Lately

Outside my windows: construction. Still, but different. No longer in the initial stages of development, the majority of homes are up and what's happening now is finish work. Also, green leaves on the pear trees.

I am thankful: Mr. Hands is awesome. 

I am wearing: recently torn jeans, grey flats, brown MV t-shirt

I am reading: except Facebook posts and blogs, nothing. I have stopped reading books altogether. What's wrong with me?

I am looking forward to: hair cuts: Little Hands gets her first with us next week and I have one scheduled (with color!) for sometime soon. Also, vacations: a trip to Sac to visit with the James' and for a wedding, and a trip to South Carolina for some beach, pool, and extended family time. 

I am working on:  Mr. Hands' t-shirt quilt, Little Hands' jelly roll pillow, and favors for Little Hands' party

I need: to learn how to control my temper & lay off my tendency to be judgmental; to be a more enthusiastic, obviously content person; to not carry around grudges like it somehow diminishes me to let them go; to be the kind of person I would want to mother my child.

I want: a new sewing machine. 

I am listening to: 

Around the house: the birch tree has been cut down, and a new chitalpa tree courtesey of the city of MV has replaced it. The vegetable garden is as planted as it's going to be: a sungold, a pink ping pong tomato, a yellow summer squash, a green zucchini, and 6 sugar snap peas.

Something new: jeans, purchased this evening at Old Navy to replace the recently torn ones.

A favorite: Little Hands is working on mastering "yes" and "no." She often says "no" but then takes or does what she said "no" to. The meanings of these words seem so binary and obvious, but it really is something to learn. She says "yeah" or something approximate, but will try to say "yes" when prompted. She's really good at the "sss" at the end. 

Lately

Outside my windows: construction. the land across the street is now completely divorced from its former orchard-existence. lots are marked out. framing is going up. a sales office complete with parking lot, landscaping, and flags has been plopped down. the lane has been widened (mostly) and is adorned with speed bumps. a sidewalk is being prepped. a driveway that wasn't supposed to be there is most certainly there. traffic cones cause cars to weave down my street. sandwich boards announce parking restrictions. trucks of all shapes and sizes move stuff around. people in orange vests (mostly men) do stuff. Little Hands is fascinated. Truthfully, I am a little bit, too. 

I am thankful: Katie-dog's re-entry to our home and family has been smooth. She's a marvel. 

I am wearing: uncharacteristically for me these days: jeans, a camisole, and a short-sleeved kimono-sleeved black cardigan characteristically for me these days: a blue, quilted, zippered pouch that holds my iPhone.  

I am reading: Tell the Wolves I am Home, by Carol Rifka Brunt. I chose it because of the title and because of the blurb on the back and because the author's middle name is Rifka. 

I am looking forward to: 

I am working on:  a set of ragged letters for a friend. And in the planning (and supply-purchasing) stage for Little Hands' Halloween costume. 

I need:

I want: to do more with the free time I have. I'd like to finish the napkin quilt. I'd like to start the half-square triangle quilt. I'd like to make the jelly-roll pillows. I'd like to convert the bustle skirts into A-line skirts. I'd like to deal with the giant pile of teaching supplies I stashed and ignored in the garage (no, I don't want to do this--what I want is to reclaim that space and have a tidy garage without a lot of skeletons and bitter memories, and without having to confront any demons to get it.) 

I am listening to: lots and lots of music on Comcast cable: Toddler Tunes, top 40 (thank you, Mr. Hands), classic rock, stage and screen, 80s, golden oldies. Little Hands loves music--she nods her head, waves her arms, steps her feet, claps, wiggles her body--it's clear music moves her. 

Around the house: a new frame for our mattress.

Something new: we've been using Gobble, a dinner delivery service, for a week. It's definitely been very relaxing to not have to figure out dinner on Gobble nights. But it's an indulgence, for sure.

A favorite: all the babble coming from Little Hands these days. She's picking up words: ma & mama. da. ca or teh (cat). duh (dog?). The signs she uses: eat, more, and all done. She's not acquiring any more signs. We probably need to be more intensive and intentional about it. 

Lately

Outside my windows: The pear trees still wear their crowns of green leaves, crows descend on the freshly moved dirt in the construction area across the street, a giant plane made lots of touch and gos from Moffett Field today, on a really quiet night I can hear crickets but I'm baffled by where they could be located, I have gotten to know so many more of my neighbors since Little Hands came to live with us--every time we go out it's fun to greet so many friendly and welcoming people.

I am thankful: Today's well baby visit went reasonably well. Mr. Hands and I like Little Hands' doctor. The blood draw sucked. There was a lot of screaming and snot. But she bounced reasonably quickly. 

I am wearing: plaid flannel pj bottoms, tank top, really dingy white terry cloth robe, bare feet

I am reading: Sleepless in America, The Connected Child

I am looking forward to: the stroller I ordered arriving and getting Little Hands used to it so we can go on some longer walks. Also, my parents returning with KT dog from their trip. 

{I am not looking forward to: Mr. Hands returning to work on Tuesday. I am certain I will spend the entire day in tears.}

I am working on:  applying the 80/20 rule to most everything in my life. It helps me. 

I need: to get our meals under control, both for Little Hands and for Mr Hands and me. Feeding us, getting food into the house, preparing said food, feels overwhelming right now.

I want: to start pulling the photos and anecdotes of our trip to China and our daily life right now together, before it all slips away.

I am listening to: the lullaby CD we play every night for Little Hands coming through on the baby monitor

Around the house: the cats are starved for attention and both are laying on my desk, barely giving my keyboard and hands any room; toys are everywhere; a new king sized bed in the master bedroom; the crib became a toddler bed today.

Something new: it seems like absolutely everything is new, and it's terrifying

A favorite: Little Hands and her dad; also, our evening/dusk walks leading into our bedtime routine.

Summer so far

The list so far. It may have been a bit ridiculous.

1. sit by a pool with my feet dangling in
2. have a facial
3. eat dinner outside on our patio
4. nap on a blanket in a park under a tree
5. sit around our fire pit with friends
6. go on a road trip with Mr. Hands and KT dog
7. trim the lemon tree
8. spruce up the garden with some new plants
9. power wash the patio on a super hot day
10. enjoy Thursday Night Live in downtown
11. continue our tradition of seeing free Shakespeare in the Park--this year the play is Macbeth
12. make ice cream
13. grill as often as possible
14. enjoy the weekly food trucks coming to the apartment complex down the street
15. work on some quilts
16. sew stuff with my mom
17. see lots of friends at our anniversary barbecue
18. make jam
19. can tomatoes
20. spend a day playing on the beach and relaxing at the Half Moon Bay Brewery
21. meet Joshua, my cousin's baby, which makes him my first cousin once removed. I've got 6 of those!
22. go to the craft fairs held down town (one already, one more in September!)
23. ride bikes to downtown in the evenings
24. get the tiling in the kitchen and landings all done
25. get the ball rolling on the window replacement (I feel that this item is going to be one of those that rolls over from list to list)
26. camp with Brigetta--this experience must include pie!
27. hike in an open space--Sanborn? Pulgas Ridge? Arastadero? 
28. see Monsters University
29. read: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman; Singing School, by Robert Pinsky; Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell; And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
30. go to China
31. meet the person who will join our family, whom I will cherish, and who is already so celebrated by our families and friends
32. return from China a family of three

Twenty Pies to Make this Summer

I think this is 2 or 3 pies a week until Labor Day.

Raspberry Hazelnut Tart »

Easy Summer Fruit Tart »

Twice-Baked Sour Cherry Pie »

Plum Chutney Crumb Pie »

Jumbleberry Grunt »

Rose-Scented Berry Tart With an Almond Shortbread Crust »

Rhubarb Crisp  »

Apricot and Almond Tart »

Butter Pie »

Brown Butter Nectarine Cobbler »

Lemon Confit Shortbread Tart »

Rhubarb Raspberry Cobbler With Cornmeal Biscuits »

Rustic Plum Crostata »

Fried Peach Pies With Bourbon and Cinnamon »

Rye Pecan Pie »

Pear Pomegranate Pie »

Lazy Sonker »

Pear Ginger Crumble »

Mixed Berry Almond Crunch Crumble »

Cherry Cobbler With Almond-Buttermilk Topping »

Produced by DES SHOE, EMILY WEINSTEIN and JACKY MYINT; Photographs by ANDREW SCRIVANI for THE NEW YORK TIMES, ANDREW TESTA for THE NEW YORK TIMES, EVAN SUNG for THE NEW YORK TIMES and FRANCESCO TONELLI for THE NEW YORK TIMES

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/01/dining/pie-recipes-2013.html?src=me&ref=general

10 things right now

1. The water hose to the fridge burst and soaked the kitchen, hallway, and downstairs bathroom. I discovered this and hollered, "Brian! The refrigerator is flooding the house!" We worked on mopping it up & I used the dry vac, which was an annoying thing to use. I was pretty grouchy. Mr. Hands said "This is a first world problem" which snapped the situation into perspective. Later he told me, "Thanks for being on my team." I love love love him.
2. I picked up my parents from the airport last night and spent the night at their house. Mr. Hands said Katie-dog missed me and ran all through the house looking for me this morning.
3. Over breakfast at Starbucks this morning, my parents and I chatted for hours. That was fun.
4. One of the topics of our conversation came around to their boat in Guatemala and whether they would have to return there. Mom said yes, there are things on the boat she wants to retrieve. Dad said, "Like what?" Mom listed a few things. Dad replied, "What is that? Maybe $1000? I'm not sure I would go back for a thousand dollars." 
5. It's been hot. In the 100s for the past few days. This is pretty unusually hot.
6. I had a 14.5 inch square piece of plastic cut for me at Tap Plastics to use as a template when trimming the barbecue napkins down to quilt squares. The square is not true, so the blocks are wonky. I'm calling this "character" for now, but when I start sewing things together, I may have uglier words.
7. I am starting to panic about all the sewing and quilting projects I want to do before we go to China.
8. We go to China in roughly 6 weeks. 
9. The Sungold tomato has been producing deliciousness for a couple of weeks now. The Principe Borghese variety had two tomatoes which I smooshed into our pasta sauce on Saturday.
10. It has been at least a week since the cats have peed on anything except their litter. Hooray!

Hello Summer

This summer I would absolutely love to :

1. sit by a pool with my feet dangling in
2. have a facial
3. eat dinner outside on our patio
4. nap on a blanket in a park under a tree
5. sit around our fire pit with friends
6. go on a road trip with Mr. Hands and KT dog
7. trim the lemon tree
8. spruce up the garden with some new plants
9. power wash the patio on a super hot day
10. enjoy Thursday Night Live in downtown
11. continue our tradition of seeing free Shakespeare in the Park--this year the play is Macbeth
12. make ice cream
13. grill as often as possible
14. enjoy the weekly food trucks coming to the apartment complex down the street
15. work on some quilts
16. sew stuff with my mom
17. see lots of friends at our anniversary barbecue
18. make jam
19. can tomatoes
20. spend a day playing on the beach and relaxing at the Half Moon Bay Brewery
21. meet Joshua, my cousin's baby, which makes him my first cousin once removed. I've got 6 of those!
22. go to the craft fairs held down town (one already, one more in September!)
23. ride bikes to downtown in the evenings
24. get the tiling in the kitchen and landings all done
25. get the ball rolling on the window replacement (I feel that this item is going to be one of those that rolls over from list to list)
26. camp with Brigetta--this experience must include pie!
27. hike in an open space--Sanborn? Pulgas Ridge? Arastadero? 
28. see Monsters University
29. read: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman; Singing School, by Robert Pinsky; Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell; And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
30. go to China
31. meet the person who will join our family, whom I will cherish, and who is already so celebrated by our families and friends
32. return from China a family of three