Thursday, July 31, 2008

Nursery Inspiration

I am not a big fan of matching furnishings or obsessively decorated rooms. For most of our married life we were poor, and therefore the matching, perfect new furniture was not an option for us. Now, I suppose it could be, but it's not really my style. I didn't match the napkins to the bridemaid's dresses at our wedding either - if you did, you might want to stop reading now. I like a comfortable house with simple, traditional furnishings. Except for the lucite lamps in the guest room. They're modern, but so light and airy that they are also feminine.

In particular, I think a nursery or child's room shouldn't be too perfect. It's a matter of self-preservation. You will not be able to keep the room looking like a magazine spread. Children make a mess. So a nursery should in a sense be pre-messed. This does not mean it should be a dump, just a place where 300 brightly colored books will not clash with the color scheme, where some plastic toys will not look like an abberation, where you can feel comfortable having juice consumed without heart failure.

A couple cute ideas from Pottery Barn Kids:

Such a cute branch mobile, and very easy to make. Some stuffed birds, a branch and some fishing line for hanging. The owls are cute too, and simple to sew from scraps.



Love the framed caterpillar.

Places like this always sell lots of storage, too, which is not necessarily a good idea. Storage breeds stuff. Get a couple of plastic bins for outgrown clothes if you plan to have another child, otherwise a small box for the few heirloom items should do it. Diapers and wipes can sit right out on the changing table, babies don't play with toys yet, and the rattles and pacifiers will just get "stored" in the sofa cushions anyway. A baby's most exciting toys are their feet, and they are, conveniently, permanantly attached.

Panzanella

With my leftover organic tuscan loaf from Whole Foods and a bumper crop of cukes, what to make? Panzanella was calling to me, and here is the recipe of sorts:

July Panzanella

1 cucumber, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, sliced fine
5 cups chunked day-old bread
olive oil, lemon juice
fresh herbs - parsley, basil, thyme, tarragon, dill
sea salt, pepper
parmesan cheese

Combine all these ingredients in a bowl. Make a little dressing out of olive oil and balsamic or lemon juice. Whisk it up and pour over the salad. Sprinkle with sea salt, grind over some black pepper and finely grate some parmigiano reggiano over, add the herbs and toss to mix. Let sit for an hour and dig in! This is also good with fresh garden tomatoes and some briny olives added in.

Add some brownies, a thermos of lemonade, a wedge of cheese and some peaches and cherries, and you have a perfect summer picnic.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

More Time

I have lists upon lists, and they never seem to get any smaller. The garden is producing monster cukes and there are 500, more or less, green tomatoes that will soon ripen and demand canning. The flower beds need weeding, the roses need spraying for Japanese beetle, and I'd love to figure out why the expensive timer for the front lights is not turning on. But I get home, eat dinner, spend some time with Jack, put him to bed, walk the dog, do a few necessary jobs like, oh, clean the kitchen and do some laundry, and then I have a few minutes of reading in bed and I'm out.

Don't even get me started on the big things, like painting the kitchen, ripping up the ugly carpet in the sunroom and replacing with bamboo flooring, and the mound of sewing projects in the basement.

This is causing me some anxiety, and I've been putting some thought into it. I can give away cucumbers instead of making pickles. No one in my house likes pickles anyway, except me, and I can't eat 40 jars. I can get up early tomorrow, spray the roses, do some weeding and watering and be done with it. The lights are not necessary. And the sewing projects are supposed to be fun, not a burden.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Heaven, with Horses

We spent the weekend in Lexington, Kentucky, in the heart of Bluegrass Country. What an amazing trip! I came here with my parents when I was a little girl and I wanted to see if it was as beautiful as I remembered. You be the judge:





We visited the Kentucky Horse Park, and the Bluegrass Railroad Museum. We also stocked up at Whole Foods and did a lot of swimming. I would like to get out into the country a little bit more on the next trip and see Ward Hall and some of the bourbon distilleries.

Lexington is one of the few places in this country where wealth equals taste (and I lived on Long Island, so I know of what I speak). It has that romance of the south, and for a wealthy community, is surprisingly affordable to visit.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Travelogue

I haven't been writing much because I've been very busy. My husband is away for three weeks, and so I have more to do. Jack has been (fairly) good about "helping" (going for walks with me and the dog in the morning, putting his shoes on, etc.) He's also been writing on the walls, spilling his apple juice, screaming when we went for ice cream, and waking me up really early (before 8:30! No!). I try to be patient with him - I know it's hard for him to have his Daddy go away.

Jack and I tend to do a fair bit of traveling together when Robin is away. We are going to Lexington, KY this weekend to see the Kentucky Horse Park and some railroad museums, and generally revel in the beautiful Bluegrass Country. We're staying overnight to take advantage of a hotel pool. We are also flying to Vancouver in August to visit my sister. Vancouver is a fun city and Jack likes to travel, especially to fly.

I used to be a terrible traveler - I had crippling anxiety before I flew, and I got upset and angry when there were delays and cancellations. I made elaborate preparations and packed a week in advance. And then I had a child. A child who loves airports, who sits happily for 5 hours on a plane looking at clouds, eating snacks and flirting with the flight attendants. A child who eats happily in any restaurant and sleeps in any bed. After our first ten or so trips together, the anxiety just ebbed away. Traveling with a happy person will do that. And can I recommend flying First Class with children? They can't kick the seat backs, and you get free wine. Business class on a 777 is like being in a living room, except my living room doesn't have massagers in the chairs. You do have to put some nice clothes on, and people generally aren't as friendly, but it's worth it.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Nursery

These are the nursery colors I picked out. The walls of the room are already blue, and I couldn't face painting it again.


We are planning to buy a new crib. Jack's was a hand-me-down, and finally was having some structural problems. This is the same crib, but in white:

This is the fabric I used for Jack's brib bumper. It has sage-green ribbon ties.

The crib skirt will be made from some scalloped silk valances I have, and will be a Wedgewood blue.
I would love to get this armchair from IKEA - we'll have to see if we are near one anytime soon.

And, just so I don't forget that I once had abs and will have them again:

I worked so hard post-Jack for those wonderful lines down the side!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Maternity Sweaters to Knit

I am a firm believer that one should not buy too many maternity clothes. I only wore maternity pants and shorts, and then only in the last 4 months. Extra long tanks, drawstring pants and anything empire-waist will work for pretty much the whole pregnancy.

But the following knitting projects are flattering, and could be worn after delivery and after I return to my normal shape (thank you, Pilates).

Lacy Babydoll by Melissa Werhle in Expectant Little Knits
Rosebud Cardigan by Erika Knight in Knitting for Two
T shirt with Ties by Erika Knight in Knitting for Two
A-line jacket from DROPS design (I've already got this one on the needles)

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

This Week in Food - 3rd week in July

Each week, I pick 5 recipes for dishes I've never cooked before and make 'em. Results and pictures to come!

3rd Week in July
Chocolate dipped cherry ice cream cone (Bon Appetit cover recipe)
Vietnamese summer rolls
Zucchini fritters with lemon and greens
Crab salad with wonton crisps and lime
Vegetable pesto salad with warm goat cheese toasts

Grocery list for these recipes:
(I don't include basics like olive oil or salt or flour)
bell peppers
shitake mushrooms
goat's cheese
baguette
pesto (I make my own)
lemon
salad greens
cherry ice cream
almonds
dark chocolate
white chocolate
zucchini (from my friends' garden!)
rice paper
limes
wonton wrappers
crabmeat
fresh mint
shrimp
coconut milk

Monday, July 14, 2008

Baby Talk

Robin and I have been talking for a while about having another baby. We made a fairly momentous decision to start trying to conceive next month. I got pregnant with Jack on our first try, and I wouldn't mind if it took a bit longer this time.

I have been hesitant to have another baby. Our life was very hard after we had Jack, for a lot of reasons. I had a great pregnancy, but Jack was delivered by emergency c-section. I thought he had died. The cord was wrapped around his chest and his heart rate slowed to almost nothing. He was delivered by the doctor on call, whom I had never met before. After the surgery, I didn't see Jack for several hours because I was in shock and my body temp was 94 degrees. In the end, Jack was a terrific, happy, healthy baby, but the beginning was scary, and I never really got over that.

After I delivered, I suffered from post-partum depression for a long time. I was tired and irritable, and I couldn't get through the day without a drink. When Jack was 18 months old, one day I didn't want to drive with him in the car because I was so tired I feared I would have an accident. That was the day I called the doctor. And I got help, and medicine, and everything turned out fine in the end. But I never want to suffer through anything like that time again.

I think the reason I am willing to try again is that we have so much love in our house - my husband and I for each other, and both of us for Jack. Yes, we have the space and the time and energy. We have a big house now, two jobs, plenty of money. Jack will be going to school in a year. But I think the love is the most important thing.

And, anticipating being pregnant and various stages of uncomfortable, I decided to put a couch in my office. I bought it at a yard sale for $40. Here is Robin being comfy in the parking lot:

I bought some pillows from Marshalls and they match pretty well.

Friday, July 11, 2008

New Knitting Books

I just bought some new knitting books (so exciting!):

Lace Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd

Just Right Wrap sweater

Lily of the Valley shawl



Hepburn Cardigan


Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne




all images are copyright interweave press

Wall-e


If you have not seen Wall-e yet, get yourself to a movie theatre! Jack and I have been twice and Robin has been 4 times. It's a wonderful movie, suitable for children and adults. My husband described it to me as a love story, and it is. It is also a magnificent science fiction story, and a cautionary tale about obesity, complacency, and our abuse of the environment. Pixar's best movie, which is saying a lot.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Cucumber Heaven


Sally likes to lounge on the couch and watch Squirrel TV

This is her view. We had the world's most hideous blinds in this room (to go with the ugly carpet), and I recently took them down and started putting up curtains. They're expensive, so I'm doing one window at a time. The curtains are from Target, the rods are from PB Teen and I sewed a band of pale blue silk to the bottom of each panel.

Our first cucumber!

Climbing Joseph's Coat rose with lots of buds. I had to spray the roses for Japanese Beetle - we'll see if they perk up now. I love that climbing habit; I'm hoping to cover the whole front of the house with climbing roses.

renegade morning glory. They come up every year, and are trying to get into the garage.

Begonias in hanging pot.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

This Old House

Okay, our house is not really that old (1953). It is a traditional Cape Cod, with the crown molding and the mantelpiece and the curved banister and everything. It's a lovely house that has been well-cared for, and I love it as much as a person can love a house.
We've done some work on it since we moved in in 2006. Not quite as much work as we'd like to do, because we work and have a 3 year old, but here are some of our upcoming projects:
The living/dining room will be painted with the following:
Behr Interior Eggshell Finish in Vanilla Custard
Ralph Lauren Candlelight Topcoat in Pearl

As you can see, at the moment it is sort of a Napoleonic grey-green.

The kitchen before:

The kitchen after:


The kitchen still needs to be completed, with a small patch of marble backsplash still to be installed, the painting completed, some of the molding replaced and switchplates installed. I will also install a pot rack above the range. We used Behr Lemon Chill for the walls, and Italian marble tiles for the backsplash, which my husband installed himself.

Fabric, Trim and Lace

Lots of my friends are having babies these days - I'm thirty and that's about the age when people start havin' em. I've been doing a lot of sewing and knitting for babies, and here are some of the materials and results:

Baby patterns

Baby fabrics - quilt cottons

More baby fabrics - natural linen, vine print, flower print and embroidered swiss batiste

baby kimono made from an antique linen pillowcase

dress from a lot of antique baby clothes purchased on Ebay

pattern and fabric for a baby blouse

Dick and Jane fabric and a couple of vintage-y prints from my local fabric shop

a lace shawl from the 1860s, purchased at an antique store on Long Island. Probably too fragile for baby use, but might be pretty framed under glass for a girl's room.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Trellis & Pretty Clothes

I went searching for pea trellis and tomato cages this weekend, and couldn't find either. But I did find these pretty bamboo arches for the cucumbers:


And for those hot days and nights, some pretty little things:



Old Navy Lace-trim Top


Gap Dotted sash dress


Urban Outfitters Porcelain Rose Earrings

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Yarn Lust

Now I am the first to admit I have a lot of yarn. I have an extremely organized spot in the closet for it. I'm a very organized person. My underwear drawer is a masterpiece. Just don't look in the basement. Really. Don't.

My yarn is all lined up neatly in zip lock bags to keep out the moths. I am not buying any more yarn right now, because I have several projects in mind, and the yarn for them is sitting in my closet.

But if I were:

Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne

ArtYarns Regal Silk in Cappucino

Colourmart 4/14NM double twist 100% cashmere DK in Brume

DROPS Kid-silk in 06 Light Grey Green

DROPS Alpaca in Raspberry (matches my blog!)

Just Right Wrap from Lace Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd

Thalia from Louisa Harding's new book Dauphine

From Inspired to Knit