Saturday, April 28, 2012

MISS MALAPROP

JOINING BEVERLY'S PINK SATURDAY TODAY, EVEN IF PERIPHERALLY   

Sweetpea and I have long, convoluted talks about everything from manners, soccer, church, stories we've read (and those one or the other of us made up) and things we've done or would like to, or just imagined in our dreams. We sit over tea, ladylike and sedate, sipping and chatting to befit the setting and the occasion. Or we devolve at times to giggles and obscure questions---would you like a BUGGGGG
in your tea? Would you like DIRRRRRT in your tea? What if you had SOCCCCKKKS in your tea? (none of those questions MINE, of course, but cause of great levity and occasional spillage.

And we've just been reading a charming little book, TEA WITH VICTORIA ROSE, in which a small bunny and her Mama have lovely visits to teashops and quite a few nice quiet cups at home.

Yesterday, when Victoria and Mama entered Mr. Burrows' shop and sat down, he greeted the pair and handed round menus.



internet photo

"Do you know what a menu is?" I asked Sweetpea.



"Yes, it's in a restaurant and you read it and order your food."



"What do you say after you get the menu?"



(Little sweep of hand in the air, then finger point to her chest) "She'll have milk, and Diet Coke for me," in a precise imitation of her Mommy's voice.


Though she's quite literate and verbose for four, there are still a few little lingerings from her toddler days which sprinkle her conversation with words all her own, mostly little malaprops which make me smile every time. Soon I'll have to correct her before someone at school laughs at her usage, but just for today, I'm gonna leave them as is: 



Just a few months ago, she finally said "scrambled" at breakfast, instead of her usual request for "Spranneled eggs." I think those sound charming and delicious, don't you?   Wonder if that new cookwares store has a Sprannel Pan.


She has a glass of NILK with her lunch.



When you get a manicure, you get Pail Nolish on your Thingers.



And did you know that pirates walk the clank?




internet photo
I think Dear, Dramatic Cyril would have been delighted with that.


Friday, April 20, 2012

SOME DAYS

Some days are a toss-up amongst EEEEEEEK!!   EEEEEEW!!!  and YUMMMMM!!




I guess how we handle them pretty much says WHO WE ARE.

Happy Weekend, Y'all!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

PINK SNOW

On a morning walk last week, we took the long way round, through neighborhoods seldom traveled save for this time of year.    We make special trips for the splendor of the neighbors’ wonderful redbuds, spreading their rosy glory in the morning light.


Another, more modestly pale cousin down the block:



The Slezaks’ forsythia (forever Yellow-Bell to me, for that’s all I knew as a child) was in splendid array---golden and gleaming like fresh-polished armor:



And ahead lay the prize:  What is called a Tulip Tree in the South, despite our great pride in our own Magnolias.    Ours were always a deeper rose, bordering on mauvish shades, and indeed did look like a great flock of tulips had settled onto the limbs like vibrant tropical birds.   



We looked way down the block, looked again, and saw what appeared to be a great blanket of snowfall, carpeting the lawn and walk and verge for quite some space.   As we approached, we realized that the entire area was covered in a drift of the pale-throated petals, with more swirling down as we watched.





We hesitated, stepped out into the street so as not to tread on such a lavish cover---we half-expected some Fairy Bride to appear with her cortege and walk this momentary, magnificent aisle to her Prince.    


I tried to capture some of the petals as they fell, but neither my skills nor my camera can make me the F-Stop Fitzgerald that Chris is, so my own pictures do not do any image justice.  As we rounded the blocks and turned for home, we DID spy a small Fairy Portal, still sealed and concealed, for the day was young---even the firefly and bumbletaxi hitching post out front is deserted and forlorn.


And another tree farther on revealed the entrance to a Hoblet’s Nest.   They’re not quite so particular about their accommodations as fairies, have no occupations to speak of, and sleep in very late.  

We did not see one today, so we came home and made our own.   He bears a striking resemblance to Fifi the Flower-Tot's friend Sluggsy, only way more flashy---maybe he's ready for Mardi Gras.



Sweetpea kept calling the petals feathers as they fell, and we brought home a few for souvenirs.   We pressed them between paper towels in a heavy book, and today when I looked, they've taken on the tone and the shine of burnished leather.
We dyed eggs, made strawberry cupcakes (decorated by Sweetpea herself, and featuring an entire jar of sprinkles, mostly lavished upon her own), arranged a new bunny on the table, and awaited our Family, for we had stories to tell.    Bunny seems to be inclined to recline, no matter what I do---I guess she's not rested yet from the all the to-do and flurry of late.   I know just how she feels.



I'm linking today to Beverly's Pink Saturday.



Saturday, April 7, 2012

TO YOU


On this hopeful, new-beginnings weekend, I wish you all the brightest and best.   Whatever holiday you're celebrating, whatever gatherings or activities or small moments of tranquil silence, I wish you sunshine and joy and peace and love.



Sunday, April 1, 2012

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

We're still making our way back from a very HARD week, and hope all is well with all of you.

And so,  Something Beautiful for you, until . . .