year 3

i like
who we are
when
we are
around
us.

happy anniversary love!
i love you more than words can say!

a taste of new orleans

 it is no secret on this blog that ph and i like food. and that we would even go so far as to call ourselves foodies. it also no secret that we love to eat when we come to santa fe. there are some fantastic restaurants here. we have our favorites, our must eat for each visit. my body craves the subtle heat of green chiles living in the north east. believe me, i have tried every mexican food place in town and nothing compares to the food of the southwest, food that i grew up eating.

but would you guess that one of our favorite places to eat is callie's galle.  a bus turned into a cajun food mecca that sits on the side of interstate 25 everyday from 3-8 pm. they serve authentic cajun food that makes you forget that you are in the southwest and transports you to the streets of new orleans. seriously, it is that good. the first time my dad suggested we pick up food from callie's galle two years ago, i was skeptical to say the least. i am happy to say they did not disappoint and they were quickly added to our ever growing list of "must eats."

i wondered how this little gem of a place would make it and was pleased to see them parked in their usual spot yesterday. so pleased, that we had crawfish etouffee, jambalaya and gumbo last night for dinner. so if you find yourself in santa fe, do stop at callie's galle for a taste of new orleans.

tuesday tidbits

** i hope you had a great christmas.

** we had a grand time.

** we started a new family tradition this year.

** BINGO

**ph and i were the big winners.

** ph and i have seen 3 movies this week.

** the fighter, the tourist and true grit.

** santa brought me 200 fat quarters of kona cotton in an array of colors.

** yes, i said 200 fat quarters.

** chace got his first ear infection on xmas eve.

** i am currently drinking shiner bock.

** i finished knitting chace a sweater.

** and have started on a project for me.

** two words: blue sky

** the sky here is so fantastic.

** you can see forever.

** we are eating wonderful food.

** more on that later.

** happy tuesday.

future sunshine rider

growing up, i broke most the rules that my parents set for me; but, there was one, that i actually followed. during my dad's time as an internist he treated many victims of motorcycle accidents. so it was no surprise that a "no motorcycle riding" rule was imposed in our house.  this was a rule i actually followed.

ph grew up in an entirely different household. his dad and uncles all had motorcycles. harley davidsons to be exact. it is his desire to own one of his own. i have a different idea and told him not until he is at least 55  years of age. it is a topic where we agree to disagree. i am not too worried, because it is not in our budget in the immediate future.

last night at the dinner table the conversation turned to the topic of motorcycles. my brother's girlfriend, who we call sunshine, my brother and ph decided that they were going to start a motorcycle gang. its name "the sunshine rider's".

currently, chace is the only one who "has" a motorcycle, thanks to santa.

merry christmas

wishing you and yours a very merry christmas where ever you may be. xoxo. luc

a moment

tuesday tidbits

** we are in santa fe for the holidays.

** we are not returning home until 1-1-11.

** it is warm here.

** in the 50's but this is warm for us.

** ph and i went shopping at whole foods this am for my mom.

** i really, really love whole foods.

** since i don not have my sewing machine, i brought a lot of knitting projects.

** and a few books.

** mom and i have been baking cookies.

** and i am cooking every night while everyone is home.

** my gift to my mom.

** i love christmas time.

** hoping to see some movies while we are here.

** we did not stay up last night to see the lunar eclipse.

** did you?

dear delta

dear delta,

while i do not belong to your platinum elite flying club
i do consider myself a frequent flier and
i fly delta whenever possible.
and in an industry full of choices,
i repeatedly choose to fly delta airlines.

but after my travel experience yesterday
i am beginning to rethink my decision.
i understand that the holidays are a busy time for travel.
but this is not a surprise to anyone.
you know this, so why weren't you better prepared.

my husband, 10 month old son and i
arrived at the airport two hours before our flight.
i had checked in online the night before,
paid for our baggage and printed our tickets.

when we arrived at the airport at 5:30 am
there was a line at the delta counter.
not a big deal, except upon further inspection
it was 3 lines funneling into one line.
there was one agent working the ticket counter
who had no idea what was going on.
it was clear that there was no order,
no system and no organization.

we stood in line for 30 minutes without moving.
i finally made my way to the counter
and asked  what individuals were supposed to do
if they simply needed bag tags.
she told me to use the kiosk
and then she would call my name.
i followed her instructions and
finally we were able to checks our bags.

when i made our reservations
our flight from Atlanta to Albuquerque was full
and i could not get seats together.
i did not think this was a big deal.
but i called an agent to double check
and to request the bulkhead.
you see we chose to buy our 10 month old a ticket
and the car seat fits better in the bulkhead.

when we arrived in Atlanta
the gate agent told me that there was not
anything she could do to sit us together.
i told her that she could not let a 10 month old sit alone.
i also mentioned that we had requested the bulkhead.
she replied that this was for handicapped and she could not seat us there.
we did eventually get two seats together, and my husband changed seats with
someone so we all sat together.

but when we boarded the plane
i noticed that there were three young members of our
military sitting in the bulkhead.
clearly not handicapped.
when i asked the flight attendant about the bulk head policy
she told me that it was not for handicapped or children.

this is the second time this has happened to us with the bulkhead.
the first was on a flight to Europe.
we are told by reservation agents to request ahead of time.
and that the gate agents will release them before the flight.
then we are told by the gate agent that they are for the handicapped.
and then told something else entirely by the flight attendant.

as someone who travels to Europe once a year with a child
as well as domestically i would like some clarification.
or else i will have to rethink my decision to repeatedly choose
to fly delta airlines.

happy holidays
lucinda

today

today was hard.
i am pretty sure that this day
will always be hard.
time does not make it
easier or better or less painful.

the images of that day
have not dulled with time.
i can remember the details
and i wish they would fade
just a little.

the way he felt
and looked
and smelled.
it is all there in my mind.
i can go back there in an instant.

today we went to his garden.
as a family.
even the dogs.
we needed to be there
to remember.
to feel
to love.

the only thing you
could see
was his plaque poking
out through the snow.
making his absence
known to all.

today was hard.
it will always be hard.
but i will always make
it through the day.
it is what he would want.

i miss you cooper.
and
i love you forever
and
ever
and
always.

chace meets santa

last weekend, ph's uncle called to see if he and his wife could stop by to see chace before we left. we are missing the extended family gathering, so we did not think much of the request. after some back and forth decided to have them over tuesday night for dinner.  little did we know that santa was going to show up at our door.

as you can see chace was not the least bit afraid of santa, but then again have santa ALL to yourself helps.

tuesday tidbits on wednesday

** last night chace had a private visit with santa.

** seriously, he came to our house.

** too see chace.

** more on this tomorrow.

** and in true chace form, he was not afraid.

** at all.

** it is still snowing.

** i am obsessed with pintrest.

** it is so fun and time sucking.

** i am wrapping up my handmade gifts.

** christmas and otherwise.

** we leave sunday very early in the morning.

** saturday is the 2nd anniversary of cooper's death.

** my heart is heavy and full at the same time.

**there is still time to order last minute gifts from the shop.

**i have two new books to read while i am home.

** oh and i am going to learn how to embroider.

dear chace

dear chace,

we are now two months away from your first birthday. i better start thinking about your birthday party!

in the last month you have developed into your own little person, with thoughts and opinions. there is a very clear divide when it comes to who you look like.  this of course depends on who you ask. your father's family and friends think you look like him and my family and friends think you look like me. i happen to think that you are a pretty good blend of both us. but in this picture, you are most definitely your mother's child.

these days you are crawling at a warp speed and cruising around the family room. you are still working on standing without holding on to something or someone. balance is the obstacle here.  you love to go under our legs and through your tunnel we bought you. your dad and i watched you take laps around the the family room the other day with an infinite amount of energy. we were tired just watching you.

you are funny. and you are smart. this is a combination that has the potential to be challenging for your parents down the road. but it is very hard not to laugh at you.

you now have 4 teeth. you are continuing to test the waters in the food arena and can be very dramatic when trying new foods ( i am still trying to figure out where you picked up that trait).

we head to santa fe on sunday for the christmas holidays. your yaya and pappous are very excited to see you. your dad and i are excited about your first christmas, watching you take it all in and experiencing it through your eyes. this will be the best christmas we have had in some time.

until next month.

i love you more that you know.
mama

handmade holiday

this year we drew names in our family.
it makes sense as our family is growing.
we also set a monetary limit.
this is also makes sense.

what does not make sense
is that i am frantically sewing and knitting
trying to get gifts finished before we leave
on sunday morning.

these are not handmade gifts
for the holidays.
they are other sorts of
handmade gifts.

like
the you bought a new house gift
the thank you for dog sitting gift
the just because you want one gift
and
the getting ready for my new nephew gift.


so how is your holiday shopping/making going?

bling

because a girl can never have to much bling.

Ipad Sleeve 

a moment

tuesday tidbits

** winter is here.

** it is like someone flipped a switch.

** the snow switch.

** we have a ton of snow.

** and it is not forecasted to let up until next week.

** the joys of lake effect.

**we are starting the transition that occurs this time of year.

** the transition of ph being home.

** it is nice having the extra hands and it gives me more time with my sewing machine.

** i have picked up my knitting needles again.

** knitting at night while watching tv.

**today is the last day of  the holiday sales at lucends.

** enter BLACK10 to receive 10% off your entire order.

** i have a huge pot of chili cooking.

** c's top two teeth are coming in at the same time.

** joy oh joy.

** i have been listening to lots of xmas music.

** what is your favorite christmas song?

** mine is the little drummer boy and what child is this?

** i am trying to finish up some quilting projects that have been lingering.

** and testing out new ideas for the shop for 2011.

** happy tuesday.

caught up

i am finally caught up on all of my virtual quilting bees.

and this feels sooooo good.

now i can focus on finishing up

some of my projects

and work on some new ideas 

i have brewing in my head.

bits and pieces bee made two of these blocks

pins and needles bee

pins and needles bee

3x6 bee 4th quarter. made 6 of these in different colors

meet kit

do you name your cars?
i do.

there was betsy, white lightening, and old blue.
then i stopped naming my cars.
for no particular reason.
i wasn't inspired.
names did not pop into my head
while driving.

several weeks ago
i named my car.
a 2006 silver vw passat
that i have driven for
the past three years.

why did i suddenly feel compelled to name my car?

it was when my mom was here visiting.
we had been running a few errands.
it was cold and rainy.
we had one last stop to make.
we decided that i would run in
and mom would stay with c.

seemed like a good plan.
until my car developed
a mind of its own.

i got out of the car
and shut my door.
mom got out of the car
to sit in the back seat with c.
she shut her door.

and then she heard it.
the car locked.
i mean locked down.
every door, window and trunk.
with the keys in the ignition
running
and c in back seat.

what do you mean it locked i asked her?

sure enough
the passat turned into kit from knight rider
with my child in the back seat.

i called ph to come quickly.
mom called triple a.
i went inside took care of my business.
mom tried to keep c from crying.
while standing in the rain.

for the most part he had no idea
he was locked in the car by himself.
it was more traumatic on mom and i.
we both cried
and
wondered if it was too early for a drink.

kit has refused to repeat the incident
despite my request.
vw said they couldn't fix it unless
it locked down again.

but my car now has a name,
does yours?

a moment

cooper's hawk

this is cooper now.
in the afterlife.

i never knew how
i felt about life after death.
or if i believed that your
spirit lives on in some other form.
until cooper.

i am believer.
now.
because of him.

cooper's form
is a cooper's hawk.

i know it is my cooper
because he appears when
we need to see him.
when we need a sign
that he is ok.
that he is close.
that he is with us.

he always knows when to stop by...

he made an appearance
the day chace was born.
on thanksgiving.
the other day when i was sewing.
and today after the first snow.

ph is the one that usually sees him.
but recently he has been coming by
to see me.
i can not tell you how happy this makes me.

today, he came by
to see his little brother
and let ph take a picture.

isn't he spectacular?