First Snow in Maine

Check out Miss Gracie! She's truly the queen of her castle. Of course, if you live in Maine, you already know that snow is cold. So there's no need for Iain to call her and let her in on that secret.

I love the fact that the snow is belly-deep for Gracie, yet she's all "Come ON, Professor M!!"

It's snowing here again, too. But this time it's warmer, so the snow is sloppy and wet rather than pretty. I think we're in for quite a winter, folks.

News Flash: Snow is Cold

When it snowed Saturday morning, Iain was eager to go check it out. I zipped him into his little fleece-lined hoodie and we went to see what we could see.

There was ice on the pond, but Iain skimmed some off to help out the fish. He found the skimmer handle extremely cold.

Then he noticed that there was snow on the back of the tin washtub (which we use to wash the dogs and whatnot). He slapped his hand right on it:

Ooo! Cold. After that, he wasn't so keen on the snow. But we managed to convince him that mittens have a purpose, and I think this experience contributed to that success.

In other news, last night Iain had his weekend date with Callie. I forgot to bring the camera, so you'll have to imagine them eating their ravioli and pineapple, playing amicably with Callie's toys, and engaging in lingering embraces (really).

At bedtime Iain revealed his love for Top Chef. He utterly, completely, inexorably, undoubtedly, without question refused to go to bed. He WOULD NOT sleep, thank you. Normally, we're implacable on things like that, but in this case I went up to see if I could calm him down.

(Bless his heart) he looked terrified. So we let him stay up with the staff and watch three DVR'd episodes of T.C., cheering the perfectly braised short ribs and shaking his tiny fist at the foolish idea of a peanut slushie in a plastic cup (eww!). He stayed up until we left. [And before you ask: 7:29am, about the same as any other day]

Maddie = Homerun

Maddie at the park. Could you die????

See how she likes the same kind of tunnel as Iain?? Great minds think alike, obvy.

Look, Dad! I'm going to be a Coast Guard Search and Rescue diver, and I'll drop from a hovering helicopter into icy arctic waters wearing a hi-tech swim system and pluck the unfortunate and shivering victims from a certain DEATH!

Puppy! Being a hotshot coastal rescue hero does not preclude loving a little doggie lurv.

Actual Conversation

[Playing with crayons]

Iain: "Geen."
Me: "Yes, that's green."
Me to Charles: "Check that out. Has he been doing that for you?"
Charles: "Ask him about another color."
Me: "Iain, what's this [hold up orange crayon]"
Iain: "Kitty"
Me: "Iain, what's this [hold up purple crayon]"
Iain: "Chicken"

Oh, well.

Surprise!

Well. I wasn't expecting that. It's been colder than usual here, and thus when we had our first snow showers of the season the snow actually stuck.

We also appear to have had some early-morning visitors:

Those would be bird and animal tracks. Squirrel? Maybe. Rabbit? Could be. Either way, they seem to have had quite a hoedown.

The snow even stuck to our beautiful red berry bushes (don't know what they're called). These provide snacks for the birds all the way into January, so I love them. One can sit in the sunroom (shivering) and watch birds alight, taste, and fly away.

Of course, the downside is that my little vegetable garden has probably fought its last battle. The chard seemed defeated by the snow:


And even the hardy little oregano might decide that it's time to go dormant for winter.

Still to come...Iain discovers that snow is cold.

Psst! Save Us!!

Shhh! Don't let him hear you! Call 911 quick - before it has another Temper Tantrum.

Here's actual dialog from tonight:

Dad: "Say, 'truck' Iain."
Iain: "I hate you!!!! Wahhh! CUCK!!"
Dad: "Not 'cuck,' 'truck' trrrr-uck!"
Iain: "Moida! Moida! Help!"

Mom: "Here, honey, have some cheese-toast."
Iain: "Ahhh! Poison! Help, she's trying to kill me!!"
Mom: "It's good, see? It's cheese like you like, and toast like you like."
Iain: "Fire! Flood! Call the Pentagon! Help!"
Mom: "How about some jam on your cheese toast?"
Iain: "Jam? Ok." [proceeds to sort of eat]

At bedtime, he screamed all the way up the stairs, then once I had him stripped and his pajamas were in his father's hands, he said "Baf?"

Ok. Bath, tooth-brushing, new diaper, jammies, and a book later, he went to bed effortlessly.

Color me baffled by toddler-dom.

In other news, our Crazy Sale Order from Gap came today. Iain got two cute new fleece pull-overs, and Daddy got two new sweaters to keep him warm when it's 30 F at 10am (like today). Mommy ordered two sweaters but only one was in stock.

I laid them all out on the sofa and realized that of the five garments, all were either grey or blue or grey and blue. Hmmm...

Cookie Hack

You do not need cookie cutters.

Ok, ok. If you want to make gingerbread men or snowflakes or something, you need a cookie cutter. But to make your basic cookie, like a sandwich circle, you do not need a cookie cutter.

A small glass will do. My old friend Jeffrey (LA Jeffrey for those of you in the know) gave me a lovely set of very small Moroccan tea glasses years ago. I drink liquor out of them, but I also use them to stamp out cookies when necessary. They work great.

I say this for two reasons. First, thanks, Jeffrey! This gift just keeps on giving. Second, every year this time I start to think, "do I need 400 little cut-out cookie tools to make elaborate cookies???" And then I think, "Nope."