Floral notes

I've never thought of myself as a flowers kind of person.  My longtime loves of the natural world have been: the ocean, the wind, trees and animals (especially whales).  Lately I have noticed that I gravitate towards flowers, camera in hand.

This morning, I whisked Barbra to Bluestone for breakfast for two.  A final chance to heart-to-heart before her early afternoon departure.  Afterwards, we picked the kids up and headed to the garden behind the library to reshoot footage of the movie they've been making with Barbra, The Potatonator.

Sometime I will go back.  We were in a rush today (the kids wanted to finish editing the movie before we took Barbra to the airport) and my main job was to shoot the movie.

Our time with Barbra was lovely.  We miss her already!

Peace.

'Twas sunday

The weekend is quieting.  Cap sits across from me catching the Red Sox on his laptop (The Killing and Next Food Network Star are both recording.)  The kids are chatting in the dark as they usually do before falling asleep.  Barbra is catching up with Audrey on the phone.  The night air wafting in the windows is almost chilly.

Anna came today to visit with Barbra.  We went to a new café in town and I liked it very much.  The latte was fabulous.  (The owner was the longtime barista at Café Eclectic.)  The food was inventive and yummy.  The service left a bit to be desired, hopefully, it will improve as they find their groove.

We had a bit of time before Anna needed to head back to Vermont.  My two friends obliged my hankering for a trip to the bookstore.  I love our bookstore and wanted some comfort.  I am gearing up for chaos upon chaos.  The book goddesses came through for me...more inspiration to shore up my quaking boots.

 

 

Cap made a delish dinner for us and then we ventured out for Rita's.  I debated and then plunged further into the sugar abyss.  The sprinkles were pretty to look at.  The portrait of my four looks like an awkward family photo!

 

 

Barbra leaves tomorrow.  The kids are hoping to film and play Carcassonne.  I think the original plan of going out for a quiet breakfast may be dashed.

 

Peace and love.

It starts with food

Okay people.  My new book arrived today and the praise I've been seeing/hearing has merit.  Flipping through it has inspired me deeply.

Barbra leaves Monday and on Tuesday I am going to plunge into a Whole 30.  The pendulum has been arcing back the last six weeks or so.  I've been feeling pretty mentally clear/emotionally well, but physically, the pounds have been returning.  And I have been tired.  Consistent and high-quality sleep has been elusive and energy nearly non-existent.  Sugar and grains have been reincorporated onto my plate and into my body more and more.

I am curious to see whether a Whole 30, which will not only eliminate white sugar, but honey and maple syrup, as well, might more thoroughly reset my system.  (I couldn't do it when I went "sugar-free" last August.  It felt so bad.)

I'm as scared as I am excited.  I think this is going to be really hard.  It's hardcore.  But, I am driven by a deep a desire to dig deeper and truly heal.  Total transformation?  Dare to dream.

Belated birthday portrait

I was disappointed that in the whirlwind of activity on Gem's birthday I did not take a birthday portrait of him.  My sister sent me her pictures from the day and suggested this one might serve as a birthday portrait.  Yes.  And thank you.

Quiet

When I was with Barbra in Barcelona I had a "day 2" of my period and missed Girona.  My "day 2"s are defined by an undeniable need to rest and be quiet.  Today I will miss Hoboken.

Soothing myself with local cherries (the season is so very very brief) and a hot latte.

Peace and love.

Kid love

There are many adults in our kids' lives who they perceive of as their friends.  Will their feelings about these relationships change with time (I'm looking at you adolescence)?  Is it because they have been homeschooled and are relatively atypically socialized?  Does it correlate directly to how each of these adults have taken the time and care to cultivate their relationships with the kids?

What I do know is that Sag and Gem consider their time with Barbra just as precious as I do mine.  They have been keen to catch her up on their latest passions.  We have already made a movie.  (Written/directed by the boys, acted by the boys and Barbra and filmed by me.)

Cap took us all out for breakfast yesterday morning and the kids were not thrilled they'd be losing Barbra to the city (and me) for the rest of the day.

I am so grateful that they have such richly loving lifelong relationships in their lives.

NYC w/B : : 2

The phone pics.

Lunch was at Otto.  A scrumptious meat board a simple salad (baby spinach, ricotta salata and truffle honey) and sublime gelato (olive oil, caramel) and sorbet (grapefruit campari).

A stroll of about a mile (still love walking in the city...thirty years strong) to the New Museum.  A nifty building with some exhibits I truly enjoyed.

Dinner was at Veselka (Bowery location).  Cara joined us from Brooklyn.  I had beets in my soup (skipped the bread), beets in my pierogies (did not skip the dumpling dough) and beets in my dessert (chocolate beet brûlée).  All beet-a-rrific...in an earthy fabulous way.

NYC w/B :: 1

In retrospect it seems dreamy.  At the time my feet were firmly planted and my senses were grounded.  It was a wonderful day in and of the city.

Staycation of sorts

My Oaktown girl is in the house.  I am very happy to be in this time.  Today an outing with the kids, tonight dinner and a movie!  Tomorrow we head into the big city for Batali food, art and Ukranian with Cara.  Saturday a trip to Hoboken to visit with family.  Sunday Anna comes down for a visit.  Monday some q-time in the morning and she heads home in the afternoon.

Last year Barcelona, this year New Jersey, baby!  Next year...California dreamin'...

Peace and love.

The view from here

For a peaceful, lovely hour.  (My soul is frothing a bit in that too hot way.  My body needs some recovery.  My mind is relatively at ease.)

Barbra arrives tomorrow!

Peace and love.

Mid tide

The outrageous storm of activity leading up to and continuing through the weekend calmed down nicely today.  It was so hectic and I was so depleted that I just now realized I didn't take a birthday portrait of Gem yesterday.  Le sigh.

(Thank you for your gifts and well wishes.  He had a wonderful birthday.)

Onward.

This morning I had a lovely breakfast with Donna.  My first bit of friend/me time since Cap's return from Japan.  It has been a gorgeously breezy and sunny day and we ate al fresco.

This afternoon the kids played Minecraft with Lucy.  It was her first solo visit here and things went swimmingly.

waiting for Lucy.

 before.

 

Cap helped me pull down all the linens and such from the closet shelves in the bathroom.  We sorted and organized.  Then I went through the medicine cabinet, under the sink and through the bins of miscellany by myself.  I was dragging by the end, it took hours and produced a full heavy duty trash bag of junk.

End result?  I am beginning to fall back in love with our apartment.  It really does have some character and the nooks and crannies hold a lot of appeal for me.  (When you can really see and enjoy them!)

 

And, inhabiting these decluttered and reorganized spaces?  I can breathe.  Deeply.

Peace and love.