Sweetest. Girl. Ever.

Yesterday, Audrey put on a tutu (very out of character), grabbed her magnifying glass, and wanted to go on a “treasure map” (i.e. treasure hunt). I grabbed the camera and off we went. She loves looking for worms and collecting leaves, rocks and feathers for her treasure box. She also told Lindsey and me that we were her best friends. She is the sweetest girl ever. My heart aches with the loving of her. No words.  

Wrapping The Week

I'm tired. I'm eager for the weekend. Therefore my wrap of the week includes several low impact, dreamy, sweet, sleepy things.

• Low impact woodland home
• Wool felted state pillows
• Little lovely Frida
• The Madonna Inn (Please click on some of the room photos of this historic hotel. I'm particularly partial to American Home, Cave Man, and Carin. Incredible!)
• I usually wouldn't stoop so low as this, but I said I was sleepy.

Rest up. Peace.

Holy Chalkboard

The magnet/chalkboard is finished -- all 3 foot x 8 foot of it! I hope I don't regret this. Only about four hours in and the floor is pretty dusty. But what's a little dust when you are cultivating creativity of this magnitude? The magnets I currently have only hold one page at a time, but overall I'm pleased with the results. I was skeptical of the magnetic primer, but WOOT! Success!

Boo

Audrey's first Halloween costume was fantastic. She was a little punk rock baby with safety pinned t-shirt, leopard leggings, pink faux-hawk, and tons of baby tattoos including a tramp stamp (yes, we went there). Last year, I remember being really stressed out and I ended up buying a cat/leopard costume for her. I really want to try to make her costume this year. She is such a ferocious roarer, but don't know if I'm up to making a lion or dino costume. I'll think of something...but I have to get on it. I don't think she gets Halloween quite yet. 

Wrapping the Week

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1. Fun & Good
Yesterday, I got the wall under our kitchen bar area covered in 4 coats of metallic primer and one topcoat of chalkboard paint. One more coat of chalboard paint, and Audrey will have the creative space of my her dreams. Now that the wall is so black, I am even more determined to find new kitchen chairs. We need some contrast to lighten up the dining area. I am on the hunt for mismatched chairs to paint in either high-gloss turquoise or lime green. It is going to look fabulous. I'll post pictures when I'm finished...which may be this time next year.

2. Not Fun, but Good

Recently, I read an excellent article in The New Yorker on hospice medical care for dying patients. Earlier this week, there was a New York Times article on a study showing palliative care extends life of cancer patients. I know these aren't exactly upbeat or sexy topics, but they are important. Especially with all the recent fear mongering of "death panels" in the health care debate.

3. Just Fun
Lost Cat Posters

Zipper Boat
Bag of Hammers

Have a glorious weekend. Summer is almost over.

Walk

The last few days have been so cool, we've been able to enjoy walks after dinner. Such a nice break from the oppressive heat. Audrey stops a million times along the way--observing dead worms, picking up rocks, exploring.

Summer Food

I've been cooking, using local produce from our CSA and the Tower Grove Farmer's Market. Love it so.

Peach Elderberry Pie

Yellow Watermelon

Tomato Tart with Basil Garlic Crust

Crazy Coupe

Audrey hardly pays any attention at all to her Cozy Coupe. Maybe if I pimped her ride like this, she would. I love it!

Wrapping The Week

So glad for the weekend. I had a quintessential summer day yesterday. Swimming and picnic at the lake with family. Incredibly fun. This weekend will include Sunday dinner with my girlfriends...Tracy's in town! Nothing too insightful to share from the week, except for this glorious painting from local artist Sarah Giannobile and these tidbits too:

• Ode To Broken Things
• I don't claim to be an angel 

Have fun kiddos.

How To Be Alone

This video by filmmaker Andrea Dorfman and poet Tanya Davis is the best internet find in a long time. Gorgeous and inspirational.

Peggy Olson

I agree with Ben Adler of Newsweek. "Peggy Olsen Is My Pinup". I haven't even seen any episodes this season (we are cable-less and I generally don't hang out with friendss on Sunday nights) but I find her her character to be consistently the most interesting and complex. My favorite line in the entire show ever is when Duck tells Peggy, "I want to take you into that bedroom, lock the door, take your clothes off with my teeth, throw you on the bed and give you a go-around like you've never had."  Hilarious.

Wrapping The Week

We haven't done any formal entertaining in what seems like forever. I suppose I'm always waiting for my house to look "just so" (something like above would be nice). But when I think back to parties at friend's, it is the company, not the decor, that I remember. So I need to just let it go. Have a party already.

When we moved into this house, we had just married. I got pregnant seven months later. I know seven months seems like a long time to get your house "just so" but combining two households of 40-somethings requires some sensitive editing. We've done hardly anything to it since Audrey was born. It is in good shape, but I'm reluctant to do too much more to really make it mine, since we are thinking of moving. So, I've never really felt settled here. But again, that should not stop us from having a party.

We are feeling a bit under the weather the last few days. A little bug going around, but we managed to squeeze in a date night. Wonderful jazz (Dave Black Quartet) at the magical Joe's Cafe. My 23+ year crush on saxaphonist Paul DeMarinis lives on.

Heading to my parent's in the country tonight. Have a great weekend.

• Cutest nail polish ever
• Amazing Dalton Ghetti carvings via Accidential Mysteries
• Collage artists, again via Accidental Mysteries
• Sweet video on displaying kid's art with delightful music

My Funny Valentine

Ok...so it isn't valentine's day. But I do have a date tonight. Dinner and jazz-ish at Joe's Cafe. I've selected some funny covers along with classics (the last two are beauties).

Schjeldahl

I have been spending a lot of time on Todd Hosfelt's blog over the last few days. I don't even remember how I found it. Among the dozens of posts that I became absorbed in, I really enjoyed this one admiring The New Yorker's Peter Schjeldahl's critique of the 2008 Koons retrospective. We get The New Yorker (a generous gift from the in-laws) but sometimes fall behind and sadly, speed read through some issues.

So I went out to The New Yorker's website and found a fantastic podcast of Schjeldahl talking about a Francisco de Zurbarán painting Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose, and how looking at a painting can be like looking down the barrel of a gun.

So, thank you Todd Hosfelt, for reminding me to slow down and enjoy my gifts and for the great shots of the Modern Art Museum of Ft. Worth, which is a favorite of mine.

So glad to have stumbled upon Hosfelt. Will take advantage of The New Yorker (print and online) more. I ♥ the internet.

A Fine Frenzy

Don't know anything about A Fine Frenzy except that I love this video.