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I made my butternut squash soup (no photos, because it’s really not that pretty) and ate the last of my pumpkin bread pudding (photos to come) and sat down with a cup of tea. Read through a few articles for school and now I’m dying to close my eyes. Not necessarily because the articles are boring (one was hilarious) but it’s a gray day, and my tummy is full, and the couch is comfortable. I went for a walk this morning and thought of all kinds of things to write about, but of course now they’re gone. Something about Lincoln logs…oh yes.
There are these logs in the park that are set up like Lincoln logs. Okay, I’m sure the Lincoln log people imitated the way logs were actually cut to make log houses but WHATEVER. Where one long piece of wood rests on two little pieces, and they’re all notched to fit together? For whatever reason, there are a bunch of these in the park, all lined up. I have no idea why, but today I suddenly noticed them as being Lincoln log-esque, and for whatever reason it felt noteworthy. I always like Lincoln logs.
Speaking of constructing houses, my second thought was of all the leaf-houses we built as kids. My parents have two maple trees in the front yard, and instead of raking up the leaves and disposing of them, my sister and brother and I would rake them into floor-plans. We would argue over who got which “room” and what would go where and it was all delightful. And whenever we were bored, we’d just rake the leaves into a new shape and play house in our new house. Until everything got too wet and soggy and had to be raked up. I wish we had pictures of that. Clearly I’ve always been a teensy bit obsessed with houses. I would say that these leaves houses were one of THE memories of being a child. Top Ten.
On the book front, I’m reading the Konigsburg. I’m generally a fan, so I’m inclined to like it, but I’ve read less than flattering reviews and I can’t get them out of my head while I read! Certain elements are a little heavy-handed, but her characters I do love. It turns out several of the characters have appeared before, but for all my retention of authors and titles, I’m terrible at remembering the insides of books in great detail – so even though it’s only been a few years since I read The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place, it wasn’t until she hit me over the head with it that I realized Amadeo’s parents were the kids in that story. I do like it when characters and places are glimpsed again and again.
I’m 2/3 through The Namesake, which I’m still thoroughly enjoying, and way too pleased with myself at spotting a certain plot development WAY in advance. A casually introduced character shows up years later? I called it.
An addiction to Veronica Mars has been impairing my book reading this week, sad to say. Of course each episode leaves you with a question and of course the next episode doesn’t really answer it. Yet I keep watching just one more.
Despite the pumpkin bread pudding, I’m having a serious craving for chocolate. It’s calling out to me.
I just got off the phone with my mom, who had left me a message asking if I wanted to have lunch and then ditched me. Whatever. Apparently, my Mormon great-aunt (doesn’t everyone have a Mormon great-aunt? It seems like such an archetypal character) has put together a little book of family genealogy/history/photos, and sent my family a copy. No surprise there, this is what Mormon great-aunts LIVE for. That and raising several dozen children, so as to create ever more elaborate genealogies in the future.
My mom was flipping through it (it’s my dad’s side of the family) and said she just wanted a nice family tree so she could keep track of everyone. “All those Swedes, for God’s sake!” she said. “And the Duckworths, and the Tildens…!” I admit, the Swedes ARE overwhelming. It’s the names, I think, hard to keep them all straight.
In keeping with this genealogy fest, I’m continuing my March is Historical Fiction campaign of ’07. I finished up Accidents of Nature (and concluded that it is, indeed, historical fiction) and am moving right along to Our Only May Amelia. Which, sadly, has the most craptastic cover ever. So craptastic, in fact, that no one wants to put it online anymore. I had to go to Amazon UK to find a picture.
The paperback version is such a vast improvement that I weep with relief.
When will they have mercy on poor Jennifer Holm? Why must she be subjected to these book covers? She won a Newbery Honor, for crying out loud, so you’d think they’d have given her something better for Penny From Heaven. Of course not.
Although I suppose it’s an improvement over the original cover for May Amelia, so perhaps the paperback will actually be exciting? She’s got nowhere to go but up, right?
Speaking of up, look at the weather, will you! It’s…well, I resort to the words of Brideshead Revisited:
“Like a leprechaun.”
”Dappled, in a tapestry meadow.”
“Like a flute by still water.”
“A prophet in a cave.”
“…And this is a necklace of pearls on white neck.”
“Like a swan.”
“Like the last unicorn.”
I went for another walk yesterday with K & co., and this time we were greeted by blue skies and balmy breezes and birdsong instead of hail. We pulled off our layers and rolled up our sleeves, we frolicked, we admired mushrooms, we ran uphill.
When I left the house this morning, I followed my roommate’s ski tracks to the park. On the way, I ran into a couple other skiers. And kids on sleds. And dogs bounding gleefully.
I joyfully arose from my bed this morning at 7:30 upon hearing the wonderful word: snow. The dear roommate and I ate our waffles, drank our coffee, and suited up. She headed out to the park and then I followed, snow piling up on my scarf and hood. I would have picture, because everything is perfect and pristine, with the snow filling in footprints and car tracks almost as soon as they’re made, but I didn’t want my camera to be covered in snow. My ginormous and warm work parka made me feel like the kid in A Christmas Story. I could almost put my arms down. I made a snow angel for the first time in a million years.
Now we’re inside warming up. More skiers just went past. Kids are roaming the streets with snowballs and snow discs and cackling maniacally.
Classic snow day. Good thing I made beef stew yesterday and stocked up on cream for the coffee.
Jess & Toni, with ice cream and hippies, at the Power to the Peaceful concert in Golden Gate Park. 
Laurel & Lis
I don’t think this looks like me, but I can’t figure out who else it would be.
garish & tweed 