puzzles

I love traditions. Many of my favorite family traditions focus around the Christmas holiday. We have our traditional Christmas Eve meal, but I also started traditions for my children when they arrived in our family. The Elves bring them daily small gifts for their stockings the week before Christmas. Santa brings each of them a Christmas themed book as part of his gifts. We now have quite the collection of children's holiday literature.

A more recent tradition is the puzzle. For the last three years we've received a puzzle either as a gift from a family member, a family friend or from Santa. Working a puzzle together is one of the things we look forward to doing on our vacation. This year we didn't open and begin the puzzle until vacation was almost over, but that 1000 piece challenge was completed within a week. We each take turns sitting down at the folding table we set up just for this activity. Sometimes the girls worked together. Sometimes they worked alone. While they were at school, I'd try and further fill in the picture. The boys worked on it as well, often finding just the right piece, the one that had eluded us.  Even some of the girls' friends got in on the action and helped.

I met a friend on Sunday at B&N for a coffee and as I was driving there I got a text from the middle kid. She wanted me to get another puzzle. I was happy to oblige when I found the Ravensburger holiday puzzles marked half off. I'd purchased one, at full price, for Santa to bring. The one I had left behind was now on sale. We are busy working a puzzle featuring two angels facing off with music and mandolin.

This may be our last puzzle for the winter, but I'm happy to know that this tradition has grown legs. This may  be something we continue in the future, and perhaps the kids will incorporate this activity into their own families someday.

when you are off to a slow start

I have yet to finish my second book of the year. I am off to a very slow start as far as 2011's reading is concerned. It could be the book. It could be me. Either way, I need to kick myself into gear and get on with it.  This week's goal is to finish the current book, plus I have plans to visit the library tomorrow and checkout at least a two additional titles and begin those.

After our executive board meeting last week, I have quite a bit of Friends work to complete this week. Today is not the day to do any of that as the kids are off school for MLK day.  I think part of my slow start has to do with the odd way in which our post holiday return to school life has unfolded. From illness to snow days to a federal holiday, it is all conspiring against me.

Or at least, that is my current excuse.

Happy Monday.

lionel and bertie

I very, very seldom ever post on a Saturday, but the movie we saw last night requires me to do so. I absolutely adored "The King's Speech."  Fabulous movie. The acting was superb. The script was amazing. From the way the movie looked, to its pacing, everything was spot on perfection.  So nice to see Geoffrey Rush without his Barbarossa costume. So wonderful to see Helena Bonham Carter in something besides over the top theatrical garb as she portrays the insane Bellatrix in the Harry Potter movies.  Colin Firth is just wonderful, as always. 

I can't say enough about this film. Go and see it. It is worth the ticket price. The R rating is solely for 'foul' language used during a speech therapy session...and the audience we were in laughed through the majority of it.

movie night and money

I think I have hubby convinced to head out to the movies tonight. I really want to see 'The King's Speech' and it has finally arrived at our local cineplex.  No, it isn't some 3-D action adventure thriller, but I think we will enjoy it...or at least I know I will!

Today is our executive board meeting for the Friends followed by our lunch out at the local 'watering' hole.  Not that we will imbibe much beyond ice tea, but the option is there if needed.

I've been working on estimating budget numbers for our group as well as compiling the stats for the annual report.  We gave approximately $9,000 less to the library this past year. For the past four years we have contributed over $31,000, and this year we were at $22,000.  We have, however, saved almost $45,000 for the future expansion of the library. Our goal on that effort is $100,000 and we are almost half way there. That is exciting news.

The Library has their request in for 2011 and is asking for about $16,000. This won't be a problem, although we may have to make that donation in two sums, one before summer and one after.

But, all those numbers won't mean much if we don't get book donations.  We are down, just like last year, in the volume donated to us. Not good. I hope warmer weather and the spring cleaning urge can help us in a few weeks to fill the bins, boxes and shelves.

Movies, money and books...my Friday trifecta.  Enjoy the weekend.

crazy heart

I've written before about how much I love Netflix. I've watched some great shows and movies that I might not have seen without having this service. When I put "Crazy Heart" on my list, circumstances delivered it right before Christmas. With the hustle of the season, the disc sat on the kitchen counter for weeks. I finally watched the movie yesterday. Now I know why Jeff Bridges won an Oscar for his performance. This was a really good movie full of subtle and nuanced acting.  In many ways it was a quiet movie. The action was limited, but the driving force, the characters were intense, sympathetic and interesting.  What a mix of actors too, Robert Duvall, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell and of course, Bridges.

Good Stuff.

Needless to say, I didn't read my book yesterday. I enjoyed the movie, made a big pot of potato soup and stayed warm.

Up for today is my normal Friends/Library routine plus I need to buy an ink cartridge for the printer. Woot:)

short weeks

With the kids have Monday and Tuesday off this week, plus the upcoming three day weekend due to MLK's holiday, it seems like we will never get back into a normal routine.  Or, when we finally do, it is going to be rough going for a bit as we adjust to a regular schedule.

We woke up to the cold air as promised. My laptop weather bug feature indicated it was a whopping 14 degrees outside this morning. Brrrrrr.  And we still have lots of snow on the ground. Brrrrr.

If I didn't have to go out today, I wouldn't. But, as I forget to put on my list several needed items, I think a Target run is in store for me today. I also plan on doing some reading. It is very difficult to read when the kids are around. Too many distractions. Too many conversations, arguments, noises, movement etc. to allow me to enjoy a book.

I started a new to me author, Carol Berg. The first book in this series is "Flesh and Spirit." It is basically the adventures of a ne'er do well young man as he tries to run away from his magical legacy. So far, so good.

Happy Wednesday...even though it feels like it should be a Monday.

snow day II

The county decided to close schools for today and did so last night. Nice for the kids to be able to sleep in again and not worry about watching the closing list scroll across the bottom of the television.

I hate those scrolling lists and the 'tab' graphics and the severe weather map graphic. By the time they are done loading the screen with all that information, you can hardly see what you tuned in to watch!  We were all ready to watch some quality TV drama, Lie to Me, my latest guilty pleasure starring that wonderful Brit, Tim Roth. The screen was so littered with information, it was difficult to focus on the show. Ugh.

Not sure what the kids will want to do today other than to make sure they are ready to go back to school tomorrow. I think they all have a bit of homework to finish for Wednesday. I also think they all have some chores they can do.

The roads look clear, but I imagine the decision to cancel school was based on some of the more rural roads and bridges that most likely got quite icy as the sun went down and the temps dropped. Just not enough salt and sand trucks in this part of the world.

Happy Snow Day II.