Kingston

Beth and her kids met us "half-way" in Kingston. (It's really closer to us...but Kingston is a cute, walkable town, with a lot to offer...foodwise, so we call it half-way.) Normally we would have headed straight to the creperie, but Beth had spied the granola factory the last time they'd taken the ferry. Something new!


They had cheese scones coming out of the oven. Heavenly - fluffy and full of bacon and green onions. My kids wanted chocolate cupcakes....tiny ones...topped with passionfruit buttercream, coated in chocolate. I was so happy when Jonny rejected his!


He and Britton opted for giant cookies instead.


The Granola Factory had a patio, surrounded in spring flowers, with columbine growing up between the bricks...and a narrow path for the kids to run loops around. Lovely.


Then we made our way across the street and down to the beach.


Someone had left a driftwood fort for the kids to shelter in. It seemed sturdy, but we instituted a "no climbing on the roof" rule just in case. Cave-ins are bad.


Kids can find a million things to do at the beach - even when it isn't warm enough to swim. They're happy to dig, collect, draw....meet strangers with a dog who likes to fetch. I know I tell Annika not to talk to strangers, but she really scored with those ones. That dog played with the kids forever.


Happy day! Thanks, Beth!

Some Souvenirs

My husband finally came home from Hawaii. It was a very long 10 days. I'm glad I was here to feed children, clean the house for inspections, and do other miscellaneous things that made sure both real estate deals didn't fall through (so much faxing!), but I would have rather been in Hawaii.

Tony brought me home a very thoughtful gift. Exactly what I wanted - chocolate!


Cozette got a couple when my back was turned.

Buy-Buy

Well, it's official - we've sold our house. (I know the deal isn't actually done yet, but I choose to believe that everything will go as planned.) It's a darned good thing too. I didn't relish the thought of two mortgages (neither of them being attached to a vacation home). Bleh.

The buyers don't want our nice, stainless steel fridge (they must have looked inside!), but they wanted me to include the curtains. Weird. They could have sold the fridge and bought all new curtains. Still, I don't mind leaving any curtain that I didn't make...the laundry room curtain, the boy's curtain, and the girls' curtains are all moving with us to Maryland!(...where I hope they will each fit a window...I didn't measure.)

I've been pretty high-strung lately, so let's all hope that cutting out the weekly open houses will help.

So, lately....

Jonny asked who gets the goats if Grandma and Grandpa die. I think he wants to call dibs.

Annika told a chubby teenager at the park that she didn't think he was fat, just pleasantly plump....and then bawled when I told her that she did just call him fat. I don't even know how to anticipate the crazy things she says - much less prevent them. I've never known such an accidentally rude but truly kind person. It's a strange combination.

Tony is on vacation without us. ("Working" in Hawaii.) He says he doesn't even want to go to the beach. I don't know if that's a lie designed to make me feel better?...if so, it isn't working.

I think I need to plan myself a vacation for when he gets back. Maybe a road trip....with a van full of kids....across the whole dang country. Oh, I can already feel the relaxing eye twitch setting in.

Boo Boo Birthday

I can't believe he's 5.


James had a lovely birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Since he was sharing the party with his Uncle James, he got to try his first "dirt cake". (That has been my brother's cake of choice for well over a decade.) I think my James is a fan too.


My "little" brother. (-an adult, with 3 children, but always my cute, little brother!)


James and his wife Beth have been giving candy for birthdays this year. The coolest candy ever. Boo got candy legos, a tiny can full of Sprite candies, and...


How appropriate. I'm looking forward to another year with my favorite Boo Boo.

I'm happy to be one!

I had a happy Mom's Day.

I got to attend the "Mother's Day Tea" at Boo's preschool.


It was fun to watch him not sing the songs they learned. Honestly, I'm surprised he stayed up on the stage. (I think his teachers were too.) We ate PB&Js together. Fun.

Sofi made me some loverly new fridge magnets (and has discovered the wonders of modge podge, which she is now demanding I supply.)


She even made an adorable gift box for them!


...and the present I bought myself.


I'm working on some yellow shams to go with it. A very bright yellow. ....I had a couple yards of it that I was never quite brave enough to use as sashing. My poor, poor gray quilts.

We spent Mom's Day at my MOM's - duh. So there were lots of cousins to run off and play with. Here's Sofi, eating with a few. (Mom room only at the table!)


...and, best of all, my pretty Mom (with the birthday Boo)!


May I look that good when I'm a grandma!

Caloricious

Our church had a fundraising dessert auction last weekend. Oh, the horror. I had so many sweets in my house! Between the desserts we made (some of which didn't set in time for the event) and the ones we bought...

I think we're finally down to a dish of peanutbutter fudge...but it was a lot of work getting there. Along the way, we did discover that rhubarb pie and panna cotta taste darned good together. It's a totally valid substitute for vanilla ice cream.
..so I guess the calories weren't wasted.

Rethinking the Furnishings

So, Grandin Cottage (Tony thinks this name isn't specific enough - since it could really apply to every house on the street...and implies that there is a Grandin Manor House somewhere on the property) has a much smaller kitchen. Not a problem. The current owner has some lovely sideboards to compensate for the lack of ample cabinet/counter space...


...and we thought it might be a good idea to do the same.


Ok, so mine isn't quite as nice. But it was quite cheap. I'm thinking about painting it; however, I'm worried about my inability to commit to a color scheme. ...and I feel a little guilty painting real wood. Maybe just a new finish and some different hardware?

Yellow Pass-Me-Down Pinwheels

I actually had a totally valid, necessary, husband-supported reason to go to Goodwill this time. Annika's new headboard needed rails. Maybe they have some? They didn't...but they did have this sweet little pinwheel quilt.


The silky, yellow binding was pretty worn (and not remotely my style), but I knew that wouldn't be too hard to change.


And, while I wasn't crazy about all of the patterns...


...I just adored others!


I think a little blue binding was just what it needed.


...the easiest quilt I ever "made".