Month: April 2022

Happy Birthday, Mom

Karen

My mom would have been 74 today. This picture is from six years ago when we went to the Thanksgiving Point gardens for the first time. It was such a magical day–the weather was perfect, the spring bulbs were in full bloom, and we explored and explored.

I have a bouquet of hyacinths on the table today for her. It rained in the night and she would have loved that, gloating about how green her garden would be. I still think about the Cheryl Strayed letter I posted last year on her birthday: “How lucky I am to have been her daughter. To still be. To feel her shimmering in my bones with every step.”

Happy birthday, Mom. We miss you.

Thursday Poem

Karen

This is new enough to not have live text anywhere, sorry–but it’s so great. This and yesterday’s post are via my friend Mike, an excellent curator.

Tuesday Project Roundup: Not Easter, Not A Dress

Karen

It’s not a dress but it feels spring-like and fancy and I wore it to a celebration,  so I think it fulfills the same purpose as an Easter dress.

I mostly wanted an excuse to sew up this deadstock rayon twill from Fabric Godmother (from last year; sold out), and the idea of a dressy button up seemed really appealing after two years of tshirts or fleece.

I mean, that print is so great. I didn’t have enough fabric to really get the repeat evenly distributed (on the back there’s a lawn chair and a cow!) but the overall effect is still good. This is the Grainline Archer buttonup (not linking since they refuse to expand their size range) and I went up two sizes for maximum drapiness. That made the sleeves a little long but I’m ok with it.

Where will I wear this Easter dress next? Maybe to a new job interview? Let’s hope.

Early Easter Brunch

Karen

I probably am too fond of fancy hotels for as much as I say, “Eat the rich!” but they are just so gracious. You are polite, the staff is polite, and if you want something and ask nicely it just…happens. Life is easy in a fancy hotel (if you have money, of course, in which case life is probably easy regardless).

Anyway. I’ve been wanting to take my nephew to Easter brunch for two years now and we finally made it happen yesterday. We were a week early but the buffet had pastel macarons and the flowers in the courtyard were blooming and it felt like a proper celebration.

(Can you believe this kid is going to be eleven in a couple weeks?! I cannot.)

Friday Links

Karen

This week has honestly felt like a month, and not just because of cold meds. (Good news: I can breathe through my nose and not my mouth today!) The weekend is going to be sunny and we’re taking my nephew to fancy brunch on Sunday. Let’s go.

1. Thinking about this Seamus Heaney quote I saw on poetry Instagram: “If we winter this one out, we can summer anywhere.”

2. We love to see it: “The ‘coasting’ workers who’ve checked out of their jobs”

“I’ve completely mentally checked out,” says Edward, whose surname is being withheld for job-security concerns. […] “Since I stopped caring, it’s as though a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

 

3. Here for the Roman dad jokes:

Word Tweets

Karen

Language Twitter is the best part of that hellsite so here are some tweets from which I’ve gained knowledge and joy lately:

Tuesday Project Progress: Clinging To Fancy

Karen

Sometimes you just gotta start a project that’s the polar opposite of fleece pullovers and your elastic-waist WFH wardrobe:

Like a shirt with a collar (!) and buttons (!!) in some really nice rayon twill. Maybe the urge to be fancy is part of spring–I’m calling this my “Easter dress” and it should be finished soon.

Doctor Toby On Duty

Karen

Matt had a little bit of a head cold last week and then I picked it up, so I spent the weekend mostly on the couch attended by Toby L. Cat, M.D.

(He’s attending to his toe beans here, but he stuck pretty close all weekend.)

Matt was only stuffy and tired for about 4 days so I’m hoping I get the same. Entering day 3 today, with Dr. Toby on call.