Ho Ho Ho

otherwise known as the ballad of the celluloid fat man....

The best santa I've ever seen is the one at ABC Home in NYC. I was shopping for xmas gifts one day and there was a santa behind me that I thought was part of the display because he looked so perfect. Then he gave me a little wink and a grin and I suddenly realized he was real. His costume was gorgeous as was his complexion, his long white hair and beard were genuine and he even had sparkly eyes. I suddenly felt like a kid again and the world seemed a bit more magical!

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm going to get Satchel's picture taken with Santa. Satchel is very cautious about strangers and does not like it when they get in his space. I think this is very wise in todays world and I try to honor his wishes. So, not this year, no.

I am always surprised by the number of people who persist in spite of Satchel's very clear message of, "No No". I've had to advocate on his behalf on more than one occasion stating, "Satchel is telling you 'no' because he does not want you to touch him...he doesn't like strangers to get in his space".

I've been struggling with the whole Santa tradition for the last two years. On the one hand it makes the world seem like magic for one day. On the other hand there is plenty of magic in the world that is genuine...like conception and birth...nature. I want to foster a healthy sense of wonder and imagination yet I worry about him feeling betrayed or tricked. As he gets a little older, I do plan to talk about how other countries celebrate...like the gift-giving gnomes of Norway etc.

I clearly remember the day my brother asked my mother about Santa...and I'll never forget how he broke down and cried. It was one of the saddest things to witness.

This article by Jan Hunt really gave me something to think about. 

*Speaking in code here in case little ones are peeping over shoulders:

How do you feel about the tradition?
As a child, were you told by someone or did you figure it out?
How did you feel?
What was your child/s reaction to the realization?

Any suggestions?

*Addendum (2009):  On the other hand, I this beautiful post brought tears to my eyes and I think may hold the key.

Winterlight Castle

Living with a toddler is like living with a caveman. There are a lot of monosyllabic words and grunts mixed with some frustration when you don't quite understand the language. We have our good days when we totally connect and our bad days when we completely frustrate each other. Each day we start anew with the best intentions. ( I ordered this dvd and will let you know how it goes)

Yesterday was a good day. A big box of Christmas gifts arrived from Satchel's Grandma & Grandpa Cox. I quickly put the gifts aside and grabbed a utility knife. Satchel stood at the safety gate watching and whining, not quite sure why his mama was going midieval on the box. Ten minutes later the "Winterlight Castle" emerged.


















Satch was so excited that he flapped his arms like little wings and I thought, "wouldn't it be wonderful if we could float from happiness".


















He immediately figured out how to work the drawbridge.


















He stood at the castle window and I said, "let me see your face", then he tucked his wee hand under his cheek in the sweetest way to show me his face.

















He picked up his new book and read it while sitting on his drawbridge.


















After the excitement settled, I bundled up my boy and took him outside for a winter wagon ride (so that I could get the trash ready for pick up).

Snow Clones

(vintage celluloid Frosties circa 1940's)

I love these kitschy celluloid ornaments. Satch can play with them and we don't have to worry about them breaking.


Satchel helped pack a box of clothes to send to baby, Mila Gutierrez. He loves helping, mostly because he LOVES tape which he uses like stickers, ripping bits off and sticking it to his shirt or shoes.


(The hat is by "John & Wendy". I don't think they exist anymore. I bought it in the East Village NYC in 1995. I used to wear it.)

Dash Away All

On Comet,
on Cupid,
on Bambi,
on Blitzen.....

(celluloid reindeer circa 1940's)



"Just one more week of this craziness", he said softly as he held us in his arms, "and then we'll all be together".

Getting Festive

"as when the heart of this flower imagines the snow carefully everywhere descending" - ee cummings

Something about the falling snow, and the news that the current residents of our post mod home will not be out in time for us to move before Christmas, made me want to decorate. We will celebrate the holiday at Fuller House (opening gifts Saturday so Satch can play before the packers arrive tuesday) and we'll bring on the new year in Hickory Cluster. (Our house is contract with a second buyer in the wings)

We're not quite sure how we want to celebrate Christmas since neither of us are religious nor commercially motivated, yet we want it to be a special and meaningful holiday for our son. A lot of people go overboard with this holiday. Just take a walk around your hood and look at all the displays and it can be hard to discern what it's all about. To quote Soule Papa, "The piece that really get's the boys fired up and me too, I must admit, is a spinning, merry-go-round (really, it spins!) that has a rather eclectic group on board including Santa, Grover of Sesame Street fame, Gumby and of course, Jesus. We've dubbed it the "Jesus-Go-Round". I love it! It's hilarious to explain this type of diversity to the kids. And, kind of represent consumerism at it's ugliest. But you can only rail against the man for so long. This time of year, I let it slide, and dig the mad groove of the Jesus-Go-Round".

This reminded me of a nativity scene I remember back in NYC...someone replaced all the characters with media icons and replaced the baby Jesus with ET. I laughed 'til I cried.

With all this in mind, in between signing papers, getting estimates, planning a move, naps and nums...we cranked the holiday music and while Satch played at my feet I decorated. We decided not to get a tree because it would be tortuous to Satch not to be able to play with the lights and ornaments. Perhaps next year...a small live tree which we can then plant back into the earth. We have a gorgeous set of glass snowflake ornaments from Robert's parents that we look forward to hanging as well as some glass icicles that I bought years ago.

I hung glass gum drop garland across the mantle.












I placed delicate vintage ornaments on our old iron wire tree.


















I removed the tissue paper cherry blossoms (that I made last spring)
from the vase of branches and hung snowflakes.


















A few drops of balsam fir oil in the aromatherapy diffuser...now all I need are some reindeer and the fat man....

Corners of My Home

Well the house is officially on the market and we having showings this week. The house renovation is nearly done.
I'm glad that I will be able to enjoy it for a little while before we move. I know some of you are curious about the "after photos"... which you can see here.




Please send your best house-selling vibes our way!

We're Moving!

Robert was offered a fabulous job as an attorney for the federal government within the social security administration. So...we must move to the DC area rather quickly. If anyone out there knows someone who is interested in purchasing our home, please email me at: wendy at wendycook dot com. The home is known as Fuller House and is on the national registry of historic places. It was built by architect Ward Wellington Ward in 1911. We are not looking to make a profit on the home. We intend to sell it for what we paid for it plus the cost of the remodeling and repairs which will be completed before we move. We are willing to offer an assumable mortgage to a couple/family just starting out because we acquired our mortgage when the rates were still low. This decision is in part due to the speed in which we must relocate, but also because it's really nice thing to do for someone. (and perhaps such kindness will be returned to us one day)

Here is an original newspaper article about our home from 1911...We have the original plans too! (Click on image to enlarge)

Napping, Gliding, Dancing, Fixing

Satch fell asleep in the stroller on the way home from our jaunt.....














So I took the opportunity to put my feet up and relax on the glider until he woke up.



















Earlier in the day, a family stopped their SUV in front of our house and got out and started dancing next to their car. Satch and I clapped our hands and cheered........"Hooray, Hooray for the spontaneous interpretive dance"!

This week, Robert and I will begin the kitchen renovation in our historic house (Fuller House) ...anyone want to come over and help? I can barter art, photography or a yummy meal....

Rusticated

Our home is an ecosystem. Birds live in the eaves and we are in need of a humane deportation. Carpenter bees live somewhere near by because woodpeckers tap at the shingles. A skunk marked the side of our house twice, for good measure and portly woodchucks have been seen "getting jiggy" on our deck. Spiders of unimaginable proportions make intermittent appearances, as do the speedy centipedes which eat them. They move incredibly fast, must have something to do with all the legs. I'm guessing that they have lived in this house long before we moved in. Perhaps they are the ancestors of the original settlers of 1911 when the house was built. Judging by their size and sassiness, I think it's a pretty safe guess. I created a treaty in mind: they can live in the basement, but not in our house. (it helps me to feel less guilty about squashing them) Of course, they are too big for me to squash. I run and Robert squashes. We also live with a number of small, shy spiders whose presence is marked only by our weekly "battle of the webs". I vacuum, spider rebuilds....keeps us both busy.

My cat, Elvis, enjoys both the spiders and the centipedes although the latter bites him. Arachnid or arthropod...he's not choosy about his snacks. Should said snack get away, he'll hunt for hours until he finds it. He will crouch patiently with his head under the sofa. He will sit in the bathtub scanning the walls and ceiling. He will sit in front of his bowl of dry food as if it were bug-bait. He stalks his prey like a lion and I am grateful for his instinctual wildness.

In sussing out info about the carnivorous, venomous, biting centipede (and how to be rid of them), I learned that they live for six years and that while some lay eggs, others have been known to give live birth. I'm completely grossed out by the thought of this...all those legs. I also learned that sow bugs (the little gray bugs that roll up into a ball) aren't actually insects at all, but crustaceans. Makes one looks at lobster in a whole new way, doesn't it?

I am considering purchasing one of those sonic anti-insect devices. Does anyone know if they actually work? Though I like to live simply, I do like a good gadget...providing it works and doesn't end up in the appliance purgatory i.e. the cabinet above the fridge, home to gizmos that one thinks they need, but really doesn't.