Pink Pig

Today, we got to do a favorite - visit Priscilla the Pink Pig.  I've been going since the 70's and my mother before me since the 50's - back then it was Rich's Pink Pig.  I rode round the bottom of a giant tree in downtown Atlanta.  Mom rode on a track round the inside of Rich's itself - did I mention that said track hung from the ceiling?  One year we had 3 generations of Pink Pig riders on the train (Mom, myself, Taran and Lucy)!

 

I love taking Taran and Lucy every year - we have so much fun.  This year, Priscilla even wished us a Happy Winter Solstice - recognize!

10 years ago today, at this very time, Chuck held me as I leaned on him and we chanted as each contraction hit. 

10 years ago today, at 8:35 am, Taran Alexander Armbrust-Kohler came into this world with eyes wide and looking about him.

10 years ago today, I met one of the most beautiful, passionate, exuberant, funny, clever, charismatic people I shall ever have the honor of meeting. 

10 years ago today, that person allowed me to join him on one of the most amazing rides through life and for that I thank him!

10 years ago today, we were able to welcome him into the world and today we are so fortunate to say

Happy Birthday Taran!

My sweet little hippy children.

Hammocks

Yesterday evening (after 8 hours in the bookmines + 2 hours travel time), Lucy and I had the coolest water gun fight. I laughed so much, as did she, and I felt so alive and rejuvenated!  I had resisted the lure of the water guns at first - "I'm too tired Lucy" "I just got home from work" "Maybe tomorrow" I whined.  Fortunately, I shook myself out of this mode and pretty quickly, too.

Water gun fights with Lucy are better than a cup of coffee, or chocolate sundaes, or blackberry cobbler.  The water so cool on your back, as she leaps out of the bushes and squirts you down. It made me smile so much to hear her laughter and see her grin. We ran through the house shooting each other, then we ran into the front yard (after a re-fill) and she pinned me to front door, and then we scurried to the hammock out back.  As we lay swinging in our new hammock (thank you for that wonderful sale Target), we shot each other and giggled, and then shot into the sky creating hydro fireworks. A wonderful evening it was and I'm glad I was able to shift out of my work mind and into our life!

I Just Won 10 Swag Bucks on www.swagbucks.com

I Just Won 10 Swag Bucks on www.swagbucks.com

Uncle Swag wants you!

Les Paul

Google helped us celebrate the birthday of Les Paul and Taran recorded a little ditty - enjoy!

Mr. Paul we love what you have wrought!

What the beeeeeeep?!

where have all my words gone? I will attempt to make them appear now -


Accio blog...

hmmmm maybe this will work

Aparecium

3/14

Happy Pi Day!

3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 ...

at our house we shall be making pie (Reeses Peanut Butter), doing Buffon's Needle Experiment and generally having a blast.  Would love to hear how other people celebrate!


* the pi(e) is chillin' and soon to be eaten. enjoy!

Black & White Tour March 13, 2011

While I worked in the book mines, my lovely family chased Pokemon




they brought home stamps, buttons, pins, charms, an Oshawatt, a Snivey, a Reshiram, a Zorua, smiles, laughs, memories of great friends and a great time. Though I wish I had been there, I wouldn't trade their fun and joy for anything!

MoMo Con 2011

Taran and I spent got to go on an adventure together (poor Lucy stayed home sick and my sweet Chuck kept her company and entertained. We went to MoMo Con! The two of us really enjoy Anime and Manga and wanted to go see what we could see. It was also our first Con together - Taran and Lucy had visited Dragon Con together and Chuck and I used to go years ago (though last year we did all go see the parade). It was a very exciting event for me - I love conventions - the panels, the props, the discussions, the costumes, the fun!

We sat in on the RPG 101 panel - it was cool to hear Taran comment and laugh at the inside jokes. We saw some amazing costumes - Fire Nation, Earth Nation, Water Nation, Ninjas from many villages, Pokemon and trainers, members of the Soma House, Mei and Satsuki, the Cheshire Cat, the Red Queen, Link (toon and humanoid), got to hang out with some friends (some far too briefly), ate at Waffle House, took many photos (even of Kyo), visited with friends, ate Pocky ,plus, I got a free hug, and had an all around fun time. 

From Momo con and lego quest

From Momo con and lego quest

From Momo con and lego quest

How did it get to be 4 o'clock?

1. walked the dog
2. made breakfast (of sorts)
3. cut out pieces of pattern for coat for Taran's Itachi Uchiha costume 
1. quite the endeavor since I was using a few pics from a cosplay site and not an actual pattern

      4. cut out clouds for said cotume
       5. raked out imaginary stalls with Lucy
      6. fought with blogger about how an actual outline should look (in process now)
      7. planted cosmos
      8. realized I was out of black thread (I mean really, who doesn't have black thread?)
      9. made v. v. cool coffee and chocolate tea with much, much whipped cream
10. dragged Lucy to the dollar store in hopes of black thread and plastic snakes (okay, that is about to   happen)

Eagerly awainting MoMo Con where Taran intends to be Itachi Uchahi, Lucy shall be Toph Bei Fong and I - Porco Rosso and Chuck as himself (perhaps in Hologram form).

Backyard Bird Count

This is always fun!  Give it a whirl!

Lucy turns 6

At 7:11 am on February 8, 2005 Lucy came into the world.  It was a beautiful time and still, to this day, remains beautiful.  This girl has so much love to give - she amazes me  and I am blessed to be a part of her existence.  Lucy has her own way and is not afraid to let you know how she thinks the world ought to be - I admire her strength of character and sense of self.  How amazing is it that she is not afraid to tell me what she thinks is right?  I am glad that she is a part of our family and that she allows me to journey with her - everyday I learn something new about the world and myself and I learn to see this planet and the people on it with a new sense of respect of wonder.  I love you!!!

Thank you Lucy, we are so glad you are here!


                                          Happy Birthday!

Brigid 2011

Brigid in our family looks a bit like this

some hot chocolate to keep us warm while we await the arrival of the great Weather Prognosticator of the South

General Beauregard Lee






Next, a visit to some of his troops.

I have not pictures, but I was witness to a lamb suckling from its mother - hence the other name for this day - Imbolc - how very cool.

*** Taran and Lucy made the local papers - sort of.  You can find their picture on the internet for the event (#11 in the gallery - she in pink, no hat with a green pompom and he right behind her in a jean jacket and shouting) and Taran makes a brief cameo in the video.

Home to light the fires and read some poetry.

 Filling the room with a fiery red for the goddess Brigid, and to honor the growing strength of the sun, we have a tasty marinara sauce full of fresh garlic and herbs from the garden; and tonight,  the poetry dinner tonight will culminate with a flaming banana desert - also in honor of the sun and the fire goddess.

Happy Brighid!

much ado

So busy we have been (I apparently have been busy channeling Yoda) that I claim excuses for not blogging.  Ah, let's be honest, I fear facebook and the inherent sound bites are beginning to affect me.  I shall work harder since I know the world depends upon my posts ;)

We had a beautiful Winter Solstice, I made crochet dragons and a wallet as gifts for my family, they made snow globes, gift cards and delightful meals as their gifts.  We all enjoy making gifts for this special day - to me, making something by hand means you find the recipient to be worth your time - this does not mean I get all my creations done in time, but those who finally receive my creations know I care and I enjoy showing them the works in progress and they enjoy seeing them (often, the journey is a beautiful as the destination).


We also attended a party on Solstice Day and delivered tasty goods to friends. Oh, I adore parties (ask my family I am always throwing some sort of gathering) and, being a Southern woman, enjoy making food for folks.  So, as you can imagine it was much fun for me!

I love the beginning of Winter.  I always imagine how beautiful a real winter would be (in my mind, it would be more New England and less the deep South) and then...

 Icepocalypse 2011 - now that was fun and crazy.