sunday like saturday.

love a long weekend.



off to work in the garden.

cruising

we harbour cruised our day away. pretty much perfect.

again

::

it is like someone hit the fast-forward button and bam: thursday.

i have a contract ending next week and summer weather is in the air. i am so ready.

june is mine.

saturday night

a shoe party (locally made and sourced - they will even recycle an old leather garment into new shoes!) hosted by my friend alegre of green and greener. at an amazing house.




and a backyard party for a dear dear friend turning 50. i remember my dad's 50th birthday party. and all the people i grew up with circling him as he blew out all those candles.

deja vu.

Farmer John

visited my friend John and his amazing garden yesterday. including his many chickens. and his many many bees.





John too is amazing! his company The Woven Garden is inspiring. and if you live in the LA area and are interested in the birds and the bees - sign up for his class on Backyard Chickens and Bees at The Arboretum Saturday May 28th. it will not disappoint.

bike to school day!

Bike Week LA



we live so close that this doesn't make sense for every day. but it made this morning extra fun.

next year we will have something special at the school to celebrate. i loved the bike carnivals of my youth.

thinking about new kitchen chairs over here. thoughts?

happy friday!

{picked up this little potted graptoveria at trader joe's. got me daydreaming about this tile. and our fireplace.}

the sun this morning is perfect.

today.

spending more and more time outside on our front patio pre-dinner. loving the light as the days feel the stretch...

two days of rain behind us and everything is smiling.

::

Chris Burden's "Urban Light" at LACMA

i was honored to be part of a conversation this past Thursday at LACMA on artists and books. it was in conjunction with this little Kitaj install there. (gorgeous install if you have the chance to check it out.) always a thrill to take a dip into the artworld pool. there will be a lot going on in that part of my life in the next few months, with an exhibition in the uk at abbot hall - and preparations for another in berlin next year. i am excited.

my other passion saw over 125 volunteers descend on our school this weekend as part of Big Sunday. we painted and weeded and danced and got to know each other a little better. our greening is coming along - and back to school 2011 will be very exciting with a lot of major projects finished. (next on my list - a chicken coop for the school!)

it is raining - completely out of character for socal. and i am reveling in it. hope your week is a good one!

that's what it's all about...

sitting out on the driveway after dinner and two neighbors come by. then three more. then another two. pretty soon there is a heated game of freeze tag - and the anticipation that summer is just around the corner.

happy friday.

today.

was much much better. good news all around!

and the smell of peonies when i walked through the front door. takes me back to my childhood.

has anyone travelled to paris with kids? any suggestions for accommodations? i have to go to the uk for work - and we have a little side voyage in the works...

field trip plus.

haircuts at Lucas. i've been going to alice for almost 11 years. and have followed her all over los angeles. she is amazing. as is the little salon she now works out of in echo park.

as documented by k.





the day, i am afraid, did not end well. with the discovery of nits in the girls hair! i went from shock to horror and back again a few times. then - on alice's sage advice - picked up a kit at the grocery and treated all of us. then proceeded to do laundry for the next 48 hours. (and bagged any upholstered items that couldn't be washed. and vacuumed like a crazy lady. all mothers' day. sigh.) it was certainly worth the work. we are in the clear now. thank god. i hesitated documenting this experience. wavered back and forth. but am so saddened that the stigma around lice has created a climate of shame at our elementary school where it is spoken of in hushed tones. and where the girls obviously picked it up last week. i am going to invite this group to come speak at our next parent meeting. and work on a new school policy. had we known earlier, we could have taken preventive action. today - i notified the school and they proceeded to pull kids into the office for inspection. when i left 8 additional cases - from one class - were confirmed.

double sigh.

the how and the why

to the woman who has taught me so very much about being a mum



and to the girls who teach me more each and every day.



happiest of mothers' days

this morning

after an impromptu informal dinner party.

a peek at my home office here.

backyard tour pt2

my home office



on days i work from home, once the kids head out to school, i head to our modern shed. (once they are home i tend to move back onto the dining room table.) the space is small. cool and comfortable. d has started a deck extension that will integrate it more into our space. this is the summer we dial things in!



CA modern came yesterday to take a few shots for an upcoming article - so the space was looking extra shiny.



thought i'd take a few snaps myself.



older pics here

helvetica

makes me happy.



and coffee too. together i couldn't resist. and it is a nice counterpoint to our cookie jar.

(of course i was also reminded of this.)

we are always looking for new music to listen to in this house. have you heard of Daytrotter? i stumbled across it. (while of all things shopping for jeans.) late to the party as usual. D and I have been exploring the site and downloading a lot. a little dr. dog for me. bonnie prince billie for him. live session recordings. free. sweet.

music. coffee. helvetica. done.

happy friday.

just because

we have planted a cutting garden in one of our raised beds this year. brings us all great joy. love that the girls keep bringing me single flowers.

goodbye april. hello may.

i always so enjoy my time over at habit.




this april was no different. especially since i got to share the space with people i know.

hello may. i have a feeling you are going to inspire.

moxie's family tree

mom sent pics of the chihuahuas she grew up with (mickey and trixie) and their daughter (choc-o) who i grew up with. the girls were thrilled to see moxie's family history ;)

happy may day! off to pick some flowers...