scenes from today

school clothes shopping

Back in the day, mom used to take my siblings and I shopping for supplies and some new duds in the fall. I remember vividly, the excitement I would feel at the prospects of wearing something Amy hadn't worn before. Mostly we would hit Salvation Army or other thrift stores. Nowadays, my mom and mom-in -law get most of the clothing for my kids. Most of  what they wear is inherited. I like that. I love reusing or making what we wear, even if a skirt takes me 6 months to make, even if my homemade hats look like breasts. And yet, I still like to dream. I do love pretty frocks. Bright colors etc. And shoes. I only own 8 pairs of shoes, including boots and sandals. But I would happily own a few more...Polyvore.com lets me dream for a few materialistic minutes of these other possibilities...

perfectly gluttonous peanut butter cake

rotini with pesto and tomatoes...

peanut butter cake smile...

making a wish...


3 lovely blondes...

E was  3 yesterday. He wanted a peanut butter cake. I am not sure where he got the idea from... For reasons I don't completely understand I did not feel like baking. Laziness? only slightly waning and embarrassing obsession with Y.A vampire- love fiction?, small kitchen? I don't know.

I did find a promising cake recipe online. Ezra wanted peanut butter cake and peanut butter frosting. This cake is an improved box cake recipe.  Sigh. Now I can't even pretend I am one of those moms who makes everything from absolute scratch. 

Go to allrecipes.com and look for peanut butter cake II.

vampire love

How come nobody told me that Ritter comes with cornflakes????

So, eventually I will get it together and actually write something substantial but I am feeling overwhelmed, and not in a bad way,  but overwhelmed with the fullness of life right now. Both boys have started school successfully, which means different things for both of them. For H., it means that on his second day of school he got on the bus without hyperventilating, while clutching in his sweaty hand his room number (written on  scotch tape,  just in case he let go). For E. it means that he goes every morning to Walnut Grove and usually doesn't want to come home when Matty picks him up. Every morning after I kiss him I remind him to use the toilet, listen to his teachers and please share with his friends. He informs me that he will listen to his teachers and he will share the trucks but NOT the tractor. Oh well.  I don't feel quite ready to start teaching next week. I am really enjoying my mornings sans children. All of the domestic stuff seems under control, despite the fact that I am obsessed with Vampire -love right now. I have just finished book 2 of the Twilight series and I am hooked.  I am doing everything I can to not start book 3 because once I start I can hardly do anything else. Besides, the sooner I begin the sooner it will all be over. I know it is perhaps a bit pathetic but I will most likely be depressed for a few days when I have finished the series. Matt won't call me Bella and since I have decided he is more like  werewolf than a vampire, I have been calling him Jacob and he looks at me funny whenever I do that. He compares my ravenous reading to an addicts' love of heroin and he seems amused. The last three novels that had this effect on me were: The Time travelors Wife, Villette, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. 

Have to go and do something that will take my mind off reading......

Happy Birthday Matty!!!

freshly laundered patchwork

These were Nana Kitty's...

I think they will be pillow covers.

Sibs, let me know if you want a cushion cover.

I love the vintage prints.
I especially love the pink and brown combo here. 

wiki wiki post -really fast, (if I remember my Hawaiian correctly)

an easy lunch...ny times no knead bread, local fresh tomatoes, gruyere, coarse salt and fresh pepper...broil...et voila
forgive me my flour covered table...

home again, home again, jiggety jig

We were greeted by many overgrown weeds and giant zinnias and cosmos when we arrived.  And  few volunteer nasturtiums, thanks guys.

An overgrown bean vine ( Henry's from school) was climbing all over our gold currant tomatoes. The boys set to work quickly making me a "meal" out of beans, mint and pretzel rods that they had skillfully chopped up with a butter knife.

Henry and Ezra both had open houses for preschool and first grade on Friday. They both went very well. It is a bit early, but we seem to have been blessed with great teachers again. Henry's Ms. Michel gives off a serene, glowy and intelligent vibe. I asked Henry if she seemed sweet and he said "Yes, and she is very pretty too."  Ezra's teacher reminds me of Henry's last year, artsy, clever and motherly. The open houses were a success, both kids seem in good spirits about school. In between visits we learned of great nana's passing. Bittersweet. I had just seen her and felt sure, inside, that it was good bye. She was really suffering so I feel she is in a better place. Tonight we will tell Henry.