A Tourist in my Home Town

Not exactly a stay-cation. But, go-home-cation? We spent four days in my home town -- Philadelphia. Rediscovered it. Saw it through the eyes of my kids and through the eyes of a tourist. Got an amazing rate at the Lowes Hotel, two blocks from City Hall and the Reading Terminal Market. We had a corner room on the 27th floor and they have a pool. The kids, of course, were thrilled.

I forgot how much outdoor art Philly has. Everywhere you go: murals (over 2,500), statues, mosiacs. I loved it. Even the bus shelters had stained glass windows. All the art gives the city a sense of whimsy and color, even in February. Other cities (ahem, New York, I'm talking to you) should take note. Here are a few pics of the art we encountered along the way...

Yellow :: On our street

Loving this yellow assignment.  There's so much more yellow around than I thought.  (true confession:  the #6 picture is from two weeks ago, but it is on our street)

Yellow, How's it Goin'?

I just had to play along.  I took a few minutes to walk around the house and found all of these still lifes just waiting to be shot. I didn't move a thing. (Yes, lots to clean up around here).

When I worked for a fashion designer, we always put yellow in the collection because it helped the whole assortment look better, but it was a terrible seller.  People just don't like to wear yellow (I must admit, myself included).  It's such a warm, sunny color, but not always very flattering.  I challenge all the yellow-finders to try and capture someone wearing yellow.

Home is Where You Hang Your Paintings

Tried to get creative with Mark's valentine.  Here's the not-quite-finished painting I gave him. The three buildings are the three places we've lived together.  Two are in the city; one, the burbs. I want to add some kind of quote about home in the right corner and frame the whole shebang.  I hope the trees don't look too much like golf balls (though at least he likes golf).  I'll post again when it's finished.

Yours Till Niagra Falls

Valentine's Day is so rosy, sweet and lovely when you're eight (and not cynical yet).  Before it's fraught with potential humiliation or heightened expectations, there's just a day to tell a friend that you're glad he's your pal.  Right back atcha, pal.  

 

Calling All Bread Heads

Bread Heads -- (of which I am a new one) --  check out this great presentation by bread guru Peter Reinhart.   He speaks eloquently and enthusiastically about the transformation of bread.  I guarantee you will want to eat a slice of bread before he's finished. 

I bought his book, The Art of Bread, in the fall after taking up Molly's challenge with gusto.  Funny thing though, the book I use the most is Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  I just made a batch of olive oil bread dough today to be baked tomorrow.   Photo to follow.

This Weekend I...

:: Finished this book. Funny. Smart. Great characters. Would make a good book for book club because you want to talk about it. (see, more than craft book reading).



:: Spent the night at a museum with 100 or so cub scouts and their parents. (Book was finished before said overnight)






Good times.

Bad back.