It's hard to believe it's 2009 already! Seems like we just turned the new millennium yesterday! I had a few extra days off over the holidays and Cubby and I braved the cold to go the park in Delta Mills near Linda's. The slides are pretty high and open so we went down together. Lots of giggles and laughs. Cubby is wearing his monster hat. He's been feeling all of his terrible two's lately so the hat is quite appropriate.
My sister has been calling for a week to find out "is it Christmas yet?" With the snowy weather and first my mom sick and then my dad sick, we hadn't gotten together to have our Christmas. It finally all worked out this weekend and we got together to open presents including the ones that had been sent from California. My presents included tiger eye beads and wonderful silver african animal charms so I guess there is going to be another quilt in the works.
Mom, Dad, Liz, Ian and I also went to see the Seuss exhibit at Saper Galleries. Ted Geisel created much more than just the books I grew up with. The show was wonderful and we had great fun talking about our memories reading the stories together.
Saturday night my mom had her first Mystic Shake experience. Dad was still a little under the weather so mom and I went to Cappuccino Cafe to hear the band. Irene joined us there and we all had time to catch up with holiday happenings.
A year ago this week I was in Florence, Italy. Hard to believe the time has gone so fast! Even though it was January, the weather there was nothing like we're having here this year. The temperature was 50-60 degrees, sweaters and jackets and lots of walking. Plenty warm enough!
I think I remember hearing our new president comment on how young America really is. Babies compared to Italy and the ancient civilizations that existed there. Florence is a Renaissance town. You can just picture Shakespearian characters walking down the narrow streets. Fantastic wine, unbelievable art, incredible architecture. Impossible to see and grasp it all in one visit. 
This boar has a very happy face. He gets lots of love. See his shiny snout? The story goes that if you rub his snout, someday you'll come back to Florence. I hope so!
