...what is she doing?
More to come.....
Wednesday night, on the couch.
Me (reading Food & Wine): I'd like to go to Iceland someday. What do you think?
Lou: We'll need our jackets, Mama, it's cold there.
Me: Hmm. Well, how about Mexico? Puerto Vallarta?
Lou: Do they have mac and cheese there?
Today, making lunch, listening to Sly and the Family Stone.
Me: Lou! Are you shaking your funky butt?
Lou: I can't shake my funky butt, Mama. I'm sitting on it.
Just to prove we're still here... 
More later....
I have been waiting for the winter blahs/numbness/whatevers to dissipate. Every winter I say I am going to take up some outdoor activity to lessen the impact of the "Winter of My Discontent" effect, and every year I do not. Let's face it; I do not like to be cold. I like to be cold and wet even less. There it is. Next year, maybe....ice skating? The Lou might be ready. She displays a bit more coordination than Pete and me, but that does not really say much.
So. Pete gave me a book for Christmas that I've been browsing through again:
It's a translation of a Japanese book from a few years ago...all of the stuffed critters inside are actually made from cotton socks and "work gloves". Hmm. It helps that the animals are in amusing poses. I really like the shot of the monkey wearing a striped turtleneck. "He looks like he was just released from prison," said one of my friends at work. "Now all he needs is a cigarette hanging out of his mouth." Not so appropriate for Lou, maybe.....
So I am thinking about stuffed critters. I am thinking about the ball of Reynolds Cashsoft DK (cashmere/microfiber/alpaca) that is supposed to be a pair of fingerless cabled mitts for a friend:
Well, she might get them by her birthday (which is in a month), anyway.
I am also thinking about bread. About oatmeal bread, about no-knead bread, about cinnamon-raisin bread. I am thinking about open windows and maybe even washing them. I am thinking about 50 degree days, a whole string of them. I can see some of the earth in my yard now.
Come ON spring....I need to get out of my jammies and off my rear end!
Yesterday we went down to MA to spend Easter with the Aldens. You know it's an Alden holiday when there are multiple dinner tables. There was ham and lamb (go Bonnie and Pete!) and a chocolate bunny lollipop at each place (of course). There was lots of talking and laughing and wine.
At one point, with the pre-dinner chatter at a fever pitch, I sort of stood back and listened. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but this is my family and I found a sort of peace in just soaking it all in: the uncles on the deck, the cousins having a drink and catching up, Aunt Bonnie in her apron making everything happen, 25 or 30 people all talking at once, my youngest cousin and my Lou chasing each other round and round the house, my grandma and Aunt Bonnie's mom talking and surveying it all.
There was also an egg hunt this year. Dave pointed out that he feels the hunting of small, foil-wrapped eggs indoors to be more satsifying.
Hmm. I think the kids would have been happy either way. And this way we were forced to get some fresh air.
Who knew my brother was the king of egg-hiding? I nominate him to coordinate the egg hunt every year from now on.
Look! two Steves. And one is taking a picture of me. Or something in my general direction.
Here is one of our favorite people, Scott. He is one of the few that Lou will willingly share chocolate with.
Carly and Lou hunt for eggs. Or, Carly helps Lou hunt for eggs. She's a sweetie.
Everyone loves an egg hunt.
Then back inside, to take pictures of sleeping family members. One made me promise not to post her picture.
But here....is another of my favorite people!
And now for dessert. Because we should all eat more, of course.
Lou and her Memere
We headed home as it was getting dark. Lou fell asleep in the car and with a bit of tired whimpering made it right to bed when we got home. Whew!
Drove out to Nottingham to pick up some herbal bug repellent from Jenness Farm. Came home and had pedis and lunch.
This, however, is Babba. Babba lives under a bush and eats plants. She especially likes hops, although I've been assured that she won't eat "Daddy's jumping plant". She's quite fierce; she has a wooden spoon and will use it if provoked.
All your overripe bananas are belong to ME!
