the edge of the ocean

MasterM
Have you seen my poker dice?

MrsM
errrr...no...
do they have sentimental value?

MasterM
Just before I came back
me and my friends went sea fishing
but when we got to the beach
we decided to just chill
so we got the cool box with the beer
and sat there playing poker dice
and the waves were crashing around us.
It was a great day.

MrsM
You could buy some new dice.

MasterM
I don't want them to look too new.
I am going to have a box
with a 60's picture of a naked lady.
Like I inherited them.

MrsM
Right.
We can help new dice get old quickly.

MasterM
Oh, don't worry, I'm there before you.
That is what tea was invented for.

*****

Please forgive me if I am slower than usual
at replying to your lovely comments.
I am soaking poker dice in tea
and other motherly activities.

MissM, Chocolatier

MissM decided to make brownies
to take back to university
and flicked through her recipes.
This was just the job...
a mind-blowing chocolate experience.

When I asked if I could take a photo
of her recipe book
she agreed, with one condition:

"You must make it clear that these brownies
should only be eaten by people under the age of 22
who are going to the gym every day
and running a marathon on Sundays
and that the recipe is the appropriate quantity
for a whole university, not a family of four.
Anyone over the age of 22 who eats these brownies
does so at their own risk and
I recommend having statins beforehand."

Having tried a tiny piece
I don't think that I can do any better
so that is brownies ticked off the 2012 list.
It is ace when your daughter
takes responsibility for your
New Years Resolutions.

black and white

I have a Kindle!

MissM tells me that I will be
responsible for the downfall
of the publishing industry
so I should be anxious to avoid
being seen in public with it.

I think my Kindle and I
will become great friends...
it can join the gadget gang
with the iPod and smart phone
and I can't resist showing it off.

Kindles are great for travelling
and I have downloaded books for Spain...
George Borrow and Washington Irving
to improve my knowledge of Andalucia
and some Georgette Heyer
for times when no-one is watching.

An unexpected delight of the Kindle
is the sequence of screensavers
which are elegant photos
reminiscent of engravings.

Right, off to bed...
MasterM's plane is arriving at 06:08 tomorrow
and I need to get some sleep.

Back soon!

a jug of tulips

Have you ever thought about
what your blog photos mean to you?
Not the photos of family, holidays and birthdays
but the everyday photos of cakes, flowers,
folded laundry, quilts, woodburners,
snowdrops, berries and jam.

I had to search through my picture files today
and the experience of seeing five years
of photos so evocative of our home
left me feeling overcome.
I realised that every single photo
has layers of memories for me.
Whole days captured in single images.

Saturday

MrM won a magazine competition.
The Charming MasterN sang
while MissM played her guitar.
I wore Dior 'Blue Label' nail polish.
MrM had tea with his parents.
MissM explained the etiquette of 'nom nom'.
I made rich red spiced fruit trifle.
And these tulips are in Lucille's jug

The Spice Girl's Mother

Girl with a Guitar
Max Westfeld 1913

MissM
Can we talk about my birthday present?

MrsM
Yes!
(Thinks how delightful it is to have organised daughter)

MissM
I would like a guitar.

MrsM
What!
(Stunned silence)

MissM
Yes! I have been learning to play
and I am in a band.

MrsM
A band!
(Thinks panicky thoughts about wardrobe issues.
What does the mother of a Rock Chick wear?)

Look Away Now, Granny!

MasterM
What does my travel insurance cover?

MrM
Why?

MasterM
Because I am skydiving tomorrow with my friends

MrM
I will check immediately...

MrsM
For goodness sake,
don't read out loud
the list of approved activities...
it will give him ideas.

Window Box in January

“To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To hope is to risk pain.
To try is to risk failure,
but risk must be taken because
the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”

These are not my words
but I think of them
as I pack away the decorations
and create space in the house.

When the last glittery bauble
is wrapped in tissue paper
and the lights are folded carefully
into their polystyrene case
I go out and buy the primroses

They will be a pale light
on the windowsill,
substitute sunshine,
my reminder of love and hope.

the truth, it hurts

The Potato Peeler
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)

MissM is reading 'Oh Comely'
It is full of delightfully quirky articles
'a history of the digestive biscuit',
'a recipe for fairy bread',
'the charity mug parade',
'portraits of people with tattoos'.

MissM loves 'Oh Comely'
with a burning passion.

"Look!" says MissM "Here is a quiz...
'Reveal deep truths about yourself
through the medium of root vegetables!' "

MrsM does the quiz and reveals she is a potato.
Tragically MrsM had always suspected this
but is not happy about the outcome because
it is much groovier to be a cassava
or a radish like MissM.
Even an onion would be better than a potato.
It is not an auspicious start to 2012.

"Never mind" says MissM brightly
"Quizzes in magazines aren't always accurate."

*****

p.s.
for all you crafty people...
How to make jewellery out of your cracker prizes
(via Oh Comely)

Power Brunch

Drinks
MrsM ordered bubbly
because it was New Years Day

but MrM drank Bloody Mary
decorated with a celery stick

First Course
MrM had baconandeggs
andmushroomsandsausage
andtomatoesandhashbrowns

while MrsM enjoyed an elegant plate
of sliced fruit and smoked fish

Second Course
MrM had waffles with maple syrup
and a tiny spoonful of Queen of Puddings

MrsM chose fruit compote
with the most delicious brownie ever.

As you would expect
MrM and MrsM discussed
matters of great importance
and made a plan for 2012
which they jotted down
on the back of an envelope.

And at the bottom of the list
MrsM wrote
"FIND BROWNIE RECIPE!!!"
and underlined it five times.

Resolution

Sleeping Beauty
Thomas Ralph Spence

Welcome to 2012!
May it bring wonderful things
for you, my lovely readers,
and your families.

Now 'fess up everyone,
what is your 2012 Resolution?

You are not allowed the traditional ones:
"more vegetables"
"more ironing"
"more exercise"
because we all know
that they vanish in a puff of smoke
before you can munch
that last Christmas chocolate.

I want honesty!

Here is my 2012 Resolution:

I
WILL
go
to
bed
earlier
because
5 hours a night
is NOT enough
beauty sleep
at my stage of life.

It is going to be hard
because I do a lot of writing
late at night
but I am sure that
if I can change my routine
it will be better for my wrinkles.