Journal to a Muse

A Christmas without Melt-Downs


This google eye'd flying pig must be the outwarfd and visible sign of a miracle: A Christmas with house guest and NO MELT-DOWNs.

In spite of the Denver snow storm and related flight delays, DD arrived within (ahem) 7 hours of her estimated time of arrival. Fortunately she had lots of knitting in her carry on, a good bag, and adequate Advil.


Her luggage arrived (AHEM) 21 hours later. We learned that

1. it is a good idea to keep your phone charger in your carry on
2. it is a good idea to keep contact lense cases and solution in your carry on
3. you might want at least a change of undies in your carry on.
4. Wal-mart's 24 hour policy is a great answer to the undies and PJ problem.
5. CVS's 24 hour policy was a rather fun answer to the contact lense and toothpaste issue.
6. Plans can be changed.

I was on call with the local police department and they got me out of bed at the crack of dawn Christmas eve... A Young Mother with a history of seizures had died unexpectedly and was found by her fiance. Her mother was beside herself. Racial, educational and class differences were bridge by an understanding of the meaning of love, family and connection. My heart goes out to them.

It definitely helped put the lost luggage in perspective.

The annual Jolly Breakfast Ring was updated this year. The old Betty Crocker for Boys and Girls version has been supplanted at our house by Paula Deen's Gorilla Bread. I must say it needs to be cooked longer than my cook book states, but the copious quantities of cream cheese and cinnamon make it worth waiting for.
DH, aka Santa, was in charge of the Christmas Roast Beast. A Standing Rib Roast this year with the help of Food channel's Alton Brown, a new oven thermometer and John Davis's expertise.

And there WERE gifts, of course. Darling daughter won the "who comes closest to making Mom cry" contest with this Spanish pottery angel. She's got dangly feet than chime and bells on her wings. DD has one of her own at home with a star instead of a tree.

DH is helping me turn into a collector. I'd taken him to the Kittrell Rifkind Glass Gallery and Carlyn Gallery. The owners are related in some arcane way.

So one box had this beautiful persimmon, gold, black swirly piece in it.
And another had this gilded purple and blue horse by Newy Fagan.

There is also a Sparrow who sits on a light stand. And the pig! and an elephant with wings from DH to DD.
And there was yarn. Lorna's Laces dyed for a specific NYC store that DD visited last week. And some felted gnomes. (photos later!)

A good time was had by all.
Now I'm going to finish my book. (Bliss)

Then maybe nap, or knit, or nosh. (More Bliss)

Tomorrow, it is back to the gym.

This is the "after" photo. A good time was had by all.