louise on the left (coast)

Today is Christmas. The sky is a brilliant blue. The tops of the pine trees lay golden against the sky and the wind sings in the tree tops. The percussion of melting snow insistently punctuates the distant laughter of children sledding with their new gifts. The air is clean, moist and sweet. Wispy clouds dust the horizon in light shades of mulberry and the rolling hills glow in streaks of rust and blue. It's so quiet and clean. I need for nothing walking on the dirt road and no matter which way I turn, the light is amazing. I feel my thoughts move inside like wet hands in a warm mitten. Everywhere I go here, it feels like home. I simply cannot imagine how to fly west, now.

"In my little town...God keeps his eye on us all. And he used to lean upon me, when I pledged allegiance to the wall. Coming home after school. Flying my bike past the gates of the factory..." As we drove through town the other day I started taking photos to share with those few people out there who spent their childhoods here near Brattleboro, Vt. So much is still the same, yet it has evolved so much since we moved there in 1968. It sure wasn't the "Little San Francisco" it is, back then.  It's interesting to remember this.

There is snow. Lots of it. As far as the eye can see and still more landing every second. White snow falling thick and silently on the world from every window. So clean and soft and quiet. It's a few days before Christmas. We don't have a tree up, yet. And Santa has yet to drive into NorthPollaboro to stock up on goodies, yet. My parents who we came out to see barely see us in the moments the weather will allow before pulling shut the curtains on sane travel. We stay in a snug, modern, one bedroom wood cabin which now has heat and water and lots of tall windows which look out over the meadows and trees. It is a very lovely, and remote place to be snowbound in. There's not a working television or a cell phone that has service, but a modem, so this is the way I maintain my technological fix with the universe. The quiet is meditative. I sift through my memories of Christmas past and present to reexamine what lasts and what is inconsequential. Like seashells I hold the re

I realize up till recently I've been recounting a strange tale from La La Land, but I need to interrupt that story to announce that my story has been upstaged by a trip to visit my parents for the holidays. They live in Vermont. Right now we are visiting them for Christmas. My kids and I flew the day of the historic ice storm from Southern CA to the other side of the country. We are in the very cold and snowy wilds of New England in the Brattleboro, Vt. area. Newfane, Vermont, to be exact. My husband joined us 5 days later. It's certainly been an adventure. I put all those seasons of watching Survivor to good use when we tried to stay in a cabin without power one night. My parents have lived in the small, very humble town of Guilford, Vt. since 1968 and once or twice a year we are lucky enough to make a pilgrimage "home" to see them. This year's pilgrimage was in time for the end of "the ice storm of 2008." Which having just been through the

Speaking of Christmas and holiday movies...Guess where I was last night ? Well,  I was at the Drake and Josh Christmas Movie called, ironically, Merry Christmas, Drake and Jo sh.  And, newsflash, this was a "world premiere,"  which, take it from me, this mommy-blogger does not get to  attend every day.     Free popcorn, too. Naturally, these photos of are the people who matter most, my daughters. I have run and pick up some 12 yr old bday gifts for the one turning 12 soon. So far, only thing on her list is the first Twilight book and "some clothes I haven't grown out of, yet." BTW:  Any one got any other ideas what to give a tweeny girl who technically is a "tweeny," but in far less of a "Jonas Bros." kind-of way, than in "John Hughes" sort-of, way?    She's much wiser than I've ever been, so I'm pretty stumped at the moment. 

Just returned from amazing family Thanksgiving event near Sacramento, CA. Four generations of family on my husband's side of the family. Over 260 photos.   I can honestly say it was one of the best Thanksgiving's I can ever recall having. Much to be sincerely grateful for. Click link to see them all: Thanksgiving day 2008 at Patty and Paul Larsen's