I had hoped that when Meg and La came with their families in January that we'd be able to pick bananas off our banana plants. For the first year since we've been here, we had half a dozen maturing bunches. The week of consecutive freezing nights killed off every one of them. It also killed all of the other banana plants that were in succeeding phases of maturation. Nathan did have a lovely time slashing all the dead stuff down, though. So I guess the event wasn't a total disappointment.
Nate pointed out the cat sitting in the sun at the back of his desk--she'd just worked her way out from behind the wooden blinds and was looking over what Nathan and I were doing.
Nate and I went on a walk, trying to find me something to take a picture of for my class. This tiny, very old dog was trotting along the canal fence and came up to Nathan. Nate picked him up and then put him down again--at which point the dog continued his journey down the canal way. He didn't look lost; seemed to enjoy the moment of attention from Nate.
This is an anhinga drying its wings at the edge of the lake where Nate and I walk Linda's dogs. It was well insulated from the sidewalk traffic by a generous clump of sea grapes bushes. I like the silhouette of him, though. Just a cool picture of a cool bird.

Dad and Cindy come in to visit us tonight. They have just come from Cindy's sister's wedding. I guess it was a wonderful celebration--her first try at marriage not a real big success. I hope that they don't mind that we're getting cool weather still. I have been watching the Winter Olympics in Norway (?) (I think.) on and off all afternoon while cleaning like crazy and vacuuming up all the dust bunnies I could find in the corners and under the sofa. Cindy's home is always spotless--while cleaning isn't one of my strong suits--or even a suit I would like to become better at. It will be nice to see them. It has been quite a few months since we were out in Utah. Brent and I change so little, I don't plan trips to visit to keep everyone in on the children's growth. I have a hard time just keeping up with what everyone is doing now.

Nate is doing really well in Chem and Algebra and Art History--I can't remember the other class he's in. I like watching him take charge and get all of his school work done. He'll probably be called for a part-time full-time genealogy center mission soon. I'm psyched. He's calmer about it. But then, he's calmer about just about everything.

Uncle Nathan with Jonathan Rytting. Very nice photograph.
Jon takes on the road. And wins.
Meg, Nate and Jon in Florida like Florida is suppose to be in January.
My latest closeup of one of the male cranes that visits daily.
Jonathan's favorite part of any bath--getting to play with the handle.
Jon and me--his grandma. He has just pulled the leaves off of one of my platted ornamentals.
Brent and me--about a year ago when we were visiting Meg and Anton. Jon was just born.
Meg and Jon spend a lot of time just being quiet together.

I will have to write more. I spent all my time tonight on my carolynandbrent blog. I am taking a photography class (black and white and developing my own film with chemicals and stuff . . . we shall see . . .) and an advanced Algebra class. Rah! Rah! Rah!

Everyone keeps asking me what camera I use to take the photos I show off. It is almost to the point where I remember to write it down so that I can tell them. Almost.

Lauren's Etsy Creations

I do not have the patience that Lauren does to keep doing one thing over and over, getting better and better with each repetition. I have been too carefully kept by Brent for the last 27 years to want to make myself find the self-restraint and attention to detail that is required for the kinds of creations that Lauren produces.

Sweater Monster Book--the cat was waundering by as I snapped the picture.
One kind of sweater monster is more conventionally shaped: 4 legs, face, ears, tail.
I loved this book. The black area is magnetized and there are, wrapped in red paper, more words to pick from in the half-round pocket/shelf. I picked these to be on the front when we wrapped the book.
I love the subtile embossing on this small book--a gold SOUL MATE and a green frog.
Somehow, Lauren actually sewed the wool thread onto the cover of this book.
This is my favorite sweater monster--I love the wings.
This was a complete surprise: grapes and a leaf, echoed by the cloth cover.
I think that the monster on the left is Brent Sweat.
Little Red Riding Hood in the forest. Very cool.

These are some of the creations that Lauren sent us when we asked her to make Christmas presents for the people that work with Brent. There were hand-bound books, sweater monsters and shadow boxes for us to give away. I had a hard time wrapping them up for others to have. One of the other managing attorneys was going to be on vacation this week, so Brent brought his presents on Friday. He has two children--11 and 14-ish--and the younger (son) really loved his monster. He decided to name it Brent Sweat (for Brent Sweater Monster). Brent said that he felt honoured--kind of. The Brent part was OK, but the Sweat part was kind of gross.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. A toast to hope that 2010 is as wonderful for you as 2009 was for me.

Some Art Photos from Minnesota and Peter Missing Me in Florida

Looking up at the sky from the base of the tree in Minnesota--August 2009.

I love this small toad. It was the only bit of wildlife besides insects I was able to photograph.


Here is Peter. While I was gone, the rabbits quit using their potty boxes. I felt sorry for Nathan, who was home taking care of them for me--but I was a little glad that they noticed I was gone and missed me.

The side of Susan's home--beautiful and peaceful. Stairs lead upstairs to her apartment and the front porch at the left of the photo runs the length of the main house.

Good art shot of Fever, the horse I road most of the time while I was there.

I love the texture of these yellow cone flowers. I've never seen anything like them.

Beautiful butterfly on the purple pom-pom wild flowers we found while riding one afternoon.

An incredible shot of a Monarch butterfly

on a purple cone flower.

These are a few of the photographs that I took (except the one of Peter) while in Minnesota. It was a wonderful week spent with Susan and Martha. I rode and read and walked and thought and rode again and shopped a little and visited with some of Susan's children. It was cooler than Florida (duh!) and there was a fine dust of brown soil that covered the area. Like the ubiquitous sand in Florida and the bunny and cat dust-buns in the corners of my house, it was everywhere. I didn't mind, though, it was just part of the magic of the place. I walked the property most of the evenings and afternoons when she went out to check each of the horses on the property. I know that every horse there is taken care of and loved very well. I can hardly wait to visit again.

Things I Miss While I Am in Minnesota With Susan and Martha

1. can't go barefoot
2. horseflies
3. being nipped by a horse who is trying to groom me
4. feeling like I am not getting enough done while I'm here
5. having Brent rub my neck
6. reading scriptures aloud to Brent at night
7. knowing that I could be riding with more skill
8. my rabbits frisking me for treats
9. peeling the lizards
10. the challenge of waking Nate up in the morning
11. having Nate do my laundry
12. swimming in the pool
13. lizards, birds, spiders, frogs, snakes etc to photograph
14. palm trees and ferns
15. my garden
16. hugging Brent when he gets home from work
17. riding with Brent in the car on the way to/from meetings in Stuart, FL
18. Nate bringing Chinese food home for dinner
19. the emergency clinic near our house
20. not being able to talk with Brent lots of times during the day

Things I Love About Being With Susan and Martha in Minnesota

1. cooler weather
2. horses
3. new things to photograph
4. Jack and Jill -- Susan's two dogs
5. forest trees
6. meadows
7. horses
8. the food
9. waking up early
10. sleeping in
11. shopping
12. looking at beads and shoes and books
13. listening to Susan and Martha talk
14. hearing Jill warble like a basset hound
15. Jack's eyes when he wants a piece of the banana I'm eating
16. being so far away from everything that I don't even get a cell phone signal
17. walking through the barns in the evening, shutting the doors and turning off the lights with Susan
18. the stars
19. watching the sun set
20. no rust or sulfur in the water
21. actually needing a sweater in July
22. hearing the horses nicker and run to see Susan when she calls
23. rubbing Fever's forehead and having him lower his head so I can reach better
24. when Fever listens to even tiny signals from my legs
25. showing off to Susan when I do something right on horseback
26. the smell of leather saddles in the office
27. the spiral staircase up to Susan's apartment
28. horses
29. sleeping in clean, crisp sheets at night
30. hearing Brent's voice over the phone