The West

Our long trek across the country has come to an end. Yellowstone was the definitive highlight of the trip. Bison, Elk, waterfalls, swimmable hot springs, non-swimmable hot springs, all around awe-inspiring beauty.















In South Dakota, we got to take a good look at the absurd with the carving of presidential heads into rock at Mt. Rushmore and the very salt of the earth tourists that it attracts.












What may stand out the most though are images from Small Town, USA across the country. Images like this








and this









and this




What a place we live in. What a beautiful place.

Back By Popular Demand

or...by...err... by the demand of Suzanne.

The Middle of America is one of the strangest places I have ever been.

Giant Statues of the Jolly Green Giant

Other Giant Statues

Abandoned prairie houses to explore

and rolling grassland that stretches far far away from you.











Back tomorrow with South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.

Harvey and Norah at the Beach

A complete calm fell over Harvey when he came close to the water. He did not need toys, he did not need singing, or dancing--he just wanted to look out over the ocean, stare at it. Every once in a long while, he would let out a low coo that melted into the sound of the waves. It was truly spectacular to see.

Florida Bound

We are headed out of the house by 4:30 tomorrow morning on a 6 am flight to Daytona. I have never been a real fan of Florida, but we are going to be with family in a couple of condos by the beach. Harvey has never been to the ocean, and I can't wait for the two of them to feel the sand pushing through their toes. We will be back on Saturday, and then we are in the final stretch (6 days) before our house officially goes on the market. I have to say, I am kind of sad to leave New Jersey right now--everything is in bloom and the sun is coming out.

My mom found out that she was going to get laid off today. She made it through 40 years in the workforce and countless lay-offs and, well, they finally got her. I can remember holding my breath on nights before big lay-offs and then hearing the laughing sound of my mom's voice through the telephone each time explaining that, nope, they didn't get her this time, but there would always be a next time. And at 62 her time finally came. It's ok, Mama, it's all for a reason. Maybe we will all meet up in the Pacific Northwest just a little sooner than we were planning on it. I love you.

On an unrealted, but happier note, I have been doing some Waldorf-related reading about the early childhood years and it is really coming in handy. One of the ways that Rahima Baldwin suggests in her book, You Are Your Child's First Teacher to get your children's engaged in their toys is to set them up in unique and interesting ways after they go to bed at night so their attention will be drawn to those toys in the morning. Well, Brian has been doing this with Norah's blocks and it has worked. On Sunday morning, she built an intricate city and was so proud of herself.

Portland, Oregon

wow.

What a truly amazing city. Brian and I arrived last Monday and stayed for a week, looking at houses, discovering the city, discovering the state, talking with residents of Portland, and generally enjoying our time together. Although I must say, 7 days was entirely too long to spend away from Norah and Harvey. And I think my mom would agree. Harvey had a hard time the first four days and Norah had a hard time the last three so, essentially, my mom had a hard time the entire seven days.

I have not spent a great deal of time in the kitchen lately as I have been preparing to go out of town or going out of town. We ate at some fantastic restaurants in Portland. The Tin Shed is in the Alberta district. We stumbled upon this one with Brodie and Marla on their first night there. The menu is seasonal and rotating and simply delicious. The Farm is more upscale and not necessarily better but also delicious. We had a civilized dinner there with wine, roasted hazelnuts for appetizers, and pastas for dinner.

Knitting wise, I finished my mystery socks. I finished Brian's stocking. I have begun finishing Shack's cardigan and I have started Norah's sundress. I LOVE love LOVE Blue Sky Alpaca's cotton. Love it. Pictures of all of these to follow.