Mother Earth and Her Children

Somehow, M found this misshelved & lost book in the children's book stacks at the library. I'm glad she did. Everytime we settle down to read it before nap time, I get so lost in all the pictures... we both do.

The illustrations in this book are actually details of a single quilt created by Sieglinde Schoen-Smith. It's amazing for me to think that someone could make this by hand out of simple cloth & thread.

Mother Earth and Her Children

Illustrated/quilted by Sieglinde Schoen-Smith from a poem/book long-ago written by Sibylle von Olfers and translated by Jack Zipes

Schoen-Smith's design was inspired by the original 1906 illustrations by the author, Sibylle von Olfers. Very lovely too. You can view a complete digital copy of her book here.

Image above via Stadtmuseum Esslingen

I love Ozzy

As if little Ozzy Rabbit wasn't cute enough, he also has a removable vest with a polka dot lining.

Oh, Fanya. You are too much!

Mommy's Girl

So Baby M has got a big case of Mommy's Girl. It's gotten pretty bad. Only I can take her out of the highchair. Only I can wash her hands and face. Only I can pick her up in a crowd. Only I can read her stories, even though she loves being read to almost more than anything else in the world. You get the picture.

It's gotten so bad that last weekend, I picked up a little board book called Daddy Loves Me. Yes. Propaganda. We've resorted to propaganda. "Look, MarMar! Look at the daddy pushing the baby in the swing! That baby sure is happy. Look at that big smile!"

Funny thing is that she LOVES this book. She wants to hear it over & over again... but only if I read it to her. If R tries to take a turn, it's tears, snot & a panicky begging for "Mommy, hold you!"

I hope, hope, hope this phase will soon be over. Don't get me wrong. It's nice to be needed & loved, but I'd much, much rather share that honor (and the hand-washing & the holding & everything else).

Rules

I love this rule (and this song too):

158. The best thing to do in the rain is be quiet and listen.

Now, if only it would rain here...

Image

New Anthropologie Catalog

What a fun surprise! Today, I got a copy of the new Anthropologie catalog & lo & behold, the photo shoot was held just a few blocks from my house.

And yes, every surface in this town truly is plastered with crisply new & forlornly weathered rock posters. However, now I'm looking at them in a whole new way.

Blame Ringo

Made me smile

Newness

A new haircut that feels just right.

A new blankie & a super-soft new doggie added to the bedtime menagerie (Thank you, Anie!)

And soon to leave for a family beach vacation in Florida. Three cheers for sand, waves & ocean breezes. I can hardly wait! Doesn't it look amazing?

Images here

Wishing it were cold

I'm wishing it were cold here so I could have a snowman friend of my own

Anchors away

It's Mother's Day, which for me means a big breakfast of migas, a freshly vacuumed car & hours away from all things children (love you, Baby M! But nevertheless...)

Not sure where the wind will blow me, but two ports of call will definitely be a leisurely solo visit to the Harry Ransom Center and a little yoga.

A Star is Born!

Looks like today was the day we'd all been waiting for.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a little yellow & black striped caterpillar feeding on one of the milkweed plants in our backyard. Every day, I'd go out to check its progress & watch it grow fatter & longer, until one morning it left its feasting grounds & was hanging upside down from a vine tendril nearby. Next time I checked, it looked like this:

I clipped off the bit of vine & set it up in its new mason jar home on our kitchen window sill. I could not wait for it to emerge.

This morning, the bright green, ever still, unmoving chrysalis had turned black & I could make out the wing markings of the monarch butterfly curled up inside. It was time to let it go.

Amazing! Godspeed, beautiful butterfly. I hope you have a long life & your journey goes safely & smoothly.

Baby M auspiciously wore her beautiful new butterfly dress today. What luck!