Snapshots from MDW 2016

At work, we opened a hidden tiki bar. There's a rum drink under all those plants.

Kept my pie commitment and brought two plum pies to Lobsterfest.

The prettiest little irises in the garden at Lobsterfest.

We finally got some warm weather! The sprinkler came out.

Mr. SevPrez redid both the foundation beds in front of the house... A lot of hard work.

The girls and I laid on a blanket in the lawn and stared up at the sky while he worked.

Aside from our showstopping lupines, these humble mountain laurels are keeping it real.

Ikebananas

Last week I took an Ikebana workshop with my husband and mother-in-law through our county park system. Ikebana is a Japanese art of flower arrangement. I still couldn't tell you much about it, but Wikipedia does a great job. 

It was held at our favorite park, Deep Cut Gardens, and I think I signed up for it because I was hoping it would take place in their magical greenhouse (it wasn't). But I find floral arrangements to be one of the great pleasures of life, along with watching a baby nap, sheet cake that's better than it needs to be, falling asleep on the couch, and The Met. Plus, I'm always looking to add to my bag o' tricks.

Once we arrived, I was excited to learn a different approach to flower arrangement that uses materials, shapes, and proportions uncommon to the Western style. All my arrangements tend to look the same. I do a lot of round stuff with one kind of flower. Any time I diverge from that, it gets awkward. 

We each made an arrangement, and mine was OK. To be honest, I'm not sure I know good or bad yet, it's so foreign to my eye. I'm not a natural minimalist, and I didn't think my materials vibed together all that well. I wasn't sure if I'd do it again by the book, but I was inspired to try again with plant materials from our yard.

So today, after Mother's Day brunch, the babe was napping, the mister was mowing the lawn, and Pip and were looking for something to do to pass the time until our next meal. (Why not put it bluntly.) She came with us to the Ikebana workshop and was eager to try her hand at making her own arrangement. We took clippers outside and found a ton of good stuff to use. 

I gave her a traditional vase and I used a wide, shallow bowl more typical of Moribana (the style of Ikebana we "learned" -- that's a stretch). We had two colors of Japanese maples, azaleas, lilacs, and Japonica. There are a lot of specifics to the proper placement and geometry of the branches in Ikebana (refer to our handout up top), but I despise following instructions in all circumstances except when giving my children medicine, so we wung it. Basically: tall thing, slightly less tall thing, wide thing out to side, something protruding toward you, something heavy down low to anchor it. This is probably blasphemy but I find it works.

Mama Ikebana

Pip took a more maximalist approach and made the most beautiful arrangement I've ever seen (I'm not exaggerating because I'm her mom). I'm telling you, you'd have to pay $130 in Brooklyn for this thing. It is hauntingly beautiful, and all from found clippings in our yard. I would have been hard-pressed to summon the freedom to make something so luscious and exuberant and great.

Pippa Ikebana

It's something I've noticed whenever she paints too -- she has an innate understanding of beauty. It's direct, it's colorful, it's free, and she knows exactly when to stop. Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up." Kids. You learn something from them every day, if you pay attention.

...

On a side note, the babe is ten months today! She has her bottom right front tooth, and all the others seem to be just below the surface. She loves to eat real food (clementines! ricotta! meatballs! banana!). She isn't quite crawling forward yet, though she just figured out how to get over her other leg, and she loves to do "So big!" and clap for herself. She says "da da" all the time, and yesterday she said "Pippa" (we both heard it). So far she has no interest in saying "Mama" -- not even for Mother's day.

Deep Thoughts From The Porch

We have a book called "What A Seed Needs" about a pig who is also a farmer. He plants a few different kinds of seeds and the book walks you through all the things that are required for a seed to grow into a flower, vegetable, what have you. Sun, a place in the dirt, water, time, and a little love and care. 

But did you ever really think about it? How amazing it is to plant a little tiny spec of something in the dirt and then get bushels of tomatoes, or hundreds and hundreds of flowers? I have been sitting out on our porch overlooking our gardens and find myself awestruck this summer. Almost every day for the last two weeks I have been harvesting a pint of sweet orange cherry tomatoes and picking a bouquet of zinnias. Sometimes for us, sometimes for neighbors and friends.

 As I nurse our little baby, who similarly came from two specs and grew into the most lovable and spectacular little person, I can't quite believe how long I've been taking the miracle of life for granted. I mean seriously, have you ever really stopped to contemplate how things grow?! Is this why people love science?! Amazing. 

Smellivision

Lilies of the Valley just overtook lilac as the most intense, best smelling, sense memory I have of my childhood. We went to my in-laws for dinner and the perfumed the expanse of their entire front lawn. My mother-in-law was sweet enough to pick me a bunch and they filled up our entire downstairs with the smell of spring. 

And we got one if our orchids to bloom! This has never happened before. Usually they flower when you get them and then... Crickets. But the mister has been studying up. 

Welcome Spring!

We missed you so! I really try hard not to complain about the seasons (they are all awesome -- just imagine life without seasons!) but we definitely hermitted ourselves for a good 6-8 weeks this winter. It's so reassuring when the clocks spring ahead, the sun gets a little stronger, and the grass is once again visible. 

We've been embracing springtime by getting ready for Easter. We got out the decorations, bought some fresh cut spring flowers, and dyed eggs. Pip was so excited, she was literally jumping up and down while moving the egg from color to color. I think it helped that there's a Curious George episode about egg-dying. 

My husband planted tomatoes from seed and they are coming up gangbusters. We have an orchid that looks like it's going to bloom in very near future. Life persists!!!

Flowers From Matawan

The hubs's brought back this bouquet on his last visit.

We are so stoked on our new digs, but we really, really miss our flowers from the old house. It's kind of heartbreaking that we have to leave everything there. The hydrangeas and zinnias are in bloom! Ach!

We might have taken a lot of our favorite stuff if it wasn't the height of summer, but Mr. SevPrez is really proud of his work and in a way, it's a gift we are giving to the house. It was good to us. 

Valentina

I really love Valentine's Day and it's looking like little one does too. She is pretty obsessed with hearts, spotting them and counting them out loud. It promises to be a fun few weeks for her.

The Mister got me some carnations, the most underrated flower, and I picked up festive sprinkles today at the grocery store. They never have such awesome color combos! I'll be enjoying them all year round!

I ❤ SPIREA

Greenwich Village Snapshot

Still beautiful.

Thanks to @lsdop for thinking of me (and you) as she walked by the tulips and cherry blossoms.

Obligatory Spring Flowers Photos

Breaking News: The grape hyacinths are really called muscari!?

Looks Good, Smells Great



In our gigantic landscaping project this summer we planted a lot of hydrangeas. Some were cast offs from the gardens of friends, some were gifts, and some were bought from our local nursery. Our gifted plants are so happy to have a loving home that they won't stop blooming. A plant that my brother gave me for Mother's Day is still producing new flowers. This abundance has allowed me to cut a stem here and there to bring the flowers inside. (One of my dreams in life is having a cutting garden so I don't have to have a guilty conscience.) To round out the arrangement I've been cutting basil flowers, which actually helps the plant grow. Can we all agree that fresh basil is The Best Smell In The World? Are there any perfumes with basil notes? Because I would wear them. And if not, why not? It's an outrage.

Also: somebody got her bangs trimmed. I did a sneak attack while she was playing (risky, I know) and then lured her to stay still in her chair with blueberries. I've cut my own bangs enough to be pretty confident in this area, even with an almost 14 month old squirmer. You can call me SuperMom. I'll turn my head.

Oh, and I have only been able to get her lace up Chuck Taylors on while she is sitting in her high chair. Toddlers really force you to think strategically.

May Flowers at Lobsterfest

This afternoon we attended our 3rd annual Lobsterfest at my parents' best friends' house. I've chronicled this amazing shindig in the secret garden before, and this year didn't disappoint. I made two peach pies to ensure that we'll be invited back next year. Though next year it'll be harder to crack lobster claws with a baby on my lap. Imagine that!

I couldn't help snap this lovely clematis on my way out.

And what about this pink peony? There were white ones and pale pink ones too, but these guys just begged for attention.

A Little Pick Me Up

Monday Bouquet

I'm back on flower duty for the office, and there are always little short guys leftover that don't fit in my arrangements. Today I felt like they deserved to live on as a bouquet. Forgive the photo quality, Blackberrys really take the worst photos.


I really need a bud vase for my desk.

Lazy Summer Weekend

Saturday I made a plum pie to bring to my friend's barbeque, but the dough was a little dry (started with too much flour) so instead of rolling out a second pie shell I made plum pielets. The crust to fill ratio was killer.

Sunday, after going to the private opening of my mom's new museum exhibit, I stopped at Delicious Orchards on the way home for some tomatoes and good bread for our gourmet BLT dinner. It was relatively empty for Delicious Orchards standards, so I had time to stop, smell, and buy some flowers. I love these guys, they are so gorgeously wild and even dry well. Anyone know what they're called?

Sonny likes them too.

Lawn Flowers

Is there anything better than picking violets from your back yard? I doubt it. 

Anyone know what these guys are called? They're so cute!

Cherry Blossom Memories

We used to have a gigantic cherry tree in our back yard. My safety hazard of an 80s metal swing set rested beneath its great canopy. I spent many a summer afternoon sitting on my swing, kicking around cherry pits in the dirt. (This sounds awful, but I assure you it's a pleasant memory — I'm a thinker.) The cherry pits and the expansive shade were not good for the rest of our yard's ecosystem, and the tree eventually came down. Today I asked my dad if the petals on those cherry blossoms were pink or white. He thinks maybe white, while I think they were pink. How can it be that neither of us remember? 


The more I think about it, the more I think they must have been pink, because I have such an affinity for pink fallen petals on grass. They're so beautiful, unlike the mess magnolia petals make. Seriously if you have to rake up your tree blossom petals, it's not worth it. 


I am considering planting a pink-blossomed cherry tree in our yard if the opportunity ever presents itself. For the time being, though, I can enjoy my neighbors small ones that were planted way too close to our fence. If I'm patient, one day my kids will be able to swing underneath their canopies.


Every morning I see a a sign advertising a cherry blossom festival in Branch Brook Park. I figured it was out in Western NJ but apparently it's in Newark! More conveniently located, but less idyllic... It's happening from April 10th to the 18th so get it while it's hot if you're interested. Maybe I'll see you there.

This is the best thing...

That NYU ever offered NYC in return for taking over the Village.

And they even took the fences down this year!

Sharing A Poem: Rejoice!

The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog
by Alicia Suskin Ostriker


To be blessed
said the old woman
is to live and work
so hard
God's love
washes right through you
like milk through a cow

To be blessed
said the dark red tulip
is to knock their eyes out
with the slug of lust
implied by
your up-ended
skirt

To be blessed
said the dog
is to have a pinch
of God
inside you
and all the other dogs
can smell it 


from The Book of Seventy. © University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009

Purple For Fall

Slightly ghoulish, also goes harvest.