We had a bit of a blizzard in DSM today: 14 inches of snow and winds up to 50 MPH. I worked from home (with warm kittens by my side, see top pic) but took breaks by watching the crazy few people outside (see picture, above, with Mark trying to help dig a car out on our street), which later included Evan, who had to go out once the winds died down to play for just a bit.
Evan made to me when he caught me red-handed the other night...sampling a few of his Lego sweet tarts. I can't get away with anything at home. Always getting the stink eye from someone.
we're still planning to get a puppy sometime after the new year. as evan says, our place will be a "madhouse."
Here are our new babies...Miss Mittens: The Avenger (gray) and Sueno (tabby) because he likes to sleep. Miss Mittens is a wee bit "slow," but her freakin cute face makes up for it. Sueno starts purring the minute you make eye contact with him. Mostly, he wants to be held (when he's not chewing on his sister's ear) while he slips into his sweet slumber.
Oh my gah. I'm so in love with this artist who has a piece of work on display at the Des Moines Art Center. Must. Learn. More.
I've mentioned the pretty great art center within walking distance of my house before, and today was another example of its interesting features. I went with a friend to see Gary Hustwit's documentary, Objectified. Hustwit previously produced Helvetica (a documentary I've yet to see but want to) and a film about my favorite band, Wilco, which I did see and liked very much. Today's viewing was quite interesting: An examination about product design and the designers and engineers behind products we use every day. Lots to think about in terms of where design is headed (i.e. should design be only about function? personally, i hope not) and sustainability (definitely not an option but a requirement).
I can't remember the correct name for that fawn-like being at the top, but I think he played a role in the Chronicles of Narnia.
The zoo. This weekend, in particular, the Omaha Zoo. Is it just me or is that dragon-fish seahorse thingy, second from the top, kinda a little bit freaky?
Next trip to NYC will mean a stop to Brooklyn to visit the Williamsburg restaurant, Marlow&Sons. The diner produces what looks to be a great foodie magazine called The Diner Journal. Check it out here.
It's been a week since our cat Alex passed away, rather suddenly. We think he must've had a heart attack because it happened so quickly (he was playing just seconds before), wasn't sick, and was only 4 years old. While I've posted about his sometimes cranky personality here, he was a much-loved member of our family. I will miss seeing him in the front windows of our house when I drive home, his greeting us by the kitchen door sitting on his perch by the stairs, and warming up my side of the bed before I get in at night.
Evan has instituted candlelight dinners, which we have on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Somehow it seems to make things more civilized. That is, until Mark starts poking Evan with his pinky finger and calling us all "stooges." But I digress. I picked up a used Jamie Oliver cookbook the other day and have been loving some of his recipes. Sunday night, I made his Moroccan lamb stew with sweet potatoes, couscous and Greek yogurt. Very nice flavors with spicy hits of peppers. For dessert, I made a favorite: almond butter cake (recipe from Pure Desserts cookbook).
On Sunday, we walked to the art center for the big Day of the Dead celebration. Some 2,000 Desmoanians attended. Evan had his art on display from work he did in his cartooning class.
Fourth graders are still a rowdy bunch. I helped out at Evan's classroom party, where I soon learned how a pinata can turn relatively sane 9 year olds into savages.
Sorry for the blurry images...the iPhone doesn't like dimly lit rooms. Here are my boys: Indi and bad wedding singer. Mark and I went to a Halloween party last night at this house packed with books, spider plants, bones, and incomplete walls. It seemed like it would be home to a professor of anthropology or some type of academic who works at a natural history museum. Perfectly imperfect. Love.
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How super cute are these fall arrivals at our local chocolate shop, Stam's (with locations in Des Moines and Amsterdam, thank you very much)!
