9flights

Rock and Roll Girl

Man I'm out of practice.  It's been over 4 years since I picked up a brush and it shows.  But this kid was so cool I had to remember her somehow.  I couldn't very well ask her Grandma if I could take her photo.  She was 5 years old at most, standing in front of the Starbucks counter at Target, wearing a red tartan skirt, neon green Doc Martens with black tights, and a black and grey t-shirt.  The skirt was pulled in out of necessity, but draped like a punk couture kilt.  She turned around and saw me smiling at her, threw up her arms and yelled, "Rock and Roll!" I'm not kidding.  Her black shirt front was printed with a neon green and red AC/DC logo.  Kid had it going on.  Her Grandma shook her head and said, "This is what she picked out for herself today."  She's got style, I said.  If I were The Sartorialist I would have taken her photo, she was that good.  Instead I tried to paint her.  Doesn't do her justice I'm sad to say.

 

Salt and Pepper

These are my favorite salt & pepper shakers.  I don't remember who made them, but I got them at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn about 4 or 5 years ago.  The seller also had sugar bowls and plates and things with this design.  We don't really use salt & pepper at the table, though, so they don't get put out much.  But I do keep them on a little shelf above my stove, for looking at.

Princess Parade

When cleaning up the toys lately, I've taken to setting up little vignettes for the kids to find when they get up in the morning. It helps to engage them in something right off the bat, while I sit and enjoy coffee and email.

The White Balloon

In the night the rain pulled the moon
from the sky,
a radiant white balloon
cradled gently in the branches.

Pink Ride

Finley's Grandfather made her this pink convertible for Christmas.  That's Finley in the orange dress, driving.  Sam is wearing green, sitting in the passenger seat.  He thinks driving the pink convertible seems a little girlie. 

Filling Daddy's Shoes

Sam is the man of the house this week.  These are some big shoes to fill.  Duties include spider removal, giving Momma hugs and kisses, and making everyone laugh.  

Tonight he flopped on his bed and said, "Momma I tired." I asked, "Too tired for a story?"  And he replied, "Nooooo, Momma I being silly."

The Importance of Shoes

For one so fiercely intent on individualism, I can't resist the urge to dress my girls like me.  My favorite oufits include green cargo pants and black t-shirts.  Before Zoe was born I found these little grey slip-on sneakers that looked just like mine.  I couldn't resist.

Would you look at that photo, my feet are enormous!

I've also been known to dress my girls in matching dresses for events like Easter and birthday parties.  One day they'll look at those photos in horror, but for now I recognize it for the powerful bonding tool that it can be.  Especially when Finley is a twin and has her own special bond with her fraternal brother.  Showing the kids that they are all three a team is important.  Sam and Zoe have their own special bonds that I encourage, too.  A love of music and singing.  A love of wrassling. 

Big Roar

She's almost walking on her own, my little babysaurus.

Gorilla Coffee, Brooklyn NY

I will admit, most days out here in the country I drink Folgers, bought in bulk or on sale and with a coupon.  $7 for 4 lbs of coffee gets me by on weekdays when it's just me the wee ones for what can sometimes be a mind numbing 14 hours of diaper changes, dirty hands and squashed peas underfoot.

On weekends, though, we try to be civilized.  Mr. 9flights and I are trying to teach the wees that they should entertain themselves until Momma and Daddy are done with their Breakfast, which includes coffee and a turn through the papers.  In hopes that they catch on soon, we've ordered up the NY Times Weekender and several pounds of our favorite coffee from Gorilla Coffee in Brooklyn. 

When the package arrives from Gorilla (and it arrives quickly!) the aroma upon opening the box sends me back to a time when I used to walk down to 5th Ave with my laptop and sit for hours crammed at the end of a laminated table top with dozens of other freelancers and their laptops.  I'd sip my coffee and attempt to work beneath vintage school maps of the world with the alarm of the big red roaster that used to sit in the back of the store.  Due to their success soon after opening, they moved that roaster off site and made way for more laminated tables.  You'll still be lucky to get a spot.  Before we moved they began selling the coffee at local Park Slope eateries and the patisserie on Vanderbilt near our apartment.  But we'd still prefer to walk down to 5th Ave and stand in the line that sometimes snakes around the corner on weekend mornings.

Today's package came with a bonus.  I ordered 3 pounds and they arrived in the Gorilla gift box.  What a great logo they have.  I'm hanging that box on my kitchen wall.  Plus it was wrapped in a coffee sack and some little green beans came tumbling out when I unrolled the whole thing. 

Now, what to do with this coffee sack?  A project, just waiting to happen!

Go away now and order yourself a gift box of Gorilla!

A Brisket, A Basket, 3 kids and their Dad sit

via www.flickr.com

An Easter Sunday moment.