#29 Playing at Nana's

Traci came by tonight to have dinner and watch Ellen with me; of course our sweet baby and Little Man came along.

As she and I chatted and watched TV, Little Man was busy setting up his town on the mat we got him for Christmas.

I'm not much of an expert in child development, but I do declare this is a pretty meticulous layout for a 2-year-old. He was careful to put buildings beside, not on, roads, and is quite particular that the school building gets the roof with the clock on it. 

Yes, there is a building upside-down. It's ok. Overall I am overwhelmed. He did this 100% by himself. 

#LoveMyLife

#28 The Big Date

I had a big date with our Little Man today, and what a time we had.
His preschool is closed for Christmas break, and at two-and-a-half he is too little to understand. So I picked him up at our regular going-to-school time.
We dropped the dog at the groomer’s and headed to a popular breakfast restaurant. They offer a kid’s breakfast of 4 silver-dollar pancakes. He was in high heaven. After each and every bite, he leaned back against the booth, rolled his head side to side and said, “Mmm-mmm.” It just doesn’t get much better than that.
From breakfast we headed to the car wash, where he knows I allow him out of the car seat. He sits beside me on the armrest in the front seat and we watch the car get soaped, rinsed, waxed and blown. I guess it’s high drama when you’re two.
Back at the groomer the dog wasn’t ready so we strolled around the shop looking st the animals. He spotted a snake camouflaged on a branch and yelled, “Snake!” with such delight I could only wonder why. We watched hamsters and fish. He insisted the angelfish were sharks and made great chomping motions to be sure I understood.
We headed back to my house and played with cars and trucks. His dear cousin came by and they played pretty amicably until it was time for them both to head to their respective homes for nap time.
After such an adventurous morning, I took a nap myself.
#LoveMyLife

#27 Shampoo

True love is a husband who will wash your hair while you hold a towel over the stitches in your face.
#LoveMyLife

#26 Gray and rainy

There are 1,000 things I could be doing right now, but my eyes are so swollen from surgery it’s actually painful to keep them open. So instead I’m on the couch by a lovely fire, guilt-free.
#LoveMyLife

#25 Support

Had a little minor surgery yesterday and I’ll be home for a few days. Sweet hubby has jumped every time I’ve made a sound. Even Scout the mighty dog knows something’s up and has given me plenty of space.
I mentioned it on social media and tons of friends sent their love. One friend posted, “Can you tell lots of people love you, Maggie?”
Yes, I surely can.
#LoveMyLife

#24 FIESTA!

Sweet hubby returned last night from visiting his mom in TN for a few days. Carefully packed in his car were two giant boxes of Fiesta!
We’ve used Fiesta dinnerware since we married in 1995– the new department store stuff.
This motherload is the ORIGINAL stuff: a sunny yellow pitcher, a rose casserole with the iconic curved handles. The matching ball salt and pepper shakers. What FUN!

Their family used these dishes when hubby was a boy 100 years ago. He vividly remembered many of the pieces. How kind of MIL to share them with us.
We’ve got to figure the perfect way to display them, but for today I’m going through them just one more time, just for the pleasure of it.
#LoveMyLife

#23 Simplest Pleasures

I’ve enjoyed the simplest things the last few days. Like cleaning out my pj drawer. All the things that have waited for me to wear them —for 10 years — out, out, out. Ironing my handkerchiefs; mending things.
It’s not like I was too busy every moment to get to these things; I think I was just too preoccupied to notice them.
It may get boring at some point but for now it’s just very satisfying.
#LoveMyLife

#22 Home Sweet Home

Everyone was happy to see me back home: the dog. The cat. Hubby. My poor plants.
Feeling greatly loved and energized.
Tonight the littlest man in the family was in his first performance: a Christmas program at the day school. The first 5 minutes or so he stood well on stage with all the other kids.Then something upset him — we’re not sure what— and he spent the remainder in his teacher’s arms. Sobbing. Maybe it was the immensity of the place. To a little guy like that it must’ve seemed as large as Grand Central, filled with people. But he recovered, and afterward was happy to be in Papaw’s strong arms.
 I’m working on two new stories for the paper. Squee!
#LoveMyLife

#21 Vacation, Day 4

My hopes of getting out in the morning were  a bit dashed when I awoke to another couple of inches of snow. The official count seems to be 11” of snow we’ve gotten in the past few days.
The morning sun grew bright, though, and the city does a phenomenal job of clearing the streets, so I was able to get out after all, just a little later than planned.

Asheville boasts a lovely toy store carrying all the basic things, not a lot of things that go beep. I was able to buy all I needed for the little ones in the family. The guy who started the store in 1987 was there, looking just the same. He mentioned in the spring he was pondering retirement and I’m thankful he stuck around for yet one more Christmas.

In the afternoon my friend invited me to a neighborhood art sale with the proceeds benefiting the local food bank. We walked to a woman’s home where I met all sorts of neighbors. Cider and wine were offered as well as a spread of food. Both of us bought some lovely things for a good cause.

Later we walked to a lovely local restaurant and shared dinner and wine. After so much solitude, today was a nice transition back into the real world.

I head home tomorrow and can’t wait to see my sweet husband, my dog and my Sleep Number bed.
It’s been a wonderful week of unplugging and reflecting. Enough time of navel gazing — I feel recharged and ready to go forward.
#LoveMyLife

#20 Vacation, Day 3

Another yummy, delicious sort of day.

After waking up to 7 or 8 inches of snow, I sadly contacted my massage therapist to cancel my appointment. An hour later my sweet friends texted: "Will drive u to massage 4WD." WHAT?! You can bet I quickly called the massage lady back to be sure she'd still have me.

My friend's hubby picked me up in his Dodge Ram and we OWNED the streets all the way there. I have to say I had the best massage I ever had, even better than the NFL player at Disneyworld, but that's a story for another day. It was amazing.

So I walked outside all blissful and zen and my driver was waiting for me in the warm truck and safely delivered me home. Am I the luckiest thing ever?

Once home I sank into a deep nap and slept the afternoon away. Drew for a while and listened the Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites 1-6. Warmed up a little chili from yesterday and watched "The Crown" on Netflix. It's Season II. I often have to pause the movie and run to Wikipedia to bone up on the history of the times.

I've looked up a yoga class for tomorrow. The local book and news opens at 9 and if the streets will allow, I'll make a paper run, maybe snag a Starbucks on the way back.

So it's a day. One day remaining of my yummy, delicious vacation. Dinner tomorrow night with the friends.

For now, here is the early morning scene out my back door today. #LoveMyLife

#19 Vacation, Day 2

I heard something on the roof early this morning and wondered if it were raining. No! It’s SNOW! Snow for an Alabama girl means just one thing: MAGIC. My little vacay is just perfect.
#LoveMyLife

So I had no outings today except for my private art class, which is a short walk down the street. I attempted to draw my snow picture. 

I still have more work to do on it yet, which I fear I'll do tomorrow instead of the long-anticipated massage due to the roads, but we'll see. In the meanwhile it's a start and I enjoyed the class. 

#18 Vacation, Day 1

It's cold and gray in Asheville, just as it should be in December. today was nearly perfect, starting with a leisurely morning, a good walk, a noontime pedicure, an afternoon art lesson, then a run downtown for a takeout Harmony Bowl. Brief chat with my love, time for a book, then bedtime yoga.
Dammit, I have to do this stuff again tomorrow.
#LoveMyLife

#17 Stepping Down

For the past month, I’ve been marking lots of “lasts” in my adventure on City Council. Last Housing meeting. Last closed session. Last Transit meeting. And so on.

Today marked my last “last.” I had my last elevator ride upstairs where I turned in my keys. Last morning Staff meeting.  Funny, it was grey and overcast and my car seemed to be the only one on the road. My world was reflecting my melancholy.

Then the sun peeked out for our last City Council meeting. It was a celebration of us as we stepped down and a celebration of our historic new Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council.

We speechified and clapped and stood. I received lots of love, many thanks, and some great hugs. A commemorative Bell Tower and a proclamation.

Now I’m sitting in the dark rejoicing in all the love. Tomorrow I wake up a regular citizen again.

We swore in a really historic Council tonight, but I’ll post on that another day. For tonight I’m just basking.

#LoveMyLife

#16 Framily

the parents of my daughter-in-law came to see Beacon Hall this week and we had a super time sharing our little town with them.
It’s nice on occasion to see your town through someone else’s eyes. All the things you take for granted are suddenly shiny and new.
#LoveMyLife

#15 So Much Love

This has been a week I hope never to forget. Wednesday brought my last presentation to 3rd graders. I provided cake and we celebrated. Guess what! I made it through without a tear. The press was there.
Wednesday City staff threw me a going away party at a local restaurant. Each of the department heads made a little speech about me and gave me a gift. Each of my colleagues on Council made a little speech as well. At the very end the Mayor gave me .... A KEY YO THE CITY. I was shocked. And happy. And humbled.
Thursday our 3rd grade party was on the front page. Our son’s in-laws came to visit. We toured Beacon Hall and showed off our little town. In the evening we split up. Men went to Jody’s men’s group and we went to my progressive womems group. I was greeted by a GIANT basket filled with gifts for my trip next week.
It’s been a week of so much love and goodbye-ing, it’s been a little overwhelming for this Alabama girl.
On Tuesday I will step down. On Wednesday I head to Asheville, by myself, for a little vacay.
#LoveMyLife