Owl* Be Back Soon

I just wanted to post a little note that I'll be back to blogging in a week or two. We were away on vacation last week and now that we're back, Sam is sick and Peter is getting sick, which means that John or I may be the next victims of this nasty little bug; one of our dogs fractured his paw; the world crises are starting to stress me out; and I need to get some much-needed things done anyway. So...I'll be back to writing on my blog and reading your blogs when things settle down in the next few weeks. Don't miss me and my sweet little blog too much!

(*I've been starting to get a little obsessed with owls lately. I think I've officially entered middle age. More on that fascinating topic in the not-too-distant future.)

I Have a Six-Year-Old!

Today my "little" boy turns six! I can't believe it! Six years ago on a rainy/snowy March 8th in New Jersey he came into the world as an adorable little newborn in need of abdominal surgery the very next day, and six years later on this soon-to-be rainy day in Iowa he's handsome and healthy and growing up fast...

When John started kindergarten in the fall, he quickly picked up on the potty humor that boys seem to find so funny. Because of this, his favorite word to say is "butt." We've been threatening him that if he doesn't clean up his mouth, he's going to get a butt cake for his birthday (it wouldn't be too hard to make!) and that we'll sing "Happy Butt-day" to him instead of "Happy Birthday." It works and gets him to stop talking like that for a little while. As much as he likes butts, he doesn't want a butt cake. So, he's not getting a butt cake today. But I still might (quietly) slip in a "butt-day" when we sing to him tonight because I think it's pretty funny. I guess he's rubbing off on me.

Friday Fragments

-I didn't watch the Oscars but I was very pleased that Mr. Darcy won for best actor!

Darcy gets a modern-day makeover. Nice!

   Here he is in true form...

(This was one of my favorite scenes.)

-I know, I'm weird. But I've had Darcy on my mind lately because I just finished reading a really good trilogy about him for my book club, the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series by Pamela Aidan. It's Pride and Prejudice from his perspective. It's really, really good. She kind of used the BBC/A&E movie version as her model, which I think is the best version there is. I was a little skeptical at first of a re-write from Darcy's point-of-view, but it is very well-written and I loved it and I highly recommend it to all fans of the book and movie!

-While I'm on the subject of the British, this is what Prince William and the future Princess Kate's wedding invitation looks like (minus the picture of them). Very regal indeed! I love weddings.

-I'm so glad February is over. Just like last year's February, a fog of disorganization, sickness, and overall blah-ness descended and didn't begin to lift until the last day of the month. My Februaries really are cursed. There are only two days in February that I like: the 14th (Valentine's Day) and the 28th (or the 29th, if it's leap year. Whatever the last day of that infernal month is, I like it!).

-I've been eating way too many Girl Scout cookies over the past two weeks. I might as well eat them all and get it over with. And I have a big announcement to make: Tagalongs (the peanut butter patties) have finally, finally, after about two decades, knocked Samoas and Thin Mints from my #1 favorite spot. I wish I'd ordered more boxes of Tagalongs! But my body will thank me that I didn't.

-American Idol's Top 12 13 that was chosen last night is the best group I've ever seen on the show. I think it's going to be a very good season!

-There are sixteen days left until the first day of spring!

So what are you doing this weekend? My plans include going to my son John's school carnival, getting the tires changed on our SUV, getting out the 24-month/2T clothes for Sam (!!), watching a Netflix movie with Peter (Iron Man 2), and, of course, reading. If you'd like to see other people's Friday Fragments you can go to Half Past Kissin' Time. Have a great weekend!

A Stunning Sunset

Since moving to Iowa last summer one of my favorite things to photograph has been the sky. It's so open and expressive here, and I love it! This was a memorable sunset that graced the sky with its beauty in November.

This is when I first noticed it and went outside to take some pictures...

When I went back inside this was the lovely view through the windows.

 A few minutes later the color had deepened from gold to "sunset pink", so out I went again...

 

The sunset was so brilliant that it made this reflection in the window. Wow!

And then purple enters for the finale. It was breathtaking!