January 10
Cold day — but the sun still made the snow sparkle. At church, Puck sat through church and the congregational meeting, passing out pretzel sticks to his mom and grandma while he waited for the ending of the financial announcements. Then back to the house for eggnog muffins, bacon, and quiche.
And while it was being prepared, Francis go-carted up and down the icy street.
“Listen to Snuggles,” said Carrie. “He’s been changing his meow to a howl.”
And at that moment, Snuggles did, indeed, make a tiny howl from the front door.
And Dad was able to add the box to the roaring fire in the living room.
Later, the boys and Dad were discussing baldness.
“Unless you see clumps of hair falling out in the shower,” said Dad, “you’re not going bald.”
“Well, I hope not,” said Francis. “I need a hair cut. Wow, Joe, did you go to church like that?”
“What?” Joe asked.
“Your hair — it’s all sticking out everywhere.”
“Oh, yeah. I guess I need a haircut too.”
“Maybe God will cut your hair like mine,” Dad joked.
Meanwhile, Linnea was lounged on the piano bench, her mouth stuffed to overflowing, trying not to laugh.
“Did you eat too much caramel?” OLeif laughed, with almost a giggle.
“Yeeeeees,” Linnea tried to reply.
Then Rose returned from the kitchen to land smack on top of Carrie on the couch.
“My hip bone!” Carrie cried.
“Wow, Rose,” said Joe. “That was like parallel parking at high speeds.”
“I’m taking it back!” Rose said, promptly.
“Taking what back?”
“My spot!”
“Look at dese!” Puck exclaimed, running through the living room carrying a bucket of cookie cutters in both hands.
And Linnea practiced her handstands.
There was a brief sledding excursion for Puck, Carrie, and Collette in the later afternoon for about fifteen minutes at the school yard. He was not so impressed, and only took two rides. The prospects of another trip down the ‘killer’ hill, was a little too much for him to take. So Collette helped him make two snowmen with snow blocks and had a tiny snowball fight.
After this brief shindig, Lucia arrived to take Carrie to Blueberry Hill for dinner.
Magnus was coming over to watch the director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven with Joe and Rose.
And Francis was dropped off at Vicious Man Night — aka Guys’ Discipleship Group.
On the ride home, OLeif picked up a pomegranate juice for Collette and a lunchable for Puck for dinner. And the sun glowed red rolls across the sky as it set in melting fire.
After Puck had supped, Collette got on Skype to discuss plans regarding events for the week with Mom and Rose. During the conversations, Joe dug up the old ukulele from the basement and whacked out some chords, and then Collette’s old violins, the 1988 version and her first real violin from Mr. Gumbo who brought it on the trolley to his lessons in downtown St. Louis.
“Careful with that!” Dad warned Rose as she picked up the 1988 version.
“This one’s the no good one,” she said.
“It’s the other one that’s worth something,” said Collette. “It was worth $3,500 back in the day…”
“Can I have it?” Joe and Rose asked, simultaneously.
Then Rose played a beautiful air violin on the 1988 version with a toothbrush for a bow before removing herself to her room to show Collette her current reading list, which included:
“Agh! Moth!”
She slapped her hands at it.
And OLeif ordered Pizza Hut for dinner — a rarity of treats for their little house to see.