Dreams

Inspirational song: Dream Weaver (Gary Wright)

Wait up until midnight? Not sure that's possible this year. I've been nodding off in my chair since before 10. Considering my goal for this evening was getting my shower that I postponed this morning when I went shopping with the kids (as their driver, while we wait for the axle on their car to be replaced), and putting on my softest pajamas, it was a pretty safe bet that I wasn't going to be partying like it was 1999. The room is silent, other than the occasional sounds of the Mr snacking on popcorn and the dog snoring on the floor. I wouldn't have this holiday any other way at this point in my life.

It was supposed to be a short day with the kids, but everything went sideways when my daughter realized she had a whole bunch of things that absolutely had to be purchased now. Instead of a short three hour babysitting, I was basically with them from 10:30 to 6:30. For the most part, they were awesome, but as usual, they were also a fair piece of work.

On the way back from buying groceries and whatnot, I detoured through Home Depot. I want to experiment with plants growing on wooden planks, so to test the concept, I thought I'd use the freebie paint stir sticks from there. If it is a functional process, maybe in the future I can get wider, sturdier bits of wood. While there, naturally I went to see if by any chance they had the plant I have been longing for, and looking for for weeks. When last at the Flower Bin, I found a Hoya carnosa compacta, commonly called Hindu Rope, at $12 for a tiny 2-inch pot with a 2-inch plant in it. I couldn't bring myself to pay that much, especially for a slow grower. I've looked everywhere since then, and today the miracle happened. Home Depot had 4.5-inch pots with decent sized plants in them for just over $7 (after military discount). This is one of the very top plants on my dream list, and I very nearly shrieked when I saw them in the store. For now, the plastic nursery pot is set inside a decorative bronze bowl I've had for ages. Once it and I figure out how to work together, I can find something more permanent. I can't wait to see this one grow and trail.

Where the Magpies Play

Inspirational song: Childhood's End? (Marillion)

One of the best parts of winter holidays at my brother-in-law's place is how active the magpies are this time of year. I see them frolicking all around his yard, and every time I die of jealousy. There are tons of magpies all around here, but absolutely zero of them visit my neighborhood. A trio of fat corvids were hopping from tree to tree outside of the windows, as I sat and talked to my kids and nephews. I totally lost focus on the conversation to watch them. It happens.

Valerie knew as soon as we got there what it meant. We were first, but she was on it with running up and down the hallway and stairs, getting warmed up waiting for the cousins. Some familiar ones were there, and some littles that she had never met before. It took no time at all for the gang to run the grownups ragged yet again. At one point I ventured down into "the rumpus room," where there was a ping-pong table and bean bag chairs, and lots of open space for the kids to run in circles. I lasted about 7 minutes before I went back up to my peers upstairs. Dmitri wasn't ready to run with the toddler horde, but he still had a great time smiling at all his aunties and uncles. He's getting better at sitting, but he did briefly try to take a header off the couch. Crisis averted, but wow. That was our one and only warning shot.

This was a non-traditional Christmas for our family. Didn't gather exactly on the day, didn't do a white elephant gift exchange, and changed up the menu significantly. We had a taco bar, and it was remarkably good. It felt like a good way to close out the year. New Years Eve will just be babysitting and jammies for me. This was my real end of year party.

Vertical Space

Inspirational song: I Go to Rio (Peter Allen)

Next level of house plant hobbyist--achieved.

I had a little Christmas cash sitting around for ages (we are talking years), and I never could decide on a good thing to spend it on. I knew it was there, but it was never the right time to break it out, until today. I had been trying to come up with the right way to organize the plants in the living room, and I had been running through different shelving options without making a solid decision. I tried to buy a nice used Ikea metal and glass unit on Facebook marketplace, but someone beat me to it. I thought about building something to specifications, but I don't have the energy and Mr S-P doesn't have the time.

I thought about raiding the shelves in our utility room, but they are absolutely loaded with stuff, and I had no replacement for them. So instead, I bought the exact same kind, in a different finish. I went to Lowe's, expecting to get a three-shelf unit, but when I saw it in person, I knew it was way too small. I went one size up, and it is just right. At present, it seems absolutely massive, but as the plants I have put on it already grow, it will be perfect.

The organization has made me feel so much better. Until this afternoon, it was jungle chaos in that corner of the room, even with a lot of things up on stands. Plants were brushing up against each other, and it didn't seem healthy for them. Now there is space between them, plus all my potting stuff is on the bottom shelf, tucked away. I finally have a good place for that, that isn't the dining room table.

It made me sore and tired to shovel the heavy wet snow to unbury my car, acquire the shelves, push the cart through slush to load the box in the car for home, carry it inside, move plants, put it together, move plants back, constantly go back to fiddle with the arrangement, and then clean up the plastic afterwards. I have spent the rest of the evening just sitting and staring at my handiwork. I feel so amazed by how much I love it. I told my kids that this is the crazy plant lady equivalent to buying a big fancy cat tree from Fosters and Smith. We just won't talk about how it makes it look like I don't really have that many plants after all.

Remote

Inspirational song: Riding the Storm Out (REO Speedwagon)

This time I was wholeheartedly in favor of game night occurring at a distance. We have re-entered the time of year when snowstorms blow in regularly on Wednesdays, as if gleefully effing with our plans. It happened almost every week like this last year. We got numb to it then, and will again soon. But this storm turned into a lot more than it was billed as. It rained heavily in the early evening, switching to big wet snow before 8. It has been coming down for hours, and every bit of our Park is covered in a thick, fluffy blanket of white. I'm not sure the ground has fully frozen underneath it, but there is an excellent chance the roads are yucky and unsafe. I would not have wanted my friend circle driving in this. Of course, we still have some members recovering from the Rona, in various stages, and we have two families with infants. We will be having remote game night frequently for the time being.

This was the first night we really focused on our role-playing game, and Mr S-P made a point of getting this one going. We have a long tradition of having a special campaign that involves mysterious frosty locations and snowball fights at this time of year. So far we traveled through a tunnel to find a winter scene, overlooking a tiny village where tiny people were singing. It took no time for some of us to realize we had stumbled on Whoville. Shortly into the scenario, the village was raided by a gang of furry green ogres. No one thought to ask if they were wearing hastily-made Santa coats.

After a long day, I really just want to sit and watch the snow fall. It's so pretty, especially with the Christmas lights still on. (It is traditional here to leave them on until the start of the Denver Stock Show.) I might not be able to stay awake much longer, though. I've been cutting back on my caffeine, and now falling asleep at night is a bit less of a struggle. What a pleasant way to drift off to sleep, on a night like this.

Judgy

Inspirational song: What Do You Do After Christmas (Phil Crews)

A former Rotarian came back for a special visit today at our meeting. He is an accomplished musician, and he performed original music for us. He said he likes to write a song about Christmas every year, and that was one of the ones he sang today. It was lovely, and the chorus had kind of a Gordon Lightfoot vibe. Maybe it was a similar chord progression to Sundown. It put me in a good mood all day.

The babies went to the park today. I couldn't let the day go by without sharing the pictures we were sent of the excursion. Valerie had been freshly bathed before the trip to the park, and by the time they were done, she and her clothes were covered in mud and leaves. I'm sure it was worth the mess. Dmitri watched her running around jealously, obviously wishing he could play like that too. But honestly, his pictures just look like he was scandalized by the filthy state of Valerie's outfit. For real, look at the progression of his expression.

Riff

Inspirational song: You're My Best Friend (Queen)

Was I using the phrase "into the belly of the beast" right this morning, when I suggested we go to the big local nursery I like so much? I meant it as a dive into a tempting situation that could end up beating me up and taking all my lunch money. The Mr seemed confused when I said it. I really needed a moisture meter and a few other things for my plants, and I knew going to this particular store was a huge risk. I brought Mr S-P with me to keep me from doing something too stupid. It worked to an extent. I held the alocasias I covet so much in my hands, but I put them back, not willing to spend 30 bucks per plant at this point in my life. At least not in front of him.

I have been desperately seeking some kind of climbing pole for several of my plants, as I have documented along the way. I finally found some at the Flower Bin, but I was a little surprised at the price. Honestly, I balked. We talked it over, and decided to riff on something I saw in a video last night, and we are going to make some. He saw burlap sacks for sale at the front of the store for 50 cents each, and we bought a pack of coco coir chips. I already have some thick wire supports, so I'll do a few test poles this week to see if we can make it work.

I couldn't leave there without at least one live plant, and I ended up with two very tiny ones. He had given me a book on succulents for Christmas, so I bought a little bitty Echeveria. When I forced myself to walk away from the alocasias, I grabbed a tiny croton to soothe my grief. They were so small they fit in the cup holders of the car with room to spare. I looked at them and thought, I have two new little friends! Yeah, I guess that is how I see this particular hobby, isn't it? Nurturing friends who don't ask a whole lot from me, just water and light.

Happy Holiday

Inspirational song: Father Christmas (The Kinks)

Merry Christmas, all. It was a wonderful day, with family and fun to spare. I'm full of chocolate, as is traditional. Gifts were exchanged, photos were taken, toddlers melted down. Everything one could want or need from a big holiday. I'm lying in bed now, wondering how few words I can get away with, if I promise to put up some cute pictures instead. I think this many will do.

Lap Dog

Inspirational song: The Weight (The Band)

Met an old friend for breakfast in Boulder this morning. Had a nice time visiting over food and then a wander through McGuckins hardware right next to the restaurant. I am 100% certain that the restaurant did not have a dedicated gluten-free toaster. Don't ask how I know.

Schedules were very fluid today. We ended up not getting the kids, and not needing to do any of the ferrying we normally would. So while the Mr went to his climbing gym, I stayed home and tried to burn off the unrelenting anxiety and quick anger that I blame on the random brush with gluten (and probably a little excess caffeine from too much coffee). I had no patience with animals, especially with the big doofus who was never on the right side of the sliding glass door, or the little jerkface who kept sitting on the back of my chair and whipping me in the back of the head with his tail. When the Mr came home and started watching annoying videos on his phone, I really had to work to keep calm. 

By the end of the evening, when Saoirse was staring at me again, willing the ESP to finally work so I would know what she wanted, I made the hand gestures that told her she was allowed to climb in the chair with me--for the first time since she was a tiny puppy. (Tiny being a relative term.) It took her a while to find the right position, and to stop elbowing me in the belly. Oddly, the whole process, especially once she settled, was very soothing. She was like a giant flokati weighted blanket. I felt tension melt away. I'll need to remember this is an option for me. It is, I suppose, one of the perqs of having a very large service dog. She squished the bad mood right out of me.

Still

Inspirational song: Silent Night (Franz Gruber)

The kids were really on it today. Valerie had tons of energy, and she showed off just how much her brain has advanced in the last few weeks. It is so much easier to carry on a conversation with her now. She still has to climb and jump as often as possible. Her papa says he can't wait until she is three, so she is allowed into the climbing gym. She is ready. Dmitri was my cuddly man all day. When it got to be nap time, we all four just sacked out with the fireplace video playing. He was the last one to wake, needing a much longer nap than everyone else. The good news was he woke so cheerful and snuggly.

Once the kids left, Mr S-P went to the above-mentioned climbing gym. Suddenly the house was absolutely silent, and I got so excited about that. I grabbed a fuzzy blanket, put my feet up, and dove head first into plant videos on YouTube. I needed the stillness so much. I'm glad he has his climbing and friends at his favorite brewery, and I just am not required to go. I am so much happier at home, not in a loud, crowded situation. This is working for me.

I didn't take a lot of pictures today. One of the boy, and one of the display we bought a present from for our older daughter. I did steal a couple pictures from the family chat from yesterday. Valerie had been playing with her iPad, and did something we had no idea was possible. She covered the screen in multiple copies of the Disney+ icon. My theory was that they were shortcuts to all her favorite movies. I haven't heard whether that is the right answer. I do appreciate that right after she did that, she chose the movie for the season, and watched Muppet Christmas Carol of her own volition. She's a keeper.

The Day After

Inspirational song: The Song Is Over (The Who)

Speaking as someone who frequently experiences extreme exhaustion following rather mundane activities, holy crap, yesterday left me profoundly exhausted. I didn't roll out of bed until 10 this morning, and when I did, I could barely make my muscles move. I came out to find the Mr had washed out the coffee pot and filter basket, but never started a fresh pot. On one hand, this is good, because I like my coffee fresh and hot, not sitting in the carafe for hours upon hours. On the other hand, this was nearly a tragedy, because holding a full carafe of water out from my body to pour in the back of the machine nearly tore my entire back to shreds. There is overdoing it, and then there is what I did the last three days. Oof.

I knew the cold front that made such an entrance yesterday was a big deal, but it wasn't until reading tweets today that I found out just what a brick wall of frigidity slammed into us. The big weather stations recorded something upwards of a 30 degree drop in two minutes. The temperature changes in the area from daytime highs to the lows averaged 50-60 degrees. Denver appears to have dropped 63 degrees. Greeley and Fort Collins were closer to 50. And, I'm sure it crossed your minds to wonder whether Mr S-P wore proper clothing when he went outside. You will not be surprised to learn that no, he went out to see whether he left his reading glasses in the car while wearing pajama pants and a robe, and probably slippers. I took a picture to send to our daughters, and while the one in California got a chill just looking at it, neither was actually surprised he did it.

After the big dinner party and the small gift exchange with J at the end of the evening, I really feel like Christmas has already happened. Several times today, I've looked at the Christmas tree, and wondered how much longer we will keep the lights plugged in for it. I got exactly what I wanted, friends over for a big dinner and a fancy new plant from J, and now I'm content and relaxed. I still have a whole two Christmases to go, one with the kids and one non-gift-exchanging dinner with the Smiths. I should have paced myself more! 

Airing of Grievances

Inspirational song: Join Together (The Who)

The storm tried hard to ruin my night. The storm and the flu-slash-covid teamed up to do it, but we dueled to a stalemate. Not everyone showed up to dinner, but enough came to make me happy. A very merry Christmas Festivus Hanukkah Yule Saturnalia was had by those present.

During the bulk of the day, the weather was pretty darned nice. Upper 40s to low 50s, hazy, high clouds. It was pretty breezy, but we knew what was blowing in. Between 4 and 4:30 this afternoon, the temperature started dropping precipitously. It went from mild to bitter in a flash. It's probably good it went this fast, as the ground was already frozen when it started to snow. It stuck to the roads right away, but there was no ice layer under the snow to make it too dangerous. By 8:30 or so it was like -4. I haven't checked since, but suffice it to say Saoirse had no interest in hanging around outside after her last trip to pee.

We did some gift exchanging among the friend group tonight. One of our gang stopped by a Boulder toy store, and got a bunch of things for all of us. Another ordered some wonderfully creepy dice bags for us. I brought out my sample selection of the kinds of plants I'm rooting, but only one of the group made a firm selection of which kind he wanted. I wouldn't let anyone take the plants out in the cold, so they will live here at least one more week.

We also exchanged gifts with our housemate J. We got them a selection of books to round out their essential pop culture knowledge (like Frankenstein and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and a Norfolk Island pine. They got me a plant I have been desperate to get--a string of pearls. I might have let out a sudden shriek of delight when I saw it. They got Mr S-P a gift card to REI, which is perfect for him.

I wanted a bigger crowd to show up, but it seems instead I got exactly the crowd I needed. I had enough food for everyone, and no one left hungry (except maybe Dmitri). Valerie got to run and play and be the star of the show. I declare it to have been a success.

Preparing the Feast

Inspirational song: The Jingle (BC Clark Radio & TV Commercial)

My feetsies hurt. I was on them all day, and now I just want to sit with them up and marvel at what I accomplished in one day. I'm sure I will have a rotating assortment of cats to help hold me in place.

First thing I did this morning was make a pecan pie. (No, very first thing was turn on the oven, and then spend time looking for the family recipe, while the oven slowly came up almost all the way to temperature.) It seems to have come out well. After Rotary, I did my first real Christmas shopping for the adults in the family. I had a couple of things for the kids picked up over the last few months. Nothing like waiting until just a few days before the holidays to jolt your mind into making quicker decisions on what to get people. After that, I went to the grocery store, to get a few more things for the big holiday meal, not knowing that I would still have to go back tomorrow. (I was just sure I had more mini marshmallows for yams.)

I spent my evening making pumpkin pie and yeast rolls that didn't properly brown (again, crappy oven), broken up with cleaning and gift wrapping. I tell you, if this super cold weather with snow that is moving in does anything to interrupt my feast, I will be UPSET. There will be festivities, and I will be celebrating with my inner circle, or else.

Boom

Inspirational song: Jump (Van Halen)

This was Monday, right? I've had to stop and figure out the answer to that question countless times today. When I say time has no meaning, I am not even beginning to describe the amorphous blob of existence that is having a teacher home for winter break. With him here this many hours in a row, I can't for the life of me figure out when it is.

Maybe that is how we ended up babysitting on a day we weren't supposed to. Kids were already in the car and most of the way here before our daughter texted to say wait, this isn't your day. Went all just kind of rolled with it. No point in confusing the babies by taking them back so soon. They were a lot of work today, and I had so much to do to prepare the house for my Yule-Saturnalia-Christmas-Hannukah-etc feast on Wednesday. Still, we kept them. 

I have felt lately like I take more pictures of the boy, and I don't think it is intentional. Val is just harder to capture, because she is never still. In the last week or so, we have entered a very big jumping phase. We jump from the car to the ground (and say "Boom!") We jump from the ottoman to the couch, and then couch to floor. We jump on grandma's bed. We jump randomly in the kitchen. We jump next to the liquor cabinet, where the bottles rattle when the floor shakes. I get tired just hearing it. I can't remember what it was like having so much excess energy that I could burn it off just randomly hopping around. I hope she keeps it longer than I did.