Back in Time, a Little

Summer...

...is in full swing, at long last. I think we'll be spending a lot of days at the lake, or lakes, rather, since we can take our pick from approximately a zillion.

King

This little monarch is far too busy to pause for a photo. There are battles to wage and dragons to slay, not to mention the occasional banquet to host and a new law to dictate now and then.

Last Friday was a very good day. Along with the lovely Jen and birthday girl Stacey, I rode beside the river all morning, stopping for pistachios and oranges (thanks, Jen) and a few photos for posterity. It was my first mountain bike ride, and I think it's safe to say I'm hooked. I'd like to go again tomorrow, and the next day and the next. Only one minor injury was reported, when poor Stacey accidentally inhaled/ingested a purple feather as it fluttered from her tiara. This caused a lot of hacking and coughing, but she survived. And back at the homestead, there were warm oatmeal cookies waiting for us, courtesy of Eli and Nini. Perfect.

Weekdays

Have you ever found yourself practicing your violin over the matzoh ball soup simmering on the stove, wading in a sea of pots and pans and plastic containers and little boys at noon in your pajamas? Well, I have.

One Fantastic Reason To Get Up In The Morning

Hello Baby from Susan Ellis on Vimeo.

The Story of Stuff

Everyone! Please watch this.

Darth Maul

...and, from left to right, the weapons of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Yoda, Darth Vader, and Han Solo. I love my boys.

In My Backyard

Good Tidings! Great Joy!

Trader Joes is coming to town! The rumors have been swirling for months and it appears that our hopes will, indeed, be realized. I don't know if I can make clear the depths of my affection and enthusiasm for the store, which have only increased with my absence from our former neighborhood. How I have pined for it! I like to think that perhaps it has missed me too. In honor of this happy occasion, I would like to compile a list of the first ten things that I will place in my basket on opening day.

1. Multigrain pancake mix! An all-time favorite!

2. Cheese! (perhaps an aged white cheddar or a bit of gruyere to start)

3. Nuts nuts nuts! Roasted, unsalted almonds

4. Whole grain pasta

5. Dal

6. Yellow curry

7. Two buck Chuck (say what you will, but it's two bucks!)

8. Pizza dough

9. Force Primeval Energy Bars

10. something dark and chocolatey

You can imagine my delight when a package arrived on my front step this week,sent by a friend and containing this:

Many thanks, D!

A Universal Truth?

A Gnome in the Living Room

Special thanks to Kristin T. for knitting so beautifully.

Here We Are: Summer of Oh Seven

A Letter

Dear Bort, Your kombucha is replicating in my refrigerator. What would you like me to do with it? Love, Susan

I've Just Been a Little Busy

Here he is. We're all quite in love.

Belly

It's what you've all been waiting for, and it's more spectacular than you could have imagined...my large self. Eli is having trouble taking it all in. It's that pregnant glow, you know.

Watching The Ducks

Grandpa is here for a short visit. After dinner tonight we walked by the river for as long as we could stand the cold. Spring has been a terrible tease, and keeps reverting to frigid spells with a biting wind. The sun is shining, though, and now it's May, and hope lives!

Rain Rain Went Away

I'm Back, For Now

Since I'm pretty sure nobody ever looks at this blog anymore, I believe I'll have to start writing WHATEVER I want. Hmmm... That won't happen, but I do intend to show up now and then and see how it goes. Grandparents, rejoice!

No, We Can't Believe How Big He Is, Either.

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From the Archives

In the words of the great Bort (may he rest in peace), "I'm not dead! I think I'll go for a walk."

Eli and Dad

Some recent favorite activities: Pretending to get knocked over by an unseen foe, pretending to go grocery shopping, pretending to take a nap on the concrete.

Saturday Morning

Eli can't get enough of playing with and sitting on the laps of our lovely friends from India.

Citrus and Gardening Implements

No day is complete without an encounter with a Wawnower or a Blowleafer.

Another go round

We're hoping Poppi can help us. What bird made this, and is dryer lint always the lining of choice for the little ones? Don't worry, we didn't pull this from the tree - we found it on the ground, empty.