Of Floods and Blizzards

Minneapolis has been shut down by a 20-inch snowfall that collapsed the roof of the Metrodome and forced the Vikings-Giants game to be moved to Monday night in Detroit. (watch the roof collapse from inside the Metrodome here)

Mid-North Indiana was hit by a slightly less dramatic snowstorm, delaying my nephews and niece's school start by two hours tomorrow.

Meanwhile, we are in the midst of flooding here in the Pacific Northwest. After cold, snow & ice during Thanksgiving week that closed schools, temperatures warmed up into the balmy 50s, and the rain started pouring last night. Ramps to highways were flooded, streets in Seattle temporarily closed, rivers are over floodstage and rising, and mudslides (trees included!) are everywhere. (see photos of flooding here)

The big question now of course is: Will there be school tomorrow? I'm sure school officials are hoping the water starts receding quickly, and with just a couple of detours they can have school. Not to mention all the parents who want to not have to worry about arranging day care for their children while they are expected to head off to work. Most of the districts around us will have school as usual. But ours, and at least another, will be watching road reports very carefully tonight.

Snowpocalypse or Merely a Winter Storm?

It's being called a "Snowpocalypse" in Washington state. The snow and cold temperatures that moved in Monday brought 3-12 inches of snow and sub-freezing temperatures that Tuesday night plunged into the low teens, very cold for Washington at any time of the year.

But really, we've seen this before, even if drivers and city & county snow removal people are shocked and unable to deal with it. It was one 20-hr period of snow that produced about half a foot of snow or less in most parts of the county. We had that two years ago, but instead of once, it seemed to happen daily for a couple of weeks. Temperatures have stayed below freezing, and gotten very cold. We had that last year, for a week.

As of Tuesday night, the highways are in pretty good shape, and the secondary roads are starting to get cleared. But even where they haven't been, people in snow tires seem to get along pretty well. Obvously it helped that people pretty much stayed off the roads today unless they had to get out. Wednesday it will start to warm up and by the end of the week temperatures even overnight will be above freezing. And rain will be back.

Eventually, folks around here will stop claiming that "it never gets cold" and "when it snows it's just a couple of inches and it melts right away."

Sure it was a significant storm for us. But a Snowpocoalypse? Hardly. Just a friendly welcome to a La Nina winter.

Of Snow and Puppies

Yes, it finally snowed.

A mere dusting? Perhaps. Quick melting? Of course. But the snow fell often enough to get the kids outside and the snow gear soaking wet from the wet grass.

Oh. And one of our neighbor's dogs had puppies. 11 of them.

11!!

Apparently they are planning on selling them for $800 apiece. (Good luck with that.)

Interesting story. The dog belongs to the son of our neighbors. He and his wife, who just had a baby last summer, are living with the 'rents for now while they save money to buy a house. But that's not the interesting part.

Before they moved in, one of the conditions was supposed to be that they have their female puppy spayed. Looks like that didn't happen, and they're breeding the dog instead. I do know that as long as they live there, the puppies will have a good environment; it's a household of pets all of which are loved and cared for.

But 11? As my husband remarked, "Can you imagine 11 puppies peeing and pooping?"

One thing is for certain: We aren't taking one of them. For now, one dog is plenty!

But the snow is beautiful.

Snow

It's snowing in the pass. I know, because the smell of snow is in the air.

This statement often conjurs up the scene from "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" when the kidnapped girls scream and start an avalanche.

But tonight, La Nina has moved in, and it is snowing in Snoqualmie Pass, causing periodic road closures. This is news, because through the pass is how people get from Seattle to Spokane.

But more importantly, snow is in the forecast for us here in the lowlands for the weekend. Last winter snow was almost non-existent. But this year, since September, dire forecasts have come our way: "Harsh winter! La Nina! Batten down the hatches!" However, things have been quieter than normal. Average rainfall, a nice stretch of 60s in mid-October, and no flooding (yet).

So not only is there the usual excitement and anticipation for snow (boots & snow clothes are selling like hotcakes!), but a little tinge of dread is behind it all: Will we get piles of snow? Will Seattle shut down for the two weeks surround Christmas like it did two years ago? Where did I put my warm gloves?

Only time will tell. But for now, my 11-year-old is excited at the prospect that it will snow on her birthday.

Talkin' Faith or Methinks the Lady Protests Too Much

For the past couple of days on Twitter I have engaged in a rather amusing exchange with a very earnest (seemingly humorless) atheist who insists that one can only believe one way.

For the record, I'm a Christian with a strong sense of social justice and religious tolerance. I may think you are wrong in what you believe, but accept that you believe it.

Now, I enjoy a stimulating exchange of ideas with someone with whom I disagree. However, I do consider it unproductive to be told what I should believe and ridiculed when I have a different take on it.

I know Christians like that -- well-meaning, earnest people who are so committed to their idea of what a Christian should be that they get flustered and bombastic in an attempt to cling rigidly to it. You will find people like that in all belief systems.

But I find atheists particularly negative. And I don't understand why. Is it because in their vehement denial of God, they are hiding a yearning for answers? My experience is that the more defensive someone becomes, the more uncertain of their convictions they will eventually prove to be.

At no time did I try to persuade her to change her mind, or disrespect her belief that there is no God. I disagree with her, obviously, but I will not tells someone flat out they are wrong. The basis of our discussion was my contention with her interpretation of a line in scripture. In an intelligent discussion, we can acknowledge that our understanding of something was incorrect, while still maintaining our core beliefs.

It seemed almost as if her whole lack of faith in God was a house of cards: If she admitted she was wrong about one thing, it would all fall around her. That should not be the case. Any faith, or even a lack of faith, should withstand scrutiny.

She accused me of being afraid of atheism, when in fact she displayed more fear of something that didn't agree with her. Every time I started to challenge her to prove their is no G-d, a viewpoint she was trying to persuade me to, she would put the burden of proving God's existence to her.

I find it fascinating that someone would have to work so hard to debunk God's existence, when it takes me so little to prove it.

Faith is a personal, spiritual experience, as different as we are as individuals. Why we should have to conform to one idea tells me that there are scared people, searching for a greater meaning in life. I know that there are Christians who, like the dwarfs in C.S. Lewis's novel The Last Battle who, in the midst of the light and beauty of Aslan's Country, insist that they are in a dark dimly lit, dirty stable. No matter what the people surrounding them say or offer to them, they insist that they are in that place. In the same way, her mind was so closed to any kind of epxlanation that it was an exercise in futility to talk to her.

In spite of that, I talked back. You never know when a seed will be planted. And while I am fairly certain mine fell on cement, there is always a crack.

A couple of weeks ago, I was on baby duty with my teenage daughter in our church's nursery during one of the services. An adorable 2-year-old girl was there playing with us, and memories of being a new mother flooded back to me as I started to answer my daughter's questions about taking care of babies. It got me to thinking about what kind of advice I would want to give a new parent. Here are a few of my essential tips:

1. Use a "doula." Whether you hire a doula or enlist the help of a capable friend or family member, get help for at least the first week or two. Having someone on hand to keep you and your husband fed, keep your house clean, look after the baby while you sleep, and politely suggest visitors leave when you are tired is an enormous help. Check your health insurance coverage -- many plans provide a doula for the first few days.

2. Trust your instinct. You will have a lot of plans and ideas, and get a lot of advice (like this!) from experienced parents, about how to care for your baby. But be ready to do what's best for baby. You will hear countless stories from parents that start out, "We planned to____ but...." One baby will sleep best in a crib, while another tucked in with parents. One baby may fall asleep being rocked, another may find it stimulating. Don't worry about what you think you are supposed to be doing: the right thing is what works.
 

What do I do now?



3. Stick with breastfeeding. The first few days of breastfeeding can be a challenge. Baby needs to learn how to eat, and that sometimes takes some trial and error. But it is well worth it. Nighttime feedings are faster, hungry baby eats immediately, and there's no clean-up. Breastfeeding helps the uterus contract more quickly, and it burns a lot of calories, helping you regain your pre-pregnancy figure more rapidly. (I actually looked better!) The best tool: a breastfeeding pillow to put your baby at the right height and spare your arms.



4. Always keep a diaper bag packed and in the car. Include two complete changes of clothing, a hat, burp cloths, diapers, baby wipes, a blanket, a change of shirt for you, two plastic bags for wet clothing and dirty diapers, changing pad, antiseptic wipes for cleanup, plus items for feeding. This works for years, transitioning into a toy/change of clothes bag for your toddler/preschooler.



5. Hold your baby. Babies should be held as much as possible for the first month or two. This is a great job for Grandma, especially if she is visiting but not your choice for doula, as well as Dad and other family. A sling or a carrier such as a Baby Bjorn are great for freeing up your arms and letting baby still feel close. But just sitting and holding your baby can be relaxing and comforting for both of you.



6. Develop a support system. Get to know your baby's doctor and especially the nurses. Often they know more than the doctors. Your ob & nurse can be a great resource as well -- mine had a nursing specialist on staff who not only gave me breastfeeding advice, but advice about the baby's health. Go on line to commisserate with other new mothers. Find your "go-to" person who seems to have all the answers. Mine was my sister-in-law who was a La Leche leader and mother of two. Find a mothers' group in your community (churches are a great place to start) to get together with other new mothers once a week. If you can't find one, start one.



7. Cloth diapers: your best friend. Not the pre-folded, the unfolded ones. They are great for so many things: as burp cloths, an emergency cloth to lay on a dirty surface if you have to put down your baby, and as an emergency breast pad. Later on, they make fantastic, lint-free dust cloths.

8. One acronym: DVR. If you do not already have TiVo or another recording device, invest in one. You will never miss an episode of your favorite tv shows, and you can watch them at your convenience. For a new mother, this can mean at 3 a.m. when you are nursing, or up with a wide-awake baby. (It happens)



9. Use a video baby monitor. There are many baby monitors on the market, but you will quickly find that just hearing the baby is not enough. You will find yourself more relaxed and productive if you can occasionally glance at a picture of your sleeping baby, because you will know what those noises are. Every parent goes through the stage of leaning close to make sure the baby is still breathing. Being able to watch from another room helps you break free.



10. Read to your baby. I know it sounds awkward, but it is fun, and great for your baby. Start with simple, small board books with photographs, especially animals, in them. I used to read to my daughters when they were lying on the changing table after they were clean and dressed.

Make no mistake, caring for a newborn takes a lot of stamina, patience, and work. But it is worth every second.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Lysol® Wee Wisdom blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

It's That Time of Year...

It's Nutcracker time again.

For the 5th year, we dedicate our December to the entertainment of others.

This year is a little different. #2 is in a role that is triple cast, instead of double cast, so she has less performances. In addition, they have reduced the number of performances overall. As a result, there are actually a couple of free weekends (except, of course, for being on call), and we may be able to plan something.

 #2 is also in the same role as #1 was a few years ago. They are both thrilled at the idea. There are few things sweeter than seeing your children interact with love, affection and humor. Their excitement and pride over this was something to behold, something for a parent to cherish.

Rehearsals (only once or twice a week for an hour) have begun, but all too soon performances will be in full swing, the Christmas decorations will be up, and velvet-clad little girls will sit, rapt, watching my little girl.

First Day of School (redux)

School started today, this time for my younger child. While I fully expect that tomorrow I will be cajoling and coaxing kids out of bed, this morning, it was no problem.

It also poured rain all day today. In one way that was good, since new clothes always seem to be fall clothes, and it is rarely cool on the first day of school. But rain on the first day of school means juggling raincoats and umbrellas and damp feet and damp backpacks.

This is the last year of elementary school for us. We are so fortunate to have a wonderful elementary school. I am already feeling nostalgic for it. This is a school where people who attended it as children are now sending their children there, who have the same teachers they had. It is a community (one we only borrow for school, since we live 8 miles away) that supports the school -- residents who haven't had a child in elementary school in decades will attend the concerts and the spaghetti dinner and the ice cream social.

 

The middle school, an excellent school, is in the same community, and receives some of the same support, but doesn't have as many of those social opportunities. The kids are older, so they aren't as interested in having parents look at their work hanging on a wall. They have moved on to other, more esoteric, things for which they seek praise and approval. I will give it, but I will miss seeing the 1 page reports with a half page drawing. So school is on again. My older one is already into the routine, for, of high school, and it won't be long before my younger one is, too. And all too quickly we will be attending the little 5th grade "graduation" ceremony, and elementary school will be a memory.

White Christmas

Sometimes it's the little things in life that give us the most satisfaction.

My 14-yr-old started  high school yesterday, my husband won a 10-day rally to the Arctic Circle, and my nephews both had great performances in their opening high school varsity football game.

But what is really making me happy is knowing that "White Christmas" will be released on Blu-Ray in November.

Shot in VistaVision, small screen has never really done the film justice. Laserdisk and DVD come pretty close -- I cried the first time I saw it on laserdisk, because it was the first time I saw it full ratio instead of pan and scan, and I realized there were extras dancing their hearts out I'd never seen before.

But blu-ray, high def and multi-channel sound (the original was released in mono...) will give us the experience the film makers probably dreamed of but never thought they'd quite capture.

So pop some popcorn, makes some hot cocoa, put out a platter of liverwurst sandwiches, and pull out those ski sweaters. I can't wait.

The End of an Era

On Monday night, my elder "graduated" from 8th grade.

Her middle school has a tradition of a recognition ceremony conducted somewhat like a graduation, in the gymnasium. There are student speakers, a speech by the principal, the choir sings, and each student is called by name and given a certificate of completion, along with any other honors they have earned. At the end, there is a tradition of showing a DVD with photos of all the 8th graders.

It was another cool night (but no rain until later!), which isn't a bad thing for graduations. Certainly it was plenty warm in the gym (also a kind of a graduation tradition). The class, for the most part, dressed up -- Several of the boys were in sport coats, many in ties. The girls all wore dresses, and the overall effect was nice, although some of them looked inappropriate for a night club. And many pairs of high heeled shoes were off the feet by the end. Ours wore character dance shoes, and was perfectly comfortable.

The middle school is named for the first chief of an American Indian tribe, and each year one of his descendents attends and gives a small present to the 8th graders. This year, instead, the school was presented with a framed ceremonial (canoe) paddle in their honor. It will hang in the school in lasting tribute to the class.

After the ceremony, a dance party was held in the Commons -- they entered on a red carpet, with papparazzi snapping their photos as they went in. No word on whether or not they were working cameras.

It was a bittersweet evening. You see, our elder is attending a private high school. While a few students from her middle school will be there, for the most part they will not. And I will not see some of the parents I have come to admire and value any more. I was sad to say goodbye, and had to explain that it isn't the academics but the distance (it's a 1 1/2 hr school bus ride to the high school -- the private school is 10 minutes from our house). Well, there is also the smaller class sizes and higher number of students focused on going to college. But mostly, it's the distance.

It's amazing to think that 14 years ago we were new parents in a constant state of panic, wondering what kind of person she would turn out to be. Now we know. And we couldn't be prouder.

Is it Finally Summer?

It was sunny and in the upper 70s today.

Okay, so it's June,  you say, and that's pretty normal. Sure it is, except that it's been rainy and 50s for the past two weeks.

But finally, summer appears to be ready to arrive. The forecast even predicts that the next five days will be rainless. But we'll see.

And here is the newly named boat

Kungalooosh!

Today we renamed our boat.

When we bought it last fall, she came with the name Misty. Now, Misty is a fine name for a leisure boat, but we didn't think it reflected us. So we set about to find a name.

After bandying names around, soliciting suggestions from the kids, and even listening to other people's idea, we finally hit on the perfect party boat name: Kungaloosh! The greeting exchanged at the now-defunct Adventurers' Club in Walt Disney World. We met there 17 years ago, and decided naming the boat in its honor would be the perfect tribute.

So today we re-named her. Now, renaming is complicated. There are several speeches and much tossing about champagne to make sure things are done right. First, we relegated the name "Misty" back to Neptune's depths. We wrote the name in water soluble ink on a piece of metal and tossed it in the water, then toasted Neptune and poured some champagne in the water. Then we toasted the boat, and poured more champagne in the water. Finally, we saluted the four winds and tossed -- you guessed it -- champagne into the water. And finally we were done, and were able to uncover the new name. Ironically, we will never see it, because it's on the back of the boat, and we will never be behind it.

So now we can finally take the Kungaloosh! out, properly named, and ready to party.

Enter a World of Pure Imagination

Last weekend my kids were in "Willy Wonka Jr" at my older daughter's middle school. Older daughter played Veruca Salt, the one who gets dropped down the chute, and elementary aged daughter was one of the two squirrels.

#1 was fabulous -- in a pretty strong cast of middle school kids she was head and shoulders above all but a couple of other actors. When the other kids were trying to remember not to block out other actors, or to stay in character, she was discussing her character's motivation. Meanwhile, my squirrel was making lists of bits to try out, and planning with the other squirrel (another cast member's younger sister) which bits they would do which night.

But see for yourself.

A Banner Day!

I've been so busy tweeting that it's been days since I posted to my blog. But today cannot be confined to 140 characters, or to an entry on Facebook.

This afternoon, in spite of missing Robbie Hummel, Purdue advanced to the Sweet 16. This really shouldn't be too much of a surprise, since Purdue was seeded higher than both opponents. But yet, sports wiseacres who decided that Purdue was all Robbie Hummel, called them underdogs. Neither win was a walk in the park, but then, anyone who goes to the Big Dance should be a tough opponent. Besides, no one else is like Duke, who always gets to play close to home, and gets the easy early games. No, Purdue won against worthy opponents who just weren't as good. It is the right place for the team that ranked #4 through most of the season, and won its first 16 games.

Then, tonight, in an historic vote, the House passed a health care bill that President Obama will sign into law tomorrow. Immediately Americans will no longer be held hostage by the insurance companies. It is not right that in a time when people are making hard decisions about how to spend their incomes, and defer seeking medical care because of cost and an inability to pay, that insurance companies are posting big profits while denying claims for people who pay them for the coverage.

There is a hue and cry from the right, but it all boils down to power. The right wants the power, and will resist anything that they can't control. Personally, I'm sick of politics. Good health should not be a political decision. Doctors should not have insurance clerks telling them which tests they can or cannot run. Americans should not have to see a doctor based, not on who will give them the best care, but on who their insurance company will pay. No realistic alternative has been offered. The bill that passed is full of ideas from both Republicans and Democrats. Republicans even took to opposing traditional Republican ideas, just to oppose the bill.

Tonight is a huge victory, something that should have been done years ago. Just ask people how long they've had to negotiate with insurance companies, and you get the idea.

100 years ago, Teddy Roosevelt first introduced the idea of health care reform. 40 years ago, Ted Kennedy started fighting for it. Tonight, in spite of opposition that was primarily based in special interest influence, Teddy and Ted are smiling down in satisfaction.

End of the Week

Another week has past (another month since I posted last!) and I am glad the weekend's here.

This week was Dr. Seuss's birthday. And the first week of Willy Wonka rehearsals. And the week we were notified that #1 child has been accepted to private high school of our choice.

I finally weeded my cookbooks down to half the previous number, and got rid of a stack of miscellaneous items that I've been meaning to get to for two years.

This is the week we finalized our spring break trip to Oahu which will be followed by a weekend visit from my dad and stepmother, and Dad's inseparable companion, his dog. Al will need a lifejacket for the boat.

The weekend holds a rally and Girl Scout cookie sales.

And I'm sleeping in.

tweet tweet

To the horror of my 13-year-old, I am following Justin Bieber on Twitter. I don't make a habit of following preteen pop stars. Or listening to their music. Or even keeping up on who they are. But he followed me and I thought, what the heck.

So far it's been kind of amusing. As far as I can tell, he does his own tweeting (e.g.: Dwight from The Office! OMG!), and I even went and watched the music video of his new song, "Baby" with Ludicris, the rapper. The song itself is pretty unremarkable and unsensational, and has a catchy little tune. The video is cute, with teens bowling and a couple of pretty girls who look a lot like the kids I see at my daughter's school. Back in the '80s, I would have looked for it on VH1, and would have bought his new album. Now, apparently, preteens are downloading it (or asking to) on iTunes.

So I think I will keep following him for a while, even if he is a Canadian. At least until his voice changes.

Valentine's Day and the theater

Today was Valentine's Day, and tonight my spouse and I had a lovely dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant, where for an hour we enjoyed each other's company without the distraction of our fabulous children.

But first, this afternoon my daughters and I went to see "She Loves Me" at the Second Story Repertory theater in Redmond.

What a wonderful valentine of a musical! My older one commented it was the perfect musical to see on Valentine's Day, intentional of course. SSR is in a shopping mall, and a small theater that seats 200. When you sit in the front row, you feel like you are at a private performance. There are seats on three sides, the stage on the floor (play goers have to walk across it to get to their seats), with no need for mics, and very little makeup. I expect the actors are careful not to spit when they talk, or sweat when they dance.

The play itself is from the Hungarian play, "Parfumerie" from which sprung three American films: "The Shop Around the Corner" starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan, "In the Good Old Summertime," a musical with Judy Garland and Van Johnson, and most recently "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Sometime in between the last two, "She Loves Me" appeared on the Broadway stage and stayed long enough to earn a Tony. Each version is somewhat different. "She Loves Me" sticks close to the original story.

Of course, as is always true at SSR, the acting and singing was outstanding. Jon Lutyens, who does everything from Shakespeare to contemporary to musicals in Seattle theaters, was a faceted, Tom Hanks-ish (without being Tom Hanks-like) leading man, and Anne Kennedy was a strong, funny, unsentimental leading lady, who even in her wallowing in misery was defiant. The supporting cast was, to a person, outstanding. I love the live theater.

The family consensus? Everyone loved it. Older daughter wants to see it again, with her own money. I'd say that's a definate approval.

So that's how I spent my Valentine's Day. Perhaps it is not cliche or typical, but the only thing I would have wished for today was to have my spouse along to complete the family unit and enjoy it with us. But someone had to stay home with the dog.

Spineless Democrats and free-for-all corporate campaign spending

A Republican won the seat that Ted Kennedy held for many years. What does this tell us? 1. People in Massachusetts like a good-looking senator, 2. People in Massachssetts don't like someone who seems to be clueless, 3. Unlike the rest of the country, people in Massachusetts don't think that their senate seat is a national one, 4. People in Massachusetts already have a robust, consumer-oriented health care system and don't seem to think it matters who represents them in the Senate.

Harsh? Maybe. But the Democrats seemed to think that all they had to do was offer a candidate and they were done. Why Rahm Emmanuel wasn't personally overseeing who ran Coakley's campaign is beyond me. She is obviously a smart, hard-working woman; she just didn't know how to campaign to replace the most likeable man in the Senate.

And let's face it. The Democrats need to grow up and get a little backbone. It is not like the election of Scott Brown tipped the majority in the Senate to 51-49. The Democrats still have 59 votes. Change the rules of the Senate, and go ahead and pass legislation. Waiting for the Republicans to cooperate, after they have stated time and again that they have no intention to, is naive and gives them the power. Democrats have the majority: Use it.

Barack Obama cannot single-handedly solve all the problems facing this country. He needs a little help from House and Senate Democrats who are willing to put principal over their own re-election.

However, that is probably not going to happen. Now that the Supreme Court has somewhat inexplicably ruled that corporations, including foreign ones, can contribute without restriction to campains, we will see anyone who wants to be elected pander even more than they already do to their big-money donors.

Happy New Year.

This Week

With the week almost over, I thought I'd put together some fragments about the week.


"Man vs. Wild" is back on. It is always fun to see Bear Grylls (yes, it's his real name) doing insanely dangerous and stupid things. Not to mention the fun of making snarky comments about being alone...except for that camera crew!


My new guilty pleasure is watching "Tabatha's Salon Makeover." It never ceases to amaze me how many people manage to open a salon without needing a business plan.


There is a new initiative to encourage everyone, but especially women, to get eight hours of sleep a night. Now just try convincing my offspring!


Quote of the week: "If Congress made it rain cookies, the headline would read: DEMOCRATS LEAVE MILLIONS MILKLESS -- Jon Stewart on The Daily Show


Our #2 child got a perfect score on a math paper and had it added to the permanent outstanding work wall in the classroom.


More people than you would expect lack common sense. The subject has arisen no less than six times in the past three days, in very different contexts. To quote C.S. Lewis, what do they teach in schools these days?


"Ugly Betty" started up again this week, and "How I Met Your Mother:, "The Big Bang Theory, "Chuck" and "Project Runway" start next week. Also next week, Robert Wagner appears on "NCIS" as DiNozzo's father. I'm glad we're back into new episodes.

I have a Reading Buddy. She's in 5th grade, and a riot. I don't think I'm helping her improve her reading skills, but it sure is fun to spend a half an hour a week with her.

Supper tonight: Sausage rolls and lamingtons. Australian comfort food! My husband was interviewed by another Australian while he was at "the pie shop" picking them up. No one makes lamingtons like Angus.


And, finally, it's a blustery day and night, with the wind howling around the house. I'm glad we have a generator!