Storytelling in Vermont

On Thursday we traveled to an old farmhouse in Vermont for our semi-annual storytelling weekend. This is the 17th year that our group has met, sometimes in Vermont, sometimes in Wareham, MA, sometimes in Chocorua.

Jay O'Callahan came early and got things warmed up with a roaring fire.
We gathered around and the storytelling started--the theme this time was "the circus."




Toby regaled and alarmed us with the account of Sam as a boy,
getting lost, then found, at the circus in Pasadena.




I described the mighty Majestic Movie Theater in Conway, NH, where tiles may fall from the ceiling, film may catch on fire, the heat doesn't work on a cold night and the air conditioning on a hot night, but where, at 8 am every morning, you can watch a "breakfast" matinee.





Amidst clowns,




tigers,




elephant trainers,




and dancing couples,




Jay concentrated on telling Toby's fortune.




A happy lion




The gang-all here.
(Lion's taking the photo)

Creativity!


In reaction to the house being taken apart and the general uproar, I retreated to my studio and began painting.


First I went to Ikea and bought tons of little stools,



then sanded and primed them,



consulted my paints,



looked through books,



and created creatures--an octopus and frogs,



a lobster and two fish.

Poor Old House

There was an ominous curve to the ceiling in the dining room--
we had to find out why.
That meant taking down the ceiling.



and much discussion of joists and tenons and the house sinking!



There goes the old ceiling,



and here are some things found inside it--some pieces of leather and an empty matchbook, two dried up corn cobs, a belt buckle, a plastic signal for a train set, and a wonderful old shoe!



Today the water company is here digging up the front lawn to replace a leaky water main.

Poor old house, we hope you get well soon!

REALLY COLD!!!




I knew it was really cold outside when I woke up one morning last week and saw frost all over the windows




and the azalea leaves rolled up tight,




Tulip curled up into a ball on the sofa,




and Toby wearing his down jacket at breakfast.

It was really cold--15 degrees outside!

Christmas in Bangor

On December 24th, Toby and I drove up to Bangor, Maine,
to celebrate Christmas with Christina,
Tom and Clarice, and Sarah and Alan.

Christina orchestrated fabulous meals for us all.




We took wonderful wintry walks,
saw movies,




and learned to finger knit from an expert teacher, Clarice.





We were joined by Christina's two cats--Gwendolyn (named, Christina assured us, before Rachel and David's Gwendolyn came along). This Gwen is large and fluffy and has attitude.




And Millie, well--Millie under the covers. Millie's a pretty little calico cat who prefers the solitude of the bedroom to the ferocious feuding that occurs whenever she meets Gwen.




Gwen is more sociable, luxuriating in wool,




taking a seat at the table,




and snuggling in Tom's arms.




We all (perhaps excepting little Millie) had a most wonderful time.
It was a splendid Christmas.

Thank you Christina!

Saturday night we had a HUGE snowstorm--

It came up to Tulip's belly. She joyously leapfrogged around while we laboriously shoveled almost 2 feet of snow from 2 driveways (with Chee Heng's help).




We did go cross country skiing,




Tulip trying to follow in our tracks.




This wintry day was followed by a gorgeous pink/red sunset.

Those basement photos in the last blog were slightly depressing, I admit. Here are definitely more up-beat photos taken over the last few months.

Here's Gwen back in October in Chocorua wondering if this would become her "official" lovey.




And David enjoying a cup of something nice.




Magical Maddie doing the split when we were in LA in late October.




Ticklish, giggly Max!




And coordinated Jess bouncing two girls on the ball at once.