Groovy Icicles

Handyman update

Washing machine fixed...but alas, not without calling in the real handyman (the Maytag service guy). We did manage to solve part of the problem on our own, and we cleaned our machine, such that it now works and sparkles. It is a joy to admire...a minor (if not complete) victory for us and for our marriage :-)

How would you like to be the guy that has to cut down trees when its 9 degress outside?? Brrr.

Before:

During: 

After:

Our neighbor asked us if we would be willing to part with our tree, that mostly hangs over his yard anyway (and even more so b/c the power company keeps trimming it so all the weight is on his side). Given we will someday figure out a new landscaping plan for the whole yard anyway, we agreed he could pay to cut the tree down. And thus, on one of our coldest days of the winter, these poor folks show up to cut down the tree. I was freezing just looking out the window at them. Plus they had to shovel the whole back of our driveway to get their tractor / tree eating machine closer to the back (since we only shoveled to the front door)...bet they didn't bargain on that...although maybe it warmed them up. 

Snow, beautiful snow!

It's been snowing here for about 30+ hours...not sure exactly how much we've gotten thus far, but I'm guessing 15-20". Roads are a mess but the air is clean again and its so beautiful. Here are some shots I took this evening.

Portrait

Here's a shot from the birthday party we went to this afternoon - uncooperative little one would only stand backwards - great shot of her birthday favor frisbee! (that's her new sweater from the back)

What's that? A bird...a plane...a handyman?

Will you look at that? Some of you may have heard me talking about all the wonderful qualities my husband possesses (see previous post, for example), but you've probably never heard 'handyman' among them...in fact, I know we've talked about that specific quality being missing and that we love him despite that. GP B, are you laughing? Be careful, I think I know where this deficiency came from...

Anyhow, lo and behold, we are fixing our washing machine. Lovely marital bonding and I just had to take this picture of a rare moment in our household. Now, don't get too excited - the machine is not fixed yet, but it will be.

Happy New Year!

Well, a Happy New Year to everyone! It was a very tame New Years at our house this year - in fact, by 8:30 PM on New Year's Eve, we were all down for the night, reading in separate rooms. I came down with strep throat and spent 4 days quarantined in bed. The mister was a champ and took care of AKP all weekend.

I have no idea what they actually did or where they went but I heard peals of laughter come up from the living room on more than one occasion, observed that he got her to sleep (to sleep, yes!) at 7:15 one night, and from time to time when she thought he wasn't looking, my little girl poked her head into my room to say hi, furtively looking over her shoulder to make sure he wasn't coming up the stairs to shoo her away from the sick room. She popped in to announce she was coming upstairs to get her PJs. One time, she closed the door quietly saying 'shhh, get some rest Mama. Daddy and I are going to have dinner now.' Another time, with much commotion outside the door, she managed so push a Polly Pockets doll under the door for me, and yet later she surreptitiously delivered a drawing of a bird under the door.

Despite my misery, it was indeed a good New Year. I was on the mend from a sickness I knew would be temporary, and I have a husband who is a most incredible father and a sweet sweet girl that is ours. A wish to all for a year of good health, peals of laughter, and a little sweetness.