Here's something new.

Big fun here at bubblefish central. Now she wants to ride her bike every day to school. I't great, except when it's 20 degrees with a wind chill in the teens. But, more good weather ahead...

one word: proud

Tonight was Bingo night at Bf school. Very exciting, for about 15 minutes, then constantly saying, Did you get that last number? If you want to win a prize you need to pay attention to your card. (for the next hour and forty five minutes). We sat with a friend of BF and her family, and the dad won a round where he won for the whole table! Woohoo! Then Bf won, picked a Webkinz stuffed toy frog (a red eyed tree frog!). She was soooo happy. I won, and she picked out a foam kit for easter for me, which i then gave to her because she LOVES making things out of foam (well, out of anything). As we were leaving we saw another friend, and she looked sad. What's the matter? we asked. She won a panda webkinz but said she didn't like him. Then she handed her panda to BF. I whispered into BF's ear that maybe, if her friend and she wanted to, she could trade her frog for the panda. She didn't hesitate and asked if she would like her frog, for the panda. Oh, yes! she said. And so the trade was made. BF was still a bit bewildered by the whole interaction, it happened so fast. So she was out a frog, which she loved, for a panda, that her friend didn't love. I like the panda, she said. he's cute. He's Stillwater, right Mommy? Right! Right! I said. Yes. He sure is Stillwater. Outside I told BF what a generous gesture she made by trading with her friend, to make her happy. I was so astonished and amazed at her generosity. She is always very eager and willing to share. I am so proud. I just love her so much.

glass of milk?

the new york times chocolate chip cookies.
now my default recipe for cc cookies. Oh, and also 5" across.

out of order halloween pictures

here if bf on halloween. she and i created this masterpiece hot dog out of felt.

connect - i - cut --more

more pics from our trip. we stopped at caserta's in east providence on the way home. long day. but not long enough.

connect - i - cut

drove down to see a friend and his family from the way back machine. the place is still quite beautiful, and things look pretty much the same since the last time i was there in my youth. we got a brief history of the house, built in the mid 1700's, with newer add ons in the late 1700's, and 1800's. I think that the chair i sat in was original to the house. we brought a muffeletta, a greek salad, pesto pasta and some man hole cover cookies. exciting part for bf was the deer sightings we had, saw 4-5 in one group and a single male with short antlers. they were really close to us too. she also got a package of goodies and a stuffed koala bear. she made out. i got nuthin!

walking home from school

bf and i were walked home from school today. the weather was warm and sunny. from the door of the school she took my hand. and we walked together sometimes talking and sometimes not. she would stop occasionally and pick up a leaf or a tree nose or acorn and grab my hand again and walk. i'm not saying it quite as wonderfully as it actually was. it so touched my heart. this is why i love being a stay at home mom. i love holding her hand.

maine, part 28

here are some shots of braggs house and barn. true blue farmhouse with a wood burning sugar house around back.

maine, part 27

it's been an enlightening trip. filled with rain and then sun. not quite warm enough to swim for the most part, but we did anyway. last day here was the hottest. got a gallon of honey from mr beep, and a free donut! we didn't have any luck in the maple department. we did visit the kittens on braggs porch and took pictures of the barn and house. i do wish we had that grade b dark amber though. sigh. here's more shots from the two week trip. photos below are from beeps. maggie the big white dog that loves to have her belly rubbed. Homemade soft serve, made up for us while we waited by the man himself (bf took the shot of mr beep).

maine, part two

visit to edna's and to peter's houses. same mountain.

maine

here at the camp with a brand new internet connection. so here are some shots from our time up here. been here two weeks and plan on one more before we go home.
crazy weather turned the water black
BIG excitement! BF lost her first tooth! W also lost a tooth the day before, too.
Strawberries. Picked over 90lbs with three kids and two adults in three days. whew.
beautiful girl, oldest cousin.

well

I have had some sad events befall me in the recent past. I lost my dear friend Nita across the street, who i just wrote about a few weeks back. It was sudden. And terrible. I have been mourning her for a month now. She passed on March 30th. Her house stands dark across the street. The last thing I look at at night, and the first in the morning. After a month, it's more bearable now. I was just now able to write a note on the funeral home's guest book. it left me sobbing. i miss her. she was a real strong presence in my life. i am terribly sad. But, I know she is in a better place, and that she is not suffering any more with chronic pain, and lameness. she was a good person. salt of the earth. she will always be with me.