The spring light through our kitchen window is blinding in the morning. I really should get a shade or curtain, but we love watching the birds at the feeder and bunnies munching clover in the backyard. So we put up some paper the other morning to block some light and had a AHA moment: shadow puppets. So I googled them, Martha came to the rescue, and we've been having some fun breakfasts under the sea.
Sandra & I scouted our next Find & Go Seek Flea Market Adventure this weekend. We drove out to Pennsylvania on Saturday night (after our garage sale, longest day ever!!) We spent the night at the Inn at Reading and got up early on Sunday to check out some places I hadn't been to in a few years.
We always want to work out all the kinks before we take a busload of customers out antiquing for the day. Plus it's a great excuse for us to shop!
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On Saturday, June 28th we will host our next trip to Schup's Grove with a side stop at Adams Antiques, in Adamstown, PA. Stop by the shop for more info and make sure you book early!
Toby was home sick today and it was pouring, so we decided to set him up with a new play table. I scored this shabby train table at a church sale last summer for $5 and it's been sitting in the basement.
I got out a box of maps I had and trimmed one to size...
We glued it down...
And an hour later...
Play time!
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This is the first painting that I found a duplicate of. Same still life, two different painters. Was it a kit? Did they copy a more famous painting? Were they in school together? Who knows? I never thought it would happen again.
And then it happened again. I had the painting on the left, and then I spied this one on eBay. I had to bid on it. Luckily no one else really wanted it!
And then when out antiquing I saw this painting...it looked familiar. I strained to remember if it was like the one I had at home. I wasn't sure. I asked the price. $589. Definitely not in my price range. I snapped a picture and went home to see mine.
Pretty close!
And now I'm obsessed with finding more!
I'm very proud to be the platinum sponsor the South Orange & Maplewood Artist Studio Tour for 2008. I love the fact that we live in a community that is filled with artists and am happy to be a part of this years event. The date is Sunday, June 1 st. I'll have more information in the next few weeks, but mark your calendars!!
New in the shop: wonderful vintage french classroom botany charts. They are incredible pieces of art. Come and see!
I know that there are more and more parents these days who are
reluctant to play up Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. I've
even read that people refer to it as lying. Well they should avoid my
house. Because Santa et al are all welcome here and they should bring
along their other friends the fairies, wood-sprites and Man in the Moon.
My grandparents gave me a magic genie lantern when I was 5 years old. You may have seen it on my mantle. It's the oldest thing I own. And on special occasions we would hear it rattle in the other room. I'd run down their pink carpeted hallway and sure enough...the genie would have left me something. Not necessarily a toy, but always something special or unique. Often it would be left in the open hands of their Buddha statue. I can remember everything about the moment I received a handful of polished stones from the Magic Genie Lantern. How had these beautiful stones whizzed through time and space to me of all people? It was treasure. Magic meant that anything is possible.
Lucia and I went to the reservation last week into the woods to build a
fairy house. I watched her diligently gather sticks, pile up rocks,
yank up moss and create a cozy nook for the fairies to live in. She ran
around and found 12 acorns that she turned into miniature cups. The
final touch was a leaf for their bed.
And on Easter morning (after finding all the big guy had left for us including the chewed up remains of a very large bunch of carrots) she wanted to take the whole family back to the woods to visit her house. So we did. And when we found it, the cups had been moved. Proof!
I hope she remembers that moment the rest of her life.
I like making soup. It's easy and it feels like you're being some sort of good mom/cook on cold winter's day.
I pour lots of organic chicken broth into a big pot and warm it up. Then I add carrots. Then use whatever you have to whip up some tiny meatballs: ground beef, turkey, meatloaf mix...whatever. Salt, pepper, egg, breadcrumbs, fresh chopped parsley. Sometimes a bit of chopped onion, but my family prefers not to have it. Put a little olive oil on your hands to roll them out and put them on wax paper. They should be petite! Add them to the chicken broth. It can all simmer for awhile and then I chuck in pastina (or little pasta like orzo or rings or ABC's.) Watch the pastina ratio, because a small amount turns into a lot very quickly. The last thing is to toss in a bag of baby spinach. I think kale is more traditional, but I find I usually have spinach on hand. Season to taste and simmer until done.
Microplane a bit of strong cheese over the top and swirl it in: parmesan or reggiano or some other stinky Italian cheese. Serve with a crusty loaf of bread and glass of white wine. Comfort!!
