Wish I could go...

I'm glad I live in a world where there is an Annual World Championships Pooh Sticks tournament. Apparently, this year was the 24th but here's the write-up from last year's run. Who knew?

People watching

Who doesn't love a good dose of people watching? The Sartorialist takes the past-time to a whole new delicious level. It's like sitting on a bench in New York City, taking in the comment-worthy, sometimes outlandish/sometimes wonderful/often both, but always distinctive style choices of the Apple dwellers. (Be sure to look at the fabulous Easter Parade outfits straight out of the 1920's + 30's.)

Now where was I?.......

I'm back from a small blog vacation, brought about by a combination of busy lifeness and a case of the April blahs. In every other place I've lived, April is a sunny glimmer of spring--the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, the greengreen parks of London, the pops of blossoms and daffodils in Utah.

But not New England.

Oh, no, Boston is a mite too reserved to blow its spring enthusiasm too early. And somehow I forget it EVERY YEAR and get all down and pouty around the first part of April. I take Boston's overlooking of the spring calendar PERSONALLY. So we're still all bare branches and grey skies and lonely little sad patches of dirty snow. Very late Novembery. Soon, I tell myself. Soon!

In the meantime, I am enjoying sights of spring on blogs, living vicariously until I get my own spring. I love the sight of brave blossoms standing up to the last blast of snow, of flamboyant dahlias in Australia, green grass, sun-and-daffodil-filled easter egg hunts, and blue-sky balloon photo shoots. A girl can dream!

Small pleasures #4

~ the smell of chocolate cupcakes baking (right now)
~ the kids playing basketball outside daily
~ finding a wireless connection in the car outside L's flute lesson
~ this book and the thought of making something from it
~ this hilarious spoof of Lost (warning: @#!% word at the end)
~ a clean and vacuumed car (thanks, G)
~ brainstorming with G on April Fools' Day tricks to play on the kids
~ gumball machines
~ reconnecting with cousins
~ a (relatively) free weekend! Have a lovely one, too!

Have crackers, will travel

I wondered why L brought a little pouch with her to a 5th grade band concert... just didn't seem the time to make a fashion statement. Then during the concert I looked over and saw the tell-tale Ritz wrapper sticking out of it, which gave it away. That and the crunching sounds coming from not just L but also her dad. Since she evidently can't be without constant nourishment (for even a 30-minute concert), next time I'll just hook her up to an i.v. I know she already has a handy pouch to carry it in!