(Gratuitous dining room table with pie shot). Folks, help me understand why a business that sells books, nice clean ecru pages and shiny dust covers, would not only encourage people to read those books for free while they EAT and DRINK, but would now HAND OUT SAMPLES of greasy panini all through the store????
Fridays I pick the twins up a little later from day care so I do my errands and wander around bookstores for a bit. I was perusing the cookbook section when a woman offered me a sample of a buttery Turkey Chipotle Cheddar Panini. It was delicious by the way and I apologize in advance if you get your new copy of War and Peace home and find a Chipotle fingerprint on page 151... I just don't understand encouraging people to eat around books...I bet Sandy is cringing right now as she imagines people with char-broiled hot dogs, piled high with condiments, touching the new Amy Butler Daisy Chain fabric (which I love by the way) in her store. The sandwich was delicious, by the way.
I'm back to work now and let me say what others are afraid to say...I LOVE IT! I have a hot cup of tea to start my day, spend time doing the job I love, someone makes me a nice hot lunch and, best of all...on my way home I get to pick up the most lovable little humans I've ever seen. These babies sleep through the night (knock on wood), smile happy toothless smiles, laugh and goo.
Now, my situation is admittedly ideal...the DH dresses and feeds the munchkins and takes them to day care every morning...
...so they have great dad-time in the morning...and I pick them up after school. In between, they mostly nap and eat at the nicest day care (with the most affectionate, conscientious people) within easy walking distance. We are very lucky.
I do get a bit weepy when I think about their little faces during the day...and let me just tell you that the months I was home full-time were lovely but they were also HARD WORK! Hug a stay-at-home mom today! This life suits us and after a rocky beginning it now seems as if the little people were always here. They are cuddled constantly and God is thanked daily for their existence in our lives. Cadbury is finally getting some sleep too. He is very protective of the babies so he's always on duty now.
Back to the bookstore...as I was eating my buttery sandwich I flipped through a couple of books and quickly decided to stop looking at Jane's book.
This is not a book to skim. I want to own it. What a cup of tea of a book it is... I also loved Counting Christmas,
A lovely little book whose colors reminded me of the blog Picnic by Ellie and her beautiful pastel photos. Check out her Flickr photos. I bought the new Country Living British Edition and fell asleep reading it ! I think all I have the energy for these days is a pamphlet!
I also want to say that my coworkers have been a huge support system. Men and women. We have lots of new parents in the building so there are tons of people to compare notes with. It's the 2008 version of having the neighbor over for coffee.
So...life is good. The babies , like their "big brother" Cadbury, have added great joy to our lives and we are looking forward to their first Thanksgiving and lots of tears when we say our prayer at dinner. I hope this finds all of you snuggled up in your flannels...
I found these at Joann's. They are selling flannel for $1.49 on Friday morning. At 6AM!!!! I am debating about joining the fray...
Well, thank you for sticking with Hollyhocks as I sorted out my new duties and privileges. Happy Thanksgiving early!
Three and a half months.
