Breakfast for dinner–a new tradition

From Raising Hellions: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year… or not if that’s your cup of tea…. Their oldest is trying to solve The Santa Mystery. And is fascinated by the solstice. Which is where the new tradition comes in.

Eyes Like Leaves by Charles de Lint

From io9, here’s a review about a new book from Charles de Lint, Eyes Like Leaves: “Trust Charles de Lint to understand the identity crises of shapeshifters.”

The book is described as “a rollicking epic quest fantasy” in which a motley crew try to save Summerland from never-ending winter. If you like fantasy, I think you’ll like Charles de Lint: he’s a good writer.

The perfect pocket pocket-knife

I suppose this is really a pen-knife, good for sharpening feather pens. But it’s also a handy little string-cutter and nail-cleaner: “The handy little knife that I will carry until I lose.”

It looks just like a little knife that my mother had.

Life without a cat door

The other day I noticed that our cat door was broken and letting in cold air–it’s winter here. So I removed the door and closed the window where it had been. The cats rapidly learned that they have to come to the back door or, if it’s late, to the bedroom window and meow for admittance. They aren’t going out much as long as it’s cold.

I need to sling the broken apparatus into the car so that I can see about getting a replacement with the minimum of new parts.

 

Walking Song by Kate and Anna McGarrigle

An ode to walking with one’s love:

 

Thoughts on home

The young people are making a new home together.

Anton Zuiker’s thoughts on home: One word to start the new year: Home.