Lulu’s blog

So...photos aren't styled...and still working on some organiziation...but what an improvement!!!

Pictures at an Exhibition

Sara Houghteling

It was fantastic. 

This is the author's first novel--she has an MFA, and teaches high school English.  It was the type of book that made me moody while I wasn't reading because I was so lost in the story.

It is a new book, still in hardcover, I found it at the library.  Maybe I'll suggest it for my book group if it is out in paperback when it's my turn to choose.  The background of WWII France is present, but mercifully skipped over, as this theme is well covered in other books.  The story of Pictures at an Exihition is founded in events before and after the war.

We were having a conversation about Memorial Day at the dinner table last night.  I pulled out the paper and pens and what we first meant to be a paper memorial bouquet turned out to be a garland.

Garland

Everyone had some thoughts to add as we crafted some abstract flowers for our Memorial Day Garland.

...and because I am a bit lazy....

had a great time with Hannah last week in Chicago.  Since many of you know her, I just thought I would link to her post.

My Seed to Plant Science Journal: Kai

May 7, 2009: I see dert.  I see my sed. I see a sid.

May 11, 2009: My (plant) is (growing).

 May 13, 2009:  It has a (long) (stem).

 May 14, 2009:  I see a pant. (plant)

May 15, 2009: I see a lef.  It is lonig.

 photo by Kai

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"And to think all these things start with just a seed."

Artic 5

thanks, Hannah it was such a fun day

fluffed my feather pillows in the dryer with three tennis balls for sweet dreams tonight

Little girl having pillow fight

next time I'll try a pillow fight

but I'm not sure it's wise to get into a pillow fight with one's husband

Saturday was a gorgeous day here.  Just warm enough to be outside and enjoy it, and hardly any wind.  I don't know when we will get a day like that again. 

I made the most of it, though.  It was the first practice for our neighborhood women's tennis team, which is just being resurrected after a hiatus of I don't know how many years.   

It would be no exaggeration to say that the only things that didn't hurt Sunday morning were my ears and eyelids.

...and I can't wait to do it all again.

Ok, I don't really know if this is the correct translation in French for "Easter Bunny."  But there was something Frenchy about the bunnies I brought back from Geneva.  The chocolate, however, was definitely Swiss.  If fact, we were all so inspired with the Spring-scapes/Easter-scapes we saw in and around Geneva, that Melinda and I wanted to bring home a little bit of the early spring beauty and share it with our families.  I have to admit, that I was a lot more ambitious in the planning stage.  When it came around to actually creating some Easter-scapes, I ran out of steam.  But, I have been promising pictures to Melinda and Suzy;

These hens were 2 swiss francs a piece on the clearance shelf at "Interio".  I pulled off the google eyes, and nested them with some wooden eggs in these glass dishes.

 I decided this was the mommy.  Trust me, she is laughing, not crying, 

Two school boys, guess who they represent?

...and two school girls....

 I think this is the daddy and he is telling a joke.

 Swiss Hen

 This white chocolate rabbit was about two feet tall.  Much larger and even elaborate bunnies were to be found, but I felt this is all I could handle carrying on the plane.  The detail was quite lovely.  We smashed it to bits last night after dinner...it was fun.  The charger is plastic with a green toile design I found in Annecy, France, and had a quick but fun conversation with a Frenchman who thought it was just as fab as I did.

 Dark chocolate rabbit with some "Susan" cookies from the bakery.  This bunny had to have a little emergency head re-attachment because of late night blundering...quickly fixed with a lighter.

I couldn't even begin to describe the beautiful chocolates, breads, pastries and other edible delights displayed in the shop windows and even supermarkets in Switzerland. It was a very fun season in which to visit.  Thank you, Suzy.