It's that time of year...

... when I need to wish the most wonderful mother a person could hope for a very happy birthday. I love you Mom. Just so you know...  I've called you at home a few times, on your cell, at Dad's office and at your parents. You already know we didn't connect, but I wanted you to read this because - it's the first time I've felt like your mother - trying to track you down and not succeeding :) I hope you were out having a lot of fun!  And I hope you enjoyed our silly serenade.  Happy Birthday.

Polish Pottery

Last year I took a trip to Bolselawiec with the mother of my kid's friend while they, the kids, rather the senior class, were on a school trip.  Apparently, even though they were in Istanbul at the time, the girls had wanted to go pottery shopping too.  Well they both graduated and one moved away.  This is the first time since graduation we've all been back in Prague together so we scheduled a trip.

Here is the outcome - my purchases only - the monkey had her own.  I spent no more than $50 USD.

 What you see there, from the top left, is a rectangle serving dish, 2 cereal bowls (one is tilted so you can see inside it), another deeper bowl, a little teapot thingy  for teabags, 4 salad plates, 2 little tiny bowls, a big mug, and a spoon rest.

I love Polish pottery.  I love the colors and patterns and the heft to it. I started buying it in the US about 16 years ago, when I was in my early 20s. Part of what I like about it is that other than the 4 plates and the 2 bowls, nothing I have is the same - plates don't match bowls that don't match cups that don't match anything else.  But they work together.  If you break something you can just add something new and pretty and make a nice trip of it while you're at it.

new year, crazy weather

This year I continued my streak of uber-fabulous and exciting NYE celebrations.  Since moving to Europe in 2008 I've spent the occasion:

2009: Landing in Prague after a Christmas visit back home - sick and without my daughter who had visa problems.  Unbeknownst to me, at the time, I had pneumonia. I spent the night in my cold, empty flat way out on the edge of the city, without much food or any company, exhausted, coughing and watching fireworks in the valley beyond my flat from the comfort of my bed.

2010: Some of my family had come for a visit.  This was the last night for my brother who had an early AM flight back to Canada.  It was quite and mellow and an early evening. (My personal high note when reviewing the years covered)

2011: On a plane. Probably over the Atlantic, somewhere between the North America and Europe. With my daughter. At least one of us was sick but I don't remember which one, it might have been both.

2012: Bought tickets and was excited for a 5 day celebration some friends had organized. Promptly got sick and missed the whole thing. Gave the kid my pass and she, and her friends, had the best new year's eve celebration of their lives. I stayed home, watched fireworks from both my bedroom balcony and the roof-line windows in the living room and then watched movies with the cat. We live in a different flat now, one near the center, fireworks started about 3:30 pm and lasted until about 7 am... and then started again the evening of the 1st, but only for a little while.

Today - it's the 2nd of January, 2012.  We don't have any snow in the city, have hardly had any rain. it's 52F right now.   Cloudy and gray but not cold by any stretch of the imagination. Which is good cause I'm still sick, we both are now,  and I have to go for a walk to the grocery store to get some food for dinner.