Snoooowww!!!

There is nothing like a snow day. Especially for a dog. Stanley LOVES snow, he leaps and dives in the snow, coming up covered in the stuff. We ran outside in the morning when we saw some neighbors walking by with their dogs, so they could play a little in the alley. No worries that a car could come.
Our street is virtually undrivable, the parked cars are covered halfway up the doors, and that is before the plow piles more on. Snowdays like this happen very infrequently in Chicago. We do not get nearly as much snow here I we did growing up on the other side of the lake, Midwesterners put down there heads and bear through most snow storms and the city is fully equiped to handle large amounts of snow. So waking up this morning to large drifts (the one by the garage is five feet tall!), and hearing that the city had grounded to a halt the night before was a little surreal. The radio hosts on NPR were playing old stories to fill in for other hosts that couldn't make it in to work.

So our day becomes marked with shoveling. Mike shovels, has breakfast as the snow continues to fall. Then before lunch goes out and shovels again. Mid-afternoon a walk and more shovelling. Time for hot chocolate, tea and cookies. It all makes me long for the days of Little House on the Prairie, which always makes the winter sound like an idyllic time, as long as everyone is safe inside!

But here in Chicago in 2011, we get only a day of respite, of winter wonderland before we have to return to our go, go, go lives. But for the moment I'm just trying to live in the moment. Lucky Stanley has no problem with that, he is loving every minute.

I Love Lists

I keep a lot of lists. From the basic to do and grocery lists, to gift ideas and things I wish I had in my wardrobe. If I come up with two things that I think should be a list, I cannot stop thinking about them until I write them down. My new 2011 planner is quickly becoming filled with them.

Some of my favorite lists are the ones that have to do with my crafting goals. I keep one of specific project I want/need to make and another that lists the different techniques I want to master. Because my knitting and such hold so much joy, planning and dreaming about the next thing is blissful, and will often help speed me through a project that may have become stale-feeling.

So with my mania about lists, you can imagine my delight at reading a friend's blog about creating a yearly list of achievable goals and dreams. I immediatly want to pull out my planner and begin my own. But this is not as easy as most of the lists I write, which usually come about because I think of line-items organically. Starting with an concept, is much, much harder.

I started with the crafting front because this area is one I am constantly making goals for. In my knitting, I want to delve into the art of intarsia. This is a very difficult kind of colorwork that requires concentration and a relaxed, even tension. I also want to create a sub-section of my website (which I currently use for resume purposes) for showing off my knitting. Lastly, crafting-wise, I want to create some original letterpress designs. They may be for my use only, but exploring this creative outlet should be VERY fun!

Thinking about my professional development, I would like to begin studying the art of oral history more closely, and most of all do some interviews. I want to develop my voice as a professional librarian and start writing about the things that catch my attention, too.

For my non-crafting free time I have a few ideas. I want to try growing brussel sprouts in my garden. Walking somewhere (to the train counts) at least 6 days a week is a goal that is a lot harder to stick to during the winter, but I think I am up to the challenge. Reading LOTS of nonfiction, I'm thinking every other book I read, won't be so hard.

Wow, I feel great. Some of these are a little more ambitious, some will require more dilligence, but I truly think they are all doable. Here's to new hopes and lists!

Holiday Highlights

We had a very busy holiday season. Stating with me visiting my mom, mom visiting me, and then Mike's (and my) niece visiting us from Texas. She was a blast to have around and was thrilled when it snowed!

Her and Stanley ran outside to enjoy the cold beauty of those falling flakes. Since it was the holiday season she got her fill of holiday parties where she knew only us. Ending in our annual cookie extravaganza.

There were many beautifl cookies at the end of the night, and I think everyone, even AJ had a good time.

I had to take her to the bean! Which I think she could have stared at for hours. But we had a date with Mike.

He took her ice skating! They had a great time, and apparently it was a good work out too.

We rounded out AJ's visit by going to It's a Wonderful Life a the Music Box. They go all out for this Christmas show, including a sing-a-long with Santa! Everyone gets decked out in their holiday finest and you better remember to bring your bell...

We were really glad that AJ liked the movie, because it is Mike's fav Christmas movie. Before we knew it, it was time to drive to Iowa and reunite her with her family for the holiday. It was great to hang at Bob and Char's and see everyone.

I was on turkey duty for the first time, and I must say that I pulled it off without a hitch.

Mike's favorite part of any visit there is looking at the old photo albums, which he always pulls out. This time Sofia spent some time looking at the old snaps.

But no trip tp Dubuque would be complete without spending at least one night hanging out with Todd, Joe and Jenny at the Hollister household. It was extremely festive and there were lots of new toys for the grownups to play with. The highlight for me was actually knowing the winning question to Trivial Pursuit!

But we weren't done yet, we headed to Michiana for MORE Christmas!

Complete with hats from the Christmas crackers!

My fav gift were these flavored olive oil from Jeremi and Logan. I LOVE THEM! I have only opened the Say WHAT Chili Oil, so far and it has the perfect amount of kick.

It was back to Chicago, just in time for New Years. Hosted by the newly engaged Lindsay and Al.

It was a small quiet affair, and I was glad to be able to catch up with a few friends.

New Years day was spent with yet more friend, out in the burbs for dinner at the Childer's house

I was really excited to see them, and especially to see the stocking I made them hung with care.

But the highlight by far was the announcement from our friends Sara and Mike that they were engaged!!! We were so excited for our friends, and cannot wait to celebrate all of these happy events in the year(s) to come.