Lately

Outside my windows: construction. the land across the street is now completely divorced from its former orchard-existence. lots are marked out. framing is going up. a sales office complete with parking lot, landscaping, and flags has been plopped down. the lane has been widened (mostly) and is adorned with speed bumps. a sidewalk is being prepped. a driveway that wasn't supposed to be there is most certainly there. traffic cones cause cars to weave down my street. sandwich boards announce parking restrictions. trucks of all shapes and sizes move stuff around. people in orange vests (mostly men) do stuff. Little Hands is fascinated. Truthfully, I am a little bit, too. 

I am thankful: Katie-dog's re-entry to our home and family has been smooth. She's a marvel. 

I am wearing: uncharacteristically for me these days: jeans, a camisole, and a short-sleeved kimono-sleeved black cardigan characteristically for me these days: a blue, quilted, zippered pouch that holds my iPhone.  

I am reading: Tell the Wolves I am Home, by Carol Rifka Brunt. I chose it because of the title and because of the blurb on the back and because the author's middle name is Rifka. 

I am looking forward to: 

I am working on:  a set of ragged letters for a friend. And in the planning (and supply-purchasing) stage for Little Hands' Halloween costume. 

I need:

I want: to do more with the free time I have. I'd like to finish the napkin quilt. I'd like to start the half-square triangle quilt. I'd like to make the jelly-roll pillows. I'd like to convert the bustle skirts into A-line skirts. I'd like to deal with the giant pile of teaching supplies I stashed and ignored in the garage (no, I don't want to do this--what I want is to reclaim that space and have a tidy garage without a lot of skeletons and bitter memories, and without having to confront any demons to get it.) 

I am listening to: lots and lots of music on Comcast cable: Toddler Tunes, top 40 (thank you, Mr. Hands), classic rock, stage and screen, 80s, golden oldies. Little Hands loves music--she nods her head, waves her arms, steps her feet, claps, wiggles her body--it's clear music moves her. 

Around the house: a new frame for our mattress.

Something new: we've been using Gobble, a dinner delivery service, for a week. It's definitely been very relaxing to not have to figure out dinner on Gobble nights. But it's an indulgence, for sure.

A favorite: all the babble coming from Little Hands these days. She's picking up words: ma & mama. da. ca or teh (cat). duh (dog?). The signs she uses: eat, more, and all done. She's not acquiring any more signs. We probably need to be more intensive and intentional about it. 

Lately

Outside my windows: The pear trees still wear their crowns of green leaves, crows descend on the freshly moved dirt in the construction area across the street, a giant plane made lots of touch and gos from Moffett Field today, on a really quiet night I can hear crickets but I'm baffled by where they could be located, I have gotten to know so many more of my neighbors since Little Hands came to live with us--every time we go out it's fun to greet so many friendly and welcoming people.

I am thankful: Today's well baby visit went reasonably well. Mr. Hands and I like Little Hands' doctor. The blood draw sucked. There was a lot of screaming and snot. But she bounced reasonably quickly. 

I am wearing: plaid flannel pj bottoms, tank top, really dingy white terry cloth robe, bare feet

I am reading: Sleepless in America, The Connected Child

I am looking forward to: the stroller I ordered arriving and getting Little Hands used to it so we can go on some longer walks. Also, my parents returning with KT dog from their trip. 

{I am not looking forward to: Mr. Hands returning to work on Tuesday. I am certain I will spend the entire day in tears.}

I am working on:  applying the 80/20 rule to most everything in my life. It helps me. 

I need: to get our meals under control, both for Little Hands and for Mr Hands and me. Feeding us, getting food into the house, preparing said food, feels overwhelming right now.

I want: to start pulling the photos and anecdotes of our trip to China and our daily life right now together, before it all slips away.

I am listening to: the lullaby CD we play every night for Little Hands coming through on the baby monitor

Around the house: the cats are starved for attention and both are laying on my desk, barely giving my keyboard and hands any room; toys are everywhere; a new king sized bed in the master bedroom; the crib became a toddler bed today.

Something new: it seems like absolutely everything is new, and it's terrifying

A favorite: Little Hands and her dad; also, our evening/dusk walks leading into our bedtime routine.

Summer so far

The list so far. It may have been a bit ridiculous.

1. sit by a pool with my feet dangling in
2. have a facial
3. eat dinner outside on our patio
4. nap on a blanket in a park under a tree
5. sit around our fire pit with friends
6. go on a road trip with Mr. Hands and KT dog
7. trim the lemon tree
8. spruce up the garden with some new plants
9. power wash the patio on a super hot day
10. enjoy Thursday Night Live in downtown
11. continue our tradition of seeing free Shakespeare in the Park--this year the play is Macbeth
12. make ice cream
13. grill as often as possible
14. enjoy the weekly food trucks coming to the apartment complex down the street
15. work on some quilts
16. sew stuff with my mom
17. see lots of friends at our anniversary barbecue
18. make jam
19. can tomatoes
20. spend a day playing on the beach and relaxing at the Half Moon Bay Brewery
21. meet Joshua, my cousin's baby, which makes him my first cousin once removed. I've got 6 of those!
22. go to the craft fairs held down town (one already, one more in September!)
23. ride bikes to downtown in the evenings
24. get the tiling in the kitchen and landings all done
25. get the ball rolling on the window replacement (I feel that this item is going to be one of those that rolls over from list to list)
26. camp with Brigetta--this experience must include pie!
27. hike in an open space--Sanborn? Pulgas Ridge? Arastadero? 
28. see Monsters University
29. read: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman; Singing School, by Robert Pinsky; Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell; And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
30. go to China
31. meet the person who will join our family, whom I will cherish, and who is already so celebrated by our families and friends
32. return from China a family of three

Twenty Pies to Make this Summer

I think this is 2 or 3 pies a week until Labor Day.

Raspberry Hazelnut Tart »

Easy Summer Fruit Tart »

Twice-Baked Sour Cherry Pie »

Plum Chutney Crumb Pie »

Jumbleberry Grunt »

Rose-Scented Berry Tart With an Almond Shortbread Crust »

Rhubarb Crisp  »

Apricot and Almond Tart »

Butter Pie »

Brown Butter Nectarine Cobbler »

Lemon Confit Shortbread Tart »

Rhubarb Raspberry Cobbler With Cornmeal Biscuits »

Rustic Plum Crostata »

Fried Peach Pies With Bourbon and Cinnamon »

Rye Pecan Pie »

Pear Pomegranate Pie »

Lazy Sonker »

Pear Ginger Crumble »

Mixed Berry Almond Crunch Crumble »

Cherry Cobbler With Almond-Buttermilk Topping »

Produced by DES SHOE, EMILY WEINSTEIN and JACKY MYINT; Photographs by ANDREW SCRIVANI for THE NEW YORK TIMES, ANDREW TESTA for THE NEW YORK TIMES, EVAN SUNG for THE NEW YORK TIMES and FRANCESCO TONELLI for THE NEW YORK TIMES

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/01/dining/pie-recipes-2013.html?src=me&ref=general

10 things right now

1. The water hose to the fridge burst and soaked the kitchen, hallway, and downstairs bathroom. I discovered this and hollered, "Brian! The refrigerator is flooding the house!" We worked on mopping it up & I used the dry vac, which was an annoying thing to use. I was pretty grouchy. Mr. Hands said "This is a first world problem" which snapped the situation into perspective. Later he told me, "Thanks for being on my team." I love love love him.
2. I picked up my parents from the airport last night and spent the night at their house. Mr. Hands said Katie-dog missed me and ran all through the house looking for me this morning.
3. Over breakfast at Starbucks this morning, my parents and I chatted for hours. That was fun.
4. One of the topics of our conversation came around to their boat in Guatemala and whether they would have to return there. Mom said yes, there are things on the boat she wants to retrieve. Dad said, "Like what?" Mom listed a few things. Dad replied, "What is that? Maybe $1000? I'm not sure I would go back for a thousand dollars." 
5. It's been hot. In the 100s for the past few days. This is pretty unusually hot.
6. I had a 14.5 inch square piece of plastic cut for me at Tap Plastics to use as a template when trimming the barbecue napkins down to quilt squares. The square is not true, so the blocks are wonky. I'm calling this "character" for now, but when I start sewing things together, I may have uglier words.
7. I am starting to panic about all the sewing and quilting projects I want to do before we go to China.
8. We go to China in roughly 6 weeks. 
9. The Sungold tomato has been producing deliciousness for a couple of weeks now. The Principe Borghese variety had two tomatoes which I smooshed into our pasta sauce on Saturday.
10. It has been at least a week since the cats have peed on anything except their litter. Hooray!

Hello Summer

This summer I would absolutely love to :

1. sit by a pool with my feet dangling in
2. have a facial
3. eat dinner outside on our patio
4. nap on a blanket in a park under a tree
5. sit around our fire pit with friends
6. go on a road trip with Mr. Hands and KT dog
7. trim the lemon tree
8. spruce up the garden with some new plants
9. power wash the patio on a super hot day
10. enjoy Thursday Night Live in downtown
11. continue our tradition of seeing free Shakespeare in the Park--this year the play is Macbeth
12. make ice cream
13. grill as often as possible
14. enjoy the weekly food trucks coming to the apartment complex down the street
15. work on some quilts
16. sew stuff with my mom
17. see lots of friends at our anniversary barbecue
18. make jam
19. can tomatoes
20. spend a day playing on the beach and relaxing at the Half Moon Bay Brewery
21. meet Joshua, my cousin's baby, which makes him my first cousin once removed. I've got 6 of those!
22. go to the craft fairs held down town (one already, one more in September!)
23. ride bikes to downtown in the evenings
24. get the tiling in the kitchen and landings all done
25. get the ball rolling on the window replacement (I feel that this item is going to be one of those that rolls over from list to list)
26. camp with Brigetta--this experience must include pie!
27. hike in an open space--Sanborn? Pulgas Ridge? Arastadero? 
28. see Monsters University
29. read: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman; Singing School, by Robert Pinsky; Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell; And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
30. go to China
31. meet the person who will join our family, whom I will cherish, and who is already so celebrated by our families and friends
32. return from China a family of three

So long, May

A recap:

1. Turns out, Simon's foot was injured. It swole up and then wept gooey puss. I forced antibiotics into his mouth with a syringe everyday for a week. He's all better. 
   
2. I dug out the giant lavender shrub purchased erroneously and replaced it with a dwarf lavender shrub. The giant shrub will live in my parents' garden.
3. The trip to Mistral and Belize was cancelled. While sad, it is actually A Very Good Thing. Or at least A Step in the Direction I Think is Wise. 
4. A road trip to Palm Springs is being considered in its place.
5. Tile for the floor of the kitchen and entry has been chosen and ordered.
6. I took Bart into San Francisco to have my hair cut at a beauty school. Maggie trimmed off 4 inches and then went to work on the epic chore of blow drying my hair straight. I made an appointment with her for the Really Big Cut in June.  Here's my arty photo from my trip back down the peninsula.
   
7. Mr. Hands and I had our first excursion to a Gigantic Baby Stuff Emporium. This was overwhelming! And also instructive. We have navigated some of the ins and outs of baby carriers and car seats and gliders.  
8. Mr. Hands put together the crib. It's in an alcove in our room for now. I expect we'll move it around to see where it needs to be. It may never be used. Who knows? But it's there so we have options. At this point, we just have to make the choices that feel right for us and our situation, and go with the flow when the time comes. And man, is an assembled but empty crib a powerful symbol of where we're at in the process right now. 
   
9. We now have the rocking chair that Mr. Hands' mom used to soothe him to sleep. It came from a church in Warren, Arkansas. It was used in the nursery there. It has a squeak, which Mr. Hands' mom swears is the magic that helped Mr. Hands calm down and drift off to sleep. No other rocker would ever work. We've put it in the baby's room and for now we've put our collection of Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls and quilts from our own childhoods there. Occasionally Simon makes himself at home. 
   
10. I attended shower to celebrate a friend's upcoming birth and gifted the giant floor pillow I had made for her little one. It is in the upper right corner of the rocking chair picture. It was the last pillow and I was excited to send it on its way. 
11. But in a fit of generosity, I promised the friend who hosted the shower that I would make her daughter a pillow this summer.
12. That means our child will have a pillow after all. This makes Mr. Hands and my mother ridiculously pleased, because they thought I was being mean for not making one in the first place.
13. After agonizing over fabric choices, I picked the fabric for the pillow.
14. But I still have not finished the robot quilt or the baby quilt.
15. Mr. Hands and I went with some friends to see the new Star Trek movie, which I enjoyed. It made me smile to see what is quite possibly the entire fleet of Google bikes outside the theater. Shall we say, this is a photo of only one shore of the sea of bikes there that day.
    
16. Mr. Hands and I have been planning and preparing for a barbecue to celebrate our 11th anniversary. 
17. I decided to have cloth napkins and make them all myself. I purchased loads of fabric at a sale and have  been sewing each evening ever since. If I knew what a tedious and slow process it was going to be, I'd like to think I would not have embarked on this fool's project. But probably.
18. Thanks to Pinterest, I learned of a cheater method that makes the napkin hemming go a bit quicker. I can now crank out 10 napkins in the time it took me to make 6 or 7 before. So, yay! 
19. We went to the early summer Mountain View Art & Wine festival with Rae, Brigetta & Malin.
20. While there, I saw this sign in a shop and fell deeply in like with it. Mr. Hands bought it for me as a surprise. Hanging it on the wall has been...problematic. 
    
21. We helped Rae move some of her collectibles into her new apartment & I drove her to Gilroy so she could take her written driving test. 
22. We spent a weekend circling the Bay Area and Sonoma County in order to visit my parents and Mr. Hands' mom within 24 hours. 
23. My cousin Christine delivered her son Joshua on May 26. Two weeks after his due date!
    
24. My nephews turned 12 and 10! 
25. We also celebrated the birthdays of my dad, my God sister, and our good friend Brandon. May is a popular month for birthdays around here.
26. We cleaned out the closets.
27. I did not get the ball rolling on window replacement. 
28. Mr. Hands tidied the garage so I can park my car in there again.
29. I made this. Twice.
30. Our friends kicked off this year's grilling season with a cook out at their house over the Memorial Day weekend.
31. I had my first Jello shot in 20 years at a friend's housewarming party. See you in another 20 years, Jello shot. 

Hello, May

1. Keep up with the daily walks.
2. Clean out the closets.
3. Get the ball rolling on the window replacement.
4. Plan our trip to visit Mom & Dad aboard Mistral. 


On the project list, this month I choose:

• to finish the robot quilt
• to make the baby quilt
• to make the cushions for the rocking chair
• to collaborate with a friend on a height chart

Around here

Adorable, frustrating, sweet Simon alternates between getting into the most trouble possible and curling up in tucked away spots snoozing calmly. He's been limping around on a sore foot for a day or so, but there's no wound and it doesn't bother him when we probe it. Maybe he landed on it funny?

Baby toes are making me feel squishy these days.

Radishes. Reliable and rewarding. Always the first goodies out of the garden. I'm charmed by this colorful type I planted this year. Also coming out of the garden--the snow sugar peas. It was fun to switch things up, but I'll be going back to my usual sugar snap pea next time.

But who's keeping track?

Right now

Outside my windows: Construction!  

I am thankful: for the opportunity to travel & spend relaxing time away from home with Brian. It is so good for us, and for me personally, too, but it's really good for us. 

I am wearing: pajamas.  The blue plaid ones. (And hoping nobody comes to the door.)

I am reading: Ahab's Wife, by Sena Jeter Naslund, again. I loved it the first time, and the book has survived several personal library purges over the years. I was curious to see if it held up to rereading. So far, yes and no. The writing is extrordinary. The main character is a bit too good to be true, but for some reason that doesn't annoy me (when often it's the kind of thing that makes me despise a book). 

I am thinking: about the words "average" and "normal," and how they are used interchangeably but have a subtle difference in connotation. It feels important to remember this. Thank you, Bones, for providing this food for thought. 

I am looking forward to: spending Sunday with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law at an antique fair. We went last year, and I loved it. I loved spending time with them, creating memories and building our relationships. And I loved looking at all the stuff. I was expecting lots of velvet lampshades and granny doilies. I saw those, but I also saw lots of items I could see living with and using (including a vintage typewriter that was just so pretty). I gravitate to a graphic, uncluttered look, but infused with an eclectic, historical feel. I just made all that up--I have no idea if it's a real "thing," and I probably wrote it because I was wine tasting recently and that "lingo" is just so cliche (was told verbatim: "This wine is like a slow tango in your mouth." Uhh, what?). Anyway, I'm looking forward to the antique fair with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

I am working on: a few scrapbook pages I started a week or so ago and didn't finish then. Two share photos and anecdotes from my college days and one is the story of a friendship with my childhood neighbor.  

I need: to get out of the house today and take the dog for a long walk. 

I am listening to:  Frightened Rabbit.

 

Around the house: telephone games.

Lately

I booked that trip. We spent a couple days in Paso Robles, and we enjoyed it so much. We loved walking around everywhere, I loved the temperature (80s and 90s!), we loved the restaurants (Odyssey Cafe, Cattleman's Lounge, Panolivio), we loved Daou Winery. At home, the irises are blooming their approval over their new location, and you don't see piles of lemons all over the place because I spent an entire day juicing bags of them. Progress on the other goals is iffy.

Yay, for goodness' sake, YAY!!!

This is going to sound crass.

Five years ago, we asked my-father-in-law to give our child a middle name.

For several months, I wondered if we would give my father the same responsibility.

Today was the final day of his radiation treatment. There were hugs and well-wishes from his treatment staff all around. They presented him with a certificate and a rubber bracelet. They said they looked forward to seeing him for his follow-up in 3 months. My mother and I took pictures of him in front of the radiation machine while he comfortingly and predictably explained how it worked. He rang a gong. It was LOUD. He seemed emotional (misty-eyed--probably one of a handful of times (as in ONE hand) I can remember him being misty-eyed in my 40-year life time--and that's not to say that I have even scratched the surface of this man's emotional life), and appreciative and glad. My mother and I were also given rubber bracelets. Then we three went to lunch where we celebrated with (seriously) amazing margaritas and south-of-the-border food.

Lately

Lately