the dolls have been waiting forever it seems for their summer house guest to arrive.

Today she arrived bright and early with her big trunk of belongings...and circusy style:) 

she is taking a summer away from her circus trade to stay in the playroom of my dolls house and lend a hand with the littles of the house.

her name is scarlet pimpernel and she is named for the wildflower of the same name.  both scarlet pimpernels are   orange in bloom:)

 i finally had some time to finish wrapping up these tiny presents from the doll house families for my daughter's 18th.
the dolls gifted them to her this morning, no longer her birthday but her 8th unbirthday:) the gifts were all doll sized versions of books we have read and loved and a couple of records we wish we had.  they all came from this shop on etsy. such a cute realm for tiny imaginings.

i am feeling better, cold be gone.  it was a full weekend with the 50th birthday party, view shown above.  a whiskey tasting and performances and readings.  i sampled the 4 roses only (whiskey is just not me) and enjoyed performances of bassoon, highland dance, story telling, song and appreciations of the birthday boy.   such a beautiful view.        

and then the yearly russian bbq (shashlik)for father's day.  lots of bits and pieces and layers of family needed in there.  i love the revisiting the flavors and smells from childhood in this event.  it is a family event that began before the russian revolution and carries through to our traditions of today.  i wrote something of it for a culinary school presentation and treasure all that i asked my grandfather of it's details before he passed.  buttery rice with raisins, skewers of bbq lamb, watercress, green onions, radishes and tomatoes. 

skirts tomorrow and a day with creative things at home.

the new piano is a beautiful sound and a welcome addition and we are so grateful:) 

visiting with my under the weather self today :(  too many divergent, convergent and tanglevergent sight lines and directions that snared me in this tiny cage of discomfort so i may rest.

i am not good at rest...my mind wanders endlessly to possibility and upcomings.

i did make it to some vintage lacy skirt cutouts this week though. super ready to get back there to sewing folk tale inspired pieces for my etsy shop.

today:

so much cooking today for my daughter's alice themed family celebration. i have been in the kitchen all day.  still have the seven minute icing for the 4 layer, very tall chocolate cake.  it will need some reinforcements for it's height:)

animal crossing for the 3ds finally came out today:)  the kids have been waiting for 3 years for this game.  my daughter bought a 3 ds just for this game a few years back in anticipation.  she is not much a gamer but...as an animal crossing fan she is true blue.  my kids will meet up with an animal crossing buddy/instagram buddy from japan today.  so tricky to make time with someone in different time zones. but they have been on the edge of their seats today for this virtual interaction.  finally today it will be.

tonight:

chicken in a clay pot left overs and a giant salad.  when one cooks all day one finds themselves not hungry.  too much tasting for balance and seasoning.  but salad always feels the right thing.  always my favorite:)

tomorrow:

the 18th birthday that has been weeks in the making. trying to find the perfect croissant in a santa rosa bakery. gifting presents and dress up in alice themed costumes and celebration of my lovely daughter's trip around the sun.  so so good:)  

yesterday: 

our last day of school for the year.  not till october  do we begin again.  we celebrated by making burnt caramel ice cream and a pasta recipe from my daughter's pen pal who lives on the other side of the usa.  both were delicious as planned:)

today:

moving the rubik's cube of too many furnishings so we can fit another piano into the mix.  there will be 2 soon:) why does one need 2 pianos....?  they don't usually but i think we will.

to farmer's market to buy an assortment of edible flowers and curious greens for a curious salad for our curious celebration on monday.

a free succulent cutting from a vendor at farmers market.  when i first moved back to santa rosa from the east bay/san francisco i was surprised at how generous it is here.  a bit of a culture shock.  it is still hard to accept peoples generosity when i truly would be happy to pay.  generosity feels good on both sides though:)

tonight:

chicken in a pot even though it is super warm and we should be having a cook out.  but i needed the bones from the chicken for a stock for the soup for our curious celebration on monday.  everything is always so tangled like that around here.  i don't feel comfy having food from cans or plastic coated boxes so i tangle things even though it is not always convenient to do so:)

today:

i delightedly sent off another etsy order to the uk.  if i can't go then at least my etsy creations can. they love to travel there:) 

this week:

a mountain of laundry, because of my expert procrastination skills. i climbed it though:) 

layerings of costumes and menu planning and presents and all the things that planning for the birthday of a turning 18 year old requires:)

thrift store finds.  i wish it were my job to go thrift store shopping every day.  i find so many important things to savor:)

tonight:

potato cakes, a southern recipe, just mashed potato, eggs and a little white flour.  time to go to market again so i am making due with what is in the cupboards:) 

tomorrow:

to market to market to fill all our menu planning needs.