a brief return...

Hopefully followed by a more extended return, but for now, an update.

I'm graduating college in two days. It has taken me ten, very difficult and long years. It feels due and impossible at the same time. I hardly know how to react.

I am having a baby. Mr. C and I will be parents to Audrey, Duster, Leila, and a little person, whose name and gender have yet to be revealed, sometime around October 21, 2010.
I won't be working at this miserable job anymore but instead I'll be learning how to be a mom.

I don't know how to be a mom. It really, really scares me. A lot.

I've been thinking some about getting my teaching certificate after the baby is born. Today I decided that I would rather get my MFA from here because it feels right, after all this time, to do something wonderful for myself. I love that place.

I hope it continues to feel right.

Checking in...

I miss you too, I miss you a lot. I promise it won't be too much longer, I'll find some time and when I do, boy, this little blog is going to shine, shine, shine! Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so how 'bout you and I cross our fingers that I'm feeling frisky with the camera when dinner hits the table? Ok great, I think we have a deal. See you soon, my lovelies. Very soon.

Lots of Love,

Lyds.

A break...

Don't worry, I didn't disappear or run away. I've just been busy--really, really busy. I hope to be back soon with something delightful and worthwhile, but for now I'm just popping in to say hi and to reassure you that I'll be back and better than ever once school and life have time to s.l.o.w. down. Until then, mes cheres, adieu.

For Dummies...

I've always wanted to write a cookbook. Last night, H.L.G. suggested I do so and Mr. C agreed. Wow. I can't imagine actually doing it, but you know, maybe I should just DO IT. Can you imagine? I can't. I love cooking, I love writing, I love photography (even though mine is terrible) and I love books. It seems pretty simple and pretty natural that I could whip something up, but I suppose I always thought I'd be published as an art critic (that's what this degree is supposed to make me into, you know...) but a cookbook author? This is not to say that I expect to be published at all, regardless of the topic, but hey, anything's possible. It is one of those things on my list of Things to Accomplish in Life, so presumably I plan on trying it out someday.

I think it might be something that makes me feel less ordinary, which is a feeling I've been struggling with a lot lately. If I can find a little passion outside of my everyday blah-di-blah routine, then maybe the ordinary can be redirected creatively and something delightful can come of it. I think I like that plan. So now I wonder, is there a manual for these things? I don't have the slightest idea of where to begin--for the parts outside of the kitchen...

Le weekend

This weekend was busy and delightful. I discovered a new city that I'm crazy about and re-discovered close friendships that I've been missing while we've all gotten a little older and fallen in (and in some cases out of) love. It's kind of crazy how quickly and simultaneously it's happened for each of us--K, J, and me. It's the season in life for weddings and I really do feel so blessed and happy to be a part of that season with my best girls. So this past Saturday we celebrated J's upcoming nuptuals with a surprise shower just outside of Portsmouth, NH and it really was special. From the early morning drive up with K and our gut busting, laughter-filled poetry session, to J's overwhelmingly emotional surprise, and the out of control, hysterical car rides with her soon to be hubby--it was truely fun.

I also can't believe that I'd never been to Portsmouth before! What an absolutely amazing little city. It's so quaint and pretty, with fun little shops, galleries, and restaurants--it's everything I'd want in a place in which to settle down. AND it's on the water--which is just icing on the cake. I can't say enough about how much we all loved it there and I really can't wait to visit again!

While strolling around on Sunday morning, we stopped by a little boutique called Azure, which is right on Market Street in downtown Portsmouth. It's a nice shop, run by a woman transplanted from Manhattan. She sells designer jeans and quirky, fun fashionable tops, dresses, and sweaters. We made J try on about 30 pairs of ridiculous sunglasses, which of course, were all too big for her itty bitty face. My absolute favorite part of this shop was discovering a new clothing line! I need to do a bit more research on who it is who actually designs the line, but for now, I thought I'd share some of my favs from the current collection from Hazel.

woven top w/ beading

pink belted skirt

ivory cropped coat

These are just a couple pieces that I love and there were a bunch of different styles in the store, but I can honestly say that there's nothing in the line that I don't absolutely adore. The styles are a combination of ultra feminine with touches of military stucture. They're flirty, sexy, and soft, with a modern vintage flare that puts me right over the moon. I want everything!

So yes, it was a wonderful weekend and I'm really glad to have had the time away with a couple of my favorite ladies. There's nothing like a little getaway.

Home warming

Our new house has the same windows over the kitchen sink that my grandparents have in their house. They automatically make me feel at home with their old, dark wood and little shelves on either side. This little nook has quickly become one of my favorite special places. I've decorated it with a bunch of little glass jars, including tiny French and Spanish milk bottles, and my favorite tea cup, which I purchased during our Memorial Day trip to Quebec City. The whole arrangement looked so pretty with this happy vase of snapdragons I picked up at the farmer's market last week.

tea cup, french milk bottle, pharmacist bottle, snapdragons

tea cup close up

glass vessel collection, new aloe sprouting

These are some B.E.A.UTIFUL Rainier cherries that I *attempted* to turn into a plum and cherry clafoutis, which ended up more as delightfully sweet and juicy scrambled eggs than the dessert I'd intended. File under *try again* and *needs more practice*. Sigh.

juicy

Move Update...

We've eaten out every single meal for almost a week. It's not feeling so glamourous anymore, but I cannot find my kitchen under all the boxes so it'll have to do.

Last night we ate at the Front Street Bistro, which has a new dinner menu! We eat brunch there so often (I actually ordered take-out lunch there yesterday, too) that I was excited when I saw the new entree selections. Most of the choices were very Italian inspired, the one exception that comes to mind is the 1/2lb burger. Mr. C had shrimp scampi with pistacio breadcrumbs and fresh tomatos over angel hair (yum!) and I had rigatoni bolognese, made with braised veal, beef, and in-season veggies, finished with a touch of cream and shaved parm. It was TO. DIE. FOR. The leftovers are my lunch today and I'm so excited that I keep popping open the take out container and stealing a cold noodle. Mmmmm... So definitely give them a try sometime if you're wondering where to eat in WH Center. The place is quiet and the service is great--though we've had the same waitress a number of times and she's always fabulous.

I'm not sure what's on tap for tonight, though I think it would be great to take advantage of Hartford Restaurant Week. Great food from great restaurants at a great price. Gotta love it.

In regard to moving: it's still painful and tedious. The weather is horrifying, just as late July/early August should be, so we're always sweaty and grouchy. I'm definitely looking forward to finding my shower curtain hooks so that I don't have to sop up water from the floor after each spin in the new tub, which by the way, has AMAZING water pressure--a wonderful and pleasant surprise. There's still drama with the cats--yes that's plural (refer to this for reference) because the ex-roomie has some serious responsibility issues, and I love that little feline oh so much. I sense a custody battle in the near future.

Other than that, we're slowly plugging away and trying to get the house in order. I hope to have pictures of a decorated house and my first home cooked meal (yay!) just as soon as time permits.