Vicki Lane's Blog, page 71

First Snow, Kinda . . .

                                                                        

Not much of a snow but I took a few steps in it for luck.

And Josie got her snow day--spending it with Grandma Nancy.

The Best Day EVER!

                                                                              

Monday was an AMAZING day! At school we had a Christmas party with lots of cake and chips and some carrots. We had secret Santa presents and everyone got a bag of little presents. Also I made this LOVE sign for Meema. My teacher wrote the word and I put on the pink dots.
(A boy in my class was being bad and yelling and talking about peepee and saying bad words and he had to go to the principal's office, and he also had to sit with the police officer during lunch. The police officer is very nice and waves and helps people get in cars, but I would rather sit with my friends.)


And then, to make the day MORE awesome, we got out early because snow was coming. I was so full of cake, I didn't even ask to go get an ice cream cone. When we got to our driveway, there were packages waiting and two of them were for me, Josie!

The first one was from my Aunt Margaret who lives way up north where there is lots of snow. It is a picture of a beautiful fairy to hang on my wall.


The lady who painted it is a friend of Aunt Margaret's and she painted it for her daughter after her daughter had a dream about a fairy who looked like this.

Then there was a package from Sandy who is my Fairy Godmother. First, I opened the card . . .
                                                                                       

And it was a pop-up! Pop-ups are my favorites!




The present was Colorforms! There are a million different shapes in all colors, and you can make pictures on the black backgrounds. I got started making a castle!



I showed Meema all the stuff I got at school, and we read a book and did a bunch of other stuff. Then I decided to vacuum the rugs to calm down a little.

                                                                                       

Do you like my new gloves? I will need them because, guess what! It started snowing just when it was time for me to go home. 
Maybe there will be a Snow Day and no school tomorrow.

Decorating the Castle Tree

                                                                          

                                                                                     

Time Was...

                                                                             

Looking through my pictures for something to post, this called to me. Taken on one of the walks through our woods, one where I used to take the dogs (that's Molly, a sweet Golden mix I inherited when her person went to a nursing home--Molly and my friend are both long gone now.)

This is the mental health walk I used to take every day when my invalid (and cranky) mother-in-law was living with us.

It was down this leafy path that I was dragged on my belly by our two Akitas, who, in determined pursuit of a squirrel, jerked me over. I didn't let go and eventually managed to pull them to a stop.

And this was the path on which I visualized Elizabeth Goodweather (Old Wounds) having a brief, guilty encounter with an attractive neighbor . . .

Good times--not forgotten.

An Early Christmas Present

                                                                 

Rudy Giuliani, once acclaimed as "America's Mayor" has been ordered to pay 148 million dollars to the two Georgia election workers he has repeatedly and baselessly accused of tampering with the vote.

Wasn't it a long, strange way down? And how happy I am for those two women whose lives have been turned upside down by lies.

'Tis the Season

Whatever you celebrate, I hope the season is good to you.

We are as decorated as we're going to be, and the holiday cards are in the mail. 
As soon as the sun is over the yardarm (5 pm,) I think I'll have a cider. And relax with The Dark Is Rising.I think I'll have a cider

 

As Solstice Nears

                                                                                    

I tend to reread this every year at this time. Allow me to encourage those of you who are open to middle grade type books to recommend this classic.

Like the Narnia books and L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series, it's fantasy that begins in our everyday reality--which appeals to me more than high fantasy set in a magical kingdom. I suppose it's because it allows me to believe that the magical is all around us, walking beside us if only we pay attention.

Anyway, I love this book, and the rest of the series. And I came to them as an adult, albeit an adult who enjoys children's lit. I'm looking forward to sinking back into it.

Now for something completely different. Josie did this picture of her mom charting--working at her laptop on her patients' records. It looks just like her.

                                               

And while I was working on my holiday cards, I offered Josie one of my inked outlines to color. I love her take on it.

                                                          

Hoar Frost

                                                                                 

                                                                           


   

Another No Snow Snow Day

                                                                                     

                        No school again yesterday so I stayed with Meema and Grumpy.  "I need some glass cleaner," I told Meema, and I got to work. The dogs put their noses on the windows and leave nose prints. So I took care of that.                                                            

  Meema has a decoration that is a tiny toy wagon and she put it on her shelf with some Christmas stuff. It was perfect for the Castle People and they played with it a lot.

We made banana bread. It was Meema's grandmother's recipe and Meema used to help her, just like I helped Meema. I mashed the bananas. Meema's grandmother was Ruby and she is my great great grandmother. 
   I can use the electric mixer all by myself.

                                                                                    

                                         Also I put more ornaments on the tree and moved the packages that needed to go under it. Meema said I was a big help.                                   

I like doing helping stuff. So I went and got the little vacuum cleaner and did the rugs.

The banana bread finally got done! It had to cool and we put it on the very same cooling racks Meema and her grandmother used to use. 

It was delicious and I took some home to my mom and dad. I think it is better than the kind Meema and Ruby used to make because I insisted on adding chocolate chips. Meema wasn't sure but I told her that everything is better with chocolate. 

And it is.

                                                

Moros y Christianos

                                                              

AKA black beans and rice. A Spanish/Cuban favorite from my Tampa childhood. 
For some time now, we've been trying to have meatless suppers every other night. This is a tasty, easy treat.
First, I sauté chopped onion, green pepper, and garlic in olive oil. Then I stir in a can (undrained) of black beans and a packet of Goya Sazon.  A bit of dried oregano and finally, about a quarter cup of red wine. 
The wine is not traditional, but I tried it some time ago and it made the beans much tastier and somehow better rounded in flavor.
Top with chopped raw onion and a bit of olive oil and vinegar. A baked sweet potato is a good accompaniment. (Sauteed plantains would be even better.) And a tomato salad.
Muy bueno!