A Dream Lives On Forever

Yes, tiresome as it may be, I dream of having chickens.
Mary is incubating chicks in her classroom and she treated us to chicken trivia at the dinner table last night.
She even stated that she didn't want to eat chickens anymore.

Much to my husband's and neighbors chagrin. Some clever people have developed a chicken coop for even the tiniest of city apartments.

With its ultra chic design, ecological structure that repels bacteria and odors naturally, it is the perfect haven for urban chickens.

Mary and JieJie would be in heaven, the rest of the street, not so much.

Isnt This A Lovely Day To Be Caught In The Rain?

I woke this morning to a lovely sound of rain and thunder. Somehow it is easier for me to embrace it when it is warm and bringing forth the blooms.

I was up early this morning looking through some of Mary and JieJie's books , and I thought I would post some of my(and their favorites).
Being a giant children's book illustration fan, I often chose books for that alone.

I logged on this morning and discovered this and I couldn't resist posting it as the beginning of my tribute to children's books. Considering that Audrey is my hero, I though that this would be a perfect start .

Up, Up and Away

A view in to Mary's world , including a china cabinet full of china and silver, a full picnic basket, a framed school photo, an small painting of Jesus, a disco ball and yes balloons

Mary loves balloons.

I know that every child loves balloons but Mary truly covets them.

Since she was tiny, she cherished a free balloon from Nordstrom children's department, or one that was handed to her by a clown at the Fourth of July parade(and she hates clowns).

I kid you not, these balloons are still in her possession today.

From my experience with children, balloons are a delight and then as they get older and more infiltrated by video games and other means of entertainment the glow wears off.

Mary has a system for her balloons. Day One she admires it and plays with it, testing gravity and making it stick to the wall by rubbing it on her hair.

Day Two, the balloon is placed in her room with the door shut so Baby Zelda can't get it as it begins to loose its air.

Day three, it is pretty much rolling around on the ground, so Mary puts it in a little spot between the couch and wall, so Zelda can't get it and so she can play homeless person living under the bridge( one of her favorite past times).

Day four, it goes into her closet, which is a sort of an apartment, and balloon sanctuary for retired balloons.

Last week, I was cleaning in her room and found all of the balloons from her birthday, a balloon from Baffling Bill from Chinese New Year, a balloon from Holiday Market and three balloons dating back some years... they were merely small flat pieces of latex.

There is something about this passion that really speaks volumes about Mary. She treasures or as Terry says she hoards.

Even the simplest things get placed in little boxes or bags and hidden away to be admired at another time.


The tooth fairy was informed to leave the money and leave the tooth.
Her teeny teeth reside in a small velvet bag in her nightstand.

I find it mysterious and charming, Terry thinks it is one step toward being a subject on "Buried Alive".

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

Add this on to my ever growing list of things I would like to have or do.

This is a vacation rental home in Italy.
It is about 8,000.00 a week to rent during high season.
Here is their other property on the Mexican Riviera
I am just a girl with a dream.

Royal Wedding

On April 29th, 2011
My sisters and I viewed the Royal Wedding.
I hosted a pajama party with my sisters and Mary, we were supposed to feast and toast the bride and groom.
Back in 1982, my sisters and I got up in our jammies to watch the union of Diana and Charles.
I lived in England in 1986 when Sarah and Andrew tied the knot. You could buy commemorative dishes in the local post office.

Our sisterly party began in late afternoon.
All of my sisters were invited. Aunt Mimi was not in town, she couldn't attend.

My sister Margaret let me know she was out due to the fact that the Royals were Nazi sympathizing, poor people exploiting, antiquated monarchy.

Aunt Zanne and Teresa showed up(despite the nazi thing). We had lofty ideas of baking scones with blueberries, drinking mimosa at 4:00 am and for the lack of a better term, being lofty. I also had the ingredients for making kedgeree.

I had the brilliant idea of showing "Live Aid" that evening.
To be honest, I was a bit weary of Lifetime channel royal reenactments and BBC commentary.

I proposed to my sisters that we watch this musical event, it was British, had great music, and Princess Diana and Prince Charles shook their groove thing.

We started this many disc set and were quickly reminded of live music, pure and simple, played live, and no one was covered with deli meat or had any other agenda other than performing live to raise money for African relief(which apparently, according to Margaret, all proceeds went to an African war lord).

The only crazy thing that happened, that I completely forgot about(I lived in the UK at the time).
is the Phil Collins escapade, flying on the Concorde to play in two different countries in one day.

In celebrity fund raising land of today that would have sunk like lead.

We watched all of Live Aid, renewed by the vigor of Queen, Elton John, Tom Petty, The Who, and Nick Kershaw?

We sang, giggled and reminisced.
Then I think we crashed, around 2:30 or 3:00.

I promised our friend Gabe a true English Breakfast at 4:30(kedgeree).

Aunt Zanne woke me at 4:00, I still had my running shoes on. Teresa and Zanne were not bright, but better than I.
Gabe arrived, and I requested that Zanne light the oven and put some Trader Joe's, Mcdonald's type hash browns in the oven.
That part of breakfast was as far as I got.

I was riveted, moved, completely spellbound by a beautiful day, that yes, the world can't afford and yes they are dysfunctional, but good heavens it was lovely.
Gabe never got his true English breakfast.

Gabe of course was Gabe and brought us a toasting bottle of champagne from 1982.

Mary descended the stairs with dad at 6:30, she was annoyed at this event that involved no one she knew or cared about.

Mary told us later that day, kids were late for school, watching that event that no one cares about.
God Save The Queen.

Dress You Up

Q wearing a dress from Imagination Couture

Recently, I found another inspiring blog, written by a mother who is an artist and writer. The blog is devoted to her family life and her gorgeous daughter Q, who has a fabulous sense of style.

Mary and I were looking at the blog and Mary caught sight of Q wearing an amazing evening gown.
Mary has always been interested in fashion and design. She began to create dresses of her own using wrapping paper, bubble wrap, painters tape, and bits and bobs around the house.
Being the -not so creative- but know how to "glean" mother , I found the source of the dress in this marvelous shop.

We ran over to our special shopping spot and searched for the maker of this showstopping gown.

I told Mary, the gown was not in her budget at present but it could be something to save up for.

I know that my daughter is a hardworking and savvy child , she has a goal and she is going for it.

It happens to be that with her birthday just recently behind her she had a reserve of cash. She is also doing extra chores to earn the money.

I contacted the lovely shop owner and creator of these amazing pieces and Mary is anxiously waiting at the door for her gown.
Now the question is where will she be wearing it?