Sunday Morning

Lindsey's cleaning kitchen. Audrey is breakdancing. I'm taking photos. Things are quiet. I am happy.

Generations

Just found photo: Great Grandma Stella, Grandma (Pauline) Avery, Dad, Me. (1967) I can't believe how much grandma looks like my cousin Jennifer.

Jeff Bridges

The Last Picture Show, with Jeff Bridges, is one of my all time favorite movies. I watch it a couple of times a year. And last weekend I watched The Big Lebowski, which I hadn't seen since it first came out on big screen. With his recent Golden Globe win for Crazy Heart, I have a strange new interest in seeing more of his films. And he's real sweet to his wife.

Foodie Tattoos

I am not a tattoo person (at all), but I am a food person. So you gotta love those so dedicated to their favorite food they would go under the needle for it. I found these in the Flickr Food Tattoos Pool, but Chowhound had some good examples too.

Happy Anniversary Mad Art

Mad Art Gallery is celebrating its 9th anniversary this weekend, which got me to remembering all the great art parties of the early years. Those were spectacular times. Congratulations to Ron.

The Potato Eaters (2001)

Art Prom (2003)

The Moscows (2004)

Clouds and Sweaters

One of my favorite Flickr pools is Powerlines with Clouds. I only belong to a few public Flickr groups and this is one. I took this photo in July 2008 while sitting on the stoop at Skif waiting on friends. I could use some knew Skiffy sweaters and particularly like this sunny cardigan, although not sure I can pull off yellow.

Roadtripping

My aunt took this photo in Tuscon, Arizona, a place I've always wanted to visit. I keep daydreaming about spending some time next January or February someplace warm. I also like to think that when Audrey is older and able to appreciate it, we would spend an entire summer on a roadtrip throughout the USA. Sandra Foyt has a great post about this on her blog On Living By Learning. 

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms on dashboard, spring 2004. I was just beginning to fall in love. I miss my wonderful and can't wait for his return on Saturday.

Sunny Side

I'm trying really really hard. Rainy today. Rinse. Repeat. Rinse. Repeat. Through next Wednesday. Really? Is this necessary?

{Yee Haw Industries}

Food Issues

This is from January 2009, but still a good list: Bon Appetit's 50 Ways To Eat Green

{Photo found on Me Against Them}

Hey, Susan!

This giant Lazy Susan is one of my best thrift store scores ever. I've had it forever and don't use it nearly enough, considering how happy it always makes me. I pledge to change that in 2010. 

Twig Art

We have seen a couple different Patrick Dougherty installations--this one at the botanical garden in Columbus, Ohio while driving on our honeymoon, and another in Raleigh, North Carolina. I love his work.

Weary

My little peanut woke up at 5:30 a.m. this morning. I got her to go back to sleep for about 1/2 hour, but then she was clamoring for me to read to her. She wasn't content to look at books on her own or play in her room while mommy slept. She is throwing full on temper tantrums when I won't read to her. Lest I give the wrong impression, let me assure you, we read to her constantly. But I really don't know how much more Richard Scarry I can take. We checked out a huge new selection at the libary this week, but still, the children's literature is getting to me.

What I've gained from having Audrey is immeasurable. But there have also been some losses. Two years later, I feel I'm still trying to reassemble or redefine my sense of self. Every day I experience moments of joy like never before because of her. But along with that I experience deep anxieties about what I would do if anything ever happened to her (or Lindsey). My emotions are so raw these days. I feel so lucky and almost undeserving of such happiness. I really need to get over it, embrace the goodness, and just live already.

Octopus

Audrey has learned how to say octopus (oct-puh). I found this adorable little free download paper craft at Zooguu. I'm also going to break out the store bought Play-Doh today. I made some homemade clay a few months ago, but of course, it didn't have the Play-Doh smell that I love so much. So we are going to have some fun, if I can tear her away from that damned Zhu Zhu pet.

La Balme Les Grottes

The daily reports of my husband's cheese intake while he's working in France are getting to be more than I can bear. He sent this photo of the village where he is working. The town is known for a giant cave in the side of the mountain. And I'm in love with the Lucy's Kitchen Notebook blog, an expatriate and foodie living in Lyon.

Hubba

This picture of Myrna Loy is stunning. Actually, all of these starlets have incredible hair. I've got to do something with mine. The fact that I'm blogging about hair is an indication of the depth of my funk.

Reflection

Wondering why January always has to be so bloody difficult. It teases me with so much promise for new beginnings, fresh ideas, creative pursuits. Yet I always end up feeling trapped by the weather and defeated by a melancholy brought on by too much (self) reflection. Truly, if my roots here were not so deep, I'd hightail it south for good.

On another note, I love this very fitting photograph. It is film star Helen Twelvetrees from the collections of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/.

Rock Star

People, I'm having a heart attack over here...American Apparel has gold or silver lamé leggings for kids. Maybe I'm too old to dress like a Rock Star, but Audrey sure isn't. And she just started KidzRock last weekend. On order. Can't wait!

Not New Year's Resolutions

• Rip my entire CD collection to digital format.
• Paint and redo bedroom (see Simplicity).
• Take French lessons.