~A Tree Grows in Brooklyn~

It's been a long time since I've read a book that made me love reading. A book that made me laugh, made me cry, really told a story. A book that I miss when I'm not reading it, with characters that I go to sleep thinking about and wake up wanting to visit again.

It's so easy to feel like you're in the story, in Brooklyn in the early 1900s, feeling the affects of the depression and poverty. To imagine yourself in the Nolan family flat, with two rooms and flowery curtains that Katie sewed herself from the fabric of her old dress. The writing is so all encompassing, you can smell the coffee they brew and reheat and taste the hard sourdough bread they eat with it. And get excited when they have hot chocolate for holidays!

I know I haven't made some discovery here, and I'm merely among the millions or maybe billions who have found a friend within these pages...but A Tree Grows in Brooklyn truly is one of the best books I've ever read. Why wasn't this required reading when I was in junior high? It may have helped a transitional phase of my life!

Twirling!

This is Willow and her new tutu. She is going to take ballet lessons this summer so that's all she talks about! She likes to wear her tutu all the time, and we play ballet class and I teach her nothing, since let's face it I don't know ballet, but she thinks I'm teaching her something when I stand on my tip toes and twirl around!

This is her twirling photo shoot:









Isn't it great to find a skirt that will twirl?
I think it's the agenda of every little girl!

I cannot get enough of this song!!!

The Incredible Edible Avocado

Avocadoes have to be one of my favorite foods in this world. I am discovering more and more things that they taste good on or with....

-On toast or bagel as a spread, alone, like butter!
-On burritos with black beans, rice, lettuce, sour cream, tomato, salsa, cheese, or any combination of these.
-On veggie pizza, add after taken out of oven when ready to eat.
-On top of any salad.
-In tortilla soup.
-On top of a rice dish that my friend Nichole invented. It's brown or white rice topped with a mixture of stewed diced tomatoes with chlis, yellow corn, and peaches ( I know it sounds weird but it's a delish combination!)... On top of all that some sour cream and avocado! It's one of my favorite meals.
-On wheat thins.
-Even by itself, scrumptious and wholesome and filling!

Baby laughs

Louisville Houses

I love driving around or walking around the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville and seeing all the great houses, some majestic mansions full of "old money," some less fancy but not without their own unique richness and charm....

What I did today...

Woke up and had the Aunt Nancy's egg special for breakfast...
Watched the view. Michael J Fox was on talking about his new book and show Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. He is such an amazing person! To be dealing with the illness that he has with such dignity and grace and optimism and happiness, is inspirational.
Did laundry, made the bed, other various house-wifey things...
Went to work.

Today I just had to watch John Henry.... so we played some flying baby games,











































and watched Marley & Me (well I watched while he napped). It was a lot better than I expected it to be. Really cute and relatable... and...I think I want a dog now!





















After the movie we took a walk around the neighborhood and looked at all the gorgeous and unique houses that you just don't notice as much when you're driving in the car. Somedays I can really see us living down here!