I, Polonius.

Okay. I am so behind on blog posts right now that I'm pretty sure anything other than a bullet-style entry would turn into a novella.  So. Sweet bullet style re-capping it shall be (with lame captions to boot!)...

Narnia.

First, it is snowing in Portland right now. I am sitting on the couch with the snoring dog and a bowl of miso soup, watching the prettiest flakes float past the window. I should repeat this. It is SNOWING. And has been for days, and will be for days, and oh my gosh you guys that has not happened in this town for almost a decade. This is awesome for a million reasons, but mainly because, I am home, and not at work, and magically landed on the list of, 'People who get sent home for personal days because their neighborhoods are ridiculous and icy and besotted with steep hills.' In other words. SNOW DAY!

Letting the task gradually overwhelm me.

I am nearly finished with the quilt of doom. I can't wait to show it to you, and then send it far, far away. Hopefully the recipients will be pleased, and not horribly confused...because I started this thing April, and the last time I checked it was DECEMBER. There is a story here waiting to be told, but at this point, I must resist the urge to blame this thing, single-handedly, for throwing me off my sewing game for the last eight months. If it comes out of the dryer intact (fingers crossed), I may just heave a few sobs of relief. 

Tanenbaum, indeed.

We finally decorated our Christmas tree, and it is the Best Tree Evaaaaaah.  Pictures forthcoming. I was really keen on having some new, more natural looking ornaments this year, similar to our old garland...but it being our first Christmas in the new house and all, that was not exactly in the budget. Actually, nothing was in the budget. We decided months ago that this would be a gift-free Christmas, and while that decision has been totally liberating, I so wanted our first tree to be special. Thanks to Ikea, sweet Uncle Paul, and a little elbow grease, I was able to put the whole thing together for $25 bucks. Huzzah!

Meek, yet festive!

I had grand plans to make a million soft trees this year, but somehow ended up making a little wintery lamb instead. (photo above) The pattern is from the current Martha Stewart holiday issue, and was a cinch to hand-sew in a few hours. The legs are a bit wobbly. Next time, I think I will add an extra dart all the way down his belly, or possibly make a slit for the stuffing and slip-stitch it closed underneath. Regardless, I am very fond of this sheep and his fancy neckwear.

My dog is a beat poet.

Bradley is making progress. Thank you all so much for your suggestions! Once we accepted the fact that he is indeed much smarter than we are, and could not be contained in any way shape or form, everything improved. He still doesn't like being left alone, but now that he's free to roam around, I've found him asleep on the couch every night when I return. On another, ickier note: who knew that an eleven pound dog could produce his own body weight in snot on a daily basis? Really. I am in awe. Until he gets over his bout with kennel-cough completely, I am toying with idea of covering the whole house in plastic, old lady style.

Where I plan ahead by accident.

On Saturday I got the gumption to stock up on groceries and firewood, and clean the house top to bottom (see aforementioned snot) and low and behold, when the snow rolled in on Sunday, we were able to enjoy it completely. It was blissful. The entire weekend was spent reading, cooking, playing outside, stoking the fire, and decorating the house. For hours I watched the white world from my beloved rocker, and finished the final ties on the quilt (of doom). I plan to do more of the same in the days ahead, but throw in a heavy rotation of baked goods and chocolate. 

Dear Portland,

You know that as a loyal and devoted resident,  I love you to pieces, and I think you are especially beautiful under your blanket of snow, but you really have to cut the crap already. SALT THE ROADS. This gravel-only thing is bat-shit crazy. Yes, I have known much colder, snowier climes, and by comparison, this is nothing.  I understand that protecting our river is a priority. But since it snows only once every few years, we don't have plows, and because the snow inevitably turns into solid ice, and as I type this sentence, a sedan just hurled itself into a parked SUV across the street, I think, just this once, you should maybe reconsider the salt. I am lucky enough to be able to drive my husband's 4WD this week (thanks, honey!), but I am still not looking forward to the 7 am, clenched-teeth, white-knuckled commute down the ridge, on my very own personal ice rink of death. 

-fin-

I will return soon with actual paragraphs, segues and coherent thought, friends, but for now, ice, snot, and quilt-binding are clamoring for my attention. Oh joy!

All love,

*Andrea

Comments

[shari]

yay for snow days. i know what you mean about the salt. vermont has no money and i heard that they are cutting way back on this salt. this would explain why my car slid all over the road on yesterday's commute. it was the scariest bit of driving i've done in awhile. that is one lovely winter lamb. xo

[Jess]

oh, you had exactly the kind of snow day I desperately craved! I was one of the poor suckers who had to go to work through it all (even on Sunday!). I agree with you COMPLETELY about the salt. seriously, Portland, get over it!

love your blog!

[lisa s]

your lamb and re-cap are super cute....
i hope they salt your roads and can't wait to see your tree and you should meet my dog - he drools.... bring on the plastic

[Jacqueline Barnett]

I love my X-terra this time of year in Canada.

Drive safe!

[Nadia Lewis]

We got snow up here in Vancouver too! It's pretty surprising that it's actually staying around for a while. That, combined with a cold, is adding up to some guilt-free Snow Day-age. Yay.

[abby try again]

Oh my Lord!
You are hilarious.
Really, thank you for that.
I am so glad you got a snow day and did not have to drive around in the crazy mess.
Hope to see you sooner rather than later...

[julia]

not sure which bullet point to respond to, but all i can say is that this post is awesome and i hope you're still enjoying your snow days :)