn't help that when I ate sweet things, the bitter after taste in my mouth was at its worst. Perhaps the kale was just fine. Maybe Ellen Aim will weigh in. It was her dish, after all. The winery also sells fudge, which is delicious for a small bite. I really loved the coconut fudge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhOjuB55IPLcSrRXanpbASxsxQzTEYtoUkyv7b1Xexh11isToB2mkYmHZXCyKQJ9tI1M_z-uWj9aXmvBgi90vOtQBTFnsNpnqFxVjUx547aQTKj7H7fCqy-mvEGMGdisCLGozQA/s1600-h/Cat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhOjuB55IPLcSrRXanpbASxsxQzTEYtoUkyv7b1Xexh11isToB2mkYmHZXCyKQJ9tI1M_z-uWj9aXmvBgi90vOtQBTFnsNpnqFxVjUx547aQTKj7H7fCqy-mvEGMGdisCLGozQA/s400/Cat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394705282045612594" border="0" /></a><br />The winery also has a very friendly adorable cat.<br /><br />I was totally exhausted at this point (I am also predictable), so we went back to the inn. We decided not to venture out again into the depressing place that Seneca Falls is at night (we did find a liquor store...no Tuaca, but we got some Godiva liqueur). We put a disk of Supernatural in and ate some of the lovely Horseradish cheese with some leftover crackers in the car and called it a night. We had to eat in the living area instead of our room (completely understandable). Fortunately, the room was empty so we didn't have to share Supernatural with the other guests. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll save the rest of the trip for another post.</div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 489px; left: 3px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 489px; left: 333px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 1045px; left: 215px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 1825px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 2333px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 2679px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 3169px; left: 193px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 3777px; left: 183px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div>Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-13781396497465469482009-10-19T11:00:00.011-04:002009-10-19T11:09:26.304-04:00It's RED!<a href="http://trianat.blogspot.com/?zx=938905bbebc17a1b">Triana</a> got Sophia a RED digital camera for her birthday! Thank you, Triana! We found it this morning on the doorstep and we had to open it right before school started. Sophia's drop off at school has been dramatic lately, so I worried that this would make it worse, but amazingly, it went just fine. Maybe it helped she had a huge box of chocolate chip cookies in her hands to give to her teacher for her birthday celebration today.<br /><br />Anyway, I used her new camera to take her picture:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgYx-KdqCCWNmGtUIGTZ1qiFKF8lNHugjincZozOmVl_CdK_0SSWsfJiWsPChAML_FUmxWlaKj8IYY6wpsb4BW40xK8Q4aLnwYnC7b0mifSGURhlhy8ek_ejCx-0njKLLwxuzsw/s1600-h/Sophia001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgYx-KdqCCWNmGtUIGTZ1qiFKF8lNHugjincZozOmVl_CdK_0SSWsfJiWsPChAML_FUmxWlaKj8IYY6wpsb4BW40xK8Q4aLnwYnC7b0mifSGURhlhy8ek_ejCx-0njKLLwxuzsw/s400/Sophia001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394326932295840274" /></a><br /><br />She took these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48s5PELrc05pUPm0EEHFO42zmTaRz2vKHJH4WJef_wPKG_0F9Ag-OM-To8e_m-Vjk8zJkw2Q_bHEG0cXgp3idHpCzxYcciMc6rBs9-J0RmtJCahyphenhyphenWmM05Dm9YI9ohele8qbCfmw/s1600-h/Sophia006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48s5PELrc05pUPm0EEHFO42zmTaRz2vKHJH4WJef_wPKG_0F9Ag-OM-To8e_m-Vjk8zJkw2Q_bHEG0cXgp3idHpCzxYcciMc6rBs9-J0RmtJCahyphenhyphenWmM05Dm9YI9ohele8qbCfmw/s400/Sophia006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394327103473098626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlVka0bPsoK2aJu0ZOcQRYPp1SHoOO1mhaf4SHTrbdUaVF-0QBje9Yq9CAeEYx4GT8IMiKRZr1ltKOo1jZQe995WOBb-Ds0wT6mAgH2FNhcy28zYgpEZZu_ngKGw_cNdGgw2-QQ/s1600-h/Sophia012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlVka0bPsoK2aJu0ZOcQRYPp1SHoOO1mhaf4SHTrbdUaVF-0QBje9Yq9CAeEYx4GT8IMiKRZr1ltKOo1jZQe995WOBb-Ds0wT6mAgH2FNhcy28zYgpEZZu_ngKGw_cNdGgw2-QQ/s400/Sophia012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394327506982483874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGyZ0OFg0Ali7etcdhrjeBuC_kWD8l37ht2SIUD7x-iRrzsz0B8y7sSa1rwpC-RiwP8fYGysDAuX9sTtJdaY6o_H1Z3RkHVEyK70q6kHmoImfUmlfiK0MbcFJIwpGKLWWY8wMZA/s1600-h/Sophia007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGyZ0OFg0Ali7etcdhrjeBuC_kWD8l37ht2SIUD7x-iRrzsz0B8y7sSa1rwpC-RiwP8fYGysDAuX9sTtJdaY6o_H1Z3RkHVEyK70q6kHmoImfUmlfiK0MbcFJIwpGKLWWY8wMZA/s400/Sophia007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394327414842541538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u_n3Pg3a3jCRHG8RaXhP-QbVmKse5kMYw9CIeTRu_taOTnMyqM_JpdifdmizuLvgOD_phSAmDsSb2m6yVB2OgJXc08fiOxoUUWxeFg9_93hvwWOAD0IxHMhKvGlJNwjZ0WHPKA/s1600-h/Sophia008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5u_n3Pg3a3jCRHG8RaXhP-QbVmKse5kMYw9CIeTRu_taOTnMyqM_JpdifdmizuLvgOD_phSAmDsSb2m6yVB2OgJXc08fiOxoUUWxeFg9_93hvwWOAD0IxHMhKvGlJNwjZ0WHPKA/s400/Sophia008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394327357376129890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHon4SdcCz086-1bXfIMkPR-z9Kv0UYmlGwENp0lMVccioXbnOiGiUdcp61KUzH4YDJKtFN31G6O_n3mmUmZ1XRPzY0iDwSmtX9q1lgUuUe565LjUKaoKFKFcTZFabrY5HSzEC-A/s1600-h/Sophia002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHon4SdcCz086-1bXfIMkPR-z9Kv0UYmlGwENp0lMVccioXbnOiGiUdcp61KUzH4YDJKtFN31G6O_n3mmUmZ1XRPzY0iDwSmtX9q1lgUuUe565LjUKaoKFKFcTZFabrY5HSzEC-A/s400/Sophia002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394327250701613410" /></a><br /><br />Going to have to work on having a steady hand!<br /><br />We took this together:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6b8opxgK09I8M4fn8g97OBQxuMISbtND55vnO9DgzawFDxUhTHrNjpZEgHctMpqiFdaB4fyJ1LcmQKNBdNNcrHx88CdVCQpQHxH4lB__yUlByO8frDBp8nymeT_xSqkWvRAL_A/s1600-h/Sophia013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6b8opxgK09I8M4fn8g97OBQxuMISbtND55vnO9DgzawFDxUhTHrNjpZEgHctMpqiFdaB4fyJ1LcmQKNBdNNcrHx88CdVCQpQHxH4lB__yUlByO8frDBp8nymeT_xSqkWvRAL_A/s400/Sophia013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394327771606154002" /></a><br /><br />I'll pick her up early today so we can get lots of practice in! I think I can make the resolution better, actually. I finally looked at the instructions (I had to, to figure out how to download it onto the computer) and I see that is an option. Instructions are a handy thing.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-50273323154858455712009-10-16T11:23:00.006-04:002009-10-19T10:09:19.867-04:00How to End A Crappy Week<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzymDURWsooF3KLlmGu4i96c5mKfnl3GTI0hp6t1ElnA_4FcXrGUKoiYNlDR0jmTUXAJz1gqz6ufzM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />First give your youngest a big bath.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPdJffS-hhOKCsJ-hTXIjlv0Q4MlCnmaPjnspeFXrXIAh181yiUL5cUEB_JNIKDvNMrLtI3EMNdZdooMFxQMq196qozKnupjAUabqbvX-s0fLM6Si7_Q9yeoydrUuyuwRYDJEw/s1600-h/Bath+and+birthday+012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYPdJffS-hhOKCsJ-hTXIjlv0Q4MlCnmaPjnspeFXrXIAh181yiUL5cUEB_JNIKDvNMrLtI3EMNdZdooMFxQMq196qozKnupjAUabqbvX-s0fLM6Si7_Q9yeoydrUuyuwRYDJEw/s400/Bath+and+birthday+012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393219264988317810"></a><br /><br />Later, have a glass of wine...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRMagPg3VTdG1_VAzBG7MYVRfnfh-rLYFquvahUOQ7B78WVBfvfe0RAJTT1xsYT8nYiZSswODw0HZJDvBEpScTR6PVe9YmSuuDIZZnHF-AuqFcbs-V01XtrBYI4QyahshXH-noA/s1600-h/Bath+and+birthday+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRMagPg3VTdG1_VAzBG7MYVRfnfh-rLYFquvahUOQ7B78WVBfvfe0RAJTT1xsYT8nYiZSswODw0HZJDvBEpScTR6PVe9YmSuuDIZZnHF-AuqFcbs-V01XtrBYI4QyahshXH-noA/s400/Bath+and+birthday+004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393219141513357122"></a><br /><br />with a LUSH bubble bath.<br /><br />Then prepare for a car trip out of town for the weekend!Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-29528580503000915682009-10-15T15:06:00.015-04:002009-10-15T16:17:52.575-04:005 years!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7-yu5KB5fHhbGzqMjZOxZ53hdt3nKSNn_-GE4nS8KtWi5D_I2IIyn4FcAHMeoD3tLLm09hs6gAS7lHoPFOvcAksTPTKxIYhvRwvmYVc_k_NYeNW4Mm8xJqdm9SXxcrczcpg3eQ/s1600-h/2008-6+106.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFP94Y6O6cPguN6iuZIJdJVTW9q45ZITmKnN78KJuKLwYI0_-2Dj68omS9bZ5wtsACcnX6OahI6RHqG8MkhoV5QTHQ3IHBd3QEFsvqR6-BVSHs5v5vDPtX-RpUGBc3NUqeOUwDA/s400/October05+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392905702831841938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 3px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; 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padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 3355px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 3683px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 4011px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><div style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 2px 5px; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; z-index: 65535; visibility: hidden; position: absolute; color: red; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; top: 4339px; left: 143px;" id="tonethis-tab"><b><nobr><span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Tahoma,Arial; color: red;">Send To Phone</span></nobr></b></div><br /><br />Sophia will be five this Sunday. We're driving up to Denton so we can celebrate with her grandparents (on my side). I asked her what kind of cake she wanted (hoping to distract her from her sister rabidly encouraging her to ask for a dragon cake) and she said she wanted the cake I made for her Daddy's birthday. This is excellent. I made an almond meringue cake with chocolate buttercream from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Cake-Modern-French-Decorating/dp/0688141994">The Art of the Cake</a>. She did really get down on that cake. The meringue was a little problematic in August in this armpit-like area, but I think it will work better now, in colder, dryer Denton. It's all relative. Plus, I don't think I'm going to pipe the meringue in. I will next time--gotta hone those piping skillz, after all, but I want this to be nearly perfect, so in order to work faster and lighter, I'm going to just scoop that meringue in those cake pans. It'll be fine.<br /><br />The birthday girl has lost a second tooth. Yes, it's early. Oh, and by the way, she has completely stopped sucking her thumb. I took her to the pediatrician for boosters and another shot (TX vaccination requirements are different than VT ones). The office was FILLED with hardcore pictures of diseases...of course, the kind of diseases you get if you don't vaccinate. Sigh. She was totally disturbed by these pictures. So the doctor comes in, and all is well. Then she notices that Sophia sucks her thumb. She encourages her not to. All of this has been said and done before by teachers, nurses, other parents, doctors, us, etc. She does not care and I don't blame her. Sucking your thumb is very satisfying when you are 4 (5, 6, 7...). She mentions how you can transfer the germs from your hand to your mouth. Whatev. But THEN she points to the pictures and said you can get THESE diseases. That made a HUGE impression on her. She stopped <span style="font-style:italic;">cold turkey</span>. <br /><br />This is not a good thing. She would be so worried if her hands got near her mouth. She asked about everything: "Will it give me yucky diseases?" She had no comfort outlet. Anytime she felt unsure or shy or tender or sleepy or anything that wasn't active playing or eating, she sucked her thumb. So we have spent the last month and a half trying to find how to survive when you can't comfort yourself. It has been hard. Fuzzy, her well-loved platypus thing, isn't cutting it. She was letting him go by the wayside before this and he's still on his way out. Although, truthfully, he has today made his way into the car and is waiting for her in her carseat. Her school gave her water out of the tap and she asked me when she got home if she would die now. Oh. My. God. <br /><br />So, hopefully, this weekend will be good for her. She also had a dentist appointment this week and she would not let them touch her teeth. She DID let them X-ray her teeth, so at least we can see there are no cavities. Just lots of plaque that really needs to be cleaned off. But later. On the doctor and dentist days, I kept her out of school and we just played together. We went to the beach, had lunch with her dad, and just had fun. It's nice to go to the beach in October, by the way. It's snowing back in Vermont (I keep wanting to say "back home") and we are still wearing flip-flops.<br /><br />I can't believe it's been 5 years. I think she still looks like my little baby, but as you can see, she is really growing into a big girl.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-7961631955369070562009-09-09T08:40:00.000-04:002009-09-09T08:41:52.120-04:00Science is Real<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ty33v7UYYbw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ty33v7UYYbw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br /><br />I got the album on iTunes and it's fabulous!Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-14624066288662524032009-09-08T09:43:00.004-04:002009-09-08T10:07:32.597-04:00New Camera<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxeStBJix1O15aKiYTNHzexwzgBP_4rbQjAR12DvdTFakAQs6yS9RDTgt2JQzgQI96VLEVdWAlbux0' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I'm sorry this is sideways. I'm not used to our new camera, which shoots video! I know this is not new technology, but it's new to me! I love new toys.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx1ZLCeKblI0o-TLTTZRi3wPgKe9l4DBSmwvkn8n4kLVNqElAvwoogKro1imFfr1j8r1Kf1Vdz5Wco' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Mistakes were made. But those littleneck clams were The Nom.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-50772849894625175362009-08-27T20:01:00.003-04:002009-08-27T20:10:06.444-04:00My Little SkepticsTwo tidbits:<br /><br />Sobo has been reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Adventures-Blinky-Bill/dp/B000CDYJAW">"The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill"</a> by Dorothy Wall to the kids (Fiona started reading it on her own soon after). On page 12 it says, "The great day arrived. In a quiet corner of the bush, down by a little stream surrounded with bells and flannel flowers, everyone came from far and near to see young Bill christened". Fiona asked, "Why is his last name <span style="font-style:italic;">Christened</span>"?<br /><br />We went to Meet and Greet at Fiona's school. Her teacher gave each student a little gem-like thing to put under their pillows the night before the first day of school so that they would have good dreams about 2nd grade (I know this is sort of cheesy, but for the record, I thought it was cute). Fiona was telling this to Sophia later--that Fiona would have good dreams because of this gem. Sophia gave Fiona this confused look and said "No, you won't" in this incredulous tone of voice.<br /><br />Lots going on here. However, our house has sold (with some conditions), but it is no longer ours.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-6997990960346897032009-08-10T10:57:00.004-04:002009-08-10T11:14:54.625-04:00Mundane Blatherings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8qmw35D5gcs_GzA8wEnDI4zvqb8_VY0MNLlPuUmoZVuGRyJKXYnVLH1iCsDhWx74WC09_7y1cBuW6m3tV9Px37rGuWFLGD-Lb1MnW97ZS4cuoMpEsQf2ExoIoiSw_c3gtgmhng/s1600-h/IMG_2406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8qmw35D5gcs_GzA8wEnDI4zvqb8_VY0MNLlPuUmoZVuGRyJKXYnVLH1iCsDhWx74WC09_7y1cBuW6m3tV9Px37rGuWFLGD-Lb1MnW97ZS4cuoMpEsQf2ExoIoiSw_c3gtgmhng/s400/IMG_2406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368349438151706354" /></a><br /><br />Oy, I'm still here, but engulfed by the details of life.<br /><br />I finally got to register Fiona for school today and she is<span style="font-style:italic;"> very excited</span>. We've decided to let her take the bus to and from school, which is part of her excitement. It picks her up at approximately the ass crack of dawn, but, apparently, school here starts just after the ass crack of dawn. I asked about the gifted and talented program (apparently everyone gets tested for that in Kindergarten), and we can ask about that through her teacher (we find out who that is on the 20th)...probably giving it about a month to see where she's at. Sophia still seems to be enjoying school, although her teacher indicated that in the last two days she is reluctant to do her work. I was planning on taking her out of school tomorrow so she and Fiona can go to the Space Center together (there is this monstrosity of a climbing thing she salivates over, and it's so big and so maze-like that I want them to stick together in there). She is <span style="font-style:italic;">very excited</span> about this. Hopefully, that isn't a bad idea because I'd like to do it one more time next week and take them both to the beach.<br /><br />I had this idea earlier that Sophia would stay at her school until 6 instead of 2 when the school year started. Fiona's bus can actually drop Fiona off there after school, so I could pick them up at the same time. Fiona loves this idea. Now, however, it seems silly because A) I don't have a job yet. I haven't even started looking. B) 6 makes for a LONG day for them C) That'd be quite a bit extra spare change. So, hopefully, when I do find a job, that is something I can change later...and hopefully they could be picked up earlier than 6 (I mean, they go to bed around 7-7:30). I'm still not sure if I even like Sophia's school. Her teacher in the morning seems nice enough. I guess I need to schedule a visit and a conference to talk about how Sophia is doing. Once Fiona is in school, I can pop by a lot more frequently.<br /><br />The closing date on our house has been moved to the 25th, or possibly some time before that. I believe the walls and ceiling are finally done, but the floors need to be finished. The entire first floor will be sanded and polished so it will all match. So hopefully, that makes up for the slightly later closing date. I just want it to be over. <br /><br />Random fact. Did you know when you get your Texas driver's license when you move in from out of state, they take your old one away? You don't get a Texas driver's license with a photo on it for 6-8 weeks. This makes things extremely inconvenient. Things like trying to get important FedEx packages, opening up new bank accounts, using your credit card/debit card/checks. Oh, the list. It goes on. <br /><br />We braved Houston last weekend and went to the FABULOUS zoo. We got a family membership, which is well worth every penny. My computer doesn't seem to recognize my camera at the moment (sigh), but hopefully pictures will soon be forthcoming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZnkuYrynV-D5I4M9DsaH8_FH2BI2kqVEXvaZkrE_86jptOdKJxbIgQ8Lj77ZYbd3-9IEqi9yWYbDhUZ8yw2L1GTalCD-9c07p2irVCIg4D6FtyMPdwi6QSvuFkj4YtbKPW-JaA/s1600-h/IMG_2380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZnkuYrynV-D5I4M9DsaH8_FH2BI2kqVEXvaZkrE_86jptOdKJxbIgQ8Lj77ZYbd3-9IEqi9yWYbDhUZ8yw2L1GTalCD-9c07p2irVCIg4D6FtyMPdwi6QSvuFkj4YtbKPW-JaA/s400/IMG_2380.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368353434776216834" /></a><br /><br />These pictures are from Alex's visit last weekend. We had so much fun! It went by too fast. Next time we'll take her into Houston. I think the girls would prefer if we lived even closer to our families!Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-42803552124126978702009-07-28T12:03:00.004-04:002009-07-28T12:05:27.081-04:00We'll Eat You Up, We Love You So!<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/--N9klJXbjQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/--N9klJXbjQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm drowning in the annoying minutiae of life, but I'm still here. If only this movie were out NOW. I'm really looking forward to this!Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-37976631075940974222009-07-15T12:44:00.005-04:002009-07-15T12:46:36.472-04:00Some PicturesJust wanted to share these gems from <a href="http://trianat.blogspot.com/?zx=44fed064f0e82727">Triana</a>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2WU2pOaEzorH5A_zDqzYB0BdXbVt1kRl96LKVlb_gR9T1rqHYMyW1AflKL5D5ufwrUB_WMfbOHkpUVtqO3Yb0t0RIdf909V4yh5mxQqcsV6FjrbQCnEcoA3-mYYvkvnc57YG_Q/s1600-h/howdy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2WU2pOaEzorH5A_zDqzYB0BdXbVt1kRl96LKVlb_gR9T1rqHYMyW1AflKL5D5ufwrUB_WMfbOHkpUVtqO3Yb0t0RIdf909V4yh5mxQqcsV6FjrbQCnEcoA3-mYYvkvnc57YG_Q/s400/howdy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358729067297260018" /></a><br />Howdy, folks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLq4_jUwk0UCoYtGvtRC4s0tSF8xWCt-lQuTdAmgJtVqoebgGAZfDBXwBM_GnXS5CIhm0IzqHSB0V4SJsFUGVH3Zk0GN3_vd9K6COHQ6foXU45VKiu84oseAMyCX2OXOrjQxy43A/s1600-h/oh+noes.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLq4_jUwk0UCoYtGvtRC4s0tSF8xWCt-lQuTdAmgJtVqoebgGAZfDBXwBM_GnXS5CIhm0IzqHSB0V4SJsFUGVH3Zk0GN3_vd9K6COHQ6foXU45VKiu84oseAMyCX2OXOrjQxy43A/s400/oh+noes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358729010314908210" /></a><br />Oh NOES!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnytOwPGn7J88vaBXoC9HWTKO-uOgoG4vFd7NzD3fJ5N-RiUs0VwDRW30wZqftc5JmD8jXfRE58pmrPiVzqgVZNpp4eiv5WfMRaUAHfMT8j5ignfpIAxW-T462oIxTu_KhSUtnQ/s1600-h/Me+and+Thek.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnytOwPGn7J88vaBXoC9HWTKO-uOgoG4vFd7NzD3fJ5N-RiUs0VwDRW30wZqftc5JmD8jXfRE58pmrPiVzqgVZNpp4eiv5WfMRaUAHfMT8j5ignfpIAxW-T462oIxTu_KhSUtnQ/s400/Me+and+Thek.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358728942732384194" /></a><br />BFF :o)Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11064298.post-79682028701216862352009-07-14T17:30:00.003-04:002009-07-14T19:47:25.813-04:00Lonesome Dove BistroI am so bummed I don't have pictures of us--we were fabulous--or our meal--also fabulous. It was all, well, fabulous. <br /><br />We got there early, so we sat at the bar. This is where I had my first taste of <a href="http://www.tuaca.com/">Tuaca</a>. Definitely a good thing to have in your mouth. I love that their Cucumber Tini is made with Hendrick's Gin. I've mentioned a couple of times before I'm a fan. <a href="http://www.ellenaim.blogspot.com/">Ellen Aim</a> ordered the Texas Tini, which was smooth and fruity...but the cranberry helped the peach from being just cloyingly sweet, I think. Prefer the Tuaca. I don't usually have a stop at the bar before dinner, but I'm so glad we did.<br /><br />The appetizer menu was desperately hard to choose from. Our waiter helpfully pointed out that you can order a sampler of four appetizers. This was a great option. I have to point out, though, it is also misleading. It is the same price as ordering four appetizers. No harm done as it was scrumptious, but a little surprising at bill time. Not TOO surprising, however. My discretionary income tends to all go towards food, anyway, so... <br /><br />We ordered the blue corn lobster hushpuppies with watercress sauce. This was my second favorite. I adore lobster and corn together. Great match. The watercress gives it a contrasting note--just perfect. I admit, it didn't really seem or look like blue corn. It looked like yellow corn. Perhaps the lighting? It tasted great, so whatever. We ordered the wild boar ribs with BBQ sauce and house pickles. First, I love house pickles. It's a small thing, but you lose points in fine dining if you don't make your own and you definitely gain them if you make them. These were really good and paired well with the boar ribs which were nicely seasoned, perfectly cooked, and DAMN. I could have had an entree of this and been done. My favorite. We also ordered the rabbit-rattlesnake sausage on rosti and creme fraiche. I had to talk Ellen Aim into something with creme fraiche, but this was also pretty good. I say "pretty good" because the sausage was nice, but honestly unremarkable--a bit dry, too. However, I am a sucker for little potato cakes, which were spicy, but nicely so. Then we had the bacon wrapped stuffed figs, with an almond inside. Those were bits of lovely. I don't remember what sauce they were with--it wasn't celery root puree like it is on the current menu--it was a sort of cheese sauce. The bacon sort of dominated everything and you didn't actually taste a lot of fig, but well. That's bacon for you. I dare not say there was too much bacon wrapped around the fig. Who says that? I remember Ellen Aim asking me worriedly, as she was eating the fig, "You did say there was an almond in this, right?" It's good to know what you're eating sometimes!<br /><br />We weren't inspired by the second course (I'm sure it's all delectable, but one has to pace oneself), so we decided to share the butter lettuce salad. The citrus vinaigrette was so, so light. It was delightful. It seemed to have a slight floral flavor along with a lemony taste. The pepitas were a great touch. I also just want to say it is so refreshing to eat somewhere where the greens are really fresh. I know. It seems really basic. It's surprising how many slimy green salads there are out there, even in places that should know better. It's a dangerous world. Now let's talk about the lardoons. Really, Ellen Aim said it best: "A chunk of bacon, if you will". I don't think I need to expound on this. So. A second course well placed. We also had this really sweet bread basket. House made (it had to be) cheese-corn-green chili cornbread and slices of a thin loaf of a molasses flavored bread. So awesome. Just needed a little more butter, but then, I am a butter whore. Really. It's quite shocking.<br /><br />Alex ordered the roasted garlic stuffed tenderloin (one of their signature dishes), which was as tender as you could want. It came with a vegetable hash, asparagus (I ate that...well, most of it), and apparently, a syrah demi-glace. I didn't try the sauce, I see. Ellen Aim ordered the New Zealand red deer chop with Texas elk sausage, roasted hen of woods, which came with chicory salad---I believe you could also call this "coleslaw". I ate the mushrooms. Slurp. Roasted mushrooms! It was actually a mix of mushrooms--some button mushrooms were thrown in there. The deer chop was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and so succulent. Ellen Aim didn't care for the elk sausage, but I enjoyed it very much. Again, not the most amazing sausage, but perfectly respectable.<br /><br />I ordered the Alaskan halibut, smoked crawfish stew, and crispy yucca. Okay, the little bits of crispy yucca were an outstanding addition to this dish and was the first thing I noticed and loved about this. I love dishes that have different textures to it. The smoked crawfish stew was my favorite part of the stew---really fresh tasting. The halibut was perfectly cooked and seared. I don't usually order the fish dish when there's beef and pork around, but we were sharing. I actually think I liked my dish the best. <br /><br />I knew that Ellen Aim wanted a Zinfandel, and I thought that was an excellent choice. Zinfandel goes with so many things, and it's hard not to please with a good Zinfandel. You don't even need food with a Zinfandel. I was torn between Ravenswood (very safe choice) and Ironstone (I think the cheapest one, but still probably okay). I asked our server what he recommended and he right away pointed to the Ridge Zinfandels. These are everywhere and I think they have a good reputation, but I'd never actually tried one to my recollection. We ordered the 2005 Ridge, York Creek, Napa Valley (which seems to be out of stock at places online, and I can't find it at Spec's). It was well balanced, full of jammy berry goodness---really, the sort of thing you expect with a Zinfandel. Rich and yummy. It did not disappoint. I honestly didn't give it much more thought since I was there for the company and the food.<br /><br />We did order one side dish. This was Ellen Aim's birthday celebration dinner, after all. Can't pass up white truffled macaroni and cheese. This was served with breaded artichoke hearts on top, which was a nice touch. We slurped this. We absolutely would have used fingers and tongues on the bowl, but we were raised better, even after a bottle of wine and a couple of cocktails. I forget, though, how potent truffle oil is. The leftovers we took home <span style="font-style:italic;">reeked</span> of truffle afterwards, even though there was no leftover truffle macaroni and cheese.<br /><br />For dessert, Ellen Aim ordered the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestif">Digestif</a> menu, which totally flummoxed our waiter, who said he had never heard it called that. We got the bar menu from earlier. Okay. No bourbon? Not that I needed bourbon at that point. Maybe you have to ask. Maybe I just missed it (very possible). We did ask about something called "Dolce" under Dessert Wine for $30 and our waiter said it was very sweet and syrupy--I forget what he said, exactly, but he did say it was "like pancake syrup". He was obviously dissing it, for which I give him props. It made up for his, oh, Ellen Aim, what did you call it? His hostile apathy? Something like that. Anyway, we stayed the hell away from that and shared a shot of more Tuaca! They put it into 3 smaller shot glasses. We didn't order three desserts, alas, but we shared the churros (called Mexican doughnuts), which were warm, cinnamony, and plentiful. The cajeta was my favorite, but the chocolate did go very well with the Zinfandel (which we still had some of by this point. See, we aren't total lushes. Oh, and the bottle disappeared very quietly. No one saw a thing. Things came and went. It was really good service except for the lack of interaction, which in my book, is not necessary, and falls under bonus points).<br /><br />We went home happy and watched a couple of videos, and then pretty much conked out like the party animals that we are.Veloutehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028562389099200722noreply@blogger.com4