in MN winter begins at Halloween

I hate that.  It really makes me miss Boston.  I will try to focus on the positive, like the fact that the new house has a wood stove that will make winter cozy (assuming we can make it work).

This year we are going for homemade costumes.  littleT wants to be a rock star, and that should be doable.  In fact, it should be quite interesting to see what the dude comes up with if we cut him lose in Target for costume development.  A-man wants to be a basketball.  I see a trip to JoAnns and lots of orange flannel in my future.  I'm a little more nervous about that one coming together!

Here are a couple pics from our first Halloween in MN:

Time to face the day and this weary weather (ok, that's kind of funny given I faced my day by giving a 7am seminar, r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s).  

I'm going to try and remember that A) I decided to become a scientist while doing experiments as an undergrad during the infamous Halloween Blizzard, and B) this marks the beginning of the "serious season" (so dubbed by a colleague of mine).  I am in need of a serious and productive season, so here goes!

Blame it on Project Runway

They wanted lounge pants.  

I don't like to sew, but about every 10 years I break out my very nice sewing machine (thank you parents), and give it another go.  So, sure, I'll try some lounge pants.

Saturday night I cut the fabric (polar fleece)

And Sunday after taking bigT to the airport busted out the sewing machine, and re-learned how to use it (walking foot and all).  littleT's pants were first, and A-man's pair went decidedly quicker. The pants were very well received by the recipients, who insisted on modeling them runway style.

They don't look so bad in motion, but, I am a horrible seamstress and have purposefully not included any closeup pictures.  But the boys are happy.  and contemplating what they want next.  I would say it would take another 10 years to get me to make something else, but my good friend Maya has gotten the sewing bug, so I might continue to practice with her on Sunday nights.

Basement plans

Winter is approaching, and we will sorely miss having the ability to kick the boys outside to get their energy out (well, we can try, but they are not the most winter-loving of Minnesotans).  Eventually we will get the basement finished so that it can be the kid/tween/teen hangout.  Step 1:  getting a plan.

Here's the first draft!

I think I like it!  There is a bathroom behind that fireplace/tv unit.  Next step:  bring in an HVAC guy and get the space more adequately heated.  We won't be ready for this winter, but now that we are making wall placement decisions we can at least start picking away at it.

I hate to admit it... but right now there is a dead mouse by the furnace.  I don't want to go clean it up.  I'm pissed that its there after all the money we spent on de-mousing.  But, the nights are getting cold, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.  There is a downside to this wooded wonderland...  hopefully the new basement will seem less appealing to the little vermin than the current unfinished space.  Yeah, I know, that's ridiculous.