all that's past is prologue...

Yesterday, after a few meetings and such, we embarked on an end-of-Minnesota double-header — the Fair and a Saints game! Beatrix was with us for the Fair but ended up bagging out on the Saints to pack, which was likely wise. I've never seen it so crowded on opening day, which is usually kind of chill! But we did get there when there was still free lip stuff left, and saw the stunt dog show. Beatrix likes showing off pull-ups to military recruiters like it's NBD: And she won a prize for a research paper she submitted: She and Patrick did a Pronto Pup vs. Corn Dog taste-off (winner = corn dog): After something like 18,200 steps, we ended the day with some Sweet Martha's: Then off to a Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation event at the Saints: The seats were great: The perfect place to catch the moon before the eclipse: We left early because the saints were losing badly to the Mudhens (final score 9-3) and there's a lot to do  to pack for college. But it was a great summer...

Like Patrick, I am finding myself utterly crushed by the passing of Dolly Parton . And then I think about the fact that my love for her music has come mainly from my yoga teacher, Viv's love for her and how she has shared that with us. We're a crew of Dolly lovers. And my yoga class is about to change a lot, as the beloved brewery that hosts us has sold and is closing after this weekend. So there's another change. We're in the process of moving from the summer house back to the winter house. It's highly privileged to say that's a stressor, but it is adding a measure of chaos. Last year when we moved back we had Ximena with us, but this year the house will seem very empty, very soon. Speaking of that, after some dorm placement drama and the craziness that is Sarah Lawrence registration (the students attend short zooms to learn about each potential class and see if they are a fit for it and the class is a fit for them, then they register — sort of like mini job i...

For the past couple of years, Beatrix has worked at the Rennaissance Festival, so we have not really gotten to go there as a family. She's gotten up early, slung chocolate all day (mmmm, that booth's wares are SOOOOO good), come home, and done it again.  Our other memories of the Festival come from when she was very young, and obsessed with fairies, and all the magic. So it was all kinds of magic that our friends Liz and Huxley graciously gave up one of their last free days before Huxley heads off to MIT to come with us today (and thanks to Lloyd and Rosy for the tickets!) We got to see not just one but TWO Danger Committee shows, plus Gabs the Fool, the Wacky Chickens, jousting, and parts of other shows. We got to see capybaras! We shopped a little, and had some treats (more chocolate! carrot fries! cheese curds! mead samples). We walked around and people-watched. It was amazing. Most of all, we had a beautiful, wonderful day together before these two extraordinary kids head o...

NO ONE told me that the nesting you go through when sending your kid off to college is very similar to what it's like right at the end of pregnancy. So we're trying to move back to the other house, and get her packed, and do everything else...and I've decided it's imperative to take care if some long neglected gardens at Summit (you know, the house we're, yes, moving out of...) There's one bed by the sunroom windows that I traditionally plant zinnias in and it looks great. But this year, the bunnies decimated them, and all that remained was a big old sunflower I got off the free board. It does look great, but the rest of the bed was weedy and gross. So I sat up late one night with AI and asked it to garden plan. It kind of sketched a frame, and then I thought about the things I had or had access to: some sedum that have overgrown the front bed, some catmint my friend Sheri had offered me, some oregano at the other house. So I took the original prompt, and then b...

Some of the best experiences I have had in the recent past. Highly recommended! And you can — a nd should — do them too! 1. Saw Whimsy at Circus Juventas . I actually loathe Willie Wonka, but this mash-up was one of the best shows I've seen CJ do, and I've seen them all. Technically the show is closed, but you could attend their Gala on September 19 and see it, and I would strongly recommend it. The only problem is that you won't see Beatrix in the Gala, unless you want to donate enough miles to us that she could fly home from college for the weekend. 2. Eaten at Animales . When a vegetarian picks a BBQ place for her birthday you know it's something special — and it really was. Don't believe me? Believe Dara . Casual but perfect food. Show-stopping cocktails. Great space. Good prices. I'll meet you there anytime. 3. Received birthday presents from the Grand Hand Gallery and Black Garnet Books . Two amazing, independent stores that will have you swearing off p...

Is a big birthday, if not a milestone one. Especially when your kid is leaving for college in two weeks and everything is changing. So you work all day as usual, but your husband makes you a bagel for breakfast and you use your birthday coupon from Vina for lunch. You pick Animales for dinner, even though you are a vegetarian, because you have heard great things and because the always-amazing Adam Witherspoon is the beverage director. And he is happy to see you and takes you on an amazing culinary journey, as he is wont to do. I will meet you at Animales ANY DAMN TIME, it is that good. You get some awesome presents, including the book your kid picked out at Black Garnet and that you are super-excited to read. You take the dogs for a walk, and get lemonade from the sand run by the little girl across the street, where the price is "do something kind for someone." You make some coffee in your new espresso machine because you're headed to a late night Fringe show. And the co...