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Junior Becomes an Angel, Briefly

 
 

We actually made it to Ireland without Junior being escorted out to the wing! Something happened to my kids on the airplane after take-off. It was as if two shimmering halos descended upon their heads and I had Bobby and Cindy from the Brady Bunch at my sides. Inititally, Junior's seatmate looked dismayed when he saw us in his row and I could see him scouting for alternative seating. When he finally sat down,  Junior stared at his tats which were from bicep to pinky and informed him that he had a leprechaun on his forearm and had he been to the lepreuchan museum in Ireland? He hadn't. Then, after dinner Junior fell asleep and remained that way until landing, when he woke up momentarily and fell right back asleep on the guy's shoulder. He was declared "A very good traveler" by tatooed guy and I had to agree.

I had a list of important rules for the plane ride that I didn't really believe would be followed. Number one was not to call me, his sister, or the flight attendants FARTSON at the top of his lungs which he normally does with the regularity of breathing. I didn't have to turn the airplane potty into a Naughty Chair, which made me exceptionally happy. I'm a terrible flyer and for some reason whenever I get up from my seat and walk back to the bathroom,  I tip the plane. If it's going to crash, it's when I'm in the bathroom and not steering the plane from my seat, so I'm very glad Fartson kept his mouth shut and I was able to fly the plane (quite smoothly, to my credit) safely into Dublin. The Rob Ryan buntitng is from Aricle Dublin.

Today the kiddos and I leave for Ireland for 10 days. I've tried to do some blog posts ahead since I don't think there will be much wireless access there. This is a wrap I'm making for a family friend out of Malabrigo Twist. I need to speed it up a bit to get it done. This yarn is a dream to work with - I highly recommend it. I think I can work on the plane as well, in between, "Mommy, she changed my channel!" and "Well, he tried to open the life preserver under his seat!" Gone are the days when you can just take them by the hand, lead them up to the cockpit and say, "Captain, it's true, isn't it? If they don't behave, then they have to go sit on the wing?" 

I have a strange packing technique that nevertheless works well to minimize mess when we arrive. I put seven outfits for each kid in a ziploc, including socks and underwear, and they just grab one and get dressed. Saves clothes being strewn from pillar to post since we won't have access to a dresser, and we can do laundry halfway through our stay. I don't need ziplocs for myself, thank goodness. I know how to put my clothes away.

Junior's Owl Vest

While packing for Ireland, Junior tried on the new sweater vest I designed for him out of Madeline Tosh DK yarn in Grasshopper. I get it, I get it, it needs to be blocked out and stretched a bit.

But all that work and the comments from the two males in the household:

Junior: "Mommy, you need to add a Power Ranger to it!"

Husband: (Falling down laughing) - "Oh My God - he looks like one of the Village People!"

Kelly Reemsten

Aritst Kelly Reemsten paints women in a slightly different light. I love this piece for several reasons.  I've always wanted a chainsaw. I tried to purchase one when we lived in New Mexico but Husband about had a fit. Just to fire it up in the front yard for minor fallen tree branches is so badass, never mind while in a pink dress. I love how her bracelet, belt and chain all match, too. That seems crucial, if not poignant.

Pink crocheted bike seat

Today, I feel inspired to get out my pink bike, pump up the tires and go for a spin, now that Juniorette can probably be trusted on a bike trail (as long as she doesn't have to stop.) What better way to adorn a bike than this? From Barewunderbar. We're lucky, here in Little Rhody, we have a bike trail that goes for miles and miles, passing, rivers, railroads and ice cream stands! 

 

Manoush

Today I went to Boston to meet my oldest and dearest friend in the world. We met in eighth grade up in Maine and she is the Godmother of my daughter. Getting her to travel from her farm in rural Maine is no mean feat. And I do mean rural - as in, their dinner party topic last month was How to Build a Composting Toilet, which, make no mistake about it, she valiantly refused to have in her house, giving poignant meaning to the adage "Choose your battles." Anyway, I can't believe I got her away from the Japanese beatles attacking her massive garden, but she came down and is with me until Friday. I feel so lucky to have her here!

We spent the day in Boston, where we went into several consignment shops on Newbury Street. Deb and I - we have completely different styles, almost comically so. Deb is a lot more conservative, yet the woman might as well be my personal shopper! When she pulled this green gingham forties style dress off the rack (while I was sitting on the stairs resting - Husband, take note) and thrust it at me, I nearly got goosebumps at the site of it. "This is soooo you!" And it was. And it fit! And I got 20% off for a minor hole in the seam! She then spent ten minutes trolling through winter sweaters and I was needling her a bit: "Deb, who shops for sweaters in July? I can't even think of them!" 

"Hon, this is exactly when you should be shopping for sweaters," she informed me in her Real Simple editor voice. The voice of the person who has Budget Meetings every week with her significant other and changes her oil every 2999 miles. I rolled my eyes, seconds before she pulled a hand knitted Manoush cardigan with eyelet peter pan collar off the rack, and said, Here it is! This is yours! And it was. And it's adorable. And I can't go shopping with her again for a while or Husband is going to be making me have Budget Meetings once a week.  Pink dresses from Manoush, not owned by me, unfortunately.

Queen of Love Armchair

While dreaming of a real backyard, sometimes my mind goes to outdoor furniture (and bathtubs, to be honest.) The Queen of Love armchair, by Moro-Pigatti, is made of recycled polyurethane and would certainly be a fun conversation piece in the corner of the yard. I'd place it next to the outdoor bathtub and reading table, which Husband will say is the most obscene thing he's ever heard of - worse than making him eat dinner on the front lawn.) Available at the The Open Room. 

Cath Kidston Tiles!

Well, if this doesn't make your day then nothing will! Cath Kidston vinyl tiles from Harveymaria. I was just sitting on the studio floor with Permanent Magenta, as we worked on sweater designs, workshop planning, inspiration journals and drinking Snapples when I saw this. Wow - even more reason to buy a house with beat up bathrooms that need restoring!

Moroccan Tea

Today, I have Moroccan tea on the brain, perhaps because a friend of mine is planning a trip to Morocco. It also is hot here and the sweet mint tea sounds so refreshing. The recipe and photo are from Maison Marrakech. 

In my quest to stop drinking Diet Coke I've been drinking more tea, making large batches of lemon water and cucumber water, which the small children just love. I put it in a pretty clear container in the fridge, which of course means Junior decided to use it like a water fountain. Never a mess not to clean up in these parts. Image from Wondershoen-Gamacht. This weekend I:

1. Got a babysitter for Husband's birthday today - finally! Happy Birthday, Honey! I really want to make him this cake.

2. Am trying very hard to pull up my knitting design pants, so am designing a birdie cardigan for Juniorette and also finishing a dress for myself. 

3. Looking at another house today. An old farmhouse on a couple of acres with a separate glass house for my studio. My nose is growing by the minute. It's a brick house with pillars a la Husband's mother ship.