Busha Full Of Grace

Towards Epiphany

These twelve holy nights are potently filled with faith and hope.

Shopping, Shooting and Sledding

Yesterday we headed out to experience downtown with Heather and Zak. It was much warmer (ha! 33 degrees) than it had been, as we browsed the stores and had some lunch. There was this little cafe that charged for the soup by the weather. Ingenious marketing idea. Then as we got back in the car and headed to my favorite thrift shop, we decided to pull off at Montrose Harbor so that Heather could shoot some photos of one of my favorite places here in Chicago. I love to walk along Lake Michigan right here. Not only was it even more beautiful this day.... There were squirrels and Canadian geese: And folks patiently ice fishing: Refreshing and beautiful. What is new about the snow country for me? oooooooh...the colors. The shades of blue and white and gray and aqua green. They are exquisite: clean and subtly bright. Even the seagulls along Lake Michigan boasted a blue cast to their feathers when backdropped by the snow. A world incandescent. We were all so invigorated, happy and playful. A sighed outbreath from the indoors we had experienced the past few days. On Montrose Avenue we noticed a little sledding hill with a couple of families and plenty of parking. So we called Shannon and Isaac and had them bring the kids down to meet us, and had a spontaneous sledding adventure. I think the spontaneity of it was all the more fun. EVERYONE sledded, even me. It was late afternoon, and there was something romantically ripe about sledding in the quiet, darkening light; where the laughter and squeals of my family were all that were echoing in the world around me. When we were sufficiently tired and cold, we packed up and said goodbye to the Vargas family. But, as our car pulled up adjacent to theirs on the road, Shannon waved us down and told us that Ike was so sad, saying he was just going to get a knife and cut open the car door to get to our car. So...we took him with us to the bookstore to browse, then we all ended up at the movies seeing Bedtime Stories, the new Disney movie with Adam Sandler. So, as I prefaced this story last night, while my eyes were closed my cup was ready to spilleth over...

When Your Eyes Are Closed

Your cup spilleth over. Last I wrote, I was kinda wah-wahing. Then today without planning, so many good things happened. But alas, I am in bed and pooped; so my story and photos will have to wait until morning.

Me and Janis

 

It's like that song that keeps running through my head, "Me and Bobby McGee", what does Janis Joplin say?

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose...

That's how I'm feeling this morning here in my new grown up life. Happy for the children and grandchildren around me but sadly longing for those not here. This is just not normal for our family. Like Satchel wrote to me, "Don't be sad Busha. When this is all over we'll be together for Christmas." Sweet little boy. And this is the second year Alex hasn't been with us.

I love you guys, and carry you in my heart through this holiday season.

Here's heartfelt wishes to all of you blogland friends, hoping that your loved ones are all near. xoxoxo

My Find for a Freezing Solstice

I have a favorite thrift store close to my house here. It's quite large and it is the place where I get all of my sweaters for my recycled sewing projects. Last week I found a beautiful pale blue cashmere sweater for Swapna for $4.00, which she wore today, in which she looked very beautiful; and brand new Hanna Andersson Christmas pajamas for Jahan in organic cotton, for $1.80.

But my freezing solstice find was this camel colored 100% wool blanket, made in the USA by the Faribault Woolen Mill. It is large, in perfect condition, washable, and soft and warm. I'm using it over my down comforter which creates so much more warmth. It was only $5.00! I LOVE IT when this happens!

We're expecting snow again tonight which means tomorrow it will warm up to 30 degrees. That means we can go out in the daytime. Truly, the last two days have been physically painful to be outside. And that's not just this surfer girl talking, all the locals are saying the same thing that I am saying. Frigid cold. I've also been wearing the warm wool socks that Zak's girlfriend, Heather, knitted for me. Here they are amidst yesterday's cookie baking mess:

German Christkindlmarket and Christmas Cookie Weekend

Zak is here! Ike is beside himself that Uncle Shotgun is here. Yesterday was a great first day together. We all bundled up and walked to the red line and took it downtown to Daly Plaza where the German Christmas festival is taking place. It was cold, but, my heart's desire came true. Out amongst the revelers, lights everywhere, musicians on corners and snow falling. We started with a grilled cheese sandwich at Shannon's house. Ike went wild. Potty talk abounded. Why is it that when men (even 5 year olds) get in the company of buddies (even old uncles) their mind gets possessed with unsavory things (like "stinky diapers", "weiners", and ok, even football?) and they body slam and rough and tumble everywhere? So the weekend was spent trying not to laugh at Ike's unbridled joy at seeing Zak while we constantly reminded him of what was innappropriate. But his face basically stayed like this for 2 days:

Fiona wasn't quite as sure, but warmed up to Zak more quickly than to either myself, or Camille:

Shannon was post-call on Saturday, exhausted, and pretty sad about one of her patients. She tried hard to be a trooper, but my mama's eyes could see her struggle. Before we left for downtown her AMA membership certificate arrived in the mail. We were all congratulating her and she said, "Yeah. This is  why I'm soooooo happy." It was fun to see Ike wearing the Christmas vest and hat I made for him last year (out of recycled sweaters.) And Fiona was just a little rosey, pink marshmellow in the hat and scarf I made for Ike a few years ago: Oh my lord, it was cold. As well, it began snowing when we left the house and snowed, basically all night. The first thing Zak and Ike did was check on Ike's snowman from the other day. Zak: "Where's his head?" Ike: (looking puzzled) "Under his hat, Uncle Shotgun." Downtown was spectacular. We had dinner at the Christkindlmarket...potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce, bratwurst sandwiches, and hot cocoa and cider. I don't know if it was the freezing weather or not, but it was hot, flavorful, and a new rendition of comfort food. The crafts were quite sweet, very Waldorf, which I anticipated. Santa was there and I believe he was the sweetest, most soft spoken pretend Santa I've ever seen. Even Fiona took a moment to cry. Ikey told him he wanted a pirhanna for Christmas ("No, not a REAL one silly"). The carriages were working, and it was my first time to see Christmas vignettes with real snow. It made all the difference. So beautiful, and with the German mountain scenes I was so taken by the beauty. Ike loved them too. There was a fire in a little firepit where the pigeons warmed themselves: On Sunday, it was 3 degrees, BUT -29 with the windchill factor! We stayed in at Shannies, made a big pot of chili, guys watched football and we baked cookies. When we had to outdoors for anything it was painful. Actually painful. Oh but to be inside was So. Very. Cozy. Another realization for me...the true meaning of "slower than molasses in January": Is this a dream come true, while vacationing in Chicago on the coldest day of the year to date? Zak was in heaven. Then we began decorating the cookies:

We served the chili with shredded cheddar, diced red onion, sour cream and avacado for garnish, along with corn muffins and butter.  Dee-Lish.

 

Right after dinner as we visited and as we prepared ourselves for the frigid task of "leaving" Ike and I noticed the beautiful ice crystals that had formed on the windows:

 

Ike's 5th Brithday

Yesterday Ike turned 5. I remember when he was born in Guadalajara; there was a life-sized creche in the foyer of the birthing center. When we left, the place was very quiet and empty. I had this emotional idea to place him in the manger in front of Mary. We did it. And now this photo had become part of their family's Christmas decorations. Shannon says she still feels weird, like it is sacraligious. I don't, it has a powerfully spiritual feeling for me. Probably because I so connected to the live nativity every Christmas at my grammar school. I longed to be the family who had most recently had a baby who got to play the Christ Child. But that never happened, because I was the youngest in my family. So here is Baby Isaac. For his birthday, Ike chose a Chinese dragon to decorate his cake. It was beautiful...AND the cake itself divine, melt in your mouth chocolate with mousse filling and rainbow sprinkles. And as you can see from the bottom of the photo, he couldn't resist a taste. It was a cozy day of birthday celebration with an Asian theme that began with a dragon...family visiting and playing...noisemakers and balloons...presents...a yummy meal...and cake with our family flair. (play dough made by Busha) (a sheepskin hat made by Grampy) a celestial playsilk And then the cake. "Ikey, close your eyes...don't peek! The song: The wish: The serious-as-a-heart-attack enjoyment: The finale: I'll leave the process to your imagination. Go ahead, get wild. It's probably accurate.

My Answer Is No

People ask me all the time, "Isn't the cold horrible for you? Moving to Chicago from California?" And my answer is no. I bundle up. I enjoy wearing my knitting projects with a purpose. I have a beautiful baby to hold close. And, when it is beyond cold, this is where we spend much of our time...

One Teeny Tiny Peek

I have to share one little peek into the things I have made this holiday season, just because I am in love with her. This is a little knot doll I made for Temple that will go into the mail to Canada today. Now, read on, to my crazy weekend....

My Weekend

It all began with a weird awakening at 4am on Saturday. I am housesitting for Shannon's friends. A cute little brick home right down the block from where I live. They were supposed to return on the 13th. Well, Saturday morning at 4:15 I awoke with the husband standing in the bedroom doorway, drinking a soda, staring at me like, "Who the hell is in my bed?" And there I am, spread eagle, snoring, probably like a locomotive. I struggle to wake up, mumbling something about business trips and South America and stumble off to thespare bedroom. I'm not quite sure where the wires got crossed, but his plans had changed from what I was told and it created a terribly awkward few moments in my life. Basically, I. Wanted. To. Die. Instead, I just tried to sound sane through bleary eyed thoughts, and laughed nervously and inappropriately. When I awoke he was gone again, so I left a note of confusion and apology. Finally, today he called me to apologize himself and thank me for taking such good care of their home. But back to Saturday. I then decided to go to the Holiday Faire at The Chicago Waldorf School. It was snowing, and this was my first solo driving journey in snow and ice. It wasn't so bad, and was very beautiful. The Faire too, was lovely and I was thoroughly enjoying myself up in the gymnasium on the top floor, browsing through all the vendors. There was this crazy percussion marching band strolling through in wild get-ups, very Mardi Gras esque. And then....the fire alarm goes off and the building has to be evacuated. It was packed with families with many little children. The move outdoors was actually really smooth. The band didn't miss a beat. The whole feel was like a crazy dream. I had parked right in front (lucky me, a blogger's dream) so I had a good view of all the goings on. And I really was taken by the sight before my eyes. I had to laugh. There was this crazy ass band not missing a beat And a dad dancing around in a fairy costume giving out prizes to the kids And funny guys on cell phones Now, we all know that Waldorf is very dear to my heart. But to sit and watch this activity through the eyes of another It was all so very amusing.