The Real Alvin and The Chipmunks

Here's what Alvin and the Chipmunks really sound like. Creepy...



By the way, we saw the new movie with Girlfriend and she loved it! It was very formula, but quite cute and very appropriate for kids.

Merry Christmas! It's Snowing!

Merry Christmas! And we have a Christmas miracle--snow! Yay!

Last night we were reading A Child's Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas, in which snow plays a big part. Girlfriend kept saying how great it would be to have snow for Christmas. And voila! She got her wish!

Oops, as I wrote this, the snow has begun to be mixed with rain--but gosh darn it, it's still snow!

Day 24 of Advent: Tending to the Animals

Sounds so biblical, doesn't it. Actually, I was tending to the chickens. It's been so wet here the past month that their coop and their pen were super-wet and gross. So, I cleaned them out today. This entails removing all the old straw and replacing it with new straw.

People think that having chickens is a lot of work, but I have to say that we don't really work that hard for our girls. I guess you could work super-hard, but we don't--they are pets for us, not our livelihood. The cleaning process has four basic steps:

1) I went to the feed store and got a bale of straw.

2) I raked all of the old straw out of their coop into their pen. We have a little door at the bottom corner of their coop that we use for this.

3) I filled their coop with new straw and put new straw on top of the old stuff that got raked into the pen. Then I filled the rest of the pen with straw.

4) I changed their food and water since that hadn't really been done in awhile.

The end.

Even though the chickens are free range during the day, they stick close to the pen to keep tabs on the process. They make these worried muttered clucks while they check out everything. Every time I leave the pen to do something, they run in and see what's happened. They jump into the coop and check it out. The peck at the new straw, hoping that there will be new bugs to eat. All the while, they mutter and cluck to themselves.

At the end of the process, which takes less than an hour, I am covered with straw and straw dust. But, I am always happy to have done it.

Tonight the chickens are tucked away in their newly clean coop with new straw, dreaming of a corn-filled Christmas.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve! And while you're at it, go over and wish Sasha a Happy Birthday!

Day 23 of Advent: Day After Solstice and Eve of Christmas Eve

OK, so I'm not so good on the blogging every day thing. Unless I'm inspired each day. But, since mid-month we've all had some sort of illness and illness plus obligations bring me to my knees. Especially when I'm the one who's sick. So, there you go. Sorry for being such a blogging loser.

Yesterday, as you know, was Solstice! Yay! Happy Solstice! You may or may not know that chickens lay eggs based on the amount of light. So, they stop laying around the end of Sept. and start laying again sometime after the winter solstice. And, voila--as if to celebrate the return of light today, the chickens gave us an egg (above, in what I like to call Still Life With Egg and Salt and Pepper Shakers). Wow. Thank you Easter Christmas Bunny Chicken, bok bok.

Girlfriend spent most of last week sick at home, but was able to attend school on Friday. Thank goodness, because that was the day scheduled for her Guest Reader time (each kid gets a day to pick a book and read it to the class). Girlfriend picked Ella the Elegant Elephant, by Carmela and Steven D'Amico. She did a great job and the kids really seemed to enjoy it.




I've been knitting on various things, one of which is Knitting Pure and Simple's Children's Neckdown Cardigan (#981). I really like this pattern and I've knit it a bunch of times. Girlfriend asked for one that had a lot of different colors, so here's what she's getting:



The button band will also be red. Have a nice Eve of Christmas Eve.

Days 13-18 of Advent: Whirlwinds With Periods of Quiet

Remember me? The one who promised to blog every day of Advent? Yep, that's me. Between preparations for and celebrations of the season, mixed with illness, I've not had time. I think about it every day, but then I decide to live my life for that day instead of blogging about it. How's that for an excuse deep?

My birthday party on Saturday was a blast. We had a ton of people here (you could barely move in our little house). And we had loads of fun. My cocktail, named after me (me, me, me), was a hit. We went through something like 10 bottles of champagne and two bottles of elderberry juice concentrate. It was good. I made my usual chocolate chip pound cake with buttercream frosting (both from one of my favorite cookbooks, The Whimsical Bakehouse, by Kaye and Liv Hansen.

The party went from 4:00 in the afternoon until a little after midnight. Our house was a total wreck at the end of the evening--just as it should have been.

The next day was my actual birthday (which I share with Beethoven and Jane Austen doncha know). I declared the day to be "jammie day" (I'm big on this type of day) and we hung out in our jammies. dAhub and Girlfriend did run out and get a Christmas tree--but then hurried back and got back into jammies. I spent the day in bed, resting, reading and knitting. Can't think of a better birthday.

So, now we're back to our regularly scheduled illness. I was sick last week. dAhub finally succumbed yesterday and Girlfriend woke up with a sore throat and a cough that sounds like a seal barking (the seal barking aspect has died down and now it's just a cough). So, we're all home.

Girlfriend and I have spent the morning trimming the tree. She really loves to unwrap all the ornaments, exclaim over them and then find a place on the tree for them. We have a ton of ornaments and we often have to limit the number that go on the tree. But, that doesn't mean she can't look at each one and remember the good times we've had each year.

Luckily, we've sent off the presents that need to be mailed and we are always late on our holiday cards, so we have nothing that we HAVE to do today. So, we're just going to continue to hang out in our jammies and enjoy some family time.

I can't promise that I will actually blog tomorrow, but know that I am thinking about it. Anyone want to do a guest blog? Since I'm so famous and everything, I know everyone will be dying to do one.

Days 10, 11 and 12 of Advent: Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly and Pieces of Birthday Cake

Sorry for no posts the past few days. I've been wrapped up (a little pun there) in holiday and birthday preparations. If you're any kind of regular reader of this blog, then you'll know that my birthday is coming up. So far, no massive windstorms--thank goodness--so cake making is still on track.

Today I went to IKEA with a friend (my annual trip) to get stuff for my birthday party on Saturday. I really didn't absolutely need anything, but why not? It's fun to go once a year and look at the sheer amount of stuff. And to buy some of it.

I love having a party for my birthday, but it comes at such a busy time of year that I cannot help, at times, but feel overly stressed about the preparations. As a kid I absolutely loved having my birthday around Christmas. It was a magical time of year for me anyway, and it was so special to have my birthday then. I could always count on Christmas-y decorations for my birthday. Christmas carols were always playing (I'm one of those people who actually like them). My mom was very careful to make sure that I got separate presents for my birthday and for Christmas (the only time things were doubled up was when I got something big). I loved the smells of the season--especially having a fire in the fireplace and smelling the wood fire smoke in the air. And I love the smell of the Christmas tree.

As an adult, it's gotten more complicated to have my birthday around the holidays. It's still special to me, but it can be a hassle to my friends and family. I hate that it's hard for my loved ones, but it's still my birthday. And I love having a party. I've considered moving the celebration to another part of the year, but that wouldn't be the same. It just doesn't feel right to do. So, I persevere in having a birthday and a party at this supremely festive time of year.

Having a birthday at this time of year is odd in that you have to make sure to carve out some real time for yourself. I have certain things that I try not to do on my birthday. I try not to go shopping for Christmas presents. I try not to buy, write or send holiday cards on my birthday. I try not to be stressed out about all the holiday obligations I have. I say "try" because it sometimes works out that the only time to do something is on my birthday. So, I shop or stand in a post office line or write holiday cards, and chalk it up to the paradox of a birthday at Christmas.

So, I've spent this week wrapping presents, cleaning the house, organizing our schedule, shopping for party things and generally doing all the things necessary to prepare for my birthday and for Christmas. Tomorrow I'm taking the day off and having some girlfriends over for an early afternoon cocktail tasting. I want to have a special cocktail at the party and I need help creating it. It will involved champagne and elderberry syrup. Two of my favorite things. Yum.

Days 8 and 9 of Advent: Retreat

I'm sick and laying low. I decided not to blog yesterday because I just didn't feel good enough to.

I'll try to get back on track tomorrow.

Day 7 of Advent: Thankfulness

Today the parents of the 2nd grade classes at Girlfriend's school put on a faculty and staff luncheon as a thank you for all the work they do for our children. We had a holiday theme, with hot turkey sandwiches, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce (made by me), sides and desserts. We decorated the faculty lounge and set the table with tablecloths and flowers. The parents from all three 2nd grade classes pitched in and we had a ball doing it.

As the faculty and staff cycled in and out on their lunch hours, they thanked us over and over again for our generosity. It warmed my heart--because this was a thank you for them and yet they are thanking us. They had a great time and a wonderful lunch and the parents had a blast doing it for them.

One thing that I love about these luncheons (each grade level takes a month and hosts a lunch) is that it really pulls all the parents together. Even if someone works all day, they can still send in a beverage or napkins or something with their kid as their contribution to the lunch. There is no requirement that anyone participates, but a majority of the parents do anyway. I feel lucky to have our daughter attending this school with these parents.

The other thing I love is watching how convivial the teachers and staff are with each other. They really enjoy hanging out and talking to each other. It's very nice to be a fly on the wall (or a parent in the chair in the background making sure everything is going well), experiencing the true friendship these people have with each other. From the principal to the teachers to the secretaries to the custodians, everyone sits and chats and eats with each other.

I am thankful to be part of such a community.

Day 6 (really) of Advent: Rest

Girlfriend is sick and has been out of school for the past couple of days. I'm coming down with something, so I'm laying low, too. I've also been up with Girlfriend the past couple of nights because her nose is all stuffed up--so she wakes up and can't get back to sleep. Therefore, I'm very tired. Hence the need for rest. It's very important for me to get adequate down-time during this season. I get so anxious about doing everything that I can get into a rut of running myself ragged.

So, today we just sat around in our jammies. I knitted, cooked and read. Girlfriend played some math games and read. We chatted. It was nice. All we needed was a fire (we don't have a fireplace, much to my sadness) to sit in front of.

If the season starts getting to you, stay in your jammies and just hang out for a day.

I Am Getting Ahead of Myself

Sheesh. Just a quick note to say I've figured out that I'm a day ahead of myself on this Advent Calendar thing. I am a doofus.

Day 6 of Advent: Service to the Community

This fall I served on a City of Seattle community advisory panel for the selection of an artist who would work on a public art project in my neighborhood (say that 10 times fast). I really enjoyed the process. It was fun to meet the people involved and I loved being able to stretch my artistic senses after so long. My Ph.D. is in theatre, and for most of my life I've been involved in arts groups or in writing and thinking about the arts. Since the birth of my daughter, my focus has changed and is aimed at things related to children and child-rearing. This is by choice, but I do miss the days of endless discussion and writing about the arts.

Anyway, we picked someone I think is a wonderful artist for this project. This person had so much verve and energy and enthusiasm in their interview that the entire panel loved them. I'm not able to say much at the moment because the name hasn't been announced yet. But, one of my duties was to attend my neighborhood's community council meeting tonight and announce that we had chosen someone.

My next duty in relation to this process is to help facilitate introductions of this artist to the community and to be a part of any meetings they attend. I'm really looking forward this work.

Day 5 of Advent: Honoring Other Traditions: Hanukkah

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, the eight day Festival of Lights celebrated by the Jewish religion. We are not Jewish, but we want to expose Girlfriend to different religious traditions.

First we read about the story of Hanukkah in the book Jewish Holidays All Year Round, written by Ilene Cooper in association with The Jewish Museum.

Then, we lit the menorah, (which apparently is also called a Hanukkiah), the special candleholder used during Hanukkah. The menorah used today has nine branches, one holder for each of the eight nights of the holiday and one for the candle that is used to light the other candles. This special candle is called the shamash, which means servant in Hebrew.

Candles are lit after sundown each night and should burn at least half an hour. Blessings are said over the candles.



Then we had potato latkes (latkes is Yiddish for pancakes). They are made with shredded potatoes and onions--Girlfriend helped me make them:



They are usually fried in oil because oil plays an important part of Hanukkah lore and therefore plays an important part of the holiday. I have to say that the latkes were delicious!



dAhub and Girlfriend also played Dreidel, the Hanukkah game of chance played with a dreidel, which is a four-sided top (see top picture). All you need is a dreidel and 15 small objects such as beans, pennies or small candies for the players to use for betting. They had fun playing this game.

I have to admit that I enjoy the rhythm of the traditions in this holiday. Since we are not a church-going family, I feel that we miss out on some of the traditions one normally only finds in religious observances. I look forward to lighting the candles over the next seven nights.

Day 3 of Advent: Tending Loved Ones

Girlfriend had a frightening experience today at chess club involving a peanut snack. It all turned out OK, but Girlfriend mentioned that it was scary to her (and who's to blame her? Peanuts could kill her). She compared it to a situation that happened a few weeks ago at recess where a boy taunted her on the playground with the prospect of forcing her to have peanuts. Don't worry--he got a stern talking to by a teacher, the principal, and his mom. But, it left Girlfriend a little shaken.

Anyway, as we moved through our evening routine--dinner, homework and violin practice--she got increasingly weepy. I had planned to go to my local Stitch 'n' Bitch session tonight, but in a waterfall of tears, she asked me to stay home. She said she wanted me around tonight. So, I stayed home.

At first I thought it was because she was very tired (which I think she is), but I realize that she might be having a delayed reaction to the peanut thing. She is an incredibly strong little girl, but there are times when things get too scary and you just need your mom. So, I'm home, knitting and waiting for her and dAhub to finish story time so I can cuddle her to sleep. There is always next week for SnB.

Day 2 of Advent: Enjoying the Arts of the Season: Nutcracker

This evening we went to a performance of the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker ballet. We went a couple of years ago and Girlfriend has been begging to go again. We got pretty good seats for a not-as-expensive-as-last-time price.

The PNB's Nutcracker is notable for its sets by Maurice Sendak. They are wonderful and whimsical. The original story was by E.T. A. Hoffmann. The ballet, created by choreographer Marius Petipa, bears little resemblance to the original apparently. If you read the story that the ballet follows, it is wacky and makes little sense. The music, of course, is by Tchaikovsky.

The one quibble I have with PNB's version is that there aren't any Sugar Plum Fairies. The music is there, but Snow Fairies dance to it. I don't really know much about the Nutcracker--I never saw it as a kid--but I've listened to the music all my life. And I want my Sugar Plum Fairies. Where are they? Can anyone explain their absence to me?

Part of the joy of attending this ballet is all the trappings that go with it. All the little girls wear fancy dresses--Girlfriend's was red with white trim and snowflakes on the edges (see above). We took pictures with the Nutcracker. dAhub and I got wine before the show and champagne during intermission (and therefore enjoyed the performance even more). Girlfriend got a cookie decorated with a chocolate mouse (in honor of the Mouse King character in the ballet):



Another thing that was very fun was knowing people in the performance. A boy from Girlfriend's school played Fritz (the brother of the main character, Clara). Girlfriend's violin teacher was in the orchestra.

Girlfriend has been saying that this weekend was the best in her life. Between snow and the Nutcracker (which included wearing a pretty dress and having a yummy cookie), how could it not be?

Day 1 of Advent: Swinging in the Snow

I'm going to try to do a blog post on every day of Advent. Since I'm not a churchgoing-going gal, I will celebrate the joys of the season as I see them.

I'm so glad today is the first day of Advent--because it's snowing! Yay! We love snow. I can't think of anything better with which to start the season. Girlfriend has been waiting up nights for it to snow. And it started today in the early afternoon.

Girlfriend and I went over to the park next door and bopped around. We ended up swinging on these swings (see them behind the rock?):



I can't tell you how joyful it was for me to swing with the snow blowing in my face. We giggled and swung and had a great time. If you have snow in your area--trying a little swinging. It does wonders for the soul.

If my Advent Blog Calendar isn't enough, go over and check out the interactive one done by Woodlands Junior School in England.