Dark, dark days

I was having a little trouble with my camera. 

It was being cranky about focusing.

I took it to a camera shop

to have it cleaned.

I was told it needed a part,

and I was charged $200.

Mr. picked it up,

and I gleefully snapped photos.

I took about 4.

Then the camera stopped working.

I tried charging the battery.

I tried changing the battery.

The camera shop says it is a battery issue.

I think not.

I have sent a strongly worded e-mail

demanding a full refund 

AND 

a repair.

Even so, 

it won't happen in time for Christmas.

So, guess what?

No more pictures for me.

Not even on Christmas.

Friends,

it is hard for me to imagine a 

Merry Christmas 

without 

photographic proof.

It's a dark, dark day here.

Crepes in Pittsburgh

We walk around sometimes,

and then we find treasure.

Like this.

We love to get drinks

at cool places.

The savory crepes are divine.

Next time we will try the sweet ones.

And, they had AUTHENTIC chocolat chaud.

Like in France.

Not too sweet,

but so chocolatey.

Recommended by Mr.

I had a cafe au latte.

Also delicious.

And the mug was To Die For!

AND...

they have pastries!

A outing like this sometimes 

wears the sisters out.

Please note the earbuds.

We might have to have the surgically removed.

And the handsome MR. who makes it all happen.

Dozen Cupcakes in Pittsburgh

Guess what we found?

ANOTHER bakery!

The menu:

Which, honestly, I would buy 

and hang in my kitchen

if I had ANY wall space in there.

Mr. features the Maple Chocolate Bacon cupcake.

Pretty.

Yummy!

On the far right is the Mostess kind.

It's like a Hostess.

But VEGAN.

I didn't care about that part,

but I did eat one.

Only one.

Next time I will get a DOZEN!

Mr. got the Maple Chocolate Bacon.

He says it is the perfect mix of salty and sweet.

NO bacon in MY baked goods.

Still, DOZEN gets our thumbs up!

Random fun in the Carnegie Museum

 Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love.

Pittsburgh is the city of sisterly love.

See this love?

Can you feel it?

They are literally pushing each other apart!

Mr. thinks he looks like Zeus.

Not so much.

Sister Too in the Hall of Statues.

See that tall building?

It's the Cathedral of Learning.

I want to go there some day.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I'll tell you what:

I love this city!

Christmas Trees at the Carnegie

Pittsburghers celebrate Christmas trees

at the Carnegie Museum.

We went.

This tree celebrates Teeny Harris,

famous Pittsburgh photographer.

Celebrating superheros and comics:

Cloe-up of the topper:

Stationed in the Hall of Statues,

full of replicas of famous architecture,

including the Porch Maidens of the Acropolis.

A little weird to see such great treasures

crowded.

It was hard to appreciate them fully.

Guess I'll just have to go to Greece and see the originals.

Chihuly at the Phipps Conservatory

Do you know of my obsession with colored glass?

I am always drawn to it.

A.L.W.A.Y.S.

So, I am a big fan of Chihuly.

The Phipps Conservatory has lots of it.

This greets you in the foyer.

And, you can see it beautifully in the reflection in the windows.

I love that you can see the actual architecture of the conservatory too.

I'd love to have a conservatory

with heated floors.

I'd have breakfast there every day.

I love how Chihuly's glass sculptures

are just tucked in around the tropical plants.

In the desert, 

this GLOWS somehow from the inside.

Guess what it made me think of.

Chihuly is so brilliant,

and so is this glass sun.

Seriously.

My dining room would really shine 

if this Chihuly hung over the table.

Phipps Conservatory of Pittsburgh

The gem in Pittsburgh's crown is the Phipps.

When you come upon it, 

it glows a lovely yellow-white.

The door is cheerfully flanked by towering firs

covered in multi-colored lights,

which I usually regard as tacky,

but not here.

 We toured at night,

and it was illuminated primarily with candles.

How romantic!

3,000 poinsettias were featured.

I didn't count them; I just took their word for it.

My camera is in the shop,

getting gussied up for Christmas, 

so I used Sister Too's point and shoot.

Sorry they are a bit blurry.

Sister took this shot of an orchid.

Nutcracker is the theme for this year.

Sister posed in front of the Chinese tree.

Chopsticks and paper dragons adorned the limbs.

OMG! I totally love this euphorbia wreath.

Santa, are you listening?

We loved the charming little village

featuring model E trains rushing along.

Live Christmas music!  

I loved the bassoon.

My favorite:

 This tree is suspended in a pond!

The reflection was so sharp, we wondered if it was a mirror.

Can you see where the tree ends and the reflection begins?

Go to the Phipps Conservatory.

We did.

It was so impressive,

we left as members.

I hope to return this week.

With my repaired camera.

Monday, Monday

I got up early

and started the car,

so it would be warm

when I took Mr. to the train.

When I went back outside to leave...

The door was locked

and the car was running

in the driveway.

Do you know where the *spare* keys are?

I don't.

Lost in the move.

One locksmith braved the cold

and early hour (6AM)

to rescue us.

Don't feel sorry for him.

He got $100 for his troubles.

And the top of my to-do list today:

get a new spare key made.

Cost of that $70.

Still cheaper than the locksmith.

Merry Christmas and learn from my mistake!

Got milk?

Have you ever seen one of these?

I wasn't sure what it was.

I went closer.

I still didn't know what it was.

I thought the top was "interesting"...

Then I went a little closer still.

Breast feeding just got so much cooler.