Friday, December 25, 2009

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas continued...






Cooperate, Please!




We are now card carrying members of one of the most talked about (good and bad) and awesome institutions in all of Park Slope or The Land for that matter. We now get 20-40% off our grocery bill in exchange for 2 3/4 hours of work a month. The orientation was 2 hours - the only real date Craig and I have been on since Finley's birth - let me tell you, food can be sexy. We joined right away and chose our work shifts. Craig picked Maintenance because you get a further break - 2 hours, and he was supposed to be The Mop Guy but when he showed up for his first shift Today! he found out the harsh truth that he is, in fact - Toilet Bowl Guy. He retains his humor and willingness:) I am in Shipping/Received and start next week. Gorgeous, organic food - C-H-E-A-P. Merry Christmas to US!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

More Santa Laps




While we are on the topic - a few months ago I found this... photo #7 out of 10 from my early childhood. I think I am 3 1/2 here - a year older that Finley is now. I think I was always scared of him. Another couple of the same one of Finley's that I put through a great iphone app - Craig said I had to post the scary one!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Radio City & The First Santa Lap!










Bebe and Pops treated Finley and I to the Radio City Christmas Show and a stroll by Rockefeller Center! Radio City had a surprise Santa on the Mezzanine level on our way to our seats - no line. Finley runs right up to him and gives him a big hug and gets right on his lap which I never thought would happen. Then she earnestly asked him for "a pink camera with sparkles on it"!! The show was amazing - completely different from when I last saw it in 1999. A live orchestra is almost shocking to see. Finley's face was really something. Seriously, I would pay my last sheckle to see that little face beaming and screaming - oooing and ahhhing and waving. Bebe's face was pretty priceless too - looking at Finley with her hands clutched under her chin in joy. Pops had a pretty good time too I think:)

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Best X-Mas Card EVER!



We love this card! I want to see it all the time so I am putting it here too:)

Cousins!!




Thank you to the Girl Scouts of America for having a holiday field trip that brought my Cousins Phebe and her daughter Nora to town. It is so great to have family and friends come out here and make this place really feel like home.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Aunt Sugar Cookie!






She totally loves and remembers you for this, just as planned!! We had fun eating those yummy cookies and taking pictures.

Monday, December 07, 2009

Sing Out!



Pete Seeger is awesome. I knew he was one of the greatest "Folkies" right up there with Woody Guthrie. I knew that he lived in Beacon, NY which is right on the Hudson. I used to go there every week for a spell and always loved that little town and wanted to maybe try to meet him someday. That's about all I knew about Pete Seeger. Well, I had no idea, of course. I love it when I happen upon something that I already feel I know something about and then it just flattens me with humility. Humble pie, that is. Here are a few things that stuck out for me while watching "The Power of Song" the other day (once again, put in on your netflix, y'all)... His parents were traveling musicians who wanted to teach "real music" (classical) to mountain/common people and ended up learning more than they taught. He was the best banjo player in the northeast. He played and traveled with Woody who actually taught him to ride the rails. He had/has a better time playing for children than anyone, anywhere. He only has a good time playing for people if they sing with him. He built his own house with his wife, Toshi and they have lived there ever since. His adult children didn't seem like the happiest bunch, interestingly enough. He wasn't able to play on radio or tv for 17 years because he was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. When he was able to play again and the Weavers got back together he then quit because he didn't want a song of theirs used to sell cigarettes. He didn't seek commercial success but it always tried to find him. He founded the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater organization and cleaned up the Hudson. He has a strawberry festival every year which I really want to go to next year. He made an ice skating rink out of his front yard for a winter party. Basically, everything he does is about bringing people together and empowering them to do better for themselves and for others. He turned 90 last year and I really hope to see him at that next berry festival:) Aren't those pictures amazing? I do believe it's the same banjo.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

The Year of Our Record - 2009


With the end of the year upon us I would like to reflect a moment on the fact that though we did not get to quit our day jobs (not that all of us would or should but SOME of us wanted to!) The Dreyer Family Band record was still one of the very best experiences of my life. Our most notable accolade (to me, so far) was an inclusion in the top 10 children's records of 2009 in this month's Time Out New York Kids (we were #6, actually)... A special thanks to Gracie, one of our best fans - I see you buying all those records on CDBaby, woman!