is it Summer yet?

So, this is not what it looks like at my house right now. Nor does it depict anything that I have done recently, like going to Boston (to see Harry Potter). Still haven't managed to get those pics off my camera, eveen though there's not much to see, as we couldn't take pictures in the Exhibition itself( stupid copyright). But to be able to see the actual items from the movies, it was beyond amazing. As is my sister Sarah, who arranged the whole thing( and drove in Boston. I just couldn't have done it. We'd still be there.) The clothes, books, wands, props, classrooms, I loooved the wardrobe with the Boggart in it! The Quidditch. Oh, the Quidditch. I really couldn't pick just one thing to be my favorite.
Fischer is feeling a bit better now, for those who were wondering. After the dentist( clean bill of teeth for both! Yay!), we went to Petco, and he chose another little furry friend. He named him Jack. I keep calling him Jake. We have a yellow dog named Jake. It's confusing. But even this did not stop him from having a (teen -age) hissy fit about going to Karate tonite, because Tuesdays are boring. But when he has no winter sport, because basketball is boring, he dosen't get to ditch Karate as well. There would just be too much sitting around in the winter if he did, and unfortunatley, he's one of those kids who shouldn't sit around. All my logic was wasted on him. I hate to say I just told him he's going, and that 's it, but I did. I know that after, he'll be in a better mood( because that's one of the benefits of excercise), but putting up with it till then is JUST NO FUN. It feels like I'm "forcing him" to do this, but if he's left to his own devices, he will just sit there. How else do you manage the fine line between encouraging and making them do something? He does love Karate, and is good at it. Almost-thirteen can just be so fun sometimes.
Anyway, my picture is from last summer. It's snowing here, and I'm really feeling that I'm done with winter. That seems to be going round the blogosphere, so I thought I'd throw a little summer to anyone who stops by here.

A not-so-happy ending...

So. I took Amanda's advice. I got out of Dodge. Changed my scenery. Went to the Boston Museum of Science with Fischer, to see the Harry Potter Exhibition( totally freaking awesome!!!!!!!). Although it was a long ride home, that was alright. Get home about 9 pm. Fine.Fischer goes to check on Luke( his hamster. Can you see where this is going?) Poor Luke, not so much with the living anymore. *sigh* He's never had a pet die on him before, I feel so bad. There's really nothing I can do for him, I am not used to that, as a mother. And, I felt really bad putting poor Lukey in the trash, but what else can I do with him in February? I would've buried him. But it's frozen out there. And yes, tomorrow after the dentist, we'll go to Petco and get a new hamster( since I just bought new food and bedding, it seems silly not to have a hamster to go with it). So maybe tomorrow, we'll have a happier Fischer. And I'll tell you about the HP Exhibit( for anyone who actually reads this). But for tonight, I feel like I'm not doing very well at getting away from the winter gloom. And I was trying so hard.

Moving on...

I can't wait to try the Tunisian Crocheting I found in here!

This one is my favorite, just sooo much cool stuff to try!

SO, it's high time that I posted about the wonderful books that Laura(at a http://asmatteringoflaura.blogspot.com/) sent me. (Sorry about the link, its the only way I can get it to work.) As I've started the Spring term at school( even though its 3 degrees here right now), I will have to put these on hold for a couple months, along with all the other reading I've yet to get to. But, it was great to get this in the mail, there are so many projects that are now on my " must make " list, along with a few that are on the "I can't wait to try that" list as well. The sun is shining brightly this morning, and my household is still sleeping( its not just mothers of small children who wish for their kids to sleep in on a Saturday morning!). I can feel my sadness slowly slipping away, especially as today the only thing I have to do is walk with my friend( long overdue), and get a start on my homework. I found out yesterday that my classes end on 30 April. Woot! Just in time for Spring planting of basil, tomato and marigolds! Also, my sister and I are going to take ( most of) our kids to the Boston Museum of Science, for the Harry Potter exhibit, in February. I love that place.

So, thank you thank you Laura! These books made my day!

Too much bad news...

I meant this to be a post about the wonderful books Laura sent me for the Creative Book Swap, ( and I will), but I just can't bring myself to gloat about books right now. My sister/best friend called awhile ago to tell me that her little dog had been hit by a car, and thay couldn't do anything for her, so she had to be put to sleep. It's awful. Ethel was just one of those dogs. You know the ones. They just belong to you, even though they are a family pet. She had Ethel for 3 years. She was a great little dog, not very big, but not one of the yappy little dogs, either. She would jump right up in your lap, as soon as you sat in her chair by the fire. Then when you kicked, I mean gently nudged her out of the way, she would lie down on your feet with a humph.I had one of those dogs. Her name was Mercury, and she was very definitly mine. We got her 2 months before our oldest son was born, and she went everywhere with me, and in a couple months, us. She slept with me, rode everywhere I went, was always right next to me, no matter what. She was put to sleep 3 years and 2 months ago, and sometimes when I walk up on the mountain behind my house, I can still see her following me. My poor sister. She lost her Mercury, and I hate being an hour away from her. Of course, there is nothing I can do to make it better, but at least I' be there. I will see her on Friday, so I guess that will have to do.
A note to all my friends:: please, no more bad news!! I'v had quite enough, thank you. Last week, my friend called with another piece of very bad news( for her, but still, she's quite dear to me, so it hurt me that she was hurting.) With that, and all the horrors in Haiti,I'm coming down with a bad case of the winter blues. * sigh*

Happy things...

A few things that are making my day these days:: my new(very soft) organic cotton scarf, that exactly matches my new winter coat( even though I bought the yarn ages ago!)

the promise of Spring on my windowsill::maybe for next year I'll find some vintage forcing vases, a trade, anyone?

And the sun through the icicles on my window, both the sun and the ice make me happy, it's so pretty when I wake up in the morning.

What makes you happy ?

Getting things done( or why I love clotheslines)

This is a nonsense post, having nothing to do with anything that's going on in my life, or my head right now. ( and believe me, here is plenty). No, right now its about 10 degrees outside, and does not feel much warmer inside. I hate it when you get cold, and just cannot warm back up. Anyway. This is a picture of the clothesline at my sister's house, last August. We grew up with a clothesline in the summer( our Mom was not so hard-core about it that she used it in the winter!), and we spent alot of time making forts and houses under the sheets hung out to dry. Now, let me just tell you, at this current time, I do not have a clothesline. I used to, until the box elder it was hung on fell over. It never did get put back up, for one reason, or another, and I have had to resort to borowing my 85 year-old neighbors on occasion, because there is nothing like the smell of sheets dried on the line. But No More, I tell you! Last Fall, at the annual rummage sale in town, I bought this aluminum beauty, ( for .25 !). My gramma used to have one off her back deck, anmy sister and I , and all our cousins would have a ball playing under it. So. Now I am dreaming of just the right place for it to go in my yard, and of course, just the right weather for it as well, because now, not so much. But, before I know it, it will be Spring. That's what I keep telling myself, anyway.....

Anyone else dreaming of Spring?

Books! Books! Books!

Books books. Love my books. These are (most of) the ones that I have, I forgot the two shelves of photo albums in my bedroom, which hold 16 years worth of pics. So I thought that this would go along with the Creative Book Exchange, hosted by Julia. I have been paired with Lily,of Block-a-day. Sorry about no links, but I can never get them to work. I guess I am technologically challenged. ( is there a book for that?) So exciting. My DH is getting me a shiny new bookcase for Christmas, even though its January. I really need it, the stacks are threatening to take over. His answer to that for awhile was to have less books. Can you imagine? Silly man. Anyway, I'm off to make my tea, and read ! I borrowed The Hound Of the Baskervilles from my sister( we went to see Sherlock Holmes this weekend, awesome!) I realized I've never read Arthur Conan Doyle! I couldn't believe it either. So, now , something new to read, Library here I come!