The snow is melting, finally, but there are places where the snow was piled up into big heaps and it’s still sticking around. Our poor azelea bushes got flattened under the piles of snow, and we’re slowly managing to dig them out. They were mostly just bent, not broken, so they pop back up very happily. And underneath those heaps of snow, the daffodils are poking their way up. Yay!!!
Yesterday I visited with the kindergartners and the first through third graders at Terra Center Elementary School in Burke, Va. We had a great visit. The kids are interested in stories and reading, and they have lots of great ideas about making their own stories. The third grade started making up a story of their own called, “The Dog and the Monster Pants.” The dog is a very smallish chihuahua/dachshund with droopy spaniel ears. His owner’s dad has just come home in the wildest pair of pants ever seen. The are silver lame and look like aluminum foil. There are eyes all over the pants. When the dad walks the pantlegs brush against each other and go ekk, ekk. And whenever he bends, they crinkle. The poor dog is much too short to see old, familiar dad up on top of those pants! All he knows is that a monster has arrived at his house. And then . . .
Well, then our time was up, so I don’t know what happens next. But it’s not really my story anyway. It’s theirs. So if any of the kids from Terra Center tell me what happens next, I’ll post it.
On Sunday, a woman from Thailand wore a gorgeous red brocade dress and wished us all a Happy Valentine’s Day AND a Happy Chinese New Year, since both fell on February 14. Monday was Presidents’ Day. Today is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, which some people celebrate as a wild party that has the end before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting and preparation for Easter. Meanwhile, Chinese New Year is still being celebrated for several days. Personally, I am celebrating It Snowed But It Didn’t Stick Day. My kids have missed school for most of the past two weeks, so it is exciting that they finally get to go!
The first great thing about Bren Mar Park Elementary School is that it was right where it was supposed to be. Sometimes when I’m going to a place I’ve never been before, the place moves–or so it seems. But I found this school on the first try. The second great thing was the kids. They knew lots of stories, they liked my stories, and they helped make up some great stories. We didn’t finish all the stories, so I’m still waiting to hear what happened to that snowman who decided to visit the school, or the bug who was trying to take a giant pizza home to his 47 brothers and sisters. So if any of you kids from Bren Mar finish the story, let me know!
That’s me on that beach towel, pretending it’s summer. But it’s not. Today is Ground Hog’s day. The official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, apparently saw his shadow and went back into hibernation, predicting six more weeks of winter. We have a groundhog in our neighborhood, but I don’t know what he saw. He’s much too smart to come out of his hole while somebody is standing there.
I got up this morning, got the kids off to school, practiced the piano, ate breakfast, and then, because I had a headache, I went back into hibernation for a couple of hours–all before it got light enough to see my shadow. But I have no idea what THAT means. Meanwhile, THINK SUMMER.
Bubble wrap is celebrating it’s 50th birthday. What’s not to like about bubble wrap. It’s light. I packages your stuff. And generations of kids have been entertained by popping the bubbles. You can find more information at http://www.sealedair.com/products/protective/bubble/funstuff/bubblewrap_appreciation_day.html.
Put some “POP” in your day.
On December 19, it snowed two feet here. On Christmas Day, my daughter-in-law built a big snowman. Here it is on Jan 23. And now it’s gone. But I’m not all that sad because it’s finally WARM here for a little bit.
Farewell, tree. You were a good tree, and you brought us a lot of happiness. Now may you compost in peace and then help other things to grow.
Last night the church youth group had an ice skating party. They all had a great time (if you can overlook some bumps and bruises.) I was the first, and for a while the only adult out on the ice with the kids. But I figured that if Mrs. Muddle can do it, so can I. But I didn’t organize an ice spectacle. I just tried not to make a spectacle of myself.
About 7 or 8 years ago I passed the embroidery section of a craft store. I’ve always loved the hundreds of colors of embroidery floss, and on this occasion, I noticed a beautiful embroidery kit with a picture of two Japanese women in beautiful kimonos. I gave in to temptation and bought it. I started off well enough, but it wasn’t easy and it got harder. I’m a little bit dyslexic and I sometimes get lost as I tried to count hundreds of tiny little squares. Also, I have developed black/navy blue color blindness. I cannot tell my husband’s black dress socks from his navy blue ones. And I couldn’t always tell the colors of floss apart as I was stitching them into tiny x’s. So my progress got slower and slower.
Unfortunately, unfinished projects bother me. I want to either finish, or decide to give it up and toss it out. But I couldn’t quite bring myself to do either. Then my daughter came to my rescue. She was only 9 when I started the picture, but she is much older now, and she is very good at cross stitching. She kept working on the picture form time to time, and I finally talked her into finishing it! She got it done just a few days before Christmas, and we both stitched our innitials into it and gave it to my oldest daughter. (I originally said I would give it to her for her high school graduation–but at least I got it to her before she graduates from graduate school!)
After all these years, I am so glad to have that project finished. It is no longer cluttering my closet or my mind. I have been celebrating quietly ever since it was finished!!! As a reward, I bought another embroidery kit for my daughter. I didn’t buy another one for myself!