I had no idea about the controversy behind electric blankets. Thanks and thanks a lot!! :-). I’m not sure yet what we’re going to do with the new information, but we’re thinking about it. Our bedding is plenty warm enough, it’s just the initial shock of getting into a cold bed and waiting for it to warm up that he doesn’t like. Apparently, according to what I read yesterday online, even turned off an electric blanket will emit electromagnetic radiation until it’s unplugged, and neither of us wants to dig behind the bed to unplug both sides of the blanket every night. That would be a pain. Nate is having a lot of fun making jokes about how I gave him an anniversary gift that will kill him, implying of course that it was intentional. Jerk.

However, I can’t be too mad, because he bought me a fantastic anniversary gift.

It’s another one of the Cassandra Christensen Barneys that I love, only this one is an original. I’d never seen it. (My mom is doubtless shuddering with disapproval right now, she can’t stand them and thinks they’re a waste of money. So mom, look at it as an investment if that makes you feel any better).

Nate is a big stinker. I had no idea. I hadn’t even considered looking at originals. Based on a few of the clues he had dropped before I opened it, I thought it might be one of her limited editions, as there are three I really like and would love to get before they sell out.

I love it. I love her paintings. They’re the first paintings I’ve seen that have made me want to paint again, which I haven’t done since school. This makes Nate very happy, which is why I think he’s so generously indulging my interest in this artist.

Since we’re talking about art, I want to show you Nate’s birthday present to himself back in November. And his dad feels the same way about this piece as my mom does about mine.

This is branching out a little bit. We didn’t have anything like this, but this is the style Nate wants to develop with his own art, and he’s been painting and drawing a lot to grow his skill. There are a group of his friends that come over every Thursday night to draw and paint and explore other artistic outlets, like tying flies. (You think knitting is a craft utilizing toys of the trade? Watch someone tie a fly. The gadgets and tools they use are amazing).