Heavy lifting

A blizzard is predicted for later in the week. Thankfully Mike Gill, the man who I contacted to deliver the fuel for the pellet stove, was amenable to moving his delivery up two days

What's in my parking space?

A pallet of wood pellets.

To be carried to the basement.

The family guessed how long it would take me to move the 60 bags.

Arianna's guessed an hour.

It took me 40 minutes to move the pile from the garage to the basement corridor, leading up to the garage.

Sunday skate

The rink awaits . . .



One week after she first tried to skate, with considerably more confidence, Arianna is ready to skate.



Much steadier . . . better balance . . . .



What's this? With her little friend Samantha, for whom Arianna bought a pair of skates yesterday.

City & Country

Today we attended the second of three Chicago Symphony Orchestra performances of the Kraft Family Matinee Series. Although Arianna admitted that she didn't really know what to do at a music concert, our suggestion for her to carry a sketch pad and pencil cheered her.

In fact Arianna didn't draw during the concert. These performances are not at all like what you'd experience in the evening, adult concerts. They are highly interactive. Members of local theater troupes perform, the conductor engages the audience. After all, it's intended for children.

We enjoyed our time at Orchestra Hall. And, I think Arianna may even be looking forward to the third and final performance in May.

After the concert we went 'uptown' . . . to shop at the American Girl store. Arianna has had a gift card for much too long and since we were in the city . . . .

As one might expect, it took quite a while to decide what to buy. The immensity of the store, with its two floors of displays, certainly added to the sense of being overwhelmed. At one point I wasn't at all sure, Arianna would be able to decide.

But in the end, she decided on something that underscores her most recent interest. Hint: Winter footwear.

I. Arianna at the American Girl Place, Michigan Avenue, Chicago

The entire experience of walking around town was new for Arianna. The John Hancock building piqued her curiosity. As did the many high rise condominiums. She simply couldn't imagine living in the midst of so much hustle and bustle.

To round off the afternoon, we drove north to Lincoln Square -- one of several neighborhoods in which we lived prior to moving to Missouri. Our hope was to find a German deli. But we knew that in all likelihood we would not be successful. Too many years had passed. The two stores we'd known in the 80's had long since closed their doors.

Our favorite store-front restaurant was still in business: Roseded. So we enjoyed a bite to eat before driving back to the suburbs.

A nice day.

After dinner skate

Undeterred by her lack of experience, Arianna insisted on going skating after dinner.

She was much more confident. She understood the idea of "push and glide" and got around the rink in my arms a number of times without falling.

She even skated on her own a good three . . . maybe four feet . . . to where I waited with outstretched arms.

Skating!

A quarter inch of powder fell early Saturday morning. It was just what I needed. Up and out before Mass yesterday morning, I sprayed just enough water for the snow to absorb the liquid. It was 6 F, so the water froze by the time I got home. Once again, before dinner. Then again, after Arianna went to bed.

And after Mass this morning . . . we got on the ice!



I. Arianna's first attempt to skate




II. Nervous . . . unsteady . . . but not afraid




III. Arianna learns to balance




IV. Arianna learns to fall




V. Arianna takes a breather

Ice Rink . . . Still More Progress

It's interesting how temperature impacts the quality of snow. With yesterday's drop in temperatures (it went down to -8 F), the snow crystallized to a hard pack that doesn't absorb water as easily as I'd like. As a result I was outside last night for more than 2 hours soaking the rink.

Today's high was 9 F. I worked from home and fussed with the hose off and on thoughout the day. I'd hope to "flood" but for various reasons that approach isn't effective. So, after I knocked off for the day, I "suited up" and sprayed.






Then, after Arianna was in bed . . . .

Post-puzzle blues

Since the beginning of the month Bruno and Sharon, and to a lesser extent Arianna and me have been playing with a puzzle given to Bruno at Christmas. This has been the most challenging puzzle we've built. 1500 pieces. A very detailed photo.



Yesterday Bruno fitted the last 25 pieces together.

Today he's cranky.



Arianna has already suggested another puzzle to occupy his time.

Ice Rink . . . More Progress

Monday's snowfall may not have accomplished what I'd hoped, i.e., fill in the gaps, but it does add to the base.

Cold arctic blast is due in tomorrow night. Am just crazy enough to stand outside in the hope of getting the rink skatable by weekend.

Ice Rink . . . Progress

A sudden rise in the temperature and two inches of heavy, wet snow. Eight hours lost? Or, a help to the cause?

Ice Rink

Up and out before Mass yesterday morning; then, out after Arianna went sleep.

Up and out before Mass this morning; and again, our after Arianna went to sleep.

It's a routine: 4 pair of socks, long johns, sweat pants, sweat shirt, sweater, the hoodie Sharon sewed for me in the 80's, the old green Eddie Bauer jacket -- circa 1977 -- and finally my outer jacket.

Boil a cup of water in the microwave oven.

Into the boiler room and carry the hose up the back stairs to through the garage to the back yard.

Connect the hose.

Retrieve the boiling cup of water from the basement and pour it on the faucet.

Turn on the faucet.

Drag the hose out to the yard and make sure there are no kinks.

Spray.

Home sick

A lost week for Arianna.

Sick in bed since Tuesday.

Noch einmal . . .

Winter weather appears to be in the long range forecast.

So, here goes another attempt at making an ice rink in the back yard.

It happens . . .

Woke up, dressed for Mass, got in the car, and . . . nothing!

Argh!

Bad starter motor? Not the battery. Checked that after breakfast.

Not a very happy beginning to the week.

Back in the box

Without ceremony, we took down the Christmas tree today. It was up for such a short time this year.

Everybody had a job to do.



Sharon's exacting standards as to how one dismantles and stores the tree and its decorations were often painstaking.



Back in the box!



May we all be around in December to unpack the shiny brites again.

Sad News

At 4 AM, Wednesday, Sharon answered the telephone and learned that my great-aunt Marion died. She was 82 years old and had heart surgery last year. Her son, Karl, had telephoned me in early December to let me know that Marion was in decline and had been put in hospice care.

Although she celebrated one last Christmas in her Mesa, Arizona home, it sounds as if she suffered through the holidays.

With the death of my great-aunt an entire generation of my Mother's family has vanished from the earth.

I remember my Aunt Marion (although she was in fact my Mother's aunt -- the wife of the brother of my Mother's Mother -- throughout our lives, my sisters and I referred to her simply as Aunt Marion) as a homemaker with impeccable skills. She kept an extraordinarily tidy home, was an excellent cook, and always generous in her hospitality.

Growing up in Detroit in the 1970's, after I obtained a driver's license, her home was always open to me. Whenever I drove out to the suburbs to visit her sons I never left her home hungry.

Colored by the innocence of childhood, I will always have happy memories of celebrating Christmas with my Aunt's and the extended Kobetis / Kobe / Oberndorfer family.

In particular, the Christmas Eve spent at their newly purchased Farmington Hills home (1973?) resonates in my imagination with the songs of the old country and the convivial merry making that the 'greatest generation' enjoyed.

For the memories, I am thankful.

Marion Kiefer Kobe (1928 - 2011) -- rest in peace.

Happy New Year!

A first: Arianna stayed awake to ring in the new year! The photo at left was taken at 12:10 AM, 1/1/11.

Of course, once 2011 was rung in . . . Arianna couldn't help but note her disappointment. She thought it would be a memorable event . . . fireworks outside the front window, confetti raining from the ceiling, hi-jinx of all sorts. Instead it was just three oldsters trying to stay awake for her sake.

###

Arianna slept until 9 AM.

Upon my return from Mass, Bruno was on the war path. (Happy New Year!) He was crazily inquiring about his economic circumstances . . . so he could move out of the house! All morning he was antagonistic, crazy for a knock down drag out verbal confrontation.

This was to be expected. Holidays always result in a week or so of irrationality. One needs to find one's bearings again after all; 0ne oughtn't be congenial for too long.

I'd expected Sharon to bear the brunt of this next week -- after Arianna and I were back at school and work.