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

Hello, April