So Wa(it) until next Sunday

Blue sky, eclectic and affordable art, famous hot dogs AND good friends?! A summer Sunday does not get much better than that. I highly recommend a visit to SoWa Sundays, every Sunday from 10-4 at 460 Harrison Ave. (in Boston) through Halloween.

My first go at a haiku, on buying art:

The sun warms the air

Sounds ride on the humid breeze

Colors strike...you know

Curls

I remember a friend of mine writing a short story in college about being sheared. She was studying in New Zealand, constantly surrounded by sheep, and wrote about the feeling of freedom and release that came with cutting her long blond hair up to her chin. If you have had long hair, you might know this feeling. As you grow your hair it becomes a part of you: lightening up as your body darkens with the sun, trapping the smells that you smell, taking your abuse as you put it up and pull it out of its "do". I remember making the decision to cut off my long hair, wanting a drastic change, but feeling anxious about how much of a change that would be. But I went through with it...and, well, that was fourth grade and I have yet to do it again! Sooo maybe being sheared is not my stitch, but an impromptu haircut on a warm summer day that brings back life to my curls...that I can do!

Might as well join them

It's good to have silly boys in my life to keep me smiling

Can you see the family resemblance?!

Tactile Senses (edited recipe)

Remember the first time you stuck a finger in neon colored play-dough and felt the cool, smooth but cakey texture squish through your fingers?...ok, well, maybe not the first time. But I do remember the last time I played with it...helping a little-one make multicolored hot dogs, that is, before today! I had the opportunity to mold, roll, shape and squish homemade play-dough with a room full of many playful people. I hope you had the chance to play today.

Here is a recipe to make your own (edible!) play-dough:

Materials:

3 cups flour

3 cups water

1 ½ cup salt

2 TBS veg oil

1 TBS cream of tartar

food coloring

Mix everything together.

Using a non-stick pan, pour the mixture in and stir over medium heat on stovetop. Make sure you are constantly watching it or it will burn. It takes about 10 minutes, or until it looks like play dough! You will see, it starts to harden.

Make sure you let it cool before playing with it.

Each batch makes 8 handfuls.

Enjoy your play!

Back from the Mountains

No picture today. I just got back from a trip with people who amaze me at every turn. I have lots of pictures to share, and will soon.

I just wanted to write some of the things I learned this week:

Life is not as complicated as some of us make it out to be.

Wooden roller coasters are worth the woozy stomach afterwards.

A community of family and friends are by far the best medicine, yes even better than medicine- so let them heal you when they want to.

Tennis with a 10 year old makes you look really good, even if you haven't touched a racket in years.

Losing someone you love hurts like hell, period.

Deciding to hike to that next peak really does provide the best view.

After vacation you have to come back to the real world, which is exactly where you belong.