A quiet Tuesday before Christmas

Bob's wrapping my Christmas presents...in the middle of the living room...on the floor. Since I'm not allowed to see what he's wrapping, I'm confined to the dining room table ~~well, except when I have to walk past him to get to the laundry room where the towels are washing, or the kitchen to refresh my cup of coffee, or the sewing room just because it's so much fun to walk past him and hear him say again: "No peeking!!!"

I do have a fun companion in my confinement~ Dickens is sitting in his cage. He periodically walks out of his cage on the ladder I made for him, takes a look, and then backs into his cage again.

I think when Dickens is bored, or scared, he eats. I just removed his food dish from his cage. He's gorging himself on seeds. He's also not very happy with me at the moment. I'm getting the evil stare.

In a little while Bob and I are going over to Pastor Geraldo's home for lunch. Hopefully, he'll be home. Last time he invited us for dinner, we arrived at 6PM...the time he told us...only to discover dinner had been served to other guests at 5PM, he wasn't home and his wife didn't know we had been invited. She graciously made us empenadas, while everyone else got ready to leave for other appointments. Bob verified that his wife knew about the invite this time!

It's a quiet day. I have nothing pressing or urgent to do. Which is good since I was up most of the night watching the lunar eclipse.

Tomorrow we go to Santiago to get our mail. We have 15 pounds this week, plus the 10 pounds Sharon is holding for us from last mail day. I'm so hoping for Christmas cards with family newsletters and photos.

Along the way we'll stop at CarreFour, a large French owned grocery store (sort of like Walmart), where I will buy the freshest ginger I've ever seen. I've learned how to make ginger syrup and love it in various beverages.

So, what's everyone up to this Tuesday before Christmas?

Tolkien, (oops! see below) palm trees and 4 little campers

If you read my posts on FB, then you already know about this new member of the household. He is a cockatiel...more precisely a Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel. We purchased him in the capitol on Wednesday. Bob has been wanting me to have a pet. We wanted a dog or cat, but considering different factors neither seemed very practical.


Years ago we had a handfed cockatiel when we lived in Florida. It was a fun pet, but didn't take to Ohio at all. ~~ RIP Jensen~~

I did ask for opinions and suggestions for a name. We originally thought something Spanish would be nice. The original name of this island is Quisqueya; he's very calm, so we considered Tranquilo, or Don Tranquilo. Various other names were suggested; Don Mohawk, Mr T, Gumdrop, Donner or Blitzen, Gingerbread, and then my son's suggestion based on the Latin name for the breed, Nymphicus Hollandicus. I'll leave him to reveal that one.


But the name that seems best is Tolkien. I started calling him that on Thursday. I've tried the other suggestions, but then I look at him, and go back to Tolkien. Although, if given a gold chain or two, with that crest he could become Mr T, as well.


Cockatiels are very socialable, so right now he's in his cage munching seeds and watching me type. Tolkien is very attentive and turns his head when he hears my voice. He's accepting of me putting my baby finger thru the bars, and no longer skitters away. Pretty good for not even 3 full days.

Updates on Tolkien's progress and antics will appear from time to time!

Stay tuned~~

~/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`~

This was my basic view for 4 days last week on the North Coast.

Need I say more?

~\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\`\~

If you look closely at the picture on this ornament from Lyndie, you will see 4 of the people we are missing at Christmas! The other three, of course, are their parents! If you see any of these 7 people, please feel free to give them a hug from us. Any pictures involving any combo of these loved ones would be enjoyed tremendously by us!

~*****************~

My life is good, because of the birth of One!

More later,

~anna~

Late breaking news: While I was certain our cockatiel had an author's name, we guessed the wrong one. Upon further observation, and in lieu of the season, we have discovered his true name. Let me reintroduce you to 'Dickens' ...sorry about the confusion in stating his name. He's a bit shy and didn't want to speak up previously...

I'm back!!!!

Yep...it's been a while...but interest in blogging has been renewed. Perhaps by seeing that others are doing so also. (I guess I'm a follower ~not a leader, huh?)

So, what's my first post? Nothing dramatic, nothing earth shattering....just these from the Vogue pattern book~~

Can you tell that I've been watching the news of snow and cold in the States and in Europe (Our best news channels are the BBC and DW-Euro. These guys know how to do the NEWS..not fluffy-duff!)

If we lived where it was cold, I would love to plan, sew and then wear one , or more, of these!

So, I only like the camel colored version of this. That vest is ble-ech!!! But cool, crisp Fall days in that tan cape without the stand-up collar...yeah! So much more comfortable when walking downtown to the library or coffee shop!



I love the jacket or the long version ~ that above the knee for me would not be practical. But bring on the cold, the wind, the snow cuz I would be ready if I had this! Solid black, or deep red or dark purple...ooooooo!





Ok, so definitely not these sleeves or that scalloped edge (reminds me of a dinosaur for some reason). But I do love the idea of combinding different prints and fabrics!




Long version, please! Want to keep the legs warm, and then it covers any length skirt, too! With that collar I wouldn't need to keep track of a scarf either~ very practical, I think.



So, there you have it...my ideas of fashionable ways to keep warm in all that wonderful cold air and luscious snow!!!! What about you?

Now that I've written a new post, hopefully, it won't take so long to update it....

~anna~