Naturally Optimistic

For our 2020 Winter Reading program, there wasn't an overall theme. I decided to create my own theme. And the Penguins took over the library! I printed out real-to-life sized photographs of penguins...an Emperor, a Fairy, a Chinstrap and a Galapagos Penguin to be exact. I put them on the walls in one area. My hope was that kids would stand next to them and measure up - and they sure did! It put a smile on my face every time. Above each penguin I included some facts. Usually where they lived, what they ate and any quirky stuff about them. It's always great to be able to provide a little learning opportunity along the way. We also included penguin voting. I always think it's fun to add a pre-math activity when I can. I made 4 buckets with a photo of each of the aforementioned penguins. Kids (& adults) were able to ask for a "voting token" (ie: a saved bottle cap) at the desk and then put it in the bucket of their choice. It was fun hearing t...

The Christmas tree is on it's way to it's seasonal home at the MN Power Plaza in Duluth.  We watched it drive by from work. I could almost smell the pine needles. I almost hate to admit it, but I start getting excited this time of year!!

Not my photo...but man, I love calling this space my "backyard." *sigh* I wish summer/autumn could hold on a little longer....

I've been wanting to do a "freezer cooking" session for a while now. It's so helpful to have things 'on hand' to make for dinner. Even if I have to be a *little*bit prepared & think about it the night before, it's GREAT to have something to throw in the crockpot or in the oven. Makes my after-work life a lot easier. A few weeks ago, a friend/co-worker of mine (Colleen) & I were chatting (both of our daughters are in the same ballet class) and it hit me. We are SO BUSY. We don't even do much, but with working full time & juggling other people's schedules, it can be a lot. And I hate the 'ANY DINNER IDEAS?!' question. Blech. So I asked her if she wanted to set up a freezer cooking day (plus, her husband has had some tough medical stuff going on this year & she could use a BREAK!) Meanwhile, another friend/co-worker (Jess) had heard about the plan and asked if she could join it. Perfect! In this case, 3 is better than 2 for...

It's been a glorious autumn.

Michelle & I enjoyed a beautiful day last Saturday & took the kids to Bayfront Park/The Lakewalk for multiple festivities. It was such a fun (free!) day. We got a free kite for Dahlia courtesy of the Kiwanis, we got our passports stamped at various tables along the lakewalk & turned them in for free ice cream (Dahlia's having the fireman sign her book below). I bought a pound and a half of red potatoes & a green pepper for $1.90. We danced the Maypole. We got sun-tinted pink, walked thousands of steps. Dahlia painted Lake Superior rocks & "went fishing." (we were too tired to check out the zoo animals at Fitgers, go for a hayride or get our photo taken -next year!). What a great family friendly (cheap!) day. Can't wait til next year.

Today is the Solstice...I believe at 5:16pm or something. Exactly. But it's not very summery. With highs only in the 40's & 50's (WHAT?) & rain & wind, it's pretty hard to be in the spirit of the season. On our longest day of the year when it *should* be light until 11pm (well, light-ish), we won't be able to enjoy it because it'll be cloudy & dark. Hmph. AND we had a babysitter lined up for tonight - had her in place for probably over a month...but I sort of dropped the ball & didn't talk to her until last night & now she's not available. Argh. Well, we're going to make the best of it. Steve & I are going out anyway! Carolyn's going to come down to watch the kids, we're going to have happy hour & then possibly go to a movie. I'd love to be hiking out West on the SHT, but it's just not going to happen this year. Ah well, next year? Luckily we took a little family hike to the creek after supper last nigh...

Yesterday was not a good day for me. A crappy night of sleep (imagine that!) followed by my total & complete lack of patience for two very needy & clingy small people, coupled with a to-do list a mile long for August's upcoming birthday soiree (Saturday). Ugh. Errands to run, in the rain; making more than one stop with my entourage & did I mention my complete & total exhaustedness? Plus I've had this weird back thing going on which is very uncomfortable. A trip to the chiropractor is needed very soon! Anyway- a highlight of my day... We stopped at the post office to buy some ONE cent stamps so I could mail out another batch of riveting postcards (yeah, postcard stamps went up one cent. Hmph) & to mail a package to a friend. I went to the Mt. Royal post office which is closest to me & I really love. It's so...um..."down home" for lack of a better word. They always decorate to the nth degree for holidays; they use hand painted, wooden signs t...

Well, a lot of hype up in these parts for a storm that (once again) didn't hit us. If I sound dissappointed by this, I am...a little bit. Sure it's nice to not have to deal with yucky snow & ice...but I was longing for so much snow & blizzardy conditions (with everyone safe, naturally) that the whole city would shut down for a day or two and we'd have to stay home with our families, watch movies & make pizzas & play games. Instead the winds were so strong off the big lake, they kept the snow to our south & west. But since there was no storm there was still pre-school today; Steve didn't have to burn a vacation day; I got to get some things down around the house & take a nap (yay!) & there is absolutely no shoveling or ice melting to do. All in all, I'm so ready for spring!

After a Thanksgiving feast last night of all the classics, I think I am still full. Egads. We had a great time at my Mother-in-laws - Steve's whole family (minus sister Laura) was there! Dahlia & Anders had a ridiculously good time playing together. I swear those two have the same silly sense of humor. We stayed up WAY too late but Dahlia slept til almost 9am this morning, so that was cool. Today Anders (& his parents) visited & we played & played. First with the toys, then we got out the parachute (and the cackling laughter of 2 2-year-olds began) THEN we suited up & went outside to play in the snow. They had a blast. There were tears when Anders had to leave - from both of them. Tonight we're going to eat (again!) pizza & tour Bentleyville (the amazing lighting display at Bayfront). It is BEYOND COOL. I am a sucker for things like pretty lights and THIS is AMAZING. It's free (for one); they give you FREE hot chocolate & cookies, free popcorn ...

On my first visit to the WIC office last month they let me know about a new program in Duluth called ' Ruby's Pantry . Its a food share program. You pay $15 and get over $100 in groceries. There are no income guidelines. Everyone is welcome. This was the 2nd time it was offered in Duluth. Last month they had 400 people. This month there were expecting between 700-800. I decided to check it out. The road in front of the church was backed waaaay up. I ended up parking quite a ways away & grabbed by empty 'Click-n-Go' stroller (they tell you to bring totes, laundry baskets, boxes, etc. There was a huge line when I got there & I waited outside (it was chilly!) for probably an hour. It was interesting though to chat with the others in line & find out how they'd heard about it, etc. Finally moved inside. Paid my $15 & waited. (This is why I have a book with me at all times...). It was probably another 45 minutes or so but I didn't mind. Once your numbe...

We have a tornado watch going on right now. These are HIGHLY unusual in Duluth. In Austin we had them ALL. THE. TIME. In Duluth I remember one back in 1995. I was working at a hotel, there were 3 touch downs over the hill. That was fun. Blech. Right now it's sunny (finally!) & beautiful. Hard to believe that there is severe weather on the way.

A yearly tradition - although in the 3 1/2 years I've been paired with MariAnna, we've only managed to go to one of the games. Tonight was #2! We started the evening by eating a lot of Sammy's Pizza & having a great conversation. I also gave her her belated Christmas gift. I was quite proud of myself - using only what I had already in the house, I put together a fantastic collection of arts/crafts supplies! Supplies to make cards, scrapbook, whatever - including - card stock, ribbons, beads, stickers, patterned paper, envelopes, a glue stick, charcoal, pastels, paint brushes, clips, mini-tapes, cute post-it notes, embellishments, foam stickers, & a couple of penguin cutesy things (she loves penguins). See, I'm feeling the economic pinch and would rather spend time with her making things & laughing & chatting than buy her something that she doesn't need/want/won't use/will get lost in her house in 5 minutes, etc....so this worked very well. I also...

View from our front porch...my little camera does not do it justice.

Dahlia & I just came in from being outside "playing" in the snow (while Steve still shovels & snowblows). We're having a respite right now from the flakes & winds, but a full blown blizzard is supposed to be in effect by midnight! We're stocked up & ready to hunker down if necessary (if we can get out - we'll go to church & my FIL's for Christmas Eve dinner...we shall see). My only MAJOR disappointment is the fact that we are STILL MISSING a piece for Dahlia's kitchen so I wanted to run to Target today. Steve may go in a little bit to see if he can get one (and he has a couple other errands to run) but we might have to wait a day or two to get Dahlia's full Christmas morning reaction. I'm super bummed about that as I know she's going to LOVE this kitchen, but what can you do? I'm trying not to let it ruin my day. For all you in the northern climes, enjoy the white Christmas! While all you in the warm sunny states can ...

Hard to believe that 34 years ago the weather was so nasty that a 729 ft long ship carrying iron ore and weighing 13,632 tons could just disappear in the tumultuous waters of Lake Superior. Hard to believe when this November 10th is so incredibly beautiful. RIP to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Your mystery might never be solved...but you'll never be forgotten.

Yesterday afternoon, around 3:30 as I was coming home from running some errands, traffic was a little backed up at a 4-way stop, nearish my house. That is unusual for that intersection & for that time of day. I noticed a group of teenagers on the corner/at one house in particular and something was strange. I couldn't tell if they were fighting or goofing around or what. Then I saw a girl run up to one of the guys (who was bent over and looked like his eyes were in pain) and gave him a cup of water which he tried to rinse his eyes off with. Hmmm....was there a fight or something previously? Did he get something in his eyes? But traffic was still stopped and I couldn't figure it out. Then some of the kids starting crossing the street - willy nilly - in front of my car, in front of other cars...the pattern (as usual) guys go first, and girls run after trying to intervene, stop them, or something. I look to my left and there's a single guy yelling (back) at two of the first...

I went up on the Lift Bridge!