cottage crew

We recently returned from a great, great vacation with friends.  The Cottage Crew consists of our family and two others.  We have been renting a summer cottage in the Harbor Country region of Michigan for 5 years now.  It is beautiful, relaxing, quaint, and convenient to the city---only an hour and a half away.

When you rent a house you never really know exactly what you are going to get.  Last year we had a terrible place.  I mean horrible.  I remember going in the house for the first time, kicking our shoes off, and, in feeling the dampness of the carpets, commenting on how nice it was that the owners had them cleaned before our arrival.
No.  We were so naive.  That wasn't the case at all.  The carpets were damp from mold and mildew and years of water damage.  That was just the beginning of our Tour of Disgustingness.  That place was awful.

This year's cottage was the complete opposite.   A beautiful family home with a gorgeous swimming pool, gardens galore, and a block and a half walk to the beach.  The most difficult decision each day was 'beach or pool?'  And... how early can we put the kids to bed?

We played, cooked, read, drank, swam, ate, danced, and enjoyed each other's company.  I was sad to leave and I can't wait to go back.

our cottage 2011

eloise asked me to stop the car and take

this picture as we were leaving

so she would 'never, ever forget it'

transport to the beach

I believe I'm politely saying, 

"honey, don't take that picture, please"

eloise and harvey and a friendly game

of bowling

croquet on the lawn.

just like the kennedys.

eloise and clara during our nightly, post-dinner

dance party

it wouldn't be a cottage vacation without

a trip to Oink's ice cream

ice cream + summer = happiness

plot of happiness

When you take a vacation (more on that later) in the middle of summer you are undoubtedly going to miss some things that go on in the garden back home.  Luckily, upon our return I was pleasantly surprised to find that I hadn't missed too many red tomatoes and to find that my little "plot of happiness" garden was in full bloom.

This year I decided, with Eloise's help, to plant a big ol' crop of zinnias in front of some of our tomatoes.  Zinnias are super easy to grow from seed and we planted about 4 rows of them way back in April.  They love tons of hot sun and attract much needed pollinators to the veggies.  Also, as much as I love to grow and eat tomatoes, they are not the most attractive plants to look at once August rolls around.  I now have a lovely screen of vibrant flowers shielding the tomatoes outside and vases of vibrant flowers covering most of the tabletops inside.

Viva la summer!

so much beautiful color!

my happy view from the kitchen window.

"cue the butterfly!"

beans, beans the magical fruit

Eloise spent the last two nights at her aunt's house for what she was calling "Camp Vicki".  As she and her aunt were enjoying an endless amount of activity and fun, me and Harriet were home in a suddenly much quieter house.

I was able to spend time with Harriet in a different way.  For instance, I was actually able to look at her and hear her and talk to her.  She's totally cool!  We had no special plans and no where we needed
 to be---a rarity.  We just played.

Filed under "simple activities to entertain your toddler" is the good ol' Bowl of Beans.  I have a very old bag of kidney beans in the cupboard that the kids have played with on occasion.  Reminder***do not ever eat kidney beans served at my house.***   Bowl, beans, cups, scoops, spoons, good times.

Harriet had a ball doing a 'toddler only' activity.  She wasn't just along for the ride on this one, she was driving.   I enjoyed watching her play quietly and seeing her experiment and discover on her own.  I will admit that, about 36 times,  I had to fight the urge to get the broom and tidy up all the beans.  I am who I am.

I think everybody won here.  Eloise was thrilled to stay with her aunt "for two whole nights!!!".  Vicki was thrilled to have her niece all to herself.  I was thrilled to lighten my work load by 50%.  And despite the fact that Harriet walked around the house doing her sign for "where's Eloise?" and went up to knock on her bedroom door over and over again, she was thrilled to have all the attention and the chance to be an only child for a day or two.

just getting started

seeing if I am going to let her eat them.

I did.

she got the idea to stick them in between 

each of her toes.  

isn't that a form of torture in some countries?

"mom, can you sweep these up now please?"

a 4th to remember

Oh man, we had a great 4th of July weekend.  The weather was beautiful, the activities were plentiful, and the fireworks were bangin'.

I am a total nerd for all things patriotic.  I love the 4th and I was excited to be able to share the festivities for the first time with Eloise.  She was incredulous that, at the ripe old age of 5, she had not yet seen fireworks   We promised that this would be the year and we were sure to make it happen.  We decided to go up to Wilmette for the fireworks this year.  They have an amazing daylong event preceding the fireworks that includes all kinds of family fun--pony rides, games, bounce houses, a playground, an orchestra concert, a rock concert and dance show, and all the glow sticks you can imagine.  This was all before the big firework spectacle had even started.

By the time we settled on our blankets in our prime viewing spot Eloise was positively buzzing with excitement.  The show finally started and, I have to say, it was spectacular!  Mike and I were laughing so hard the whole time because between every firework, Eloise would yell something out.  She made a running commentary for the entire 30 minute show.

"**Oh my gosh!  That was beautiful!**That one was my favorite!**Thank you so much for bringing me!**I will call that one 'Drippy'**This show will never end!**Mom, is that your favorite one?**I will call that one 'Popcorn'!**I hope this is not the finale!**I am so excited! **Watch out for that airplane!** This is so awesome!**Dad, did you see that one?**I will never forget this!**

We rounded out the weekend with a bike parade and party that took place in our friend's neighborhood.  I think it was actually the exact point on a map that would be called 'Small Town/Big Heart America'.  It was great fun and the kids loved decorating their bikes and parading through the streets.  We all ended up back at our place for a picnic, running though the sprinkler, and popsicles.

Next year, I won't change a thing.

ready for the festivities

little miss america

waiting for the fireworks 

self portrait on the blanket

eloise brought her face painting booth to

the bike parade

evie and hattie ready to roll

the big kids all decked out

stella, roman, and eloise

usa! usa!

popsicles for the kiddies

post parade rest

bathing suit picnic

more popsicles!  

she had just enough time to slip into a tutu before passing 

out on the couch at 3:30

the eyes have it

 I have worn glasses since the third grade and, thanks to my parents' sympathy, contact lenses since seventh grade.  I used to be pretty blind.

Used to be???  That's right, a couple weeks ago I was able to have the LASIK surgery I had always dreamed of.  It was nothing short of a miracle.

I was 98% excited about the whole procedure but 2% very nervous.  The 2% was due entirely to a woman I was vaguely remembering from an Oprah episode about 12 years ago.  She was on the show, said she had the LASIK and the result was that she felt she had sand in her eyes.  All the time.  For the rest of her life.  Egads.

I was comforted by the fact that the doctor I had chosen was very reputable, successful, and had offered special pricing for the procedure to employees and spouses at Mike's work.  I started to think that if I was a quack doctor, only interested in giving people a life sentence of 'Sand Eye',  I would not go trolling around big law firms for patients.

Turned out any hesitation or fear was for naught.  The procedure went amazingly well.  The whole deal was only about 30 minutes.  It was not painful, just kind of weird feeling... and a little Clockwork Orangey.

They send you home with all kinds of eyedrops and sunglasses and goggles to sleep in and tell you to go home and sleep for 4-6 hours.  I can tell you the truth now.  That mandated, middle of the day, 4-6 hour nap is the main reason why I did the surgery.  I settled into my nap and was in kind of a haze.  Mike came in to check on me and I remember just saying how bright everything was and could he Please! Please! Make it less bright.

When I finally woke up and could open my eyes comfortably I looked around the room, tried to focus and check out my new vision.  I looked toward the window and thought something was terribly wrong with my new eyes because it looked like the drapes had morphed into a blanket with robots on it, Eloise's baby blanket from Dee, that navy blue dress from Target I love so much, and, wait, is that Mike's robe?

This is how Mike had made things less bright.  It was a beautiful sight. 

A few minutes later I was downstairs eating pizza and then sitting on the couch watching Bravo.  No glasses, no contacts, and the Real Housewives of NYC-- it was a miracle.  The next morning I went in for a follow up to have my eyes tested.  Less than 24 hours after the procedure I had 20/20 vision.  I am still in awe of my new eyes and so thankful for my vision.  

The only down side to this whole procedure?  Mike has appropriated the free, temporary, disposable, hideous, sunglasses they provided at the eye doctor post surgery and is wearing them as real sunglasses. Everyday.  To work.  In public.  With me.  Anyone who knows Mike will not be surprised by this at all.  So even though I have perfect vision now, I am apparently married to the world's biggest NASCAR fan or perhaps even Richard Petty himself.

sigh.

peek-a-boo

Harriet, my 17 month old that never seems to stop moving, has the unbelievable ability to not move at all when she wants to.

When she gets shy or nervous, or more recently I discovered, embarrassed, she will go into what we have deemed 'statue mode'.  She will just completely freeze with her eyes towards the ground until the feeling, or the culprit, passes.  It could be a few seconds or a couple minutes.

Please do not challenge Harriet to a staring contest.  If you do, for god's sakes, don't put money on it.  She will win.

On a recent 4hour car trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house Harriet displayed another of her skills.  The Peek-a-Boo Master.  Every hour or so she would call out "Dada, Dada!"  Mike would look at her in the rear view mirror, she would giggle and then hide behind something.  Mike would call out, "Harriet, Harriet, where are you?" or variations of that a dozen or so times.  She never moved a muscle.  I am telling you she remained perfectly still for 11 minutes.  She didn't peek, didn't lower her arms, didn't budge!

Would you watch a game show called 'Baby Peek-a-Boo Ninjas' ?  I think I might have the first contestant.

behind a crest white strips wrapper--11 minutes

behind her sister's beverly cleary book--7 minutes

behind a toy cell phone--9 minutes

behind some book about a frog--6 minutes

boots! there it is

I was recently reading that Bethenny Frankel, a normal gal just like me (??)  sold her Skinnygirl Margarita company for 120 million dollars.  It was just a simple idea that took off like crazy and has made her a very rich woman.

I started thinking "Where's my 120 million dollar idea?".  I have spent my life inventing stupid things and coming up with ideas all the time but never actually following through.  Well folks, that wait is over.  I think my time has finally come.

Introducing...The Boot Shack!!  

How many times a day do you think, "Gosh, I wish I didn't have to have those filthy, dirty, rainboots that are muddy from the yard and the garden in my back hallway.  There's got to be a better way!"

I figured the best solution would be to be able to leave the boots outside.  I needed a way to turn them, and keep them, upside down so they could just get rinsed off in the rain instead of filled up by it.  I drew a little sketch, sent Mike to the hardware store, and voila!  It works!

Mike used some dowels, a drill press (borrowed from a neighbor), and a 1x4 piece of wood.  I assembled it with Gorilla Glue and it was as easy as that.  I am still working on my marketing plan but I am prepared to sell fives of these so just let me know if you are interested.  I have also been working on some alternate names.  So far I have das Boot, Boot Shack, Rainboot Roundup, and Booty Wall.  Suggestions welcome--but don't think you are going to get a cut of my 120 mill.

before assembling

side view.  ours sits right outside our back door.

one pair for each person in our family.  can be customized

for yours, unless you are the Duggars.

my spokesmodel working in her boots in the garden

and possibly sketching out the next big idea