Culture, anyone?

Our school system hosts an International Culture festival 

every year

at the high school. 

Since we moved here 

4 years ago,

we have always attended.

They have dancing...

You can't tell, 

but under that big dragon

are two of our neighbors.

They brought that costume

all the way from China.

Their twin boys are in the baby dragon costumes.

Food,

And Sister had to give chopsticks lessons.

She must be a good teacher...

her friend didn't go hungry!

 Friends:

Even all the way from FRANCE!

Sister Too liked the balloon animals.

You are never too old for balloon penguins!

Obsession

I'm crafty.

ANd crazy.

I like to ALWAYS be working on something.

This past week,

i have been working on these.

What are they?  Bracelets. 

 Made with beads

and a needle

and thread and a pattern from Katy

All three together,

stacked on one arm.

I'd love to tell you more,

but there are beads waiting 

to be strung.

And then there was one...

One of our hives is still alive.

See the girls coming in and out?

This time of year, they are all girls.

The boys don't do any work.

At all.

So, int eh late summer the girls get rid of them.

Who wants to take care of a bunch of boys

who don't do anything all winter?

Bees are so smart.

Last February we had a hive that survived.

until an unexpected cold freeze got them.

This year we are feeding the girls pollen

(it's for the babies the queen is starting to lay).

And sugar (for the grown-up girls).

And we put on a box of uneaten honey from the dead hive.

See the pollen strips?  See the granulated sugar?  

I was so pessimistic

I didn't wear a bee suit.

I had to photograph fast.

How many men does it take to open a bee hive?

And Mr. was the only one of us smart enough to wear a suit.

Bee Funeral

It was warm enough to check on the bees 

so we did.

One didn't make it.

IT's called a dead-out.

The saddest part was this frame of dead bees.

See the capped honey over there? 

Uneaten.  And there were more frames where that came from.

In the cluster of bees is the queen.

SHe is the one with the greed dot on her forehead.

See her there?

If you see me wearing black,

you'll know it's because

I'm in mourning.

Knitting

We've had a few snow days.

A few too many.

In fact, we have to make some up.

(BOO!)

I've been knitting.

I made this beret (for me),

and the scarf (which is barely visible).

 And because I am a little crazy,

and because I learned how to make cables last summer,

I made a pillow cover

for a throw pillow.

It might be too big for the pillow

but it is so soft and lovely.

So I will leave it as it is.

I made these two hats.  

One for Farmer Sue,

and one for her to give as a gift.

I am THAT kind of friend.

Mornings

I start with this,

made my Mr.  and George.

I am proud to report that Sister Too is now getting on the bus

in the daylight.

Summer's coming!

37!

A care package from Harbor Springs arrived on our doorstep.

Just in time for my birthday.

It wasn't a birthday present.

It was a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From a summer friend.

120 days until summer...

and counting.

Do you know about Tom's Mom's Cookies?

You should.

My favorite:  cherry chocolate chip

Mr.'s favorite:  oatmeal scotchies

For those of you who don't know,

we have cake for breakfast

on our birthdays.

  Mornings come early now that Sister is in middle school.

Bus arrives at 6:38AM.

It is still dark at that time.

It feels like the middle of the night.

I think it is cruel to start school that early.

So, here are the sisters, enjoying the BREAKFAST of CHAMPIONS.

I hope the sugar rush wasn't too 

detrimental

to their school work.

After all, 

you only turn 37 once.

Ode to an iPad

Grandpa has an iPad.

He almost never gets to use it.

 We are all in love:

with its cool, clean lines,

screen that responds so well to the touch,

 cool games and clever apps,

e-mail,

even Mr. is starting to be a fan.

Even the youngest among us are not immune.

Grandpa gets a turn ever so often.

Ice Day

I woke up today at 6:15AM.

LATE!

Sister catches the bus at 6:38AM.

We decided to try and make the bus.

I scrambled to make her a breakfast sandwich

 (thanks Aunt Denise for the recipe),

while Mr. skated to the mailbox for the paper.

FREEZING RAIN OVERNIGHT.

Usually we get a helpful phone call from the school

to announce delays or closings.

The kids love that voice.

Today she failed.

I checked the website to find a 2-hour delay.

Hurray!

Then, only an hour later...

closed.

BOO!

We already have to make up one snow day.

In the summer.

On our vacation.

This is makes two days.

I really resent having to make up days in the summer.

GRRR.  And I mean it!

In the ice, even the ground is pretty.

ornamental grasses

Mr.'s garden pig looks encased in glass.

 bottle tree icicles

Even Mr.'s  patio lights are pretty.

I hate them.  I think it looks trashy.

He thinks it looks like a bistro.

I am knitting up my yarn stash.

This is something pretty

for a little girl I know

who is having a birthday soon.