Spooning

Yet another reason to get online. You'll learn new words. You will stay abreast of popular culture, slang and the urban dictionary. Case in point: Spooning. One of those little embarrassments. Hearing a word or phrase and smiling like you know what it means, but inside you know you are a complete vocabulary fraud. You don't know what it means so just admit it. If you are too stubborn then head on over to google and look it up damn it. Spooning: "A form of affection between a couple. Where the man lays front to back with the girl. They fit together like spoons." And if you didn't already figure it out. Spooning leads to forking. (ah, just go look it up)

Annie Leibovitz at Work

NEW BOOK ALERT: Annie Leibovitz describes how her pictures were made, starting with Richard Nixon's resignation, a story she covered with Hunter S. Thompson, and ending with Barack Obama's campaign. In between are a Rolling Stones Tour, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, The Blues Brothers, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Keith Haring, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Patti Smith, George W. Bush, William S. Burroughs, Kate Moss and Queen Elizabeth. The most celebrated photographer of our time discusses portraiture, reportage, fashion photography, lighting, and digital cameras. I want it. I want it. I want it. (please) So if anyone 'out there' is thinking of getting me a teensy weensy gift this season, this truly is all I want. (you can get it here...at a discount even)

Learn How to Knit Video

I've tried. I've cried. I've failed. What's a girl to do?

From the Free People Girls.

I Love Dirt

This book is my new obsession. I think all parents, grandparents (or parents to be) need a copy. How incredible in this day and age to get families off the couch (away from the TV, game units & computers) and out the door. Deep breath. I can smell the fresh air from here.

***See the Top 10 Books of the last 15 years here. Very interesting. Poor J.K.Rowling

Poinsettia Paradise

My Aunt and I spent 3 hours in Terra Greenhouse's holiday wonderland. I had never seen blue and lilac poinsettia plants before. They were literally flying out the door. Poinsettia is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Mexico, and native to the Pacific coast of the United States. The name "poinsettia" is after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the US in 1825. The alternative names for the poinsettia are: Mexican flame leaf, Christmas star, Winter rose and Stella di Natale (in Italy). The plants' association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. In the United States, December 12th is National Poinsettia Day. My challenge is the care and feeding of poinsettias. That's why I love cacti and succulents. More on that tomorrow.