a photo a day

New crazy yoga pants + homemade iced chai tea + snuggly cat + winter break = happy Claire.

a ruby a day

what can i say: my cat is brilliant.


moments after this video was taken she unabashedly stole a ravioli from the colander on the countertop.  when i took it from her, she attempted to eat an uncooked piece of penne pasta she found on the floor.  when i took that away, she pouted on the stairs.  very motivated by food, this kitty.

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”
—Martin Luther

a photo a day

Puzzling with Mama! I love doing a puzzle at Christmas; this one is a Charley Harper forest scene.

Hilarious - a doctor weighs in on the Home Alone burglars' injuries. (I love this movie!)

http://theweek.com/article/index/238037/diagnosing-the-home-alone-burglars-injuries-a-professional-weighs-in

a photo a day

Merry Christmas! An excellent excuse to make Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls (they were a hit!). 

To the guy at Local Foods who gave me a free soda with my take out sandwich order: you rock. It's the little things!

Onward to North Carolina!

a photo a day

I love my local farmer's market - when I go, my first stop is always for a green smoothie from this booth - so. good. Today I also bought some beautiful Swiss chard. Year-round farmer's markets = a great thing about Texas!

a Ruby a day

Winter break begins...now! I plan to spend the rest of the day snoozing and watching tv and I couldn't be happier. Ruby has joined me on the couch. Bliss.

a Ruby a day

Forcing Ruby to wear a festive Christmas bow: it has become a yearly tradition.

P.S. she hates it and showed her distaste by refusing to move and giving me mad eyes.  This may be a good quality if I decide to try this:

if one eats an oatmeal raisin cookie for breakfast, does the oatmeal and raisins counteract the butter and sugar, making it a breakfast food?

i decided it did.

a Ruby a day

This kit-cat loves the sun!

i love this - 51 of the most beautiful sentences in literature.  i can't even pick a favorite.

i have been bad at blogging this fall…really, this year.  i'm going to attempt to ease my way back into a daily ritual of blogging by giving you more pictures or documenting more little moments, and do it on a more regular basis.

the truth #1: sometimes the last thing i want to do when i get home from a day spent in front of the computer at work is to be in front of the computer at home.

the truth #2: but i love documenting and sharing my life this way.

the truth #3: so i will try.  and we will see!

(bundt cake got a chocolate glaze poured over the top and was a big hit at my work christmas party.  hooray!)

a photo a day

It came out of the pan in one piece! It's like I know what I'm doing or something!

To the little girl attempting "jingle bells" while spinning in a circle with a magazine in each hand: thank you for making this line at the post office a little more entertaining. 

a ruby a day

If the choice is between lying on the boring floor and lying on an exciting empty purse, empty purse wins every time. 

november: 27, 28, and 29

i cancelled cable this month and read a bit more than normal…though that was probably also due to the thanksgiving holiday and some good lying-around-and-reading time.  this month i read one monster book and two quick ones:

edge of eternity, by ken follett (monster book - 1100 pages - the third in the series.  i liked this one (and got teary at the end), but the last 300 pages or so i was just ready for it to be done.  i'd recommend the series, for sure, but after reading this i was ready for some shorter books.)

the rosie project, by graeme simsion (this was recommended to me by two coworkers and i bought it with a gift certificate a student gave me to the book fair our school puts on.  i loved it!  it was described to me as a book about sheldon from the big bang theory attempting to date.  the narrator's voice was great and it was funny and sweet and i was eager to see what was going to happen next.  i forced it on my sister when she was here to visit.  i'd definitely recommend it!)

the truth about alice, by jennifer mathieu (our school librarian is running a young adult book club for faculty members this semester, and this is our december pick.  the author is a teacher at another independent school in houston, and she is coming to our next meeting, which will be really cool.  i liked this book but didn't love it…it was a quick read…had some common young adult themes…i wouldn't hurry out and buy it, but i liked it just fine.)