Wednesday, February 29, 2012


Spring--Maybe?


Yesterday I found these things starting to happen...



daffodil shoots poking up from the ground,




a crocus waiting to open,




and birds catching the light while singing their spring songs!


And then today--




Snow!




Waiting for warmth.


Saturday, February 25, 2012





Dragons!


Yesterday at the post office I was blown away by these gorgeous stamps--



depicting the Chinese year of the dragon.

I love painting dragons.



Here's the original , a stool painted for Max.




then another stool,




and another



and a dragon lazy susan.

I've been told they're too scary. Max doesn't think so--neither do I.

Saturday, February 18, 2012



This Week



has been all about painting--viney designs on small round tables,




beehive patterns on rectangular tables,




and finishing up wild color circles and floral patterns on anything made out of wood!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Oops!

I messed up my knee running with Tulip--or trying to get her to run.




So I got a Valentine's Day breakfast in bed, thanks to patient Toby (who figured out how to use the coffee machine) and this splendid Valentine's dinner, thanks to Margot! (We were reminded of the weird Christmas Eve dinner we ended up eating at a gas station in Hawaii---somewhat tasty but hardly atmospheric--Rachel and Sam will remember).

Now, my knee's better!






Friday, February 10, 2012



Potato Chip Scarf

Margot and I started knitting the other day



Using the almost "viral" potato chip scarf pattern that Francie sent me (well--I've given the directions to a few admirers).




I'm wearing the one Francie knit for me--still the very best.




And here's the one Margot's started. Both of ours are full of holes (we were talking too much to count rows).

Tuesday, February 7, 2012



Visit

Sarah and Alan came to see us over the weekend.



Enjoying a leisurely breakfast.



Their two dogs got along famously with Tulip, proving that pugnaciousness (on the part of all the dogs) does diminish with age.




And, to show that it's really winter, not just pretend (because it's been so warm on the East Coast), Tulip is growing her long winter hair,





which she objects to my combing out, even though she leaves reams of it wherever she sits.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012


Carol's

Yesterday I drove up to see Carol, one of our storytelling clan, in her amazing, multi-story converted barn outside of Boston.



Come in the front door, at the back, and into one of many living rooms on the huge first floor. Overhead are platforms and staircases leading to more floors and tucked-away rooms.




This is the sunken dining room, portraits and glass everywhere.




On up to another living room with a graceful Christmas tree.




The cozy den with wood stove where we sat and talked.




Outside the kitchen and under walkways leading from one room to another.
Imagine raising children here. She did, and they did swing from the rafters.




Here's Carol in her kitchen




surrounded by the most alluring array of pots, pans




and paraphernalia one could imagine.




Plus the surprise of discovering that one of the ovens was filled with crackers and pasta. "That oven doesn't work," said Carol. "I had to do something with it."




Then, on leaving, discovering this one round stone resting on a round stone table--from delicious abundance to delightful simplicity!