Rainbow Cake Breakfast

Today was a beautiful day. Apparently there were record temperatures all over the state, but around our house there were threats of a storm and it never seemed to get to hot. I made my daughter a rainbow cake for her birthday this past weekend. The colors are not quite as vibrant as some rainbow cakes because I used natural dyes. It still looked pretty good and it tasted good as well. The cake is six layers. I have pictures of it the day of and will post them soon. This is just a tease.

We have been eating cake for breakfast and today my daughter thought we should eat outside and she set everything up for us. It was pretty wonderful.

Snow, Snow, Sun

It's not snowing here anymore and it is warming up nicely. I hear that it snowed last night in North Carolina though. Apparently it was thundering and snowing at the same time. I would expect nothing less.

These pictures are from the big snow in Colorado last month. We went to the holiday lights exhibit at the Botanic Gardens that night and must admit snow covered Christmas lights are amazing. I think this is all of my pictures from last month!

Day 26: Something I'm looking forward to.

December. For a number of reasons, but mostly I love the holiday season. I love Christmas lights everywhere, my decorated tree, holiday music, lot's of baking, and on and on. Also, I am sort of looking forward to this project being over. It is kind of hard to post every single day and some of these topics start to feel a little repetitive.  I have learned that it is nice to get up in the morning and have something to accomplish that is for myself creatively instead of simply thinking, "what will I do to keep my daughter engaged today?" So I am going to keep up this daily posting (just not on weekends and holidays). Hopefully, it will last.

Thunderstorms

Today the clouds have rolled in and a thunderstorm seems to be in my future. I can hear the rumbles currently and the light outside is magically shadowless. My daughter is asleep and I hope she will stay there for awhile so that I can use this time to organize the footage that I have recently captured from my documentary.

I still have slides to scan from so long ago. They are just sitting on my work shelf, waiting, collecting dust. Perhaps, I will get to them this Holiday weekend. The problem I am having is that my daughter loves to look at them as well and she is only starting to understand the concept of "being gentle."

Christmas Passes So Quickly

It seems as though I have been from the computer for a long time. I have spent the last few weeks everywhere but at my own house. We have an iPad that we bring with us when we travel, but I don't like to type on it. Thus, it has been quiet on the blog for awhile. I don't have any interesting photos of my vacations because I forgot my camera! I always forget something and this time it was the camera.

Before I left I received a roll of black and white prints back from the lab because I have to send B & W away and can't use the local lab it usually takes me a long time to send it out. Case in point these photos are from the summer. Of course, this is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and so they seem apropos.

A Day of Infamy and Cold

It snowed this weekend! 2.5 inches. Of course, it was as beautiful as can be and I didn't get any pictures. I really need a small camera that I can keep in my purse to use as needed. I have a digital one that I recently found in an old purse, but I don't want to mix digital/film too much. It snowed on Saturday and on Sunday most of the picturesque sights melted quickly. You wouldn't know it though from the weather today since we have not gotten above freezing. My daughter has a slight cold and I don't want to take her out in the freezing weather. We've spent all day inside and looks as though tomorrow is more of the same. I need to think of cold weather activities for us. I got out crayons today and some things were unnecessarily "decorated," such as an upholstered chair and the floor.

I was also taken aback by the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. Since it was only yesterday that it was announced that her cancer was no longer treatable. It is amazing to consider all of the heartache she had gone through in her life and, yet, she always seemed to be upbeat and grateful. A couple years ago I worked with a cancer survivor and John and Elizabeth Edwards came to our campus. My colleague was able to share a small moment with her when they shook hands and it was impressive how through the few words that they shared Elizabeth Edwards inspired such hope in and created a personal connection with my colleague. It is rare that a person can do that and we are lucky to have had her be a part of our country and our great state. May she rest in peace.

Gone With the Wind

This weekend all the leaves were beautiful and it was sunny, warm, and perfect. We went on a lovely walk and found a new park for my daughter to play. Now, the week has gotten windy and rainy, which causes all the beautiful leaves to fall off.

Yesterday, in the morning a noticed my fig tree was still covered in leaves. When I looked at it again that evening it was completely bare; the wind and rain had taken off every single leaf! I always hate it when this happens and it seems to happen every year. Even though we seem to have lost an inordinate amount of leaves yesterday there are, luckily, many of the leaves have held on. In Greensboro there is a street (West Market) that has a picturesque canopy of trees arching overhead as you drive under. They have all changed colors and it so beautiful. Even on a day like yesterday when you drove under the light was amazing as if filtered through the leaves. Today looks to be shaping up to be better, at least the sky is blue!

Catch Up/Preparation

Even though I took these pictures before Halloween I think that they are very Thanksgiving-y as well. I always feel sorry for Thanksgiving because everyone tends to skip over it. Christmas is already in the air it seems. Yesterday they were put up wreaths and lights at Friendly Center. We went into Macy's and their trees were up and Christmas music was playing. Of course, I did get a little Christmas spirit when I walked in. I celebrated my birthday this weekend and when my daughter saw my husband carrying my wrapped presents her eyes got all big and she went, "ohhhhh." She loved tearing off the paper. She didn't care too much about what was inside unless it was a CD. She loves playing with CDs. Reading the labels, examining the disc. I wonder if we will be able to keep any presents wrapped with her around.

Look at me, I've digressed from my thoughts on Thanksgiving. Growing up my Thanksgiving was a little different from my friends. My mom is a vegetarian and we never really had turkey. Every now and again my dad would make one, but it was never the centerpiece. When I was really little I remember eating shrimp, but then she gave up seafood. The most important part of our holiday has always been listening to Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant at noon. They play it live on KBCO (the former local radio station in Boulder that now resides in Denver). We drink mimosas, eat bruschetta and dance around. And have done so since longer than I can remember. My husband's family does the more traditional thing where lot's of family gets together and there is a lot of food (including turkey, often more than one, I think, honestly I don't pay that much attention to the turkey).  As all marriages go traditions have to be melded together and my Thanksgiving tradition has become the Sunday after Thanksgiving tradition. And after we listen to Arlo we put up the Christmas. After all, Thanksgiving can't last forever, not like Christmas.

Finally!

The leaves are changing and falling at a speedy pace. Nights are routinely cooler. I have finally switched out all of my summer clothes for fall clothes. Sweaters, at last, my favorite wardrobe staple. I got my hair cut last week and while waiting for my husband to pick me up afterward I window shopped. Nearly every window display featured sweaters. I love cardigans, pullovers, just about anything. My daughter wore her first sweater of the season this weekend to rave reviews. I am ready to start spending my evenings curled up under a blanket with a cup of tea and a book.

Summer's Last Stand

Inevitably, it always happens that summer tries to hold on longer than expected. The beginning of the week began cool and I was pulling down sweaters, shirts, and PJ's from storage. My daughter wore a flannel jumper and a knitted cap. We drank hot chocolate. And then...

It got warm again. On Thursday we went to the gardens in the afternoon and spotted tank tops and shorts. We were overheated in our long sleeves even in the shady bog gardens. The days are so beautiful and warm and I can bask in them knowing they are about to end. I don't think they can hold on much longer. Those leaves in the trees are changing. I'm not dreaming anymore. I can see them in the pictures. Some pictures at least.