The Coolaroo Project

There is this really neat thing called a Coolaroo.  It is an Australian product, a tarp, a sunshield, weatherproof and fun.  I have long admired it and this year was determined to fix the "sun in the eyes while in the hammock" problem.  http://www.coolaroousa.com/

So my intrepid grown up sons drilled and climbed ladders to give me a belated Mother's Day gift.  Since it is triangle, the first part of the design was to figure out which three things we would affix it to.  One side to each pergola (yes, I have two pergolas...love to be outdoors yet a little obsessed with shade) and a tree out yonder worked out perfectly.

They tied one end of the rope to the third point of the Coolaroo and attached it up high in the tree.  More rope was run through an eye-hook attached to the tree and then attached to a cleat at the bottom.  It can be raised and lowered if a big wind comes.

Granted, it is still chilly here in Massachusetts, so maybe it looks a bit premature, but soon enough that very hot sun will bake down on the yard again...

but squinty eyes will be gone and we will all be loving the shade it provides.

About $90.00 and $20.00 for parts/roping, etc.  I think well worth it, but will report back at the end of the summer!

A good idea in theory...

A lesson learned through the photographer's lens.


For years and years and years, like all of us, I have been photographing my kids.  I have taken pictures of them doing virtually everything in their lives.  I've spent hundreds (thousands?) of dollars developing film photography and though wary of this new "digital" age, once I started using in in 2008, I have become blessedly thankful that I can now spend my money on something other than developing pictures.

This photo below is one I have always treasured.  It's Carter's hands when he was three holding sweet spring pink petals, his little denim shirt peeking through.  Adorbs!  I thought I would re-create this on Mother's Day.  My thought was to put both photos framed side by each on the wall.  He was as accommodating as an 18 year old boy should be when his mother asks him to do this.  I took one photo, then another, then another.  I repositioned his hands. 

And I just ... well...(not supposed to use the word hate)...but REALLY did not like the outcome.
It was as if it was just not meant to be.  It looked out of place, those big boy's hands holding little pink petals.  And in a way, it freed me of something, too.  It made me realize that not everything needs to be re-created.  Sometimes they are such perfect moments in time that
...they should
...be left
...exactly
...as they are.

 

Tree outside my window

Before we bought this house on California Road, it had been owned for 40 years by one family.  They owned a big plot - for my side of town - and sold off the other half of their land (darn!).  It was a bit overgrown when we bought it due to once healthy gardeners now aging and no longer being capable to care for things and so the transition began from one owner to another and one perspective to another.

Some decisions were made in haste.  "Just pull it out, it's so overgrown!", said the tired-from-moving mother of three boys eager to make her new yard look neat and clean.  There was a small tree in the already crowded front yard that went with all of the other overgrown ugly bushes.  Now, eight years later, I do regret that and am thinking of putting another tree exactly where the first one stood.


But here is one of the original trees, I wish I knew the name...beautiful pink flowers.  It is now reaches the top of our house and I admit it is on the side of the house where I don't spend that much time.  But it is also the first Spring season that we are in our new master bedroom.  The window frames the tree and behind my handpainted headboard is nature's own painting that matches mine.

Sometimes it takes a good long while to appreciate things and see how the pieces will all fit together.  When we bought this house it did not have a second floor where one currently stands.  When this tree was planted they could not have known that people would be sleeping "above the kitchen" someday and able to enjoy this tree from such a lovely perspective. 

Fun at the Flea, my friend and me!

On such a pretty Sunday morning, off we went to the flea market.  Does it replace church?  Well, some find it quite spiritual and soothing so I guess it depends who you ask.  You certainly have conversations with many people from all walks of life.  You respectfully contribute to their "coffers" and you leave each other with a warm smile.  So I'd say it gets pretty close!

I bought this fairly "chippy" wrought iron stand.  In its former life it was a table, but my thoughts are to use it as a plant stand for my giant fern.  An excellent first project for my son returning home from college next week.  Scrape it down and paint it, son!
From the fellow who took this picture, the highest compliment when he saw my stand..."good pickin'".
Can't say anything nicer to a junker.

While all of this was going on, my tired (and filthy) Boy Scout returned home from a three day Jamboree at West Point.  Thousands of scouts attended, they spent the whole time outdoors, slept in a tent, cooked food over a fire, hiked and had to get up at 6 a.m. daily for PT (that's physical training to you and me).

The contents of his pack - which were not even allowed inside the house until the last wash cycle was done - was dumped all over the dog's bed.  As you can see Bono is a little confused.

Another goody from the market.  Just because it cracked me up.  For no other reason.  Now I have to decide where to put it.

Other than that it was a "girly" pick.  My friend Judy bought lots of scarves.  I bought a scarf, this retro-handbag and some cool vintage jewelry.  For a song!  That's what can make you so happy about the flea market.  You can have a ball and come home with a little jingle in your pocket for the next trip. 
Next Sunday, anyone?

Derby Hat Luncheon

We have had a very tough couple of weeks here in Boston and surrounding suburban communities.  The bombing has rattled us all and while the Marathon was in Boston, the injured and deceased lived in our suburbs.  Someone went to high school with someone.  Someone works with someone.  It hit very close to home.  Reading the newspapers and watching the tv reports make me feel like I have a wet wool blanket over my whole body that I can't shake off.  So when my friend invited me to this luncheon, I jumped at the chance. 

If you forgot your hat, no worries!  A table of crafty tidbits waiting to make a beautiful hat.

It proved to be the most perfect change of scenery.  A Kentucky Derby luncheon with fun hats and good company.

I didn't have a "Derby hat" ready to go, so I went to the craft store and bought ribbon and a feather clip-on and ta-dah, from a beach hat to a Derby hat.

Yes, there was coffee and tea served, but who could resist a delicious Mint Julep?  Not me. 

Women young and old getting into the spirit of the day.

Although the coverage is not over and the fundraisers continue, this was an afternoon to remind us that it's ok to get together and have fun.  In fact, I think it's exactly what will help us get on the other side of this.

Grown-up dinner

"Mom, the Scouts have a trip to West Point and I want to go", said the 11 year old.  At first I thought it was ridiculous.  He's never been away from his parents for 3 nights, I realized.  Not for any designed reason, but any extended time away by parents was individual, just one of us at a time.  Mom away with friends, Dad away for work.

But he loves Scouts.  He is proud to be a Boy Scout.  He is fully prepared to sleep in a tent, hike 5 miles, make and eat all meals over a fire and generally take in the whole experience.

So I bid him a fond adieu (hugging an 11 year old in a church parking lot is not cool), told Jackson's dad how much I appreciate him taking on this task of driving four hours each way, never mind taking 3 days out of his own life to sleep in a tent. 

So Rich and I were alone for dinner for the first time in forever.  A great sushi place opened up recently and so we totally indulged.

Yeah, pretty much cleaned our plates.  Grown-up sushi dinner.  So for my kid in Illinois and my kid in Indiana and my kid at West Point, I'll be thinking of you tonight from all corners of our universe under this beautiful full moon.

Ok, they're right.

 As I listened over the years to all the blah blah blah about oatmeal and your weight and adding fiber to your diet, I sort of blocked it out.  Not sure exactly why, but I thought it sounded bossy.  So now that 10 years have gone by while I watch the same number on the scale have a very hard time budging...

I am happy to report and mean this quite honestly, that I love my oatmeal.  But not only do I enjoy it with cinnamon, walnuts, dried cranberries and apples, I find that it totally "sorts me out" energy-wise and gets me right through until lunchtime very happily and with no cravings.  This is my favorite brand.
http://www.mccanns.ie/