A Day at the park

Our happy girl!

Piper and her best friend Farley

Project 52

Reading

"You may have tangible wealth untold: caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be...I had a mother read to me." Strickland Gillilan, The Reading Mother

Piper and I spend much of our days with her books. Seth and I have read to her since she was a baby. Reading is such a large part of our days. She brings me a book and plops down in my lap. It's a way for me to hold her close without her wiggling away in 2 seconds. She is beginning to read her books to us now. She's not reading yet of course, but she flips thru the pages and makes her sweet little noises.
The ability to read well does so much for us. We probably don't think much about it. We are fortunate enough to live in a time and place where literacy isn't an issue. That's what I thought, but I have patients from time to time who can't read. I can't imagine anything scarier. How lonely would the world be for someone who can't read or write. In the United States 14% of adults are still illiterate. Women account for 2/3 of that statistic.
Our goal as parents is to prepare our children for the world. To love them. Reading is the best gift we can give to our children.
Here are some of our favorite books right now.
-Someday by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds (I absolutely can not get thru this book without crying. My mom gave it to me and wrote a note in the front about what a wonderful mother I am. If you have a child, especially a little girl, buy this book. I promise you won't be disappointed)
-The Carrot Seed
-Barnyard Dance! (Seth and I act out the motions. When we are tired at night we get loopy and start rapping the words. It is so much fun)
-On the Night You Were Born
-Goodnight Moon
-The Very Hungry Caterpillar
-The Giving Tree (might be my all time favorite)
Go to Barnes and Noble on a Friday night and head to the children's section. Seth and I took Piper a couple of weeks ago, and we looked up and noticed it was all parents on a date with their children. So sweet!
If any of you have a favorite book you would like to share will you send us a note.

Used Treasures

This past week I fell in love with this old home on Glenmare Street. This old woman had lived there of 68 years. She just died in December. Her family is selling her incredible home. While walking thru it I spotted a sofa and 2 matching chairs in the basement. They are from the 1950s/60s. The cushions need to be recovered, but the arms are this neat old wood with metal legs. They are amazing. It turns out that the sellers are close friends with Seth's parents. They gave the furniture to me. So incredible. (Thank you Jack and Nancy!!) I can't wait to find a fabric that will fit that era and have them recovered. I am so grateful for this treasure/gift. I wondered as I drove off if I hadn't mentioned how neat they were if they would have just ended up in a dumpster. I am an American, and haven't lived too many other places, but I think we are so wasteful. I went shopping at Target today, so I am just as guilty.

I am beginning to see the beauty in these wonderful old treasures that you can find in little local shops, estate sales, old homes being sold, and gifts that your grandmother gives you when she dies. I truly am finding that these used treasures are cheaper, and much better quality. They aren't made in China, and they have such a rich history. I love the thought of serving dinner to my family on dishes that other families have eaten off for years. I think of the conversations that all these families have had while using the same dishware. Piper's high chair is from the 1950s. It was $50.00 from the Green Ant. So much cheaper than buying one from Target.

My brother Patrick has had a passion for mid-century modern anything for a long time. He collects furniture from this era, and has absolutely amazing stuff. Maybe it's just the fact that he is my older brother and I want to be like him, or maybe his good taste is finally rubbing off on me. I feel better knowing that I am buying used, not from China, and filling our home with classy old history.

Project 52

Project 52

A Winter's Day Swim

We've had it. We couldn't wait any longer for a swim in the sun.

We drove up to where the sun was shinning, and the air was clear
for a late morning dip. SNOWBIRD!

The Women In Our Lives

Two recent experiences have got me thinking about the importance of the relationships between women.
I try to work Mondays because I know that Piper's is closed and Erin can watch Piper. Yesterday the best thing happened. My oldest and best friends in the world watched Piper for me while I worked. This is a dream come true. Sascha and I became women together, and now she is becoming a part of my daughter's life. I love the thought of Erin, Sascha, Piper and a car full of dogs driving around town in the hoopdie (that's my car's name). I can't imagine two better women for Piper to have in her life.
So Saturday was Sascha's wedding shower. I got to meet Joel's sisters and mom. Classy, sweet women. As Sascha was introducing them it got me thinking about how getting married is wonderful. Husbands, boyfriends, lovers are amazing. I am not discounting them at all. I just think that there is something so special about the relationships we have with the women in our lives. Being a woman is quite challenging in today's world. We are expected to fulfill so many roles. I'm not sure how we could do it without the help of one another. The women in my life just step in and always seem so thrilled to be helping. Sascha is gaining a wonderful husband, but she is also gaining a group of women who will be by her side to help her through the challenges of life. I always wanted older sisters, and when I married Seth I got 3. I love each of them. I have my Coco, Erin, Bug and my mom. Thank you for loving me and for your continued help.

Project 52