Checking It Twice

I'm impressed with how well my girls seem to be picking up on the tradition that is Santa. I mean, they are seriously educating themselves. High marks, good questions already, and all that.

They frequently rehearse: "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and it only all lapses when someone  "accidentally is freaking out."
I haven't done anything but nod (call me a sap, but I hope I can believe to keep it up in a couple of years).

I mean, I can get excited when we spot Santa at the same intersection or is standing in line at checkout. {...Maybe they are loggers. Or retired fishermen, you know. I don't know...}

Cauliflower Cheddar Soup de Jure

I've already told the girls that not all are Santa, he has people dress up and help him because he is so busy getting presents ready. Makes good sense. They don't seem to be wanting to ask probing or jinxing questions where presents are concerned, anyway.

But note to self: I need to check it. Twice, if necessary. Cool it. Keep my mouth shut, or I'll  give myself  get a lump of coal surely!

Happy as a Clam, Cozy as a Chowder

We headed on down to Copalis and Roosevelt beaches after Thanksgiving.

"Girls at Dusk"

Because what could be better after stuffing yourself that day, than having a good seafood dinner with the same family who saw {glut} at your worst?

This is our stow-a-way. He gets 15 clams per day, too, you know.

It was cold, but not raining. And we for sure caught dug our limit.

These girls look very proud indeed. I mean, I'm super impressed.

What are you doing Allison? Oh, cleaning up clams I see. (Cutting up playdoh has really paid off...)

Mad skills.

Boy, I tell you what, you teach someone to fish, you really feed them for a lifetime. So thanks infinity, Frank!

...And how's everyone else possibly doing? The breakfaste galleria  is in same room as the cleaning tables.
Okay, then.

Then we make chowder. Not yet? Oh, lets do more cleaning and prepping, then. That's a lotta of clams.

And then the next night we had everyone for fresh and delicate clam chowder, very fresh. TASTY. And with Seattle sourdough bread.

We're practically Italian.
But after all you've seen ...I'll save our family recipe for another time.
Hey, youse welcome.

Family Pictures 2011

What's that you say? You'd like to think that it's easy.

  I'd like you to think that too, for no good reason.

 But 208 speed-shot pictures later we'd both be wrong.  

At least we had a few hearty laughs and a boot of cold water and some freaky moss to snap us back into our model best. It's just one of those things.

May I be the first to wish you a wonderful time getting your Christmas cards ready.
Sincerely,
me

Just Playin

Daddy daughter day. Photos by Jake.

 And I was at a training courtesy of Chief Seattle Council, BSA.

And they went to the Pacific Science Center. Butterflies beat out airplanes.
Next time you can pick, "Okay, Dad?"

Very Bio-Sciencey. These girls touching everything. 

...I don't think they knew everything was alive, in a sense?

Okay, well, the pigs heart was the exception. But they were *invited* to touch.
And both girls have a thing for being "grown up" and donning gloves, etc.

It was a delight to see I don't give them enough credit. They put this
ambiguous puzzle together, in no time, no prob.

I think their most creative play was with the purpley-pink wall outside
in which they could see themselves.

Big City day, in the fall!

Yep, Just fun.

Costume Mash

It was fitting.
I had a puppy that licked the frosting off the three cupcakes she won at the cake walk.

A kitty, who during waiting in line would nonchalantly reach back to swish her little black tail in dawdling hands.

I had a few people complimented me on my "butterfly" costume.

And since then, between special programmed consumption of: Halloween candy, whole nuts and carrot sicks (and hiding the Nutella and juice boxes until tomorrow to balance our sugary withdrawals), I think we survived this mash-up of an occasion. Note: Fun, but not my favorite.

"...You can't escape our magic..."

Hope you had a kooky one!
Happy Halloween.

It's Getting....

Cold out, yes.
Therefore, we have projects to tinker with.
Project "Unbelievably Early Frost": Vintage Erector Set (Why yes, he is in love.)

Project "Something's-in-the-Air": Vintage Piano (Yep I still remember much of the basics... I'm not gonna pass up a free piano, sight unseen!)

Project "I Just Found My Warm Socks to Photoshop In": (I've never taken a computer class in my life.)

Project "Autumn's Best Backdrop for Warm Smiles": (Too much? Well Katie is just the sweetest! Can't help it.)

Project "Shhh Even {Walmart} has Quality, Superbly Cheap Produce en Bountie": (And I can't but help snacking up--I mean--snatching up Black plums.I'm sure you feel the same.)

Busy, busy, busy, in all my favorite kinds of ways. (And the prediction is that it is only going to get busier.)

Ok, this is the last bouquet of the season. I promise...

Just Finishing Up

I'm just finishing up around here; it's getting exceptionally darker and colder.

The flowers are kaput.

The kitties are winterized.

And we've venerated the raincoats.

The face-painting practiced (flower fairies).

Pumpkins and friends of pumpkins have taken up residence.

The last of the squashes, beets and kohlrabi soup-consumed,
the green tomatoes oldfangled and jammed.

The Ravens have loomed, Leaves have confettied, and we just languish in our Cozy.