2017 and I'm Grateful

I was planning to make a New Year's Resolution that I would blog daily about one thing that I was grateful for in 2017. Obviously, that has not happened.

However, on this day, January 4th 2017, I am grateful that all my children were together (under one roof, in the same room) on Christmas morning. Here is proof.

I can also say that I'm grateful to have a roof and pay for heat (brrr, currently -6 degrees Fahrenheit) and to be so busy living life with kids and grandkids, daughters-in-law and friends that I did not have time or was too exhausted to blog for the first 3 days of the year. Amen.

My dog eats nuts too

This famous line from Anton Checkhov's 'The Cherry Orchard' reminds us how ridiculous everyday conversations can be. In the midst of any halfway normal conversation between two people, someone else, outside of the context of that conversation,can say something that makes the whole thing seem quite other-worldly.
My #1 daughter reminded me of how absurd life can be sometimes (thank goodness, as I tend to be too serious). As I was having a quiet conversation with my husband in the kitchen when all of the sudden she stuck her head through the doorway, gave a loud, zombiesque roar (with facial expressions!) then exited just as suddenly. It was deja vue all over again. 'My dog eats nuts too', and Anton Checklov surely rolled over in his grave with delight!

Fresh vegetables! My kingdom for fresh vegetables!

It is almost February in Minnesota and although Mother Nature has been kind to us of late, it is still winter and I long for my vegetable garden again. I have already begun the grand scheme and my lovely husband has joined in my pursuit of a bigger and better garden this year. So far, we are planning to raise several varieties of heirloom potatoes. Daughter #1 has chosen the 'All Blue' variety and I have chosen the 'German Butterball'. (I hope I do not turn into a butterball eating them!) My lovely husband would like a solid red potato and has chosen 'Sangre'!
Of course we will grow tomatoes, too! We are still enjoying the canned tomatoes from last summer! The 'Cherokee Purple' was a family favorite and we will plant them again this year, along with plenty of beautiful peppers, kale and collards!
Oh for a fresh vegetable from my garden right about now! What I would not give for the sun drenched taste of a fully ripened tomato today.

League of Extraordinary Women

God, I had the most ah-mahz-ing party on Saturday. There was the usual yummy food and drink, kids running about, pizza in the oven for them, but that was not what made this a memorable event. It was all of my fabulous friends. These women are the most intereseting, funny and intelligent women I know (save one or two that could not be with us that night). I could talk to them for hours and hours and hours, and never get tired of their stories and insight. Each one of them is very special to me. What better way to celebrate another year on Earth, than to bring them all together and celebrate them as a group. We all had such a good time that I was asked to organize another event and thank goodness, too, because the winters can be so long in Minnesota.

Tattoo

For several years now, I have wanted to get a tatoo. I wanted to commemorate the 3-day walk I did with my friend Marilyn in 2008, but I didn't have a vision for the tattoo. My good friend, Elise has one that I just love. It has her daughter's name it in. I have to daughters and their names are really much too long to combine into one tattoo, I think, unless I run it down my back, which is a possibility I suppose.
Then, I wanted to celebrate the end to my 50th year. It was a very good year with many wonderful happenings, but I still didn't have a vision.
I think I have my vision now, or perhaps it is a combination of several visions. I need to find an artist and get to work. I will post photos of options and how I see them coming together when I find them. Right now, it is late and my poor little laptop is acting exhausted and does not want to cooperate with my searches right now.
Good night.

Wouldn't you love to fall asleep in this?

Both #1 and #2 daughters would love, love, love one of these cradles found on Design Milk.

Thoughts

"Change your thoughts and you change your world." 
Norman Vincent Peale