I'm a big fan art the art of children's books.

The stories most of all...

But also the painterly art of some of them.

You might not know who Tasha Tudor is...

But I guarantee that you've seen some of her illustrations.

If you didn't see some of her art as a child, you've undoubtedly seen it on a calendar or a card.

What drew me to it mostly was the delicacy of her drawings & her intricate borders of trailing flowers. She was also known for her glorious gardens.

In honor of the illustrator & gardener Tasha Tudor, who died in Vermont last week at age 92, here is a favorite quote of hers:

"Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege even to be alive. In spite of all the pollutions and horrors, how beautiful this world is. Supposing you only saw the stars once every year. Think what you would think. The wonder of it."

Wait...I also like this one..."I believe in moderation in all things, except gardening and antique collecting." I'd add a few things to the list...but that's just me...

Labels: Art, Beauty

I was under the delusion that I could possibly run into Target quickly to pick up some cards. I thought I could run in & out & get on with my day. Why I thought that...is beyond me. Is every woman stricken with shopping ADD? I walked in & was hit over the head with those cute little bins that they smartly keep by the front door. You know the ones...they're filled with ribbons & polka dotted note cards & bath suds & I am immediately drawn in that direction. Yeah, then I'm thinking...I'm gonna need a cart after all. Next I try on about 27 tops because hey...they are only 9 bucks. When I say that none of them fit right...I'm being kind. I hate to sound like a snob (I'm not at all...ok, maybe just a little bit..but...one of my most favorite t-shirts came from Target...it's that great kind of extra soft cotton & it's girlie fitted & I love it)...but sometimes I think these mass produced Target tops could never fit anyone right. They are going for mass appeal here...I know...but when I tried on a top with an open square neck...the top fit me except for the fact that the neck hole was so big...it fell below my breasts & ended up looking not just obscene...but exhibitionistic...maybe it's a boob flashing top & it's meant to be that way & someone should have kindly thrown me some beads or something?

So...needless to say...no tops were keepers. When I moved on into the depths of the store, this women was on my heels screaming..."Anod!"...as I was guessing that was her lost kid's name...this little boy comes barreling out of the shoe aisle & almost takes me out at the knees. As cute as he was...I wanted to bop him on the noggin. He immediately ran off & his mother started screaming his name all the fuck over again. I said a silent prayer of thanks that they are not my neighbors...because this encounter was enough to last me a lifetime & I now not only fully believe in justifiable homicide...I think I'd embrace it.



I finally got to the card section (mind you, I'm leaving out the parts about the health & beauty aisles & my search for shaving cream...not gel...all they seemed to have was gel...& I'm not a fan...but I should really leave that part out entirely because this tale is way too long in the first damn place & I know that you couldn't give a damn...but if you are kind enough to have read this far in the first place...bless your little soul...now YOU'D be a gracious neighbor & I'd happily wish you to move in next to me...that is if you help me terrorize little Anod...oh...the fun we'd have).

All this is to say that I had to go back to Target the very day after this saga took place to return something I didn't even mention in this story (can you believe that I actually left something out & the story was still this long?). I STILL thought I could get only what I needed & leave. Nope. I found myself still in there after an hour...what the friggin hell?

Labels: Shopping

Yay...the peonies have finally bloomed.



So excited that my irises are boldly lovely this year.



Thrilled the monarchs are back for the summer.

Labels: Beauty, Photos

Sorry for the week long absence.

It's been a sad time here.

My sweet fatherinlaw passed away unexpectedly early Sunday morning.

You NEVER, ever expect things like this.

Even though you know every life will end.

You never think it will be TODAY.

The 1st half of the week I couldn't eat a thing.

Then, a dear friend of mine sent a colossal basket of muffins.

My immediate response was...

I shoved 3 into my mouth & tried to chew.

I think I have a problem.

In any case, I think I'm going to try to make this week a little extra beautiful.

Labels: Ouch

I'm craving:
fudgy goodness.
tea with milk & honey.

I'm crushing on:
this outfit.

I'm feeling:
tired. happy. nervous. excited. impatient.

I miss:
sweetness.
kind eyes.

I need to:
relax.
let negative thoughts go.

I'm already excited:
about chocolate chip cookies. presents. a lovely book.

I'm looking forward to:
train rides.
baseball.
gardens.
museums.
gràdh.

Labels: Currently

Inspired by blue.

Labels: Colors, Currently, Photos

"The secret method of inviting good fortune.
The marvelous medicine for all sickness
Just for today:
Do not be angry
Do not be worried
Be grateful
Work hard (on improving yourself)
Be kind to others."

Labels: Words

As I was driving home last night in the pouring rain I became obsessed with trying to get my AM radio to work even though it hasn't ever worked since day one but hey you never know if you don't try so try I did because I desperately wanted to catch the 1st couple of innings of the Redsox game even though I checked the weather up there & it had been raining all day there too so maybe there would be no game at all & as I was speeding up the highway going 80 mph a car sidled up to me & the guy in the car gave me the universal sign for...slow down & my gut instinct was to give him the universal sign for eat me...but then I happened to notice that he was a cop & it dawned on me that my gut could have easily just gotten me in a heap of unwanted trouble right then & I just wasn't up for such a thing on a rainy night in June when my beloved Redsox were the game of the night on ESPN & I clearly wanted to get home to watch the hell out of them.

Labels: Baseball, Words

So, I tried to make California rolls yesterday.

I watched a couple of videos online on how to do it.

I watched the guy at the Japanese place create these works of art for weeks.



I bought the mat & the roasted sheets of seaweed & made brilliant medium grain sushi rice.

I spread the rice on the seaweed...see?



I placed the sliced cucumber in the center & then...

rolled it all up & pressed it with the mat.



Then I sliced the roll to make the little rolls.

Only at this point did I discover that I used way to much rice.



These are the fattest, most ricey California rolls ever seen on this planet.

Real American style I guess.



So, I used the remainder of the rice to make killer rice balls.

Oh...& I used the rice when it was hot & when it made contact with the seaweed it started to cook & it smelled like extreme low tide in my kitchen & to me...that is just not appetizing at all.

At least I got the sticky rice right.

Labels: Food, Photos