Hard to think of a better place to relax than the patio of #98, Calle Jordi Sureda, in the late afternoon spring sunshine....
Thursday, September 06, 2007
fiesta a casa Cody
Craig and Janine hosted a wonderful 5th birthday party for Julia this spring. It was wonderful to see Sid, Jenny and Mrs. Fiorina again, and all the kids had a ball making hats, playing on the swings and in the sand, scarfing yummy sanwiches, etc. The ice-cream-and-cake sugar buzz came in handy for Mama and Papa when we had to chase down Clara at the end of the day.
"It's just a box of juuuu-ice / I don't know who put it there...."
"It's just a box of juuuu-ice / I don't know who put it there...."
backyard harvest
Does anyone have a good recipe for dandelion greens? Somewhere I read that the secret is to pick them before they flower: true? And has anyone ever tasted dandelion wine -- or is that just a myth from some old `60s lyric?
Dandelion: weed or flower?
It all depends on your point of view, I guess. Another of those cliches that happens to be true: one of the child's greatest gifts is teaching her parents how to see the world all over again....
Sunday, April 15, 2007
sobre la barriga de Papa
Y'know, that new "pantxa" that Papa carries around these days makes a perfect easy-chair for a little girl...
pensive little girl
We recently watched the old Bogey classic, "The Big Sleep." Papa thinks that Clara looks like Lauren Bacall may have looked at two years old -- only time will tell....
make a wish
One highlight of Xisca's visits to the mall with Clara during bad weather is a stop at the fountain to toss in a few coins and wishes.
Giddyup, horsey!
I think they stopped making these cool spring-loaded rocking horses 20 or 30 years ago, no doubt thanks to a few accidental dismounts and the development of personal injury liability law. But anyone of a certain age will surely remember cranking away many happy hours on one of these things.
Luckily, BC still has his (along with a treasure trove of vintage toys for Chloe and friends), and this shot gives some idea of the fun still to be had on ol' Spring-biscuit....
Luckily, BC still has his (along with a treasure trove of vintage toys for Chloe and friends), and this shot gives some idea of the fun still to be had on ol' Spring-biscuit....
stocking up on anti-freeze
The back of BC's lot is a beautiful wooded valley that runs down to a driving range, way at the bottom of the hill. A bit of scouting in the woods quickly yields a bucketful of range balls, which can then be re-launched back over the trees to the range with a decent fairway shot from the backyard.
Of course, if you want to do this in a snowstorm like we had the Saturday before Easter, proper equipment and preparation are essential. Here we are, demonstrating correct warm-up form....
Of course, if you want to do this in a snowstorm like we had the Saturday before Easter, proper equipment and preparation are essential. Here we are, demonstrating correct warm-up form....
What's this?
Many thanks to Brian and Stacy for hosting an Easter egg hunt at their home, despite below-freezing temperatures. Lots of fun had by all.
green pajamas
Here's a growth-marketing opportunity: how about some adult-sized footy-pajamas for cold weather?
in the studio with Mama & Clara
Xisca is such an amazing Mama: she finds time every day to whip up some creative play activities for Clara. The paint box is especially popular these days....
Friday, April 13, 2007
bicycle kick or can-can?
At two years old, it's anyone's guess -- especially as Clara likes to dance as much as she likes to play with her little soccer ball.
a favorite bedtime book
Day or night, "Goodnight Moon" is always a favorite. If anyone knows of a place to get girls' toddler clothes in any color besides a zillion shades of pink, please let us know.
"Open the pod bay doors, Hal."
Hey! It's a giant version of the old "Lite-Brite" toy! Papa's not afraid to admit that he spent more time playing with this thing than almost any of the kids in the room.
Retailing: it runs in the family
Clara gets some expert training in "Customer Service 101" from a long-time veteran of the retail trenches. The prestige value of this kind of work may be zero, but there's no better way to see an unfiltered, unmediated cross-section of the society we live in....
the Mini Cooper is just a little too big....
Another stop at the Children's Museum: the mechanical room, which includes a door-less car for the kids to play in. She's a little short to reach the clutch pedal, but she loved to work the manual shifter -- a very good sign. If Papa gets to give the driving lessons, she'll be a good parallel-parker, too....
"It's not AGGRESSIVE driving, it's DECISIVE driving...." Another favorite: "The faster we drive, the sooner we'll be off the road...."
"It's not AGGRESSIVE driving, it's DECISIVE driving...." Another favorite: "The faster we drive, the sooner we'll be off the road...."
Saturday, March 24, 2007
nuestra pintorita
If you've visited us at home, you've seen Amy Novelli's painting "The Crow Flies" hanging prominently (at that size, there's no other way). It's an, uh..., unusual painting, not to everyone's taste, but we really like it.
And Clara does, too. Even as a tiny baby, she used to gaze contentedly at that painting while she nursed. So, when she had a chance to make her own work, what colors did she choose? The same ones that Amy did for her vision of a crazy bird/dog twenty years ago. Pretty cool....
And Clara does, too. Even as a tiny baby, she used to gaze contentedly at that painting while she nursed. So, when she had a chance to make her own work, what colors did she choose? The same ones that Amy did for her vision of a crazy bird/dog twenty years ago. Pretty cool....
"That looks like fun!"
We were very happy to meet up with good friends Craig, Julia and Mia on this visit (Janine had prior commitments, unfortunately). This kind of stuff is always way better when you have somebody besides the grown-ups to share it with!
in the water room
The whole top floor of the Children's Museum is called "the Water Room" for its ingenious installation of various interactive ponds, puddles, fountains and various little floaty things. There are even raincoats and boots for the kids to wear while they play.
Raingear notwithstanding, you'll definitely need a set of dry clothes afterward. The boots, for example, do a better job of catching water like little foot-shaped rubber buckets than they do of keeping socks dry....
Raingear notwithstanding, you'll definitely need a set of dry clothes afterward. The boots, for example, do a better job of catching water like little foot-shaped rubber buckets than they do of keeping socks dry....
"Here comes the CatBus!"
Another room at the Children's Museum is currently dedicated to Japanese manga and anime. If you haven't already seen Hayao Miyazaki's classic "My Neighbor Totoro," rent a copy today! Kids or no kids, it's a wonderful movie....
piano practice at the Children's Museum
Clara and a new friend try out the player-piano in the Mister Rogers room of this wonderful northside facility. You've never really heard "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" until you hear it accompanied by mechanical drums, bells and random added notes, as you do here.
"I can help, Mami!"
Well, maybe not quite yet, since the vacuum is still taller and heavier than Clara (but not for much longer). For the moment, we'd be thrilled if Clara would just manage to keep all her cheerios, grapes, pointy little plastic toys (ouch!), etc. off the floor a little more often.
un manto de nieve, blanco y tranquilo
Climate change? What climate change?
We finally got our first snowfall of the season in February....
We finally got our first snowfall of the season in February....
Curious scientist or G. Gordon Liddy?
This near-disastrous practical demonstration of the difference between COLD (popsicle in right hand) and HOT (birthday candles almost in left hand) was narrowly averted by the swift intervention of a parental hand (just out of view at the bottom of the frame).
la Princesa de la casa
When Clara was first born, I asked all my old friends with children if they had any advice for a first-time Dad. My long-time drinking buddy Tom ("Huey") is also the parent of an only daughter, and he said something like, "Don't worry, she'll be telling you and Xisca what to do in no time."
How true. At her second birthday, she's already quite comfortable with the "badges and incidents" of power: in this case, a crown and sceptre....
How true. At her second birthday, she's already quite comfortable with the "badges and incidents" of power: in this case, a crown and sceptre....
at Papa Noel's house
One of the greatest gifts we receive from our children is a rekindled sense of wonder -- about EVERYthing -- that's especially evident around Christmastime. Many thanks to Dad and Debbie for opening their home to the whole extended family for a year-end celebration.
tree and moon at PPG Place
Pittsburgh's version of Rockefeller Center is PPG Place, with a giant Christmas tree and skating rink during the winter holidays.
driving the ice cream truck
I haven't been in the habit of saving quarters since I was a steady laundromat patron back in my bachelor days. But now we all have a new reason to collect two-bit pieces: those little 50-cent rides you see at the grocery store or the mall. Clara's current favorite is this little ice cream truck.
Friday, March 23, 2007
in the hometown Black & Gold
Meanwhile, back in Pittsburgh, autumn means our semi-official civic religion enters its annual high holy season once again: it's Steeler football time. It's almost impossible to raise a child here without a kind donor adding Steelers garb to the family wardrobe, and we're no exception. A disappointing record for the hometown squad this year, unfortunately: judging from the look on Clara's face here, the local boys are losing/have lost again.
with cousin Maria-Antonia
One of the very best things about our visits to Mallorca is the opportunity to spend time with Xisca's many friends and all her family. Here are the two youngest members (at the moment): Clara and her cousin Maria-Antonia, on the patio at Xisca's parents' house on Calle de la Cruz in Manacor.
in the Parque de se Faxina in Palma
Clara looks like she's ready for a speedy getaway here, but she's not likely to get far with a psychedelic day-glo Bugs Bunny stuffed into the back seat.
fountains at al Mudaina
Here's a belated posting from our last trip to visit Xisca's family in Mallorca last summer. The Moors are justly famous for their exquisite fountains, and the grounds around the ancient fortress of al Mudaina in Palma are a good example. This photo was taken by our good friend Gerardo, while Xisca and Toni were shopping along the Passeig de Born.
nuestro anniversario
Here's Ken and Xisca getting ready for a night on the town to celebrate our anniversary, courtesy of Grandma's Babysitting Service. We had a fantastic, romantic dinner at Ma Provence, a new-ish French bistro in Squirrel Hill. But in truth, would have had as much fun with street vendor hotdogs on a park bench -- as long as we had some time to spend alone together.
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