Swim Lessons

Shiori has started swim lessons. This was her first week and I did my best to take pics, but it's tough when you have to keep an eye on her in the water. Here is the best I've been able to get and some video. She is a wiggler and frankly I can't seem to get a clear shot.

First day was a lot of holding tight to Mom, but Wednesday and today she was fearless. She seems to like floating on her back, but is getting better about her face going under water and of course there is the splashing. She's discovered she can splash with her feet. I imagine I'll be spending some time at pools this summer.

Who stole the cookie?

Shiori Stole the cookie. Yep, we put out St Nick's offering of cookies and even some chocolate pretzels for the dear, but our little angel decided to chew chomp crunch before the big guy got a chance.

Christmas was nice. Casual, relatively quiet and over! Shiori's routine was so messed up it is a wonder that she back on track so soon. I learned that when her routine is off mine is off and we both get grumpy. I should not that I've also had an ear infection for some time now. I think it started on my birthday (had a migraine for 3 days) followed by a fever and vertigo. I thought I was getting better, feeling good and getting things done only to crash the next day with near narcolepsy and chills. took my temp again yesterday and it was 100ish degrees. I'm sick of being sick. Never get pregnant - your immune system goes strait to hell.

The new year is nearly here and I guess I should come up with some resolutions to fail at. how about not getting sick, loosing weight, and getting rich quick.

More Snow

More cute Shiori video

Wonderful Time

The First Snow Day

Flash Mob Art

I love this new take on "happenings". The mob art gatherings which occurred in the 60's and 70's. I think that they've taken on a whole wonderful level of innocent fun as opposed to "serious" art that has become politically charged and angry. If this is the future of art I'm happily okay with it. Art should be about uplifting the human soul either through childlike fun or through profound beauty. Offense is not a quality of true art; in my opinion.

Here is one of the best Flash Mobs I've seen. Enjoy and let yourself smile. Thanks Jo Ann for the link.

The Season

Love came down at Christmas;
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Stars and angels gave the sign.

I know I'm "rushing" things, but honestly it's only 7 weeks till Christmas. I want to enjoy the season. Right now it's 70+ degrees out, but next week is in the 40 so I'll be the weird one on the block with Decorations up already, but I don't mind kick-strting the festivities. Besides I take pride in not freezing my extremities off to hang a few lights.

I also plan on baking my guts out this year. I've already started this with a not so failed, but not perfect attempt at pumpkin sweet rolls. They turned out too dry and I'm thinking over what to about it. I'll be making caramel corn soon, as well as chocolate pecan pie.

I hope your festive mood starts soon and lasts to 12th night.

Fallness

It is fall. I know this because all the leaves on my front tree are on the grass, the air has turned chill, and Halloween decorations are cropping up. I love fall. The tart crispness to the air permeating the soul and the feeling of mystery in the very essence of nature. That almost palpable expectation of seeing the inexplicable.

In the fall I think of "Something Wicked This Way Comes" with the Autumn People. I'd like to think that not all Autumn People are wicked. Some are just peculiar.

Fall inspires me to write more. I have so many ideas; perhaps it is the life forces being released back into the universe. As a tree turns dormant its life pours into me.

Baking also takes on a greater urgency. My goal this fall is to create a pumpkin nutmeg roll - like a cinnamon roll only better. And to keep trying to figure out the caramelized apple cheesecake. May the spirit of Fall overtake you and inspire you to new things.