Happy Birthday USA

The fireworks were rained out but we stilled managed a little patriotic cheer. Red, white and blue cupcakes took some of the sting away. Happy Birthday USA and to Uncle Frankie too,  a Fourth of July baby!

Brigid love Jane, Jane love Brigid

I found this image on the iPad today among a bunch of other images by the little one. It made me smile on my morning commute. It also made me want to turn around and just hang out with her.

 Me love you too monkey!

This is What Happens...

... when you go to the animal shelter to donate $5.00 to buy the homeless animals food. 

I would ask myself how did this happen but I know it was just a question of odds. You visit the shelter enough to look at the cats and eventually you end up surrendering your credit card instead of the dollars five and leave with  a big card board box full of cat and a goody bag with kitty toys and fish treats.

Head to the pet store where you surrender your credit card again to cover the sequined collar, fancy litter box, kitten food, litter and plenty of cat toys. Throw in a new scratching post as a consolation prize for your existing cat. Luckily you still have that five dollar bill in your pocket. 

And so Cleopatra (Cleo almost named Pineapple) Moffitt joins a long line of cats who have found their way into our home and lives. 

I feel our the first day of summer was like living in a Visa commercial. Price of adopting a kitten and supplies $ 245.00. Look on six year old daughters face when you tell her she can adopt a kitten -priceless. 

Summer is Officially Here

A View from the Feast

This years trip to our neighboring town's feast was squeezed in between the rains that dominated the week. Just as well, the rides were ridiculously expensive and we were having no luck gambling for baked goods and stuffed animals.

Lucky too perhaps, the Ferris Wheel was not working. I had bought the tickets and was all ready to brave the heights of the miniature wheel, but when we got on line, workers were working on the cables. It only took a few minutes of watching these low tech adjustments to steer the little over to the bouncy castles. I'll face my fears another day when the delicate workings are not laid bare.

Happily, bouncy castles and little for engines still pass muster with a six year old and there was a little money left over for an eggplant sandwich.

My Happy Place for the Week: Almalfi Coast

I keep looking at catalogues that were shot on the Almalfi Coast and find myself  wishing I could be sitting on a sun baked terrace looking out at the sea. Even though it has warmed up considerably here along the northern coast of the US, the photos of Italy's coastal towns seem so full of warmth. I just want to walk into one and smell sea air. Oh a nice filling plate of pasta would be nice too. Monday take me away.

Spring Won't Spring

Leaning into the heat on the train and I'm thinking spring just isn't coming. It's hard to imagine warm days again although hints are in the air if not the temperature. The chipmunk has surfaced and the daffodils came up under the snow. Otherwise it's just cold and there is a big sweater pile of a chairdrobe in my room.

I'm aching for warm weather but not looking forward to the wardrobe transition. I suspect I have nothing to wear. I also hate when I find myself in warm weather clothing and the weather doesn't cooperate. I may just wear my down coat right into summer. At this rate I may need to.

Photo via orangemarmsladebools.com

In the Basket

Time to start prepping for the Easter bunny and to decide on this years Easter eggs. The little one  already asked if we could dye the eggs this past weekend. Yikes! She's one eager little bunny. How about the the night before. Or if things go the way they usually do Easter Day.

I'm hoping it won't be that last minute and that we can make a nice craft activity together soi'm looking around for ideas. The Paas dye has already been purchased and we will undoubtly do some basic colors but I'd like to get a little adventurous. Here's one cool idea from pinterest. Chalkboard eggs. While the color isn't too Springy, there's plenty of opportunity to express oneself and re-express oneself. Anyone have a chalkboard eraser?

Into the Green

Goodbye white, hello green. Green - there are hints of it surfacing in the muddy brown landscape. The tips of the daffodils coming up, the moss that is mixed in with dead grass in the shady spots of the lawn, are the first touches. An explosion is on the way and I personally can't wait to for it to be wall to wall green outside.

Photo via Gardenista. 

Inspiration for a Rainy Monday

The rain has been going at it for three days. It has to stop at some point. I keep thinking the weather is going to improve. It has too, right?