In Bloom

Brooklyn, 2016

There are a few hints that spring is really here to stay in Brooklyn, and it's beautiful to behold. I think I gazed up at this tree today for a good three minutes.

Have you read this article, on motherhood and creativity? It definitely resonated with me. I was also really interested in this story, on Minecraft (who knew?) and this one, on raising boys.

Am now curled up and watching the very prickly Democratic debate (live from Brooklyn.)

Sunshine

Oscar, 2016

Well, I'm not ready to do a victory lap yet (and I couldn't run one anyway, because I stubbed my foot on a cat scratching post and broke my pinky toe yesterday) but so far the boys and I have survived five days without Will, who is in Tokyo on an adventure.

He's back in a few days and I will be very glad, but it's been interesting managing the evenings, mornings, and much of the weekend solo.

We had a new sitter come for a few hours yesterday. She has a degree in early childhood education and twelve years of experience as a nanny. She was with us for three hours and the boys were going a little wild. It wasn't long before she said, "Um, you have your hands full."

I have a feeling she might not come back. Was it the biting or the projectile playdough balls? Or feeding Ozzy bites of pasta as he zoomed around the living room on a balance bike?

Anyway, at least they didn't tie her (or me) to a chair.

May Days

Williamsburg, 2015

Life is especially hectic in these next several weeks, but then that seems to be a theme. I keep thinking I'll catch my breath after the next hill of work or interruption in the boy's sleep patterns and then I remember: oh yeah, that that will probably happen in, say, fifteen to twenty years.

There are a lot of opposites that are true right now. We are having a wonderful time; we are totally overwhelmed. We love our life in New York; we are over-caffeinated work zombies! We've totally cracked life in the city; life in the city is ridiculous, and how much are these virgin-picked coffee beans?

One thing that's made everything that much easier is the beautiful weather of late. We've had picnics in the park and the boys come home happily covered in dirt. Axel is scooting everywhere and Oscar loves to roam free at the playground. It's nearly BBQ season and we got some new porch furniture and there are birds chirping and horns honking as I type this. Perfection!

We've also done pancakes at Kasia's, our little trapped-in-time local diner, which I think should be a weekly tradition because pancakes seem to cure all ills. Everything is in bloom, everyone is out on the street, and the place has an amazing energy.

Oh Hello

Brooklyn, 2015

Nope, I haven't abandoned the internet entirely! Just busy with plenty of work and the two tyrannical grape throwers underfoot...I will catch my breath eventually.

Happy Easter

Williamsburg, 2015

We had a good, if blustery (and sugar-addled), Easter weekend. It included dinner at the very excellent Meadowsweet, a catchup with friends at The Heyward, a walk to McGolrick Park, and a good deal of jelly beans. Here's a look back at Axel's first Easter.

Lately

Williamsburg, 2015

A busy week: it's finally (almost, sort of) warm enough to walk out without a coat, but I'll take it. I've seen blocks of the neighborhood I haven't seen in months! So that's something to celebrate.

We've been continuing our weekend tradition of heading to random pizza joints with the kids, this time to Patrizia's, which was very old school. And we checked out a new wine bar, The Camlin, which seems lovely.

Catching up with friends from various eras of my life and feeling grateful for crocuses (croci?) peeking out through the ground here and there, even while there are still the odd snowflakes in the air.

Lately

Williamsburg, 2015

Perusing the Brooklyn wildlife and trying to enjoy the last (I sure hope it's the last) snow of the season...

Lately

Williamsburg, 2014

Oscar is smiling (sort of), Axel is counting and painting (sort of), and I've been tackling some last minute errands before our trip. Baby sandals, check; Bulk diapers, check; Bucket and shovel for the beach; check.

Nature Baby

Axel, 2013

Scenes from our Saturday roof picnic (care of the Bedford Cheese Shop, though Axel mostly ate grass)! And a glimpse of his nicely healing scar.

Happy Spring

via Cass Bird

via Cass Bird

via Cass Bird

via Cass Bird

I love these dreamy images by Brooklyn photographer Cass Bird. If you're in New York, Bird is signing copies of her new book Rewilding at Dashwood on Bond Street this Thursday. I will miss it because we leave early that morning, but hopefully our trip will capture the mood of some of her pictures.

If you can't make it, check out her very cool Tumblr.

In other news: Happy Spring!!!