Friday, I'm in love....

Ha! Tom Guald is a genius. So there. Found while looking for pictures of Carey Mulligan's haircut. Can I tell you how that happened? Nope. I suspect Pinterest was involved. Oh, the internets....

Ah, Nora.

You can say what you want about Nora Ephron and romantic comedy in general, But - When Harry Met Sally can stand up for itself - in all of it's awesomeness and glory. I've probably seen it 200 times. (I know that you know I exaggerate on a regular basis, so I feel I should tell you that 200 times was sort of a conservative estimate. We didn't have cable. I'm not sorry.)
I'm sad to say that I haven't watched it all the way through for 20 years, or so.
Hello Netflix.

Summer Tote!

Should I pretend that this is not the best tote for the summer? That would be silly! 

It's all hemp and organic cotton and bright cotton scraps. It's sturdy and beautiful and roomy and lined with creamy white organic cotton muslin. It has two pockets on the outside, because that's where you need them.... Take it to the beach, the park, farmer's market or grandma's house. Wherever you go!

In the shop later today....

Around here....

Around here, not much is happening. Or, everything is happening, depending on your point of view.... Schoolwork is sorted, the closets are getting sorted, sleeping is in, tea is brewing, pages are turning, chickens are exploring, herbs are growing.... Summer is happening.

Friday, I'm in love....

My brother, Mick has a show opening tonight at Ritual Coffee Roasters on Valencia. You should come help us celebrate his triumph over laziness and buy some art! Art!

Happy solstice, sweet peas.

Sneakypeeky: Best summer tote, coming soon!

Redwoods.

I don't love camping (you've heard the rant), but being in a coastal redwood forest with great friends for a few days isn't the worst thing imaginable.
And look at those kids. How could I not take them out to sleep in the dirt? They're delighted!
Still, my favorite part of camping is the shower at home, afterward. Shampooing twice? Hot water? Clean undies? Heaven.

Friday, I'm in love....

I'm 100% in love with Raleigh Denim. You will be too. Website. NPR story.

$20 Dollar Shoppers are back in the shop! Guess how much they cost! You're right!
What could be better? A simple, roomy tote for summer - it's eco-friendly, affordable, and handmade.
You can roll it up and put it in your purse - and you'll always have an extra tote available for spontaneous shopping!

We don't waste any time.

Summer vacation was a scant one day old and we were off on our first road trip (to Grandma and Grandpa's house). My children suddenly have an interest in the radio station selection, and while their taste runs a little more discotheque that mine, the rearview mirror backseat dance party was totally worth it.

Summer.

My new favorite color....

Forest green is my new favorite color. Are you with me? Just look at it..... I took this vintage rayon tablecloth that was worn to perfection - so buttery soft - and appliqued vintage cotton feedsack stripes onto it. Irresistible - I know! There's a Quilt and a Chamomile Dream Pillow in the shop right now.
(Wouldn't this be the most perfect gift for a new mama? A sweet quilt and chamomile pillow to soothe everyone back to sleep....)

Chicken rant.

Listen. Chickens are disgusting.
I know - you're like: look at that teensy chick - she looks delicious adorable! And she is. Actually, right now I'm making aww noises so high-pitched that only chickens can hear them, because that picture is about 2 weeks old, and Lupé is so much bigger and featherier now.
Anyway - chickens are gross. Chickens are about 1% feathers, 2% beak and feet, 5% cuteness and chirping and perching in the palm of your hand and being soft, and 140% chicken shit. That's not just bad math, that's a fact!* You would be surprised how much poo a bird that small can create. Put five of them in your bathtub** and you'll see what I mean.
And when they're super small and you have no mama hens, they live inside, under a heat lamp. In our case, they live inside, under a heat lamp, in a plastic bin, in the bathtub. And every morning I stand barefoot, in pajamas, on a cold, wet lawn, before I've had any coffee, hosing down a chicken "habitat" (because I'm totally a farmer!) And I think to myself: I am so glad this was my idea, because if it had been anyone else's, I would be hating them right now.
So now the offensive fowl are too big to live in the bin and too small to live outside and too revolting to go free range all over the house - so when we had a Little League game to go to, I just barricaded them in the bathroom and left it at that.
For three hours.
It was like a crime scene when we got back.
It was like one of those houses you see on the news after it's been condemned and the 300 cats have been "relocated." It was Grey Gardens. I cried.
This weekend my handsome husband (who promised me a chicken coop two years ago, ahem) put together a "day spa" for the chickens so they can kick it outside during the day and come inside at night, in order to be not eaten by a raccoon. It's quite ramshackle and they've escaped from it twice so far, but I'm not crying any more and I'm no longer worried that Health & Human Services is coming to take me away.
They're outside right now. And? it's raining and I'm not bringing them in the house - because I'm totally a farmer! But I feel really bad about it - because I'm totally not a farmer.
*I'd put money on it.
**Not recommended.

Pop Up Hood. Wow. Wow!