the dude & the unicorn

Sammy in the Sky

2011-11-29T10:14:00.005-05:00

sammy in the sky is honest and healing in it's treatment of what the loss of a beloved friend means to children. it's the right book at the right time for our family as we anticipate the departure of our sweet girl casey sometime in the not so distant future. artist illustrator jamie wyeth, son of renowned american master andrew wyeth, matches the mood of barbara walsh's story well with his watercolors. i especially like the obvious nod to mary badham's scout finch wyeth gives the narrator. there's something comforting about having scout along on another journey through the terrifying truths that pepper the adult world. little scout's difficult yet thoughtful path toward understanding the incomprehensible will break your heart all over again.

five alarm burner

2011-09-03T10:32:00.009-05:00

I've realized lately that I am raising the human boy equivalent of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. The Dude's comic sensibility and timing are pretty advanced for his age. Let's just say that if he were to POOF! into an episode of That 70's Show, my baby's comments would regularly be punctuated by a backup chorus of "Burn!" a la Michael Kelso. For example, The Dude has taken to sauntering over to grown men and saying, "Hey, man. Nice dress." When he tried it with me I said, "Thanks! I'm a girl so that wasn't insulting." To which he answered, "Oh. Hey, Mom. Nice hairy chest!" Burn!

And though you have to give him credit for being so savvy (and savvy it is, considering his age---however what is savvy at 4 is not so savvy at 13, but he's way ahead of the curve here), it can be obnoxious and we all know it is bound to backfire soon since he is ONLY FOUR and has zero understanding of where and when his gifts are deemed inappropriate.

I don't want to stifle his funny-bone (as if I could) but goddammit! he will eventually be embarrassing me bigtime with this baloney. But then, he is so very entertaining and much of his identity is tied up in how funny he is. So, I am torn. But I guess I'll have to let him hone his skills. He'll realize what boundaries he shouldn't cross sooner or later, like most comedians do. Maybe after he gets punched in the face a few times by kids who don't find him very funny. In the meantime, I'll just sit back and continue giggling with my little Triumph.

2nd Grade Comedian

2011-09-03T09:35:00.005-05:00

The Unicorn and I have been reviewing a lot lately to make sure he's prepared for the first day of school on Tuesday. This exchange occurred yesterday, while blowing through some 1st grade flashcards. I think this smartass is ready for school, alright.

Me: (holding up a card that says "CAME")
Unicorn: My girlfriend comes to the Jerk Festival with me.
Me: (laughing) Try again.
Unicorn: OH! My girlfriend came with me to the Jerk Festival.
Me: Good. (holding up a card that says "WILL")
Unicorn: Will you go to the Prom with me? Or shall I say.... Jerk Festival?
Me: Good! (really laughing now and holding up a card that says "FIND")
Unicorn: (shrieks) I can't find the Jerk Festival!

goodbye, summer

2011-09-03T09:30:00.002-05:00

so long, summer. you've been good to us this year. thanks for the good times.

seeing through new eyes

2011-01-26T10:08:00.009-05:00

I just realized something that should have been obvious to me long ago. Obvious because, after all, I do spend most of my time with The Dude and The Unicorn and I think I know them better than just about anyone. But I guess I don't, because looking at this photo now all I can think is, "How could I have missed understanding which of my children needs more help fortifying his self-confidence?"

I was looking at this photo and thinking about how great it is that The Unicorn (right) is so comfortable in his own skin despite the fact that he is so very different from most kids his age. And even though he's busily bubbling through life unaffected and seemingly unaware of his challenges I find myself super protective of his psyche, terrified that someone will put out that spark he has. Terrified that one day he will lose his fearlessness and the love of life which is such a big part of him. Terrified that one day he will think that being unique is a bad thing.

Then I looked to the other side of the photo at The Dude, my little man of steel. A child overflowing with cool and masculinity, seemingly impervious to pain and famous for his F.U. attitude. I chuckled to myself about how only The Unicorn is holding a balloon in the picture because moments before this photo was taken The Dude had refused to accept a balloon because "balloons are for babies" and then spent the next two hours staring jealously at the bobbing green thing tied safely to The Unicorn's wrist. And then it hit me. The Dude is the one who is actually shy, slower to warm up to people, more anxious when he is the center of attention. The Dude already cares about peer approval and about this or that being too babyfied for him. He's already told me he wouldn't wear a certain shirt because someone might laugh at him. Lightbulb! How did I miss just how much The Dude needs me to be there reminding him not to let anyone (including himself) put out his spark, to make certain that he never forgets how great he is just as he is.

Ugh. Being a mom is hard. All the cliches are true. There is always something new to learn. You never quite have it figured out. You can't parent any two children the same way. Your kids teach you as much about the world as you teach them. Being a parent will help you discover a lot about yourself. The only way to parent effectively is to question yourself and your viewpoint regularly, then adjust as needed. You must grow with your children. And now here's another cliche I've found to be true: Clarity is best achieved using the eyes of an outsider.

I'm so sorry Dude. I missed that catch but I'm back in the game and I won't drop that ball again.

Thinking of having kids? Do this 11 step program first.

2011-01-05T08:36:00.004-05:00

Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
*Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
*Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
*Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
*You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

(i did not write this, but i wish i knew who did. best internet writing find of 2011 so far.)

someone has little brother syndrome

2010-11-04T12:10:00.003-05:00

this was filmed about a year ago, on the first day that the unicorn had ever worn heelys. not much has changed in the kids' dynamic since then. actually, have they even changed their clothes since then?

2010-10-30T17:12:00.002-05:00

my latest endeavor: fuckyeahtantrums

parenting FAIL

2010-10-13T08:32:00.005-05:00

yesterday, as The Unicorn and i were visiting with some neighbor friends, a man on a Segway came gliding down our street, which has never happened before. we see them all the time cruising around downtown near the Canal Walk, but just never before while standing in front of our own home. so naturally i thought, "gee, i bet The Unicorn will think this is cool!" and called attention to it. no way, jose. instead, at the exact moment that the Segway was positioned precisely in front of us and just as the gentleman controlling the contraption waved at my tiny, beaming, beautiful boy-child, The Unicorn yells this: NERD ALERT!!!!
(okay, mom. you were right. there, i said it. i should never have encouraged my children to partake in my all-time favorite past time, drive-by-scene-assessment, even though nothing is cuter than a tiny toddler voice calling out strangers for ridiculosity in short, one or two word statements. )

he grabs life by the balls, people.

2010-10-04T08:19:00.004-05:00

it blows my mind that it took so long for this kind of unbridled joie de vivre
to send us to the orthopedic specialist.

the dude, thrill riding, a month past his 2nd birthday
and with broken bits at nearly 4.

Charley Harper at CMoR

2010-09-30T15:37:00.007-05:00

Noodle & I swung over to CMoR today to take in the just-opened Charley Harper exhibit. Beguiled by the Wild is on loan from the Virginia Living Museum and on display through October 15th. But I have no idea how you'd know that since the museum has done little to hype what could be a really great asset to their representation of the facility as a "museum" and not as a playground. I found out about the exhibit quite by accident while nosing around the register as I was waiting for someone to check us in last week. Even within CMoR itself, there are no signs advertising the event. Seriously, none of the parents I spoke with at CMoR today had any idea the Harper show is currently hanging in a room just off the main lobby of the museum. Which is such a shame....especially in a city that houses a renowned art school. VCU's graphic design students should be required to view the show, but I doubt they even know it is in town.

The Dude and I were the only folks in the room for extended periods of time during each of our visits to the exhibit today. Which was great for us, but really just made me bummed out because the collection is really cool and nobody is seeing it. Noodle definitely dug the art and had a story to tell about each piece he viewed. Harper's minimal realism translates well with children, who also seem to share his innate ability to simplify the complex in their own art.

The exhibit's interactive art stations make the experience more child friendly and the art easier to discuss with younger children. See the otter? What shape is his head? And his body? A rubbing station gives kids the chance to make their own Harper "prints" to take home and a tabletop filled with tangram pieces encourages young artists to make their own art using simple forms. The Dude had a great time using the tangram pieces to recreate the animals in Harper's work and got frustrated as hell by the alphabet puzzle.

So, now you know about the Charley Harper show on display in Richmond. My job here is done. Please do yourself a favor and go see it.

eating animals

2010-09-13T19:26:00.002-05:00

The Dude: (pondering the B&B Seafood Crab Shack on Williamsburg Rd.) Momma? Why do people eat crabs?

Me: (gasp! finally! a vegetarian teaching moment! how do i handle this?) Well, because humans are at the top of the food chain. People can choose to eat animals or not to eat animals.

The Dude: (peering up through his too-long bangs, head slightly tilted in full-on pondering mode) Oh. Mommy? I wanna eat a horse.

Me: *sigh*

AWOL

2010-08-26T08:53:00.004-05:00

i've been absent from Blogger recently. i've been crushing on Tumblr. i'm digging tumblr's clean lines, simplicity, and ease of use. i'm not abandoning this blog, just planning on using it diefferently in the future. stay tuned. in the meantime, you can find me here.

summertime music

2010-07-25T10:35:00.003-05:00

fostering an understanding of friendship

2010-07-23T10:51:00.005-05:00

i've been pondering a lot in the past few days about friendship preferences. we've reached a new stage in my kids' lives. they've begun decide who they do and do not wish to have as friends. as parents, we want our kids to enjoy the company of other kids....kids they know from school, from the neighborhood, random playground playmates, and children of our close friends. but after a certain age, our children begin showing preferences in choosing who they wish to spend time with as well as voicing who they no longer want to have as a buddy. knowing this, when is the right time to allow your child to decide against seeing certain kids socially? for me, the answer is this: as soon as your kid is old enough to articulate the WHY.

before this shift occurred, it was easy to plan get-togethers and play dates around which moms and dads the mister and i wanted to hang with. the kids, we figured, would just be kids and play happily with any other small humans, and as parents we'd simply chalk personality clashes and disputes over toys and whatnot as age-appropriate behavior.

however, lately, i've seen our kids on both sides of the to-friend-or-not-to-friend dynamic. the unicorn plays better and enjoys himself more with certain kids as does the dude. then there are kids who don't appreciate one or both of my kids' ways of doing things. whatever. we just limit togetherness with those kids to little contact and hope that over time things will even out and playing together can resume. there's no sense in setting our kids up for hurt feelings caused by being shunned by someone they consider a friend.

and when it happens in reverse, when one child (or both children) tell you they no longer want to be around certain playmates, what can you do but respect their choice? by ignoring a child's concerns we run the risk of injuring the trust we've been busily building with them since birth. if we ignore their feelings, we only condition them not to come to us for support and guidance---and there's no way i'll risk that.

i'm not saying that the first time your kid comes to you complaining of being treated unfairly or feels snubbed or isn't getting enough time with the coveted toy of the moment you jump in and protect your kid by pulling him away from the play date. that solves nothing. children learn valuable social skills through playmate interaction. give and take, turn-taking, consideration for other peoples feelings, fairness, self-expression, cooperation...the list goes on and on. a parent's role in helping the young child forge friendships is to set our kids up for success, not failure, and to be there to help them try again when they do encounter setbacks.

so my game plan is this: to continue truly listening when my kid expresses how a particular friend makes him feel, in hopes that understanding and perspective is all he needs to keep the friendship intact. but when appropriate, support and respect his decision to not continue the friendship. as adults, we know that friendships are selective by nature, so why should it be any different for our children? there are so many ways to begin exploring the understanding of what being a good friend means. but it is equally important to recognize the natural happiness that comes with finding real friendship when you see it, and knowing when you don't.

i see the funniest shit in my front yard.

2010-07-21T22:20:00.002-05:00

cause if you stay with us you're gonna be pretty kooky too

2010-07-16T08:44:00.005-05:00

thanks for staying in our lover's story.
cause we believe in you.
david bowie....kooks

What to Do? Review: CMOR Short Pump

2010-07-13T09:17:00.009-05:00

Yesterday, The Unicorn and I ventured deep into the darkest depths of Richmond's suburbia to check out the Richmond Childrens Museum's new Short Pump location.

The space itself is very Short-Pumpy, a fluorescent lighting filled retail space located within the heart of one of those a pre-fab "town center" areas cropping up across America at the moment in an attempt to make suburbanites feel less like they are missing out on a rich cultural life by their choosing to hunker down in little boxes all the same.

Unlike Downtown Richmond's CMOR, the new location caters mainly to parents of very young children. All areas of activity stress the importance of play-based learning and parental encouragement. The neat and tidy main room contains all of the basic areas of interest to kids under the age of 6: a water play area, a dress-up stage, a small & safe pirate ship to climb, a "sandbox," a small playground, as well as a special area for kids under age 2, and an electric ride-on train. Electric ride-on train? Yup. It departs every half hour, giving 3-4 minute rides for around 15 minutes, which is genius. If they didn't make it stop service periodically, the kids would want to do little else. Plus, its a great way to teach kids about waiting in line and taking turns.

All this is great for the preschool set, but children over the age of 8 appeared to be bored to death, spending their time in the well-stocked art studio when they weren't sulking near their parents and begging to go home.

Moms, Dads...prepare your older child for what's in store before you take them. Nothing can ruin your outing like a bored kid with a chip on his or her shoulder. Talk up the art studio and if they aren't into it, leave your big kid at home. Trust me.

But for kids under the age of 6, and especially for parents of multiple children in that age range, the new CMOR is brilliant. Because the entire museum is contained within one large room, children are easier to keep track of---which is handy dandy if your kids are like mine and always split up on you the minute you enter a public place. Kids were visibly enthused by the ability to bounce from activity to activity without hovering parents making sure they stay close or stay right beside siblings. We were there for over two hours and I didn't ever hear a panicked mother or father searching for a lost kid....and I see that all the time in places you'd least expect, like every time I go for groceries at Kroger. To me, this is the real selling point of the new location. Freedom is fun, and the kids were drinking it up.

perfect music for summer driving

2010-07-06T16:17:00.003-05:00

thank you, danielle, for putting this on your last mix.

another first

2010-06-23T20:22:00.001-05:00

the unicorn got his first library card today. here he is checking out about 20 lbs. of books....all by himself, standing on a step stool. pride, thy name is momma.

a vocabulary lesson with the unicorn

2010-06-16T12:05:00.002-05:00

hello again, summertime

2010-06-11T21:01:00.004-05:00

Welcome back, school-free days, bare feet, mosquito bites, tank tops, flip flops, pit-stains, grass stains, cooking out, summer reading, popsicles, chasing down the ice cream man, seeking shade, marco polo, high dives, cut-offs, sunscreen, farmer tans, beach hair, freckled noses, lighting bugs, dandelion wishes, kick the can, sleeping late, ant hills, oscillating fans, playgrounds, sipping water straight from the hose, hot cars, freeze-tag, frosty beers, reruns, fresh cut grass, afternoon naps, blowing bubbles, family vacation, roller coasters, sandy toes, skipping stones, picking flowers, sprinklers, sparklers, growing food, fresh local honey, farmers markets, holding hands, picnic blankets, butterfly kisses, and laying on your back in the grass and watching the clouds roll by.

Eyeball

2010-06-09T16:53:00.001-05:00

Eyeball, originally uploaded by Hollis Queen.

the unicorn and i rolled into the dude's school at pick-up time only to be shunned by our family's youngest member. "NOOOOO!!!" he yelled at us. "GO AWAY!" um, okay. i guess he is liking school then. the unicorn skipped off in the dude's direction and was welcomed warmly by the dude, who by this point had begun yelling, "DON'T LOOK AT ME!" at his very cool mother. jerk. so i struck up a conversation with the dude's teacher about how the little monster's day went and then into the conversation trots the unicorn, laughing as he says, "momma! (the dude) said we can only call him Eyeball."

the new queen of soul

2010-05-06T23:22:00.004-05:00

i spent the evening in a richmond park with friends and family and sharon jones and the dap kings. wheeee! the encore was 100 days, 100 nights and it was amazing. photos here.

i'm pro-vaccine. and yes, as a matter of fact i DO have a child with autism.

2010-04-27T21:19:00.006-05:00

i just watched this. did you? no? watch it. you need to. herd immunity people. polio isn't common in the US anymore because of an extremely successful vaccine campaign. that's why you need to vaccinate. your little precious is not more important than the health of your entire community. the child you choose not to vaccinate puts all children too young to vaccinate at risk. little teeny tiny babies. you're really willing to risk a baby's life rather than risk a infinitesimal chance that your child could have a reaction to a vaccine? that is just insane. i'm pro-vaccine. and yes, as a matter of fact i DO have a child with autism.

nina katchadourian

2010-04-24T08:54:00.004-05:00

a blissful rainy saturday morning currently being spent drinking coffee and being blown away by the work of nina katchadourian while the dude and the unicorn melt their beautiful brains with too much cartoonage. take a seat and check out katchadourian's mended spiderweb series then explore her site and her other amazing projects. found via my new favorite blog the jealous curator.

me, you, and every girl you know

2010-04-16T21:18:00.004-05:00

do these photos remind you of the best parts of being a little girl like they do me?

friday favorites

2010-04-16T13:46:00.010-05:00

some things that held my attention this week, clockwise from top right:

the work of Kiki & Polly had me wanting to time travel and hang out with little kid me for a bit.

oh, god, how i am envying jean lee's mega doily rug.

i've been busily wishing i'd had her idea first. i am in love with the photography/embroidery mash-up work of diffractionfiber.

i'm mesmerized by the photography/illustration mash-up work of johan thornqvist. don't you just want to crawl into one of these pieces and explore for a while?

grow

2010-04-13T09:00:00.005-05:00

in an instant i glimpsed the future. as he helped each boy lift the drill and steady their tiny hands. i saw the dude's hands growing, morphing into mitts the size of daddy's. i heard a teenage unicorn's unfamiliar voice as he asked for his turn next. saw the three of them huddled together over the construction of a nearly finished half-pipe. felt a little left out. felt the tug, the heartache of letting go. and just then, the dude---proud, so proud of himself---looked up at me, his little face hungrily awaiting my approval and anticipating the reflection of his joy to shine from my own face. and just like that, the ache lifted and i knew. they will always look to me, our connections somehow reflexive. their hands will grow and change with their hearts and minds, into complete man-sized vessels of possibility. and as they do, i will be there and be as i should, having endured the slow and bold transformation as well. they can only outgrow me if i stop growing along with them. my boys, my dear sweet boys, now i know and i will continue to savor every moment of this motherhood, the one i am loving right now. because this tender phase is short lived for them, and as it fades into their histories i'll have to shed that skin as well. so for now, i will bask in it's holy heat and try my best to build the base for something solid and forever. and i will succeed.

eli doesn't sparkle

2010-04-11T19:44:00.004-05:00

the mister and i may have been the last couple in america to see this movie. but on the off chance that we aren't, and you haven't seen it, i highly recommend this beautiful vampire love story to you.

now available as a "watch it now" selection on netflix.

i love these posters

2010-04-11T10:26:00.004-05:00

www.musicphilosophy.co.uk

comic timing is everything

2010-04-05T07:21:00.010-05:00

we've got these neighbors. think of your worst non-violent nightmare kind of people. white trash, ignorant, filthy, loud, clueless, smoke-through-a-pregnancy, park-on-your-garbage-strewn-lawn types and i swear they're reproducing almost as fast as gremlins. a total cliche. this is the family of Special Powers, of Mud Huggies, of four other children, five barely literate adults and five pit bulls. jealous? thought so. but our whole family loves those filthy neighbor kids, so we bite our tongues and tolerate the adults. our kids, especially The Dude, love playing with them, and because they are always outside and unsupervised, the neighbor kids are always available playmates. lots of them. lots and lots of them.

yesterday, The Unicorn engaged in a conversation with one of the neighbor's guests. he stared intently at the unsightly smeared dirt and chunky-chocolaty-paste covered face of the tiny child as the kid went on and on for the longest time explaining what sort of day he'd had, how many eggs he'd found in the egg hunt, and what game the kids were playing at the moment. The Unicorn appeared to be listening intently, but at the end of the urchin's little-voiced rant, The Unicorn paused for about a half a second and then he yelled excitedly into the Dirt Boy's face, jumping up and down and pumping his arms in time to emphasize each syllable, "WOW! your face is really dirty!" proving that he hadn't actually heard a single word of Dirt Boy's monologue. and then he walked away. like, i'm sorry, kid. i didn't hear anything you said because i was too busy trying to figure out what the fuck is caked all over your face, little man. peace!

as you wish

2010-04-03T18:53:00.005-05:00

last night while i went out with friends, tony introduced the kids to *the princess bride. the dude, in all of his three-year-oldness, loved it. my sweet, tenderhearted unicorn, on the other hand, became unhinged emotionally during a few scenes. tonight, i overheard this conversation during their bath.

the dude: why didn't you like the princess* movie?
the unicorn: because it had a lot of hurting.
the dude: oh. you didn't like a lot of hurting?
the unicorn: no. it makes me sad.
the dude: but it's only a story. a book the grandpa is reading.
the unicorn: well, i don't like stuffs that make me sad.
the dude: (with much excitement) but it has sea monsters and sword fights!
the unicorn: i know. but also lots of hurting.

home sweet home

2010-04-01T07:49:00.004-05:00

here's the handknit, quilted banner we made for our sweet friend who's paradise bound. hopefully it will help cozy up her brand new home in st. croix while reminding her of how much we miss her. now if that doesn't say "you'll be missed" i don't know what does. trust that every stitch was made with love, L. we're gonna miss you. international knit night anyone?

alma

2010-03-30T10:30:00.001-05:00

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

tous les garçons et les filles

2010-03-29T09:08:00.001-05:00

one a day

2010-03-27T01:59:00.005-05:00

bryce & cliff

2010-03-21T07:19:00.016-05:00

Sometimes, when the Dude and the Unicorn argue, it sounds just like Farmer Ted's geeky sidekicks from Sixteen Candles. i overheard this exchange last night, which is really just a "Cause It's Got Tits" argument for the kindergarten set:

The Dude: Zombies are real!
The Unicorn: No, they are fake. But witches are real. And ghosts.
The Dude: What about the Wampa?
The Unicorn: Yeah, the Abominable Snowman is real, too.
Me: Nerds.

help the police

2010-03-20T08:50:00.004-05:00

i nearly pee myself every time i pop in over at Orangehouse.

call him Batman

2010-03-19T08:14:00.008-05:00

all day yesterday The Dude wore a red cape and spoke only in a deep and sinister sounding voice, proclaiming nearly every two minutes that he was Blue Batman (not to be confused with the more popular Batman in a black suit, The Dude is partial to the vintage Adam West era Batman costume.) the novelty charmed strangers and passersby while annoying those of us spending significant lengths of time with Blue Batman. you see, strangers knew to address The Dude as Batman. "hi-five, Batman!" "why, hello, Batman!" "well, i feel safer knowing that Batman is here!" "quick, to your batcave!" while i, on the other hand, kept slipping up and calling him by his real name or nickname and thereby earning red-faced scoldings and demands to CALL ME BATMAN, MOMMY! sigh. it was exhausting.
then this morning i happened upon these totally Dudely and adorable etsy finds from kilsook. 100% The Dude. sidenote: etsy is trying to make me die of the need need want wants. all of kilsook's items are cute cute cute, and paired with their descriptions they equal great. here's the image description for batman and just some other kids who have yet to embrace the awesomeness of the great caped crusader....

hi.

what's your name?

little boy trying to be patient:
batman.

little girl in a dress:
well.
i'm sally.
and this is edmund, and frank, and henry, and that's lucy.

batman looks over and nods slightly.

little girl in a dress:
so...
what's your last name?

silence. and then a very heavy sigh .

it's just batman.

little girl in a dress:
oh...

genesis

2010-03-16T08:28:00.011-05:00

the other night, while sipping on beers with some of richmond's finest ladies on a scenic side-porch which happens to have the most excellent view of a historic cemetery and soaking in all the beauty of this spring's first thunderstorm, i was asked to describe the distinct personality differences between my two children. without a pause i explained: Noah is a Dude. Angus is a Unicorn.
so fitting was this description that the blog has been renamed in its honor.
behold, the Dude and the Unicorn.

100 ideas

2010-03-15T09:19:00.003-05:00

make more out of every day. there are millions of ways to stay inspired and awed by your world....a million ways to remind yourself of the tiny, wonder-filled creative genius you were as a child. millions of ways to connect with the fearless traveler the one you were born to be. here are a hundred.

yes, please

2010-03-12T13:43:00.002-05:00

from ETSY seller zombotlabs.
via the Orangehouse Blog

red yellow & blue

2010-03-07T12:17:00.001-05:00

2010-03-04T21:09:00.000-05:00

land art, handknit style

2010-02-25T19:02:00.002-05:00

loving these images from Knitted Landscape.

Isobel and Cleo

2010-02-06T16:23:00.013-05:00

my needneed-wantwants sprang into overdrive when i saw this collection from scotland's Isobel and Cleo. so intense burns my love for these magnificent knits, all of them, that i have vowed to make 2010 my year to successfully replicate two items from this collection. okay, one. and if i come into a large sum of money, i'm buying them all. starting with those Grape Stitch Back Seam Leggings. love! at! first! sight!

the vivian girls

2010-02-05T10:02:00.004-05:00

i love a cleverly named band. and i've loved henry darger's exceptionally deranged lifelong work, *in the realms of the unreal ever since we stumbled upon a showing of his work at PS1 some time in the 90s. the epic piece documents an otherworldly battle between evil adults and an army of children led by a band of cherubic and heroic innocents known as the Vivian Girls. i've got a soft spot in my heart for outsider art, and darger's genius qualifies as an extreme case.

(*the documentary of the same name, however, drones on and on (and on and on) but on the plus side, does offer quite a bit of insight into the artist's tragically lonely life and unorthodox creative methods. for instance, upon his death, stacks and stacks of telephone books were found in his apartment. darger had re-purposed the pages to serve as inspiration journals, pasting in prototypes, images from magazines, color swatches, and fabric bits he wanted to replicate in later works atop page over page of thin newsprint. interesting crazy shit like that pepper the film, but overall it is a total snoozer. tony only hung with it for about 15 minutes before throwing in the towel. i watched it all, but i yawned about 75 times from the middle to the end.)

so when i read about the NY band vivian girls my interest was peaked. dreamy vocals, a heartfelt lo-fi sound, and cute girls worthy of their band's namesakes make vivian girls worth a listen. especially on a gray and snowy day like today, when i'd love nothing more than to wrap up in a darger-inspired quilt and knit until my hands bleed. will somebody make me one already? please? it would make me so happy and i would love you forever.

if i could live there, i would live there

2010-02-03T10:53:00.005-05:00

* Carroll Gardens door
* MoMA greatness
* graffiti at the Lorimer Street stop
* tin wall at Union Pool
* subway besties

new hat love

2010-02-02T08:38:00.006-05:00

let's talk about my new hat for a minute. it rules. i bought it from a street vendor selling hand knit & crochet items for $15 in Soho. sherrie claims it's magical because it turns me instantly blonde upon donning it. something about the mystical powers of a cream hat with swiss miss braids. i'm pretty in love with it and now want to learn to crochet so i can replicate it.

How Purl Scout Earned Her NYC Merit Badge

2010-02-01T12:49:00.012-05:00

Cozied into our handknits, and fully prepared for what was the honest to goodness coldest weekend of the year so far in NYC, K1-D2 made good on their promise to locate excellent fibers, cheap scrumptious eats, and promote our manifesto of peace, love, and inebriation with our knitting.

On day one, The Knitorious M.E.G., Slip Yum Yum, & Purl Scout (yours truly) got down to business with a trip to Purl in Soho for Cascade Magnum yarncakes (color #9464, holla!), heavenly buck-fifty pizza biancas @ Grandaisy Bakery, bargain finds @ Pearl River Mart, a nature hike into Central Park, a spiritual cleansing @ St. Thomas Cathedral, & a FREE VIP taste of Tim Burton's genius @ the MoMA. And that was all done before nightfall!

As for activities post-nightfall...well, I will defer to others with a more coherent understanding of our whereabouts & goings-on, as the Purl Scout was busily representing RVA knitters with her heroic drinking abilities.

On our last day in NYC, after grabbing a $2 egg on a roll and eating it on the stoop of a magnificent Brownstone, I stumbled upon the cutest little yarn shop just blocks away from our home base in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. La Casita carries a delicious selection, has fair prices, a roaring fireplace the owner encourages you to knit beside, as well as having the nicest staff ever.

I scored some yummy Spud & Chloe Outer in a dreamy hue of orange heather and then strolled back through our hood one last time before loading into the Mini for our voyage home.

What's that old saying? Oh, yeah...I remember: I Love NY.

gandhiwarmer

2010-02-01T09:10:00.007-05:00

i will write more about my amazing weekend in new york in later posts. this post is all about the gandhi warming project. i was lucky enough to be a part of a fabulous project, the brainchild of my dear friend tippy tippens, to honor mohandas gandhi on the anniversary of his death. visit her site www.gandhiwarmer.wordpress.com to learn more about her installation in her own words, which show best the kind heart and wonderful spirit responsible for creating this beautiful piece of work.

some stuff i made recently

2010-01-11T08:22:00.001-05:00

Adventures with Santa, 2004 to 2009

2009-12-16T09:42:00.001-05:00

Adventures with Santa, 2004 to 2009, originally uploaded by Hollis Queen.

2009's Santa's Lap photo was a success! no screaming, no tears, no defensive moves, no sleepers, no just-woke-up-from-a-nap-faces, no inflatable superheroes. just three jolly smiling faces in one happy shot.

wishing

2009-11-28T16:48:00.005-05:00

Dear Santa,
Please, oh please, I've been such a good boy this year.
All I want for Christmas is a Back-up New Rocket.
Because Rocket is my Everything. I'll even give all the other squirters in the set to my little brother.
Love,
Angus

i love a virginian november

2009-11-19T09:36:00.003-05:00

yarn bombing quirk

2009-11-12T08:59:00.003-05:00

in progress, originally uploaded by Hollis Queen.

it feels good to be appreciated

as i hang my head in shame and eat my own words

2009-11-10T09:13:00.004-05:00

I finally gave in to my curiosity and need to see what the draw was and read Twilight. And New Moon. And Eclipse. Why the fuck am I so absorbed by these crap books which are so obviously and unrelentingly filled with atrocious messages to young girls? I am so ashamed. And addicted! Gah.

Bless my dear sweet KL's heart for posting this hilarious link. Somehow, laughing along with someone making fun of me for falling for something so lame is cathartic. And now I am off to find a copy of Breaking Dawn. Fuck it all.

I admit it. I, too, love sparkly vampires.

Ruby's Run

2009-11-08T20:18:00.004-05:00

The Unicorn (and The Dude, a little) participated in Ruby's Run this Sunday at Dogwood Dell to help raise money for a very good cause in memory of a very special little girl.

The reason for the run itself already had me raw with emotion. But I was still caught off guard by how emotional it was to see The Unicorn running his little heart out. The fact that he wanted to participate at all was enough to get me a bit teary. Quite often, his emotions get the best of him and he becomes overwhelmed very easily. Coping with stress, fear, shyness, and excitement all at once is hard for everybody, but especially those with ASD. So I had prepared myself for the worst and knew it was likely that he would let some unknown force trigger a meltdown that would keep him from enjoying an event he had been so looking forward to. I was just waiting to watch it all unwind, spring into comfort mode, and start to feel the familiar emotions of my heart breaking a little more for the boy who so infrequently gets to feel proud of his accomplishments.

But, then he actually ran with the other children. The Unicorn did not cry and quit. He ran the entire course, smiling and determined and happy and proud. After he received his medal, he looked up at me and said, "I won! Now I can live happily ever after." And I believe it is true. Yes, all of the participants were given medals, but I am certain Angus truly won. He won the most recent battle in the ongoing War Against Himself. And he knew he was victorious. And he will live happily ever after. I just know it.

happy halloweek!

2009-10-27T19:33:00.001-05:00

Yippee! Yippee! Noodle is 3!

2009-10-24T09:09:00.001-05:00

how quickly time flies when you have a little buddy this entertaining by your side.

meet your new motto

2009-10-24T09:07:00.002-05:00

to be more specific....anyone need tile work? or portraits of their rugrats?

Confidence Building, with Angus Brown

2009-10-12T11:31:00.003-05:00

Angus: Mom? You're old?
Me: Uh, yeah, I guess so.
Angus: Cause you have white hair.
Me: Wow. Okay, then. I guess I do, so I guess I am old.
Angus: But you don't have to be.
Me: Really? What do you mean, buddy?
Angus: Like on Monsters v. Aliens. Lucy---
Me: (seeing where this is going...) Susan.
Angus: Yeah. Susan got white hair and grew bigger and bigger and bigger but not older. Can you just do that?
Me: I'll try.
Angus: Ok!!! (looking like he's waiting....)
Me: I can't really do that, Angus.
Angus: Oh. Just get old then.

table talk with The Unicorn

2009-09-29T17:14:00.004-05:00

And now, a snippet from tonight at dinner......

Angus: Can I pick my nose at school?
Me: No, you can't. That's not nice manners.
Angus: (after a brief pause) Oh.
Me: Why? Do you do it?
Angus: Yes.
Me: Where do you do it?
Angus : I hide so they won't see me.
Me: Where do you hide?
Angus: Everywhere. Under the tables, other places. In the trash can.

happy monday

2009-09-29T08:04:00.003-05:00

if only every monday could be just like yesterday. then i'd have no complaints. school holiday + daddy's return from far too long away + 70 degree weather + momma-made peter pan hats + duct tape & cardboard daddy-made swords + a walk with my boys through the woods and along the river + discovering land art in the james + many many kisses and hugs = just about as good as it gets.

allow me to reiterate, october

2009-09-27T20:35:00.003-05:00

As October nears, I'd just like to once again address the month to beg for Mercy. You see, it seemed to have worked last year. We made it through all of last October without incident. So, I thought I'd better try it again. The following is a (still relevant) post from 2008.

October is here. October is not good to us. We have spent 3 of the last 4 Octobers cooped up in hospitals. In 2005, Angus nearly died. Fall allergies and asthma are a bad mix. Especially when you don't know your child has either. The next year, Angus got pneumonia and I was busy having Noah cut from my body. There went October '06. Then last October, Noah had his first hospital stay. Yup, another fall allergy + asthma sufferer. And the kids got Hand, Foot & Mouth disease. (Thanks a lot, icky preschool germs.) There went October 2007 down the drain, too.

So this year, October....I'm begging you to please lay off the Browns. I'm not saying go bother another family---just that maybe you've picked on us enough for right now. What do you say? I"d really like to be able to enjoy your blue skies and cool temperatures, your hayrides and pumpkin patches, your crisp evenings and frosty mornings, trick or treating and cookie baking. What do you say , October? Can we be friends?

gratitude

2009-09-25T07:04:00.003-05:00

at least three times a day, i feel or hear myself sounding just like my own mother. sometimes it's in the tone i've used to be just the right amount of firm with my kids. other times i recognize her in my soft and encouraging statements of praise, or in the way i feel holding hands with the boys as we cross the street. but unlike that old cliche, i haven't ever been overtaken with disgust when i notice her in me. i am always just really proud of myself because i know i am doing something right.

thank you, mom, for being who you are. and for knowing how to bring out the best in the me that i am. i'd never know what i was doing without the influence of your guidance from the past, your support in the present, and the irrational faith that you'll always be here for me in the future. i am truly grateful for being blessed with you for my mother.

Jet Generation!

2009-09-13T11:36:00.001-05:00

Jet Generation!
Originally uploaded by Hollis Queen

i love sunday mornings around here.

happy saturday!

2009-08-29T09:34:00.010-05:00

my friends at orangehouse posted this earlier today. i laughed so hard and long at these coiffed poodles that i knew it was too good not to pass along. enjoy!

also, i just now filled up noodle's snack bowl with snapea crisps and snagged a few from the top of his tiny bowl and popped them in my mouth. then it went like this:
Noodle: Noooooooooooo! My green beans! Don't eat them!
Me: Oh, calm down.
Noodle: (makes that sound of disgust & frustration----a long low growl, you know the one.... reserved for use by kids and designed as the ultimate wordless weapon against parents. come on, kid! you're two years old! couldn't this wait a few years?)
Me: (attempting to prompt good manners, despite his ugly display of early-onset teenagerdom) What do you say?----squeaked out in the most annoying mommy-voice i can muster.
Noodle: DON'T TOUCH MY FOOD!
Me: (conjuring up something i perfected during my own childhood, makes that very same sound of disgust & frustration.)

chilly chill

2009-08-26T16:42:00.003-05:00

the first day of school is lurking less than two weeks away. *sigh* i am a summer lover, so i am sort of dreading the big change looming. i've so enjoyed having angus here with us all day this summer. but soon he will go back to spending most of his waking hours with people other than his family and noodle and i will go back to being a two-man team on school days. that is, until he's finished with potty training and trots off to nursery school part-time without even looking back to wave goodbye. *again, sigh.*

anyhow, i got off track. this was supposed to be a post about sharing info on a great deal i found on some back to school necessities at kroger. i've had my eye on these awesome BPA-free 2-cup food chilling containers from Fit & Fresh all summer, but kept waiting for them to go on sale and they finally did. i am kind of fanatical about trying to avoid BPAs. it used to be hard to find plastics without them. but now, thanks to studies like the recent out of Harvard, BPA-free plstics are getting easier to locate in mainstream grocery stores.

so... yay, me. instead of $9.99 for a six-pack i scored them last night for $6. i think i may even snag up one or two of their bento box sets before the sale ends.

City Skyline scarf

2009-08-10T21:40:00.010-05:00

My First Pattern!!

Needle: US 10 / 6.0 mm
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy
1 skeins = 250.0 yards
Color: Grey Tabby
Finished size: 96" after blocking

Pattern is as follows:

CO 26 stitches.

Rows 1 -4 Knit in garter stitch.

Row 5 Slip 1, K1, *(YO, K2tog)* , repeat to last 2 sts, K2

Row 6 Slip 1, knit to end

Row 7 Slip 1, K1, (K2tog, YO) repeat to last 2 sts, K2

Row 8 Slip 1, Knit to end

Row 9 - 12 Knit in garter stitch

Row 13, same as Row 5, etc.

Continue in the pattern until piece is desired length. Block lightly.
Mine measured 96" after blocking, 80" or so before.

This one was made for Wonder Wollen's upcoming birthday, but I am most definitely making more of these really soon. And that yarn........dreamy.

i s a w m y b l o o d y v a l e n t i n e

2009-07-31T21:37:00.005-05:00

last night at the national theater in richmond. and it was amazing. i had to slink around with my camera hidden in order to snap off these shots. even though practically everyone there was shooting crappy iPhone shots, the security staff kept picking on me for having "professional gear" and threatening to confiscate my camera. am i a total geek for being flattered that they thought i resembled something of a professional? yes. definitely.
P.s. i took these photos. don't steal them or use them without my consent. ya dig?

we are retacular spidermans and you can be retacular mary jane.

2009-07-20T11:01:00.001-05:00

we are retacular spidermans and you can be retacular mary jane.
Originally uploaded by Hollis Queen

High Five

2009-07-14T09:58:00.009-05:00

Happy Birthday, Angus. Thank you for your smile and laughter, for your sweetness and your kind heart, for the unique way you see the world, for your silliness, and for loving me. You are the apple of my eye, kid. Five years ago today the world became a better place.

P.U. b gone

2009-06-25T11:41:00.006-05:00

i have two geriatric dogs and an extraordinarily overactive sense of smell. you can imagine how much time i waste trying to reconcile these unfortunate constants in my life. even the cleanest house still carries that distinct smell associated with the cold hard fact that our dogs are sadly and steadily marching toward life beyond the rainbow bridge. i already bathe each doggie bi-weekly due to angus' allergies, and that doesn't seem to help much. but now i found an ally in my ongoing war against pet funk. and its a green cleaning product. you may not care about this, but i almost did back flips* today when i used the stuff and it actually worked. it was as simple as this: sprinkle the unscented granules, let it sit (preferably overnight) and then vacuum it up. no lilies of the valley or cherries jubilee scent left behind to mask the smell...just an absence of odor. brilliant! i pass along this bit o' knowledge----it is my gift to you.

*but then i remembered that i can't do one.

Summer of Independence

2009-06-19T22:18:00.009-05:00

It is a cold hard fact that I love summer. Bright sunny mornings spent outdoors melting into lazy lunchtimes and then hot and sticky afternoons perfect for a good read and a cozy nap, followed by a long golden evening filled with bubble blowing and bug catching and water fights. Oh the freedom! Oh the possibility that summer promises! But wait....oh yeah. I have a nearly five year-old and a tiny monster currently trapped in that terrifyingly fantastic period between age 2 and 3. Needless to say, my "me" time is basically nonexistent, I spend a large chunk of my day searching for things the boys misplace but NEED to find IMMEDIATELY or the WORLD WILL CRUMBLE, and my attention is currently a battleground between the boys and the only one losing is me.
So, as summer began inching closer to becoming a reality and it started to become clear that I needed A Plan or all that freedom and independence was going to swallow me alive. Momma's nerves are simply unable to withstand the amount of "do this" and "watch this" and "where is my _____" and "help me with that" and "I can't find my _____" and "I can't do it" which are thrown my way daily. Correction: All day, every day. Summer 2009 just has to be the Big One. The one in which each of my boys discover how proud he feels accomplishing things on his own, that ends with us never needing to diaper Noah again, with Angus able to execute the tying of his own shoelaces, the pouring of his own milk, with Noah dressing himself, and maybe even with Angus riding his bike sans training wheels or truly reading his first book. The way I see it is this: if these little buddies of mine are in such a big hurry to shake all the baby off them and continue growing up way too fast, then they've got to show some independence while they're at it.
And then I saw this via every little thing. Dang a lang! jane's apron went and put a name to my goal for the Summer of 2009 and now i am apparently part of an actual movement....one with a pledge and all.

Where age-appropriate and within reason,
I pledge to help my kids
develop their independence
through practical activities that are
directly related to life skills.

Brace yourself, boys. Though you will want to resist this change at first, you'll love how great it feels to be doing things for yourself. Its what big kids do, fellas.

The end of the year is bitterweet.

2009-06-15T08:52:00.002-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Summer is now.

2009-05-26T08:41:00.003-05:00

Welcome back, school-free days, bare feet, mosquito bites, tank tops, flip flops, pit-stains, grass stains, cooking out, summer reading, Popsicles, chasing down the ice cream man, seeking shade, marco polo, high dives, cut-offs, sunscreen, farmer tans, beach hair, freckled noses, dandelion wishes, kick the can, sleeping late, lightning bugs, ant hills, oscillating fans, playgrounds, sipping water straight from the hose, hot cars, freeze-tag, frosty beers, reruns, fresh cut grass, afternoon naps, family vacation, roller coasters, sandy toes, skipping stones, picking flowers, growing food, fresh local honey, farmers markets, holding hands, picnic blankets, butterfly kisses, and laying on your back in the grass and watching the clouds roll by.

Welcome back, summer. I miss you when you're gone. Let the good summer times roll.

the bigtime

2009-05-15T10:54:00.005-05:00

seeing your friends succeed at what they love doing rules.

the show was fantastic and it was good to see everyone again. they're away more than they're home right now. i loved seeing the expressions on the faces of the kids in the crowd. their enthusiasm, excitement and love of the music was so pure. i hope the guys in LOG notice that and use it to fuel themselves in those inevitable moments when touring gets to be a drag. it'd be a shame to make it to the top only to find yourself miserable. not that i think that'll happen to LOG. i'm pretty sure they realize that they're kinda living the dream.

library day

2009-05-11T16:21:00.005-05:00

our book bag was overfilled with goodies after a trip to the library today. i love the library. FREE books, videos, music, and more. all they ask is that you return them when you are finished. deal! as a habitual abuser of both hoarding and purging, the system of controlled borrowing is so well suited to my needs. and it is FREE to use. need i say more? when i see you people at barnes & noble buying a huge stack of books you'll read once i can't help but think there may be something a bit wrong in your head. but kudos for helping keep america's economy up and at 'em. sorta.

so, in the bag were: for tony, the brand new palahniuk, pygmy, for me, the paper version of a favorite blog, and for the boys a timely little read entitled Just Like Bossy Bear. it is a huge hit with its hilarious illustrations, simple text, and its "don't-be-such-a-bad-influence-Little Mister Bossy Pants" message. i am a big fan of horvath's Ugly Dolls, so this book had me excited even before i picked it up, and then it didn't disappoint. hooray!

the rest of bag was weighed down with various knitting books, pro-potty propaganda intended for the brainwashing of the noodle, and a few books on tape-style things for the kiddos to enjoy in the car and a couple of Bach & Tchaikovsky CDs for angy, our little book & music appreciator.

i love the library.

think before you drink

2009-05-11T16:19:00.002-05:00

thanks to gonzomama for posting this.

home again

2009-05-07T10:41:00.002-05:00

i am looking forward to year after year of going to sleep and waking up beside this man. although, i am totally fine with him getting up first to man the kiddos while i sleep for a few extra minutes.

Flannery

2009-04-21T07:44:00.004-05:00

Flannery O' Connor, originally uploaded by Lavatican.

my wait is over! the copy of Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor that i had been waiting and waiting and waiting to get my hands on for what seemed like forever finally arrived at the library and it is mine for the next two weeks! she's been my favorite writer since about 7th grade. i think only chuck taylors, shit talking, and flannery o'connor managed to outlast my many fleeting tastes of adolescence and still remain favoites of mine to this day.

if only i had already mastered the knitting-while-reading skill i have been working toward mastering. maybe that's where books on tape come in. is that why they are popular? hmmmm....

****also...i am so in love with the portrait of flannery from the cover that i found the artist, Lauren Pope, on Etsy and contacted her about purchasing a print. they are available here. my print of Wiseblood: A Portrait of Flannery O'Connor is en route. yippee!

currently in heavy rotation

2009-04-20T13:02:00.005-05:00

tiny miracle cure

2009-04-15T18:33:00.003-05:00

all hail medical science. thanks to the insertion of ear tubes, noodle went from being continuously plagued by ear infections to not having even one since they went in on december 26, 2007. if any other moms out there are on the fence about getting the ear tube surgery for their own child who is prone to repeated or prolonged ear infections---- just do it. the relief was instantaneous for him and the surgery lasts like 5 minutes. i was told that each tube was so small that when they finally worked their way out of his ears i wouldn't even notice them. but i didn't expect them to be this tiny. it is remarkable that something so tiny and primitive (seiously, a tube getting poked through your eardrum? and left in there to fall out on its own as it is outgrown? how basic is that?) could be such an easy solution to a terrible problem.

see ball?!

2009-03-30T08:59:00.002-05:00

angus has always had the sweetest voice ever. actually, he has just always been the sweetest little boy ever. watch this movie from two years ago today and you'll agree with me. it makes me cry...his voice, his excitement, his love for his daddy. oh, angus. my sweet sweet boy.

A Year Ago This Week.

2009-03-28T21:02:00.003-05:00

looking back is bitterweet.

these are my girls

2009-03-24T07:45:00.001-05:00

my new favorite so far

2009-03-17T15:34:00.002-05:00

my new favorite so far, originally uploaded by Hollis Queen.

project number lucky thirteen is complete, and i am in love with it. the pattern is by jane richmond, and is available as a free Ravelry download. the pattern called for a lighter weight yarn, but i wanted a warmer one so i went bulky, using lamb's pride bulky in wild mustard. i hope it stays cold enough for me to wear this a bit before spring is totally upon us.

flashback to the nineties, grrrrrl style

2009-03-17T12:47:00.006-05:00

the coathangers are now in heavy rotation at the brown house. tonya harding makes me laugh, dance, and want to break shit. plus, it is just plain fun to shake it with the kids--and for that, this album is perfect. it is reminiscent of all the grrrl power music i loved in the nineties. i think it is the perfect record for pre-outing drinks with your ladies. just right to get you in the mood to get wild.

caveat: one drawback is that nestle in my boobies will get stuck in your head, which isn't the greatest when you live in a G-rated environment.

twelve years ago today.....

2009-03-16T21:14:00.002-05:00

it all began. happy real anniversary, tony. i am a very lucky girl.

central park, 1998, originally uploaded by Hollis Queen.

knit night shennanigans

2009-03-13T16:00:00.003-05:00

photo by nikki's mac
fun by all

r e a d

2009-03-11T10:43:00.001-05:00

March is National Reading Month, so go on and visit your local library and grab some new and interesting books to read. I love the library and have made sure my kids do, too. They know it is a privilege to go and borrow books and get excited about the fact that libraries have books on every topic under the sun, and all available to you for FREE. So go get one...and no, magazines don't count. And here's a little fact about me: when i hear people say they haven't read a book in years, I kind of want to punch them in the face.

Southern Fried Birthday

2009-03-10T00:01:00.003-05:00

being a man of refined taste and hearty appetite, my man chose Lee's Fried Chicken as the spot for his birthday dinner this year. so we hauled our four-piece on over so the mister could chow down on his own four-piece. noodle took to the grub like a true southern gentleman, naturally, and had a mean case of chicken teeth to prove it. i could hardly look at him without gagging. there are some things i can't hang with, even with the super-powers motherhood has granted me. cleaning up vomit is a breeze, but seeing half chewed food in an open mouth or stuck to the contents thereof...i draw the line there. sorry to make you see it, but that's how i do it. i will not suffer alone.

lefty loosey, rightey tightey.

2009-03-09T22:49:00.001-05:00

go here. look at her. find out what it means. then report back to me.
are you a L or a R? or more creepily...both?

giggle giggle

2009-03-06T07:59:00.003-05:00

Craig is one wacky little Ozzie. Cheers & Happy Friday!

snow day

2009-03-02T17:11:00.001-05:00

and the snow is STILL coming down

2009-03-02T07:20:00.003-05:00

raspberry hat

2009-03-01T17:15:00.002-05:00

after giving up on the crappy free pattern for the braided hood on lion brand yarn's website, i found a way to modify it using my limited skills. and i actually like my hat better this way, to tell the truth. after i knitted the hood i made thin rectangular sections, sewed them to the base of the hat with yarn and then added fringe to the ends of that. it is really warm and long enough now to cover the back of my neck...that danger zone for chill. i finished this yesterday and was kind of bummed that i wouldn't much wear out of it this year, since virginia gets warm starting around the end of march. but today....today we have snow. real snow that is sticking to the ground and the roads and everything. bring it on, mother nature. snow us in. we have milk, toilet paper, bread, and warm knitted goodness.

hey, daffodil....

2009-02-28T21:37:00.004-05:00

you sure are pretty and i'd like to thank you for heralding the start of spring year after year. you always seem to show up right when we most need a little proof of sunshine making it through the gray winter skies. but, seriously, daffodil. what's with your scent? yesterday i crawled around my house for 15 minutes trying to locate dog urine i was positive i kept smelling until i realized it was you and your freshly-picked friends sitting prettily atop my mantle. oh, daffodil...i don't know how to break this to you, girl--- but you smell like piss.