Making a List, Checking it Twice. . . Busy Days . . .

Okay, I got home safely yesterday, the drive out to the ferry not bad although we were both grateful that I’ve been insisting, the last few years, on real snow tires from November through March (before that, we’d relied on All-Season Radials which obviated the need for annual on-and-off trips).

As I’d suspected, though, once back on our little island, all was a mushy, horrid, mess of muddy wetness. Luckily, however, the temperature seems to be staying a few degrees above zero, so while we might get mucky (and good rubber boots are an easy solution), there will be no ice trying to take me down again.

But we’re only home for three days, and while here, I have a few knitted gifts to finish, and two tourtières to make. Which requires digging out the recipe and writing out a grocery list. Then shopping for said groceries (although I suspect I can delegate that task to The Man Who Makes My Kitchen Run Smoothly. Some wrapping paper to buy. Last week’s laundry to empty out of the suitcase and, well, launder.

And yesterday involved a trip to the physio for some IMS (intra-muscular stimulation, aka Needles!), which I’ll follow up today with yoga and then try to fit in a run tomorrow morning.

IN short, as are all of you, I’m really too busy to be spending time writing blog posts. And yet. . . .

Addicted to your company, I suppose, to the 6 AM time alone with my thoughts and a computer screen, looking at my life through the filter of what I can and can’t, or will and won’t, fit in this column, 3 or 4 times a week. . . .

At any rate, what I intended to say is that while I want to replace yesterday’s Bah Humbug post with something a bit cheerier, I mustn’t spare too much time for that task. But I thought I’d share photographs of two purchases made last week in my Christmas shopping spree. One today, and one tomorrow. . . .

Above, the faux fur vest I bought for my 5-year-old granddaughter. I spotted a dark brown, non-printed version in the Zara window, but little girl’s Mom was with me, and she thought her daughter might find it weird, so I just walked on by . . . . But it stuck with me (perhaps because I’d found myself a grown-up version on sale the day before). . . and when I went back to Zara, perhaps defiantly muttering about Nana’s rights and Mother doesn’t always know best, and What 5-year-old isn’t going to like a garment she can pet and stroke . . . there at Zara, the only one left in our girl’s size, was, even better than the plain brown, an animal-print version. So, weird or not, it will be wrapped up and placed under the tree. And we’ll see what Little Girl thinks. Care to place bets now?

22 Comments

  1. K.Line
    21 December 2013 / 3:05 pm

    Nola is going to LOVE that vest! It's like crack for a 5 year old! No question.

    • materfamilias
      22 December 2013 / 1:17 am

      See, this is what I thought! Glad to have validation, and such vehement validation. Thank you!

  2. hostess of the humble bungalow
    21 December 2013 / 3:50 pm

    The vest is adorable!
    Please show us yours too mater.

    • materfamilias
      22 December 2013 / 1:19 am

      Oh, mine's much less exciting — plain dark brown Banana Republic. But I've wanted one the last year or two, and what with the Christmas sales . . . just couldn't resist anymore. I suspect it may show up in a WIW post eventually. You have one too, I seem to recall. . .

  3. Pondside
    21 December 2013 / 4:22 pm

    She's bound to love it.
    Like you, I find that there are too few hours and too many tasks, but I am unable to walk past the computer without stopping to see who has posted.

    • materfamilias
      22 December 2013 / 1:20 am

      I know! What IS that? It just calls me, from the next room. . . 😉

  4. Susan B
    21 December 2013 / 4:33 pm

    That vest is ADORABLE! I'm sure she'll love it.

    • materfamilias
      22 December 2013 / 1:21 am

      I hope so, Sue. At the very least, she can lay it on her bed with all the "stuffies"!

  5. LPC
    21 December 2013 / 5:44 pm

    I think Nana's "weird" presents are the stuff family legend is made of:).

    • materfamilias
      22 December 2013 / 1:21 am

      I s'pose so, but I'm not sure I want to be consigned to those legends quite yet. . . my Mother-in-Law specialized! 😉

  6. Madame Là-bas
    21 December 2013 / 10:11 pm

    I think that Nola will find it lovely. Especially if Nana has the same one.

    • materfamilias
      22 December 2013 / 1:22 am

      At least ours aren't too matchy-matchy, but I do think we'll have to twin up at least once. . .

  7. Duchesse
    22 December 2013 / 12:39 am

    Oh this is marvelous, not to mention snuggly! Please take a photo (beg, beg, beg). I am so glad you bought it!

    • materfamilias
      22 December 2013 / 1:22 am

      I'll see what I can do, just for you 😉 Good to know you wouldn't have resisted either.

  8. Melanie
    22 December 2013 / 8:04 am

    Matching faux fur for Nola and you? Too good to pass up. I can't imagine she won't love it.

    • materfamilias
      23 December 2013 / 2:48 pm

      Well, I've dialed down the matching in that mine is dark and unspotted. . . . but no, I just couldn't walk away . . .

  9. Patricia
    22 December 2013 / 4:51 pm

    I, too, think she'll adore it! Not sure if you will be posting again before Christmas – let me wish you a Merry Christmas right now while I'm here. With 2 young children in the family I'm sure it will be a wonderful time for you all!

    • materfamilias
      23 December 2013 / 2:49 pm

      Thanks Patricia — and a Merry Christmas to you as well. I hope you have both your sons home and that you have a wonderful time together over the holidays.

  10. Lorrie
    22 December 2013 / 10:41 pm

    My vote is that she'll love the vest. She seems to have a great sense of fashion and is willing to play with it (thinking of those rainbow leggings.)
    After wending our way home yesterday there's a house to clean, presents to wrap, and food to prepare. But here I sit with my feet up, reading blogs. To be fair, I've just spent a couple of hours working and need a break.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours, F. I'm glad we met this year. Joyeux Noel.

    • materfamilias
      23 December 2013 / 2:51 pm

      Thanks, Lorrie. I hope we're right and she gets the spirit of the vest.
      I vote for you taking as many little blog breaks as you need — you've been very busy and Santa would approve. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well, and yes, I too am really glad we got to spend some time together. Joyeux Noël à vous aussi!

  11. ilona
    23 December 2013 / 3:32 am

    How fun to indulge your Nana sensibilities and wrap your little girl in something so adorable! Add the beret and a bit of attitude and she'll rule her world!!

    • materfamilias
      23 December 2013 / 2:52 pm

      That's true — it would be perfect with a beret, wouldn't it! Thank you!

Copyright

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photographs in this blog are my own. If you wish to use any of them, please give me credit for my work. And it should go without saying, but apparently needs to be said: Do not publish entire posts as your own. I will take the necessary action to stop such theft. Thanks.