Gone Fishing. Moo.

I’m not actually going fishing but you get the idea.
I’m taking a brief break from the blog to focus on life matters.
Lots of home organizing, child rearing, sleep boot camp for said child,
and a host of other things that require my time and attention.
(Aren’t you impressed with my mature ability to take things off my plate?)

But taking a break sounds SO bad.
So let’s think about it as a summer sabbatical.
Oh, doesn’t it sound fancy now that it is a sabbatical?!
I promise to be back in one month’s time.

As a parting gift, I thought I’d alert you to something
of super
amazing
dire
importance.
Cow Appreciation Day!
July 11th is Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day!
Dress like a cow and get free chicken.
Moooo.

Favorite Things and Other Stuff

Luke has two favorite spots for standing.
The bookcase.
A small black photo album
with ribbons enchants him.




















The cupboard under the sink.
Nicely secured with an asparagus band.
(asparagus band is surprisingly effective)




















We are in a new toy groove.
Why open the toys when the shipping box
is ever so much fun?


























Some of our new favorite toys:
Plan Toys Dancing Alligator














Bajo Yellow Car























Haba Fantasy Blocks














We were amused by the cover
of this week’s Economist.

Ideal Husband

I don’t usually read Maureen Dowd.
I used to read her but she
well
started to bug me.
I noticed that her Sunday column,
An Ideal Husband,
has been the number one
most emailed New York Times article
since it’s publication.
So I gave it a whirl
and
you m.u.s.t. read it.
Especially if you are of the female sex.

Preference

This morning my darling child
clearly
preferred his father.
And Faris rightfully relished in it.
I happily went about my morning business
alone.
I’m not sure which parent was happier.

Sunday Report

Sunday at Lindy and Papa Joe’s house is always interesting.

There was a garden tour.

Gentle Reader, kindly indulge me as I
take time to note how handsome
my brother, John-David is.

Anyway.
Today’s Saladpalozza wasn’t one of my favorites
BUT
the dessert was downright spectacular.
Faris managed to verbalize his delight
by confessing that he felt like he was in a restaurant.
The rest of us were far too busy eating to acknowledge Linda’s dessert triumph.
(and my onetruelove was spotted licking the spoon in the kitchen)
According to my mom, this actually wasn’t hard.
Good.Because I politely request this dessert make several—and I mean several—appearances at your table.

Warm Blackberry Sauce Over Mango Sorbet from Southern Living, June 2008.

Saturday Pit Stop

We made a late afternoon pit stop at Cedo’s house.
Uncle Nader was grilling when we pulled up.
Yum.

Luke, in his kicking sunglasses,
thought the grill was amazing.












Enjoying the early evening on the deck.

And the sweet sweet blooming jasmine.

Three Piano Men

Left to right: Faris, Luke, and Uncle Nader

A live recording of this impromptu jam session.

Saturday Morning Love

I love brunch.
Invite me for brunch and I’ll almost always make it.
Really.
That is exactly what my sweet friend Nyree did today.

Nyree has two darling daughters, Kaitlyn and Eliana.
Kaitlyn showed me some of her Karate moves.
(I could do the moves but wasn’t very good at the accompanying sound)




















Eliana showed me her mad face.
And a mad in motion.
Totally mad don't you think?
But totally adorable too.




















Confidential to my friend Eliana: I liked your glasses. Did you know I have glasses too? You looked super duper cute in them.

John Adams is Better Than Rambo

Can entertainment be delicious?
HBO’s John Adams was delicious.
Delightful.
Insightful.
Down right marvelous.
Fittingly, we finished the series last night on July 4th.
The acting was outofthisworld good.
Paul Giamatti as John Adams. Wow.
Laura Linney as Abigail Adams. Double W.O.W.
Put it in your Netflix queue stat.

Happy July 4th

Our delightful little town celebrates independence with a magnificent July 3rd fireworks show.
All on the Bay,
of course.
We had our family over for yummy barbeque and delicious sides, many supplied by my mom (thanks, Mom!). F and I missed our family traveling abroad and the one busy at work.

The dessert table of contents:
1 strawberry pie
1 chocolate mousse pie
1 blueberry pie
½ a juicy watermelon
Melon Madness

Luke, up way past his bedtime, enjoyed the first bit of the fireworks and then nodded off.

Homemaking

It was refreshing to read this on the girltalk blog:

As Dorothy Patterson observes: “preparation and care of the family shelter are important enough for God himself to assign that responsibility” (e.g. Titus 2:3-5, Pr. 31).

July 1

The Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and I’m making my second attempt to read one a day to Luke. Verses 1-9 were intense for me this morning as I watched him crawl around, especially verses 8 & 9:
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

Here is 1-9:

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

Amo Nader

Happy Birthday, Nader!

Wasn’t this snuggle just the best birthday present from your nephew?

Crawl

Captured last week for the official record.

He is SO much faster this week.

P.S. Crawling seems like old news. I’m busy policing/guarding against standing up.

P.P.S. The loundness in the background is the dishwasher.