sticks and scones

"ahh scones, sounds like dirt...tastes like stones." cleverly declared by my husband for as long as i have known him. i quite like scones...even the stone variety. but he's a bit harder to convince...that is until today...by-golly i think i've changed his mind! we made the most delicious stones...i mean scones... just in time for tea! we slapped on some raspberry preserves made over the weekend and what a most delicious treat!

oscar again.

as it turns out...

oscar is 3.
i'm sure you were wondering and wondering all day...
and as i suspected we didn't make up our minds until 3 candles were poked into the cake. it is true what they say...everything just looks better in threes.
the lemon poppyseed cake was enjoyed by all...especially by hugh's tongue.
happy birthday you funny old sock puppet!

oscar

meet oscar...the sock puppet.
oscar is the newest addition to our family. actually, i made him quite some time ago and was rather disappointed when hugh wasn't IMMEDIATELY taken with him. but since the passing of our dear pup, oscar has stepped in as...well, i guess one could say...our family pet. he speaks in an english accent {because i will take any opportunity to practice my accents}...sometimes he talks too loudly and sometimes he {accidentally} spits when he talks...but mostly he is hilarious {thank you very much} and brings joy and friendship to hugh. oscar is a great companion for picnics, sing-a-longs and bike rides. but he's not so great when it comes to playing in the sandbox, eating ice cream and sipping tea. {although being english it does seem he might be good at the latter}
anyway, as it happens oscar is having a birthday tomorrow. he is turning 3...no wait 4...no definitely 3. i'm sure his age will be finalized when the candles go on the cake!

the week has been....

a blur...
because it takes days and days to get hugh to fall asleep every night...i've missed a few posts this week. and there's actually quite a bit to report...a new douglas reads...a party for worsley and a new project in the works.
i'll catch up later.

i scream.

ice cream every friday night.
with a lingering scent of sweet vanilla on a sticky chin greeting me every saturday morning...
a new tradition.

before and after

Neat and tidy are not the first words that come to mind when describing me--probably not the second or third or anywhere on the list for that matter. However, I LOVE to organize--love it--One certainly wouldn't know it to look at me, but nothing makes me happier than sorting through something like the above mess (please see Feb 27 post) and turning it into something a little less stress inducing.

In this same room I have what I like to call, my personal make work project. Seemingly unrelated items are collected and thrown into a closet over a period of few months, then when it becomes just simply unbearable, I tear it apart and rebuild it--categorizing, sorting--an afternoon of sheer bliss and supreme satisfaction once finished. Unfortunately, I don't really like to let anyone else (like my husband) go into this organized space as I am the only one who knows how it is all put together and heaven help the person (my husband) who rips it all apart trying to find his only decent pair of shoes.....a little bit crazy, I will admit and coming from a messy person like myself--even crazier.

note--there will be no photo posted of this closet as even though it IS most definitely organized, to the casual observer it might not appear this way and therefore best if just left to the imagination

Things we love

A couple of birthdays have come and gone--these being mine and my fabulous Mr. M's. One of the loveliest presents we received was this beautiful book that Albert created using her gorgeous photos and the words of Sandol Stoddard Warburg. A new family heirloom indeed!

Thank-you, thank-you Albert!

xo worsley

cheer.

nothing cheers the heart like chomping on smoked trout...chatting with friends and sharing latest yarn finds! it was a steamy summer evening last night...so sitting outside drinking lemonade elixirs among pals was just the ticket. along with our friend j. , worsley and i had such a dandy time planning futures trips to here and drooling over j.'s newest inspiration! ahh...i'm ready to knit!

iggy can sing.

the one aspect i LOVE of summer is its music. sure winter, spring and fall also offer some fine melodies...but there's something about music in the summer that makes my toes twinkle and my hips wiggle. and this season, without fail i am lovin' and shakin' to this.
iggy can sing...and listening to this tune makes me feel like i can dance...and although i get a side cramp and am breathless by the third verse...standing still and pumping my fist in the air is perfectly alright by me...because summer songs allow for this kind of behaviour.
and the picture below has nothing to do with my summer anthem other than i had wished it was playing while hugh and mr. m were rocking today in the sprinkler.

pain behind my eyes

i miss her.

2002-2008.

today with great grief and heavy hearts we said goodbye to our 'first born'.
our loyal and lovely, stinky and snoring, beautiful baby girl.
we are sitting in shock with puffy eyes and runny noses.
how could this be?
we loved her so...
and it feels impossible and simply dreadful to have her gone.
rest in peace herriot.

cottage...and more.

oops!
i forgot to mention i would be off-line for a week...
we're back now...and my-oh-my....how we enjoyed our breezy and sunny filled moments at the cottage.
somebody...not mentioning any names...spent nearly every single minute nudie in the lake...nudie in the porch
and nudie, nudie, nudie every where else where nudie would allow!
ah. freedom!

next week i will be off-line again...
hellllllooooo chicagoooooooo!!!!!!

until then...
be well.