Jack's Bistro

I have wanted a toy kitchen for Jack for a while now. I looked at the cute ones at Target, but neglected to buy. This year's model, unfortunately, has pink trim, and next year's is a rather garish bright blue. I considered making one from scratch in *all* my spare time. Then, as fate would have it, I went antique shopping last weekend and spotted the "Suzy Homemaker" oven you see in all its turquoise glory. It does something which only a toy made in the 50's before giant corporate lawsuits would do - it heats up. That's right. I have not plugged it in, so I don't know if that part still works. The oven was mine for $35, still in the original box. I made
Jack some felt chocolate chip cookies and put out his play food and fruit. I had a set of pots and pans that I played with when I was a little girl. They are miniature Revere Ware in stainless steel with copper bottoms (another toy I can't imagine being made today, simply because of the expense). The set has a frying pan, 2 saucepans with lids, a little tea kettle, a mixing bowl and a coffee pot with lid. The little shelves are from IKEA, as are some of the baking implements. The polka dot table and chairs were a birthday present and came from Babystyle. All in all, a fabulous and fabulously easy little restaurant for my little gourmet.

The Most Wonderful Sound

is one I haven't heard for many years. The clank and hiss of a hot water radiator on a cold winter's morning. Unless you live in a pre-war house, you will never hear this divine sound. My dorm at the University of Chicago was old, with transom doors and lovely wood paneling, and those radiators. I was 18 years old, living a life devoid of luxury, and the hiss of steam on a January Saturday, ushering in as it did a day of no classes, sleeping in, and strawberries for breakfast in the dining hall. To a young woman who lived on a pittance, who walked and biked everywhere she went, to whom a meal in a restaurant was a treat, it was such comfort. Now I live in a house with forced air heat, and it still wakes me up with its whoosh and creak, but it's not the same.

It's Not Fair

In honor of my passing the 10 week pregnancy mark and no longer wanting to puke every second, I have succumbed to seasonal allergies. It's October, pollen, lay off. But in between downing Claritin yesterday, I did manage to get a great deal of work done around my sorely neglected house. I put away all Jack's too-small and summer clothes so getting ready in the morning is not such a desperate rummage for something weather-appropriate that also fits. He's grown so much this year! I have to say, though, that Jack is excellent at getting ready in the morning. We can go from bed to car in 10 minutes, and that includes me washing my hair. We try to get going by 8:15 so he can eat his breakfast at daycare, and I sit with him while he eats, which is pleasant.

I also cleaned off the catch-all table in the dining room and replaced the burnt out bulbs in the outside front lights. Jack and I spent some time downstairs in the sewing room where he played and I finished 2 kimonos and a blouse for the baby (below).




It really feels great to be a part of the human race again and not a sick, nauseated wreak who just wants to lie down or eat or both.

Making me Happy Today

Among the many things making me happy today:

1. A lovely, perfectly formed 9-week baby with a healthy heartbeat.

2. The yam roll at Taste of Asia. Yam tempura, shitake mushroom and avocado. I know those of you in sushi-heavy cities might think this is silly, but this is West Virginia we're talking about and we do not take good sushi for granted. I also had a delicious spicy tuna roll with some crunch in it, and Jack stuffed himself with beef teriyaki and Thai spring rolls.

3. a glorious Indian summer three weeks into October.

4. Banana cake with coconut frosting



5. Light Showers from Lucia Johnson on Etsy. Purchased for the nursery and abovementioned healthy baby. To go with this cherry blossom print, taken by me here on campus 2 Mays ago. I framed it, but the glass was promptly broken by my husband, who has a knack for that sort of thing. So I need to make a trip to the handware store to get a new piece.

My Favorite Things

This week, I would like to praise

Honey Crisp apples - extremely good this year.
Gummy vitamins
Berry Rolaids
Perrier Lemon-Lime sparkling water

My doctor tells me I am 8 weeks and 4 days pregnant, which means morning sickness should end around October 18th. At which point I can clean the house, and perhaps knit again.

Knitted Bracelets - a bad idea

Really, no one wants a hand-knitted Christmas gift bad enough to want a knitted cuff bracelet. Is there any area where the spectrum from hideous to stylish is so broad as in knitting? I've seen items that look like something the cat dragged in, ate, and then threw up. And I've seen items I would gladly pay lots of money for in stores.

Fall Boots

I went to the store for Uggs, and came back with these:

Privo Luke boot in Sand. Ugg-like, but more streamlined, and in the most gorgeous soft buttery leather you can imagine. So ski lodge in Cortina d'Ampezzo - for the record, where The Pink Panther was filmed in 1963 and so glamorous.

If you wore them with this:

















Lands' End Angel down vest in Driftwood, with maybe some Prada ski pants and diamond studs, you'd simply have handsome Italian men throwing themselves at your feet.

And the reason I am writing this instead of lying on my couch trying not to throw up:
25mg B6 + 12 mg Unisom = morning sickness begone
Taken before bed, it works for 18 hours.