more puppy love

Some big news to post later today, but in the meantime, more pics of Griffin (scroll down for the more recent pics and movies). He has decided that snow is just about the most fun thing ever. When we got the big storms (24" of snow) over last weekend, and before I plowed, he would leap in and just about disappear but for the tip of his tail, then pop up every so often like a seal. He wasn't too happy about the pooping when cold wet stuff is touching his butt (can't blame him, really), but quickly figured out that some pirouettes in place would tamp the snow down enough that he could stand on it, rather than in it. Smart pup.

It really is amazing how much difference a month makes -- he's got to have just about doubled in size, and is 22+ lbs. Griffin is going to be a big boy, and is growing into a very handsome dog.

big news

Now that most folks are off for the holidays and away from their computers, I'll take this quiet time to post some news...

So I've been pretty quiet the last several months. Partly that's just massive busy -- just this last week we've been through the culmination of two year's worth of a project at work, a few feet of snow, hasty tractor repairs, the Winter Revels performances, the last month brought a new puppy (see previous post), and the last six months brought a few zillion other things and happenings, most of them quite wonderful.

But another reason for quiet has been just breathing and hoping. That takes a lot of time and energy. Now that we're past the end of the first trimester, I can tell you that my partner Claudia is pregnant, and the baby is due on or about Summer Solstice. Those of you who know some of our history of the last number of years know that miscarriage, cancer and the simple realities of getting into our 40s, made this something that we both thought and were told was basically impossible, and which we had pretty much given up hoping for. Having tried the whole in vitro route, the docs had told us the chances were beyond miniscule that we'd be able to have another child, and with sorrow, we had let that hope go. In fact, just this last year we finally gave away the last of our baby stuff. Ha. The universe has a really incredible sense of humor...and is endlessly surprising, and infinitely creative.

So please, if you would, think good thoughts in our direction, for Claudia and the new little person growing in her, that they both may be healthy and strong. There are never any guarantees, but so far all appears well, and we have hope for the future, and for the immense blessing of the impossible made manifest. This winter's hibernation and gestation is quite literal for us here, and we hope for a child of promise, full of life and joy, to be born come summer.

Yuletide blessings to you all, and good surprises all around, to you and all your loves,

--Chelidon

sleep now

Tree is trimmed and lit (with Forest, as the youngest in the house -- at least until next year -- doing the honors of placing the star on the top), family and friends in the house are asleep or on their way there, Forest is long asleep with visions of sugarplums, or perhaps Legos, in his head, there's plenty of wood on the fire, the lovely dinner meal is digesting with the help of some good wine and after-dinner port, stockings have been, per tradition, hung on the mantle with care (and well-stuffed by house denizens and/or Santa), other gifties have been sneakily snuck downstairs and placed under the tree, the dog has been walked and is happily snoozing....so now it is finally time for me to grab a few much-needed Zs myself. Heck, if I stay up much longer, Santa might pass us by, and that wouldn't do at all, not at all.

I am particularly grateful that we moved to a somewhat more innocent place, where my 9-year-old boy, and most of his classmates, have not been jaded beyond their years, and still believe in Santa Claus. Because I still do, too.

A thrice-blessed Yule and a very merry Christmas, in the very best traditions of both, to you all. Good night and sweet dreams!