I think we eat better than rabbits!

Henri Rousseau, The Meal of the Rabbit, 1908

It was a blast of a weekend. Our friend Cindy was visiting from NYC. Friday night we kicked off with a late supper (Joe's red beans and rice and Cindy's mixed greens with Orange Muscat Champagne vinagrette) and played just about every song in Lullabies and Night Songs (music by Alec Wilder and full-color drawings by Maurice Sendak) while conducting taste tests of various ports from the liquor cabinet.

We spent Saturday afternoon at the Barnes Foundation which is one of the world's largest collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings, with extensive holdings by Picasso (46), Matisse (59), Cézanne (69) , Renoir (181) and Modigliani (11). Oh, and it happens to be in our neighboring township, Lower Merion. Did I mention that there are an eye-numbing 181 Renoirs!!!? It was founded in 1922 by Dr. Alfred C. Barnes (pharmacologist, chemist and M.D. ) who made his fortune off of Argyrol, an antiseptic silver compound he developed in 1907. If you want a REALLY good excuse to visit Philly (other than seeing master harvey) come be our guest and go check out the Barnes before it moves into center city. (controversial subject about why it is moving click here for the scandal and soap dish...)

We continued the day with a Tango concert at the Kimmel Center and then off to dinner at a local Trattoria (Grilled marinated vegetables, Osso Bucco, Seafood Risotto, Veal Scallopini and Tiramisu).

Sunday began with Cindy's granola, yogurt, fresh pomegranate (a new favorite for Harvey) and pineapple and a refreshing walk to the park where Harvey insisted on going down the wet slide that we had to dry off with the tissues in our pockets - oy! I guess we have to start bringing towels with us to the park during the drizzely season.

Last night we bookended the weekend with a Belgian film masterpiece- La vie en Rose (2007)with Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf and directed by Olivier Dahan and of course dinner (Frenched Pork Chops with herbs de provences, home-made Cranberry-Orange Sauce, Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto, Tiramisu ice-cream)

The only thing better than living...is living!

don't forget to BLOG the FROG!

Look at the water wheel Harvey!






OOOH! says Harvey.....look at THAT mommy!
What is it?


OH! Now I see...

Precious Days

We went to Chanticleer Gardens on Saturday. What a feast for the eyes and soul! Every view was a picture. Harvey loved it, but in a meditative sort of way. It was amazing to see him contemplate nature and become engrossed with the infinity that surrounds us. I can't wait to show this place to Mary Jane! I never realized what a haven exists in our backyard (literally only one mile from home). Scattered about were hand-carved foot bridges and adirondack chairs nestled in private coves. I hadn't taken Harvey before because I didn't feel like spending the $5 admission. Last week the Mothers of Young Children playgroup planned an outing here and informed us that a Wayne Library Card is the free ticket!

New Park, New Friend

It was a dream come true. They put a playground in the "garden" park which is 1 block from our apartment. Harvey has been to the park every day since its groundbreaking on June 3. In fact he was getting familiar with the rides when there were still gaping holes in the ground and jagged-edged tractor-type machines lying around in the open. At this point I can't imagine the neighborhood being any more convenient. Gym, 2 groceries, CVS, park, movie theater, cafes, bank, post office, train, church and school are all within walking distance. Isn't it funny how both boys are wearing similar tie-dyed shirts? Harvey woke up crying and hot after his FOUR HOUR NAP. I had to wake him - and wished afterwards that I hadn't he was in such a snit... Tylenol seemed to do the trick. He was hot as a chicken, fingers in the mouth. New tooth....aha! I looked it up in the book. Secondary molars are supposed to come in at 20-30 months. Tomorrow he turns 21 months. Happy Solstace! Hi to your new friend Evan.

A Day at the Park

Two Guys

A Walk in the Park

One of the great advantages of being a parent is the increased amount of time outdoors. The other day when I took Harvey to the park, he cried when I put him in the swing. I thought it was strange since he loves the swing. I soon realized that what he really wanted to do was try out his new shoes and walk in the grass - a challenging activity for a baby who has now officially reached "toddler" status. He was soon speed walking (not quite running yet) towards every dirt patch and section of pavement. Mom wound up getting plenty of exercise chasing the little ambulator. The funniest was watching him attempt to navigate his way down a little hill. (walk two steps, fall; repeat ad naseum...)Eventually he slowed down and discovered the joy of waving leaves around in the air and he even found a sewer top which gave him at least 4 minutes of exploratory pleasure. Finally he found his way to the fence where he managed to play a game of tug-of-war with mom and her car keys on the other side. Harvey was winning at one point... The best part of all of this? He is now so pooped from all the activity that we've had to push bedtime earlier to 8:30 thus allowing plenty of time to get ready for Desperate Housewives:)