Summer!

Oh, summer, how I want to gobble you up this year! Let’s make plans.

**long evening strolls**random stops for ice cream **frequent stops at farmer’s markets**al fresco dining**lounging in the shade**iced coffee and Arnold Palmers**summer cocktails**new skirts**new sandals**playing croquet**ponytails**cooling off with popsicles** berries warm from the sun**homemade bread and butter pickles**learning to grill**colorful toes**running through a sprinkler** outdoor concerts and plays**

Putting the "Play" in Play Suit

Summer has officially arrived here in the North East and we've had a string of lovely weekend days, perfect for herding three little girls out of doors. We recently met up with Aunt Tory for a picnic and the girls wore their Oliver & S play suits that she made them for their birthday. These little ladies have a lot of clothes (thanks, Grandma) but based on Sunday's field test, the play suits may just become their summer uniform. Take a look:

Contemplating the dizzying heights from the top of an old stump.

"It doesn't look that far down, I think I can make it."

Built for stretching and bending.

"Don't put the stick in my mouth? I don't know what you're talking about, I'm just holding this stick."

And, the activity of choice, illicit stair climbing onto the bandstand. Not pictured, running around said band stand (Mommy was too busy preventing stage diving to take a photo.)

Thank you, Aunt Tory, we all love the play suits!

Dressed for Summer

Oh, to be the little girl who gets to hop, skip, jump, run, somersault, swing, slide, tricycle-ride, and eat frozen treats in these outfits all summer long! Sigh.

You can't win them all

Little Miss Bee is the best mama to her baby dolls. Each and every night they get a bottle before being tucked into bed. They then get a bed time story “read” to them. Before Bee heads off to bed herself, she pats them on the back and tells them good night. Super sweet, right?

When I saw the pattern for the doll carrier in the Oliver + S book I thought it would be perfect for the little mama. I phoned my sister and started describing it to her. I was barely two sentences in when she yelled out, “You HAVE to make that for Bee. She is driving me crazy with the one we’ve tried to fashion. It doesn’t work.” Auntie to the rescue!

Well, it turns out that Miss Bee wasn’t as sure about the doll carrier as her mommy and I had been. Upon seeing her most beloved baby doll strapped in she kept proclaiming, “Oh, no baby! Oh, no!” And then she refused to try it on. Harumph. But, I have high hopes that one day, when it is her own idea as they must be when you are two, she’ll be wearing it everywhere with baby safely strapped in.

Hello, baby

When a bouncing baby girl enters the world just ahead of the summer season there is only one possible baby gift, a dress with bloomers. Wait a minute, it’s really the bloomers I find most necessary. How cute is a poofy, diapered bottom covered with a ruffly legged pair of bloomers? Cute, I say, very, very cute.

Repurposed

What was once a letterpress tray has now become my jewelry storage tray. When I found it at Brimfield last fall it was covered in layer upon layer of dirt, dust, and decaying paper. After quite some time with a rag I ended up a beautiful little piece and black fingertips. It was totally worth the $20 investment and an hour of time.

With all these compartments in varying sizes and shapes it is the perfect corral for my collections of earrings, pins, bracelets, and necklaces. In fact, there are so many little compartments that I just may need to do some more thrifting to make sure they are properly filled.

{eating out} coppa enoteca, boston

Last summer was the first time I gave Coppa Enoteca a try. It was average, neither wowing me or offending my taste buds. At the time I didn’t know if I would go back. But I decided it deserved another try. I’m glad I did.

Everything I ordered was fantastic. With aperol spritzer in hand, it all started with the bread and its little bowl of olive oil for dipping. It may seem strange to fall in love with olive oil but I did. It was grassy with a bit of spice and I happily took more bread when they offered. There was no way I wanted to a leave a bit of that oil behind.

As a sort of appetizer I chose one of their specials, seared scallops atop a bean ragout. I had to work really hard at not inhaling the entire dish. So, yes, it was very, very good.

For a main course I chose the house made orecchiette with lamb, favas, mint, and pecorino. Again, I needed to prove I was something of a lady and not slurp down the entire bowl. I wish I had had the foresight to order the full size and take some home. But either way I have a feeling there wouldn’t have been any to take home with me.

I had intended to skip dessert. I was full of bread, olive oil, scallops, and fresh pasta. But then the server said house made pistachio gelato and I was a goner. Some pistachio gelatos barely taste of pistachios but this one was a winner. I would have happily taken home a pint, er, gallon.

The moral of this little food story? Give the average places a second try. They might just become your “neighborhood” joint as I hope Coppa will become mine.

A delightful night's sleep

Little Miss Lou thought I was visitng over the long holiday weekend to celebrate her birthday. And she was right, but it also provided the perfect opportunity to give her a suprise bed makeover.

When she went back to school on Tuesday I went into action stripping away the old bedding. In its place went a new bed skirt, white jersey sheets, and the half square triangle quilt.

I anxiously waited the bus drop-off and tried to casually suggest she change out of her school clothes into some play clothes for an afternoon outside. We all followed her upstairs to her bedroom. As she went into her room she exclaimed, "What in the world?!?!? These are my favorite colors." Awesome!

When I talked with her the next day I asked how she had slept in her brand new bed. With a big smile on her face she explained, "It was delightful." My sister further elaborated that as soon as she got up that morning Little Miss Lou was found carefully making her bed, smoothing out all the creases, and proclaiming that her little sister Little Miss Bee was not to touch it.

Yeah, I think she likes it!