Dressing Up and Messing Around

Special

Adara and I were unexpectedly solo today (Lens' overnight work call was a lot more then overnight). In order to make myself feel better about the loss of my sunday morning swim, Adara and I went out for brunch at a place where I've wanted to go for a couple of yeara, Relish. I had poached eggs on manchego cheese, drizzled with truffle oil. Adara had "bread and buttah", her request and we had tea and milk. Adara was an angel, very charming and polite. She asked for a cup so that she could share my tea. She often has a tiny amount of my tea with a lot of milk and honey. It makes her feel a part of things when Len or I say "Want a cup of tea?" and she's included in that
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The lovely waitress brought her a tiny espresso cup for her tea and Adara was thrilled. A "vewy special cup, just for Dawa (Adara)" she declared. Sadly after 2 minutes of ecstasy with this cup, while explaining to the older couple at the next table how special it was, she dropped it and broke the handle off. The restaurant was lovely and not annoyed and she didn't cry at all, just moved on. But there was this fleeting look on her face, this frustration and annoyance with loving this thing and then it being over.

How often do we all feel that way? How often do we stay at a party too long trying to hold onto a golden moment only to realize that we're too tired to take part. How often do we hesitate to use a beloved but breakable beautiful thing, because we're afraid that today will be the clutsy day and we'll break it. In the first year that I had Adara she broke four of my necklaces including one that had a lovely story to it that had been bought with Len in the Dominican Republic. I was sad and annoyed at each one, but kept putting on necklaces, even after Len pointed out that it might not be a good idea. Why? Because life should contain inspiring, lovely things every day, not just on "special" days.

Life is lovely. Go out there and break it.

Adara and Her Family

For Gretel, feel better!

Allen Gardens

Allen Gardens is a lovely warm indoor greenhouse with gorgeous flower and tree and water feature exhibits. It has four rooms coming off of a central rotunda area. We take Adara there quite often as it's free, warm and has space to run around and stuff to look at. Plus, it smells good.


As you can see from these pictures it's a bit hard to control her though, she runs pretty wild. Unfortunately, most winter weekends there's also usually several bridal parties taking pictures. Let me tell you, white satin/silk and two year old hands covered in dirt do not mix. We haven't done a bride in yet, but we're waiting for it.

On this particular visit there was two distinct bridal groups. One was huge, the bride had a massive dress and five bridesmaids. She and her party occupied the rotunda for about 45 minutes taking pictures from multiple angles while the bride scowled at everyone. When Adara yelled that she was a "gorgeous princess" she did not smile.
Bride number two, Len, Adara and I found in one of the side areas. With her groom. That's it. No party, no photographer. She was dressed in a simple white slip dress and they were taking pics of each other. Had we not offered to take pictures of the two of them, I'm not sure that they would have had any. We watched while bride two waited for for her turn in the rotunda. And waited, and waited. After 45 minutes she got her turn. The groom took a picture of the bride, and the bride of the groom and they were done. Coats on and back out into the snow, arm in arm.

Christmas

A picture of my whole little family. At Christmas. With everyone fully and nicely dressed (ok so I made Len go and get dressed up and he tried to argue that Greg wasn't wearing socks so he didn't have to wear a nice shirt, but he got dressed). And no one is sick. First time ever.
Next year we work on the lighting.