November 6th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Then and now.
viking3

20091101_51viking

They seem so different, and yet, when viewed like this, they could almost be the same person!  In the first picture, BB is 9 months old.  In the second picture, LB is 14 months old.  They both started out at nearly 10-1/2 lbs (10lbs 7oz for BB and 10lbs 6oz for LB), but BB has stayed on the BIG BOY growth curve, whereas LB has shifted to the Little Boy growth curve.  (Actually, he’s still on the tall side, but he’s not ginormous like his big brother.)

Where did my brown haired baby go?  I have two blondies with blue-grey eyes.

Posted in children
November 6th, 2009 | Comments Off on cups and chairs

I like ‘mid-century modern’ things, as far as architecture and some furniture goes.  I found a set of 4 chairs on craigslist for $20 (for the set) and have been meaning to update the color and fabric for some time.  When Gadget left, it was the perfect opportunity to seize the day and consume ourselves in the project.  The boys were very good in the fabric store, and BB and I played I Spy, which was a great way to keep him happy while spending altogether too much time in one shop.  He was busy looking for turtles and frogs and pirates and whatever else I could spy, while I looked for the perfect seat fabric.  When it came time to decide, BB made the final choice.  He did well!

20091027_210fabric20091027_209chairfabric

He even helped sand the chairs.  I wouldn’t let  him use the staple gun, to his chagrin, but he was pleased that he got to have a part in the transformation.

20091027_209chairsI am happy with the way they turned out.  I like the way they wrap around, like captain’s chairs.

In other news, I’ve been on a quest for the perfect cappuccino cup.  I want bone china, but I just can’t find what I’m looking for.  To be fair, there are some that I like, but the price is unacceptable.  Who pays $37 for a cup?  I want a specific half-moon shape, like the classic English teacup, and I want a specific volume, in the range of 5-7oz.  So far, I’ve settled on some 5oz porcelain from Sur la Table, 7oz porcelain from Ikea, and bought a few Bodum-style double walled numbers to try out as well.

20091027_222cups

The Bodum (actually, they are Teavana) cups are very pretty, especially with clear drinks like herbal tea, cranberry juice or ginger ale.  I still want bone china, though.

20091027_223cupThe double wall is a pretty effect.

So the quest continues.  It seems like everyday bone china in a plain, classic look is readily available at very reasonable prices in England, and maybe Australia.  Just not here.  Hrumph.

Posted in indulgences, projects