One day in Ecuador, the kids actually spent a long (and happy) time drawing floor plans for their dream houses. Sam's looked like this:
His dream house includes a pool, an arcade, a game room (for card and board games), a library, a theater, and a bowling alley. He says he is going to have servants to do everything.
Here are pieces of Anya's floor plan--it's a little harder to read:
Anya's floor plan includes a great guest room for me, most of the stuff that Samuel put into his floor plan, plus a bat cave in the attic and a doughnut shop (but I'm not sure which floor that was on).
Howard says that his dream house includes a great movie theater room and many secret passages.
Mine? Of course, I can't settle on one. On the one hand, I dream of a great victorian-style house with a huge library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a library ladder, and comfy reading chairs. This dream house would have a beautiful, big, and functional kitchen, and lots of cozy places to sit (including a window seat somewhere). On the other hand, I have always dreamed of a little cottage to myself: simple but comfortable, not big or fancy but well equipped. Just enough room for me to live, work, create. Either in the woods or near the ocean.
Screened porch is required in either dream house. And a deep, cast iron tub (not big, but deep for soaking).
I love my house, and it suits us well...but, there is always the dream house. Or houses, in my case.
What's your dream house look like?
Really, this is just an addendum to yesterday's post. My favorite summer photo so far. How does that girl manage to exhibit sheer joy in so many photos???
She's hard to resist...and I am not a fan of hot weather! But, I must admit: the smell of salt air and the sound of water lapping on shore always manages to calm and center me, regardless of the season or the weather. I love the ocean.
What images, activities, or words capture summer joy for you?
After four or five days of mostly just goofing around, life is slowly getting back to normal.
I have two new bookcases, so I was finally able to organize my office. It feels much more like a credible work space now.
The kids are also back to their old selves. Sam is happy with his new, digital watch. He's busy timing things and setting alarms.
Anya likes to play in her new "wig" that she made at camp. Have you ever seen a cuter weird little kid?
And here I am, on my beloved screened-in porch...blogging with a glass of red wine in hand, awaiting one of my favorite dinners: grilled swordfish, steamed broccoli, and sweet potato oven fries with coriander and brown sugar. The only thing missing? Blueberry cake for dessert. That would round out the "summer in New England" meal I'm having. Walk on the beach comes later.
What do you enjoy about your daily existence?
Yes, I'm back in Boston. Observations upon arriving (both from the air and on the ground):
Boston is small, flat, and hot. And much more lush than when I left.
I am very happy to be back in my home, particularly at a time when I can use the screened porch, cleaned for me and set with a sunflower as a welcome-home present. (I adore sunflowers.)
I am also happy to be able to drink tap water without having to boil it first.
However, I am sad to be away from the archives, and I already miss the wonderful fruits and rich avocados. I am already defeated by the heat. And it is depressing to have to clean my office...and see those two suitcases? Full of books.
Where the hell am I going to put all those books?
It's strange to be dropped in the middle of summer after missing so much of life here. But, never fear: I kept up with all the important news. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972, and Whitey was finally caught. Both were big headlines, even in my email updates from our local NPR station.
What does traveling make you realize about your home life?
Howard and the kids just left Quito yesterday morning, and they are now safely back in Quincy. Last weekend, though, filled with guilt over not having shown the kids much of Ecuador, we decided to go to Otavalo.
Otavalo is a 2-hour bus ride north of Quito. It's a small-ish town (though it's grown dramatically in recent years), and it's famous for its "indigenous" market. Otavalo is an interesting place: a cluster of its indigenous peoples have been very successful selling craft goods (weavings, jewelery, trinkets) both there and around the world. This does not mean that all indigenous Otavalans are well off--they aren't. But it does mean that in Otavalo--ah, only in Otavalo--you can encounter mestizos trying to look like Indians.
Anyway, the trip started out well, with the kids on the bus, anticipating fun.
But, then the bus ride itself did them in. Or, more precisely, it did Anya in. My girl inherited my rather sensitive stomach, so she gets car sick sometimes. And, of course, bus rides in the Andes are not only bumpy, but also full of constant twists and turns and ups and downs.
Let's just say that when she got sick, it was rather spectacular. We caught most of it in a bag. By the end of the ride, she was exhausted and finally fell asleep:
We took a taxi back, despite the high cost. It was a much better experience, and the cab drive was quite nice and chatty.
The kids did at least get little gifties that they liked. Anya got dolls that she sang to and played with constantly for a couple of days:
And Samuel got a flute. A simple one, rather like a recorder only it sounds nice. He's been experimenting with it, making up little tunes.
So...though it wasn't the best day, at least it left me feeling less guilty that I hadn't taken them more places!
What "good plans" haven't worked out for you lately?
Perhaps because they seem so close (at 9,000 feet altitude), or perhaps because I am grateful that they block the harsh rays of the equatorial sun, I am watching and loving clouds lately. I thought I would share a few of my favorite shots with you here.
What do the clouds hold for you?
As an unreasonably proud parent, I can't help but share a bit more of the latest kid art. I find their artistic development fascinating, probaby because it reflects both their creative and cognitive advancements.
For some reason, Anya is currently fascinated with Medusa (probably due to some movie she's recently watched):
But, she still has her sweet side, as is evident in this drawing she did of Samuel:
For the boy's part, it's been mostly monster drawings, because he brought a "how to draw 50 monsters" book to Quito with him. He's been giving them as gifts, with nifty new names. First is Feodor the Dwarf, given to Anya:
For me...a special request: Demon from the Second Planet Circling Sirius. I find it both adorable and vicious. Ah, my poor children: they don't stand a chance, do they?
