Wink Wink

Shiny Boots

In The Kitchen

Time for a holiday dinner! The Roemers will now set off the fire alarm. (David's beef tenderloin was excellent, and my caramelized Brussels sprouts could go a long way to converting a sprout hater. The potatoes, however, turned out strangely bitter.)

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve

Getting starting...

Playing with new toys...

Lingering

I glanced out the front window and happened to see something white in the yard. Trash? It has certainly been windy enough to blow around anything loose. But no...I went out to take a closer look. 

It's hail! We had a few bouts of it this morning, along with some unusual thunder, but I thought it all melted on contact. Zoe wanted to hold some ice. (And no, she's not dressed appropriately for the temperature.)

What Bubble Wrap Is Really For

Zoe also likes to burst the bubbles with her fingers. And she's willing to share the fun with her daddy. "Do you wanna unsnap summa dese?"

Santa Beard

Morning Persons

Vincent, full of breakfast, is motoring around the house on his bike making quiet "Brrrrmmmm, brrrrm" noises. Zoe, who has already dressed herself, is singing her version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer "Little boofygoo, with your bright nose, I like you to go with my sleigh..."

It's not quite 6:30am. I hope you have a great day.

Spatchcocked

Spatchcocked. I did it to a chicken. It's not as rude as it sounds.

Actually, the butcher and I did it together. He cut out the chicken's backbone, and then I brought the chicken home and splayed it out flat for cooking. Per Martha Stewart's instructions, I put the chicken on a baking sheet over a layer of lemon slices, with more lemon slices tucked under the skin.

As I poked my fingers under the skin, Zoe inquired "Is the chicken okay with that?"

Um.

This question, and follow-up questions, lead to the fact that the chicken was dead. This disturbed Zoe. However, she readily acknowledged that she likes to eat chicken. We talked about the animals living on a farm before they got dead and went to the store where we chose them to eat for dinner.

An hour later, our meal was served. Zoe went straight for the chicken. She scarfed up every bit on her plate and asked for more. I wouldn't give her more until she ate some green beans and potatoes. Vincent, on the other hand, ignored his chicken. He ate only potatoes, and possibly a few green beans since they were fun to impale on the fork. I suspect he will only eat pasture raised chickens. Cage free just isn't good enough.

The chicken turned out tasty, and the roasted lemon slices and onion wedges were delicious. It was very easy to make. But: the baking sheet will be a hassle to clean. Also, it spattered enough in the oven to make the fire alarm go off. So...mixed review.

I set off the fire alarm frequently in this house, due to the open floor plan and the way the ceiling is sloped, and possibly a very sensitive fire alarm. (No really, I don't think it's my cooking.) When the alarm starts blaring, I throw open a few windows and start waving my kitchen towel at the fire alarm to waft the hint of smoke away. Today, I was still working on the windows when Vincent grabbed a towel and ran to the correct spot, waving enthusiastically.

They're both still so little, and yet they have learned so much. And they are ever eager to learn more, see more, hear more, do more, to be big. Zoe had a little blemish on her cheek. "I think I know why I have a pimple," she told me. "It's because I'm almost all growed up."

Sticky

Vince and Zoe took a break from stickering - a favorite activity - to have a sticky snack. I offered pretzels and a pile of peanut butter to dip them in. This was a first, and very popular. Zoe said "I like this. I want to make it at my home. I get the recipe." Ha! We teach our children so much with out intending to.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

It's been a looooong time since I watched The Sound of Music. It may be time to see it again.

Packing Puffs

Vince did eventually join in the competition, and the children got all the puffs back into the box. Then I quickly whisked it away!

Oh, Christmas Tree

In years past, when I didn't feel up to the task of decorating and/or keeping the decorations and/or children safe, we have gone without a Christmas tree. But this year...I wanted a real tree. It's our first Christmas in this house. The children are a bit older and wiser (just a bit). And a real tree smells so good! 

By word of mouth, I learned about a tree farm tucked up in the redwood forest not too far from us. I found very little info about the place on the internet, and had only vague instructions to find the place. I didn't know what to expect, but thought it might be a good adventure for us. Indeed, it was!

When we arrived at the tree farm this sunshiny Saturday, Vincent headed straight for the tractor. (He says "tractor" now, if you know what to listen for). 

Mr. Hurd took the keys out of the ignition and told the kids to climb right up. He even adjusted the steering wheel so it was at a good angle for Zoe to "drive."

The tractor pulls a wagon for hay rides. We didn't go for a ride, but the kids happily sat on the hay.

And on the enormous tree stump. (Vincent is still pointing at the tractor.) Mr. Hurd told us about the deer, including a little fawn, that came to a molasses lick at the stump. Behind the stump is the slope where we found our tree. In the center of the small trees are two big trees. Between them is a...

...tire swing! Vincent didn't know quite where to hang on.

Zoe had success with this technique.

The hunt for the perfect tree didn't take long, because there were many good looking trees. I think they are mostly douglas firs. They have been pruned into traditional, conical Christmas tree shape, but the pruning has been done well. Not too heavy handed, and not recently - probably before the growing season. It seems in three decades of doing this, Mr. Hurd has really gotten the knack. 

Our chosen tree wore Vincent's hat while we got a saw and double-checked procedures ("There's a string but no tag - is this one fair game?"). Then David went to work. Lots of sticky sap made for heavy sawing, but he made a quick job of it. Zoe offered morale-boosting pats on the back at regular intervals.

Our tree is a fine specimen, just taller than me and very full. Mr. Hurd doesn't advertise, but the farm has become so popular that his trees don't have a chance to grow much past five feet tall. Mr. Hurd told us of people who have been coming to the farm since he opened, with photos from every year documenting the changes in their families. He took our photo with our camera and with his. He prints pictures out for people to take home, but we forgot to get ours, as it was getting busy as we were departing.

While David tied the tree on top of the car, the kids and I looked around some more. On the partially enclosed porch, there was a wood burning stove going, and a lady giving out cookies. She tried to give the children two cookies each: "But it's Christmas!" Which is why they only need one cookie each. The sweet treat opportunities are overly plentiful this season. Zoe enjoyed her snickerdoodle on a bench that moved. The glider was a hit with both kids, though only Zoe could make it go.

Also on the porch was a wood burning stove with a percolator of coffee on top. The benches were situated so you could warm yourself and look out over the fields and forest. We chatted with Mr. Hurd about the hummingbirds who were still coming to his feeder, and the tree swallows that nest in the bird house every summer.

When the clamor for more cookies started to get a little unpleasant, Mr. Hurd helpfully distracted the kids by offering to show them his magic piano. It plays by itself! Manufactured in the late 1800's, it was originally operated by pumping air through the bellows via pedals. The bellows and pipes developed a lot of leaks over time (he credited his children with much of the wear it endured), and Mr. Hurd took it apart to fix it. At that time, he put in an electric vacuum motor to run the piano. He's definitely a do-it-yourselfer. Also a hunter, judging by the trophies over the piano. Also good with kids. Zoe and Vincent wanted to plink on the piano, which I no-noed. Mr. Hurd said "They can't hurt it." He said the same thing about the buttons and levers on the tractor.

We spent a delightful hour at the tree farm. For the same price as a tree from the parking lot on Central Avenue, we got so much more than a beautiful tree. Mr. Hurd was genuinely friendly, and seemed to be enjoying our experience as much as we were. I'm already looking forward to returning for as many years as Mr. Hurd (now eighty years old) and his tree farm are there.

Finery

This evening we attended a holiday soiree at Zoe's preschool. She was ready to put on her party dress at 6am, but I put her off until 4pm. She had her coat on and her bag on her arm when David walked in the door from work. 

At the party, we stuffed all four of our coats into her cubby. The kids made beaded snowflakes and played with plastic polar bears in tubs of ice. There was food and singing. It was nice to visit with the teachers, and Zoe was proud to show us around the classroom. 

Sunset

The clouds and colors of sunset were lovely this evening. We have a nice view of the sun dropping into the ocean; you just have to pretend the power lines aren't there. Zoe often admires the sunset, and tonight she watched until darkness. She repeatedly asked where the sun goes. I showed her using an orange and a nectarine, but she was clearly unsatisfied with my explanation of the turning earth and our place on it relative to the sun.

A Rare Occasion

Our children very rarely conk out on the sofa at 4 in the afternoon. Vincent said "Hi!" from a distance of six inches, and she kept right on snoozing.

Vitamin D

The sun was out this morning, so we went out, too! 

The sun is once again hidden behind gray clouds, with another storm forecast to drop a lot more rain tonight. Over the past 72 hours, 5 1/2 inches of rain have fallen at the airport, just a few miles from us. Other locations have received even more rain. The rivers have risen sharply, and many low areas are flooded. Our town and home are on high ground, and our lot seems to be draining well.

Wild Party

Today the zoo held a holiday party for members. There was a slight lull between rain storms (down to a light drizzle), so we ventured out. The snake and turtle exhibits (indoors!) were a hit. 

Vincent played at being a raccoon. The zoo photographer was also taking photos of this, and David gave the okay for Vince's picture to be used if anything turned out well. So check the zoo website for shots of our wild one.

We got there too late to see the porcupine, but got to meet Cotton the white opossum. I didn't know opossums came in white. Turns out baby white opossums rarely grow up into big white opossums. Being rather easy to spot in the wild, they end up as snacks. Cotton spent most of his time on stage with his back to the audience, snuffling in corners and ignoring the peanut butter treats the keeper offered.

Amidst much jingling of bells, Santa made an appearance. He did not drive the Gator in - he strolled in and took a seat on the Gator. The kids sat beside him, in the driver's seat, for gift lists and photos. Other people's kids, that is. Ours preferred to watch from a distance.

There was also a ton of food and drinks (Zoe liked the "warm juice" - hot apple cider), some crafts, and the usual charms of the flamingos, goats and monkeys. One of the best parts for me was running into a number of familiar faces. I love the small town feeling, and also the sense that we're starting to get to know folks who like to do the same things with their families that we do. It was another great community event for us!