_MG_0302

_MG_0302
Originally uploaded by ninniane

Fifty-One / Fifty-Two 12.18.10 - 12.24.10

It's a pity that I had to wait until the very last day of my week in California to get a photo with a blue sky. Jen and I flew out on the Saturday just after school ended. We were here for six days, and it rained on every single one of them. Everything we had planned to do - go to Venice Beach, go to Disney Land, check out City Walk - ended up not happening. We did go to the Getty on Sunday, and on Monday I got my Kindle and we took a drive down Rodeo Drive, oh, and we found The Witch's House (more info here): www.seeing-stars.com/Landmarks/WitchesHouse.shtml That was also the day my parents' came out. On Tuesday we spent most of the day with my Bubby, working on hanging all the artwork in her apartment and generally doing a bit of clean-up around her place. Wednesday was a quiet day with a nice evening of a birthday dinner and Hanukah/ Christmas/ birthday present opening, and Thursday morning we headed for the airport to fly back to Chicago.

Morning Frost

Morning Frost
Originally uploaded by ninniane

Fifty / Fifty-two 12.10.10 - 12.16.10

The bitter cold has arrived this week. I've spent every morning scraping the frost off my car, and though it is pretty, I could definitely do without it. I am looking forward to getting to California and getting some sunshine.

Lights and Ornaments

Lights and Ornaments
Originally uploaded by ninniane

Forty-Nine / Fifty-Two 12.03.10 - 12.09.10

The tree is up and dressed in its holiday finery. I love decorating my tree - it's a yearly ritual that sets the tone for the holiday season. This year's tone: quiet and minimal. I didn't try to cram on every ornament I've got, and I didn't make a big deal out of putting on music and making cookies on tree-day. I took a couple hours in the evening to get the lights and ornaments on, and that was it. Simple. Low-key. Easy.

The Empty Room

The Empty Room
Originally uploaded by ninniane

Forty-Eight/Fifty-Two 11.26.10 - 12.02.10

My student teacher, John finished his last week this week. Thursday was his last day, and when I came in on Friday morning, it was strange to see an empty classroom. After three months, I was adjusted to seeing him in the room in the mornings. The next couple weeks of work are going to be so odd.

Fly-By #2

Fly-By #2
Originally uploaded by ninniane

Fourty-six/Fifty-two 11.12.10 - 11.18.10

This week has been hectic. Incredibly so. In fact, it went by fast enough that I didn't take the photo for it until three weeks later, because I've been doing so much other stuff. Oh yes, I am a busy girl. But at least I'm having fun!

04 - Set Table

04 - Set Table
Originally uploaded by ninniane

Fourty-Seven/Fifty-two 11.19.10 - 11.25.10

This week's big event was Thanksgiving. We cooked for eight people, and made way too much food, but it was such fun! We had leftovers for everyone to take home, and there was still enough food in the house to eat for a week. The menu was as follows:

Cheese and Crackers (Hors D'oeuvres)
Turkey (brined in orange and apple juice)
Green Bean Casserole
Traditional Sausage Stuffing
Spinach-Gruyere Stuffing
Scalloped Potatoes (Ben's dish)
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Acorn Squash
Cranberry Relish
Spinach-Jicama Salad (Diane's dish)
Deviled Eggs (Linn's dish)
Pumpkin Pie
Ice Cream Cake (Diane's dish)
Wine - Clos Pegase Chardonnay
Wine - Eroica Reisling