something sad...

I was recently made aware that our beloved alphabet book, alphAmuse, is missing the letter S. Although I would love to blame the printers, the fault is entirely my own. As such, for those who have purchased the book, it will sadly remain s-less forever.

I've given a lot of thought about how to remedy the situation. I briefly considered giving everyone a 1/26th discount ... it seemed impractical.

Instead, I am posting the missing page here, along with a special tribute to S. Also, I will be looking into how to update the book currently available on Amazon.

An Ode to _elf-Publi_hing

Silly socks secretly samba.

Sweet strawberries succulently smell.

Stately sweatervests sagaciously sit.

But even a jazzed up reader 

may zoom from cover to cover 

through a new alphabet book and unequivocally 

fail to meet the nineteenth letter 

before exiting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pilgrim in butter. Circa Thanksgiving 2009.

8 things I am loving right now

In the spirit of Thanksgiving - my favorite holiday - here are a few things I have been enjoying this month.

1. Gregorian Chant radio station on Pandora. It's like doing yoga without having to do yoga.

2. Winter layers! But only because I get to wear all my combinations once and then move to California before real winter comes.

3. Hot cocoa made with milk, cocoa powder and just a bit of sugar. So dark and delicious.

4. Deciding to work out every other day instead of every day.

5. "Close Your Eyes" children's book by Kate Banks and illustrated by Georg Hallensleben. My favorite line: "Dark is just the other side of light. It what comes before dreams."

6. My kids both demanding to sit at the piano and play together while I make dinner.

7. Neatly packed and stacked boxes, ready to move. As much as moving isn't fun, given that we have to do it, I like having some of it done.

8. Pumpkin flavored everything! (Except the decaying Halloween pumpkin that is currently over-flavoring my porch.)

Costumes 2012!

Theme: music.  From left to right, a Victrola (gramophone), Mozart, Half Note, and Viking Opera singer. This is the only picture we got of my costume and Abe's. I had an awesome gold skirt and green robe. Abe's Victrola reproduction was something to behold. He hid a portable speaker inside the box to play music too. 

Genghis considers his wig. He was very into being Mozart. It's his favorite composer. If you ask him what his favorite song is, he replies "Sonata by Mozart".

 Xena' half note was meant to attach to her shirt. But she made it clear that holding it herself was much more fun. (Side note: check out how she curls her right foot around - I never thought feet could look graceful until I met Xena.)